Welcome to planDisney, Denny! Thanks so much for coming to us with your question today. How exciting that you'll be attending a conference at Walt Disney World! What a fun way to mix a little magic into your business trip.
You asked a great question about the
Disney Dining Plan, and I totally understand wanting to simplify your trip by having meals and snacks pre-paid and planned out in advance. It really can take the guesswork out of dining and make your trip feel all the more relaxing!
That said, what you were told on the phone is correct: the Disney Dining Plan is only available as part of a vacation package, which includes a room and theme park tickets purchased bundled together through Disney. Since your room was booked through a conference group rate and your tickets were purchased separately, your reservation does not meet the criteria for a standard vacation package, and unfortunately, that means you're not eligible to add the dining plan.
But don't worry! You can still enjoy all the amazing dining Walt Disney World has to offer. I'd recommend checking out some prix fixe meals, like the ones at
Chefs de France or
California Grill, or exploring
mobile ordering through the My Disney Experience app to help you plan ahead and budget for meals. You'll also have full flexibility to dine wherever and whenever it works best for your schedule!
I hope this answers your question, Denny, and please let us know if there's anything else we can do to help you plan your magical vacation.
Jessica