DVC Experts - Question re DDP

[Wendybird55]

Hello,

I was just reading on the Restaurant Forum how a DIS-er when going via DVC was able to purchase a DDP for her child under 3. Is this possible? If I understand correcetly, if you're staying at a DVC you can order the DDP seperately and it doesn't have to be attached to a park ticket purchase. If this is correct, can I do as this one DIS-er said she did and order the meal plan for 2 adults and 1 child (even though my son will be 2) and it will be fine? I think if you order the DDP thru regualr reservations it's attached to your park tickets - and if you order DDP for a child you have to order park tickets. But as this woman did her child got into the parks free because she was under 3, but since you can purchse DDP on it's own with DVC the child had her own food plan. It just sounds to me like this a loop hole to get around the system and though it would be nice to have a dining plan for him - it's not worth it if it's breaking alot of rules. Has anyone else ever done this with DVC & DDP?

Thanks for your help
Wendybird

 

[goofy4tink]

You can add the DDP to your DVC stay, for the same amount as you would pay at a regular resort...around $38 per adult. But, everyone on the reservation has to have the plan. You can't pick and choose who gets it.
After reading the post you are referring to....I would think that you can buy the plan for your youngster. The DDP isn't tied to your park tickets when staying at DVC. So, you should have no problem telling MS you need your child to have the DDP as well as the rest of you.

 

[KandiB47]

I asked this question and a few people told me they did get the DDP for an under three year old. Some people PM'd me and said they did because it must have been too scandalous to admit in a thread that everyone can read I'm not sure if the thread you read was mine but here it is:

http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1724384

 

[Wendybird55]

Thanks for the thread link Kandi - it does seem like a complicated issue and it shouldn't be. My son is 17 months and eats table food -in fact he prefers to have what Mommy & Daddy are having. If we go witht he DDP it's for convenience in that it will be easier to have everything already paid for and just leave the tip. Kids meals are not expensive and I will have no problem purchasing a meal for my son. I plan on bringing some of his favorite sancks, but do not want a suticase full of food and don't paln of buying groceries.
I'm using my friend's points for this trip - I am not a DVC member. Though I think I can get the DDP for my son, it might be better if I don't since my friend is the one who will have to call to add it and I don't want to cause her any hassles....I never even thought of adding him until I saw the post (and yours wasn't the one I saw).

Thanks for the answers - I know this is a "sticky" question and, as I said, it was more for convenience than money.
Wendybird

 

[Chuck S]

Thanks for the thread link Kandi - it does seem like a complicated issue and it shouldn't be. My son is 17 months and eats table food -in fact he prefers to have what Mommy & Daddy are having. If we go witht he DDP it's for convenience in that it will be easier to have everything already paid for and just leave the tip. Kids meals are not expensive and I will have no problem purchasing a meal for my son. I plan on bringing some of his favorite sancks, but do not want a suticase full of food and don't paln of buying groceries.
I'm using my friend's points for this trip - I am not a DVC member. Though I think I can get the DDP for my son, it might be better if I don't since my friend is the one who will have to call to add it and I don't want to cause her any hassles....I never even thought of adding him until I saw the post (and yours wasn't the one I saw).

Thanks for the answers - I know this is a "sticky" question and, as I said, it was more for convenience than money.
Wendybird

I don't think it would be a hassle for your friend to simply ask about adding the DDP for your under 2 yo child when she calls to add your DDP, if you think it would be an advantage to you. The credits are separated in the standard DDP for children and adults, so it's not like you could use the less expensive child credits for adult meals. She can explain the situation, that your child eats table food, and you'd like him on the DDP, if possible. All they can say is "OK, well add him." or "Sorry, it's against the rules."

 

[BirdsOfPreyDave]

For DVC members, the dining plan can only be added for stays booked through member services.

However, another new policy change is that Annual Pass holders can add the DDP to their room-only reservations at any Disney resort. If your friend has an annual pass, she would be able to book the room and add the DDP for everyone she wants. Then, purchase park tickets separately. This only works, though, if she travels to WDW enough to warrant at least one person in the group having an annual pass.

 

[Chuck S]

For DVC members, the dining plan can only be added for stays when you're using your points.

This is only true for non-DVC WDW resorts, and since Member Services can not book cash reservatons at non-DVC resorts, it is kind of moot. If you are staying at a DVC resort on member cash, booked through Member Services, you can add the DDP.

 

[BirdsOfPreyDave]

This is only true for non-DVC WDW resorts, and since Member Services can not book cash reservatons at non-DVC resorts, it is kind of moot. If you are staying at a DVC resort on member cash, booked through Member Services, you can add the DDP.

Oops, you're right. I forgot all about cash reservations through MS.

 

[Wendybird55]

Thanks for all info. My friend has points she can't use this year and I paid her to use them since I was going to try and rent points anyway. She made my reservation already and sent me the confirmation #. I just need to send her my flight info for Disney Express and let her know weather or not I want DDP. I want to give her all the info together so she doesn't have to keep calling. I'm going 1st week of Sept. - the Sept. schedule should be out this weekend and I can make my ADRS March 4th. Once I do that I can figure out about the DDP. If I want to add my son, I will ask my friend to request it. As Chuck said - the worst they can say is "No".

Just a quick question - will the DDP be on our room key card? I usually got the whole package thru Disney - hotel, park admission & DDP and everything was on one card. This time I am purchasing my Park Hopper ticket seperately so I'm assuming the DDP will be on our room cards. I'm also planning on bringing a copy of my son's Brith Certificate "just in case"

Thanks again for all your help
Wendybird

 

[1313WEBFOOTWALK]

I'm renting points from my SIL in October and would like to know the answer to this as well.

Will our DDP be on our card and when and how do we purchase it? I just bought advance tix from undercovertourist. They are a card as well. Will those be put on our room key too?

 

[Wendybird55]

hi Webfoot,

From what I understand your park tickets are seperate and act on their own since you bought them from different place. You will use them to get in the parks.

As far as DDP - what I do know is that you can add DDP to your DVC reservations anytime within a few weeks or so before you arrive. You just need to ask your SIL to call and let them know you want DDP. Everyone in your party has to get it. You pay for DDP when you arrive. It's 37.99 per adult per night of stay ($9.99 for kids 3-9). So if your'e staying 5 nights / 6 days the DDP will cost each adult
$189.95 (37.99 x 5). They also have a deluxe plan for $64.99 per night (I think that's too much food).

I am assuming you get a card for room entrance and room charges and your DDP will be put on that - I'm not sure about this however - I'm assuming based on my experience with regular Disney resorts - it may be different with DVC and that's what I'd like to know as well.

How was undercovertourist.com for ordering tickets? I was thinking of going to mapleleaf.com - a site recommend by a guide I have

 

[Chuck S]

You DDP will be encoded onto your room key. If you have purchased tickets, even from an offsite reseller, like UndercoverTourist, they can also be put on your room key. Simply present the tickets and your room key to the conceirge desk near your resorts check-in lobby.

Only unused tickets can be put on the room keys, if you have tickets from a prior visit with some days used, they can not be put on the room key.

 

[Wendybird55]

Thanks so much Chuck! You are a wonderful wealth of information.

 

[1313WEBFOOTWALK]

How was undercovertourist.com for ordering tickets? I was thinking of going to mapleleaf.com - a site recommend by a guide I have

So far I really like them. We just got our tickets yesterday. They are refundable if you don't get to go on your trip, as long as they are still in the plastic wrapper. They were slightly cheaper than mapleleaf for us. It was 1009.00 for four 7 day park hoppers...two adults, two children. That was a little less than I budgeted so I'm happy.

Here's another DDP question. We are going to make a reservation at California Grill, which I understand is a signature dining experience. How does that work for kids? It's still just one credit for them, right? If not, I'm sure they can share. Just checking.

 

[Chuck S]

Here's another DDP question. We are going to make a reservation at California Grill, which I understand is a signature dining experience. How does that work for kids? It's still just one credit for them, right? If not, I'm sure they can share. Just checking.

I haven't used the DDP. but I think signature locations are two points, even for kids, and they are clamping down on sharing. You'll likely get a more definitive answer to that question on the DDP Sub-board of the Disney Restaurant board.