Adding dining plan to room only reservation?

[closetmickey]

I just posted this on the dining forum but realized that I maybe should have posted here....

I just made a room only reservation. Am I able to call back and add the dining plan to my reservation, knowing that I must also add tickets to do so? In other words, may I call and convert my reservation to a package, and add dining as well? Or will I have to "rebook"- thus losing my room and/or rate? Thanks!

I should add that I booked without any discount or promo.

 

[focusondisney]

Yep, you can. Just remember the reservation is then a "package" & different rules apply for payment & cancellation.

Edit: no, you won't lose your room or rate. If you have a discount, it will only apply to the room portion of the package, not the tickets or dining.

 

[closetmickey]

Yep, you can. Just remember the reservation is then a "package" & different rules apply for payment & cancellation.

Edit: no, you won't lose your room or rate. If you have a discount, it will only apply to the room portion of the package, not the tickets or dining.

Thanks! Is there a certain time period I must do this within?

 

[focusondisney]

Well, the only restriction I can think of is that the dining plan must be added no less than 3 days before you check in. And if it is less than 45 days til check in, be prepared to pay the full package price when you call to change it.

Actually, I have a room only reservation right now. I am about 47 days out. Didn't do a package right away coz we weren't positive about DH's time off. But we know for sure now that we can go. I will call tommarrow & add tickets & dining & pay it all off. I don't anticipate any problems doing it.

 

[closetmickey]

Well, the only restriction I can think of is that the dining plan must be added no less than 3 days before you check in. And if it is less than 45 days til check in, be prepared to pay the full package price when you call to change it.

Actually, I have a room only reservation right now. I am about 47 days out. Didn't do a package right away coz we weren't positive about DH's time off. But we know for sure now that we can go. I will call tommarrow & add tickets & dining & pay it all off. I don't anticipate any problems doing it.

Thanks for the help! If for some reason you run into a glitch, let me know! Enjoy your trip!

 

[sndral]

Yep, you can. Just remember the reservation is then a "package" & different rules apply for payment & cancellation.

Edit: no, you won't lose your room or rate. If you have a discount, it will only apply to the room portion of the package, not the tickets or dining.

This has not always been the experience of dissers - see this thread from a week ago
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2898676

To convert from room only to a package requires a cancel and rebook, whether they will apply the monies you have paid on the room only to the new ressie or refund them and require a new deposit seems to vary (see post 6 of the thread linked.) As long as your room/view category is available there shouldn't be an issue. It is an issue w/ discounts sometimes because the discount may no longer be available for the room you want - but that doesn't appear to be a concern in your case. You will get a new ressie no, btw.

 

[focusondisney]

This has not always been the experience of dissers - see this thread from a week ago
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2898676

To convert from room only to a package requires a cancel and rebook, whether they will apply the monies you have paid on the room only to the new ressie or refund them and require a new deposit seems to vary (see post 6 of the thread linked.) As long as your room/view category is available there shouldn't be an issue. It is an issue w/ discounts sometimes because the discount may no longer be available for the room you want - but that doesn't appear to be a concern in your case. You will get a new ressie no, btw.

Well, I guess I missed that thread. Since the Yacht Club is now sold out for our dates, I certainly won't risk my CL room which we do have with a discount. I will be calling later today or tommarrow. If the CRO agent can't/ won't convert it while keeping my room & discount, I'll ask them to check with guest services. If they still won't do it, I'll just keep my room only 30% off, use tickets we already have & skip the deluxe dining. If they want to refuse almost $700 that deluxe dining would cost the 2 of us for 4 nights, OK. We'll keep our ADR's, but maybe skip desserts, use the lounge for our appetizers & split a few entrees. Hmm, maybe I should hope they won't let me upgrade to a package!

I'll let you know if I have any problems, OP.

 

[mickeynut1]

I just posted this on the dining forum but realized that I maybe should have posted here....

I just made a room only reservation. Am I able to call back and add the dining plan to my reservation, knowing that I must also add tickets to do so? In other words, may I call and convert my reservation to a package, and add dining as well? Or will I have to "rebook"- thus losing my room and/or rate? Thanks!

I should add that I booked without any discount or promo.

You can change to a package, but the room only will have to be cancelled/refunded and a package booked, requiring a new $200 deposit or payment in full if you are less than 45 days from arrival. Also, the DDP must be added at least 3 days prior to arrival. The room only cannot be "converted" to a package as money paid toward one cannot be applied to the other.

Well, I guess I missed that thread. Since the Yacht Club is now sold out for our dates, I certainly won't risk my CL room which we do have with a discount. I will be calling later today or tommarrow. If the CRO agent can't/ won't convert it while keeping my room & discount, I'll ask them to check with guest services. If they still won't do it, I'll just keep my room only 30% off, use tickets we already have & skip the deluxe dining. If they want to refuse almost $700 that deluxe dining would cost the 2 of us for 4 nights, OK. We'll keep our ADR's, but maybe skip desserts, use the lounge for our appetizers & split a few entrees. Hmm, maybe I should hope they won't let me upgrade to a package!

I'll let you know if I have any problems, OP.

Like the OP, if you have room only, it will have to be cancelled/refunded and a package booked. With that said, guest services should be able to do that without you losing your discount. I have done it several times with expired pin codes/promos with no problems. Just keep in mind that you will have to pay for the package in full since you're close to final payment date and wait for your refund from the room only.

 

[closetmickey]

So now I am really confused. Although I did not book my room only reservation with a discount, I was able to book a standard view to lower the cost. Sooo....if there are not any more standard rooms available when I convert to a package, will I be forced to book a different view for more money, or can I keep my standard view, since the room has already been allocated to me? Does this make sense? I dont mind having to put down a new deposit- just don't want my room rate to increase. Thanks!

 

[mickeynut1]

So now I am really confused. Although I did not book my room only reservation with a discount, I was able to book a standard view to lower the cost. Sooo....if there are not any more standard rooms available when I convert to a package, will I be forced to book a different view for more money, or can I keep my standard view, since the room has already been allocated to me? Does this make sense? I dont mind having to put down a new deposit- just don't want my room rate to increase. Thanks!

If there isn't availability for a standard room when you are ready to book a package, guest services should be able to make the change so you can keep the standard room. However, if there is availability, make sure the CM books the package first to insure the room category before cancelling the room only. Good luck and happy planning .

 

[closetmickey]

If there isn't availability for a standard room when you are ready to book a package, guest services should be able to make the change so you can keep the standard room. However, if there is availability, make sure the CM books the package first to insure the room category before cancelling the room only. Good luck and happy planning .

Thank you for clarifying and for the helpful advice! I think I get it now!

 

[Minnie-Mickey]

No. It is not possible. Twice I booked a room only hoping for a deal to come out. Both times the ressie had to be canceled and rebooked. It took about 3 weeks for the credit to show up on my card. There are only so many standard rooms for room only and pkg deals so even if you had a standard room only it does not = a pkg standard room availability. Sounds crazy I know. One time, FD came out and we had to upgrade from standard to courtyard view to get it. Not so sure it is always worth it. I was told it is two different reservation systems and that is why it cant be done.

 

[focusondisney]

Update: Hi! Just thought I'd let you know I just completed my reservation change. The agent "Leon" was very friendly & knowledgeable. I said I have a room only reservation with the Spring Discount & I wanted to add park hopper tickets & deluxe dining, without losing my discount . He said " no problem"..


The process was as MickeyNut already explained. He made a new reservation with all my specifics (names of traveling party, 5 day hoppers, deluxe dining) & then put me on hold while he had Guest Services assist with completeing the new reservation. He came back with the new total & reservation no. Since I am 46 days out, I paid the whole total right away, as I was expecting to do. I know the discount is still there because I had done the math ahead of time to make sure I didn't lose it.

After we completed the new reservation payment & comfirmation, he went back to my room only & cancelled it. The 1 night deposit will be credited in 7-10 days & appear on my statement in 1-2 billing cycles. Total time on the phone was about 30 mins, starting with the automated answer & ending with completing the survey.

So I did oversimplify my original statement. But I did not consider rebooking with a new deposit & getting the original deposit refunded as a problem. (YMMV on that.) In my mind, I had a room only with discount, I wanted a package with the same discount. And that's what I have now. As Leon said: "we're going to get you exactly what you want". And he did!!!

Here's my take: if you want to give them more money, they'll do everything possible to let you! Have a great vacation!!

 

[focusondisney]

No. It is not possible. Twice I booked a room only hoping for a deal to come out. Both times the ressie had to be canceled and rebooked. It took about 3 weeks for the credit to show up on my card. There are only so many standard rooms for room only and pkg deals so even if you had a standard room only it does not = a pkg standard room availability. Sounds crazy I know. One time, FD came out and we had to upgrade from standard to courtyard view to get it. Not so sure it is always worth it. I was told it is two different reservation systems and that is why it cant be done.

That is a different scenario. Having a specific category room booked does not guarantee that you can then get a promotional discount on that room in the future. You booked a room at full price & then wanted them to give you a discounted package on that room. No, they are not obligated to give you a discount just because you are already booked.

In my case, I already had a discounted room booked. I wanted to add to it & give Disney more money, not less. Thus the agent & guest services will do what it takes to let me do that. They will always take more money!

The OP did not say if they have a discount or not, so I was going on the assumption that they have a full price room only reservation. If they at some point want to add tickets & dining at full price to that reservation, Disney will find a way to make that happen for them. They might need to cancel/ rebook & redo a deposit. But in my mind, that is just simantics. Redoing a deposit may be a deterent to some people tho... it wasn't for me.

So for me, I still say: if you have a room only & want a package: yep, it can be done.

 

[Minnie-Mickey]

I think we did the same ressie. Discounted room wanted to add to it. The CM would not let me. Good for you. I guess it really does matter who you get. Either way great. Have a good vacation.

 

[TDC Nala]

or it matters which discount you use. If the discount has expired you may not be able to apply it to a new package reservation, and it is a new reservation.

I wanted to add to it & give Disney more money, not less. Thus the agent & guest services will do what it takes to let me do that. They will always take more money

You didn't add to the same reservation. The agent rebooked your reservation as a package. He was able to find availability at the room level you wanted for the discount. Had there been no availabilty there would have been no discount. Glad it worked out.

 

[mickeynut1]

One time, FD came out and we had to upgrade from standard to courtyard view to get it. Not so sure it is always worth it. I was told it is two different reservation systems and that is why it cant be done.

You probably had to upgrade your room category to get free dining as there probably weren't any standard rooms available under that promo. You are correct that room only and package ressies are two different reservation systems so one cannot be "converted" to the other, but it could have been rebooked without having to upgrade had there been availability under that promo.

Update: Hi! Just thought I'd let you know I just completed my reservation change. The agent "Leon" was very friendly & knowledgeable. I said I have a room only reservation with the Spring Discount & I wanted to add park hopper tickets & deluxe dining, without losing my discount . He said " no problem"..


The process was as MickeyNut already explained. He made a new reservation with all my specifics (names of traveling party, 5 day hoppers, deluxe dining) & then put me on hold while he had Guest Services assist with completeing the new reservation. He came back with the new total & reservation no. Since I am 46 days out, I paid the whole total right away, as I was expecting to do. I know the discount is still there because I had done the math ahead of time to make sure I didn't lose it.

After we completed the new reservation payment & comfirmation, he went back to my room only & cancelled it. The 1 night deposit will be credited in 7-10 days & appear on my statement in 1-2 billing cycles. Total time on the phone was about 30 mins, starting with the automated answer & ending with completing the survey.

So I did oversimplify my original statement. But I did not consider rebooking with a new deposit & getting the original deposit refunded as a problem. (YMMV on that.) In my mind, I had a room only with discount, I wanted a package with the same discount. And that's what I have now. As Leon said: "we're going to get you exactly what you want". And he did!!!

Here's my take: if you want to give them more money, they'll do everything possible to let you! Have a great vacation!!

Congrats on getting exactly what you wanted . Sometimes it does take a little time on the phone since Guest Services has to get involved in these situations, but in the end it's all worth it to get just the trip you want .

That is a different scenario. Having a specific category room booked does not guarantee that you can then get a promotional discount on that room in the future. You booked a room at full price & then wanted them to give you a discounted package on that room. No, they are not obligated to give you a discount just because you are already booked.

This is correct. Not every resort and/or room category is available under discounts and having a reservation already in place does not guarantee that a discount can be applied.

I think we did the same ressie. Discounted room wanted to add to it. The CM would not let me.

If you ever need to do this in the future and the CM says it can't be done, ask to speak with Guest Services and they should be able to do it. If a promo is expired or there is no longer availability for your specific resort or room type under a discount, a regular reservation CM won't be able to rebook and cancel as rebooking with a package is technically a new reservation. This is where Guest Services comes in. The CM can get it started, but guest services has to actually finalize it. Then the CM can go and cancel the first ressie.

You didn't add to the same reservation. The agent rebooked your reservation as a package. He was able to find availability at the room level you wanted for the discount. Had there been no availabilty there would have been no discount. Glad it worked out.

The regular reservation CM wouldn't be able to do it, but Guest Services can. I have gone from room only (with discount) to a package (with same discount) when it was expired or there was no availability and guest services was able to rebook it without me losing my discount .

 

[focusondisney]

or it matters which discount you use. If the discount has expired you may not be able to apply it to a new package reservation, and it is a new reservation.



You didn't add to the same reservation. The agent rebooked your reservation as a package. He was able to find availability at the room level you wanted for the discount. Had there been no availabilty there would have been no discount. Glad it worked out.

Nope, there is no availability @ Yacht Club @ all for my dates. None. Resort is sold out. No rooms available even @ rack rate. He took my already discounted room & with the assistance of Guest Services, got me the package I wanted. I am sorry it didn't work out for others. As pp said, maybe all CMs don't know how. But it can be done.

 

[Momtomouselover]

I am reviving this thread with another similar question...

We have military discounted rooms and my sister and her husband have decided they would like the dining plan. I'm going to call in the next day or so to try and add the dining plan to their room. We are within the 45 day mark so I know it has to be paid in full if converted to a package but is this considered a "discount" that may or may not be available when I try to rebook? I sure hope they can add it for it is important to them. BTW, do you have to add tickets with the military discount room or is it like adding a DP to an AP room?

Thanks for any info!!

 

[Claire&TheBoys]

I am reviving this thread with another similar question...

We have military discounted rooms and my sister and her husband have decided they would like the dining plan. I'm going to call in the next day or so to try and add the dining plan to their room. We are within the 45 day mark so I know it has to be paid in full if converted to a package but is this considered a "discount" that may or may not be available when I try to rebook? I sure hope they can add it for it is important to them. BTW, do you have to add tickets with the military discount room or is it like adding a DP to an AP room?

Thanks for any info!!

You'll just have to call to find out what you'll have to do. As in the above posts, you'll have to re-book their room as a package and pay the entire balance and have the room-only deposit credited. If you don't get the answer you want with the first CM you speak to, I would ask to speak to Guest Services. Also, if you can call tonight, I would call on a weekday rather than the weekend. You tend to get more-experienced CMs during the week.

As far as the military room and dining goes: you do not have to add tickets to the package to get the dining plan with the military-discounted room. It's a ticketless package, just like the AP packages. We've done it several times during the military promotion period.