Has anyone done this?

[Eeyore1928]

I saw on a post someone suggested getting the Deluxe Dining Plan every other night of your stay ......we are staying 8 nights over Christmas and I like this idea....it would really make for a great trip.....but it seems like a reservation nightmare....has anyone actually done it?

 

[LIFERBABE]

As long as checking in is required every day and keeping up with multiple keys (the expiring key and the new key for the day) I would not be interested in this at all.

Not to mention dealing with the housekeeping schedule.

Between check in and ADR's Im afraid that would be the focus of the vacation.

 

[TickleMeTink]

I can't imagine doing that which would also means checking out and checking in every other day, wouldn't it? I have only been a DVC member since 2009 but what we have done in the past is to do the deluxe dining plan for half the trip and the regular dining plan for the other half but we were either switching rooms or resort anyways.

 

[bastraker]

I talked to MS this morning about my February trip and I asked about this same issue. I want to split up my dining plan. My reservation is already segmented since I booked it that way a couple months ago.

I asked MS if I would have to check out and check back in at the end of the segmented dining plans and she told me no. She said that I would have the same KTTW card for the entire stay and that was what the new upgrade system was for. For some reason, I don't believe her. I know that's how it's suppose to work, but I have yet to see anything work smoothly when it comes to Disney and computers.

I will have to see when we go. The problem is, I don't want the inconvenience of checking in and out, having to go over to the Contemporary to do this. If it works the way it's suppose to, I will love it. But if it isn't user friendly, I will just do the same dining plan the whole time. I will see in 3 weeks.

 

[Eeyore1928]

Please let me know...I am very interested in this. How segmented did you book it?

 

[bastraker]

2 nights/1night/1night. Then we move to Beach Club for 4 nights. I will post back something after we return to see how it all works out.

 

[LIFERBABE]

2 nights/1night/1night. Then we move to Beach Club for 4 nights. I will post back something after we return to see how it all works out.

I can tell you this is definitely not how it was working last month (Dec)

I stayed at BLT, 3 nights, my middle night had DDP. I checked in without DDP, had to check in the next day (after being told by housekeeping I was supposed to be out by 11am) to get my key with the DDP on it, and the last night I had to check in again because I did not have the DDP.

Every morning, housekeeping expected me out since that is what was reflected on their chart.

I sure hope they work it out, but my trip was short and solo and it got on my nerves.

 

[bastraker]

As the PP posted, this is what I'm afraid of. As of the new year, it's suppose to work better. We will see.

 

[n2mm]

I check in on Sunday. I have delux ddp for the first night and no dining for the next 12 nights. I got my confirmation and both parts are listed on the 1 confirmation sheet. Both parts have the same confirmation number. The first segment says 1 night with delux ddp. The second section says room only 12 nights. So I'm wondering if I will have to recheck in on day 2. I guess I'll find out in about 5 days. I'll post back. Mine is very simple because I didn't really want to get complicated. I'm not a big fan of the ddp, but this way, I get 3 TS meals to split between 2 days and get a mug for each of us and 2 snacks. I'll then have a mug to use for the next 13 days. Plus we have a TiW card too and do eat off property (Margarittaville, carry-out from Publix and Target).

 

[bastraker]

I check in on Sunday. I have delux ddp for the first night and no dining for the next 12 nights. I got my confirmation and both parts are listed on the 1 confirmation sheet. Both parts have the same confirmation number. The first segment says 1 night with delux ddp. The second section says room only 12 nights. So I'm wondering if I will have to recheck in on day 2. I guess I'll find out in about 5 days. I'll post back. Mine is very simple because I didn't really want to get complicated. I'm not a big fan of the ddp, but this way, I get 3 TS meals to split between 2 days and get a mug for each of us and 2 snacks. I'll then have a mug to use for the next 13 days. Plus we have a TiW card too and do eat off property (Margarittaville, carry-out from Publix and Target).

If you can, please post how it goes. I spoke to MS yesterday and today. Both times I asked about having to check in and out. Both people told me no. They said the system is all set up and working correctly and you will get one KTTW card when you check in. They say that card will work for your entire stay, regardless of dining plan changes.

 

[csmommy]

If you can, please post how it goes. I spoke to MS yesterday and today. Both times I asked about having to check in and out. Both people told me no. They said the system is all set up and working correctly and you will get one KTTW card when you check in. They say that card will work for your entire stay, regardless of dining plan changes.

Interesting...........I asked today & was told I did not need to check in & out with each change BUT needed to get new KTTW cards each time the meal plan changes.

 

[n2mm]

I'll post back. I'll have my netbook with me. I'm hoping it goes smoothly.

 

[bangzoom6877]

I wonder how the system will be by the time we book our July 2012 trip. We book 11 months in advance, so I will be calling MS to book in August.

I was looking at some numbers, and we spent $1686 on food (including tax, not including alcohol or tip) this past July, when adding up the cost of an upgrade to an AP (for me only), plus the cost of the TIW card, plus the cost of food plus tax. We would have spent around $1860 on the deluxe dining plan (2 adults and 2 children, 10-night stay). However, in 2011 dining plan prices, if we were to get the basic DDP the first night, the deluxe plan the following 3 nights, 1 night with no dining plan, then 4 nights on deluxe, we would pay $1501 for the 4 of us. It seems this would also fit into our plans, plus, provided they still include it for 2012, we would also get the refillable mug. Just an added bonus, not a necessity since we never got it before. I know the 2012 dining plan prices will increase, but so will the menu prices...so what I paid $1686 for this past summer, will be sure to be higher in summer 2012.

Segmenting a reservation just makes me a little nervous. What happens if I decide at a later date (i.e., months after I first book the trip) that I want to add the dining plan, or a combination of them, to portions of our trip? Would we have to risk canceling and rebooking? If so, it wouldn't be worth it to me. Seems like a lot of hassle. Hopefully the computer system will be able to add dining plans to portions of a reservation, without having to cancel a reservation. Time will tell. It is very interesting, but sounds like they have lots of kinks to work out.

 

[lmb]

I'm leaving Sat for a "segmented trip" with the deluxe dining plan in the middle. Hope it works out! I also have one booked for April...

 

[bangzoom6877]

I'm leaving Sat for a "segmented trip" with the deluxe dining plan in the middle. Hope it works out! I also have one booked for April...

Did you have to segment your trip when you booked it? If not, did you have to cancel and re-book?

 

[lmb]

I didn't segment it when I originally booked it. When I called back to see if I could do it I was on the phone about 30 minutes. They had to get management to do it so they wouldn't lose the room since there wasn't availability for that room at the time I decided to segment the vacation.

 

[palhockeymomof2]

I check in on Sunday. I have delux ddp for the first night and no dining for the next 12 nights. I got my confirmation and both parts are listed on the 1 confirmation sheet. Both parts have the same confirmation number. The first segment says 1 night with delux ddp. The second section says room only 12 nights. So I'm wondering if I will have to recheck in on day 2. I guess I'll find out in about 5 days. I'll post back. Mine is very simple because I didn't really want to get complicated. I'm not a big fan of the ddp, but this way, I get 3 TS meals to split between 2 days and get a mug for each of us and 2 snacks. I'll then have a mug to use for the next 13 days. Plus we have a TiW card too and do eat off property (Margarittaville, carry-out from Publix and Target).

Also interested in how this works.. if you're able to use the mugs for the entire 12 days since i thought they were only good for the length of the dining plan..but if it's ok to use them after then that will be good to know for future planning

 

[n2mm]

Also interested in how this works.. if you're able to use the mugs for the entire 12 days since i thought they were only good for the length of the dining plan..but if it's ok to use them after then that will be good to know for future planning

Nope, it's the length of your "stay". That is exactly how it is written. We have done this lots of times now, esp. during split stays.

 

[psac]

Also interested in how this works.. if you're able to use the mugs for the entire 12 days since i thought they were only good for the length of the dining plan..but if it's ok to use them after then that will be good to know for future planning

It's intended to be used for the time you have the plan, but once you have the mug, they'll never ask for proof. You could buy the mug out of pocket and use it the whole time. It's stretching the rules, but I think it's a good plan.

 

[palhockeymomof2]

Nope, it's the length of your "stay". That is exactly how it is written. We have done this lots of times now, esp. during split stays.

Thanks for the quick update....now I've got to go run the numbers for our next trip...we've never purchased the dining plan only used the tables in wonderland card.....another question with the DDP do you have to eat a breakfast, lunch & dinner or can the 3 credits be used for say 2 dinners and 1 lunch ?