Dining Plan to be paid prior to arrival?

[vicki_c]

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?

Nala beat me to it. You don't need anything to book a dining reservation beyond your name, and a credit card for a select few places requiring pre-payment or credit card holds.

As TDC Nala says, having the DDP planned booked will keep you from pre-paying for CRT and the dinner shows.

But you don't need a resort reservation or a dining plan to make reservations.

By the way - why would your renter be talking directly to a restaurant unless they were directed to do that by the Dining Line (which is really only for big groups dining together).

 

[katieam1]

A quick question. I have two reservations coming up with the dining added. I did it before the new system so I just added it and was told to pay at check in. Should I call and pay for the dining before we get there now since there is a new system and that is the new rule? Or leave it like it is to pay at check in?

 

[vicki_c]

A quick question. I have two reservations coming up with the dining added. I did it before the new system so I just added it and was told to pay at check in. Should I call and pay for the dining before we get there now since there is a new system and that is the new rule? Or leave it like it is to pay at check in?

DDP reservations made prior to the change are to be paid at check-in. I wouldn't mess around with doing anything different - who knows how that might mess things up!

 

[katieam1]

DDP reservations made prior to the change are to be paid at check-in. I wouldn't mess around with doing anything different - who knows how that might mess things up!

Great thank you, that is what I hoped would be the answer. I just was nervous I would get there and they would say oh sorry was suppose to be paid before coming. Then I would just have to get the TIW.

 

[Sammie]

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?

You can cancel 48 hours prior to arrival.

 

[littletommy]

The simple thing to do in this situation is...have renter send you a GC for the amount for DDP, call MS add DDP using GC...You have up to 48hrs before check in to do this?....No CC#'s to deal with...Very anonymous!.. Nothing to lose.

 

[jlewisinsyr]

The simple thing to do in this situation is...have renter send you a GC for the amount for DDP, call MS add DDP using GC...You have up to 48hrs before check in to do this?....No CC#'s to deal with...Very anonymous!.. Nothing to lose.

Nothing to lose? Mailing a gift card is a VERY bad decision, better off to just provide your credit card number to a renter, at least there is recourse available on a credit card, gift cards, not so much.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Nothing to lose? Mailing a gift card is a VERY bad decision, better off to just provide your credit card number to a renter, at least there is recourse available on a credit card, gift cards, not so much.

How does anyone know the amount of money on the gift card until they read the magnetic strip? Is it possible? Does the serial number have the amount linked to it?

I know if I buy a $25 gift card from Barnes and Noble, they know it is worth $25. Then if I use a portion of the card, they know there is a balance because it is a specific amount with a PIN to be scraped off the back.

 

[jlewisinsyr]

How does anyone know the amount of money on the gift card until they read the magnetic strip? Is it possible? Does the serial number have the amount linked to it?

I know if I buy a $25 gift card from Barnes and Noble, they know it is worth $25. Then if I use a portion of the card, they know there is a balance because it is a specific amount with a PIN to be scraped off the back.

You can easily look-up most gift card balances online using the serial number (not the scratch off part in most cases). But it really doesn't matter as there are risks to gift cards being mailed unless sent insured (if insurance even covers gift cards - not sure of that as cash is not insurable in most cases).

Additionally, many gift cards can be traded for cash using services like PlasticJungle, making it little value to where the gift card is from as it can be converted to cash.

 

[downontheBW]

My renter just told me the they would like to add the Dining plan so now I'm trying to figure out what to do. Thanks for the idea of the Disney GC. I checked online (http://www.disneygiftcard.com/home/) and they look easy enough to purchase but for fixed dollar amounts. I can have them purchase multiple ones that add up to approximately the exact amount. Or can we just use a generic Visa debit card for the exact amount?

I was thinking that my renter would not have to actually mail me the card. I assume that these are like other debit cards that you can just read the digits off the card to MS and give them the pin number (if there is one) and use it to pay for the dining plan. Does that sound right?

I agree - what a pain!

 

[littletommy]

Yes you would be correct with the PP CC... All of the numbers you need are on the card. DW just told me she thought she saw $100 disney GC cards at Sam's club for $98...might want to let your renter know. If your renter lives near a Disney store they can purchase a GC for whatever amount to cover DDP, unlike buying online with the fixed amounts...hope this helps.

 

[danall]

We never got a letter either...glad I read this here. We are looking at renting our points for the first time as we won't have a chance to use them before they expire.

 

[DebbieB]

My renter just told me the they would like to add the Dining plan so now I'm trying to figure out what to do. Thanks for the idea of the Disney GC. I checked online (http://www.disneygiftcard.com/home/) and they look easy enough to purchase but for fixed dollar amounts. I can have them purchase multiple ones that add up to approximately the exact amount. Or can we just use a generic Visa debit card for the exact amount?

I was thinking that my renter would not have to actually mail me the card. I assume that these are like other debit cards that you can just read the digits off the card to MS and give them the pin number (if there is one) and use it to pay for the dining plan. Does that sound right?

I agree - what a pain!

That's what I was thinking - I don't see the need to mail the card. If they have a scanner, the best thing would be to have them scan the card and then e-mail it to you.

 

[jlewisinsyr]

That's what I was thinking - I don't see the need to mail the card. If they have a scanner, the best thing would be to have them scan the card and then e-mail it to you.

Scanning the card number is a bad idea, as once it leaves your outbox in e-mail it is sent unencrypted across the web, basically it would be like posting a credit card on a message board.

As a side note, I think renters should think hard about using a gift card, even if they are not mailing it. There are limited to no protections from a card being used fraudently by another individual. Although I'm not a big fan of giving someone my credit card number, at least doing that comes with protections if the card is used fraudently.

I still believe with what limited protections are available, using PayPal to send the additional funds or writing a check are the best options. At least both come with recourse and can be tracked back, although again, with limited protections.

 

[joandegennaro]

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.[/QUOTE]

This is what I plan to do! Have my ADR's already...booked them at 180 days out and now plan to call a week ahead of trip to add dinning plan as well as confirm my requests.

 

[Burnt Toast]

DDP was always supposed to be added prior to 48 hours to arrival, but some Resort managers decided for Guest service that they would do it at check-in. However, this was never supposed to happen... and it's gotten out and abused. Adding DDP at check-in requires the current reservation to be cancelled and then rebooked by the Resort, which potentially cause some issues.

With the new reservation/lodging systems being put into place... the rule will finally be enforced and DDP will need to be added to your reservation 48 hours prior to arrival, just like with regular non-DVC reservations.

Also, with the new DVC reservation/lodging systems... you can pay for your DDP in advance (you no longer have to be forced to pay for it at check-in).

 

[jlewisinsyr]

Also, with the new DVC reservation/lodging systems... you can pay for your DDP in advance (you no longer have to be forced to pay for it at check-in).

Correction, it's not that you "can", you "must" pay for DDP in advance at the time it is added to the reservation.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

DDP was always supposed to be added prior to 48 hours to arrival,

What is the reason for this? It shouldn't make any difference - other than the system could not handle it. I remember adding tickets at check-in that would go onto the key card and a dining plan should, in reality, be no different.