Can I do this with the DDP if it's offered?

[bgula]

OK, I've been trying to bone up on the DDP since I was an idiot and didn't sign up for it last summer. We're going again this summer (hopefully), staying from July 29 - Sep 1. Right now I have a AAA discount on 3 ressies. We are AP holders, so I understand that if Disney offers the DP, we'll have to give up the AAA discount and buy a 1-day ticket. My question is this: Let's say they offer the DP from Aug 12 (similar to last year). I'm staying at FW and can book a site for 30 days at rack rate on 1 ressie (so I've been told). Does this mean that I would have the dining from Aug 12 until I leave? Does anyone know if there's a maximum limit on a stay with DDP? If the above scenario plays out, I would have 21 days on the DDP. Am I figuring this right, or am I missing something?

 

[thunderbird1]

Last year, you had to book a "package" to qualify for free DDP, and the longest packages available were 10 days. This year, they've increased the maximum to 14 days. Beyond that, you'd have to book a separate "package," with another ticket requirement (1 day last year, possibly longer this year). I know several people did this in order to get longer vacations/longer free DDP.

So to get your 21 days, you'd have to do 2 packages, and end up with 2 one day base tickets per person, at a minimum. But you could get free dining for that entire period, if you don't mind the hassle of the multiple reservations (which I'd guess you don't, since you already have 3).

Want to adopt my family and take us with you?

 

[BrerMama]

I thought Disney had closed the loophole on campsites. I was fairly sure that you can't get discounted packages with a campsite because people were doing exactly what you are suggesting.

I just tried to price out a package on a Ft. Wilderness campsite, and couldn't do it. I'm not even sure you can get a MYW package with a campsite -- doesn't look like you can through the Disney website at least.

 

[bgula]

I thought Disney had closed the loophole on campsites. I was fairly sure that you can't get discounted packages with a campsite because people were doing exactly what you are suggesting.

I just tried to price out a package on a Ft. Wilderness campsite, and couldn't do it. I'm not even sure you can get a MYW package with a campsite -- doesn't look like you can through the Disney website at least.

I'm not trying to get the discounted rate - I have it now in case free dining is not offered, but fully expect to pay rack rate if I sign up for the dining. It's only ~$10/day more anyway.

Want to adopt my family and take us with you?

Love to, but I don't think we'd have the room! You'd be surprised at how fast that amount of time goes by, but it is much more relaxing not having to kill yourself at the parks everyday.

 

[The Sweetness]

Have a wonderful time, with or without dining

 

[BrerMama]

Actually, I was referring to a discount on a MYW package, which is what free dining is essentially. From reading your post, it sounds like you have a AAA discounted campsite only reservation. If free dining is offered, you'll have to convert that to a MYW package -- it's not as simple as buying a ticket and adding dining. And I'm pretty sure the free dining or any special promotions are not good for those staying at the campsites.

Here's a thread discussing this subject: Camping Board thread

Campsites are not included in the free dining promotion.

 

[bgula]

That sucks! I was not aware that FW was not included. I guess I can keep my fingers crossed that maybe it will be this year!

 

[bicker]

Well, I'm pretty sure that they were included in 2005, so the fact that they weren't allowed in 2006 sounds like Disney didn't like the effect of having them included (a lot of people booked campsites just to get the free dining at less than it cost to pay for it, and then still stayed elsewhere, sometimes off-site), so plan on that restriction being in place going forward. I'm even a little suprised that they haven't put limits on free dining in value resort rooms, since the room rate, including surcharges, runs less than the cost of the Dining Plan for four adults.

 

[bgula]

Maybe I will post that question in the camping forum and see if anyone got free dining last summer. I was there myself, but hadn't investigated enough about it. We have AP's, so I simply read that we couldn't get the DDP - until I read after that all you had to do was purchase a 1-day ticket.

Re the 1-day ticket: I've read that you can apply the ticket toward your AP renewal. Is this true?

 

[frannn]

We upgraded the 1 day tickets to new AP vouchers at Guest Relations in DTD. We would have had to buy new APs for our next trip anyway, so this was wonderful. I have read posts where some guests were told they could not do this, though. If we book a pkg to get free dining this year, we will probably just hold onto the tickets for a few years. We will (hopefully) not need new APs in 2008, if we go while the old ones are still active, so why lay out more $$ for another set of APs (other than to avoid a price increase). I hope they start offering the DP to AP holders, as this would make it much less complicated for us.

 

[abaldacci]

you can't use the free dining with campsites. Sorry

 

[Luv2Roam]

If free dining is offered, I would not expect to see it for the capmpsites if I were you.
Due to having APs and your length of stay I would think the DDE membership would be your best bet anyway.