Disney Dining Reservation - Do I need a Room / Package reservation ?

[SpykeYs]

Hi !

I will be arriving at WDW on February 28th ! 180 Days is tomorrow !

I have not yet booked any packages as I am waiting for either Play, Stay and Dine packages or room only discounts which are usually released in October.

Do I need a resort reservation to start booking my restaurants ? If I do not, can I book 180 + 10 or I will only be able to book for the 28th ?

Please let me know if I should make a reservation tonight or not necessary ?

Thanks!!

 

[Schneewittchen]

I've booked dinner reservations without booking a trip. You don't need to be an onsite guest to make dinner plans.

 

[SpykeYs]

I've booked dinner reservations without booking a trip. You don't need to be an onsite guest to make dinner plans.

Understood, but will I be able to make a reservation for all of my days tomorow or only for the 28th ? Maybe I am wrong but it was my understanding that if you have a package reservation or room only you can make a reservation for all of your days at 180 days. Maybe I am wrong ?

 

[Schneewittchen]

Only the 28th.

 

[SpykeYs]

Great thanks !

 

[Schneewittchen]

You know you can book a reservation for the $200 down and then alter it later when the discounts come out.

 

[SpykeYs]

Definitely, but I do not see what is the benefit of doing so to be honest.

I know for a fact that discounts will come out so i'd rather just wait and book when they are out.

My flight is already booked though

 

[Dave B]

That would allow you to book all your dates for ADR, then cancel the reservation at the 30 day mark

 

[SpykeYs]

Well I though I was told that it was not possible by Schneewittchen.

So if I book a room only or package, at 180 days I can book all my ADR at the same time?

 

[Wendy Pleakley]

Definitely, but I do not see what is the benefit of doing so to be honest.

It guarantees you a room. If staying on property or being at WDW on specific dates are requirements for you, this guarantees it (but does not guarantee getting a discount for those dates later).

It allows you to book dining for 180 days + length of stay.

I recommend using a Disney travel agent. If you book now, they will take care of changing your reservation once discounts are released.

 

[Dave B]

Well I though I was told that it was not possible by Schneewittchen.

So if I book a room only or package, at 180 days I can book all my ADR at the same time?

So book the package, it only requires a $200 refundable deposit, make the reservation for the length of your trip, you will then get the 180 day window open to book your ADR's. When you cancel the package reservation, it DOES NOT cancel your ADR's, you will get everything you are looking for, now there will be people on these boards that will tell you it is wrong, but I disagree, if Disney wanted to close that loophole, they would

 

[nickys]

Well I though I was told that it was not possible by Schneewittchen.

So if I book a room only or package, at 180 days I can book all my ADR at the same time?

@Schneewittchen was meaning that if you do not have an onsite reservation you can only book one day at a time.

With an onsite reservation, you can book for length of stay - up to 10 days. If staying longer than 10 days you get a rolling window. So at 179 days out from check-in you can book day 11, at 178 days you can book day 12 etc.

 

[DisAl]

So book the package, it only requires a $200 refundable deposit, make the reservation for the length of your trip, you will then get the 180 day window open to book your ADR's. When you cancel the package reservation, it DOES NOT cancel your ADR's, you will get everything you are looking for, now there will be people on these boards that will tell you it is wrong, but I disagree, if Disney wanted to close that loophole, they would

Sorry if you consider this a personal attack but I am one who will tell that is wrong. Making reservations just so you can make ADRs and then cancelling puts you in the same class of scum as line jumpers. Or I guess you think that is ok too if you can get away with it...

 

[DisAl]

Definitely, but I do not see what is the benefit of doing so to be honest.

I know for a fact that discounts will come out so i'd rather just wait and book when they are out.

My flight is already booked though

The benefit of going ahead with your reservations is that you know you have the resort and room reservation of your choice, and you know what the "worst case" will be on the cost. You can then watch for the discounts and re-book, or as others have suggested us a travel agent and let them watch that for you.

Since your flight is already booked, your dates are already tied down so why risk not getting the room you want by waiting?