Can AP Holders Do The Dining Plan?

[Madi100]

Because we are DVC members, I'm not sure how it works. I've got a friend going in November and then again in June. She's got a package booked right now for November. I suggested to her getting APs because that's a better route to go. Do you know if she can still do this and can she do the dining plan with APs?

 

[aubriee]

To get the DDP you must buy a package that includes paying rack rate for the room and at least a one day MYW ticket for everyone in the room. What they could do is buy the pkg with one day MYW tickets and then upgrade those one day tickets to AP once they get there. They would need to go to a guest services at DTD or at a park to upgrade them to an AP however, as the resorts can only upgrade to MYW tickets. Also if they don't want to get an AP for all of them, they could just upgrade the MYW tickets to what each one wanted/needed and then get the AP just for the ones that want it.

Just FYI: I am an AP holder that has done this several times. In fact my AP will expire before my Sept/Oct trip. I was able to get free dining via the Bounce Back Program, so will have a one day MYW base ticket in my pkg. When I get there I will immediately go to a park guest service and upgrade to a new AP.

 

[beth_cam]

Anyone can do the dining plan. Not all reservations can include the dining plan.

DVC reservations using DVC points can add the dining plan.

MYW package reservations (meaning a MYW room + Ticket combined into a package) can add the dining plan.

AP discounts are for room only reservations and therefor not eligable for DDP.

AP holders can book a regular MYW package (so no ap discount) with whatever deal is out there for packages and book a one day ticket for each person in there party (so add about $70 per person) so that they become elligable for the dining plan. Then being sure never to use their room card to enter a park, that one day ticket never expires and can be used towards the purchase of the next years ap (must be at Disney to do this I think). Many ap holders have found this a good route.

Are you sure that the ap is the best way to go? For trips shorter than 6 days, it isn't always the cheapest ticket and the ap discount may or may not be the best deal.

10 Day no exp base ticket is about 400 (so think 2 5 day trips)
10 Day no exp hopping ticket about 435
AP is 462
10 day no exp hopping, water parks & more is about 478
PAP (ap with water parks) 595

The latest ap discounts were $36 at mods, when the AAA discount was 26.25 so that meant the ap was only better by about $10 per night (less if you are talking a preferred location). There wasn't a value resort discount and only certain deluxes were discoutned, however those wer much better savings than AAA.

Anyways I'm just saying that if they like their package and are getting any kind of deal on it it may turn out just as well as their ap or close enough that it isn't worth the bother for now. I'd leave the package alone till ap discounts are released and you can really money compare what you are getting.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

Disney has reduced the AP discounts recently. They are getting wise to us!

Anyhow, with the AP, you can also get DDE for $65, which gives you 20% off at most sit down restaurants. If you are planning multiple trips within one year, and you have a large group - this may well be the way to go. IWht one trip and a smaller group it might not make sense to do this. With one AP you can book up to 3 rooms at a time with the discount, but in doing so you can't get the dining plan.

 

[Madi100]

I'm not asking because of the discount. If she takes two trips and stays a total of 13 days, she'd be better off with an AP. Can she do the package this time and upgrade to an AP before she leaves and still do the dining plan on this trip?

 

[beth_cam]

I had forgotten about that option that you bring up. She should be fine with booking a package with whatever length ticket then upgrading that ticket to an ap before she hits the park/after checking into the hotel.


I'm still not convinced that the ap is the best ticket there are still times it might not be but it may well be the best ticket (usually is for trips totalling more than 10 days for a person who park hops). Don't forget that if she wants to do water parks she needs a PAP. And with the above plan it allows her to try the dining plan, have her ap and decide what she wants in the future....and it still allows her the chance at the ap discounts the next time.

 

[northie]

I'm not asking because of the discount. If she takes two trips and stays a total of 13 days, she'd be better off with an AP. Can she do the package this time and upgrade to an AP before she leaves and still do the dining plan on this trip?

Yes, she can and it will not affect her dining plan. Go to Guest Relations before she even enters the park of her choice (they all have outside Guest Relations windows) and they'll remove it from her room key and give her an AP. They will charge AP price minus the number of days on her MYW ticket. I did it in December, I had an 8 day MYW ticket and it cost around $180 to upgrade to an AP. We were planning two trips at the time totaling 16 days, and since have added another 7 day trip (bounce back offer in December, for which I will have a 1 day MYW ticket I can use for next year's AP) and a 4 day trip, so the AP was well worth it.

Sara