DVC DDP Dilemma - Segmenting?

[scottashackleton]

My fiancee and I are trying to determine the best way to deal with the following situation. We have come up with a couple of scenarios, but we figured we would open the floor for discussion in case we have overlooked any good options.

We will be on our honeymoon from 9/29-10/12 for a total of 14 days, 13 nights. Our first 8 nights will be spent at the Boardwalk Villas using rented points. Our next 5 nights we are moving to BLT using our own points.

Ideally, we were planning on doing maybe 6 or 7 nights worth of dining plan in order to hit some of the pricier TS locations and then paying for the rest of our 2 weeks OOP. This is where we run into a bit of an issue. We wanted to be able to spread out our 6/7 days worth of meals over the 2 weeks and not have to shove them all into the first or second half. If we wanted meals right when we arrived, we would need the individual who we rented points from to add that meal plan for us, thus inducing another money transfer. Also, those meals would expire at the end of our BWV stay, on 10/7. Conversely, if we booked the DP on our own reservation, they wouldn't be available until we checked into BLT on 10/8 and we are now shoving all those meals into the second half of our vacation.

The only real way of being able to spread out those meals over the 2 weeks that we have come up with is to purchase a 3 or 4 night DP on our rented reservation and then another 3 nights or so on our own reservation. This way, we can spread out the meals and just make sure we don't have any credits left over at the end of each period.

Someone on the dining boards mentioned that they used to do this for DVC (segmenting?) and that they have since done away with it. Is this true? Anybody else have any other suggestions?

 

[AirGoofy]

My fiancee and I are trying to determine the best way to deal with the following situation. We have come up with a couple of scenarios, but we figured we would open the floor for discussion in case we have overlooked any good options.

We will be on our honeymoon from 9/29-10/12 for a total of 14 days, 13 nights. Our first 8 nights will be spent at the Boardwalk Villas using rented points. Our next 5 nights we are moving to BLT using our own points.

Ideally, we were planning on doing maybe 6 or 7 nights worth of dining plan in order to hit some of the pricier TS locations and then paying for the rest of our 2 weeks OOP. This is where we run into a bit of an issue. We wanted to be able to spread out our 6/7 days worth of meals over the 2 weeks and not have to shove them all into the first or second half. If we wanted meals right when we arrived, we would need the individual who we rented points from to add that meal plan for us, thus inducing another money transfer. Also, those meals would expire at the end of our BWV stay, on 10/7. Conversely, if we booked the DP on our own reservation, they wouldn't be available until we checked into BLT on 10/8 and we are now shoving all those meals into the second half of our vacation.

The only real way of being able to spread out those meals over the 2 weeks that we have come up with is to purchase a 3 or 4 night DP on our rented reservation and then another 3 nights or so on our own reservation. This way, we can spread out the meals and just make sure we don't have any credits left over at the end of each period.

Someone on the dining boards mentioned that they used to do this for DVC (segmenting?) and that they have since done away with it. Is this true? Anybody else have any other suggestions?

Have you thought about TiW card? With that many days at the different restaurants, I would think you would easily surpass that $500 break even point. Then, you wouldn't have to worry about credits or segmenting anything.

 

[scottashackleton]

Have you thought about TiW card? With that many days at the different restaurants, I would think you would easily surpass that $500 break even point. Then, you wouldn't have to worry about credits or segmenting anything.

We already own TIW and usually use it. We have only done the DP once (free dining) and we have certainly already spent the $375 (bought at $75) to cover the cost of it. We are starting to toy with the idea of doing a dining plan due to the length of the trip and pricier dinners we're looking at. If we are locked into all or nothing on the DP, then we will most likely pass it up. Would be nice if they still offered the option to pick and choose though.

 

[RobDoc]

That type of segmenting has not been allowed for some time and would have been difficult with a rental even at that time.

Your options at this time are to purchase the dining plan for either (or both) the BWV reservation or the BLT reservation. In order to segment either reservation at this time you would need to have reservations for different villa types or views where you would need to change villas. That would be difficult with the rental but could still be done with your own BLT reservation based on availability.

You still have time to add the dining plan to either or both existing reservations but segmenting may be a real challenge to accomplish.

Good luck!

 

[lilpooh108]

They stopped segmenting last year.

 

[DebbieB]

The regular dining plan is $56 per person per night, deluxe is $100 per person per night. I would look at the menus and see if you would eat that much, then consider the 20% off with TIW. Also keep in mind the signatures require 2 credits.

 

[scottashackleton]

The regular dining plan is $56 per person per night, deluxe is $100 per person per night. I would look at the menus and see if you would eat that much, then consider the 20% off with TIW. Also keep in mind the signatures require 2 credits.

Yes, thank you I am familiar with how it works. It sounds like it won't be fiscally sensible to purchase the DP for either of our reservation durations. Between TIW and not feeling the need to eat everything that's offered, we will end up saving a significant amount.

 

[kristenrice]

If your heart is set on a dining plan, what about adding the regular plan to one of your reservations, using the credits for the pricier meals, and then using your TIW card for the other TS meals on your other reservation? This might work in your favor.

 

[disneynutz]

You really need to look at the menu prices and compare the TIW, DDP and DxDDP for either reservation.

Until the continued price increases, the DDP had a little value left, now not so much.

Bill

 

[Minniesgal]

We have done the analysis several times and we really don't see any value whatsoever in the dining plan. my advice would be to go for TIW.

 

[lodge]

We tucked a 3night platinum plan into a trip once, did everything high end on those 4 days- your last day is still cinsidered oart of the plan. We scuba dived at epcot, ate at v&a's, watched fireworks from a cruise(jyst the two of us, very cool). See if you can make the prices and included activities fit for you with this option. It'd cut back on point usage too, as stay in delux is part of it.

 

[permavac]

You really need to look at the menu prices and compare the TIW, DDP and DxDDP for either reservation.

Until the continued price increases, the DDP had a little value left, now not so much.

Bill

So true! The old price only gave value for 3 restaurants for us and the rest were actual money losers. With the increase in price to the DDP, we lose on all. I'm actually happy about it - no more temptation to get the dining plan

Terri

 

[bumbershoot]

They stopped segmenting last year.

And as far as I recall they'd only started it MAYBE the year before. It was a short-lived thing they allowed.

We tucked a 3night platinum plan into a trip once, did everything high end on those 4 days- your last day is still cinsidered oart of the plan. We scuba dived at epcot, ate at v&a's, watched fireworks from a cruise(jyst the two of us, very cool). See if you can make the prices and included activities fit for you with this option. It'd cut back on point usage too, as stay in delux is part of it.

It would cut down on points useage, but it's not like that's a cheap option! And don't you have to include tickets in the package as well?