Dining plan question

[inloveindisney]

With the DVC, do we still fall under the rule of "if one person in the room wants the dining plan, we all have to get it?"
I'm thinking about when we take family. I know my dh's family won't want to do the dining plan, but it is a fantastic thing for us.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Yes, the rules are the same. Every guest on the reservation must have the plan for the entire length of stay. And the price is the same, too.

But if you get an AP, you can also purchase the Disney Dining Experience card and get 20% off on many table service restaurants for up to 10 guests.

 

[jekjones1558]

The other option would be to book separate rooms for the relatives.

 

[inloveindisney]

The other option would be to book separate rooms for the relatives.

Now that's a thought!!

 

[ChelleinNC]

We took my Dad & stepmom down in December and decided to do the DDP (ok, it was better in 07) even though we got a seperate studio for Dad --at a different resort --we convinced them to get it as well, that it would be easier if we all had the same thing. I also knew that Dad would get sticker shock when he saw the prices and would only want to eat CS. He had a little sticker shock at the price of the DDP but thankfully his sis-inlaw had told them how wonderful it was so they agreed to do it. Worked great! Dad really enjoyed being able to order whatever he wanted and comparing how much it would have cost without the DDP.

 

[CarolMN]

The other option would be to book separate rooms for the relatives.

Now that's a thought!!

Based on all the sad stories we see here about relatives (it's always the relatives, lol) backing out at the last minute, booking separate accommodations can actually be a very good idea. If the relatives back out, their room can be canceled without impacting the member's vacation. Less chance of the DVC member getting stuck with accommodations that are too large.

 

[thepops]

and once you get used to the larger accomodations all by yourself you'll have to do an add on since you'll never want to go back to the smaller ones

 

[Deb & Bill]

The other option would be to book separate rooms for the relatives.

It would have to be an entirely separate reservation and they could not be linked. If they were linked, it would make it one reservation and you'd be back to square one.

 

[DisneyFreaks]

It would have to be an entirely separate reservation and they could not be linked. If they were linked, it would make it one reservation and you'd be back to square one.

This brings up a DDP question that I have as well. We book a 2 bedroom lock off for ourselves and our DD and her family. Then also a separate 1 bedroom for DS and his family. We are all planning on getting the dining plan for our next trip. Will all of our credits be put on all of our room cards or can they have just their own family's on theirs?

 

[Dean]

It would have to be an entirely separate reservation and they could not be linked. If they were linked, it would make it one reservation and you'd be back to square one.

separate units are always separate reservations.

This brings up a DDP question that I have as well. We book a 2 bedroom lock off for ourselves and our DD and her family. Then also a separate 1 bedroom for DS and his family. We are all planning on getting the dining plan for our next trip. Will all of our credits be put on all of our room cards or can they have just their own family's on theirs?

Each unit will get it's own cards with credits for that unit so you should be fine. I don't believe you can get them to total them all and put them on all cards but it never hurts to try for those that were interested. You could swap a key if you need to to have access to the other credits, just take a sharpie to mark them where it's easy to tell which is which.

 

[castleri]

separate units are always separate reservations.

Each unit will get it's own cards with credits for that unit so you should be fine. I don't believe you can get them to total them all and put them on all cards but it never hurts to try for those that were interested. You could swap a key if you need to to have access to the other credits, just take a sharpie to mark them where it's easy to tell which is which.

Don't they all have each person's name on them now so just swapping should work without having to worry about marking them or are you talking about marking which credits have been used Dean?

 

[DisneyFreaks]

separate units are always separate reservations.
Each unit will get it's own cards with credits for that unit so you should be fine. I don't believe you can get them to total them all and put them on all cards but it never hurts to try for those that were interested. You could swap a key if you need to to have access to the other credits, just take a sharpie to mark them where it's easy to tell which is which.

Thanks Dean. That's what I needed to know. Since we'll probably go our separate ways at some point we didn't want all the credits on every card.

 

[ClarabelleCow]

now I'm confused - we are a family of four, 3 of us had "charge privledges" and at dinner or snack time, any of those 3 cards could be used to "pay" for the meals. If daughter was off on her own, she could get snacks, and they were taken off the total amount of snacks allowed, everything was combined?

Dean you are saying the "credits" are NOT totaled per room. But we found just the opposite. And after every meal they would tell us what was left.

 

[NLK]

Okay, I'm going to add something to the mix.
We are going with family of course. Mine (DH,me, DD 7 adn DS2)
Cousins family(DH,DW,DD14)
and Other Cousin (Dh,DW newlyweds)
Here's the thing we are staying in a 2 bedroom unit.
We want to do DDP and are pretty sure my cousins with the 14 year old would like to do it as well. The problem is the newlyweds. They don't really like to spend money and are only going into the parks 1 day. The rest of the time they are going to Universal because it's so much cheaper. I'm sure they're not going to want to spend the money on dinner anyway since most of the time when we go out they split a meal and than pick at everyone elses left-overs. Help me figure out what to do. Should I just get them a studio? But the reservation will still be under my name. Or should I just take them off the room reservation since they tend to be unreliable and might not go at all since we are driving and they can change their mind at the last minute. Help this is my first delve into the world of DDP

 

[dgaston]

NLK: I would probably drop them from the reservation. Second choice -- book a separate studio for them. Eight plus the 2 yo would get crowded even tho it's within occupancy limits.

 

[Chuck S]

now I'm confused - we are a family of four, 3 of us had "charge privledges" and at dinner or snack time, any of those 3 cards could be used to "pay" for the meals. If daughter was off on her own, she could get snacks, and they were taken off the total amount of snacks allowed, everything was combined?

Dean you are saying the "credits" are NOT totaled per room. But we found just the opposite. And after every meal they would tell us what was left.

Clarabelle, I think Dean was responding to a poster that wanted to know if two rooms, say for example you reserved two studios, one for your family, and one for friends, had all the credits for both rooms polled onto all room key. The answer was no, as each room would be pooled onto the room keys for that particular room, not both rooms together.

 

[NLK]

Thanks, I think I might drop them from the reservation. What do I do if we do get the DDP and they come. Do they use your room key for the DDP? How can I get them a room key? Or can I get an extra key or give them the DS2 year olds key. Plus I am waitlisted for a GV but I don't think that will come through.

 

[ChelleinNC]

Thanks, I think I might drop them from the reservation. What do I do if we do get the DDP and they come. Do they use your room key for the DDP? How can I get them a room key? Or can I get an extra key or give them the DS2 year olds key. Plus I am waitlisted for a GV but I don't think that will come through.

If they join you in the 2BR, then they'll have to go on the ressie and pay for the DDP. The 2 yr old won't have a key or DDP credits since he's under 3. If they're going to come but not want the DDP, best bet would be a seperate studio for them.

 

[Dean]

Don't they all have each person's name on them now so just swapping should work without having to worry about marking them or are you talking about marking which credits have been used Dean?

First you have to be careful about swapping cards are there are situations where it might be allowable, such as paying for the child of the other group, and there are situations where it might not be allowed. IMO, if everyone were on the plan it really doesn't matter and I feel you are fine treating them as one big group if you want. The problem comes when some are on the plan and some are not and you are sharing meals with those not on the plan.

Dean you are saying the "credits" are NOT totaled per room. But we found just the opposite. And after every meal they would tell us what was left.

As noted this was a situation with multiple rooms, otherwise you are correct.

Okay, I'm going to add something to the mix.
We are going with family of course. Mine (DH,me, DD 7 adn DS2)
Cousins family(DH,DW,DD14)
and Other Cousin (Dh,DW newlyweds)
Here's the thing we are staying in a 2 bedroom unit.
We want to do DDP and are pretty sure my cousins with the 14 year old would like to do it as well. The problem is the newlyweds. They don't really like to spend money and are only going into the parks 1 day. The rest of the time they are going to Universal because it's so much cheaper. I'm sure they're not going to want to spend the money on dinner anyway since most of the time when we go out they split a meal and than pick at everyone elses left-overs. Help me figure out what to do. Should I just get them a studio? But the reservation will still be under my name. Or should I just take them off the room reservation since they tend to be unreliable and might not go at all since we are driving and they can change their mind at the last minute. Help this is my first delve into the world of DDP

Thanks, I think I might drop them from the reservation. What do I do if we do get the DDP and they come. Do they use your room key for the DDP? How can I get them a room key? Or can I get an extra key or give them the DS2 year olds key. Plus I am waitlisted for a GV but I don't think that will come through.

The DDP is tough when you have those of different means, attitudes and styles. The DDP is expensive, far more so than someone who eats like the newlywed couple you describe would spend on their own. Putting them in a situation to spend money they may not have or feel comfortable spending can be stressful for them. OTOH, having to spend $80 a night for meals and getting a free room is not an unreasonable request. I agree that I'd drop them from the reservation then if they go and when you arrive, tell them there are 8 instead of 6 and let Disney decide. Since you will honestly not know if they are truly going until you head out, that is not being dishonest. Just be prepared for the expense if they kick you back up to 8 on check in which there is about a 50% chance they will and should do.