Can I use the Dining Plan?

[AMG]

Hello,

There are nine of us going to WDW next year and I thought the dining plan may the our best bet for saving money and frustration. We are staying in a villa within WDW, but booking separately. Is it still possible to purchase the dining plan or do we have to purchase with a package?

Thanks
AMG

[kaytieeldr]

If you're staying in a DVC unit using Disney Vacation Club points to pay for your stay - whether you own the points or rent them - you can add the Dining Plan for everyone for all nights of your stay, without needing to buy tickets.

If you're paying cash for the villa, no, you need to book a Magic Your Way package that includes tickets.

If you're trading in from another time share company, I don't know.

[vicki_c]

"A" villa, of any size, is considered 1 room/1 reservation, for reservation purposes. So I don't understand the booking separately comment - I don't see how you could do that unless you are booking 2 days, someone else is booking the next 2 days, etc. And I'm not sure how that would work anyway relative to moving rooms and you would have to have a separate dining plan (and tickets if required as posted above) for each separate reservation.

[AMG]

I am renting points for the villa and I am working directly with them. They will be making the reservations for me through Disney. I will be purchasing our tickets separately and that is why I was hoping to purchase the dining plan even though I will not be making the reservations personally.

[Sammie]

If you are renting points from a DVC member, you can get the DDP. The member will have to set it up and you will pay when you check in.

[TDC Nala]

If you are renting points from a DVC member, you can get the DDP. The member will have to set it up and you will pay when you check in.

At some point there will be an alteration to the above procedure. It's not certain if you will HAVE to pay for the dining plan at the time you book it (or the member you are renting from adds it to your reservation - in that case the member would have to pay Member Services and you would in turn have to pay the member for your dining plan) or if you will still have the option to pay at check-in. DVC's releases on this are badly worded and nobody can tell yet. Nor does anyone know when this will start but it is supposed to be sometime this year.