DVC Dining Plan

[Joanne Albanese]

I have forgotten how useful this site is and will remember to visit more often. I have a question regarding the post about tax and tip. We are going in June and this will be my first time using the dining plan since they removed the appetizers; I was informed that the dining plan does not include tax and that for parties of 6 or more an 18% gratuity is automatically added; also not included. Will someone please clarify for me.

 

[Joanne Albanese]

After I posted my reply(question) regarding tax and gratuity, I continued reading some more. There seems to be some confusion. You are NOT charged any tax or hidden fee when you pay for the plan at check in. When you actually go to pay the bill at the restaurant; there will be tax which you are responsible to pay out of pocket and(in some cases automatically added)a gratuity(tip for server)... I have also seen the mention of appetizers...DDP no longer includes an appetizer with table service or sit down meals...dessert is still included. I am also reading some posts that refer to the DVC dining plan as if its something different...what's that about???

 

[Joanne Albanese]

Thanks Chuck. great, easy to understand info!

 

[cn123]

I had the ddp last year and I remember paying gratuity but I dont remember paying any tax

 

[icydog]

After I posted my reply(question) regarding tax and gratuity, I continued reading some more. There seems to be some confusion. You are NOT charged any tax or hidden fee when you pay for the plan at check in. When you actually go to pay the bill at the restaurant; there will be tax which you are responsible to pay out of pocket and(in some cases automatically added)a gratuity(tip for server)... I have also seen the mention of appetizers...DDP no longer includes an appetizer with table service or sit down meals...dessert is still included. I am also reading some posts that refer to the DVC dining plan as if its something different...what's that about???

You are not charged for taxes. Your bill will show zeros for everything you ordered. You will be given a charge slip for the gratuity that will be on a separate piece of paper. You'll have to sign the zeroed out check receipt and the gratuity receipt before you can leave the restaurant.

Also if you use the Disney Dining Experience Card DDE you will save 20% on anything not covered by the Disney Dining plan DDP but then they will charge you 18% for a gratuity.

If you eat a table service meal but you order appetizers and drinks (not included in the basic plan) you can use the Disney Dining Experience card for those items and the gratuities will be included. It gets confusing especially for the servers. You leave a gratuity on the zeroed out bill. And you don't leave a gratuity on the cash bill. Crazy if you ask me. We stopped ordering drinks and extras for this reason alone.

 

[Donna]

After I posted my reply(question) regarding tax and gratuity, I continued reading some more. There seems to be some confusion. You are NOT charged any tax or hidden fee when you pay for the plan at check in. When you actually go to pay the bill at the restaurant; there will be tax which you are responsible to pay out of pocket and(in some cases automatically added)a gratuity(tip for server)... I have also seen the mention of appetizers...DDP no longer includes an appetizer with table service or sit down meals...dessert is still included. I am also reading some posts that refer to the DVC dining plan as if its something different...what's that about???

is paying the tax at the table something new for 2009? I have used the original dining plan and the revised plan that changed last year; have never paid a tax at the table last year. the only out of pocket we had to pay was the gratuity which is automatic on the plan unless you get a manager to remove it for whatever reason.
if this is a change in 2009, i apologize for the confusion, but tax has never been excluded and paid at the table. if this happened to anyone, you were charged in error.

 

[icydog]

is paying the tax at the table something new for 2009? I have used the original dining plan and the revised plan that changed last year; have never paid a tax at the table last year. the only out of pocket we had to pay was the gratuity which is automatic on the plan unless you get a manager to remove it for whatever reason.
if this is a change in 2009, i apologize for the confusion, but tax has never been excluded and paid at the table. if this happened to anyone, you were charged in error.

Tax is included. It's that simple. Gratuity is not included. Also simple. Last year both were included. It is not simple to figure out how they are going to implement the plan each year. And if you add the Dining Experience Card it becomes a nightmare.

 

[Donna]

Tax is included. It's that simple. Gratuity is not included. Also simple. Last year both were included. It is not simple to figure out how they are going to implement the plan each year. And if you add the Dining Experience Card it becomes a nightmare.

thank you. i don't know where some of the info. given on here comes from. i was beginning to think *I* was losing it!

 

[bumbershoot]

thank you. i don't know where some of the info. given on here comes from. i was beginning to think *I* was losing it!

(wandering around the forums tonight...)

I think that the biggest problem is the word "included". To some, "included" means that the tax is "inside" the cost, that you don't see it. That's the correct way of looking at it, as everything I've read, including the math done to see if the DDP is or isn't right for you (for my family it is NOT right at all, financially), states clearly that there is no tax charged (in any obvious manner) on the food you order with the DDP. You've paid the per person per night charge, you order, and you pay nothing but gratuity (and anything outside of the plan) out of pocket. But to others, "included" seems to mean that it's added on.

It's a weird little floop I've seen with people trying to figure out what is "included", where misunderstandings occur b/c it sounds different to some. And I certainly do understand...took an xray class and argued for 30 minutes with the prof about exactly what he meant by "embedded in" and how that looked...every other person in the class got it but me, my brain just wasn't working in the same way that he was teaching! So I understand it totally.



Joanne Albanese, have you noticed that the thread started in 2006? Therefore, it's going to have some old info, depending on how far back you go. (and on the Deluxe plan appetizer IS included)

 

[Donna]

(wandering around the forums tonight...)

I think that the biggest problem is the word "included". To some, "included" means that the tax is "inside" the cost, that you don't see it. That's the correct way of looking at it, as everything I've read, including the math done to see if the DDP is or isn't right for you (for my family it is NOT right at all, financially), states clearly that there is no tax charged (in any obvious manner) on the food you order with the DDP. You've paid the per person per night charge, you order, and you pay nothing but gratuity (and anything outside of the plan) out of pocket. But to others, "included" seems to mean that it's added on.

It's a weird little floop I've seen with people trying to figure out what is "included", where misunderstandings occur b/c it sounds different to some. And I certainly do understand...took an xray class and argued for 30 minutes with the prof about exactly what he meant by "embedded in" and how that looked...every other person in the class got it but me, my brain just wasn't working in the same way that he was teaching! So I understand it totally.



Joanne Albanese, have you noticed that the thread started in 2006? Therefore, it's going to have some old info, depending on how far back you go. (and on the Deluxe plan appetizer IS included)

excellent point!

 

[44disney]

I may rent points to stay at the BCV and may decided to add the dining plan. My understanding is that I pay the same price as any other Disney guest, but as I was looking through this thread I saw a $95 fee mentioned.

What is that for? I tried to find the answer but this thread is soooo long and I need to go to sleep!

Also, what is the MS phone #?

Thanks a lot!!!

 

[disneynutz]

I may rent points to stay at the BCV and may decided to add the dining plan. My understanding is that I pay the same price as any other Disney guest, but as I was looking through this thread I saw a $95 fee mentioned.

What is that for? I tried to find the answer but this thread is soooo long and I need to go to sleep!

Also, what is the MS phone #?

Thanks a lot!!!

The $95 fee is imposed by MS when a DVC member stays at a non DVC resort. It's a money maker for Disney that is intended to keep members within the DVC system.

The MS phone number is blocked here on the boards and is only available for DVC members to use. Are you a member, MS won't talk to non members?

 

[44disney]

Thanks for the fee info. I am not a member -- in looking at the dining thread I thought that I would have to call the MS # in order to add the dining plan if I did end up renting points for a BCV stay. Perhaps there is another way to do this?

 

[Donna]

Thanks for the fee info. I am not a member -- in looking at the dining thread I thought that I would have to call the MS # in order to add the dining plan if I did end up renting points for a BCV stay. Perhaps there is another way to do this?

the member you rent from will have to call for you. its an 800 no. so it's no big deal for them to do that. try to have any requests you would want ready so it can all be done in the same phone call. you don't have to worry about any fee for any of this!

 

[disneynutz]

Thanks for the fee info. I am not a member -- in looking at the dining thread I thought that I would have to call the MS # in order to add the dining plan if I did end up renting points for a BCV stay. Perhaps there is another way to do this?

DDP is added to your reservation by the member that you are renting from. It must be added a couple of days prior to your arrival. You pay for it at check in.

 

[christa112]

Brand new to the DVC, but I have used the DDP several times. I have a couple of questions.

1. Like the regular DDP do you need to purchase park tickets through Disney?

2. Do all guests have to have the DDP? (Just thinking about my son (10) who definately does not eat adult portions, if I could pay OOP for him, it would be cheaper in the long run)

3. DDP is paid at check-in?

TIA

Christa

 

[Monorail Purple&Gold]

brand new to the dvc, but i have used the ddp several times. I have a couple of questions.

1. Like the regular ddp do you need to purchase park tickets through disney?

if you already have tickets, you can add ddp through ms 48 hours prior to check-in. No tickets involved unless you intend to purchase them when you check-in.

2. Do all guests have to have the ddp? (just thinking about my son (10) who definately does not eat adult portions, if i could pay oop for him, it would be cheaper in the long run)

i'm not 100% sure, but i think the answer here is: All guests registered in the room have to be on ddp if it is added.

3. Ddp is paid at check-in?

yes.

tia

christa

--m p&g

 

[disneynutz]

Brand new to the DVC, but I have used the DDP several times. I have a couple of questions.

1. Like the regular DDP do you need to purchase park tickets through Disney?

2. Do all guests have to have the DDP? (Just thinking about my son (10) who definately does not eat adult portions, if I could pay OOP for him, it would be cheaper in the long run)

3. DDP is paid at check-in?

TIA

Christa

1. No
2. Yes
3. Yes

 

[Donna]

Brand new to the DVC, but I have used the DDP several times. I have a couple of questions.

1. Like the regular DDP do you need to purchase park tickets through Disney?

2. Do all guests have to have the DDP? (Just thinking about my son (10) who definately does not eat adult portions, if I could pay OOP for him, it would be cheaper in the long run)

3. DDP is paid at check-in?

TIA

Christa

1) unless this has changed recently, no, you don't need to purchase any tickets.

2) yes, all guests must purchase. You can pay OOP for your son, but you have to get him the dining plan and you can use his credits out of your pool of credits.

3) Yes, it is paid at check in and you have to add the plan prior to arriving. not sure if there is a number of days you have to add it by. I want to say 10 days prior, but I'm not sure about that.

Welcome Home!

 

[dgaston]

Brand new to the DVC, but I have used the DDP several times. I have a couple of questions.

1. Like the regular DDP do you need to purchase park tickets through Disney?

2. Do all guests have to have the DDP? (Just thinking about my son (10) who definately does not eat adult portions, if I could pay OOP for him, it would be cheaper in the long run)

3. DDP is paid at check-in?

TIA

Christa

It is independent of tickets. You can use an AP, tickets purchased from a vendor like UndercoverTourist, or Disney if you choose restaurants inside parks.

Everyone on the DVC reservation has to have the dining plan. Sorry, but maybe you could save some TS service crdits to dine at a Signature restaurant, and buy food OOP for your son.

You pay for DDP at check-in.