Disney Dining Plan

[e4ymod]

I am interested in the Disney Dining Plan, but I've only seen it packaged together with the Magic Your Way package, which includes the resort and the tickets to the park. However, I am an Annual Passholder and I don't need the tickets to the park. Does anyone know if I can purchase the Dining Plan by itself or al least packaged with ONLY the hotel and no ticket?

 

[ErickainPA]

I know you can't purchase it alone, the travel agent friend of mine told me that. I haven't seen it listed with just the hotel, so I don't think that's possible either. I believe it's only sold as a package deal. Try calling Disney to find out for sure though.

 

[shoppingnut]

You cannot purchase it separately, it must be done as a package. However, as an AP holder, you can purchase the Disney Dining Experience card for $50 (it is good for one year). You then get 20% off of your meals, including liquor, free valet parking at the hotels when dining. I have the card and it is well worth spending the $50. It has paid for itself on the first trip I took.

Here's the link to the website that explains the card more fully http://www.mousesavers.com/diningexperience.html

 

[DisneyBunny]

I remember reading that it would be possible to book a package deal, but only put one park ticket on the bill. Since MYW + Dining cooresponds to the number of nights in your hotel, not the number of days in the park, you might be able to still book this package without losing too much $. Hopefully someone better informed can confirm/deny this. Either way, with both this idea, or the purchase of the DDE card, you're still out around $50, but the savings with the DDP makes it all worthwhile...

 

[e4ymod]

Thanks for the info shoppingnut. As a passholder, I only get 10% and liquor isn't included. So I will definitely look into that.

And thanks for your help too, ErickainNJ and DisneyBunny

 

[Laura]

For my recent trip I booked a package including the dining plan (I am an AP holder). In order to do this I had to purchase 1 day tickets. This still saved me money over going the AP route and using Disney Dining Experience.

The bad news was, a week before the trip the group I was travelling with decided they didn't wanna do the sit down meals we had reserved. So I had to call Disney back and pay $60 to cancel the dining plan, and my trip ended up costing me WAY more money because of that. I'm still ticked.

 

[wdwishes2005]

For my recent trip I booked a package including the dining plan (I am an AP holder). In order to do this I had to purchase 1 day tickets.

Correct me if I am wrong, but can't you trade in unused MYW tickets for a discount on future APs?

 

[shoppingnut]

Correct me if I am wrong, but can't you trade in unused MYW tickets for a discount on future APs?

Yes, you can apply the amount of the MYW ticket to the AP. However, you must do it in person at Guest Services. So, if you are not going to be down there at the renewal time it doesn't make too much sense to go that route.

Also, you must take into account what the difference in hotel price you will be paying with the package as compared to the AP rate, it may be a significant difference depending upon the time of year and the discount offered.

 

[coln84]

This I find odd because when I called to make a dining reservation for Fantasmic they never asked if I was staying in the hotels. But they were full anyways.

 

[wdwishes2005]

Also, you must take into account what the difference in hotel price you will be paying with the package as compared to the AP rate, it may be a significant difference depending upon the time of year and the discount offered.

yes, it all really depends on your dining style.

 

[Pioneer Hall]

Yeah it is unfortunate that you can't get this deal without having to get tickets. I also have an AP and don't need the tickets but I would really like to take advantage of this. I got the dining experience card which is the next best thing I suppose, it does save you some money.