Changes to DDP for length of stay?

[pinktales]

So I called DVC member services today and while on the phone I asked the lady what changes they were making to the reservations system. She told me they were changing it so that if you want to add the DDP you no longer have to have it for the whole length of stay. That you can pick and choose which days you want it for in your stay. Such as say if you have a 10 night stay but only want the DDP for nights 2, 4, 7 & 8 then you will be able to do that and you won't have to move rooms. Has anyone else heard about this? I have been out of the loop a bit in keeping up with DVC changes and rumors. I did come on here after and look around shortly and that's when I saw the other DDP change that is being talked about that you will now have to prepay for the DDP. I hadn't heard of that one either and the DVC member services lady did not mention that. Not happy about that change thu of having to prepay for it.

Just wondering if this is true or if anyone else has been told this or if the DVC member services lady got things totally wrong? If it is true I definetly like that change of being able to get DDP just for nights you want it and not the whole stay. We always have left over credits.

 

[dianeschlicht]

It's true, and well reported here. It went into effect earlier this month.

 

[pinktales]

Wow! That's awesome then! Thanks for the quick reply.

 

[cvjw]

I just tried to do this with my May reservation - at the 7 month mark. I wanted 7 nights at the VWL, with the first 4 not on the dining plan, and the last 3 on the dining plan. The CM said I could only make my resort reservation for the first 4 nights on Wed, and I had to call back on Saturday to make the reservation for the other 3. She said since they were considered separate reservations, you had to wait until your 7 month window opened up to make the other reservation. This wasn't how I envisioned it working, but I took her at her word. This could mess reservations up if you have to call multiple times to try and make a reservation at the same resort.

 

[TDC Nala]

The OP should note that in order to book DDP this way, you need to break your reservation into "segments" and book each separately.

Each "segment' is considered a separate reservation. This is why the can add DDP to each segment or not - because each is considered separate. They link them so you don't have to move, but it's as if you have made different reservations. So you have to wait until you are in 7 months for all your segments to be able to book them all. If you break your 7 night stay into 1 night segments so you can have the dining plan every other night, you have 7 separate but linked reservations.

If I wasn't booking at a very busy time or trying to get a room type that is extremely popular, I'd wait until I could book all the segments at once before calling, but that's just me.

I know that's how it works, but I'll never do it (I'm not at all interested in DDP), so I'm not sure about how the key cards work - do you need a different key card for each segment or can they put the fragmented DDP on one key card?

 

[disneynutz]

I think that it will take a while for Disney to understand and implement the new system and policies. I was told by MS that we could only break the reservation into 2 segments and the DDP would have to be during the first or second half.

The changes that everyone agrees on is that we will have only one reservation number per vacation, no matter how many resorts you are staying at. It's not working yet and there are problems accessing the reservations on line, but once they get the bugs worked out it should improve things.

Bill

 

[pinktales]

Yea when I was thinking about it later I was guessing it would have to be separate ressies. Oh well guess they can't make it totally easy on us that would want to do that.

I usually stay in Disney for around 2 weeks and was thinking that I would use it to get the either DDP or DDDP (the next one up) for 1 night once every 3 nights of the trip probably starting on the 2nd night. So it would be having the Dining plan for about 4 of the nights of the trip. Turns out alot cheaper than buying it for all 12-14 nights! We usually always have sooo many extra QS & Snack credits left over that it is such a waste. This way will spread it more and probably won't waste any food or credits. Haven't sat down and figured out how many reservations that would equal thu.

 

[bastraker]

Yea when I was thinking about it later I was guessing it would have to be separate ressies. Oh well guess they can't make it totally easy on us that would want to do that.

I usually stay in Disney for around 2 weeks and was thinking that I would use it to get the either DDP or DDDP (the next one up) for 1 night once every 3 nights of the trip probably starting on the 2nd night. So it would be having the Dining plan for about 4 of the nights of the trip. Turns out alot cheaper than buying it for all 12-14 nights! We usually always have sooo many extra QS & Snack credits left over that it is such a waste. This way will spread it more and probably won't waste any food or credits. Haven't sat down and figured out how many reservations that would equal thu.

Yes, but don't forget - the dining credits expire at midnight of the following day they are purchased for. So if you get 1 night dexluxe plan for Monday night, those credits expire on Tuesday at midnight. Therefore, you can't really spread it out too far, only over the next day. So just be careful on how you plan out your credits.

 

[VLee]

When I asked about "splitting" an existing reservation (which I though I had read online that it was being done), MS told me that they could, but that there was no guarantee that I would stay in the same room. They told me that I would have to go through the check in, check out procedure for each reservation and that I might have to move rooms. This did not sound quite right to me, as I figured others who had done this would not have done so if they had to move rooms.

 

[disneynutz]

When I asked about "splitting" an existing reservation (which I though I had read online that it was being done), MS told me that they could, but that there was no guarantee that I would stay in the same room. They told me that I would have to go through the check in, check out procedure for each reservation and that I might have to move rooms. This did not sound quite right to me, as I figured others who had done this would not have done so if they had to move rooms.

This is true under the old system. I don't know for sure what will happen now.

Bill

 

[VLee]

This is true under the old system. I don't know for sure what will happen now.

Bill

Yes,I knew this was the way; however, I asked this question just last week after the new method of booking the DDP was in effect. That is why I thought this info could now be incorrect. I could not imagine people with the new DDP plan and no guarantee to stay in the same room. thanks.

 

[TDC Nala]

Under the new system if you book multiple segments in the same resort, you can have them linked so you can keep the same room.

I do not know how it works with the key cards though, especially if in one multi-segment stay you are adding people, dropping people, adding DDP, dropping DDP... Your party might still have to have key cards renewed for each new segment. I don't have any idea how that would work.

 

[zanygames]

Has anyone here booked the DDP for only part of their DVC stay under this new system? I am interested to hear how it went.

Thanks,
Steven

 

[Elana]

We have a week reservation for Dec. A family member might be in the area and could join us for a few days. Is it possible that we can add him on for just the days he will be with us. I do not want to loose the reservation we have.

 

[Judique]

Has anyone here booked the DDP for only part of their DVC stay under this new system? I am interested to hear how it went.

Thanks,
Steven

I did. It went fine. I booked our first night at BWV. We used the counter service credits at Downtown Disney on arrival night (late arrival) and then the dinner credits at Le Cellier the next night. We used the snack credits at Food and Wine during the day. I checked with the desk and the proper charge and payment was reflected on our bill. We paid in advance and that is what showed on the bill as I did not leave a charge card on file this time. (That was because of the past issue where I received a letter from Disney advising of credit card fraud at a resort I had stayed at a full year before.) I love this accomodation - I've done something similar in the past, but usually by changing resorts after the first night - not changing on purpose - adding a night and not being able to get my first choice.

 

[DMKEDM]

I have a T-giving week reservation that I added an extra night to...so it's two linked reservations...one for 11/21 and one for 11/22-11/29...

Called MS yesterday to see if I could drop the DP from 11/21...told them I didn't want to do it if it would force me to change rooms...

They assured me I'd stay in the same room, but said I would have to go to the front desk on 11/22 to get new room keys (said that won't be necessary in the future, but for now it is)...

They also told me that I'd have to prepay...I'd added the DP prior to the rule change requiring prepayment, but the change kicked in the prepayment requirement...I asked if I could use two Disney reward cards plus a credit card to pay...the CM had to go check, but came back and said yes...it was pretty easy to do...of course, had to provide info on 3 separate cards, and that took a bit of time, but it went totally smoothly--

The CM then asked if the credit card I used to pay for DP is the credit card I want to use for my reservation, or if I'd rather make that decision later...I told him I'd prefer to make that decision later...he was totally fine w/that...so at this point I do not have a credit card on file for the reservation...

I guess we'll see how it works out when I get to SSR 11/21 and then go to get my new key cards 11/22...I know I'm taking a bit of a risk that I might have to change villas, but figured it was worth it to save the $90 (the cost of DP for two adults for 11/21)...

 

[Elana]

Thank you for the updates. If my cousin joins us, we will have eight adults in our group. We have a 2 bedroom at OKW. I am getting excited. We are one month out for our trip.

 

[tlynk]

I love this new change. I live on the West Coast and I never need the extra two days of the DDP since it takes a whole day to get here and a whole day to get back home.