We have No Exp tickets - can we not purchase dining plan?

[ammer0910]

We bought 10-day, no exp tickets in '08, and have 6 days remaining. We plan to use 4 days on our next trip in Oct. We didn't do the dining plan last time because our kids were 3 and 2. Now they will be 7, 5 and 2 and we were considering the dining plan.

I read that the only way to get it is with one of the MYW packages, however we don't need tickets - except for our son who is now 5.

Can we add it a la carte to our existing tickets? TIA!

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

No unless you are staying DVC on points or someone in the room has an AP and makes an AP ticketless package.

 

[TDC Nala]

Unless you fit an exception (Annual Passholder, military discount, or DVC member booking through DVC Member Services) you can get a dining plan only with a room plus tickets package. So yes, if you want a dining plan you will have to purchase at least a one-day ticket for everyone as part of a package, even if you have leftover non-expiring tickets to use.

The dining plan has no relation whatsoever to the type and length of your tickets, it's just that unless you can meet one of the exceptions you have to buy some sort of ticket to make your reservation a package, as with the sole exception of DVC the DDP is available only as a package add-on.

 

[snykymom]

If you really want the DDP, then consider buying the 1 day ticket for everyone in the room, and hold onto it for a future trip. If tickets are unused, they never expire, and can be upgraded to whatever you need in the future.

 

[chartle]

We bought 10-day, no exp tickets in '08, and have 6 days remaining. We plan to use 4 days on our next trip in Oct. We didn't do the dining plan last time because our kids were 3 and 2. Now they will be 7, 5 and 2 and we were considering the dining plan.

I read that the only way to get it is with one of the MYW packages, however we don't need tickets - except for our son who is now 5.

Can we add it a la carte to our existing tickets? TIA!

If you want the DDP, you should get the package with everyone getting a one day ticket. Upgrade the 5 year olds to a 4 day expiring ticket or a 6 day Non expiring ticket. With the NE ticket he/she will be in sync with you.

Use the the one days in the future and upgrade them to what ever you need for the next trip or trips.

You could also upgrade the 5 year olds to a 10 day NE if it somehow fits your future plans.

As always with NE do the math and make sure, one it really is saving you money and two the remaining days work for your future trips.

If you have to buy just one day to complete a trip, you will lose any saving you gained buying NE.

On a completely separate though. make sure the DDP can save you money. Some people have run the numbers and based on what they would normally order they save very little or it costs a little more. Again look at the menus and do the math.