dining and the AP

[inloveindisney]

I am considering buying an annual pass. If I purchase this, can I buy a dining plan when I visit? I don't see the option anywhere on the site.

 

[helenk]

You can not add the dining package to an AP reservation. We are hoping that this might change as they have added to those who are using their DVC membership, but so far nothing with the AP.

 

[MouseWorshipin]

You could add a one-day base ticket to your package and then (with the additional cost of one one-day base ticket) buy the dining package.

 

[inloveindisney]

hmm, I'm curious to see how that adds up.

 

[inloveindisney]

here's my thought:
Can I buy that one day ticket and then give it away to my sister to use that same week?

 

[zippehsmom]

or you can upgrade that one day ticket to an AP once you arrive .

 

[MouseWorshipin]

here's my thought:
Can I buy that one day ticket and then give it away to my sister to use that same week?

Um, technically, according to Disney and all of their loyal supporters, No. People get into very heated debates about this - it is stealing from Disney, that kind of thing.

I did it, though. Gave it to my sister. Now watch me get flamed.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

or you can upgrade that one day ticket to an AP once you arrive .

Are you sure? Because that is what I want to do. We have a MYW + Dining booked for August. Can I upgrade my 8 Day expiring pass to an AP when we get there without messing up the dining plan? Has anybody actually done that?

 

[CDoobee]

Are you sure? Because that is what I want to do. We have a MYW + Dining booked for August. Can I upgrade my 8 Day expiring pass to an AP when we get there without messing up the dining plan? Has anybody actually done that?

And can only one person in your party do the upgrade to AP? I know you all originally have to have the same ticket purchase.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

And can only one person in your party do the upgrade to AP? I know you all originally have to have the same ticket purchase.

Oooh. Good question! I have worked out that ONE AP would be very beneficial, but I don't know for sure that we need THREE. There is a really helpful example on Mousesavers that compares the price of a package w/ the dining plan to a package with an AP room discount paying for food OOP. But it assumes you only have one AP for the family.

 

[CDoobee]

Thanks! I'll go check that out.

 

[inloveindisney]

I'm not seeing that information on the site, can someone post it?

 

[inloveindisney]

Let me just see if I understand. Buy a magic your way package with a one day park ticket. Meal plan, etc. included.
Then, when I get there, upgrade the ticket and keep the package for my stay? That sounds good.
So, what if I upgrade to an AP and my husband doesn't? Can we get a MYW package when we go again at Christmas?

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

If you go to www.mousesavers.com and click the link about the new AP resort rates it will take you to a different page. From there, click to see the chart that compares and AP vs. a package with the Dining Plan.

It comes down to working out how much you save with the plan. In October we saved about $250 total over our 9 night trip. If we had used our last 2 CS credits and not done a signature meal we would have come out better - maybe a little over $300 in savings. Add that to the money we saved on our room by booking our package through AAA for total savings.

If having an AP will save us significantly more than AAA over the course of a 9 night stay then we are ahead to book AP room only, buy tickets for DS and DH through Ticketmania, and pay for food out of pocket. Our savings on the dining plan will completely evaporate when DS turns 10. He eats like a bird (a bird with a REALLY small appetite!) so paying $38 per day for his dining will be counter-productive. If we get a DDE card we will come out better than with the plan and we'll have a little more flexibility. If we don't want an appetizer or dessert we won't order one!

 

[inloveindisney]

Here's a question my husband thought of today. If we go again at Christmas and buy a christmas party ticket, will that allow us to buy a meal plan? (Assuming we are using an ap for the rest of the trip)

 

[tnkrbell]

Here is a thought if you but a annual pass maybe getting a DDE card would save you more money then the dining plan??

 

[Chuck S]

Here's a question my husband thought of today. If we go again at Christmas and buy a christmas party ticket, will that allow us to buy a meal plan? (Assuming we are using an ap for the rest of the trip)

No, the Christmas Party ticket is a special event ticket.

 

[inloveindisney]

Here is a thought if you but a annual pass maybe getting a DDE card would save you more money then the dining plan??

You think? I looked at it and it didn't seem worth it to me. Maybe I am looking at it wrong.
It's just nice not having to worry about money. That's what I like most about the plan. I might just have to get gift cards.

 

[LiteBrite]

Are you sure? Because that is what I want to do. We have a MYW + Dining booked for August. Can I upgrade my 8 Day expiring pass to an AP when we get there without messing up the dining plan? Has anybody actually done that?

We did this in October - bought our MYW + Dining packages with one day base tickets, but 7 nights on the package. The first time we went to a park we stopped by the Guest Relations window on the way in and converted the one day tickets to Florida Resident Seasonal Passes. They just got the information off of our room keys to do it.

FYI, this has to be done at a park Guest Relations window, not at your resort.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

Thanks, LiteBrite!

I really think it might be advantageous to have one AP. Even if we only go once in 2007 before it expires it will be cheaper than buying another 8 day ticket for myself, even if we revert back to using the AAA room discount.

DH doesn't get his vacation schedule until November each year, so if we buy an AP we'll just know we have to go back before 8/07. I am desperately trying to convince DH to go for just a few days when he is off the first week of December but that will depend on airfare. Seems stupid to pay $750 to fly somewhere for 3 days. Still, a juicy room discount with the AP might help! And we would definitely save money with the DDE since we love table service!