pay for free dining with Southwest Vacations?

[Macduffy]

I'm wondering if anyone can explain why when booking with southwest vacations I have to pay extra for Free Dining? In order to book the vacation I have to pay $215 more (the amount is based on the # of days we are staying) to have free dining included in our package.

Is Free Dining only included when booking through Disney and a fee is mandated when booking through outside sources?

FYI I looked at booking airfare separately and it is astronomically more expensive.

Thanks in advance!

 

[DebbieB]

I'm wondering if anyone can explain why when booking with southwest vacations I have to pay extra for Free Dining? In order to book the vacation I have to pay $215 more (the amount is based on the # of days we are staying) to have free dining included in our package. Is Free Dining only included when booking through Disney and a fee is mandated when booking through outside sources? FYI I looked at booking airfare separately and it is astronomically more expensive. Thanks in advance!

Are you sure they are giving you the same room type and tickets? Free dining isn't available for all resorts and room types. Are they adding insurance?

 

[clanmcculloch]

The things I can think of that may be on the SW Vacations package but no on the one through Disney are:
1. insurance
2. park hoppers
3. different room category

 

[LisaS]

If you book directly through Disney (and are not from the UK) in order to get free dining you have to pay full rack rate for the room. Assuming there are no other changes to your Southwest Vacations package (like a different room category or resort or dates of stay), perhaps when you add free dining it eliminates any room discounts and that the room discount was worth more than the cost of dining. Just a wild guess.