DDP and YES - please help, I'm so confused!

[aidansmom]

My understanding is that you cannot combine free dining and the YES program. But, only one of my children will be able to participate in the YES program, so we will be paying full price for one adult park hopper pass (7 nts.). Does that mean that only one of us is eligible to participate in free dining and that we would have to purchase two day passes for all other members of the family to have free dining? I'm so confused as to how this works!

 

[canopynut66]

you can call and WDW will explain all to you. as this has me stumped as have not heard of the YES program..sorry

 

[deakam]

From what I understand, the YES program is for a ticket discount. Free dining requires a 2 day ticket and a Disney resort room plan. The current free dining requires 5 nights. When booking a package Disney requires everyone in the room to be on the same package. So in order for your group to qualify for the current free dining--everyone would need to be booked into a Disney resort for 5 nights or more with a minimum of a 2 day ticket. What kind of tickets you purchase above the 2 day ticket does not matter but they can not be added to the package. They would have to be purchased outside of the package.

If this information is not correct I am certain someone on here will correct me...

 

[TDC Nala]

YES program allows for the purchase of steeply discounted park tickets if you sign your child(ren) up for a Disney-run educational program. They're limited to a certain number of discounted tickets per participating child and it appears they have one person over the limit.

The problem with combining YES with free dining is that free dining requires a purchase of a vacation package including at least 2 day park tickets for ALL persons registered in the room. Which means that even though they get discounted park tickets through YES, they are required to purchase MORE tickets for their entire party in order to get the free dining. This means they will probably pretty much negate the discount they get from the free dining.

One solution is to book the free dining, book the 2 day tickets for everyone, then save the 2 day tickets for a future trip. WDW tickets do not expire until after they are first used. As for the adult who needs tickets, their 2 day ticket can be upgraded to a 7 day ticket once they arrive and check in and receive the ticket.

The only thing I want to mention from the previous post is that free dining does not require 5 nights. Free dining is a 3 night minimum and a 14 night maximum. And you can add any length of ticket you want to a free dining package, as long as they are for at least 2 days.

 

[aidansmom]

Thanks for the help. I think we're realizing that free dining will save us more than YES.

 

[amylynne01]

How many adults are in your party? If one child is participating in YES, you can buy up to 2 adult tickets at the reduced price (can't remember how many kids' tickets). I'm hoping my older DD can do a class in January, and if she does, we'll get reduced price tickets for my DH, myself, and our 2 girls (DS is free because he's a baby).

The ongoing argument of is the DDP worth it also comes into play. And if you get YES tickets, you can get a discount on your room, which you can't get if you get free dining.

 

[mieuxmew]

Figure the difference of ticket prices full price (include tax) the subtract YES ticket price. Two adults can get the YES fix with one or two children. Also, you can get a room discount, so figure that as a savings, too. The YES ticket discount is greater with longer stay park hoppers and Water Park/Disney Quest. Depending on your figures, the savings may be better than the free dining plan if you purchase rack rates on room and tickets.

Maybe consider purchasing a Disney gift card for the savings and using that as your meal plan.

 

[QueenDoOver]

My family is going in August with YES tickets, staying at DVC and purchasing dining plan for part of our stay. (we have two different reservations) It is the best of all worlds. Not sure were you are staying but you could consider renting points and staying DVC so that you wouldn't have to purchase tickets that you won't use.