Never booked room only before - advice/tips needed for completing our vacation

[BigMickeyFan]

We were offered a bounceback during our Nov/Dec trip last year, so I booked garden view at the Poly for just H and I 9/21 - 9/27 this year. To be honest, we weren't sure we would actually take the trip, but we've now decided that we definitely want to, despite the fact (or perhaps because!) that I'll be about 6 months pregnant at the time. We figure this will probably be our last chance for a "just the two of us" trip to the World for a long time!

Anyway, our trips have always been booked as packages in the past, so I'm trying to figure out the best/most economical way to take care of dining and and tickets. We've loved the dining plan in the past, and I could kick myself for not definitely deciding to go ahead with the trip sooner, while I could have added a day and gotten the free dining!!! Is there any chance free dining will be reopened? If not, will I lose my room only rate by adding the dining plan, essentially making a package? I know I would have to add at least a one day ticket as well in order to add dining.

Then, there's the park ticket question. Can we purchase tickets when we're there and just have them added to our KTTW cards? Or, will we be better off gettting our tickets elsewhere in advance? So confused!

I've heard horror stories of people calling CR just to check out options, and having their discounted trips accidentally cancelled, so I'm afraid to call and have them run options. I figured I'd try to tap into the Dis-genius first, if you guys don't mind. Thanks SO MUCH in advance for your help!!

 

[disneyfan55]

We were offered a bounceback during our Nov/Dec trip last year, so I booked garden view at the Poly for just H and I 9/21 - 9/27 this year. To be honest, we weren't sure we would actually take the trip, but we've now decided that we definitely want to, despite the fact (or perhaps because!) that I'll be about 6 months pregnant at the time. We figure this will probably be our last chance for a "just the two of us" trip to the World for a long time!

Anyway, our trips have always been booked as packages in the past, so I'm trying to figure out the best/most economical way to take care of dining and and tickets. We've loved the dining plan in the past, and I could kick myself for not definitely deciding to go ahead with the trip sooner, while I could have added a day and gotten the free dining!!! Is there any chance free dining will be reopened? If not, will I lose my room only rate by adding the dining plan, essentially making a package? I know I would have to add at least a one day ticket as well in order to add dining.

Then, there's the park ticket question. Can we purchase tickets when we're there and just have them added to our KTTW cards? Or, will we be better off gettting our tickets elsewhere in advance? So confused!

I've heard horror stories of people calling CR just to check out options, and having their discounted trips accidentally cancelled, so I'm afraid to call and have them run options. I figured I'd try to tap into the Dis-genius first, if you guys don't mind. Thanks SO MUCH in advance for your help!!

Too bad you didn't call and add the day for the Free Dining. That probably would have been the best thing to do especially if you are in a Value. Now it's too late for that. You can't combine the discounted room with Free Dining anyway. You would have had to figure it out and see which was a better deal. You can add the dining plan to your discounted room if you want to pay for it. We have AP so we have the DDE card that works for us The AP works for us giving room discounts, food and merchandise discounts as well as other discounts and free parking. We usually end up with AP and go at least twice duing the year to really benefit from it. I guess you may or may not be coming back within a year depending on whether or not you want to bring a small baby. I have brought mine since I was pregnant with my first. She was pregnant last year during the free dining and went to WDW and had a blast and she rebooked with the bounce back offered last year and will return with her 6 month old in Sept!! Congratulations on having a little one!!


One thing, now with a room only reservation, you will pay the balance on arrival. With a package, if you change it, you will have to pay in full 45 days in advance.

 

[HM]

I'd keep your reservation as is, since you got a nice discount. Purchase your tickets before you go from a reputable broker like Maple Leaf or Undercovertourist to get a bit of discount on those. And don't worry about not getting the dining plan this time. Choose a few TS meals you want to do and make your ADRs now. The rest of the time, just eat at nice counter service places. Have a great trip!

 

[snyderla]

Somtimes your room only rates can be a better deal than free dining package. Since you are staying at the Poly, there's a good chance you saved more with your room only rate (did you get the discount?) than the $38 per day (per person) the dining plan costs. "Free" isn't always the best deal.
I've not yet stayed at the Poly, I'm looking forward to it sometime!