AP / Dining Plan / Room Only

[Horizons16]

Hello,

My family just recently because DVC members. We have booked and used our points for July this coming year.

I am planning a short vacation in April with paying out of pocket.

What I wanted to know was how do I book an AP / Dining Plan / Room only combo?

Should I buy my AP then book the room and Dining Plan?

I am rather confused about this whole thing

 

[vicki_c]

You don't need the AP to book, only for your trip.

You are purchasing a ticketless AP package with dining. Your room must be either an AP discounted rate room or a full price room, no other discounts are allowed. It is a package and follows the package rules ($200 deposit, full payment due at 45 days out, same cancellation policies).

I believe you can do this on the AP holder site, but I'm not sure since I don't have a current AP. Obviously you can't do that if you don't already have an AP and would have to call Disney on the phone.

 

[TDC Nala]

There's no such thing as a dining plan with a room only reservation if you're booking through CRO/WDTC. as noted, what you want to book is a room/dining package for annual passholders. This is a package reservation, not a room only.

You would need to present the AP when you check into the resort, but you don't need it to book the reservation.

 

[Lizard Valley]

Since you're a DVC member, have you considered taking advantage of the discounted Premium Annual Pass (PAP) offer for DVC members? Right now it's actually cheaper than the regular AP. You'd have to buy it before Dec 31st, 2012, but you can activate it anytime before Dec 31, 2013.

Then you can use the AP (or PAP) discount to book your room and dining plan package. (By the way, if you were considering taking advantage of a free dining promotion, you'd have to pay full price for the room, as well as add a minimum MYW ticket for each person on the reservation, so really not worth it).

You may find that getting one TiW card with your AP discount (75$) gives you more value. That may be cheaper than buying a dining plan.

Have fun!

 

[MouseMomx2]

I would suggest buying a Tables in Wonderland card. We like it much better than the dining plans. It gives you 20% off food and drink (including alcohol) at most full-serve restaurants, along with the quick serve locations at Animal Kingdom and the Value Resort food courts. You aren't locked into the dining plans' restrictions so we find it much more flexible.

As a DVC member the card will cost you $100 for one year (usually it lasts about 13 months), but since you will have an AP you can get it for $75. Visit any park or DtD location to purchase it.

 

[TDC Nala]

I am pretty sure the OP wasn't asking about free dining. They want to know about the AP ticketless package through WDTC, not using their DVC points. Free dining is a different thing, and isn't available for regular bookings in the US right now anyway.

With a ticketless package you are getting the room (with an AP discount if one is available) and the paid dining plan. No tickets. But it has to be in the form of a package. If the OP wants the more lenient payment and cancellation policies available with the room-only reservation, there's no way to retain those while adding a dining plan - if you get the dining plan, it's going to be a package, even without the tickets.

Since the OP has more than one trip planned I'm also going to suggest looking at the TIW membership at the AP rate of $75 rather than booking a dining plan.

 

[Horizons16]

Interesting.

When I go in April I will be part of a party of 6. We will have 3 different rooms. When I go again in July it will be one reservation under the DVC points.

So for Tables in Wonderland... How many memberships or cards or whatever its called do I need? If my wife and I go to dinner do we just need one? What if I go out with 6 of my friends?

 

[DannysMom]

I believe the TIW discount can be applied on parties of up to 10.

Sometimes the TIW cardholder has to be the check payer, so your friends might have to reimburse you (instead of check splitting.)

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards App please excuse any typos.

 

[TDC Nala]

TIW discount can be applied on one membership for the cardholder plus up to 9 guests; the cardholder must be present. However, all discounted meals are supposed to be on the same check. If they go by the stated rules of TIW, the cardholder also has to pay the check. That would mean other parties would need to reimburse you. But over two trips it could conceivably save more than the dining plan.

 

[Horizons16]

Are either of you members?

 

[TDC Nala]

Yes, for many years, since they started letting annual passholders get memberships. Used to be it was only available to Florida residents. Back then it was called the Disney Dining Experience, they changed the name to keep it from being confused with the Disney Dining Plan.

 

[vicki_c]

We also have had TiW for the past 4 years or so. It fits our style of eating better. We don't do the DDP.

 

[DannysMom]

Not yet a member, but thinking we will buy one next trip, our first trip as DVC members.

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards App, please excuse any typos.