Can you help me figure this out

[MamaBelle4]

We are staying in a 2 bedroom in just over a month.

My parents and sister have been hem hawing on whether or nothing they were staying the whole time. They just decided that they are leaving 2 nights early. Understandably, I don't want to pay the dining plan for people who won't be there.

Can I remove them from our reservation (but keep the dining reservations and FP for them) then add then back on upon check in? If they had told me earlier, I would have switched our reservation to two studios and saved points and money, but that's no longer possible (no availability). Please let me know if I can do this?

Thank you!

 

[CraigInPA]

The last I heard, you had to pay for all the people in the room for the entire stay for dining plans, even if some of the people are only there part of the time. You should call Disney and ask, in case this has changed.

If you have to entirely remove them from the room reservation to avoid paying for the DDP, they won't have magic bands and won't be able to get into the room. They'll have to pay out of pocket for meals. Their FP's over 30 days from now will be cancelled because they will have no room reservation. The ADR's will be retained.

If you leave them on the room reservation and pay for the DDP, you will have access to their entitlements under the DDP (since it's by room). So, you won't necessarily be getting nothing for the 2 days (x 3 people) paid for the plan.

 

[disneynutz]

You can use their credits for signature meals.

Bill

 

[Chuck S]

Sure I'll help you figure it out. Tell them they need to pay you for their own dining plan, and if they leave early, it is their decision, but they still need to pay for the DDP for the entire length of the reservation. Pretty simple. The DDP rules should have been explained to them when you started planning. When I invite people, I go over all the DVC/Rules, like park tickets, magic bands, DME, fastpasses, and DDP. Once explained, most opt out of wanting the DDP, and we pay out of pocket.

Also, if they are flying to MCO, they will not be able to use Magical Express unless they are on the room reservation and have magic bands.

 

[MamaBelle4]

Tell them they need to pay you for their own dining plan, and if they leave early, it is their decision, but they still need to pay for the DDP for the entire length of the reservation.

We are paying because they couldn't afford to go otherwise. We want them to have this experience with their grandchildren/nieces&nephew. If it can't be done, we will just pay for it and try to use the excess credits. I was just asking if there was a way to not have to pay for people who wouldn't be there.
I thought about modifying our reservation. There is availability for a 2 bedroom our last two nights. It's just we are staying in an off-site hotel at first, then moving onsite. I'd just hate to move rooms 2x with 5 kids.

 

[Chuck S]

We are paying because they couldn't afford to go otherwise. We want them to have this experience with their grandchildren/nieces&nephew. If it can't be done, we will just pay for it and try to use the excess credits. I was just asking if there was a way to not have to pay for people who wouldn't be there.
I thought about modifying our reservation. There is availability for a 2 bedroom our last two nights. It's just we are staying in an off-site hotel at first, then moving onsite. I'd just hate to move rooms 2x with 5 kids.

It is very kind of you to pay for it. I think you are stuck using the extra dining credits after they leave, or book a 2 credit meal while they are there, that way there wouldn't be so many left over credits. 6 TS credits is a lot of extras to use up in 2 days. I generally find it easier to forgo the DDP in large group situations, but as I said, in my groups everyone pays their own meals. Maybe cancel the DDP completely, and put that money onto a Disney gift card that you use to pay for the meals out-of-pocket. That way everyone could order what they want, and any extra left over funds can be used for gifts/souvenirs.

 

[MamaBelle4]

It is very kind of you to pay for it. I think you are stuck using the extra dining credits after they leave, or book a 2 credit meal while they are there, that way there wouldn't be so many left over credits. 6 TS credits is a lot of extras to use up in 2 days. I generally find it easier to forgo the DDP in large group situations, but as I said, in my groups everyone pays their own meals. Maybe cancel the DDP completely, and put that money onto a Disney gift card that you use to pay for the meals out-of-pocket. That way everyone could order what they want, and any extra left over funds can be used for gifts/souvenirs.

DH and I are talking about it, we may just move Wednesday night, either stay at AKV and hope they can keep us in the same room, or move to SSR. But thank you for your reply

 

[jo-jo]

Would you consider doing two TS in one day , so they are using the credits before they leave? You would still have extra CS to deal with, but with those you could buy something for the road.

 

[elgerber]

We are paying because they couldn't afford to go otherwise. We want them to have this experience with their grandchildren/nieces&nephew. If it can't be done, we will just pay for it and try to use the excess credits. I was just asking if there was a way to not have to pay for people who wouldn't be there.
I thought about modifying our reservation. There is availability for a 2 bedroom our last two nights. It's just we are staying in an off-site hotel at first, then moving onsite. I'd just hate to move rooms 2x with 5 kids.

Is it the same room type and view? I have never had to move when my multiple reservations for the same room have been linked.

 

[MamaBelle4]

Is it the same room type and view? I have never had to move when my multiple reservations for the same room have been linked.

Yes.

 

[Nuclear Monkey]

Cancel ddp. Use a credit card that gets cash back for restaurants. Everybody wins!

 

[mustinjourney]

I can't tell from your earlier post -- but one way to work this is to see if the reservation can be broken up somehow by MS to where you have two separate reservations. So if the original was 7 days -- see if MS can do a 5 night and then a 2 night. You then have everyone on the 5 night stay and just you guys on the 2 night stay. Make sure the ressies are linked as a continuing stay so you don't have to check-out and back in on the 6th day.

If they can't do that -- then you could drop them from the reservation entirely -- and then get them a hotel key at check-in. You can also put them as a day guest, which should allow them access via a key card as well. They would lose access to Extra magic hours and magical express though.

If they do need magical express -- then they'll need to be on the reservation in order to get on the bus. Of course -- they could also uber to the hotel from the airport for less than $40 total -- so that might be an option as well.

 

[crisi]

If your points are perks-eligible, there is a 10% discount on most table service meals. I'd also consider dropping the dining plan.

 

[kniquy]

Cancel the dining plan - it doesn't save money anyways and is typically more food than most people eat. Disney offers it as a convenience. If you already paid for it then get the credit and put that money towards buying disney gift cards at Target (get the red card for a 5% discount). Then use your DVC discount of 10% or if you want you can buy the tables in wonderland card for the 20% discount. Usually with larger groups it ends up paying for itself because the 20% off is good for up to 10 people where as the DVC discount is only good for the member and 3 guests.

 

[ILoveMyDVC]

We are staying in a 2 bedroom in just over a month.

My parents and sister have been hem hawing on whether or nothing they were staying the whole time. They just decided that they are leaving 2 nights early. Understandably, I don't want to pay the dining plan for people who won't be there.

Can I remove them from our reservation (but keep the dining reservations and FP for them) then add then back on upon check in? If they had told me earlier, I would have switched our reservation to two studios and saved points and money, but that's no longer possible (no availability). Please let me know if I can do this?

Thank you!

I have been railing against for years! Call them up - let us know if they have solved the mysterious guest tracking problem. I am a 25 yr DVC member. One of the reasons we bought was to include friends and family. See if you can book 15 people in the same room - bet their system can manage to catch on to that. It's not like guests wear RFID tags.

Seriously, it has always been a problem. Let us know if Disney can do the complex math of charging for guests only when they are onsite.

 

[DVC Sue]

I'm not sure if DVC will do this, but is it possible to split the reservation? Keep everyone on the reservation for the nights they will actually be staying there. Then, you can buy the appropriate meal plan for each reservation.

 

[crisi]

I have been railing against for years! Call them up - let us know if they have solved the mysterious guest tracking problem. I am a 25 yr DVC member. One of the reasons we bought was to include friends and family. See if you can book 15 people in the same room - bet their system can manage to catch on to that. It's not like guests wear RFID tags.

Seriously, it has always been a problem. Let us know if Disney can do the complex math of charging for guests only when they are onsite.

It isn't a guest tracking problem. They don't want you to be able to pick and choose the dining plan. For profit reasons, its an all or nothing deal.

The Dining Plan isn't cheap, but Disney probably makes the bulk of the dining plan profit in unused credits. The every guest every day requirement maximizes the unused credits.

 

[acndis]

We had an issue like this a few years ago and DVC broke our reservation into two reservations. We had to get new keys on the day that two of our guests checked out but they let us stay in the same room. It was a bit of a hassle but not a big deal. Just call MS and let them know the situation.

 

[MamaBelle4]

Update. We are moving to SSR on the night part of our party is leaving. That actually works out perfectly for us as that's our DS day anyway. Plus, we love our home resort, so that makes us happy!

Thank you all who replied and helped me work through options! You all rock!

 

[Matty B13]

If you have extra dinning credits the Spirit of Aloha dinning experience at the Poly takes 2 credits and is pretty good for family entertainment.