Question about when you add dining plan plus other questions

[mherb]

We are most likely going to book through Boscov's (local department store) travel. They fly a charter flight out of our local airport and can offer a deal almost $1000 cheaper than directly through Disney. I have a few questions about this since it is not booked directly through Disney.

1. We have over $450 in Disney gift cards. Boscovs is saying we cannot use these to help pay for our trip. We would love to do the dining plan but would like to use this money toward the plan. Is it possible to add the plan and pay Disney directly?

2. Since we are booking through Boscovs will we still get our 6 month 0% financing if we use our Disney visa?

3. We are thinking of booking May 1-May 8 of 2011. I noticed grad night is on the 6th and 7th. Do you think this would be a reason not to book at this time?

Thanks in advance for your help!
Missy

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

1. Probably not, I know if you book with a TA they are the only ones to make changes to your package.
2. Most likely not (I think you have to book WITH Disney)
3. I dont know logistics of WDW grad nights.

 

[Faldred]

You can only add a dining plan with a packaged through Disney, or from certain travel agents (not discounters).

 

[TDC Nala]

This sounds like a trip package brokered through a third party (the department store) for a discount. If that is so, you will not be able to add a dining plan to that reservation at all. (Because they will not accept your payment in Disney gift cards, my guess is that the broker has already paid Disney for the room, and is reselling it. You can't get a dining plan unless you book through Disney itself, or via a travel agent who books through Disney.)

The only problems I see with grad nights are 1) the MK closes early for the party and 2) if you're staying at a value you might be staying with lots of teens nearby.

 

[mherb]

We actually can add the dining plan through Boscov's Travel. We were just looking at other options to use up the large gift cards. I suppose we can leave off the dining and just add the gc to our KttW. Then we can just pay as we go for food having it deducted off the gc. We like using the dining plan as we definitely get our money's worth. I guess the $1,000 savings is worth it though!

 

[TDC Nala]

Well, if you are booking through a travel agent attached to this store, you will not be able to pay Disney directly, you will have to do everything through the travel agent. Disney will consider the travel agent the owner of the reservation.

And you can't pay for a dining plan on arrival.

Using the gift cards to pay off room charges may be your best bet.

 

[mherb]

If they own the reservations will I have to depend on them for ADRs? Can you tell I like being in charge of things?

 

[vicki_c]

If they own the reservations will I have to depend on them for ADRs? Can you tell I like being in charge of things?

You can make your own ADRs, but you will need to get the Disney confirmation # from them to use 180+10 booking or to avoid pre-paying for some of the meals that require that (if you are getting the DDP, I mean).

 

[mherb]

Do you have to use the DDP to do ADR? I think the answer is no but now I am second guessing myself.

 

[TDC Nala]

No, you don't have to have DDP to make ADRs. You only need DDP on your reservation if you intend to use it to pay for a dinner show or CRT so you don't have to make the prepayment at booking.

 

[Faldred]

Do you have to use the DDP to do ADR? I think the answer is no but now I am second guessing myself.

You don't even need a resort reservation to make ADRs. (Although you don't get the "+10" part of the "180+10" booking window without a resort reservation.)

 

[mherb]

Thanks everyone!