should i book with or without meals for mid August

[tami82]

Ok heres the deal. I am going to disney with DH and two young kids, staying at Wilderness lodge in August with bounceback free dining. Now my 18 year old decides she wants to come along with her friend so they would be staying at Pop Resort (this is what they can afford so we will be seperate). When I make the reservations for them should i add on meals also or can i book the package with just the room & park tickets. What i am hoping for is the free dining for them which i know the offer comes public around March.
If i book just the room with 7 day park tickets is this considered a package or do i also have to add the meals also. I know the price for the meals will be deducted from the balance if i am lucky enough to get the free dining for them.
Can someone guide me in the right direction on what i should do?

 

[Mickeys.friend]

Go ahead and book for them without the meal plan. A "package" is the room and tickets...no meal plan necessary. Then "when" free dining comes out you can add it on...and if by chance it does not get offered(but i really think it will be offered) than you can always add on and pay for the meal plan when you reach the 45 day mark and must pay off the package....

LIZ

 

[tami82]

thanks very much for responding. Ok i wasnt sure whether that qualified as a package but you cleared it up for me. I will book the room w/tickets for now, thanks again!

 

[candielips]

Don't you need to book the dining to be able to do your ADR's 180 days in advance?

 

[a1tinkfans]

isn't the 180 adrs open to all now, not just those staying on property??

also, Tami82: are you getting discount for a pkg?? Otherwise you can book just a room only with the discount available and then add the tix and dining when the "free dine comes out....You'd only have to give a one night deposit now.......

 

[tami82]

Wow thanks guys, i dont know why i didnt even think about that. I would definitely need to book the dining now because i would be making the dining reservations at the 180 day mark.

 

[Mickey country]

Wow thanks guys, i dont know why i didnt even think about that. I would definitely need to book the dining now because i would be making the dining reservations at the 180 day mark.

Aren't they eating with you? If so, you don't need to add them to the dining plan until it comes out for free, or if it doesn't and you choose to pay for it.

 

[Harlemgirl720]

Don't you need to book the dining to be able to do your ADR's 180 days in advance?

You don't have to book a dining plan in order to reserve ADRs. You would do that if you want you meals to be added to your hotel reservation and even in that situation, you don't need to be on a meal plan.

I have booked my meals before I have even made a hotel reservation.

 

[Native NYer]

If they're staying at Pop, wouldn't the free dining plan offered be the Quick Service plan? Isn't that what was just offered in the fall for values? So, if they're joining you at table service meals and get the QS plan free, you'll have to pay OOP for those meals.

 

[tami82]

Hi,
this will be two seperate reservations. Isnt the problem with doing that is you can only book daily by doing that? I would rather book in once shot.

Im not exactly sure if anything or what would be offered as far as free dining just keeping my fingers crossed they will at least get a little something. If it is just quick service i guess we will have to be happy with that. Im not sure if its just quick service, my brother stayed at AllStars in September and seemed to get the regular meal plan so i dont know.

We arent too overly concerned if we cant eat together as we didnt plan on eating every single meal together anyway but will meet up to go to parks if that is the case.

 

[danceintherain]

If they're staying at Pop, wouldn't the free dining plan offered be the Quick Service plan? Isn't that what was just offered in the fall for values? So, if they're joining you at table service meals and get the QS plan free, you'll have to pay OOP for those meals.

You can pay the difference between the QS Dining Plan and the Regular One. It's about $10 per adult per night.

You can definitely wait to add the Dining Plan. You only have to have a reservation at a Disney resort to get the 180 days + 10 for Dining Reservations, and I don't think it matters how many people you put on those ADRs.

You can book anything you want until you reach you 45 day mark. At that point you really must make a decision, because any changes to your package will result in a fee.

When dealing with discounts, technically, you rebook anyways, so it doesn't matter what you have booked before. They'll cancel your original reservation and rebook it within the availability of the discount.

 

[tami82]

You can pay the difference between the QS Dining Plan and the Regular One. It's about $10 per adult per night.

You can definitely wait to add the Dining Plan. You only have to have a reservation at a Disney resort to get the 180 days + 10 for Dining Reservations, and I don't think it matters how many people you put on those ADRs.

thanks ok that makes sense i will do that then.