Question about dining plan from the experts

[Debbart]

If I get an room only reservation ( have APs), can I purchase a ticketless dining plan for just my son and my husband? They could make use of it, but I just cannot eat that much. I would pay OOP for my meals. The reason I would buy a dining plan for them, is that they would be prepaid, there would be no fussing about prices,it taken care of. I think on a free dining everyone in the room has to be on the same plan...but would what I want work?

 

[sharonabe]

No, sorry, even when you pay for the plan, everyone in the room has to be on the same plan and you still have to purchase tickets for everyone in the room as well. It is a package deal: room, tickets, and dining. Take any of the three out of the equation, and you can't do it.

 

[vicki_c]

No, sorry, even when you pay for the plan, everyone in the room has to be on the same plan and you still have to purchase tickets for everyone in the room as well. It is a package deal: room, tickets, and dining. Take any of the three out of the equation, and you can't do it.

The OP would not have to purchase tickets buying the AP ticketless dining plan package. But everyone in the room does have to have the same dining plan.

 

[sharonabe]

The OP would not have to purchase tickets buying the AP ticketless dining plan package. But everyone in the room does have to have the same dining plan.

Sorry, I missed the AP part.

 

[aubriee]

The OP would not have to purchase tickets buying the AP ticketless dining plan package. But everyone in the room does have to have the same dining plan.

For the last year I've been using the TiW card, but used to be a big fan of the DDPs, so did this alot. Yes, even the ticketless AP pkgs require that everyone in the room buy the DDP.

 

[Debbart]

Thanks everyone. I guess the DDplan is not a good idea for me. I don't like all of the counter service, even on the regular dining plan. The deluxe plan is just too much food. If AP rates come out, my best bet is to change my free dining to RO discount and get a TIW. More freedom to choose TS and I can just order an appetizer and dessert.

 

[TDC Nala]

Sorry, but the only way to leave someone off DDP is to register them in the room AFTER arrival.

If your husband has an AP register the room in his name with just him and your son, get the ticketless package and add yourself to it after you arrive. The catch is if you need Disney Magical Express service from the airport, as you must be registered on the room reservation to reserve DME.

 

[Debbart]

Very interesting! Thanks for the option, but we were planning on using ME. How messed up is that though? I can't reserve a room for the three of us and only purchase the dining plan for the two of them, but I could reserve the room for the two of them, purchase the plan for them and then add myself ( no plan) to the room when we get there. It is still the same thing I want to do, just more complicated.

 

[TDC Nala]

Not really. The reason for this is that it is a package reservation, not a room only. If you are all on the reservation from the beginning, you all get the same package. You can't have one or more persons off the package.

If you add someone after arrival, they get a room key, but that's all they get - they don't get the package items or anything added to the reservation beyond the room.

With DDP it's always been all or nothing - everybody registered in the room gets it, or nobody gets it.

 

[Debbart]

Got it, thanks...but by package items I assume you mean (other than dining) the free round of mini golf, 15 percent off parasailing, etc. right? hardly makes me "chomp at the bit" to get the package just my opinion

 

[TDC Nala]

I was thinking of tickets and dining (tickets wouldn't be relevant on the AP room/dining package), not the incidental stuff offered on package bookings. But yes, the person added after arrival wouldn't get those either.

I'm staying at DVC with some friends in December, they are adding me after they check in because they want to be on the dining plan and I don't. Because they arrive before I do, I can arrange DME for myself once they put me on the reservation. But if you're all arriving at the same time I don't know how you arrange DME. Someone, somewhere may have done it.

 

[Cafeen]

I was thinking of tickets and dining (tickets wouldn't be relevant on the AP room/dining package), not the incidental stuff offered on package bookings. But yes, the person added after arrival wouldn't get those either.

I'm staying at DVC with some friends in December, they are adding me after they check in because they want to be on the dining plan and I don't. Because they arrive before I do, I can arrange DME for myself once they put me on the reservation. But if you're all arriving at the same time I don't know how you arrange DME. Someone, somewhere may have done it.

Well, the dining plan does have to be added no later than 3 days before check-in. It may be risky (and she'd have no voucher or sticky ME luggage tag thingies), but she could theoretically add herself at the 1 or 2 day mark, schedule ME (since they need ~24hrs notice, I believe, but not 100% sure here either...) and be good to go? Of course, that's all theoretical and would be a pretty risky thing to test out.

As far as I know, which could be wrong, the whole package vs. room only thing has more to do with which division handles which thing than anything else. Packages (ticketless and non-ticketless) are handled through Walt Disney Travel Company, while the Room-Onlys, I think, are handled through a different piece. This is potentially old, and definitely 3rd+ hand info though, so I could very well be wrong, but I swear I remember something along those lines.

 

[Debbart]

Thanks for all of the great problem solving, but after crunching the numbers we are really better off with RO (with a discount) and no dining plan. We like TS, but don't always want 3 apps, 3 entrees, 3 desserts, etc. I think I want the freedom of eating where I want and ordering exactly what I want and not feeling like I am wasting food (or $) on the dining plan.