AP vs 6 day base with dinng plan - HELP

I

IMPoppins

New Member
Please help me! We are going to POFQ, in August, for 10 nights. Our package includes a 6 day base ticket and basic dining plan. We are receiving the bounceback promotion. We got an opportunity to go back to WDW, with family, in December '08 and stay at the Poly for 40% off:eek: So now I am going to purchase AP's for my family of 4. I called Disney at asked if I could get the room only rate and just add the dp. I was told that AP's can only purchase the dp through 5/31. Ok. So, shoud I change my reservation to room only and get the dde? Or, should I keep my package as is and just upgrade my 6 day base to an AP once we arrive? It's an $1800 difference between our current package and getting the room only rate. That difference would pay for our AP's but I would need to pay out of pocket for our meals. :brick:
Thanks!
 
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Rob562

Rob562

Well-Known Member
IMPoppins said:
Please help me! We are going to POFQ, in August, for 10 nights. Our package includes a 6 day base ticket and basic dining plan. We are receiving the bounceback promotion. We got an opportunity to go back to WDW, with family, in December '08 and stay at the Poly for 40% off:eek: So now I am going to purchase AP's for my family of 4. I called Disney at asked if I could get the room only rate and just add the dp. I was told that AP's can only purchase the dp through 5/31. Ok. So, shoud I change my reservation to room only and get the dde? Or, should I keep my package as is and just upgrade my 6 day base to an AP once we arrive? It's an $1800 difference between our current package and getting the room only rate. That difference would pay for our AP's but I would need to pay out of pocket for our meals. :brick:
Thanks!
Click to expand...

If the Dining Plan you're getting is free, it's *usually* a better deal than an AP hotel rate with the DDE discounts. (Though it's hard to say for sure, as every family's eating habits are different)
If you know you need the APs, I would get the package you have already booked, and then upgrade the tickets to an AP when you get there. (That's what I'm doing on my next visit) After you check in, bring your Resort IDs to the Lobby Concierge desk and ask them to "extract" the tickets from the IDs (making sure to mention that you have the Dining Plan and would like to make sure not to lose your credits).
From what I've heard, there's two ways the CMs can separate the tickets from a room key: a right way and a wrong way. If the CM does it the "wrong way" your dining credits could be deleted, so make sure the CM understands what you're asking before they do it. (Ask for a manager if they say it can't be done)
Then take the "extracted" ticket to a park Ticket or Guest Relations window and have them upgrade it to an AP.

Alternatively, if you don't want to go through all that, you can upgrade your ticket on your last day there after you've used up all of your dining credits. They'll just back-date the activation date of your AP to equal the first date the ticket was used. The one thing about upgrading is that if your original ticket has the Water Parks & More option and you've *used* any of those options, you can only upgrade to a Premium Annual Pass.

-Rob
 
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Y

ypcat

Member
I would do the second option Rob mentioned, as there is no risk of losing your DDP credits. We did this last year when we had the free dining. On our way out of town, we stopped by guest relations and upgraded the tickets to APs. You must do this at the parks or DTD though, the resorts cannot do this.
 
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JPVonDrake

JPVonDrake

Well-Known Member
IMPoppins said:
Please help me! We are going to POFQ, in August, for 10 nights. Our package includes a 6 day base ticket and basic dining plan. We are receiving the bounceback promotion. We got an opportunity to go back to WDW, with family, in December '08 and stay at the Poly for 40% off:eek: So now I am going to purchase AP's for my family of 4. I called Disney at asked if I could get the room only rate and just add the dp. I was told that AP's can only purchase the dp through 5/31. Ok. So, shoud I change my reservation to room only and get the dde? Or, should I keep my package as is and just upgrade my 6 day base to an AP once we arrive? It's an $1800 difference between our current package and getting the room only rate. That difference would pay for our AP's but I would need to pay out of pocket for our meals. :brick:
Thanks!
Click to expand...

Let me be of some help.

First, Annual Passholders can book the Passholder Room + Dining Package for any travel dates from 2/20/08 - 12/31/08. This package includes a Disney Resort Room at regular rack rates plus the Disney Dining Plan for the length of the stay. There is no discount on either the room or dining component. No Magic You Way Ticket purchase is required. If future passholder discount offers are released, you may be able to modify to the discount offer based on availability of the discounted rooms. Remember, holding a room at rack rate does not give you any advantage in obtaining future discount offers.

These new dine package offers follow standard Walt Disney Travel Company Package deposit and cancellation policies., A deposit of $200 is required at the time of booking and the balance due in full 45 days prior to arrival. Change and cancellation fees will apply if they are made anytime within 44 days of arrival. If you have any challenge booking these packages please politely ask for the following package codes:

ADS - Passholder Room + Dining Package
ADT - Passholder Room + Dine and Wine Package
ADU - Passholder Room + Deluxe Dine Package
ADV - Passholder Room + Deluxe Dine and Wine Package

There is currently a passholder discount offer for these packages for travel dates 3/30/08 - 5/21/08, with the discount amount equal to the Passholder Room-only discount offer for the same room and dates. Like any discount offer, the number of rooms available is limited, and once they sell out they are gone.

IMPoppins, in your case my advice is to do the following. Keep your August package as is and enjoy the bounceback offer. If you booked your December stay as a room-only, call now to modify your 40% discounted December stay to a 40% discounted Magic Your Way Plus Dine Package and include only a 1 day 1 park ticket for now. (keep reading, I'll explain why in a moment.)

When you arrive at Walt Disney World in August, go to a Guest Relations Window in person at one of the theme parks and upgrade your 6 day base tickets to annual passes.

Keep an eye out for any discounted passholder dine offers in December. If one comes available, modify your 40% discounted Dine Package to the discounted Passholder package to drop the tickets if the rates are better.

If one does not come out, simply hold on to your 1 day tickets and use them up upgrade to an Annual Pass Renewal in person next August, or simply use them as is for any future visit. Remember, Magic Your Way tickets do not expire until 14 days after first use.

Note to Rob562 and IMPoppins, it would be both "safer" and faster to have a Theme Park Guest Relations Cast Member extract the tickets and upgrade them to Annual Passes then to do it at your Resort Lobby Concierge Desk. Just be sure to go to Theme Park Guest Relations, not a normal Ticket Sales window.
 
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B

Blue_Pearl

New Member
Wow! You seem to know everything! Do you work there? Oh, No you would be totally sick of these questions!!
Anyway, my question is....I got the FL res 4 day single park vouchers...if I upgrade to fl Res seasonal (which I could get at SOG for $90 more) would I be eligible for the AP dining plan later in the year? Or would it be better to wait for free dining in Sept?
 
Upvote 0
I

IMPoppins

New Member
Original Poster
JPVonDrake said:
Let me be of some help.

First, Annual Passholders can book the Passholder Room + Dining Package for any travel dates from 2/20/08 - 12/31/08. This package includes a Disney Resort Room at regular rack rates plus the Disney Dining Plan for the length of the stay. There is no discount on either the room or dining component. No Magic You Way Ticket purchase is required. If future passholder discount offers are released, you may be able to modify to the discount offer based on availability of the discounted rooms. Remember, holding a room at rack rate does not give you any advantage in obtaining future discount offers.

These new dine package offers follow standard Walt Disney Travel Company Package deposit and cancellation policies., A deposit of $200 is required at the time of booking and the balance due in full 45 days prior to arrival. Change and cancellation fees will apply if they are made anytime within 44 days of arrival. If you have any challenge booking these packages please politely ask for the following package codes:

ADS - Passholder Room + Dining Package
ADT - Passholder Room + Dine and Wine Package
ADU - Passholder Room + Deluxe Dine Package
ADV - Passholder Room + Deluxe Dine and Wine Package

There is currently a passholder discount offer for these packages for travel dates 3/30/08 - 5/21/08, with the discount amount equal to the Passholder Room-only discount offer for the same room and dates. Like any discount offer, the number of rooms available is limited, and once they sell out they are gone.

IMPoppins, in your case my advice is to do the following. Keep your August package as is and enjoy the bounceback offer. If you booked your December stay as a room-only, call now to modify your 40% discounted December stay to a 40% discounted Magic Your Way Plus Dine Package and include only a 1 day 1 park ticket for now. (keep reading, I'll explain why in a moment.)

When you arrive at Walt Disney World in August, go to a Guest Relations Window in person at one of the theme parks and upgrade your 6 day base tickets to annual passes.

Keep an eye out for any discounted passholder dine offers in December. If one comes available, modify your 40% discounted Dine Package to the discounted Passholder package to drop the tickets if the rates are better.

If one does not come out, simply hold on to your 1 day tickets and use them up upgrade to an Annual Pass Renewal in person next August, or simply use them as is for any future visit. Remember, Magic Your Way tickets do not expire until 14 days after first use.

Note to Rob562 and IMPoppins, it would be both "safer" and faster to have a Theme Park Guest Relations Cast Member extract the tickets and upgrade them to Annual Passes then to do it at your Resort Lobby Concierge Desk. Just be sure to go to Theme Park Guest Relations, not a normal Ticket Sales window.
Click to expand...

Thank you so much, JPVonDrake! I am keeping my August package the same. I also called WDW Travel and added on the dining plan for December. :)
 
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JPVonDrake

JPVonDrake

Well-Known Member
Blue_Pearl said:
Wow! You seem to know everything! Do you work there? Oh, No you would be totally sick of these questions!!
Anyway, my question is....I got the FL res 4 day single park vouchers...if I upgrade to fl Res seasonal (which I could get at SOG for $90 more) would I be eligible for the AP dining plan later in the year? Or would it be better to wait for free dining in Sept?
Click to expand...

Yes, I am a Cast Member at the Disney Reservations Center.

You can purchase new tickets at Shades of Green at a military discount, but you will not be able to upgrade an existing ticket there. Remember Shades of Green is an Armed Forces Retreat and is operated by the US Department of Defence, not by Disney.

You can upgrade your existing Florida Resident Play Four Day Pass at any Guest Relations Window located at the four Theme Parks or at Downtown Disney anytime within 6 months of the first use of your pass. Your expiration date will be 1 year from the date you first used your Play Four Day Pass.

Note this is different from other Magic Your Way Ticket media. Magic Your Way Tickets must always be upgraded within 14 days of first use regardless of if the No Expiration Option is purchased or not. The only exception to this rule is the Florida Resident 3 Day and 4 Day Play Passes which carry a 180 day (6 months) expiration.

The Passholder Room + Dine Package is open to any Disney Premium Passholder, 4 Park Annual Passholder or Florida Resident Seasonal Passholder. At least one adult (age 18+) staying in the room is required to show proof of having an Annual Pass upon check in. Only one room per adult passholder may be booked.
 
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Rob562

Rob562

Well-Known Member
JPVonDrake said:
Note to Rob562 and IMPoppins, it would be both "safer" and faster to have a Theme Park Guest Relations Cast Member extract the tickets and upgrade them to Annual Passes then to do it at your Resort Lobby Concierge Desk. Just be sure to go to Theme Park Guest Relations, not a normal Ticket Sales window.
Click to expand...

Good to know, JP!
Though I have yet to extract a ticket, I'd always assumed that the hotel would be the better place to do it. Then if something went wrong with the dining credits, you'd be right there at the front desk where conceivably they'd be able to fix your reservation.

Thanks!

-Rob
 
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