Dining Plan and DVC question

[jack'smom]

We are looking at renting points at a DVC resort in May for 8 nights. It would be me, my husband, our 3 year old son, and an infant. My parents will join us in the same room (a 2 bedroom) for about 4 nights. If we got the dining plan, would my parents have to buy it for the full 8 nights or could they get it for the 4 nights they would be there?
TIA!

 

[TDC Nala]

Everyone named on the reservation would have to purchase it for the full 8 nights.

The only way around this is to split the reservations - one reservation with 3 persons on the dining plan (the infant won't count), and a separate reservation with five persons on the dining plan. (If you ask the member you rent from to link the two reservations, you shouldn't have to change rooms.)

 

[jack'smom]

Thanks for the reply! Would that be a hard thing for the member to arrange?

 

[inky dinky doo]

The longer you wait to make a reservation, the harder it may be to get. Members can reserve at their home resort 11 months out. At other resorts, they're competing against all other members at seven months.

You didn't say when you're going in May, but you're either already inside the seven month window or getting very close to it. If it doesn't matter where you stay, you'll probably be able to find a two-bedroom somewhere, but if it matters, you need to make a decision very soon. I'd hate to see you miss out.

Watch out for that point-renting, though. That's how I started out, too, and before you know it, I owned points of my own. It's hard to go back to a regular room, after a DVC stay.

 

[TDC Nala]

You would have to discuss it with the member you are renting from. It would be the same amount of points, just split over two reservations.

 

[buzz1fan]

Has anyone hear of if you rent a dvc room, and get the dining plan you dont need to purchase your park tickets?

 

[TDC Nala]

Has anyone hear of if you rent a dvc room, and get the dining plan you dont need to purchase your park tickets?

If you rent a DVC room from a member, you are paying the member to use their points to book the room for you. If the room was booked with points, the member can add the dining plan to the reservation without any ticket purchase requirement. (Only the member may do this. DVC Member Services will not deal directly with the renter.) The renter would pay for the dining plan when they check in.

However, the dining plan must be added for everyone named on the reservation for the entire length of that reservation.

 

[buzz1fan]

Then maybe I should check around to see if tickets are any cheaper elsewhere. Thanks!

 

[jack'smom]

The longer you wait to make a reservation, the harder it may be to get. Members can reserve at their home resort 11 months out. At other resorts, they're competing against all other members at seven months.

You didn't say when you're going in May, but you're either already inside the seven month window or getting very close to it. If it doesn't matter where you stay, you'll probably be able to find a two-bedroom somewhere, but if it matters, you need to make a decision very soon. I'd hate to see you miss out.

Watch out for that point-renting, though. That's how I started out, too, and before you know it, I owned points of my own. It's hard to go back to a regular room, after a DVC stay.

Thanks. We have a couple of places that would be at the top of our list but we stayed last year in a 1-bedroom at SSR (free upgrade!) and really enjoyed that resort too!

 

[Deb & Bill]

If you split your DVC reservation into two reservations, you will have to move to a different villa. You won't be able to link the two because that makes it one reservation. That will make your stay more difficult with two small children since you have to move out by 11AM and won't be able to get back in until after 4PM (check in time).

If you ask the member to change it to two reservations, you may lose the second half since they have to cancel those days and rebook. If there is a waitlist for those days, the next person at the top of the waitlist gets your days.

 

[Pumbaa_]

another option is to get the DDP for all 8 days and use it for additional sitdown meals or a date night signature dining. Maybe add an additional chracter breakfast. The credits within the room are not designated for a specific person. So you could use the surplus credits, it doesn't have to be your parents.

Personally, I would not split the reservation. More of a chance of a problem, plus you very likely would need to check out and recheck in and be homeless for part of a day.

Your other option is to just pay OOP for your meals

Have a great trip!