Is There a Better Way?

[Clare]

I apologize up front - this will be long & convoluted, but I'm wondering if I'm doing something wrong where all these discounts are concerned.

Okay, here goes..........

Ever since the MYW tickets became available, we have been buying 10-day no expire tickets. We take short trips & the 10-day no expire ticket made the PER DAY cost much less than the PER DAY cost of a 3/4-day ticket.

Last year, we had 3 (short) trips planned so I purchased an AP in order to get room discounts (which we were able to get). For times when we don't have an AP, we use AAA.

Since we already have park tickets, in order to do the Dining Plan, we would have to purchase at the very least, a 1-day ticket for each person.

So, we just keep everything separate. We get the best room-only discount we can find & use our 10-day no expire tickets. We pay for food out of pocket.

So far, I think this has been the best value for us, but I'm wondering what you all think? Are there better ways? If we decide to take a longer trip in the future, what changes should we make? ETC, ETC, ETC....I'm open to suggestions..........

Thanks!

 

[brentalex]

I pretty much do what you do. The dining plan does not work for how we vacation, and how little my DD eats. We buy the 10 day no expire ticket with the water parks add on.We use 5 days on each of 2 trips plus a day or 2 each trip at the water parks, and believe we really save money on the second trip, since we usually only go every 2 or 3 years and the prices will have gone up considerably. If a special package came out that made sense I would look into it, but for the most part we just get a AAA discount and separate tickets.

 

[denman007]

Since we already have park tickets, in order to do the Dining Plan, we would have to purchase at the very least, a 1-day ticket for each person.

This is what my parents do.

They got the dining package and buy the 1 day tickets. Then they use their AP to go to the parks. They will use the 1 day ticket for a credit when they renew their AP's

 

[Clare]

I never thought of using the 1-day ticket as a credit towards another ticket (AP, 10-day, etc.).

See, this is why I come here for advice!

 

[danceintherain]

Uh... can't AP holders add the dining plan now?

DISNEY DINING PLAN

Annual Passholders can now add the Disney Dining Plan to their reservation. This will make the booking a package subject to the terms and conditions of those reservations. (Paid in full 45 days in advance, etc.)

Availability of the Disney Dining Plan add-on is limited and cannot be combined with any other discounts (AAA, Bounceback, etc.) It can be applied to a AP discounted room as well as one that's rack rate.
(http://www.wdwinfo.com/discounts/discounts-ap.htm)

But I suppose if you still wanted to utilize a AAA discount then it wouldn't work.

 

[danceintherain]

And... if you wanted to use one of your leftover 10-day no expiration tickets that would work either...

I misread your post and was under the impression that you still had valid APs

Sorry!

 

[danceintherain]

And... if you wanted to use one of your leftover 10-day no expiration tickets that would work either...

I misread your post and was under the impression that you still had valid APs

Sorry!

I meant would NOT work... I'm just making everything more complicated today.

 

[Clare]

It can be applied to a AP discounted room as well as one that's rack rate.
But I suppose if you still wanted to utilize a AAA discount then it wouldn't work.

I didn't know you could apply the Dining Plan to an AP discounted room! I'm just getting all kinds of good news on here.

 

[SnackyStacky]

I didn't know you could apply the Dining Plan to an AP discounted room! I'm just getting all kinds of good news on here.

As long as you have an annual pass - you can add the dining plan to a room only reservation. The room doesn't have to be discounted.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

As long as you have an annual pass - you can add the dining plan to a room only reservation. The room doesn't have to be discounted.

Well, just to clarify, the room can be on an AP discount or it can be rack rate. You can NOT add AP Dining Plan to a room that is on a AAA discount, post card code, etc. unless you purchase the extra park passes.

 

[thesupersmartguy]

I would suggest getting the AP and adding on the Disney dining EXPERIENCE, the $60 add on to a AP that entitles you to 20% off food and drinks. We just started this on our last trip and seems to be working perfectly. It covers 20% off the out of pocket food, and you still get the AP room discount.

Hope this Helps.

 

[SnackyStacky]

Well, just to clarify, the room can be on an AP discount or it can be rack rate. You can NOT add AP Dining Plan to a room that is on a AAA discount, post card code, etc. unless you purchase the extra park passes.

Yes, I did phrase that poorly. Sorry!