Hi there, Sam! Welcome to
planDisney, and thanks a bunch for stopping by with your question!
The biggest thing to know is that the version of the Free Dining promotion you receive is tied directly to the category of
Disney Resorts Collection hotel you booked. In other words, the included dining plan depends on the type of resort attached to your reservation. That's why your travel agent is mentioning a room upgrade in connection with upgrading the dining plan itself.
If you want to move from the dining plan included with your Moderate Resort offer to the standard
Disney Dining Plan with Table Service meals, you will most likely need to follow the structure of the promotion exactly as your travel agent explained. In many cases, that means changing the qualifying resort category attached to the offer.
That said, I do think it's worth having another conversation with your travel agent before making any decisions, especially with a significant price increase. One thing you could ask is whether it would actually be more affordable to cancel the existing Free Dining reservation entirely and rebook the trip without the promotion. Depending on your dates, resort, and dining habits, there are situations where paying for the dining plan separately can end up making more financial sense than upgrading the offer itself.
You may also find that keeping the dining plan you already have and simply paying out of pocket for a few Table Service meals works beautifully for your family. A lot of Guests do exactly that, especially if there are only one or two signature meals or
character dining experiences they really want to prioritize.
Sam, I hope you're able to find the option that gives your family the best balance of value and magic. If you have any other questions, please don't hesitate to reach back out to us. We're always available and more than happy to help here at planDisney.
Warm hugs,
Ana Paula