Dining Plan to be paid prior to arrival?

[Tinker Bell Fan]

I am new to this whole renting thing (and hopefully will never go through this again); however, I had points that were banked from last year and since DH & I can't make it to WDW this year by 11/30/10 (the day our points expire) I sold/rented them to another Disney fan. They've paid for them and I changed the ressie to their name. That was all fine and dandy.

However, when I tried to add the dining plan for them (which they requested) I was told by the CM that I would need their credit card info (card #, expiration date, name on card, and the special code on the back of the card) in order to add the dining plan. Apparently a letter was sent to all DVCers? I never got one but the CM said it's new and it was started last week!

I know I wouldn't feel comfortable giving a stranger ALL the info on my credit card. And I was told I am the only one who can add this to the reservation. In this day & age with identity theft - how can Disney be serious about this?

Any thoughts?

 

[alicat07]

Though I am not 100% positive about this, but when I added my dining info to our current reservation (just did this last week, so it was with the new system), they obviously charged my CC but they also did ask if that was the one I was using for the trip. I told them yes, most likely, but maybe you can get the money from the guests, charge to your CC, and tell the CM when you book that you are NOT using that card for the reservation. In that way, the guest would put their card on their reservation when they check in.

Can anyone else confirm this?

 

[jlewisinsyr]

DDP has to be paid for at the time it is added to the reservation and the DDP must be added at least 48 hours prior to the arrival date.

This is a new change as part of the new reservation system, there is no way around it. If your renter wants the DDP, you will need to pay for it or arrange a 3-way call with the renter and Member Services to process the payment.

 

[n2mm]

Though I am not 100% positive about this, but when I added my dining info to our current reservation (just did this last week, so it was with the new system), they obviously charged my CC but they also did ask if that was the one I was using for the trip. I told them yes, most likely, but maybe you can get the money from the guests, charge to your CC, and tell the CM when you book that you are NOT using that card for the reservation. In that way, the guest would put their card on their reservation when they check in.

Can anyone else confirm this?

I too just added the DDP to a reservation I had for my daughter and her family for one night. They did ask me if this cc was going to be used for other expenses while there. I told them no. (Though it probably will, but not the way MS intended.)

 

[TiaMaria]

In this day & age with identity theft - how can Disney be serious about this?

DVC is not actually set up to accommodate renting. Therefore they are not doing anything to make it easier to rent. They stop short of not condoning it, but they don't have to facilitate it either. How/if a Member wants to handle DDP - or not - is up to the Member.

I have 2 rentals coming up. Due to the DDP changes, they will NOT be getting the DDP as I will absolutely NOT be handling their credit card, nor will I put it on mine. These will also be my last renters due to the pain in the rear to rent these days, and the scary stories of problem renters.

 

[quentina]

I am new to this whole renting thing (and hopefully will never go through this again); however, I had points that were banked from last year and since DH & I can't make it to WDW this year by 11/30/10 (the day our points expire) I sold/rented them to another Disney fan. They've paid for them and I changed the ressie to their name. That was all fine and dandy.

However, when I tried to add the dining plan for them (which they requested) I was told by the CM that I would need their credit card info (card #, expiration date, name on card, and the special code on the back of the card) in order to add the dining plan. Apparently a letter was sent to all DVCers? I never got one but the CM said it's new and it was started last week!

I know I wouldn't feel comfortable giving a stranger ALL the info on my credit card. And I was told I am the only one who can add this to the reservation. In this day & age with identity theft - how can Disney be serious about this?

Any thoughts?

I think that you can do a conference call and mute each other while personal info is being given....or maybe you can call MS with renter on other end waiting to be conferenced in, give your info and tell MS that you are bring them into the call to give CC number and hang up when they connect??? Not sure, I am sure DVC is aware of this issue and would have a solution for you.

 

[erionm]

I would imagine that they would accept a Disney Gift Card (or a GC with either the Visa, MasterCard or AMEX logos) for payment of the dining plan. The person renting could get one for the amount of the dining plan and give that to the member to pass on to MS.

 

[gstew24]

i was told that the person the ressie is in has to pay for this

 

[Sandisw]

I would also not feel comfortable having someone else's credit card and I agree that I am surprised that MS is so easily taking CC information from a 3rd party.


Unless it was something that you told them when you rented that you could easily add, I might be honest with them and tell them that the rules are changed and that you don't feel comfortable getting CC information from them and that you would need it to pay for the DDP as it needs to be paid for upfront.

Or, as PP suggested, have them get buy a Disney Gift card and send it to you. I believe (but could be wrong) that you can send a virtual gift card to someone. If this is the case, it might work.

And, I might even consider telling them that once it is added, it is a final transaction and there will be no refunds so that it can not be cancelled out if they change their minds.

Good luck.

 

[TDC Nala]

Yes, you must now pay for the plan at the same time as you add it to the reservation. And yes, the only way for your renters to pay for the plan is to 1) give you their credit card information or 2) work out a way for them to reimburse you for the plan, such as Pay Pal, use of a gift card or a prepaid debit card, etc.

Each member and renter will have to work this out for themselves, as Member Services will not take calls from the renter - they will deal with the member only. The best way around this may be a conference call with the renter, if MS will allow it. However, won't the member still be on the phone when the renter gives their credit card info to MS, and how is that different from the renter just giving it to the member?

 

[Tinker Bell Fan]

Thank you all for your responses!

DH & I discussed this and he thought about the gift card idea (both Disney GC & the Visa GC). I also spoke to the renter who agreed about the CC info. So we'll most likely have them give me money and we'll pay if we can do the GC idea. I'll be calling Disney later today regarding that.

I do know this will be last time I rent/sell points! First and LAST time! And it isn't because of the renters! Had I known that the rules would change I wouldn't have offered to add the DDP.

Thanks much!

 

[n2mm]

i was told that the person the ressie is in has to pay for this

No, not true. I have a room for my daughter and her family and today I called and added the DDP for them and paid for it for them with my cc. It was not a problem at all.

 

[bumbershoot]

Apparently a letter was sent to all DVCers? I never got one but the CM said it's new and it was started last week!

We never got a letter, but I got an email, and it's on the DVC site. And yep, started last week.

 

[mikron]

DVC is not actually set up to accommodate renting. Therefore they are not doing anything to make it easier to rent. They stop short of not condoning it, but they don't have to facilitate it either. How/if a Member wants to handle DDP - or not - is up to the Member.

I have 2 rentals coming up. Due to the DDP changes, they will NOT be getting the DDP as I will absolutely NOT be handling their credit card, nor will I put it on mine. These will also be my last renters due to the pain in the rear to rent these days, and the scary stories of problem renters.

Have the renter get a Disney gift card for the amount of the DDP and when you give it to Disney the card is zeroed out.

 

[jamn]

Can you cancel a DDP? If you book it at the time of reservation on you CC and the renter doesn't pay within a specified amount of time can you then cancel the DDP?

 

[Hanover]

We were just at WDW for a quick trip primarily for MNSSHP and had pre paid our dining plan. When we got our print out of charges, they had billed us yet again on the credit card we left for KTTW charges. The front desk at Kidani said they were having lots of issues since the "upgrades" started and that they should be sorted out by December 1st. When we checked in, somehow my dh was not on the reservation ---even though he had been listed on the confirmation letters---- and everything (including the parking pass) was in my 9 year old son's name. They added my DH back on and when we got to the parks his dining credits wouldn't work. We had the correct # of adults/children on the card, but not the right credits. We ended up having to charge his meals/snacks (per Kidani staff request) and were told we'd be reimbursed for them.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Can you cancel a DDP? If you book it at the time of reservation on you CC and the renter doesn't pay within a specified amount of time can you then cancel the DDP?

I wouldn't use my own credit card to pay for a renter's dining plan. I'd make them pay me and once I got their money, I'd add it to the plan. Make them pay in total to add it.

 

[n2mm]

We were just at WDW for a quick trip primarily for MNSSHP and had pre paid our dining plan. When we got our print out of charges, they had billed us yet again on the credit card we left for KTTW charges. The front desk at Kidani said they were having lots of issues since the "upgrades" started and that they should be sorted out by December 1st. When we checked in, somehow my dh was not on the reservation ---even though he had been listed on the confirmation letters---- and everything (including the parking pass) was in my 9 year old son's name. They added my DH back on and when we got to the parks his dining credits wouldn't work. We had the correct # of adults/children on the card, but not the right credits. We ended up having to charge his meals/snacks (per Kidani staff request) and were told we'd be reimbursed for them.

What a nightmare! I just added the DDP to my DD's reservation, so I will print out my cc bill once the charge goes through to show I already paid it. I hope it gets better. I hope you plan to write to MS for some feedback.

 

[macleary]

Can you cancel a DDP? If you book it at the time of reservation on you CC and the renter doesn't pay within a specified amount of time can you then cancel the DDP?

I was told that Yes, you get a full refund if you cancel. Then again, maybe the CSR is wrong. She seemed to be wrong in saying "oh no, you don't need the DDP to make a restaurant reservation." even though my renter tried and was told No on the phone by that restaurant.

I gave DVC my own CC # and I'm getting my renter to paypal me the money. I don't like it. This new policy stinks to high heaven. It's clearly a ploy by Disney Corporate to simply earn interest $$ on our money ahead of time. It's an interest free loan for them. Think most ppl book these 3-6 months in advance; that's a ton of cash ahead of time for them.

 

[TDC Nala]

She seemed to be wrong in saying "oh no, you don't need the DDP to make a restaurant reservation."

You don't. The only reason you need a DDP when making a restaurant reservation is if you want to avoid payment in full at booking for CRT and dinner shows. Why would any restaurant say you needed DDP to make a reservation (unless it was CRT or a dinner show)? They all do let people eat there who are not on DDP.

It's clearly a ploy by Disney Corporate to simply earn interest $$ on our money ahead of time.

The way around this one is: add the DDP to your reservation two days before you arrive (that's the last possible time to add it) and pay for it then.