Travel Agent lied

[maglib]

I booked a room at Grand Floridian using a travel agent as required by my company. I asked about a dining plan and tickets option and was told to call 407-824-3000 to book them. Now I find that if I didn't book direct with Disney, you can't get the dining plan?

The travel agent says I'm wrong and that I can. I told her to do it.

Big travel agency Expedia.

Please let me know. My stay is 8/17-8/24 and the difference in booking direct with Disney and Expedia was only $48 and we are 2A, 2 under 10 and 1 10 year old. I think it looks like it's costing me as the DDP plan only makes sense.

Thanks for all of you who are in the know.

 

[imthatgirl]

yes you can get the dining plan from a TA, you dont need to book direct through them
but
you have to book it as a package, so maybe because you are booking through them you are getting a room only rate, which you would have to give up the savings to get a package rate.

 

[LadyOmega]

yes you can get the dining plan from a TA, you dont need to book direct through them
but
you have to book it as a package, so maybe because you are booking through them you are getting a room only rate, which you would have to give up the savings to get a package rate.

Yes, that sounds like what happened. You said you were asking about ticket options as well, which I take to mean that you didn't book a package. You must book a package with room and tickets to be able to add on the dining plan.

 

[melissac]

We booked a trip through a AAA travel agent and was able to book a package. That included DDP, Room and tickets.

 

[TDC Nala]

It is not a lie, but a misunderstanding of Disney booking and terminology.

You cannot book the dining plan with a room only reservation, you must have a room/tickets package to add the dining plan, and you must call Disney to convert your room only reservation to a room/tickets package. If you asked Disney to add the dining plan to a room-only reservation and they said they could not do it, that would be correct. Call them back and inquire about a room-tickets package because you must add your tickets to your room reservation to be able to get the dining plan. Now, if Disney is telling you that you can't convert your Expedia room only reservation to a room/tickets package, you may not be able to do it because Expedia is in control of your reservation. I'd say if that is the case you should either contact Expedia and ask them if they can convert your reservation to a room/tickets package and add dining, or cancel the Expedia reservation and make a package reservation.

A travel agent ought to be able to book a room/tickets package with Disney for their clients.

If you are traveling for a conference, it's possible that you may not be able to book a package if you are booking a room specifically set aside for conference bookings.

Be aware that you would probably need to make table service dining reservations as soon as possible if you do sign up for the dining plan.

 

[Jenvenza]

She didnt lie. I think everone has explained it well. My mother is a travel agent and we booked through her and got the dining plan.

 

[Luv2Roam]

The OP will have to go through the TA, as already stated they own the res. So only they can make changes.
Like others, I do not know if Expedia can book a WDTC MYW Dining package.

 

[mbanks21]

Expedia CANNOT add ddp as they prepurchase room onlys and not packages. Any TA can add ddp as long as you have a package with room and tickets.

 

[maglib]

After, I spoke to the manager Expedia cancelled the reservation and didn't charge the fee at least. No other TA's could add dining to the room as the reservation is an Expedia code only and I was told they couldn't do it.

Thanks though. I booked direct with Disney now hopefully I can get some reimbursement as we didn't use the firm TA....

thanks.

 

[CarolinaMomOf3boys]

yes you can get the dining plan from a TA, you dont need to book direct through them
but
you have to book it as a package, so maybe because you are booking through them you are getting a room only rate, which you would have to give up the savings to get a package rate.

We will be at disney at the same time!

Have a magical trip!

 

[maglib]

I guess I could have waited to get to Disney and tried to upgrade but I didn't want to take any chances.

I hope the Grand Floridian isn't too over the top for my boys and they can still be kids. I wanted water slides and fun for them but convenience of the monorail. My preference has been the Polynesian.

Anyone know if you can use other resort hotel pools and which resort has the best slides for the 10-12 year olds.

I can't wait.

This will be the first time we choose the dining plan.

Now I need to make dinner reservations. Any suggestions to make the most of the dining plan? Also my middle child eats like an adult and is on the kids plan so I'm hoping kid portions will be enough for him.

Thanks everyone for all your help. I guess Disney fans are where it's at.

 

[mbanks21]

no pool hopping allowed

 

[LadyOmega]

yes, it's good you didn't wait till you got to WDW and then tried to upgrade, because the dining plan must be added before arrival - it cannot be added at check in (at least to my knowledge).
As the previous poster said, you cannot use the pools at other hotels.

 

[Luv2Roam]

DDP cannot be added at check in. Nor could a room only res be converted into a package at check in either.
I think Expedia is fine for those who just want the basic (room only). If they want anything else, then they will not get what they want.
I can't imagine you will not love the GF!
I always thought it would be neat to rent one of those cabana tents on the beach.
DH and I love the Maya Grill at CSR. Also Turf Club at SSR is very good too. For Epcot, we like Tutto's. Although Biergarten, Chefs, etc in WS are all very good too.
1900 Park Fair right there at GF is popular. You might want to go there.
There is the afternoon tea (Garden View Tea) at GF. However that would be OOP, as they do not accept DDP.
GF Cafe is very good too.
I think you will love you trip!

 

[MPHARJ]

Your best bet is to try and look for some buffet or family style meals, my youngest is 7 soon to be 8 and he is a big eater and the kid portions are not very big, nor is there much variety. I opt for buffets for us so he can get what he wants, more to eat and more variety. You need to start booking your ADR's right away, you might be limited to times and places. Good luck!

 

[Disney_Angel]

no pool hopping allowed

 

[mbanks21]

did you not like my response to the poster above me that asked about pool hopping?

 

[catne]

Yes, book your ADR's as soon as possible, and be prepared with multiple choices each day...you will be at WDW during the same time as the Free Dining promotion guests are there, so many of the more popular restaurants (including character meals & buffets) will be booked up...at least for the "normal" meal times. You may be able to get things like very late breakfasts (like around 11) or very late lunches (3:00)

 

[TDC Nala]

Walt Disney World policy prohibits pool hopping unless it is 1) between sister resorts like the All Stars or the Port Orleans resorts 2) offered as an option because a resort theme pool is being refurbished or 3) performed by DVC members, who are permitted to pool hop to most resort pools.

This is a restaurant thread and further discussion of pool hopping is off topic.