Land and Sea and the Dining Plan About This Page:

[JackiePsarianos]

We have taken a few land and sea cruises in the past when the dining plan for the land stay was not offered. During those times I wrote to DCL many times to request that they offer the dining plan for purchase for the land stay and was always told that it was not possible citing various 'business' reasons.

To my pleasure and great surprise, DCL is offering the dining plan as an option for purchase on the land portion of the land and sea packages (it's only fair afterall).

Now, I have another bee in my bonnet......

During the 'free dining period' this year, cruiseline guests did not and will not receive any 'free' dining, eventhough they are staying at a Disney resort for three or four nights, and buying a three or four day Magic Your Way Hopper ticket. I don't think that's fair. Cruise line guests are pouring even more money into Disney than those folks who are staying only at the world.

And I don't buy the two separate companies excuse because that's what I was told in the past and yet they turned around and now offer the dining plan for purchase, for the land portion on the land and sea packages,.....so it can be done and they're still two separate companies.

I believe, with enough emails and phone calls, they might allow land and sea cruise guests free dining IF their cruise falls within the free dining period IF the free dining is offered in the future. Unless I'm on another planet (and sometimes I think I am LOL), I think it should be done and can be
done.
So I'm going to keep emailing and calling and thank goodness DCL has a toll free number.

[iamgrumpy]

Sorry they didn't offer free dining for cruise guests booked as a land/sea combo. Maybe if you booked seperately that might work better if Disney decides not to offer that promotion to its cruise guests booked through DCL for their land portion.

Sometimes booking seperately can save money as you can choose the resort you rather stay in instead of the one offered by dcl, you can partake in special promotions, you can get more freedom that way.

But definitely write or email DCL about your concerns that way you can make them aware of what you didn't enjoy.

[Dave Marx]

I really doubt it has anything to do with "two separate companies" (that happen to be in the same division of the same corporate parent)... It's a matter that the Land/Sea is a package vacation. As with any land-only package you buy from Disney, if your package didn't include Free Dining when you made the reservation, you can't get Free Dining unless you re-book under the terms of the new package. If Disney ever sees a benefit in offering a Land/Sea package with free Disney Dining Plan, they'll do it. However, since DCL generally doesn't have to offer big specials to bring in guests (even in the "slow" seasons), I doubt they'll offer that particular incentive (generally, a $50 per stateroom on-board credit is as far as they go, which is a lot cheaper than 4 days worth of free DDP for each guest in the stateroom.

I agree with Amy. If you want to keep your options open and snag discounted rooms, free Disney Dining Plan, mix-and-match with hotel and room categories (say, a Value Resort room, rather than a Moderate), then don't bother with the Land/Sea.

[Belle*]

I understand your frustration. This is another reason why I don't recommend booking Land & Sea packages. You have much more control over your land stay by booking seperately.

[JackiePsarianos]

Firstly, thank you to all for understanding, and for some valuable advice about booking separately. I would do just that but I'm a little weary because we are bringing our close friends along who have paralleled their vacation to ours. We have adjoining rooms at the resorts, and adjoining cabins on the ship and I'm afraid we'll lose all of that.

Any advice on this?

Thank you for your time,
Jackie °O°

[Belle*]

Adjoining rooms are rooms that are next to each other, connecting rooms have doors that open into each other. Adjoining and connecting rooms at Disney resorts can be requested but are not guaranteed. You should have no problem keeping this request if you decide to book your land stay seperately, just have your friends listed as "traveling with" on your reservation. This will alert Disney to the fact that you are traveling together and they will try to accomodate your room location request.

[JackiePsarianos]

Thank you for your advice and you are correct about the adjoining thing. At the resort the rooms are side by side with no connecting door but on the ship they are indeed connecting rooms with a door in between.

I'll still consider breaking the package and booking the resort on its' own. I'm still intimidated doing this, but I will give them a call at least.

Thank you once again.