Adding Package AFTER Purchasing Tickets

[Mcert01]

Hi,

We are planning a trip to WDW the week after Thanksgiving. We are hoping to get free dining, but not counting on it. If we don't, we are considering renting Vacation Club points. My guess is that there will be a ticket price increase prior to the announcement on free dining (usually late April - early May). That being the case, I would like to purchase tickets now to avoid the increase.

My question is, if I buy the tickets now but end up wanting a package, how would Disney handle this situation? I'm guessing they would say that the price of the tickets I paid would be deducted from the prevailing package price.

Does anyone have experience with this?

Thanks for the help!

 

[disneyfantotheend]

Fairly sure, it would not even be possible to get free dining without you purchasing tickets with the package.

 

[Dis703]

I don't think they will use the cost of your tickets towards a package. You'd have to purchase tickets as part of the package when you book it.

 

[StitchesGr8Fan]

You have to purchase the tickets as part of a package to get free dining.

 

[Mcert01]

You have to purchase the tickets as part of a package to get free dining.

Yep, I understand that is the case. My thought was to purchase tickets - from WDW direct. If I want to add a package later would Disney allow me to add hotel and dining? In other words, the Cost of the Package - the Price of Tickets Already Paid = Balance Due. Would WDW be open to this?

 

[dansdad]

Yep, I understand that is the case. My thought was to purchase tickets - from WDW direct. If I want to add a package later would Disney allow me to add hotel and dining? In other words, the Cost of the Package - the Price of Tickets Already Paid = Balance Due. Would WDW be open to this?

No. In order to get Free Dining you would have to purchase the minimum days of tickets when you book the Free Dining package. They will not let you use tickets purchased previously.

 

[NeedMoreMickey]

We booked a trip for our anniversary in 2016 and even though I had an annual pass in order to get free dining I was told I would need to buy a ticket. We did the math and free dining didn't make sense for us.

 

[Dis703]

Yep, I understand that is the case. My thought was to purchase tickets - from WDW direct. If I want to add a package later would Disney allow me to add hotel and dining? In other words, the Cost of the Package - the Price of Tickets Already Paid = Balance Due. Would WDW be open to this?

No, they don't allow this. That's why some people who already have tickets to use will buy the minimum ticket required when they book the package and then they keep those tickets for future use.

 

[Mcert01]

No, they don't allow this. That's why some people who already have tickets to use will buy the minimum ticket required when they book the package and then they keep those tickets for future use.

That's too bad...

 

[bumbershoot]

If you were just getting a normal package with NON-free dining, then you could call and get a ticketless package. But that does not work for *free* dining.


Also, renting DVC for Thanksgiving...you're a month late on working on that one right now. It might not be possible by the time you figure out if free dining is being offered. Just a head's up for you!

 

[Mcert01]

If you were just getting a normal package with NON-free dining, then you could call and get a ticketless package. But that does not work for *free* dining.


Also, renting DVC for Thanksgiving...you're a month late on working on that one right now. It might not be possible by the time you figure out if free dining is being offered. Just a head's up for you!

Not looking at Thanksgiving, but the week after.

If you were just getting a normal package with NON-free dining, then you could call and get a ticketless package. But that does not work for *free* dining.


Also, renting DVC for Thanksgiving...you're a month late on working on that one right now. It might not be possible by the time you figure out if free dining is being offered. Just a head's up for you!

Not according to the site I am working with. They are recommending 9 months out.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Not looking at Thanksgiving, but the week after.

Frankly, that's even worse. First week of December is the single busiest week for DVC bookings of the year. DVC demand does not mirror theme park crowds.

Free Dining for late in the year was released in late April last year (https://www.mousesavers.com/historical-information-on-walt-disney-world-resort-discounts/#2016) which puts you at or near 7 months. You need to pick DVC rental OR waiting on Free Dining if you want to stay anywhere but Saratoga or Old Key West. Certainly do not expect to book 7 months for the first week of December anywhere else.

 

[Mcert01]

Frankly, that's even worse. First week of December is the single busiest week for DVC bookings of the year. DVC demand does not mirror theme park crowds.

Free Dining for late in the year was released in late April last year (https://www.mousesavers.com/historical-information-on-walt-disney-world-resort-discounts/#2016) which puts you at or near 7 months. You need to pick DVC rental OR waiting on Free Dining if you want to stay anywhere but Saratoga or Old Key West. Certainly do not expect to book 7 months for the first week of December anywhere else.

Well, it was a thought.

 

[bumbershoot]

Not looking at Thanksgiving, but the week after.

To me that's thanksgiving. The week leading to and the week after are both thanksgiving in my eyes. I didn't look up the date for this year to see how much you would still be in November following the holiday though.

The first week of December info given above is good. HUGE for dvc.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

As others have said, you cannot apply the purchase price of pre-purchased WDW tickets toward a free dining package. What you can do, to lock in the lower ticket price, is purchase your tickets now and then hope for a room-only discount. You can then book a ticketless package (discount room + dining) without tickets and simply use the tickets you pre-purchased. It's all a crap shoot however as no one knows when the ticket increase will happen, how much the increase will be, what discounts will be released or what resorts and rooms will be in that discount. I have seen in years past, however, promos released AFTER a ticket increase which were worse deals than if someone had simply booked everything at rack rate PRIOR to the ticket increase. Again, it's a complete roll of the dice.