Dining Plan Questions

[SpectroMan71]

This may not be DVC-specific, but I thought I'd post it here.
First of all, I read that the DDP needs to be booked for trips of 3 nights or more. What if I'm splitting my stay between multiple resorts and only have a single night one place, 4 nights another, and a single night at another? Would that disqualify me?
And second - I am so irritated at their rule about how everyone in the room must be on the same plan. What is that all about, and why? In my case we have people with TIW who want to use that discount and others who want to get the DDP for the convenience of having everything prepaid. Have you ever been in that situation? Do you actually have to remove the TIW member from the room reservation until you check in and then maybe add them on after the fact?

 

[Sandisw]

The rule is everyone or no one. You can not add them on at check in and avoid paying for DDP...that violates Disney rules (and just a reminder that talking abput ways to get around it here on the Dis is also against the rules)

In terms of split stays, DVC members can add it to single nights. The 3 minimum rule may be for cash guests But it doesn’t apply to DVC reservations.

When you add it to different reservations, they are each considered their own plan. That means credits will only be good through check out day for each part. It can get tricky but it is doable. For example, credits from night one have to be used up by the end of night two and before you can access the credits for the 4 night stay. The credits from the 4 night stay have To be used up by the end of your check out day for that part but before you can access the credits for your last night. Those credits are valid then until midnight of your final check out day.

Because you have 3 reservations, you will also be able to get a refillable mug for everyone for each stay..not that you need them as the mugs from the first night will be good for 14 days. When I get them, I just save them and give them as a souvenir to people back home filled with candy.

One year, when we had guests with different needs, we didn’t do the plan but I bought GCs that Totaled the amount of the DDP for each person. This way, it was paid ahead and people just got what they wanted, when they wanted it. They weren’t locked in to having to get a dessert with a meal if they didn’t want to and because of that, all of us actually spent less than what the plan would have cost.

 

[Debbie Jean]

They make everyone on the ressie get it because that is the best way to maximize profits. It’s a business. They want your money... they are not looking to save you money. If you do that’s great but that just isn’t of any interest to Disney... except as a marketing tool. If it wasn’t a money maker they wouldn’t offer it at all.

It works for you, get it. If not, pass. They figure you buy meals on property without DDP so whether you buy it or not means you have to do the math.

 

[SpectroMan71]

The rule is everyone or no one. You can not add them on at check in and avoid paying for DDP...that violates Disney rules (and just a reminder that talking abput ways to get around it here on the Dis is also against the rules)

Thanks for your reply - of course realize that noone is trying to cheat Disney out of anything here - we're trying to give them LOTS of money, but in different ways. It's a shame their systems don't allow for differences in preference and situations.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

It's a shame their systems don't allow for differences in preference and situations.

It's not about preferences. The highest profit margin is in the approach they're using. People who want to mix and match are doing it because they perceive it as a way to save money, and Disney doesn't offer dining plans to save you money. The people who want to mix and match tend to be doing a lot of math, and that;'s not Disney's purpose or goal.

 

[SpectroMan71]

Yes, I get that too, but in my case as math-inclined as I am, they are going to lose money on us. When I pay a la carte I'm not going to order $78-ish worth of food every day. The whole concept was to be "all inclusive" and not worry about budget during the trip, but so much for that! I'll just get Disney gift cards totalling the amount of the DDP and pay that way instead.

 

[DaisyNY]

Interesting...I was just considering a dining plan for our upcoming trip...some members of our party will only be there for 4 nights of our 7-night stay, some will be with us 5 nights, and some will be the entire 7-night stay. Does everyone have to get the 7-night package?

 

[Sandisw]

Interesting...I was just considering a dining plan for our upcoming trip...some members of our party will only be there for 4 nights of our 7-night stay, some will be with us 5 nights, and some will be the entire 7-night stay. Does everyone have to get the 7-night package?

Yes, they do. So, in your situation it may not be worth it, unless you plan signature meals if going for regular DDP

I had to do this last year when I took my nephew and his children. I tend to get DDP when I take other guests because it’s easier for them to budget. Well, one of my DDs could only come 3 of our 5 nights. So, we ended up with extra credits. We had the quick service plan so it just gave us some extra meals to share, but the last day, we were struggling to use up the snack credits, especially give her extra.

Dining plans don’t fit everyones situations and to be honest, I think they were created with the cash guest in mind, and not DVC owners.

Most cash guests don’t have the unique situations we do and thus, the reason why it doesn’t always make sense.

 

[igrsod]

The rule is everyone or no one. You can not add them on at check in and avoid paying for DDP...that violates Disney rules (and just a reminder that talking abput ways to get around it here on the Dis is also against the rules)

In terms of split stays, DVC members can add it to single nights. The 3 minimum rule may be for cash guests But it doesn’t apply to DVC reservations.

When you add it to different reservations, they are each considered their own plan. That means credits will only be good through check out day for each part. It can get tricky but it is doable. For example, credits from night one have to be used up by the end of night two and before you can access the credits for the 4 night stay. The credits from the 4 night stay have To be used up by the end of your check out day for that part but before you can access the credits for your last night. Those credits are valid then until midnight of your final check out day.

Because you have 3 reservations, you will also be able to get a refillable mug for everyone for each stay..not that you need them as the mugs from the first night will be good for 14 days. When I get them, I just save them and give them as a souvenir to people back home filled with candy.

One year, when we had guests with different needs, we didn’t do the plan but I bought GCs that Totaled the amount of the DDP for each person. This way, it was paid ahead and people just got what they wanted, when they wanted it. They weren’t locked in to having to get a dessert with a meal if they didn’t want to and because of that, all of us actually spent less than what the plan would have cost.

I love the idea of everyone having their own gift card in the amount of the dining plan. My kids (young adults), would love that. They could spend how they want including starving so they could buy a spirit jersey lol.

 

[DaisyNY]

So in that case...no dining plan for us...we're not big snackers and plan to order groceries and eat all of our breakfast meals in the room. We'll use our DVC discount where we can. Looking at the value of TIW, but the break-even vs. DVC discount is looking pretty close. It would have been nice for budgeting purposes.

 

[Sandisw]

I love the idea of everyone having their own gift card in the amount of the dining plan. My kids (young adults), would love that. They could spend how they want including starving so they could buy a spirit jersey lol.

It has worked well, especially for me who never eats enough on the plan. And my guests liked not having to get a dessert with lunch every time. It also meant we didn’t have to do a sit down every day. It was like having a mix of quick service and regular DDPs in one.

 

[igrsod]

It has worked well, especially for me who never eats enough on the plan. And my guests liked not having to get a dessert with lunch every time. It also meant we didn’t have to do a sit down every day. It was like having a mix of quick service and regular DDPs in one.

Sadly, our family LOVES sit downs. One splurge trip we did a deluxe dining for the whole group and ate almost exclusively TS meals. THEY LOVED IT! The food and restaurants are just as much a part of our Disney trips as the rides and attractions.