Adding Dining Plan at check in

[Canadian Disney Mom]

I know you cannot add Dining Plan at check in. DH asked me why and for the life of me I did not have an answer. He's in sales so he considers it an "upsell".

Anyone know the logic behind it? The only thing I could potentially think of was staff planning, but that doesn't really make sense either.

 

[lynetteSC]

NO IDEA ~ I have been wondering this. Non-DVC guests can upgrade to about anything (on availability)at check-in , so why wouldn't they let DVC people?

 

[vicki_c]

No one can add the dining plan at check-in - DVC or non-DVC. In fact, DVC members get MORE flexibility, we can add it 48 hours in advance, non-DVC reservations are 72 hours in advance.

As for why, I do not know - something to do with Disney's systems apparently and how they work it internally.

 

[Chuck S]

I'm going to assume because it was initially designed to be part of a package plan for cash reservations, and that, since cash packages have to be pre-paid, the system needs everyone to pre-pay.

 

[kristenrice]

I think that you can add a guest at check in though. If the reservation already has a DDP added (and paid for), I have to believe that there is a way to charge for the DDP at check in. Otherwise, it would be easy to have only part of your group on the DDP....just add the one's who don't want it on to the reservation at check in. Of course, they would not be able to use DME to get to the resort, but that is the only downside that comes to mind.

 

[dr&momto2boys]

I do know that the front desk can't/won't help with DDP issues. You have to go to the concierge desk for this. Perhaps the general computer system doesn't allow for this or they don't want to give all the CMs access to it?

Our DDP was soooo screwed up because of split (but connected) reservations that we spent about 90 minutes at 3 times dealing with it and had way too many credits and no one knew why. At least we got 5 extra CS credits out of the deal...but we didn't need them and it wasn't worth my vacation time!

 

[heynowirv]

We ended up with 4 extra snacks because of a split stay snafu as well.They came in handy on our plane ride home.

 

[Chuck S]

A couple of posts have been removed. Please remember that the DVC Boards do not allow suggesting way around published DVC/Disney policies.

 

[vicki_c]

I think that you can add a guest at check in though. If the reservation already has a DDP added (and paid for), I have to believe that there is a way to charge for the DDP at check in. Otherwise, it would be easy to have only part of your group on the DDP....just add the one's who don't want it on to the reservation at check in. Of course, they would not be able to use DME to get to the resort, but that is the only downside that comes to mind.

When you add an additional guest after check-in, they cannot get the DDP because all DDP must be paid for in advance. That is an allowable practice per Disney - whether you want to call it a loophole or not (if that's what Chuck was referring to I apologize). So, if you have a relative coming to stay with you in the middle of your stay, you can add them to your reservation after you arrive but they cannot get the dining plan, nor can they use DME from the airport. This is frequently discussed on the Resorts board and it is permitted by Disney. Apparently, once you arrive, they consider your package requirements "fulfilled" and at that point, you can add people to your room. For regular resort stays, of course, you would have to pay an additional adult charges required, while DVC does not have that issue.

 

[downontheBW]

Last year friends of mine had a one night stay / family get-together at BWV but had forgotten to book the DDP. They had dining reservations planned around the DDP. They pleaded with front desk, then called MS and talked with CM and a manager. They could not add DDP at that point; luckily they had a TIW card so used that.

 

[gmi3804]

I always assumed it was a WDW Travel Company thing, that resorts are the room-only part and WDWTC is a separate entity that resorts don't have access to.