A seriously complicated DDP question????

[ErinC]

Okay, here's the deal. My extended family is going for Christmas. I have a 2 bedroom booked (Me, DH, DD, DD, DD, my Mom & Dad, and my neice). I also have a studio (my sis, BIL, DN, DN). Those in the 2 bedroom are checking in on Sun., those in the Studio are checking in on Mon. So my neice that I have booked in the 2 bedroom with us, won't be checking in until Mon. All of us in the 2 bedroom want to do the DDP. My sis and family (all her children are disney adults) aren't doing the DDP. I'm not sure if they will make me purchase the DDP for my neice for the 5 nights, or just the 4, because she won't be there until Mon. In fact, I'm not really sure that MS even put her on my reservation yet ( I told them too, but I think they didn't remember between all the reservation making). So I could wait until the last minute to add her when they check in. I really want cards for the whole family so we can do extra magic hour if we choose. We aren't over occupancy limits by adding her. Here's my last question. If we go ahead and do the DDP for my neice, can my sis and BIL use these credits towards the couple of meals that they are going to eat with us? I'm planning on choosing sit downs, so that we could share some meals and that would help them out some. It seems like all of our cards would be imprinted with the number of guests for our room (which would be 6 adults, 2 kids). Can we choose to use some of our table credits towards their meals? I'm just trying to keep their costs to a minimum. It seems like I've heard some people say that they wouldn't let them use more credits than the number on the card at one sitting. Of course, if we hand the waitress different room cards for portions of the bill, How will they know? I hope this makes some sense, I have a feeling I've confused even myself!

 

[Pumbaa_]

Not sure if you DN would have to get the plan for the whole length of your DVC stay or not. MS will know for sure.

But she will have a card and full access to all credits. So when she dines with you OR without you, she can use the card to pay (be careful though, she will have FULL ACCESS to ALL your credits. Make sure that if she does use the card not with you that they are only taking her credit and not the rest of your families credits.

Hope that helps

 

[bicker]

The Dining Plan needs to be purchased for all folks staying in the room, for the entire duration of the DVC reservation. Dining Plan credits can only be used for the folks registered in the room with the Dining Plan -- others cannot use the credits. Sorry.

 

[septbaby]

Essentially, the rules state you can't feed your sister's family using your DDP credits. The one exception being your niece booked to your room. Her family will need to pay OOP for those meals you eat together. Might create a bit of jealously among your DNs but those are the rules of the DDP.

You have plenty of time. If all the DNs are adults can they earn money to pay for their plans? That would be $156 each. Even if they earn less, coupled with what Mom and Dad would budget OOP they could likely then afford the DDP.

Good luck!

 

[The Sweetness]

Twice, while at WDW this month, at 'Ohana, and LTT in MK, I was allowed to use 3 credits, when only me and DH were on the plan (we were treating my girlfriend ) This worked out well, since we ended up cancelling 2 dinners, and would have had wasted credits, if we hadnt treated her those 2 times. The other 2 times (Le Cellier and Mama Melrose, this wasnt allowed, but she did get my ap at Le Cel)

Either way, all of the meals were delicious, and we had great service

 

[Mobed]

 

[ErinC]

Twice, while at WDW this month, at 'Ohana, and LTT in MK, I was allowed to use 3 credits, when only me and DH were on the plan (we were treating my girlfriend ) This worked out well, since we ended up cancelling 2 dinners, and would have had wasted credits, if we hadnt treated her those 2 times. The other 2 times (Le Cellier and Mama Melrose, this wasnt allowed, but she did get my ap at Le Cel)

That's exactly what I want to know. My niece would have these 4 or 5 credits, and they would be her family's to use. If they could use 2 or 3 at the couple of meals that they will join us for, it would be great! As long as we avoid buffets, there should be plenty of food to go around.

 

[canwegosoon]

The answer(the offical one) is that you DN must be on all the days that you are on(even if she is not there). You can not "treat" the other members of your party..you will be getting CM's in trouble for breaking the rules. You can share your app/desserts with anyone at your table, but they can not be given away to another table. If you don't want to pay for the 1 night your DN is not there...then have MS make 2 different resservations DP for the one night including only the ones that are there, and a 2nd reservation for when your DN shows up(but she will have to be on the DDP like you are). There is no way around it. My advice to you is to get the DDE so this is not an issue and then none of you have to be on the DDP and you all can get a discount...problem solved.

 

[ErinC]

The Dining Plan needs to be purchased for all folks staying in the room, for the entire duration of the DVC reservation. Dining Plan credits can only be used for the folks registered in the room with the Dining Plan -- others cannot use the credits. Sorry.

I'm completely aware that everyone has to purchase the plan, I do question why I should have to purchase it, when she won't be there the first night. The rooms I have booked are seperate DVC reservations, so I can book the DDP for the 2 bed., without booking for the studio.

 

[eeyore45]

IF you do book her in your room, doesnt she have to be there physically to add her to the ddp?

I know because of some.... fudging in the first year Free Dining was given people were adding non existent people to their ressies when checking in to have more FREE food... (and thus eat at more 2Ts places...) SO Disney closed that loophole by making the CM physically see all the people I was checking in to our room...

so perhaps a call to MS would help solve the question??

(and if you do pay for her on the night she isnt there, it just gives you one extra dp credit to share with her family...)

 

[bicker]

I'm completely aware that everyone has to purchase the plan, I do question why I should have to purchase it, when she won't be there the first night.

Sometimes there just aren't answers forthcoming for the questions we have. Sorry I couldn't help clear it up for you.

 

[Lewisc]

A couple of servers post on DIS. They said the servers are suppose to enforce what's printed on the resort card. The card says 2A1C the server is only suppose to charge 2 adult meals and one child meal to the dining plan.
Those servers said their checks are audited and if the bend the rules too many times they face disciplinary action.

You may get lucky but don't count on it and don't argue with a server that isn't able, or willing, to "bend rules".

 

[ErinC]

IF you do book her in your room, doesnt she have to be there physically to add her to the ddp?

I know because of some.... fudging in the first year Free Dining was given people were adding non existent people to their ressies when checking in to have more FREE food... (and thus eat at more 2Ts places...) SO Disney closed that loophole by making the CM physically see all the people I was checking in to our room...

so perhaps a call to MS would help solve the question??

(and if you do pay for her on the night she isnt there, it just gives you one extra dp credit to share with her family...)

I do remember reading that too, but I think it was only during free dining. I'm not trying to cheat anyone. I'm not over occupancy limits either. Just trying to work out the logistics for the family. They can't do the dining plan, all her kids are "disney adults" so it would just be too much for them. I guess what I'm wondering is, there are eight people in the 2 bedroom, with 3 different last names. If I hand a waiter my card and say, I'm paying for "x" amount of meals. Then my dad hands them his card and says, "I'm paying for "x" amount of meals, then how would the server know? I'm not trying to cheat the system. If she stays with us, those will be her families credits to use. But they would need to use them at 2 to 3 meals, so we would have to double up on some of them.

 

[ErinC]

Sometimes there just aren't answers forthcoming for the questions we have. Sorry I couldn't help clear it up for you.

Bicker, I hope I didn't come across as a snippy sounding, that was not my intention. I appreciate your answers. If we end up purchasing the plan for her for the extra days, we'll just use the credits ourselves.

 

[Lewisc]

The DDP is priced with the assumption some meals will go unused. Guests aren't allowed to use credits to treat guests not on the plan. I know you don't think you're trying to cheat anyone but you are trying to work around policy and rules. The plan doesn't work for everyone. You can buy the plan or not buy the plan. You don't get to change the plan.

The card is tied back to your reservation number. Even though the card may have different last names I think the server will know both cards are on the same reservation.

I don't know if the server, or system, will always pick that up. I think you'll be able to do what you want more often then not; but be prepared to pay for the extra guests. if you're not allowed to. You really can't ask in advance, the server is very likely to quote the rule.

edited to say my post doesn't read the way I intended, I don't really think you're looking to do anything wrong but it's technically against the rules and there is a chance you won't be allowed to do it every time you try.

I do remember reading that too, but I think it was only during free dining. I'm not trying to cheat anyone. I'm not over occupancy limits either. Just trying to work out the logistics for the family. They can't do the dining plan, all her kids are "disney adults" so it would just be too much for them. I guess what I'm wondering is, there are eight people in the 2 bedroom, with 3 different last names. If I hand a waiter my card and say, I'm paying for "x" amount of meals. Then my dad hands them his card and says, "I'm paying for "x" amount of meals, then how would the server know? I'm not trying to cheat the system. If she stays with us, those will be her families credits to use. But they would need to use them at 2 to 3 meals, so we would have to double up on some of them.

 

[Princess Stitch]

I do remember reading that too, but I think it was only during free dining. I'm not trying to cheat anyone. I'm not over occupancy limits either. Just trying to work out the logistics for the family. They can't do the dining plan, all her kids are "disney adults" so it would just be too much for them. I guess what I'm wondering is, there are eight people in the 2 bedroom, with 3 different last names. If I hand a waiter my card and say, I'm paying for "x" amount of meals. Then my dad hands them his card and says, "I'm paying for "x" amount of meals, then how would the server know? I'm not trying to cheat the system. If she stays with us, those will be her families credits to use. But they would need to use them at 2 to 3 meals, so we would have to double up on some of them.

The cards will have different names but be under the same reservation number and the CMs will know when they swipe the cards through (or possibly before because of the numbers on the tickets) that you're all in the same room. TECHNICALLY this is not allowed, but people have been able to get away with it before. I agree with the other poster. If they let you do it, then great, but realize that they're breaking the rules to allow this. If they don't let you do it then be prepared to pay OOP for the meals. At the very least one of the other family's meals will be paid for at each TS restaurant.

Now, If you're not all dining together and they want to do a TS lunch and your family does a TS dinner, they should be able to use up to 3 adult credits at their meal since that is what is on your reservation.

 

[HaleyB]

I think you have your answer now but one idea.

You could send your niece and her family to a meal without the rest of you. That would go through because there would be fewer people eating than you have in your room (I think, she would be paying for 5 adult credits, right? so they would use 5 adult credits). Am I making sense?

It would be fun for them to get to do the 3 course meal once, and it is nice to have some meals without the whole gathering sometimes.

 

[ErinC]

I think you have your answer now but one idea.

You could send your niece and her family to a meal without the rest of you. That would go through because there would be fewer people eating than you have in your room (I think, she would be paying for 5 adult credits, right? so they would use 5 adult credits). Am I making sense?

It would be fun for them to get to do the 3 course meal once, and it is nice to have some meals without the whole gathering sometimes.

That is something that I didn't think of, thanks. I guess bottom line is that we won't know for sure until after the meal, so I won't be able to know one way or the other. I have a DD11 that eats like a bird anyway. On the meals that we eat with them, I'll just have her share with her sisters, or me. That way they can use a couple of credits and then just buy another meal OOP. You all have been a huge help and I really appreciate it. I don't want to break any rules, or put the server in any kind of predicament.