Ap + Dinning

[gretchenohar@hotmail]

You're quite welcome!! Yes a trip to WDW with all the discounts/packages/meal plans etc takes a lot of time to figure what is best. I like the Dining plan when it's free and we stay in a value. Other than that I don't think I would ever buy it. In my above post are the reasons.

Some get the dining plans for convienence of not having to worry about ordering expensive items etc and like to have it all prepaid. For us the TinW card just works better to get the discount on what we want exactly- we really wouldn't order the non alcoholic drinks or the desserts if paying. When on the dining plan we get them, but don't really want them. Many desserts came back to the room, some were eaten , some not. That goes for the CS desserts as well or drinks for that matter. We bring bottled water and that's really what we want to drink not all the soda/soft drinks so we wouldn't be buying them on TIW and end up paying a tip when we get the dining (just get them because!! or eat/drink small portions of the item)

Point well taken.
Thanks!

 

[disneyfan55]

We are a party of 7 - 5 adults, 1 teen, and 1 infant.

Excluding the infant, do we all have to have an annual pass to book 2 discounted rooms and add the dinning plan?

You need to have 1 adult AP to book a room, so 2 can book 2 rooms. I'm not sure about the dining plan, I've never purchased it, but I assume that you can buy the dining plan without tickets since that what it was changed to last year. Usually a dining plan purchase requires a ticket purchase as well.

 

[figment82]

As long as you are booking an AP discount rate room, you can add the dining plan without having to book a package with tickets. If you book under some other deal though (ie room only pin code) for times when there isn't an AP discount, you can't add the dining plan - you would have to book as a package with at least a 1-day park ticket included.

Also re: the TIW card: if you are going to be spending at least $350 on food/beverage/alcohol "out of pocket" during the year, regardless of whether you have the dining plan or not, it is worth getting the card. The $75 pass saves you 20% - so that's the math. We knew we were doing one trip this year on free dining, and the rest we were going to be with friends that already had the card, so we didn't buy it. However, our friends have made great use out of it and don't see any need for the dining plan. YMMV!

 

[PIRATEGIRL007]

Don't mean to hijack, but I have a quick question. If I'm planning to use my GAD-GAD one day tickets and upgrade them to AP, can I still book a room at the AP rate and get the DDP without actually having the tickets in my hand until after I get there? Does that make sense? Thanks.

Yes you can you will just need to make your reservations over the phone (you won't have access to passholder site) and go get your GAD voucher exchanged and upgraded to the AP before you check in at your hotel. Some have reported being able to show the AP later in the trip, but the 'rule' is they need to see it when you check in to give you the discounted room.

 

[disneymom06]

It appears that now, even when an AP discount is not offered, AP holders can book the rack rate price and add the DP without having to purchase tickets.

This can be done when you log into the Passholders section and look under meal and dining and click the DDP section.