Do you have to book a package to get the dining plan?

[Mikie]

Having missed the FD dates for my October trip, I'm scouring for discounts elsewhere. Can you get a room only reservation (no tickets) and still have the dining plan? I currently have booked room, tickets and ding plan thru Disney, no discounts (also MM and trip insurance FWIW)

Is it possible to keep the dining plan, but drop the tickets and order them elsewhere? (Assuming there's savings to be had elsewhere in the first place)

Is there any negative to doing so? I.e. Difference in magic bands, FP+, linking it all in MDE, etc

 

[figment_jii]

Can you get a room only reservation (no tickets) and still have the dining plan?

The old answer used to be that only AP and DVC members could get the dining plan without purchasing tickets, but there have been recent reports that the general public could also add dining without purchasing tickets. Those reports indicate that you have to call to make the reservation (so no making the reservation online).

 

[OasterP]

I am very far from an expert on this, but I can say from my experience only.

I am going during free dining time - we had originally planned on staying off site and not doing the dining plan. Then we got thinking about how many character meals we would love to do if money wasn't an issue. Long story short - we decided to do the free dining.

I called and because I already had my base tickets they weren't going to be able to give us the dining plan, b/c it had to include a MYW package. Luckily we had underestimated how many days we would want to be in the parks originally, so I was able to add the minimum ticket (2 day), and got the free dining.

I'm not sure if the rules are the same for regular/non free dining, but that's just my experience.

 

[momtwoboys]

I was wondering the same thing! We just came back from a stay where we rented points and bought our tickets on our own. we were able to add the dining plan through the DVC member onto our stay with our own credit card. Was wondering if next april we stay at POP and buy tickets on our own can we still add on the dining plan???? Hope someone knows the current answer to this...or when I have time I may call disney and ask

 

[mickeynut1]

The old answer used to be that only AP and DVC members could get the dining plan without purchasing tickets, but there have been recent reports that the general public could also add dining without purchasing tickets. Those reports indicate that you have to call to make the reservation (so no making the reservation online).

I've seen reports of this as well. I saw a thread a few months ago stating this information, but as this poster said, you have to call as it's not available online. If memory serves me right, this is available until sometime this December. Whether or not Disney will extend it and make it permanent is anyone's guess.

I was wondering the same thing! We just came back from a stay where we rented points and bought our tickets on our own. we were able to add the dining plan through the DVC member onto our stay with our own credit card. Was wondering if next april we stay at POP and buy tickets on our own can we still add on the dining plan???? Hope someone knows the current answer to this...or when I have time I may call disney and ask

The thread I saw a few months ago stated anyone can book room + DDP without a ticket purchase, but was only good until sometime this December. I haven't seen anything else lately on this subject, so I'm not sure if that date has been or will be extended and become a permanent thing.

 

[momtwoboys]

thanks!! I hope that we can