DVC and DDP ?

[TeresaNJ]

My DH, son, daughter-in-law, and I are staying in a 2BR VWL this coming October. We are doing the DDP. We have friends who live in the Orlando area, who may come stay with us for a few days during our 9 day trip. Will I be able to get room keys for them for the few days they are staying with us? They won't know until the last minute if they are coming.

 

[disneynutz]

The DDP rules state that the DDP must be purchased for all registered guests.

Bill

 

[TeresaNJ]

The DDP rules state that the DDP must be purchased for all registered guests.

Bill

I realize that, but as happened a few years ago, my nephew, who was a student at the U of Miami, came on the spur of the moment, with a friend, halfway through my trip, and stayed for two days. The front desk issued them guest room keys. I wasn't on the DDP that trip. What happens when friends come, there is enough room for them to stay, and it is unexpected? Has this ever happened to anyone? Can they still get a room key?

 

[dianeschlicht]

I realize that, but as happened a few years ago, my nephew, who was a student at the U of Miami, came on the spur of the moment, with a friend, halfway through my trip, and stayed for two days. The front desk issued them guest room keys. I wasn't on the DDP that trip. What happens when friends come, there is enough room for them to stay, and it is unexpected? Has this ever happened to anyone? Can they still get a room key?

They will give you the room key if you pay for their dining plan. At least that is what used to happen in the past. ALL guests using room keys must have the dining plan in the same room.

 

[TeresaNJ]

They will give you the room key if you pay for their dining plan. At least that is what used to happen in the past. ALL guests using room keys must have the dining plan in the same room.

Thanks. Guess they won't be visiting then.

 

[disneynutz]

Problem is what happens to someone else, may not happen to you.

They will get a key if you are not above the occupancy limits. You may have to pay for their DDP for your entire reservation even though they are only there part time. That's what the rules say.

Another possibility is that you might not have to add them to the DDP at all.

It's up to the CM.

You could also add them, pay for the DDP for them and use their credits for some signature meals for you.

Bill

 

[OneMoreTry]

Don't get the DDP and buy one of those cards for $100 that gives you meal discounts -- I can't remember the name of the card.

 

[myxdvz]

Don't get the DDP and buy one of those cards for $100 that gives you meal discounts -- I can't remember the name of the card.

Tables in Wonderland

 

[Dean]

My DH, son, daughter-in-law, and I are staying in a 2BR VWL this coming October. We are doing the DDP. We have friends who live in the Orlando area, who may come stay with us for a few days during our 9 day trip. Will I be able to get room keys for them for the few days they are staying with us? They won't know until the last minute if they are coming.

This is a case of catch 22 as well as what's supposed to happen vs what does happen. There are 2 rules. You must add the DP 2 days ahead and pay but everyone there during the week is supposed to be on the plan. It's not uncommon that these 2 rules are in conflict for those trying to follow the rules. Also, I've never heard of a DVC front desk charging, or threatening a charge when one is adding a guest during a stay.

Obviously this opens the system up for abuses. My opinion is that it comes down to one's intent. If one purposefully omits guests they know will come then tries to add them later to avoid the DDP, that's not something I'm comfortable with. IF one truly doesn't know and is prepared to pay for the DDP if need be, one can leave it up to the FD. It's actually happened to us twice where my son (lives less than an hour away) came to visit and stayed unexpectedly. Both times we knew he might or might not but did not know for certain until he arrived.

 

[disneynutz]

We had a guest talk the FD into adding the DDP to their reservation when they checked in. The FD canceled the original reservation and made a new one with the DDP. They put our points in holding and never notified us and the guest never said anything either. We found out the next time that I tried to make a reservation.

Bill

 

[TeresaNJ]

This is a case of catch 22 as well as what's supposed to happen vs what does happen. There are 2 rules. You must add the DP 2 days ahead and pay but everyone there during the week is supposed to be on the plan. It's not uncommon that these 2 rules are in conflict for those trying to follow the rules. Also, I've never heard of a DVC front desk charging, or threatening a charge when one is adding a guest during a stay.

Obviously this opens the system up for abuses. My opinion is that it comes down to one's intent. If one purposefully omits guests they know will come then tries to add them later to avoid the DDP, that's not something I'm comfortable with. IF one truly doesn't know and is prepared to pay for the DDP if need be, one can leave it up to the FD. It's actually happened to us twice where my son (lives less than an hour away) came to visit and stayed unexpectedly. Both times we knew he might or might not but did not know for certain until he arrived.

Well, we are going for 9 days, and in fact, me, my DIL & grandson are going for the first two days, and then my son and husband are coming for the last 7days, so we are already going to have extra meals from the DDP. There is no way I'm willing to pay for 9 days worth of a dining plan for our two friends, especially when the most they would be visiting would be for a couple days. I just thought it would be nice for them to have their own room key so they could do a late night with us if there is one, or if we're at the pool and they need to go back to the room for something. I don't want to risk them showing up, and then I need to tell them "sorry, you can't stay unless you pay for 9 days worth of meals". Bummer.

I'd prefer not to do the meal plan, and just do the TIW card, but DIL and son love the meal plan and want to do it.

We had a guest talk the FD into adding the DDP to their reservation when they checked in. The FD canceled the original reservation and made a new one with the DDP. They put our points in holding and never notified us and the guest never said anything either. We found out the next time that I tried to make a reservation.

Bill

Yikes!

 

[Dean]

Well, we are going for 9 days, and in fact, me, my DIL & grandson are going for the first two days, and then my son and husband are coming for the last 7days, so we are already going to have extra meals from the DDP. There is no way I'm willing to pay for 9 days worth of a dining plan for our two friends, especially when the most they would be visiting would be for a couple days. I just thought it would be nice for them to have their own room key so they could do a late night with us if there is one, or if we're at the pool and they need to go back to the room for something. I don't want to risk them showing up, and then I need to tell them "sorry, you can't stay unless you pay for 9 days worth of meals". Bummer.

I'd prefer not to do the meal plan, and just do the TIW card, but DIL and son love the meal plan and want to do it.

This post suggests they might come by for the day, the previous post suggested they might stay a few days with you. You could do a split stay of some sort but you'd have to check out and back in and might have to move villas.

 

[joelp]

We're in the same boat as you - with my DW's cousin coming for one night to watch our DD the next morning while the DW and I run a 5K race ... (which kills me - because my DD is only 9, so we would have saved $$ using the DDP ... oh, well ...)

With four adults staying for 9 days - plus some potential visitors - you will probably save more $$ by buying the Tables in Wonderland card vs the DDP. The card gives you 20% off your TS (and some CS) meals - including drinks, appetizers, etc. And don't forget, some places also offer a DVC discount.

You may want to run a quick Excel spread sheet to see how much you may save using all three options ... (in our case, for the few TS places we will be eating, buying the TIW cards was a wash ...)

Although the DDP has some "convenience" advantages - you will still need to pay for the TS tips with cash/credit card. So if you just leave the $$ you would spend on the DDP in an account for later payment against the credit card, buy the TIW (figure that covers all your TS tips for the trip), and use a credit card to pay - it's just as covenient ...