ADR and possible DxDD question

[princessaloha]

Hello Was unable to locate the answer to this question so sorry if it's already been addressed. We are recent new members of DVC and have an upcoming trip planned. We are trying to decide on whether to get the DxDD or the TiW card. We have already made our ADRs for 11 TS and Signature Restaurants on line and had to give our credit card information for the reservations including a pre-payment for CRT. I just assumed it was in case we were no shows and they needed to collect the no show charges. However, when I was looking and couldn't find a reservation for CRT on line, I called the WDW-dine number to speak with a live person. At one point she asked if we had a dinning plan to which I replied no but might get one later. She paused and I asked if that was going to be a problem and she said when and if we got a dinning plan, we would need to cancel the existing reservation and hopefully be able to book it again.

So my question is: do I really need to cancel all my ADR's if I get the dinning plan? I don't want to lose my reservations. Some of them are nearly impossible to get, like CRT. Can't I just let them know once I get to the restaurant to use my DxDD instead of charging my cc?

Thank you in advance for any insight.

 

[Cafeen]

Hello Was unable to locate the answer to this question so sorry if it's already been addressed. We are recent new members of DVC and have an upcoming trip planned. We are trying to decide on whether to get the DxDD or the TiW card. We have already made our ADRs for 11 TS and Signature Restaurants on line and had to give our credit card information for the reservations including a pre-payment for CRT. I just assumed it was in case we were no shows and they needed to collect the no show charges. However, when I was looking and couldn't find a reservation for CRT on line, I called the WDW-dine number to speak with a live person. At one point she asked if we had a dinning plan to which I replied no but might get one later. She paused and I asked if that was going to be a problem and she said when and if we got a dinning plan, we would need to cancel the existing reservation and hopefully be able to book it again.

So my question is:
1) do I really need to cancel all my ADR's if I get the dinning plan? I don't want to lose my reservations. Some of them are nearly impossible to get, like CRT.
2) Can't I just let them know once I get to the restaurant to use my DxDD instead of charging my cc?

Thank you in advance for any insight.

1) No. Dining plans don't matter at all when booking ADRs except for CRT and the Dinner Shows. Even then, they are simply used to trigger between a cc-hold and a cc-prepay, which leads to...

2) Yes. When you get to the restaurant, just let them know you will be paying with credits instead (it's the same with the dinner shows, except it's when you pick up tickets). They do this often.

Now, there's a chance they could switch your CRT ADR (from full prepay to cc-hold if you do pick up a dining plan) without canceling it, it's happened occasionally, but it's rare. Typically they do the cancel and rebook thing or just tell you too bad (sometimes they'll cancel and rebook without telling you!) I typically recommend people not do this unless it's absolutely necessary.

 

[princessaloha]

1) No. Dining plans don't matter at all when booking ADRs except for CRT and the Dinner Shows. Even then, they are simply used to trigger between a cc-hold and a cc-prepay, which leads to...

2) Yes. When you get to the restaurant, just let them know you will be paying with credits instead (it's the same with the dinner shows, except it's when you pick up tickets). They do this often.

Now, there's a chance they could switch your CRT ADR (from full prepay to cc-hold if you do pick up a dining plan) without canceling it, it's happened occasionally, but it's rare. Typically they do the cancel and rebook thing or just tell you too bad (sometimes they'll cancel and rebook without telling you!) I typically recommend people not do this unless it's absolutely necessary.

Thank you Cafeen! Thanking you seems to becoming a habit for me lately, lol.

Major sigh of relief now. Just one piece of clarification if you wouldn't mind. Your last sentence, " I typically recommend people not do this unless it's absolutely necessary" is in reference to not making CRT ADR's before getting the Dinning Plan or cancelling the already made CRT ADR and trying to re-book it myself? Sorry, don't want to make a mistake. It's the only request from my little ones and it took a lot of work to get.

Again Thank you in advance.

 

[purple figment]

when I was looking and couldn't find a reservation for CRT on line, I called the WDW-dine number to speak with a live person. At one point she asked if we had a dinning plan to which I replied no but might get one later. She paused and I asked if that was going to be a problem and she said when and if we got a dinning plan, we would need to cancel the existing reservation and hopefully be able to book it again.

Can't I just let them know once I get to the restaurant to use my DxDD instead of charging my cc?

Don't worry about what the CM said since you're planning to wait until you get to CRT where you can tell your server that you've decided to use your dining credits. The server will then refund your credit card for the amount you paid when you made the reservation.

The CM on the dining line was explaining that many people add the dining plan after they make their reservations. Then they call the dining line because they want to use dining credits for CRT or the dinner shows and get an immediate refund to their credit card for the amount they prepaid. The CM was explaining that the usual procedure is to cancel the existing res and hopefully re-book using dining credits.

Some people cancel/re-book because they don't want to wait (up to) 6 months to get their refund. I find that the less I have to change things the less likely something will go wrong so I'd rather wait until I get to the restaurant.

 

[princessaloha]

Don't worry about what the CM said since you're planning to wait until you get to CRT where you can tell your server that you've decided to use your dining credits. The server will then refund your credit card for the amount you paid when you made the reservation.

The CM on the dining line was explaining that many people add the dining plan after they make their reservations. Then they call the dining line because they want to use dining credits for CRT or the dinner shows and get an immediate refund to their credit card for the amount they prepaid. The CM was explaining that the usual procedure is to cancel the existing res and hopefully re-book using dining credits.

Some people cancel/re-book because they don't want to wait (up to) 6 months to get their refund. I find that the less I have to change things the less likely something will go wrong so I'd rather wait until I get to the restaurant.

OK Great! That's what I was hoping I could do, just wait until we got there. Thank you for your help. Have a beautiful day!

 

[Cafeen]

Thank you Cafeen! Thanking you seems to becoming a habit for me lately, lol.

Major sigh of relief now. Just one piece of clarification if you wouldn't mind. Your last sentence, " I typically recommend people not do this unless it's absolutely necessary" is in reference to not making CRT ADR's before getting the Dinning Plan or cancelling the already made CRT ADR and trying to re-book it myself? Sorry, don't want to make a mistake. It's the only request from my little ones and it took a lot of work to get.

Again Thank you in advance.

I'm just good like that

As far as the last sentence, sorry for being unclear (I have a tendency to do that from time to time, especially when in a rush).

I typically do not recommend calling to switch from a full prepay to a CC-hold unless necessary. Doing it at the restaurant is much "safer" (for your ADR) and they do it very often, I am sure.

When calling, the chances of getting someone who won't cancel and rebook is very very low, while the chances of getting someone who will cancel and rebook without even telling you they are doing it is pretty high (based on reports on this board). I just wouldn't want to risk the ADR for that, unless I needed to pull that cash out for something else.