Advice on Dining Plan

[jayhjay]

I am trying to think this through so any advice would be helpful. We just found out DD will be at a conference in October so we have a last minute trip suddenly in the works. I will be there Wed-Sun (we have two ressies, one for Sun-Tues at PO and one Wed-Sun at SSR). He is at the conference until Friday so will have lunch already covered on Wed and THursday. Friday he ends by lunch so we would still have time to eat lunch together that day.

So my question is, is it worth getting the dining package? We would use the table service credits no problem b/c we would have dinner every night. But he wouldn't need the counter services on Wed and Thursday. It doesn't seem too hard to buy extra snacks, but how would we use his CS credits? Or do you think it is still worth it even if we have to waste those?

Also, we are booked on AAA discount. My understanding is that you can't get dining with this discount, is that correct? We are only really paying for one night on our own b/c his work will cover the conference days so it might be worth it to drop the AAA discount in exchange for dining.

As I said, I am a bit muddled and woudl welcome any advice. THanks! JJ

 

[Windy City Heather]

They can be used for breakfast too. Also, he does not have to use them, you can use them. If it were me I would be hitting Main Street Bakery or the Bakery in France. I would nibble in the park or dessert in bed just before going to sleep sounds good. I know it is not the best bang for you buck but sounds like a good way to use some extra credits. I think I have read you get to pick out two bakery items plus you get a drink.

As for being a good buy, I still think so depending on the restaurants you pick.

 

[jann1033]

plus if you don't use them so what...no doubt you will have used enough for them to pay for themselves. i fhappened to figure it up today from www.allearsnet.com menus using the one for primetime lunch, and a counter place in mgm just to see...not getting the most expensive things i would have gotten 45 worth of food for 35...so even with out the counter service i would have at worse broken even and if i had gone to a more expsnsive place or gotten an expensive meal( i figured it with amid priced meal) i would have saved more

 

[swilshire]

You can also pick up carryout CS for the flight home.

Sheila

 

[WDWBetsy]

Also, we are booked on AAA discount. My understanding is that you can't get dining with this discount, is that correct? We are only really paying for one night on our own b/c his work will cover the conference days so it might be worth it to drop the AAA discount in exchange for dining.

You can get both the AAA room discount and the dining plan if you book a package (including tickets - at least 1 day MYW base tickets for each person) directly through a AAA travel agency. Otherwise if you want the dining, you have to book a package with at least a 1 day MYW ticket per person and the room is at rack rate.

 

[jayhjay]

If I already have reservations, can I have AAA get the same room for the package? I don't want to cancel it and then lose my room. How does that work?

 

[ainmama2001]

I have a question here...and it may be kind of long winded.

I rented points for OKW from a DVC member. He made all my arrangments and we paid him directly. I have my confirmation number and all of that.

So, we're 32 days out from our trip and I'm arranging dining reservations. I've had numerous CM's ask if I'd like the dining plan, and I said no.

I reasearched it, and it's a good deal, so I called back to apply for it, only to be told that I couldn't buy it because I had a "room only" situation and not a package.

We have a villa and not just including our room, but the others in our party, we'll have 14 people at some points in our party. I feel MAJORLY ripped off. Is there ANYTHING I can do? I can't cancel out the reservation because the DVC member is on vacation himself and HE has to do it. Plus, if we DO go that route and cancel and redo all the reservation and ticket info as a package, what happens to our dining reservations? We have a lunch PS at CRT that I CANNOT lose. I'm at a loss. This plan would save us HUNDREDS of dollars and I can't believe Disney is being so hard nosed about it. It's a shame really, and I'm actually not looking forward to our vacation half as much as I was because of the situation. Any suggestions?

 

[WDWBetsy]

If I already have reservations, can I have AAA get the same room for the package? I don't want to cancel it and then lose my room. How does that work?

I think that you can ask a AAA travel agent to take over the reservation (making it a package) where your deposit could still be applied.

Or call a AAA agent and ask them to check availability for the MYW + dining - if they have the same room type w/the discount for your dates, go ahead and book it with them and then cancel the other one (they usually refund the deposit pretty quick - at least in our case our credit card was credited within a day).

 

[jayhjay]

You can get both the AAA room discount and the dining plan if you book a package (including tickets - at least 1 day MYW base tickets for each person) directly through a AAA travel agency.

I just reread this and I am a little confused. Does that mean we don't have to have the package deal the entire time (at least 1 day MYW)? I was told we needed to be on the package for the length of our ressie at the hotel, and we both then needed matching park tickets (5 days for both of us, not 5 for me and 3 for him). Are you saying there is a way we can get the package for just 3 days of our 5 day hotel stay? Or that we would need to book the hotel for just the lenght of our package? We already have two separate ressies (before and after I arrive) so adding a third might be tough.

Can you clarify what you were saying a bit? Thanks so much for all the great help!

 

[WDWBetsy]

I have a question here...and it may be kind of long winded.

I rented points for OKW from a DVC member. He made all my arrangments and we paid him directly. I have my confirmation number and all of that.

So, we're 32 days out from our trip and I'm arranging dining reservations. I've had numerous CM's ask if I'd like the dining plan, and I said no.

I reasearched it, and it's a good deal, so I called back to apply for it, only to be told that I couldn't buy it because I had a "room only" situation and not a package.

We have a villa and not just including our room, but the others in our party, we'll have 14 people at some points in our party. I feel MAJORLY ripped off. Is there ANYTHING I can do? I can't cancel out the reservation because the DVC member is on vacation himself and HE has to do it. Plus, if we DO go that route and cancel and redo all the reservation and ticket info as a package, what happens to our dining reservations? We have a lunch PS at CRT that I CANNOT lose. I'm at a loss. This plan would save us HUNDREDS of dollars and I can't believe Disney is being so hard nosed about it. It's a shame really, and I'm actually not looking forward to our vacation half as much as I was because of the situation. Any suggestions?

I don't think there's anything you can do in your present situation to get the dining plan. The terms are that you have to book a MYW package (rack rate room *unless booking a AAA package directly with AAA*, at least 1 day MYW tickets for each person, and the dining) and at this point you'd have to pay it all in advance. I don't know about the dining reservations, I think once you cancel, they are also cancelled.

I know it doesn't seem fair, but that is why Disney has so many different types of programs - APs, FL resident discounts, DVC, special promos, etc. Not everyone is always able to take advantage if you don't meet the requirements. Heck, I wish we could have gotten the free dining but we are going outside of the required dates.

I've made our ADRs and every time the CM has asked me if we have the dining plan, but they are just asking to put it in the computer, not trying to sell it to me.

I would try to have the best time possible - think of it this way - you're probably getting a good deal renting the DVC points vs. paying the normal rates to stay in the same place.

Hope you have a good time!!

 

[WDWBetsy]

I just reread this and I am a little confused. Does that mean we don't have to have the package deal the entire time (at least 1 day MYW)? I was told we needed to be on the package for the length of our ressie at the hotel, and we both then needed matching park tickets (5 days for both of us, not 5 for me and 3 for him). Are you saying there is a way we can get the package for just 3 days of our 5 day hotel stay? Or that we would need to book the hotel for just the lenght of our package? We already have two separate ressies (before and after I arrive) so adding a third might be tough.

Can you clarify what you were saying a bit? Thanks so much for all the great help!

Sorry - to get the dining package, it's based on the number of room nights for that reservation. So if you check in for 3 nights on the package, you get 3 counter service, 3 table service and 3 snacks per person in your party. Both of you have to have the same exact tickets, as long as they're at least 1 day.

You can use the dining credits from the time you check in on the package reservation until midnight the day you check-out, so you can go enjoy the rest of the day at the parks, etc. until you leave and still use any remaining credits.

Hope this makes sense.

 

[ainmama2001]

I don't think there's anything you can do in your present situation to get the dining plan. The terms are that you have to book a MYW package (rack rate room *unless booking a AAA package directly with AAA*, at least 1 day MYW tickets for each person, and the dining) and at this point you'd have to pay it all in advance. I don't know about the dining reservations, I think once you cancel, they are also cancelled.

I know it doesn't seem fair, but that is why Disney has so many different types of programs - APs, FL resident discounts, DVC, special promos, etc. Not everyone is always able to take advantage if you don't meet the requirements. Heck, I wish we could have gotten the free dining but we are going outside of the required dates.

I've made our ADRs and every time the CM has asked me if we have the dining plan, but they are just asking to put it in the computer, not trying to sell it to me.

I would try to have the best time possible - think of it this way - you're probably getting a good deal renting the DVC points vs. paying the normal rates to stay in the same place.

Hope you have a good time!!

Thanks, Betsy. I'm just pretty darn disgusted with this whole DVC thing. We rented to see if it was worth buying into, and as far as room rates and all that I'm sure it is. But, we were also sold on all the perks you get if you stay as a DVC member. I have made my PSR's, bought my tickets, made golf reservations...and my being a DVC resort guest didn't matter anymore than if I was staying at one of the All Stars.

 

[figmentfan1]

We used a time share trade for SSR... and I wish we could get the free dining too. Oh well.. it will still be magical and I can't wait!!!!