DXDDP with new ADR policies

[Disney Crazy Debbie]

Does anyone know how the new ADRs work when you are already paying for a dining plan? I am planning a trip to WDW beginning 7/31/12 thru 8/9/12, staying at POFQ with 4, perhaps 5 adults (one is undecided) and 4 children (10 yo to 2 yo). There is no way I can afford to be paying for the dining plan and add three paid in advance ADRS for CRT, HDDR and SOA. If I did that for 7 or 8 people I'd be paying out over $1,000 just for those reservations! So does anyone know how that works?

 

[TDC Nala]

The dining plan is only an alternate method of paying for your meals. Use of a dining plan (regular or deluxe) doesn't exempt users from the cancellation fees imposed starting October 26. Dining plan users still need to take those fees into account when booking the affected restaurants. (However, it should be pointed out that CRT, HDDR and SOA have been prepaid meals since long before this year; they are not technically part of the "new" policies.)

The way they handle the prepayment is: if you have a dining plan on your reservation, they can book you with only a credit card hold, not full prepayment. You will, however, pay the full amount of the meal (not just a $10 no-show fee) if you don't cancel or show up for the reservation. As for partial parties showing up, we have nothing but conflicting information from Disney so far as to how that will work. Therefore I don't really know the current best way to handle your one adult who is undecided. If you think they will decide longer than 2 days prior to the reservation, you can probably remove them from the reservation by calling WDW-DINE. If you get someone who says they can't remove them, call them back and ask someone else.

If you are trying to book online and have entered your resort reservation number, and the system still wants you to pay in full (don't complete the transaction unless you're absolutely sure you are not being charged anything) then make the reservation by phone.

 

[nkereina]

You don't pay in advance for those shows when you have a dining plan, you just give your credit card number as a hold like you would for any other ADR now (except the ones not requiring a CC hold, of course). At the meal, the TS credits are just deducted like normal. But as PP said, you will be charged the full amount of the meal if you are a no show or fail to cancel by what the policy says.

Just as a side: when you make the ADRs for the shows, keep an eye on your credit card statement. Even though people are logged in under their reservation with dining plans, there have been reports that they get charged the pre-payment amount anyway. They are able to call and have it refunded, but its just some kind of occasional glitch apparently.

 

[bookworm75]

Not to confuse the matter, but I wanted to describe our situation in case others were doing the same. We are renting DVC points, and our DVC member will have to pay Disney for the dining plans. I have our resort reservation numbers, but we have not paid him for the plans yet so there is no plan connected to our reservation. I booked HDDR and they charged my credit card for the full prepay amount. I was told that when we get there and use our DDP credits, they will refund the prepayment. I will be watching our cc statement to make sure that happens. It will be a hassle, but my DH really, really wanted to go to HDDR.

I was not aware that you could connect your dining plan to the room beforehand, so I am making notes for the next trip. I'll be sure we pay him before I make ADRs!