Want dining plan but already have tickets?

[DawnLovesDisney]

I'm so upset about having to purchase tickets to get the dining plan.

Here's the deal:
We went last year to WDW and stayed at the Pop Century. It was myself, my 3 year old and my parents. We all shared a room. We all needed tickets so we all purchased 10 day passes with no expiration. We all used 4 and have 6 remaining.

This year, I want to go again with my husband, my now 4 year old and our 2 year old twins. I don't need tickets and my 4 year old doesn't need tickets. Our 2 year olds are free.

I have two paper passes from the good old days for my hubby to use. One is in my name and one is in his name but the names are worn off, can he use both of them?

I figure I will need to purchase him at least two days anyway.

The thing is, I REALLY want to do the dining plan, I love the dining plan, I love staying at Disney BUT everyone in the room has to purchase the same tickets to be able to purchase the dining plan so that means my 4 year old and I need to purchase a 1 day basic pass at the bare minimum which would be $70 something and $67 something. That doesn't even make sense because we wouldn't use the tickets since we have 6 each. So the person on the phone said not to activate it and we could use it next time. BUT next time if I wanted to use the dining plan, I'd have to purchase MORE tickets. And at full price, the cost of those two tickets would be almost as much as a 10 day pass.


I'm SO disappointed!

 

[grammagail]

I understand your pain. I booked my room only reservation with my AAA discount (15%). Bought my tickets thru Ticketmania - and saved quite a bit.

Then I started reading about this dining package - which sounds wonderful. A shame you can't just purchase the dining package ahead of time

 

[helenk]

You say that your husband will need a ticket for 2 days, you need to buy each person a one day ticket to get the dining plan. Your husband would be able to use those one day adult tickets, as the tickets are not assigned to an idvidual when you buy them. They will most likely be on a room key, but he can still use one card one day and the second card the next day.
So essentially the only additional amount you would be paying would be the cost of the child's one day ticket which is $55.38. The savings you would have with using the dining plan would be worth it.

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

Here's what I did:

I already own two five-day hoppers (there are four of us, so I was going to have to buy two more when I got to WDW), so when I made my reservations, I purchased a one-day pass for each of us. Then when I arrive, I'll buy the two five-day hoppers.

Now we have an extra day at the parks. Such torture.

 

[jjohnson]

The way around this is to rent points from a DVC member & add the dining plan. Tickets are not needed.

 

[jcsbama]

The way around this is to rent points from a DVC member & add the dining plan. Tickets are not needed.

That's what I was thinking too.

 

[DawnLovesDisney]

That's a great idea!

 

[jjohnson]

That's a great idea!

There is a board on the DIS that can help you out.

http://disboards.com/forumdisplay.php?s=&daysprune=&f=29

 

[sunny04]

So related question...AP holders are now the ones left out of this option right? People buying tickets can add it on, and DVC members can get the dining plan now. But AP holders are just out of luck?

 

[nbodyhome]

So related question...AP holders are now the ones left out of this option right? People buying tickets can add it on, and DVC members can get the dining plan now. But AP holders are just out of luck?

Passholders often get a big discount on the rooms, and can buy into the Disney Dining Experience. IMHO, that is a much better deal than a full priced dining plan in most instances (especially when booking deluxe resorts). You also aren't subject to WDTC rules, which can cost you the vacation trip if you don't have some sort of insurance and need to leave early.

Denise

 

[MOMOFMNM]

Yeah but AP holders get discounts on rooms therefore are not available for dining plan...

something about a room at rack rate and a pkg

but I suupose they figure buying into DVC is a big enough investment to give them the plan...

hope something comes along for AP holders too...

 

[Serene1]

Yeah but AP holders get discounts on rooms therefore are not available for dining plan...

something about a room at rack rate and a pkg

but I suupose they figure buying into DVC is a big enough investment to give them the plan...

hope something comes along for AP holders too...

Or maybe it's Disney's way to entice DVC members to eat on site rather than off site or in their own DVC kitchens?

Restaurant food mark up is huge. Then there's the possibility of buying alcohol while at those TS restaurants. Isn't that mark up even more than food? And not covered at all by the dining plan.

 

[byoung]

I agree rent DVC. After renting watch out you may get hooked. I did and now own.

 

[nbodyhome]

AP holders get a lot of perks - room discounts, some dining discounts, membership into the DDE to buy into - and the room discounts are usually much better than any discounts with the food plan (usually, though not including the free dining plan, which was a great deal).

Denise

 

[Linzybrooke]

The ones who really get left out are TDS management...we get in for free but aren't eligible for any resort, merchadise or dining plan discounts or programs. *sigh*