Dining Plan Whole Stay?

[sptddog]

I'm traveling to Orlando on business in early May. I'll be staying in a WDW resort the whoe week, but my family won't be coming until Wednesday of that week. We'll be buying park tickets for Thursday-Saturday. Can we get the dining plan for just those days? I thought I read in the FAQs that I if I got the plan, I had to have to for every day of the stay?

Do I have to book the room through WDW in order to get the dining plan? Or, can I book the room through my corporate methods (no discounted rate), and then call and buy/add the park tickets and dining plan?

I'm trying to make this all work rather than having to check out of a non-WDW hotel from my business side into the WDW hotel wednesday night just to get the dining plan.

Also, if we can't make the dining plan happen, do I understand correctly that we can still make ADRs for Character meals, and then pay the 20-30ish dollars a plate per meal? I'd also then have to buy (or share) with DD (under 3) if we didn't have the dining plan right? We'll likely do mostly buffets, but I don't think my DD can eat off my plate can she?

Last trip we booked a full vacation package through an agency, and they handled all this for me!

TIA!

 

[emlutz23]

You will have to book the DDP for all guests for all nights, even if they aren't staying that long.

I believe the DDP is a package add-on so you may not be able to book it separately. But if you don't get a discounted rate anyway, you're better going through Disney or AAA (approx 20% off lodging-can't remember the exact discount) to get it all. Someone else may know for sure if it has to be through a package.

You're DD will be able to eat for free (off your plate) whether you are on the plan or not (99% sure on that) Buffets are great for that. With our almost 2 year old, we always have to buy him his own meal (non-buffet) b/c he loves to eat!

 

[emlutz23]

Forgot to mention that as long as you are booked at a WDW resort, you can make ADR's 180 days in advance of your check-in date. That is regardless of whether or not you are on the DDP

 

[Allison]

Forgot to mention that as long as you are booked at a WDW resort, you can make ADR's 180 days in advance of your check-in date. That is regardless of whether or not you are on the DDP

Actually, that is not the case. ANYONE can make an ADR at 180 days. They do not have to be staying at a resort. The only thing a resort guest can do that an offsite guest can't is make ADR's for 10 days of their vacation on one day.

 

[bicker]

Actually, that is not the case. ANYONE can make an ADR at 180 days. They do not have to be staying at a resort. The only thing a resort guest can do that an offsite guest can't is make ADR's for 10 days of their vacation on one day.

This and many other frequently asked questions about the Dining Plan are answered the Dining Plan FAQ, a sticky thread at the top of this forum. Here's a direct link to the FAQ:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1305783

 

[emlutz23]

Actually, that is not the case. ANYONE can make an ADR at 180 days. They do not have to be staying at a resort. The only thing a resort guest can do that an offsite guest can't is make ADR's for 10 days of their vacation on one day.

I was limiting my anwer to the question of still being able to book ADR's if they don't buy the DDP since sptddog will be a WDW guest. I didn't think I would give more info than needed since it all ready exists on other threads, like the one above.

 

[clkelley]

I'm traveling to Orlando on business in early May. I'll be staying in a WDW resort the whoe week, but my family won't be coming until Wednesday of that week. We'll be buying park tickets for Thursday-Saturday. Can we get the dining plan for just those days? I thought I read in the FAQs that I if I got the plan, I had to have to for every day of the stay?

Do I have to book the room through WDW in order to get the dining plan? Or, can I book the room through my corporate methods (no discounted rate), and then call and buy/add the park tickets and dining plan?

I'm trying to make this all work rather than having to check out of a non-WDW hotel from my business side into the WDW hotel wednesday night just to get the dining plan.

Also, if we can't make the dining plan happen, do I understand correctly that we can still make ADRs for Character meals, and then pay the 20-30ish dollars a plate per meal? I'd also then have to buy (or share) with DD (under 3) if we didn't have the dining plan right? We'll likely do mostly buffets, but I don't think my DD can eat off my plate can she?

Last trip we booked a full vacation package through an agency, and they handled all this for me!

TIA!

One thing you could do is book the business portion as a "room only" reservation through your corporate source. Then you could book the remainder of your stay as a separate reservation with the tickets and dining. Then you could fax the resort directly about three days in advance to "link" the reservations so that you don't have to change rooms. You just have to go down to the lobby and check out and check back in and get new keys with your dining and tickets on them.