Purchasing a Dining Plan, I don't understand something...

[BellsFam]

So I thought you could only get a dining plan if you booked direct through Disney?

I was on an airline vacation website and you can purchase the dining plan through them with the purchase of a ticket package into the park, (obviously on staying on site)?

Everything I've read and seen and heard is contrary to this, so I didn't know what the "correct" information really is.

EX: I go through this website, buy the ticket package and dining plan, when I get to Disney will I have dining?

P.S. the dining plan costs more on this site than the Disney site, but not by a whole bunch...

SO confused!

 

[BubMunkeyBles]

Could be they are a TA for Disney in which case they would be able to book Disney packages.

 

[TDC Nala]

Totally depends on who you book through. Some of the airline sites, when they assemble packages for customers, are acting as travel agents, not as third party brokers. This means they are booking through Disney on your behalf - not reselling rooms that were previously sold to them by Disney.

Sites such as Travelocity and Expedia and Orbitz are reselling room blocks that were sold to them, not making the reservations on your behalf.

So whether you can book a dining plan or not, when you are not booking directly through Disney yourself, depends on whether you are booking through a travel agent, or through a third party broker. If they tell you you can get the dining plan, then you can. But you must purchase a room plus tickets package to get it.

 

[BellsFam]

Totally depends on who you book through.

So whether you can book a dining plan or not, when you are not booking directly through Disney yourself, depends on whether you are booking through a travel agent, or through a third party broker. If they tell you you can get the dining plan, then you can. But you must purchase a room plus tickets package to get it.

O.K., so by who you book through do you mean which airline site?

I'm not using a travel agent, just poking around on my own...

Yes, that's what I figured, that you had to purchase their "package" in order to get what you want, which the prices are super close together via Disney direct and the airline, but even a savings of $50 is still a savings!

So you answered my question that if I bought it I would have it no matter what...

 

[TDC Nala]

In this case, when you make the reservation through the airline, you did not make it on your own. The airline IS acting as your travel agent. That would mean if you want to change anything, or cancel it, you would need to go through the airline instead of calling Disney yourself. And yes, if you buy the package through them and you choose the dining plan as a component, you will have a dining plan.

I don't know if all airline packages are through travel agents, but Southwest is.

With a reseller you would have had no option to buy the dining plan at all.