Yes. You must book a package with at least a one-day one-park base pass. They cost about $72 each. The good news is that you can save that pass upgrade it at a later time to whatever kind of pass you need, including an AP renewal if you are there in your renewal window. We did free dining in 8/2005 and 8/2006. In 12/2005 we upgraded our one-days to DVC AP Renewals. In 12/2006 we upgraded them to 10-Day Park Hoppers as we are going to Asia this summer and not FL.
Personally, I would book the Free Dining when it comes out. There will be a flurry of activity and you will want to make sure you have your room books ASAP. If/when AP rates come out you can compare rates and do the math. The discounts may be better that they were last year. You have up to 45 days before your check-in date to cancel without penalty which is mid to late July depending on your check-in date. I expect the AP rates will come out before your 45-day deadline.
Yes, you have to get the same tickets, but you may upgrade your one-day one-park base ticket to a length of stay ticket while your DH's ticket remains unused. You can upgrade at check-in or at Customer Relations outside the park gates.
Nope. You just keep your room keys. In fact, when we upgraded our one-day one-parks passes from 8/06 to 10-day park hoppers in 12/06 we kept the old key cards as our passes.
