Dining Plan and Split Stay

[Raidra]

How does the dining plan work if you're doing a split stay? We're booked for five nights at the Contemporary and nine nights at POR, and we'll be getting 10 day park hoppers. But will the tickets be attached to the first reservation and make it so we can't get the dining plan on the second set of days?

Thanks!

 

[Cafeen]

How does the dining plan work if you're doing a split stay? We're booked for five nights at the Contemporary and nine nights at POR, and we'll be getting 10 day park hoppers. But will the tickets be attached to the first reservation and make it so we can't get the dining plan on the second set of days?

Thanks!

Correct. A split stay in Disney's system is really just 2 separate trips. As such, each stay needs to fulfill the minimum requirements for the dining plan. Since the first stay has the tickets, that one is fine. The 2nd stay is not eligible for the dining plan as there are no tickets attached to that reservation.

You would have to add at least 1 day tickets to the 2nd reservation in order to qualify for the dining plan, but that could potentially wipe out any of the savings you'd be getting.

 

[Faldred]

You would have to add at least 1 day tickets to the 2nd reservation in order to qualify for the dining plan, but that could potentially wipe out any of the savings you'd be getting.

Or convert them to annual passes and make the second stay an AP ticketless package with a dining plan. That option makes sense if you'll be back again before the year is up.

 

[Cafeen]

Or convert them to annual passes and make the second stay an AP ticketless package with a dining plan. Frankly, unless my aging eyes deceive me, an annual pass is less expensive than a 10-day ticket with park hopping anyway.

It's not, unfortunately (or I'd do the same), it's ~$611 for an AP (at least, according to the Disney site) and ~$400 for a 10day hopper (both incl tax).

 

[Faldred]

Yeah, I caught that and edited my previous.

 

[momto3pirates]

Only 1 adult in the room has to have an AP to book the ticketless package. It also gives you access to AP discounts. It really just depends on how much you would spend on food without the dining plan. Is it worth the extra $200? If the kids are kids on the dining plan and you want to do a lot of TS meals it may be worth the price. Another option with an AP upgrade is the TIW card and just skip the dining plan.

 

[TDC Nala]

Another option is to book the second stay as a DVC point rental, rather than at POR. DVC reservations do not require a ticket purchase to add a dining plan.

 

[smiths02]

Could the OP also book the first part of the stay (the shorter 5 nights) as room only and book the second part as the package with 10 day tickets and 9 nights at POR with dining. Can't you activate your tickets earlier???

 

[TDC Nala]

Up to three days earlier, apparently, but not five. They'd have to be OK with buying extra 2 day tickets or just not having tickets for the first two days.

 

[princesscate]

Could the OP also book the first part of the stay (the shorter 5 nights) as room only and book the second part as the package with 10 day tickets and 9 nights at POR with dining. Can't you activate your tickets earlier???

Up to three days earlier, apparently, but not five. They'd have to be OK with buying extra 2 day tickets or just not having tickets for the first two days.

Can you really activate them 3 days earlier????? If so, how do you do that? We are in a similar situation, just fewer days ..... If we could do that it would mean we could go a day earlier!!!!

 

[purple figment]

Can you really activate them 3 days earlier????? If so, how do you do that? We are in a similar situation, just fewer days ..... If we could do that it would mean we could go a day earlier!!!!

Yes, it has to be done at GR at a park or DTD. Here's a link to the ticket sticky that explains the procedure. It's post 15I:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1452684

 

[princesscate]

Yes, it has to be done at GR at a park or DTD. Here's a link to the ticket sticky that explains the procedure. It's post 15I:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1452684

Thank you thank you thank you!!!!!

 

[triciari]

You should definitely look into the APs! As a pp said, only one person per room needs to have them and regardless of the dining plan question, you could possibly save some serious $$$ with an AP room rate!