Disney Dining Headaches

[smkohn]

I haven't taken a trip with the dining plan in over a year, and from what I understand things have changed. I used to be able to just pay for it when I got there and now for some reason I'm forced to add it and pay in full 48 hours in advance. Not a fan of this new development, but whatever, can't change what Disney decides to do.
My trip is in a little over 2 weeks, and I'm going with my boyfriend, best friend, and her boyfriend. Here come the problems. Technically we are staying on my dad's points. I use the points way more often than my father, and he wants to add me on to his membership but apparently that is going to be quite the process. Without being a "technical member" on the membership I have had to have my father call to make our room reservation, magical express reservations, etc. Does anybody know if I also have to have him call to add the dining plan, because that is going to make paying even more of a pain than it is now. Also, can anybody tell me if I have to pay for everybody's dining plan at once? My boyfriend and I live in IL, my friend and her boyfriend live all the way in ID. I was hoping to be able to have myself call for me and my boyfriend, and have them take care of paying on their own, but everything I'm reading hints at not being able to do that.
Can anybody help calm my dining headaches

 

[erionm]

Yes, he would need to call to add the dining plan.

He can add you as an 'Associate Member' at no cost. As an associate, you can call to make/change/cancel reservations. This includes adding/removing the dining plan and setting magical express. As an associate, you are not an owner so you are not eligible for member benefits.

 

[RobDoc]

Your Dad will need to add the Dining Plan to your reservation and it will need to be paid in full at that time for all names on the reservation.

You can have your Dad add you to his membership as an associate member which will allow you to make reservations, bank and borrow points - but you will still not be entitled to any of the member perks unless you are also added to the deed. There is no cost to be added as an Associate Member.

Have a great trip!

 

[Sandisw]

This change went in to effect last October. One thing that you can do is have your friends buy a Disney gift card (if they have a Disney store near them), give you the number, and then when your Dad calls, he can pay for their plan using the card.

You can also give your Dad one that you buy. I have heard two different situations in terms of an owner being able to give MS a credit card of a 3rd party--some have said it wasn't a problem and others said the owner of the card needed to come on the line as MS wouldn't take it without the owner of the card authorizing it.

Good luck!