Annual pass holder, can we ge the dining plan?

[tinkandonaldfans]

We were given vouchers for an annual pass with our wedding. We have not activated them yet but wondered whether we could get the dining plan for our stay? We were planning on staying at the swan or dolphin in December?

 

[figment_jii]

Sorry, but no, you cannot because the Swan and Dolphin are not eligible to participate in the dining plan. You have to stay at one of the Disney owned resorts to purchase the plan.

 

[TDC Nala]

The Disney Dining Plan is not available to guests of the Swan or Dolphin. Only guests of Disney-operated resorts are eligible to get the dining plan.

 

[tinkandonaldfans]

If we stayed elsewhere would we be eligible to purchase the dining plan even with annual passes?

 

[TDC Nala]

If you stay at a Disney-operated resort you should be able to purchase an annual passholder ticketless room plus dining package. This means you can get the room and the dining plan of your choice but aren't required to purchase tickets.

This type of package requires that one adult annual pass be presented at check-in and I remember seeing somewhere that it is supposed to be an actual activated annual pass (not a voucher). So you may have to trade in your voucher and activate your pass before checking in. They will issue new annual passes at the resorts now so you may be able to do it there.

 

[3happydancers]

If we stayed elsewhere would we be eligible to purchase the dining plan even with annual passes?

As long as you are staying at a Disney owned resort you can get the dining plan, with or without the annual passes. I don't know exactly how much it is, but the regular dining plan (which includes 1 ADR, 1 counter service, and 1 snack a day) is approximately 53.00 per person per day (sorry I don't know the exact amount). I don't believe you can get a discount with the annual pass for the dining plan.

You can purchase the TIW discount card for about $100.00 (a card which you can use for a percentage off drinks and meals at participating restaurants and counter service meals). I am pretty sure you can use the annual pass for other discounts as well. I am sorry I don't know much more than this but I am sure someone on the boards could help.

 

[TDC Nala]

Tables in Wonderland (TIW) membership is $75 for annual passholders (13 month membership).

There are no discounts for AP on the dining plan itself. The only thing you'll be able to do is book a room/dining package without tickets, paying full price for the dining plan. You may be able to get a discount on the room portion if they are available.

The dining plan is tied to the resort reservation, not the park tickets, which is why you can't get the dining plan at a non-Disney resort even if you have tickets. You must book a package reservation to get a dining plan (except DVC members). Packages usually include tickets, but Disney's come up with the ticketless package so that annual passholders can get the dining plan without having to buy MORE tickets.

 

[tinkandonaldfans]

We called up Disney today to talk about this and the person I spoke to said she couldn't add the dining plan without the tickets. We would be booking through virign holidays so wondering how we would sort out the dining plan?

 

[TDC Nala]

Sorry, but I did not realize at first that you were British.

I don't think the annual passholder ticketless packages apply to bookings through Disney in the UK or through Virgin. You would have to call the travel agency and ask. I think that if you are going to have to buy tickets anyway you should inquire about free dining. The British free dining offer is much more expansive time-wise than the American one.

You may want to check the DIS's UK forum.