DDP for Two and how I lost money

[pbbaby]

Dh and I just returned from eight nights at the BCV. We argued till we left over whether DP was the right thing to do this time around. Last year we took four adult children and the DP certainly was a great deal. This time I went back and forth; costs, planning, hubby yelling " I want it the old way"- which was no reservations, wake up , decide what you want to do for the day, then make reservations. Well at check-in ,I caved and went with the DP, we had ADR for Cellier, Citrico's, Yachtsman SH, Prime Time, Coral Reef and Marakeesh. I made ADR's all for late afternoon for everything other than YSH + Citricos. Oh course DH was hungry hours before our time. Here's the funny thing- everytime I asked if there was a chance of bumping up our reservation time , we were able to walk right in. Every time! If we had concierge try to change the times, we were told everything was full. Then we talked to Uncle Henry at Prime Time. He said people are making five or six ADR for the same day, then depending where they were that day, that's where they eat and are no shows for the rest, hence the everything is booked up on the main computers. He said Prime Time is budgeted for 1000 lunches but with the meal plan, they have only had 800 a day and the rest are no shows.
All that said, with my poor planning, we were never able to use all our TS meals and that was how I figured I lost money, that and DH refused to eat dessert and always wanted an appetizer.
I told DH, we'll just have to go again real soon and compare the next trip without the meal plan and ADRs

 

[goldenears]

Sorry to hear you may have lost $$. We have been going back and forth trying to decide if the NEW DDP is worth it too. In order to get a good value I think you have to use all of your credits AND make sure you are choosing places that are more expensive. I think we will give it a try and see if it works.

 

[aubriee]

How were you able to add the DDP at check in. I thought it had to be added several days before you left home?

 

[kaytieeldr]

Guessing: If they were staying at BCV using points, they needed to reserve the Dining Plan in advance but couldn't pay for it until they checked in. Maybe they were figuring they could change their minds at check-in?

 

[daisy112878]

How were you able to add the DDP at check in. I thought it had to be added several days before you left home?

Since she was staying at BCV most likely they are DVC members. DVC members do not have to pay for the DDP until check-in so that's probably how. We added it last year at the last moment too and didn't have a problem.

 

[septbaby]

If you go that frequently perhaps you shoud get a DDE card.

 

[pta-mom]

Then we talked to Uncle Henry at Prime Time. He said people are making five or six ADR for the same day, then depending where they were that day, that's where they eat and are no shows for the rest, hence the everything is booked up on the main computers. He said Prime Time is budgeted for 1000 lunches but with the meal plan, they have only had 800 a day and the rest are no shows.

I think Uncle Henry is incorrect...it was my observation last year when dis-members were talking about making more than one reservation, that the system would look for those additional reservations & give them the boot. I find it highly unlikely that 20% of a restuarants reservations would be "double bookings".

 

[lilsweetpea]

I think Uncle Henry is incorrect...it was my observation last year when dis-members were talking about making more than one reservation, that the system would look for those additional reservations & give them the boot. I find it highly unlikely that 20% of a restuarants reservations would be "double bookings".

You can get around that though by making reservations under a different name or phone number.