Anyone else annoyed?......

[Tinkerbell0614]

I just got off the phone with DVC to book our March vacation and everything was going great until we tried to add the dining plan. It used to be you could add it and pay for it when you arrived, now you have to prepay and you have until up to 48 hrs before you arrive to pay for it and book it. WHAT?!?! This now makes our vacations much more difficult since we always counted on that extra time to pay for the meal plan. I dont think this was a smart move on DVC's part. Anyone else have any opinions?

 

[spiceycat]

lots of members requested this.

believe me I didn't - I am with you. Money is to value to pay DVC now for something you can't use for11 months.

 

[cel_disney]

So, just wait until 48 hours before your trip to add the dining plan...then you are only pre-paying 2 days prior to when you would have paid anyway...

I have no issue with this new policy - it seems to offer flexibility to everyone!

 

[vicki_c]

I really don't see the difference between paying @ check-in and adding it 48 hours out and paying for it then, which you can still do, if your issue is having time to save up the $$ to pay for it.

 

[jlewisinsyr]

There is minimal impact to members. You don't need to add the DDP to make ADRs, so the only thing you lose is 48 hours of time as you can add it 2 days before you plan to leave.

I think the major impact is to renters of points from members and how members are going to have to process the payment for the DDP. I actually like that the DDP is due when the DDP is made, makes it easier and gets the process out of the way, speeding up checkin.

 

[dianeschlicht]

I'm surprised you didn't know about it with all that's been posted and also with the announcement from DVC. The DDP quit being a benefit to us long ago, so IF I was still doing it, this would be just another reason not to. I just feel the DDP is too expensive for us to use, and they always seem to mess the credits up, so it's such a hassle to keep track of your credits all the time too. I waved goodbye to the DDP 2 years ago, and I'm not looking back.

 

[Tinkerbell0614]

it makes it difficult because there are certain things you cant book unless you pay for them up front or unless you already have the dining plan in place. Which means ALOT of money for those reservations you have to pay for up front in order to book them so you can go. If we have to wait that long to book the dining plan it means a VERY good chance of not getting some of the reservations we want. I dont know about other people but I know I cant afford to have a ton of charges to hold reservations on my checking account! Not to mention when you do get the refund it takes FOREVER to go back to the card.

 

[sssteele]

Many people like to have as much of their trip as possible paid before they arrive. Now that can be done for those folks. For those that save a bit each payday for their trip, they can do that too, and add the dining plan a few days before there arrival. Win/win situation.

 

[dianeschlicht]

it makes it difficult because there are certain things you cant book unless you pay for them up front or unless you already have the dining plan in place. Which means ALOT of money for those reservations you have to pay for up front in order to book them so you can go. If we have to wait that long to book the dining plan it means a VERY good chance of not getting some of the reservations we want. I dont know about other people but I know I cant afford to have a ton of charges to hold reservations on my checking account! Not to mention when you do get the refund it takes FOREVER to go back to the card.

I've never had them actually charge my credit card for anything until we arrive at the event. If you are booking using the DDP, you just have the number on file should you not pay for the DDP. I suspect one of the reasons they have you pay as soon as you book it is so they don't get stiffed for some of those reservations that cost more. I'm not sure how many of those there are. I had to give a credit card for my CP reservations the other day, and I know you need to do that for Cinderella's Table, but I've never needed it for places like Jiko, or any of the other signature places.

 

[Tinkerbell0614]

I've never had them actually charge my credit card for anything until we arrive at the event. If you are booking using the DDP, you just have the number on file should you not pay for the DDP. I suspect one of the reasons they have you pay as soon as you book it is so they don't get stiffed for some of those reservations that cost more. I'm not sure how many of those there are. I had to give a credit card for my CP reservations the other day, and I know you need to do that for Cinderella's Table, but I've never needed it for places like Jiko, or any of the other signature places.

We cant afford right now to pay the dining plan up front and if you dont you have to be charged the full reservation amount if you want to book it. We wanted Cinderellas, the Luau Dinner Show and some of the other dinner shows that unfortunately do require either the DDP to be in place or a full payment up front. Since we cant get the DP until probably right before we arrive we will sadly miss out on these experiences for our family.

 

[vicki_c]

Yes, that is true about the pre-payment places - but there are only 3 in all of WDW - CRT, SoA luau and Hoop Dee Doo. But they are expensive to pay in advance.

I don't do the DDP ever so I just pay for them in advance - if I was doing the DDP, I'm sure I would do the same since I probably would always be booking my ADRs prior to making a decision on adding the DDP or not (I wouldn't add it unless it was saving me $$ which I wouldn't figure out until my ADRs were already made - I've calculated it out 2x and it has never been a money-saver for us).

 

[jlewisinsyr]

I'm just trying to work the numbers in my head here. Lets say you book your resort at the 11 month mark for one week and start saving for a DDP for 2 Adults and 2 Children each pay period (assume every 2 weeks). That would mean for 23 pay periods (could be 24 depending on the calendar base) you would be saving about $32 per pay check. Considering you cannot make reservations until 180 days out (6 months) you would have about 10 pay periods of savings or $320 saved up. Considering the restaurants that require pre-payment most often need to be booked close the 6 month mark, there should be close to sufficient funds to book the reservations, even when paying cash.

Now of course there are some baseline assumptions in the above and people may not start saving until closer to there trip, etc, but in the end, it's all about proper planning. Now I could feel for people this year more so because the change is more recent and people who were saving may not have saved sufficient funds to cover either the DDP or the pre-payment amounts. But in future years it should be a non-event as people can plan for it and should adjust their savings to ensure they can meet the needs of their reservation needs.

 

[dmoore22]

It doesn't bother me. I stick with TIW!

 

[WDWFERN]

It does seem to make thinkgs more difficult for large groups. We have a 12 person trip in spring and I called to add one day onto our trip which had the dining plan already attached under old method. While I was thrilled they were able to add the day, I was then told the reservation now saw the reservation as modified and that I had to pay for the dining plan for everyone at that time (almost $4,000 ). Since we are doing the DxDP for 12 people this would be a very large amount to pay up front for food we were not going to be eating for several months, and many of the people going would prefer to wait until after the holidays to pay for it. Also since we are going to Cinderella's Castle for breakfast and the Hoop de Doo Revue, these arealso substancial amounts to have to pay upfront for a party of 12. When just our family goes, and we have a smaller group, I don't see this being as large of a problem, as its not to bad to just pay for those few meals up front and add dining plan closer to the trip. But with a larger group, for us at least, I preferred the old system. That being said, I can't complain too much, as DVC has allowed us to travel with friends and extended family, and for that I am extremely grateful!

 

[Sammie]

It's fine with me, the amount is the same regardless of when I pay. Honestly if my money was so tight I could not prepay for these meals, I personally would not be booking them.

I would either be staying home or doing meals at my villa.

 

[Tinkerbell0614]

It's fine with me, the amount is the same regardless of when I pay. Honestly if my money was so tight I could not prepay for these meals, I personally would not be booking them.

I would either be staying home or doing meals at my villa.

It's tight right now due to the holidays and some medical expenses which is the other reason we really wanted to be able to book these special meals. All I am saying is that I wish they could do it both ways to help everyone.

 

[twooley2]

I am running this through my mind of where is the real thing is the logic behind paying for cinderellas table up front when you can book Narcoosees with no deposit and the meal is more. Were talking 60.00 meals than add appetizer of 16.00 and desert.

 

[twooley2]

It's fine with me, the amount is the same regardless of when I pay. Honestly if my money was so tight I could not prepay for these meals, I personally would not be booking them.

I would either be staying home or doing meals at my villa.

I do not buy into this and find many people say things like this but the reality is that if one is planning on the deluxe plan and wants to all of the deposit meals this can add up substantially especially if you planned on adding and paying say at the 90 day mark rather than the 180 day mark. Who wants to hold up their money for 180 days and than be out it(being their vacation fund money) until after the vacation is over waiting for a refund) thats like double paying in essence. People want their money when on vacation if thats what its intended for. Not to mention a double standard as they do not make non DVC people have theirs paid off at the 90 day mark. they have up to 45 days prior and still can make reservations because it is added to their unpaid in full package

 

[spiceycat]

I am running this through my mind of where is the real thing is the logic behind paying for cinderellas table up front when you can book Narcoosees with no deposit and the meal is more. Were talking 60.00 meals than add appetizer of 16.00 and desert.

there is much more demand for Cindy's - so Disney did this to make sure the guest making the reservations were really going to come. otherwise they get to keep your money unless you cancel.

 

[toocherie]

why don't you wait and add the DP after the holidays and in the meantime make cash reservations for the special meals like CRT?