What I Wish I Knew Before Booking My Disney Trip Through Costco

If you have ever been to Disney, you know it is not a cheap trip. While I am an avid Disney lover, I am not a fan of the price. Often, one week at the parks costs the same as two weeks abroad. I suppose that is the price for the magic, am I right? One way to save some cash is to find travel package deals. My husband and I were able to book our upcoming trip through Costco, and it saved us a decent amount of money. However, I didn't know about the specific limitations that would create. Here is the number one thing I wish I knew before booking my Disney trip through Costco.

What I Wish I Knew Before Booking My Disney Trip Through Costco

There we were, hitting that glorious confirm button on our Disney vacation, nothing but smiles plastered on our faces. It truly was an incredible deal. Through Costco Travel, we were able to secure a five-day stay on Disney property, at a deluxe resort, with park hopper passes. Not to mention, we also purchased additional tickets for Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party. I was feeling on top of the world – especially when I saw that we saved almost $2,000 with this bundle.

Then the thought occurred to me: we forgot to add dining to our package. No problem at all – or so I thought. In the My Disney Experience App, you can easily add a dining plan to an existing reservation. As a Disney Pro, I had no doubts that I could do this quickly and efficiently. However, what I didn't count on was the third party...Costco.

What you need to know is that if you book your Disney trip through any third-party entity, whether it is Costco or someone else, Disney cannot touch your reservation. Let me say that again in case you missed it. If you book a Disney vacation with anyone other than Disney, Disney can not add to, remove, or modify anything about your reservation.

The Result

I discovered this fun fact after calling the lovely people at Disney. They told me I would need to contact Costco to add anything to my reservation. Naturally, I did so, yet I was met with more unfortunate news. At this time, Costco does not offer any dining packages with its Disney travel plans.

If you are interested in a dining plan for your Disney trip, you should not book through Costco. It is the one thing I wish I had known before booking my Disney trip through Costco. The associate told me they plan to add this feature in the future, but as of now, it is not an option. I was disheartened, but I learned my lesson. When booking your Disney trip, if you want the flexibility to add, remove, or modify any aspect of your reservation, book directly through them. However, if you wish to enjoy the parks for a cheaper price, then by all means book through Costco.

Now you may be wondering, is the dining plan even worth it? In the past, I have always purchased the Disney dining plan. It just made life so much easier once I was at the park. Then I didn't need to worry about paying for food or character dining. I could simply book and go. This will be my first time going without the dining package and paying for food out of pocket, so I will be sure to keep you guys posted on whether or not it is worth it and the cost comparison.

Until next time!

Happy travels,

Steph