Tricky question

[Kappagirl]

Is there anything that would prevent me or make it difficult to purchase a package deal (room, tickets, dining) for myself and husband and then purchase tickets separately for my 3 year old?

Am I correct in assuming that we could still add everyone's tickets my disney in order to use fast pass, etc. just like you would when traveling with multiple parties and make dining reservations.

As long as it is possible for me to pay for my three-year-old daughter's meals out of pocket while also using the dining plan my husband and I have purchased for ourselves when we attend restaurants, I don't see this being a problem. The reason I ask is my three-year-old does not eat very much and will mainly eat things like applesauce and veggie packs. I don't want to purchase the dining plan for her but would like one for ourselves. We were planning on just booking a package for myself and my husband and purchasing my daughter's tickets separately. I don't mind paying for her tickets to Disney but I don't want to pay for food she isn't going to eat or need.

 

[denneg]

It's really not possible, unless you don't tell them she is with you, which I wouldn't advise. The cost of the kids dining plan is very small, and they don't track the QS meals between kids and adults, so you could use that as a breakfast that you could all split, and anyone could eat the snack.

 

[maxiesmom]

Everyone in the room has to be on the same package. So you can't have it for just you and your husband and not your 3 year old.

Do you plan on doing any buffets or all you care to eat meals? If so, the dining plan, even for a 3 year old, will quickly more than pay for itself.

 

[winthropf]

If you are taking Magical Express, everyone must be listed on the room reservation to have ME reservation. Also, to make FP+ at 60 days, she must be on the room reservation.

 

[Sleepy425]

Pior to FP+ we did this by just omitting the person from the reservation. Once you get to the resort you can add them. But we got around the ME problem by adding them to another reservation that wasn't using the dining plan (my parents' room).

 

[POOHsie]

You don't need to purchase the dining plan. It's not necessary. The cost of the dining plan vs. paying OOP is similar-to-equal. Without the dining plan purchase, you can get a room-only discount. With dining plan you have to pay rack rate. Have you called to inquire about getting a ticketless dining package? They are available by calling. Anything is better than trying to get around the rule that everyone in a room has to have the same package elements.

 

[jtowntoflorida]

If you're planning to do any buffets, you're going to be paying full price for that picky 3 year old who doesn't eat anything anyway.

 

[Boo Bear]

I've done the dining plan once and will never pay for it again. It's way too much food for us.

 

[DebbieB]

Is there anything that would prevent me or make it difficult to purchase a package deal (room, tickets, dining) for myself and husband and then purchase tickets separately for my 3 year old?

Am I correct in assuming that we could still add everyone's tickets my disney in order to use fast pass, etc. just like you would when traveling with multiple parties and make dining reservations.

As long as it is possible for me to pay for my three-year-old daughter's meals out of pocket while also using the dining plan my husband and I have purchased for ourselves when we attend restaurants, I don't see this being a problem. The reason I ask is my three-year-old does not eat very much and will mainly eat things like applesauce and veggie packs. I don't want to purchase the dining plan for her but would like one for ourselves. We were planning on just booking a package for myself and my husband and purchasing my daughter's tickets separately. I don't mind paying for her tickets to Disney but I don't want to pay for food she isn't going to eat or need.

That's one way Disney makes money on the dining plan - everyone in the room has to have it and for all nights. Otherwise only some would buy it and share with the others, or only use it for their expensive meals and go cheap on the others.

By the way, it has nothing to do with tickets. The Dining Plan is connected to your room reservation nights, not your tickets.

 

[msb578]

You don't need to purchase the dining plan. It's not necessary. The cost of the dining plan vs. paying OOP is similar-to-equal. Without the dining plan purchase, you can get a room-only discount. With dining plan you have to pay rack rate. Have you called to inquire about getting a ticketless dining package? They are available by calling. Anything is better than trying to get around the rule that everyone in a room has to have the same package elements.

I do generally prefer to pay OOP, but-

You can get a percentage discount off the room portion of a package. With *free dining*, you do pay rack rate.

 

[Kappagirl]

We are traveling at the end of January so I'm not really worried about the ability to use the fast pass 60 days early, but the magical express is a concern. How will we be able to take our infant on that who does not need tickets? Do you have to show the driver something to get on? No we probably won't do any buffet meals. When I priced out staying at a moderate resort as a package deal versus staying at either shades of green or an economy resort without a package, somehow the package rate seemed like the better deal. I was wondering if I was getting a discount on the room and meals with the package...

Our 3 year old really eats nothing. I usually just pack her fruit pouches, etc. so I feel it really would be a waste of money except for a character meal. However my DH and DM eat a lot so I thought it would be nice for them.
Thanks for the advice!

 

[Kappagirl]

Sleepy, did you ever have any problems doing that? How do you add someone after you get there?

Oh, I didn't realize what ME was. No, we are not using the airport... If that's the case, it's seems like we might not need to do it. It won't prevent us from anything...