HELP:I have studied every restaurant

[beebles]

and have planned out all my table services and some counter, only to find out that I cannot get the dining plan?! I was told because i booked my room under a group rate, that i can't get the plan! I am really upset, but to cancel my reserv now, the room is 60.00 more a night, and this will not balance the cost of the plan. Any suggestions or way around this!

 

[shellybaxter]

There really is no way around paying rack rate if you want the dining plan. It is only available as a package deal (I think I remember reading that AAA has a discounted package with dining plan??)with tickets and room. The room can't be discounted as I understand it.

If I were you I would keep the ADRs for the restaurants that I really wanted to go to and pay for them. I would cancel the ones I just kind of wanted to go to if I were concerned about the money.

 

[Aliki]

We were not on the dining plan, nor the free dining; but the food was well worth trying for us first-timers staying off-site. We ate at California Grill, Biergarten, Le Cellier Steakhouse and 'Ohanas and racked up $300+ but it was worth it!

 

[misslissa]

I think I would just go paying out of pocket for the meals instead of changing your package just to get the dining plan. It might be a convenience to have all that food available to you but you might even save money if you are light eaters (I can't imagine eating an combo or appetiser, entree and dessert for every meal). For instance, last year, we only ate 2 table service meals but split a lot of even counter service meals... oh! And also split our meal at Sci Fi and we were very very satisfied and only ended up spending (for 4 days)... you won't believe this... about $60 each!!! We couldn't believe it when we did the final calculations... but it might work out better for you!

 

[Luv4Disney]

Plus, to get the dining plan, everyone else in the room would have to have the same plan as you.

 

[Kaycee]

There are many of us who don't qualify for the dining plan because of room discounts. In a lot of cases, the room discount is a better savings than the dining plan anyway. I know that's true for me.

As others have suggested, if I were you I'd keep the AR's for the restaurants where I really wanted to dine and just pay out of pocket. You may not end up eating as much as you would've on the plan, but that can be a good thing. It's not a pleasant feeling to be overly full when you are park touring.

Don't let this kink in your plans upset you too much. You can still enjoy some great meals at WDW. If anything, you will now have the flexibility to eat as many or as few TS versus CS as you want - with whatever snacks you feel like having in between!

 

[deide71]

Truthfully, I think if you still dine at your chosen restaurants, order only what you can eat (not try to maximize the plan), share appetizers or entrees when so inclined, you may come out ahead. You'll be close anyway.

Have a great trip!

 

[beebles]

thanks everyone! I have been drooling at all the wonderful pictures of food for months now. My husband thinks i am crazy! Plus we arent big eaters but do like good food, and of course the kids are not good eaters at all. Can't wait!