confusion over ddp

blimpys

Earning My Ears
Joined
Sep 10, 2014
Hello all -
I am after a bit of help.
I am wanting to book a 18 day stay at a disney hotel and a 14 day disneyworld ticket - now will the dining plan be for 18 days hotel stay or 14 days park ticket?
The virgin chap we talked to said its on the park ticket so only 14 days - but i seem to think it would be on the hotel stay so you would get 18 days and can use the extra 4 days at hotel restaurants?
We are hoping to go may 2017 so anyone know what the best time to book is?!
Thanks so much in advance
 
Tickets are for 14 days and the Dining Plan is for the number of nights at your resort I think. There is a limit but I suspect that is 21 days. You can buy a 21 day ticket for not much more money. UK travel agents are universally rubbish at understanding Disney packages I'm afraid. Book direct with WDW in line. O
 
I believe the agent is correct this time, you have to have a valid park ticket for the DDP. I would recommend getting a 21 day ticket
 
Not sure if the UK dinning plan works differently than the US but when I had it, it was based on nights in the resort. So we were there for 9 nights but only had 5 days of tickets. We got 9 nights worth of dinning credits.
 


Ours was based on the number of nights at the resort. We stayed 8 nights and got 8 days worth of dining, even though we only had 5 days worth of park tickets.
 
The DDP will be valid for the number of nights regardless of the length of ticket.

You have to purchase a ticket to qualify for free dining but the ticket doesn't affect the length of the DDP.

VH will be very expensive- have a look at booking direct with Disney. You can add flights on to your package once they are released at 11 months as well.

Finally, if you are going for 18 nights I'd really recommend the 21 day ticket. It won't be much more and will give you the ultimate flexibility :goodvibes
 
@Elise79 is correct. There is no direct correlation between the number of nights at the hotel and the length of ticket necessarily. To buy the UK Dining Plan package, you need to purchase a UK ticket (either 7, 14 or 21 days) but the length of time you have the dining plan will be based on the number of nights you are actually staying.
 


Thank you all so so much.
So I'm better booking separate? I've never booked like that before so am slightly nervous.
Am I best booking now for May? From past experience does anyone know the best time to book to get the best price.
Als if I book through virgin as a package does anyone know the cheapest time to book for May?
So sorry for all the question. Been waiting to go back since our honeymoon in 2012 so want do make the most of it!
Thank you all
 
Definitely length of nights not ticket - we have done 16 nights with a 14 day ticket and had 16 nights free dining. Travel agent is speaking rubbish.

You will pay a lot more booking a package.

Personally I'd book the hotel and tickets direct with Disney now to get free dining. You just pay a deposit £50 each, balance due 2 months out. Booking now gets you a gift card and choice of hotels.

Then 11 months out from return date flights are released. You can ask Disney to quote or usually cheaper to sort yourself. Look on kayak or skyscanner. If you need to move the Disney reservation to tie in with a flight they will for no fee as long as price is same or higher. Disney are very flexible if you want to add anyone to booking, upgrade dining etc.

Flights are out now for May 17 booked as package holidays but usually you will pay a premium for these.
 
Be aware, I looked on WDW site for November 2017 and the total cost for hotel, park tickets and free DDP was a tad more expensive than what I payed all in, I.e with upgraded room at hotel, flights and upgraded car hire for this November :scared:. We booked with travelcitydirect, a sister company of VH, theyre worth a look if you're interested in a package.

Not sure whether we had a really good deal or if the prices have gone up that much in a year?
 
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Not sure whether we had a really good deal or if the prices have gone up that much in a year?

The GBP has dropped over 15% against the USD between the time the package you booked was released, and the time 2017 packages were released
prices are indexed on the USD when they're released for the year, meaning that, prices for 2017 are likely to be 15% more expensive than for 2016 (and that's even before adding a yearly price increasse)

if I had to book Free Dining OKW Studio for 2017, it would cost me 50% more than it cost me in 2015 (2 years ago)

prices are ridiculous.
 
Yes, the prices are ridiculous. When I saw the price I nearly shot through the roof! :scared: I think this will be our first and last time staying onsite :guilty:
 
Don't be nervous about booking everything separately! There's lots of help available. Definitely book now with Disney for the best choice of resorts and rooms.

Sencybil x
 
Thank you all so so much.
So I'm better booking separate? I've never booked like that before so am slightly nervous.
Am I best booking now for May? From past experience does anyone know the best time to book to get the best price.
Als if I book through virgin as a package does anyone know the cheapest time to book for May?
So sorry for all the question. Been waiting to go back since our honeymoon in 2012 so want do make the most of it!
Thank you all

Make sure you check prices directly from Disney as well www.disneyholidays.co.uk, For us it was much cheaper to book hotel and ticket with Disney and the flight separately direct with Virgin Atlantic.
If you want the free dining offer then book now or before early July as you then get a $200 gift card. Booking before September gets a $100 gift card. After Sept then no more free dining.

Dining plan credits are per night. So an 18 night trip gets you 18 of each meal credit type.
Tickets are valid 14 days from first use for the 7 and 14 day tickets and 21 days from first use for 21 days tickets. so if you are doing 18 nights and want to visit a park on the first and last day you need 21 days tickets.
 
Thank you all so much. Hubby is trying to get time off work so we can book.
It's all so exciting, we're going for the 21 day ticket too for the flexibility - prices do seem really high this year can't believe what a bargain we got for our honeymoon it costs more than double for same thing next year!
 
Thank you all so much. Hubby is trying to get time off work so we can book.
It's all so exciting, we're going for the 21 day ticket too for the flexibility - prices do seem really high this year can't believe what a bargain we got for our honeymoon it costs more than double for same thing next year!
Our honeymoon was at WDW in 2012 too :lovestruc

Bit of a delayed post but only just realised you other post :)
 
there is barely any difference in price between the 14 day and the 21 day ticket, so i don't know why you wouldn't just get the 21 day.
 

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