Help-DDP Problem

[Plutofan1]

I'm planning on booking my trip sometime this week with the free dining promotion. I went ahead and made a few dining reservations today, but for the most recent one, the woman told me that I would be able to book the ADR, but since I had not booked the trip, I would have to call back and have them rebook the dining reservation with DDP attached, and that there would be no guarantee that there would be availability. This was somewhat confusing to me, because in recent trips, I did'nt seem to think this mattered, as long as we had the dining credits on our key to the world card. Can anyone offer any insight into this?

 

[vicki_c]

You do not have to "connect" your DDP to your reservations at all, except to avoid paying in advance for things like CRT or a dinner show. If you're okay charging those few items (if you even have them planned) to your credit card now and then just getting a refund at the restaurant when you use your credits, you will be fine.

 

[Plutofan1]

You do not have to "connect" your DDP to your reservations at all, except to avoid paying in advance for things like CRT or a dinner show. If you're okay charging those few items (if you even have them planned) to your credit card now and then just getting a refund at the restaurant when you use your credits, you will be fine.

That was how I understood it as well. She even talked to her supervisor who said the same thing. Why would it matter if they know in advance whether they had the dining plan? What if a family would add the plan last minute, would their reservations be void? Makes no sense to me, maybe there was some misinformation going around there.

 

[vicki_c]

That was how I understood it as well. She even talked to her supervisor who said the same thing. Why would it matter if they know in advance whether they had the dining plan? What if a family would add the plan last minute, would their reservations be void? Makes no sense to me, maybe there was some misinformation going around there.

Call back, make your reservations - if the next CM asks about the DDP, just say you're not getting it. But the CM you spoke with was incorrect.

 

[notaclue]

Once again the CM is wrong. Unfortunately this is happening more and more frequently. My DD called to ask if there was a hot tub at the Poly and the CM assured her that 'all the deluxe resorts have hot tubs'. I tried to tell her that this was not the case because I had just stayed at the Poly and there is no hot tub. I find it very frustrating that the CMs are not better trained or some of them just don't understand. I have had to get off the phone with a CM who couldn't grasp my question and just call back. Sounds like even the supevisor you spoke with has a problem. Sorry you are having to go thru this hassle.

 

[TDC Nala]

If you are booking within 180 days and this is not a dinner show (Hoop De Doo, Spirit of Aloha or Mickey's Backyard Barbecue) or CRT it makes no difference whatsoever if you have a dining plan when you book, or even if you have a Disney resort reservation. The OP didn't say what the reservation was for - if it is CRT or a dinner show you cannot book without paying for the meal unless you have a Disney resort reservation with a dining plan added at the time you make the ADR.

If you want to book CRT or a dinner show and add a dining plan later, you can do that too - you would just need to pay in full for it at the time you book and get it refunded when you arrive and change your payment method to dining credits.

 

[disneypolybride2008]

i made most of my adrs before i booked my trip. it was a late booking so i didnt want to go if i couldnt get adrs, so once i booked the adrs then i booked the vacation. GOOD food is important!

 

[TiaMaria]

If you are booking within 180 days and this is not a dinner show (Hoop De Doo, Spirit of Aloha or Mickey's Backyard Barbecue) or CRT it makes no difference whatsoever if you have a dining plan when you book, or even if you have a Disney resort reservation. The OP didn't say what the reservation was for - if it is CRT or a dinner show you cannot book without paying for the meal unless you have a Disney resort reservation with a dining plan added at the time you make the ADR.

If you want to book CRT or a dinner show and add a dining plan later, you can do that too - you would just need to pay in full for it at the time you book and get it refunded when you arrive and change your payment method to dining credits.

That's correct.

And also the OP should know that in some instances with a dinner show - Hoop De Doo, Spirit of Aloha, for certain - that the Catagory of seating you are able to book under the DDP is different than if you are paying OOP.

HDDR on the DDP may only book Cats 2 and 3. Spirit of Aloha is also not able to book Cat 1. I am 100% positive about this because we booked both in July under the DDP and were restricted in the Catagories we could book - due to DDP restrictions - not availability.

 

[vicki_c]

That's correct.

And also the OP should know that in some instances with a dinner show - Hoop De Doo, Spirit of Aloha, for certain - that the Catagory of seating you are able to book under the DDP is different than if you are paying OOP.

HDDR on the DDP may only book Cats 2 and 3. Spirit of Aloha is also not able to book Cat 1. I am 100% positive about this because we booked both in July under the DDP and were restricted in the Catagories we could book - due to DDP restrictions - not availability.

Good point about the dinner shows - I was thinking about that part of it.

 

[Plutofan1]

If you are booking within 180 days and this is not a dinner show (Hoop De Doo, Spirit of Aloha or Mickey's Backyard Barbecue) or CRT it makes no difference whatsoever if you have a dining plan when you book, or even if you have a Disney resort reservation. The OP didn't say what the reservation was for - if it is CRT or a dinner show you cannot book without paying for the meal unless you have a Disney resort reservation with a dining plan added at the time you make the ADR.

If you want to book CRT or a dinner show and add a dining plan later, you can do that too - you would just need to pay in full for it at the time you book and get it refunded when you arrive and change your payment method to dining credits.

The particular reservation I was trying to make was for Tusker House breakfast. I do understand about the dinner shows, but I made it clear to her that I was only interested in that one reservation.

 

[DonaldTDuck]

I booked my ADRS for my trip in 19 days a month before I booked the trip. I booked online, but I never connected them to my ressie. We are on free dining. I have conformation numbers, so we're good to go. Don't let cms or their managers confuse you. They will ask at your table if you're on ddp and then explain the system to you, so the restaurants don't know even if connected.

 

[Plutofan1]

Thans for all the responses. Just called to make the reservation. Had no problems, and I also asked the CM whether or not it would be a problem if we booked the dining plan later on with our reservation. She told me that it was not necessary to call for non specialty meals (HDDR, CRT, etc) and that I can just let them know at the podium that I will be using my dining credits.