free dining with room only?

[Cheroot]

Just wondering..if I have a room only and get my tickets elsewhere, can I add free dining if it should open up again for August? or would i need to also get the tkts thru disney? Thanks!

 

[sassy2000]

No, you have to book the package with room and tickets. Also, you can only use one discount so if you booked a room-only discount then you would be unable to add on the free dining.

 

[jcarwash]

Right, you need to have a Magic Your Way package in order to add a dining plan, whether it's free or not.

 

[Cheroot]

No, you have to book the package with room and tickets. Also, you can only use one discount so if you booked a room-only discount then you would be unable to add on the free dining.

well that's a bummer...maybe I should forgo the $95 savings with the other ticket company and just get a pkg now, in hopes they will extend the purchase date for August FD.

 

[catne]

make sure you "do the math" both ways before cancelling or changing anything...Free Dining is really just one version of a Disney discount. Sometimes it's the cheapest way to do your Disney vacation, but other times you can get a cheaper price by putting together your own "package" and just paying cash for your meals. It really depends on how many people are in your party, which resort you're staying at and what percentage your room-discount is...as well as do you really want to eat the way the dining plan works? Price out both version..it might be cheaper to keep what you have.

For example, if you're staying Deluxe or Villas, chances are your room-discount is substantial...and you'd probably find that paying the full rate for your room to get free dining would cost you quite a bit more than keeping the room discount. If you're staying in a value resort, and your room discount is small, chances are the free dining would be a better deal for you (though free dining at values is the Quick Service plan...if you're wanting table service, factor in the cost to upgrade to the regular dining plan.)

 

[Cheroot]

make sure you "do the math" both ways before cancelling or changing anything...Free Dining is really just one version of a Disney discount. Sometimes it's the cheapest way to do your Disney vacation, but other times you can get a cheaper price by putting together your own "package" and just paying cash for your meals. It really depends on how many people are in your party, which resort you're staying at and what percentage your room-discount is...as well as do you really want to eat the way the dining plan works? Price out both version..it might be cheaper to keep what you have.

For example, if you're staying Deluxe or Villas, chances are your room-discount is substantial...and you'd probably find that paying the full rate for your room to get free dining would cost you quite a bit more than keeping the room discount. If you're staying in a value resort, and your room discount is small, chances are the free dining would be a better deal for you (though free dining at values is the Quick Service plan...if you're wanting table service, factor in the cost to upgrade to the regular dining plan.)

Thanks Cathy

I haven't booked anything yet. We would be at POP so the room discount is small and we would also do quick service anyway. But I just realized another dilemma.... FD starts 8/19 and I would be checking in 8/16. I'm not sure they would even give me FD for the remainder of my stay thru the 23rd? What do you think?

 

[gigi1313]

you would have to book two separate packages to get free dining for part of your trip... that would require two sets of tickets (since FD is the 2nd half of your trip) which might cost you more than w/no discount!

just an fyi, you can add and pay for the dining plan w/a room only reservation... you just have to add tix first

 

[catne]

Thanks Cathy

I haven't booked anything yet. We would be at POP so the room discount is small and we would also do quick service anyway. But I just realized another dilemma.... FD starts 8/19 and I would be checking in 8/16. I'm not sure they would even give me FD for the remainder of my stay thru the 23rd? What do you think?

No, you would not be able to get free dining for the 2nd half of your stay without booking it as 2 separate reservations and technically "checking out" and "checking in" on the 19th....you'd have to have 2 separate reservations with the 2nd one starting on the day Free Dining begins. Since the advantage on tickets comes from buying multi-day tickets (first three days are high, but then additional days 4-10 are just like $6 per day to add.) So you might very well erase all savings by having to buy 2 set of tickets - one set for the first few days, and a 2nd set with the package to get free dining starting on the 19th, For example, if you needed 4 days worth of tickets, and had to buy two sets of 2-day tickets: a two-day base ticket for an adult would be $162 (plus tax) If you had to get two of those 2-day passes to cover 4 days, that would run you $324 (plus tax). But if you could just buy one 4-day pass it would be $232.

Now if you're planning several non-Disney days (like to go to Sea World or Universal, whatever) and you wouldn't be going to the Disney parks that first few days, I'd say go ahead and book 2 separate reservations & take the room discount on the first portion, with Free Dining & tickets for the 2nd portion (if they actually do offer Free Dining again this year.) As long as they are 2 separate reservations you can get a different discount on each portion. Chances are you would be able to stay in the same room.