Room Only Code & Dining

[nicole922]

Forgive me if this is a "stupid" question, but I'm a newbie...I rec'd a room only pin code via e-mail, and I'm going to Disney in September...2 days after the Free Dining is over (and no I can't change my trip dates because I'm getting married!). So I called Disney to book my trip for 9/24-10/1, and I wanted to use my pin code and purchase my hopper ticket, but we also want to purchase the dining ticket. They won't let me do it! It doesn't make any sense, I'm not trying to get something for nothing here, I just don't want to spend a fortune! The best option that the operator could offer me was to leave immediatley after the wedding on 9/22, take the red eye, and check in overnight, so technically it would be in the wee hours of 9/23, but they would make my check in date 9/22, and I would still get free dining, but would pay regular price for my room. That sounds like more of a con than what I was trying to do! Anyone know a way that I can use the discounted room code and pay for the dining plan? Please help!

 

[CanadianGuy]

Well it depends on what your discounted room code is FOR exactly.

Some of them are in fact for ROOM ONLY. Not for room portions of packages. But these are few between usually.

But I would call back and talk to another CM. And if its still not clear or sounds fishy - ask to speak to a supervisor to clarify it for you.

Good luck!

Knox

 

[nicole922]

I called back 2 times, and got the same story both times

The e-mail says in really really tiny letters "no group rates or other discounts apply", it just doesn't make sense why I can't still buy the dining plan, I could understand if I was trying to still get free dining and get a discounted room, that would be against the rules. I will try again tommorrow and ask to speak to a supervisor to clarify it. I just don't want them to see that I keep calling over and over again, and that I'm trying to pull something over here...because I'm not~

 

[CanadianGuy]

I'd start off your next call by :

• making a note of the CM's name ..
• explaining that you received a email offer and you'd like to use it to book a package with PAID tickets & dining
• they should then ask you for the offer code

And see what happens from there.



Knox

 

[parith1114]

Tell me about it, how frustrating! I am an airline employee and therefore can get great discounts on rooms, but am unable to purchase the dinning plan. To purchase the dinning plan is considered getting a discount, because it is promoted as being 40% off regular price. So, to Disney you are getting two discounts, and it isn't allowed with all codes. Sorry, depending upon what your discount is you may be able to still dine most places you want.

We are not doing free dinning in Sept., because the rate at the POLY was better with my discount.

I hope everything works out , and congratulations on your upcoming wedding.

 

[auntie]

I received a pin code postcard mailer and made reservations for May. Originally I made the room only reservation...but even at that time, the CM asked me if I wanted to make it into a package..including dining..and passes..that I would pay for. I hesitated..because frankly I have never done a package before, and didn't know if it would be good for us. After checking the menus..and prices I figured we'd trying the dining plan for this trip. I just called back on Saturday..and they did add the dining and tickets to the rate..although they also had to cancel my original reservation and rebook it as a package. As I mentioned, they offered to do this from day one.
Are you sure that they don't think you want the "free dining"..since your stay is during that period?

 

[DCrockett]

There is a miscommunication somewhere. I booked Sept 28-Oct 7 @ a value resort using the 40% of pin code. I added passes and the dining plan at the same time. Mine was a room only pin code, they want you to spend your money there so this whole thing makes no sense. Try what Canadian Guy says.

 

[n2mm]

Tell me about it, how frustrating! I am an airline employee and therefore can get great discounts on rooms, but am unable to purchase the dinning plan. To purchase the dinning plan is considered getting a discount, because it is promoted as being 40% off regular price. So, to Disney you are getting two discounts, and it isn't allowed with all codes. Sorry, depending upon what your discount is you may be able to still dine most places you want.

We are not doing free dinning in Sept., because the rate at the POLY was better with my discount.

I hope everything works out , and congratulations on your upcoming wedding.

I understand too, as my husband was a CM for many years and we too enjoyed the wonderful room only discount, but could never add the dining because we always got the room only discount and packages were not available to cast members at the cast discount. What folks seem to be forgettting here is that the dining CAN NOT be added to a ROOM ONLY reservation whether it's discounted or not. Just because you add tickets to your reservation it does not make it a package.

You have to book a package to have the option of adding the dining plan to it. I believe a package has a minimum of 3 days and has many more rules and restrictions than a room only reservation. Yes you can get a room only reservation and you can add tickets to it, but it's not a package unless you buy a package. A package has the dreaded cancellations fees and payment in full restrictions. The OP needs to call and convert her room only reservation to a package, once that is done only then can she/he add dining to it. However, since the OP is using a discount pin, there has to be discounted rooms at that resort available for that special pin rate. These rooms are limited and do sell out. So before even talking about adding dining, the OP needs to call to see if she/he can convert their room only reservation to a package, then go from there to add whatever required ticket they need and then add dining. I remember when the 40% discount came out there were several different pin numbers associated with it, some were room only discount, and some were package discounts. Maybe the OP is using a different type of pin, unrelated to the 40% pin that has now expired. I know there recently was a 30% pin released for room only discount and no mention of package discount. Good luck.

 

[wen8jr]

I understand too, as my husband was a CM for many years and we too enjoyed the wonderful room only discount, but could never add the dining because we always got the room only discount and packages were not available to cast members at the cast discount. What folks seem to be forgettting here is that the dining CAN NOT be added to a ROOM ONLY reservation whether it's discounted or not. Just because you add tickets to your reservation it does not make it a package.

You have to book a package to have the option of adding the dining plan to it. I believe a package has a minimum of 3 days and has many more rules and restrictions than a room only reservation. Yes you can get a room only reservation and you can add tickets to it, but it's not a package unless you buy a package. A package has the dreaded cancellations fees and payment in full restrictions. The OP needs to call and convert her room only reservation to a package, once that is done only then can she/he add dining to it. However, since the OP is using a discount pin, there has to be discounted rooms at that resort available for that special pin rate. These rooms are limited and do sell out. So before even talking about adding dining, the OP needs to call to see if she/he can convert their room only reservation to a package, then go from there to add whatever required ticket they need and then add dining. I remember when the 40% discount came out there were several different pin numbers associated with it, some were room only discount, and some were package discounts. Maybe the OP is using a different type of pin, unrelated to the 40% pin that has now expired. I know there recently was a 30% pin released for room only discount and no mention of package discount. Good luck.

About a month ago, I changed a ressie originally booked as a "package" to "room only" so that I would have the 5 day cancellation policy. I had no discount code. I made this change through CRO. After cancelling my "package" ressie and going into the CRO system and booking my room, the CM asked me if I wanted purchase tickets which I did, then she asked if I wanted to purchase dining (all which she said would be added to my room key). I didn't add the dining, I told her I wanted to be a 'free agent' without being tied down to a time and date to eat.

I don't know what would have happened if I did add dining...maybe the CM didn't know what she was doing, but I assumed she was looking at her computer in the CRO system while asking and I could have added dining to my "room only" reservation if I wanted without making it a package since my whole purpose in this change was a room only ressie. I may have had to pay for it all up front like I did the tickets???

Sometimes I think it must just depend on the CM you get when you call.

 

[n2mm]

I don't know what would have happened if I did add dining...maybe the CM didn't know what she was doing, but I assumed she was looking at her computer in the CRO system while asking and I could have added dining to my "room only" reservation if I wanted without making it a package since my whole purpose in this change was a room only ressie. I may have had to pay for it all up front like I did the tickets???

Sometimes I think it must just depend on the CM you get when you call.

Sounds like they were pushing for you to re-buy the package so that their commission would be higher. I personally would love to see us all be able to add dining to room only codes. As a former CM family and AP holder for 15 years, we would love to add the dining to room only reservations. I would love to see that in the future, but as it stands now, room only reservations don't qualify for the ddp, but CMs love to push the room only folks into a package and it's easy to do once they get you to purchase tickets with your room. Maybe one day, because I know they have been experimenting with offering the dining to cast members who book cm discounted room (they did it recently in parts of January and Feb and was a huge success--can you imagine 50% (or the 60% holiday discounts) off your room and $20 a day per adult for the DDP...wow--a well deserved perk for our CM friends after the holiday rush.) I just wish they would offer the ddp to AP holders and Florida residents. But I'm happy because we are also DVC members and now have the wonderful perk of adding it to our room reservations with no ticket requirements.