how expensive is it to add dining plan?

[marielynn724]

I have a Magic Your Way package already booked and paid for in August. I had figured that the way we eat, the dining plan isn't really worth it. Now I have made a bunch of ADRs and am wondering if it would be more economical to be on the dining plan (the 1snack/1cs/1ts one). I can't find this option to add the dining plan on their reservations page. Does anyone know how much it is to add that? It's 2 adults for 9 days/8 nights. Thanks!

 

[mommyof3princess27]

You can call and add it unless you are with in your 45 day mark. I think you can still add it but they may or may not charge u (usually not if its a more expensive change) I know you can even add it after you check in

 

[sharonabe]

It's $51.50 per NIGHT of stay per adult.

 

[Cafeen]

To adjust any reservations already made (resort reservations that is), you're going to have to call. Prices for DDP for adults is:
Regular Dining Plan (Non-Peak)
$51.54 per night ages 10 and up
$15.02 per night age 3 to 9

Regular Dining Plan (Peak Season)
$53.54 per night ages 10 and up
$16.02 per night ages 3 to 9

Depending on how you booked your reservation, will determine what affect adding the dining plan has...

• If you booked your package as a package including tickets, and you are more than 45 days before check-in, nothing will change other than the price.
• If you booked your package as a package including tickets and you are less than 45 days before check-in, you will need to pay the difference in full
• If you booked your reservation as room-only, you will have to convert to a package and follow the package rules (45 days out payment due, etc)
• If you booked cash room-only without tickets, you will also have to add at least 1 day tickets for each member of your party as well as adding the package rules
• If you booked AP room-only (either rack rate or AP discount), you may add the plan as part of a "ticketless" package. Again, standard package rules will then apply
• If you rented (or are using) DVC points, you may add the plan without adding tickets, but payment is due in full (no matter how far away you are)
• I believe that some military packages can also qualify for the "ticketless package", but I'm not 100% on that

Phew, that was all from memory ><

For all package changes, at less than 45 days out, you may be charged a small fee for modifications, this is typically waived if you are increasing the total cost. At less than 10-14 days out, this fee increases and is typically NOT waived, no matter the direction you go. At less than 3 days out, you cannot add, remove, or modify dining plans associated with your package if you booked anything but via DVC points. At less than 2 days out, same deal as the previous line, but only for those staying on DVC points.

I think I covered everything (ETA: Except the prices... you know, the actual question...)

 

[TDC Nala]

I can't find this option to add the dining plan on their reservations page.

Once you have made a room reservation online, you can't make changes to it or cancel it online - to do either, you have to call.

I know you can even add it after you check in

This you can't do. It must be added no less than 72 hours before arrival for packages and 48 hours before arrival for DVC.

 

[marielynn724]

• If you booked your package as a package including tickets, and you are more than 45 days before check-in, nothing will change other than the price.
• If you booked your package as a package including tickets and you are less than 45 days before check-in, you will need to pay the difference in full

• 
  
  I did book a room/ticket package, and we are still more than 45 days out. But what do you mean by "pay the difference in full"? The difference of what?

 

[catne]

I did book a room/ticket package, and we are still more than 45 days out. But what do you mean by "pay the difference in full"? The difference of what?

IF you are less than 45 days out, then your full bill was already paid...because packages must be paid in full 45 days before arrival. SO if you then call up, less than 45 days before your arrival and request the dining plan you will have to pay the full price of the dining plan...because same rule applies: all components of the package are supposed to be paid in full 45 days before arrival.

You must add the dining plan at least 3 days before arrival. It cannot be added when you are less than 3 days before arrival.

This of course does not apply to you yet, because you're more than 45 days out. Hope this helps.

 

[Cafeen]

I did book a room/ticket package, and we are still more than 45 days out. But what do you mean by "pay the difference in full"? The difference of what?

IF you are less than 45 days out, then your full bill was already paid...because packages must be paid in full 45 days before arrival. SO if you then call up, less than 45 days before your arrival and request the dining plan you will have to pay the full price of the dining plan...because same rule applies: all components of the package are supposed to be paid in full 45 days before arrival.

You must add the dining plan at least 3 days before arrival. It cannot be added when you are less than 3 days before arrival.

This of course does not apply to you yet, because you're more than 45 days out. Hope this helps.

^^ Yup.

As mentioned, if you're less than 45 days out, your balance will be (well, should be paid). So when you add dining at that point, you'll need to pay for the dining in full as well. That's the difference .

For you though, since it's greater than 45 days out, nothing will change other than the total price (which, has to be paid on that 45 day mark (or thereabouts, there's a little leeway there))

 

[jenlov]

Just a suggestion, but you may want to check out the few threads that others have made about whether it's worth it or not. If there are just 2 of you, you may find that you'd end up paying less out of pocket overall, vs the dining plan. Basically, decided if you and your guest will be spending more than $103-107 (depending on peak/non-peak) per day on lunch, dinner, and 1 snack. Remember that this does not include tips. I'm pretty sure, my dh and I could if it were just the two of us. Others are saying that they're ending up lower paying OOP vs what they would have spent on the DDP. So, just do the math and figure out which is better for YOU.

 

[marielynn724]

Just a suggestion, but you may want to check out the few threads that others have made about whether it's worth it or not. If there are just 2 of you, you may find that you'd end up paying less out of pocket overall, vs the dining plan. Basically, decided if you and your guest will be spending more than $103-107 (depending on peak/non-peak) per day on lunch, dinner, and 1 snack. Remember that this does not include tips. I'm pretty sure, my dh and I could if it were just the two of us. Others are saying that they're ending up lower paying OOP vs what they would have spent on the DDP. So, just do the math and figure out which is better for YOU.

I know this is a big debate (worth it vs not) - I spent all morning yesterday doing the math looking at ALL the menus of places we are going (including snacks, breakfast in the morning, drinks, etc) and what we will probably order, and I generously overestimated just to be safe. I came out that for 2 of us for 9days/8nights it comes out to approximately $650 - definitely less than the dining plan, which comes to about $850!