Split stay with AP discount and free dining

[Masonmj84]

(when you don't yet have an AP)

The conventional wisdom for a split stay with an AP discount at one resort and free dining at the other is to do the free dining resort first and the AP resort second. In essence, you get MYW tickets for your entire trip (to cover your stay at both resorts) with your first (free dining) resort package and then, at any time prior to checking into the second (AP discount) resort, upgrade one member of the party’s MYW ticket to an AP (which also enables getting a TIW card or pre-paid dining plan at the second resort without buying any more MYW tickets).

What if (for reasons that I won’t go into here) I’d like to switch things up and do the AP discount resort first and the free dining resort second?

Can I do the following:

(1) Upon arrival at WDW, go to Guest Services at a park and ask to be advanced our MYW tickets (intended to cover the entire stay at both resorts) bought with the package associated with the second (free dining) resort, even though we won't be checking into that resort for at least a few days.

(2) Immediately upgrade one member of the party's MYW ticket to an AP (so as to apply the AP Discount to the first resort and be eligible for either TIW or a pre-paid dining plan at that resort).

Or will one of the following 2 things happen: (A) Disney will not advance my MYW tickets bought with the second (free dining) resort package until my check in day at the second resort; or (B) Disney will advance my MYW tickets, but upgrading one ticket to an AP prior to check in at the second resort will effectively cancel my free dining.

Anyone ever try (or know the answer to) this?

 

[vicki_c]

1 - only if stay #1 is 3 days or less before stay #2 - you can only get tickets up to 3 days in advance.

2 - upgrading to the AP whenever should not impact your free dining reservation as you have already done what was required - purchase tickets and booked a rack rate room.

If you want an AP ticketless dining package for stay #1 - that has to be booked in advance. You can't add dining at or after arrival.

It would be much easier to book it in the other order.

 

[Masonmj84]

If you want an AP ticketless dining package for stay #1 - that has to be booked in advance. You can't add dining at or after arrival.

True. But can't I still book the AP ticketless dining package in advance without yet having the AP? (and just wait to upgrade a MYW ticket to an AP when I arrive at WDW).

Thanks in advance.

 

[vicki_c]

True. But can't I still book the AP ticketless dining package in advance without yet having the AP? (and just wait to upgrade a MYW ticket to an AP when I arrive at WDW).

Thanks in advance.

Considering you can book an AP rate room before you have the AP, I'm guessing you can book the AP ticketless dining package as well. You just wouldn't be able to use the AP holder website to do it.

You don't have to have the AP in hand, active, to book using AP rates. You just need to show it it when you arrive / close to arrival / within a day of arrival / never (YMMV).

I was just commenting to make sure you knew you couldn't add dining once you were there.