Dining plan for all?

[glencoe]

Planning a family trip for June. Dining plan costs are not posted/available yet for that time, but it seems the easiest way to go for our mixed family trip-plus cheaper overall than TIW.

Anyway, some family will be joining us for only 2 or 3 days. Does everybody on our reservation have to buy the dining plan? Our shortened visit family members would prefer out of pocket for those days, but join us at the restaurants for our family meals (paying out of pocket)

So... to recap: does everyone on the reservation have to buy the dining plan?
can someone join us for dinner and pay out of pocket even though the rest use DDP?

Thanks! again!

 

[erionm]

does everyone on the reservation have to buy the dining plan?

Yes.

can someone join us for dinner and pay out of pocket even though the rest use DDP?

Yes.

 

[mustinjourney]

Planning a family trip for June. Dining plan costs are not posted/available yet for that time, but it seems the easiest way to go for our mixed family trip-plus cheaper overall than TIW.

Anyway, some family will be joining us for only 2 or 3 days. Does everybody on our reservation have to buy the dining plan? Our shortened visit family members would prefer out of pocket for those days, but join us at the restaurants for our family meals (paying out of pocket)

So... to recap: does everyone on the reservation have to buy the dining plan?
can someone join us for dinner and pay out of pocket even though the rest use DDP?

Thanks! again!

You might want to be more specific in your question.

My understanding is that everyone in your dinner reservation does not need to be on the dining plan. It is completely ok for some people to pay out of pocket and others to use the dining plan while seated at the same table. For example, even if you all have the dining plan -- but one of your members already blew through their allotment of meals, it's completely fine for one person to pay cash/credit card at dinner.

If you are talking about your room reservation -- the rule is that everyone in a room reservation has to be on the same meal plan. I'm not sure how the rule applies in the scenario in which you have two rooms under the same reservation though.

It sounds like some of your family is not going to be in the same room. If that is the case, I am pretty sure they can join you for dinner and just pay out of pocket for their meal. If it's that big of a deal -- I would think you could book two separate reservations -- one for your immediate family and a second separate reservation for the group that is coming for the shorter trip.

When in doubt though -- call guest services and they'll set you straight.

 

[glencoe]

We will be in a DVC two bedrooom villa, so technically under the same reservation, however one of my nephew's can't do the whole trip just 2 nights....I can't see him having to get the dining plan for that?

 

[erionm]

We will be in a DVC two bedrooom villa, so technically under the same reservation, however one of my nephew's can't do the whole trip just 2 nights....I can't see him having to get the dining plan for that?

You have to purchase the dining plan for all persons listed on the room reservation that are 3 or older.

 

[mustinjourney]

We will be in a DVC two bedrooom villa, so technically under the same reservation, however one of my nephew's can't do the whole trip just 2 nights....I can't see him having to get the dining plan for that?

I'm wondering if there is a way to allow him to stay in the room without listing him on the reservation? Is it possible to add someone to the room reservation once they arrive?

 

[mustinjourney]

We will be in a DVC two bedrooom villa, so technically under the same reservation, however one of my nephew's can't do the whole trip just 2 nights....I can't see him having to get the dining plan for that?

the other option would be to call MS and see if they could rebook the trip in segments. It would be a split stay that you could ask them to "link" together so that you don't have to switch rooms (not always guaranteed). By doing it this way, you could decide which segments you want to get the dining plan. Each segment would also get a separate magic band -- which is somewhat of a pain -- but guest services can always link them up. The other downside is that making fastpass selections in your 60 day window can get a little more complicated, since I've been told you have to wait for each segment separately.

I'll see how this goes in a few months -- I've got a four day stay in November in which we're staying at a different resort every single day.

 

[glencoe]

I'm wondering if there is a way to allow him to stay in the room without listing him on the reservation? Is it possible to add someone to the room reservation once they arrive?

He could just come as you mentioned with out listing him. I have the correct room size for 9 , I could just let him arrive when he can, he has non-expiration tickets already, and he can try as a single to get the same fast passes 30 days out, and I could just make my ADR's with the extra person.....hmmmmm. What a pain to have to do this!! Why oh Why do they have to make it complicated??

 

[mustinjourney]

He could just come as you mentioned with out listing him. I have the correct room size for 9 , I could just let him arrive when he can, he has non-expiration tickets already, and he can try as a single to get the same fast passes 30 days out, and I could just make my ADR's with the extra person.....hmmmmm. What a pain to have to do this!! Why oh Why do they have to make it complicated??

only downside I see is that he wouldn't have a key to the hotel room.

I did read somewhere that you could probably get the front desk to add him as a registered guest once he gets there, and if he has a magicband, then they should be able to get him room access that way. Still kind of a pain though.

 

[glencoe]

only downside I see is that he wouldn't have a key to the hotel room.

I did read somewhere that you could probably get the front desk to add him as a registered guest once he gets there, and if he has a magicband, then they should be able to get him room access that way. Still kind of a pain though.

That would be fine, but with the whole DDP, would they let him do that?

 

[supersnoop]

Why oh Why do they have to make it complicated??

They're trying to make it simple. Booking the dining plan for different lengths seems to be the more complicated idea. Remember, dining credits are pooled, so anyone can redeem those extra credits.

Also, yes, you could add him to the room when you arrive. Since the dining plan must be added at least 48 hours before arrival, that would bypass the requirement. But then you're dealing with the different fp+ schedules. And, if he needs to ride DME to the resort, he has to be on the reaervation.

 

[glencoe]

They're trying to make it simple. Booking the dining plan for different lengths seems to be the more complicated idea. Remember, dining credits are pooled, so anyone can redeem those extra credits.

Also, yes, you could add him to the room when you arrive. Since the dining plan must be added at least 48 hours before arrival, that would bypass the requirement. But then you're dealing with the different fp+ schedules. And, if he needs to ride DME to the resort, he has to be on the reaervation.

Thats another gripe I have.....everybody shares the credits!! I like to keep track and make sure nobody uses up too many snack credits. This trip will be a few "new-disney" types and explaining the amount of credits/use etc. will be a lesson all by itself!
However what you are saying about the arrival with in 48 hours is interesting. From what I read Fast passes are easier to get as a single and maybe will be able to match up a bit!
And I forgot about DME!!! That will also be a problem...augh.

 

[CarolMN]

Unregistered guests cannot use DME and cannot take advantage of EMH offerings. They will not get a magic band and as already mentioned, they cannot book FP+ reservations until 30 days in advance. (Resort guests can book up to 60 days in advance).

Doesn't sound like a Dining Plan is right for your party for this trip (unless you are willing to pay for the nights your nephew is not there and use them for additional or 2 credit meals for members of the group that are there the entire time).

 

[bumbershoot]

Thats another gripe I have.....everybody shares the credits!! I like to keep track and make sure nobody uses up too many snack credits.

This plus the issue of not everyone being there the whole time seems to mean the dining plan is NOT right for your party for this trip.

 

[Deb & Bill]

So just have each family put the money they would spend on the dining plan onto a Disney gift card. Then everyone pays for their own family's meals. Then you keep the rest of the family from using your credits.

 

[mort1331]

Or if its just a single person that is missing out for all but 2 days. Buy the dininng plan for all, that would include him. Since they are all pooled, then enjoy a signature dinner one night that your all there and the cost is split between all of you. Also you would get the advantage of the extra snacks to help out all.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Disney requires everyone on the room to have the dining plan for the entire stay. And they have to be on the room to have access to other amenities like EMH and ME. There's no requirement to have the dining plan if it doesn't work to pay for everyone. Putting the same amounts on gift cards would seem like a good compromise to prepay yet not pay for days that someone isn't there.

 

[glencoe]

Thanks everyone!! I actually sent a letter to Disney about the policy-but in the mean time I will try to figure this out.

Does anyone know when the new cost of TIW will be available and when the new cost of the DDP for 2017 will be out? Lots of comparing ahead!

 

[supersnoop]

Does anyone know when the new cost of TIW will be available and when the new cost of the DDP for 2017 will be out?

TiW doesn't change on a regular basis. Any guess about a price increase would be just that; a guess. DDP pricing should be out already for 2017, just not in the DVC system yet.

 

[erionm]

Does anyone know when the new cost of TIW will be available and when the new cost of the DDP for 2017 will be out? Lots of comparing ahead!

2017 DVC Dining Plan Pricing from Plan Guides as posted on member website:
Quick Service Plan: (Plan Guide)
$46.34 per night, per Guest ages 10+
$20.18 per night, per Guest ages 3–9

Regular Dining Plan: (Plan Guide)
$67.33 per night, per Guest ages 10+
$24.22 per night, per Guest ages 3-9

Deluxe Dining Plan: (Plan Guide)
$103.57 per night, per Guest ages 10+
$37.62 per night, per Guest ages 3–9