Does anyone know if I can qualify for Free DDP if I rented points through DVC?

[alidelargy]

Help! I am trying to see if I can qualify for the Free DDP. Our dates of travel is Sept 16-26th and I already have our tickets and room reservations.

I read here on the DISboards this morning that if I purchase a 1 day base ticket for each person staying in our room (beach club villa) I can qualify for the DDP.

So I frantically called Disney and explained this to them and they tell me yes, I qualify! Next she asks if I made the reservation through Disney or through a travel agent.....I tell her neither, that I made the reservation through a DVC member and that's when she told me that she was sorry but I couldn't qualify for the plan because the DVC is on a different system.

So here's my question: Can DVC members receive the free dining? Member services is closed today. I know this because I tried calling even though I'm not a member and I know that they shun non-members but I did it anyway because I was frantic and excited Any help is much appreciated!!!

 

[zoomsharedisney]

As a DVC member I can tell you that the answer to your question is NO. You are not eligible for the free dining but you can purchase the DDP. ONLY the owner of DVC should call member services. Most of the time MS will not speak or answer questions about your reservations unless you are the owner. My suggestion is that you contact the person you rented points off of to clarify your questions regarding the DDP.

 

[LakeAriel]

As a DVC member I can tell you that the answer to your question is NO. You are not eligible for the free dining but you can purchase the DDP. ONLY the owner of DVC should call member services. Most of the time MS will not speak or answer questions about your reservations unless you are the owner. My suggestion is that you contact the person you rented points off of to clarify your questions regarding the DDP.

This is correct. The member can purchase the meal plan in your name, still a great deal!

 

[TDC Nala]

A DVC points reservation does not qualify for the free DDP offer. That is included only with a room/tickets package, and the room will be at rack rate, no discounts.

However, with the cash you are saving by renting DVC points, you may be able to afford to purchase the dining plan, which you may do through DVC. They require that everyone in the room purchase the plan, and they don't require you to purchase tickets. Renters should work with the member they rented from to get it added. You can't add the dining plan at checkin.

They don't "shun" non-members. They're present to assist members and you must be a member to obtain the assistance.

 

[zoomsharedisney]

Very true...I forgot that you can NOT add on the DDP at check-in. It must be added on ahead of time. Keep in mind that 'you' cannot add it - it must be added by the owner of the points. You cannot call MS because all they will tell you is that the owner must call. However I do believe that you can pay for the DDP at the resort when you check in. I rented my points before and added the DDP for my rentees and they paid for it when they checked in at OKW. It was a piece of cake (for me and them)! And it must be added for the entire length of your stay. It is a great deal (just way too much food for me and my DH) and with the money you are saving you could probably afford to add it on. But if you aren't big (and I do mean BIG eaters) then I would probably opt to NOT add the DDP and eat what ever you want. Good luck and have a great vacation!!

 

[alidelargy]

thanks to all for the help and advice. Does anyone have any idea about how much the meal plan costs? We plan to eat breakfast in our room on most days. But have dinner and lunch reservations almost everyday of our 11 day trip. Is it worth it?
Two of the days of our trip we will not be in the parks. However we have ressies planned for Chef Mickey's and The Crystal Palace (both worth 2 table credits, right?) . If so wouldn't that make up for us not using our credits on the two days that we won't be in Disney?

 

[TDC Nala]

thanks to all for the help and advice. Does anyone have any idea about how much the meal plan costs? We plan to eat breakfast in our room on most days. But have dinner and lunch reservations almost everyday of our 11 day trip. Is it worth it?
Two of the days of our trip we will not be in the parks. However we have ressies planned for Chef Mickey's and The Crystal Palace (both worth 2 table credits, right?) . If so wouldn't that make up for us not using our credits on the two days that we won't be in Disney?

Meal plan costs $38.99 per day (they figure by night of your stay, so if you are staying 4 nights you will pay $155.96 for each person on the "adult" plan) for everyone over the age of 9. Kids 3 to 9 are $10.99 per day; they are required to order from the children's menu at CS and TS if there is a children's menu offered. That does not apply to buffets and preplated all-you-can-eat meals. For the remainder of 2007 this plan includes tax plus an 18% added gratuity. For more info see the sticky at the top of the dining plan thread.

Chef Mickey's and Crystal Palace are both 1 credit table service meals. The only character meal that charges 2 credits is Cinderella's Royal Table.

If you will not be at Disney to eat for some of your trip, it may not be worth it for you to pay for the dining plan and you are, as has been mentioned, not eligible to get it for free. Check the dining plan thread and do some figuring to decide if it's right for your party. If you are reserved for table service for both lunches and dinners, you'd have trouble using up all your counter service credits.

It is correct that DVC reservations cannot ADD the dining plan at checkin...however, it must be paid for in full at checkin. It can't be paid ahead of time.

 

[TenThousandVolts]

Does anyone have any idea about how much the meal plan costs?

Roughly: $40 per person, per night age 10+, $12 per person, per night age 3-9

 

[alidelargy]

Good stuff! Very interesting. I think for $40 a day that sounds like a pretty good deal. We have a 4 yr old and a 5 yr old and @ $11or $12 a day I'd say that is pretty cheap for the kids!

I will definately have to check out the Disney Dining threads to find out more on how this plan works and if it will work out for our family. Again many thanks to all that have helped!

 

[kda]

The DDP provides for one table service meal a day (your choice of bkfst, lunch, dinner -- includes appetizer, entree, desert + non-alchoholic beverage and tip), one counter service meal a day (again, you choose when to eat it and it includes desert + non-alcoholic beverage), and one snack a day (can also be used to purchase food in resort stores, up to $4). You can choose when and where to use your credits ---- could do a table service bkfst, table service lunch, and table service dinner all in the same day and use up 3 of your total table service meals you've been allocated.

If you're talking about making priority seatings for lunch and dinner, I'm not sure when you'd ever use your counter service credits and you'd be paying for one of those sit-down meals each day. Or re-think your meal choices.

You can use your snack credits to purchase donuts, English muffins, etc for breakfast in the room or some breakfast items in the various "bakeries" in WDW. Or use some counter service credits to get a bigger breakfast at the resort or park.

DDP is a lot of food and can be a good value and relieve any concern about paying for meals because you already know exactly what you're spending for most of your food, but it's not for everyone. DH and routinely eat a table service lunch and dinner, and they're rarely a 3 course meal. But we do like to sit and relax and have food freshly prepared for us.

Good luck making your decision. Doesn't sound like it will work, if you aren't planning on counter service meals. But, if you've checked out the menus and expect to spend $39/night for each adult dinner, including tip, you've gotten exactly what you pay for, PLUS you get to have snack credits and counter service credits that you could use for breakfast and some lunches. You still have to pay for some table service lunches, but it's your choice.

PS. Many of the restaurants are getting booked up during free dining, so it's great that you already have your priority seatings.