DP Question about length of stay....

[mcever4]

Ok, let me see if I can ask this without it being confusing! We are planning a 6 night stay to WDW and I will probably use the DP. We will arrive on a Thursday, but aren't sure if we are flying or driving yet. If we fly, we will arrive earlier than if we drive. If we drive, there is no way we could use any credits on our arrival day and maybe only one credit on our departure day. My question is, if we drive and check into our hotel late Thursday night and check out the following Wednesday, can I ask for the dining plan for only 5 nights instead of the 6 we will actually be there? Of course if we can get FREE dining this won't matter either way. I realize the one extra night of not using all of our credits wouldn't be that big of a deal, but it is still over $100 difference that we can spend else where. I hope this makes sense! Any help or suggestions would be appreciated!

Robin

 

[TDC Nala]

No, you have to get the dining plan for each night you stay. The only way to do what you want to do is to make two separate room reservations.

However, you're not required to use credits the first day, you can use any of your credits anytime. Plan a 2-credit meal, or some extra CS.

 

[mcever4]

Ok, so I can make one reservation for just one night and then another for the other five nights and get the DP for that? That may be a pain, but I can see why this is why I would have to do this. I know I don't have to use my credits the first day, I can use them when and how I want, it would just be a lot of food to cram into when we could actually use them! I hate to waste the food, but there may not be any other way. Of course we could get CS meals as a "snack" several times and share between all of us and use SC for things we can bring home for the kid's friends!We may be able to use all of our credits that way.

 

[havoc315]

We are in the same boat -- late arrival and early departure. But it still seems you could wisely use all your credits without feeling wasteful. Afterall, if you do a signature dinner or a CRT meal, that uses your "extra" TS credit. And you can use the 6th CS credit for a late dinner on the night of your arrival, and early breakfast on the day of your departure, or simply for a 3rd meal during one of your days. (And reports that you can trade a CS for 2-3 snacks).

That said -- If you really have no use for the 6th day of credits... You may find it to be much more cost effective to simply pay OOP for all your meals.

Personally -- as the price of the DDP has gradually gone up, with the inclusions constantly being reduced -- It feels to me like the DDP is now designed as a give-away for half the year, and is really not much of a benefit if you have to pay for it. Doing the math, if you are actually paying for the DDP, I see very minimal savings (or even could be more costly to do the DDP), traded for reduced flexibility. (The DDP has a decent amount of flexibility built-in, but obviously not nearly as flexible as just paying OOP)