Problems purchasing the dining plan

[katlynw02]

Hi there,
I was wondering if you would be able to offer any suggestions or insight to a problem i'm having booking a Disney vacation. I recently just purchased my SO and I's flight and hotel (Disney Coronado Springs) package through travelocity for Jan. 14th-18th 2008 for my birthday. I chose not to purchase my "magic your way park hopper tickets" at that time, because I planned on buying the park tickets as well as the dining plan when we arrived at the resort (since the dining plan is not an option to purchase via travelocity). Unfortunately, after trying to make some dinner reservations we were informed that we could not purchase the dining plan upon arrival. I contacted Disney several times via phone, and they told me that I could not purchase the dining plan with them AT ALL since I did not book my vacation through them. Have you heard of anyone else having this experience? Is there any way around it? So much of our trip was planned around assuming we were going to have the dining plan. The only suggestion Disney has given us was to cancel our vacation through travelocity and re-book through them, which would cost several hundred dollars to do. I thought the option to purchase the dining plan was a perk of staying at one of the resorts (which we are)...I was not aware that only applied if you booked through Disney which is probably my own fault. Any insight at all would be very much appreciated. Thank you so much!

 

[WDWBetsy]

Unfortunately, the only way to add on the dining plan is to book a package consisting of a room and tickets (at least one day passes). DVC members are the only ones able to purchase it without a package. Just to clarify, the dining plan is tied to the number of room nights, not the length of tickets.

From what I know, the only way for you to get it at this point is to cancel your Travelocity reservation as Disney recommended and rebook either through Disney or a regular travel agent.

From what you've explained, it would probably be more costly to do this than to just pay out of pocket while there. IMO the cancellation fees would exceed any dining plan savings since the 2008 plan no longer includes tips or the appetizer.

Sorry that you're in this situation, but I hope your trip is still magical!

 

[TDC Nala]

The above is exactly true. The dining plan requires booking in conjunction with a room/tickets package purchased through WDW Travel (I think AAA will sell them also), with all members of the party purchasing the same type and length of ticket. As was mentioned, you can purchase tickets for as little as one day, but you MUST purchase tickets.

You will not be able to add the dining plan on your current reservation as it is a room-only reservation. Your only options are to cancel and rebook a room/tickets package through Disney, or forego the dining plan. If you decide to cancel, please check the cancellation policies on Travelocity. Because you booked through them, you will be subject to their policies and fees (if there are any).

Only DVC members are exempt from the ticket purchase requirement. It's also possible to rent points from a DVC member and get the dining plan that way.

 

[katlynw02]

Thanks to both of you for your replies. Looks like we will have to go without the dining plan. I'm sure it'll be fine. I'm still very, very much looking forward to this trip

Now, I just have to get the rest of our ADR's in order...(only have the California Grill so far, but i've never been there before so that's exciting in itself)

Thanks again!