Confused CMs or Is It Just Me?

[dreamscometrue101]

I'm finally booking my October trip tonight after work and I've been pricing out packages for the last few weeks in advance of it.

The biggest sticking point for me is the dining plan. With a wedding in the midst of my solo trip I'm not sure it's worth the money to add the dining plan as there is going to be a lot of wedding things happening and I'm sure I'll be skipping a few meals.

I would like to book my package tonight and then add the Dining Plan on after I've crunched the numbers but every time that I call Disney to ask a question, I ask about adding the Dining plan later and 4 of the 6 CMs that I've spoken to have said that I have to add it at the time of booking.

I was confirming prices today online and went through the Chat function and the CM there told me the same thing. I told her that other CMs have told fellow travellers that they could add it later, but she said she was certain it had to be booked with the original booking.

Has anyone else booked in the last little while and been told they could add it later on? Worse case scenario I don't add it now and I have to pay OOP for food, it wouldn't be that big a deal but I would like the option to add it later if possible.

 

[frannn]

As far as I know, it has always been the case that you can add the dining plan to your package up to 48 hrs before you arrive. I could be wrong about the specific amount of days, but I believe you can definitely add it later.

 

[MrInfinity]

No problem at all adding it later. I added mine well after I made my original booking. You can take it off at any time too. If you're outside 45 days there is no charge. If you're inside 45 days there is no charge if your total goes up, and a $50 charge if your total is reduced by your change.

If a CM wont add it just call back and get one that will. I've done it lots of times, as recently as a month ago when I added the DDP to my own.
-mike

 

[mickeynut1]

I'm finally booking my October trip tonight after work and I've been pricing out packages for the last few weeks in advance of it.

The biggest sticking point for me is the dining plan. With a wedding in the midst of my solo trip I'm not sure it's worth the money to add the dining plan as there is going to be a lot of wedding things happening and I'm sure I'll be skipping a few meals.

I would like to book my package tonight and then add the Dining Plan on after I've crunched the numbers but every time that I call Disney to ask a question, I ask about adding the Dining plan later and 4 of the 6 CMs that I've spoken to have said that I have to add it at the time of booking.

I was confirming prices today online and went through the Chat function and the CM there told me the same thing. I told her that other CMs have told fellow travellers that they could add it later, but she said she was certain it had to be booked with the original booking.

Has anyone else booked in the last little while and been told they could add it later on? Worse case scenario I don't add it now and I have to pay OOP for food, it wouldn't be that big a deal but I would like the option to add it later if possible.

You can add the DDP to a package anytime, as long as it's added at least 3 days prior to arrival. With that said, if you book RO now and want to change to a package later, the RO will have to be cancelled/refunded and a package booked, requiring a new $200 deposit (or payment in full if this is done 45 days or less from arrival). RO and packages are different reservations systems, so money paid toward one cannot be applied to the other.

 

[Missyk1124]

I just added the DDP to my package tonight with no problem. Our package had room and tickets though. We check in in 6 days.

 

[POOHsie]

You could have 2 separate reservations. One with dining plan, one that's room-only during the time of your wedding activities.

You can add dining plan to your reservations later, but it must cover your entire reservation, not just some days. Switching to 2 reservations will give you the control you want. There's always the caveat that you might have to switch rooms for your second reservation, but that is very unusual. I've had 2 trips with 2 different reservations at the same resort, and never had to change rooms.

 

[vicki_c]

As far as I know, it has always been the case that you can add the dining plan to your package up to 48 hrs before you arrive. I could be wrong about the specific amount of days, but I believe you can definitely add it later.

48 hours is only for DVC reservations. For regular Disney bookings, it is 72 hours.

 

[dreamscometrue101]

Thank you everyone. I thought that was the case but the CMs were convinced it wasn't possible.

I think they want people to book the DDP and then not deal with the hassle of removing it and then adding free dining if it comes out.

 

[TDC Nala]

It shouldn't be any problem for them to add free dining to an existing package, so that can't be it. The difficulty lies in changing a room-only reservation to a package, because that will have to be a cancellation and rebooking.