DVC member wondering why everyone must get dining plan?

[karnog]

I am newly with DVC and am going down in June. We will have 8 people and not everyone wants the DDP. I know the rule is everyone in the room must get DDP but my question is why? What is Disney's explantion for this?

 

[Allison]

Straight to the point-Disney doesn't have to have an explanation for it. They have established the parameters of purchasing the dining plan and that is one of the rules. Sorry.

 

[Pikezh638]

$$$$$$$


That is why. But seriously I would imagine it is to prevent people from buying 1 Deluxe plan for 4 people and having all 4 people use it.

 

[mousefan1972]

I am newly with DVC and am going down in June. We will have 8 people and not everyone wants the DDP. I know the rule is everyone in the room must get DDP but my question is why? What is Disney's explantion for this?

Disney does not have to allow DVC members to purchase the DDP at all. (the companies are separate) One of the rules is everyone in the party must purchase the plan, for the duration of the reservation. As PP stated, they don't have to give a reason why. The best solution would be if you don't like the rule, don't purchase the plan.

If you aren't aware, DVC members can now purchase a Tables in Wonderland discount dining card for $100. This may be a better option for you.

 

[Goofy4]

Restaurants can operate at thinner margins provided overall business is up and I imagine it helps that demand for items is more predictable with the dining plan. Many people would cut corners or 'work the system' if they could, which would make the plan less attractive to the independent restaurateurs.

 

[Que_Sarah_Sarah]

Disney does not have to allow DVC members to purchase the DDP at all.

... Yes they do, lol. They always ask when you are making a reservation if you would like to add the DDP. They never have FREE dining, but it is an option for anyone staying on property.

 

[TDC Nala]

That's the rule for every kind of reservation, not just DVC. It is MUCH easier for recordkeeping purposes to have everyone on the reservation on the plan than to have two on the plan, three not on the plan, etc.

If you want, you can add the guests who don't want DDP to the room after you arrive, and they won't have DDP. The biggest problem with doing this is if you need Magical Express transportation from the airport for these guests, in which case they have to be listed on the reservation ahead of time.

When the DDP was new, DVC guests couldn't get it. It's a package add-on and was not even available with DVC reservations. After the DVC members protested, it was fixed so DVC members can purchase the DDP. That's what is meant by "DVC doesn't have to allow members to purchase DDP" although I think that if the removed the ability to do so there would be a huge outcry (from those of us who don't now consider DDP too expensive anyway)

 

[karnog]

Thanks everyone for the feedback on this. I know Disney does not have to explain anything they do and realize it is primarily for $$ but thought they might have offered at some time a more specific reason. My wife and I personally like DDP but a few other people we have sharing our room with us are not as keen on it. We will have to now negotiate with them to come to a compromise of some sort ...less than ideal.

Thanks again!

 

[mousefan1972]

That's the rule for every kind of reservation, not just DVC. It is MUCH easier for recordkeeping purposes to have everyone on the reservation on the plan than to have two on the plan, three not on the plan, etc.

If you want, you can add the guests who don't want DDP to the room after you arrive, and they won't have DDP. The biggest problem with doing this is if you need Magical Express transportation from the airport for these guests, in which case they have to be listed on the reservation ahead of time.

When the DDP was new, DVC guests couldn't get it. It's a package add-on and was not even available with DVC reservations. After the DVC members protested, it was fixed so DVC members can purchase the DDP. That's what is meant by "DVC doesn't have to allow members to purchase DDP" although I think that if the removed the ability to do so there would be a huge outcry (from those of us who don't now consider DDP too expensive anyway)

Thank you for explaining what I was trying to say....

 

[clanmcculloch]

Here are a few reasons why Disney wouldn't want to allow it.

1. Dining plans are good deals financially for kids but frequently not for adults. If Disney allowed parties to book dining plans for only some people on a reservation and not others, people would frequently book for kids and not adults or maybe only for one adult yet for all kids (whatever minimum requirement they came up with if they decided to look into this).
2. If Disney allowed this, parties would book the deluxe dining plan for some people and nothing for others and they'd try to split/share meals with people not on the plan who are in the same room. DxDDP is a better deal financially than basic DDP and is much easier to share. Yes this would be against the rules but it's a rule that I'm sure is easy to get around (no, I have no personal experience with this).
3. The biggest reason; it would complicate their computer system. Disney is notorious for making business decisions based on what their computers are set up to do. This would require a rework of their system and database. That's not going to happen. They're more likely to change policy to match their computers than they are to change computers to match policy that they accidentally messed up with a computer bug.

In short, it ain't gonna happen. It's not worth while for Disney.

 

[ses1230]

We will have to now negotiate with them to come to a compromise of some sort ...less than ideal.

Thanks again!

As a pp stated, DVC members are now allowed to get a TIW card without having an AP. With a large party (up to 10 on one card), that might be a better option for you.

 

[Atchley]

Thanks everyone for the feedback on this. I know Disney does not have to explain anything they do and realize it is primarily for $$ but thought they might have offered at some time a more specific reason. My wife and I personally like DDP but a few other people we have sharing our room with us are not as keen on it. We will have to now negotiate with them to come to a compromise of some sort ...less than ideal.

Thanks again!

Are they your points? If so, compromise would not be an option for me. When DMIL went with us last time, we told her how much her ticket and the DDP was going to be and she paid it. If she didn't want the DDP, she wouldn't be allowed to stay with us. Not being mean. Just stating that she was getting the lodging for free so she shouldn't be upset about having to be on the same ticket.
On the same note, DSIL and DBIL who were going to stay with us decided it was too much and they opted to stay at home. Again, not being mean, but it was DH and I's family vacation. The others chose to join us and we offered up our DVC points. I won't compromise when it is my "money" they are using. (I would have compromised on restaurants and such.)

 

[TDC Nala]

Are they your points? If so, compromise would not be an option for me. When DMIL went with us last time, we told her how much her ticket and the DDP was going to be and she paid it. If she didn't want the DDP, she wouldn't be allowed to stay with us. Not being mean. Just stating that she was getting the lodging for free so she shouldn't be upset about having to be on the same ticket.
On the same note, DSIL and DBIL who were going to stay with us decided it was too much and they opted to stay at home. Again, not being mean, but it was DH and I's family vacation. The others chose to join us and we offered up our DVC points. I won't compromise when it is my "money" they are using. (I would have compromised on restaurants and such.)

That's kind of sort of the way I do it, if you are staying with me on my DVC points you are not getting the dining plan.

I know it must be harder to tell people they have to pay for something they don't want to pay for, but they are your guests and it's the only way you are going to get the plan you want.

But now, you can also look into the Tables In Wonderland option, which may possibly work out better than a dining plan.

 

[patsal]

... Yes they do, lol. They always ask when you are making a reservation if you would like to add the DDP. They never have FREE dining, but it is an option for anyone staying on property.

I believe what the op here meant was that DVC isn't alwasy entitled to what the general public is entitiled to . Originally DVC could not purchase dining plans at all. Later it was introduced as a perk.