If you want to try the dining option but not for the whoe trip here's an idea

[iamdaisyduck]

We just booked 3 nights before our cruise at SSR and we have always wanted to try the dining option. When I inquired about the meal plan they said that it expires midnight on the day you check out.

This is what I did...I separated out ressies into 2 separate ressies the first one for 2 nights which I purchased the meal plan for and the second ressie for the last night we are staying. I told them that I did not want to link the reservations but we would like to stay in the same room if possible. (probably easier to do in SSR since they have so many rooms available).

So we are getting the meal plan for Wednesday, Thursday and up to midnight Friday. Then we are staying one more night and checking out Saturday morning and heading for the cruise.

It just didn't seem worth it to pay for an extra day of dining when we wouldn't be there Saturday much at all. I knew there had to be a loophole somewhere and this is the best I could figure out.

Any other suggestions?

 

[Caskbill]

You do realize you will have to go and checkout and check back in, even if you get to keep the same room, which will not be guaranteed. The only way to guarantee the same room and not checkout/checkin is to link the reservations. But as you know, then you'd have to add the DP for both reservations.

In your case, even if you have to checkout, it's not that bad. Simply prepare a bag for a single night's stay. So when you check in for the last night, you're not going to have all the luggage to deal with.

Remember they are balancing all the check-outs with all the check-ins for every day. The first room you get, and which you check out of, may go to some other member who is checking in that day, but staying longer than a single night, making that old room you had a better fit for their particular reservation.

When it's all done, please post back and let everyone know what actually happened.

 

[LIFERBABE]

Sometimes things are not so easy and when they go wrong, they can go really wrong. As Bill said, you may be required to move. I personally, would not want to move on such a short stay, so I would pay for the DDP and have a Signature meal instead and have a Disney Day, not a moving day.

Checkin is the most stressful part of DVC for me, so I try to limit my exposure, as much as possible.

I do hope it all works out, but I would caution others to be prepared to move and not be upset if they have to.

 

[iamdaisyduck]

I am not really worrying about the check-out/check-in stuff. We aren't really unpacking too much anyway because its only for a few nights. This wouldn't work for everyone but for us it's a good way to see if we like the Dining plan. If we like it then we can do it for longer the next trip.

 

[LIFERBABE]

Have a great trip!! I think you will really enjoy having the DDP

 

[wdwstar]

I agree with LIFERBABE, when you check out and then back into the same resort or even any resort, you can lose a half day not having access to a room. Most of the time the room is not ready and you have to wait until 3 or 4 to get your new room, then you have to wait for the bell service with your luggage, then you have to unpack again. And we know how long it takes to pack up your things in the first place. I can tell you first hand the dining plan is well worth the money. I keep all my receipts from the dining plan and when i get home, i add them all up and everytime the receipts total up more then what it cost me for the dining plan. Now, it is alot of food to eat, and my theory is even if i was not on the dining plan and i order just my main meal, no appetizer or dessert and not buying lunch or snack it would have cost me as the dining plan. Even if you ate at ohana for dinner, i believe the meal would cost you $30.00 plus your tip & tax, you are about right there 37.99 a person. At least with the dining plan its like getting app.,dessert,lunch and snack free. This is why i tell DH if you dont want to order the app. & dessert, you still will be making out on the deal.

 

[bobbiwoz]

We have a 5 night June trip, BCV and SSR, and have DDP only for the first part, 2 nights.

I hope it works for you, that you don't have to change rooms. For 1 night, I would fret a bit and so, I would go with DDP.

Bobbi

 

[dianeschlicht]

I'd likely get the DDP for the whole trip too, and forget risking a move. While the front desk will tell you it MIGHT be possible to stay in your same room, you will still have to check with them early in the morning, and you will still have to go down and go through the check out-check-in process. As some others posted, this does take time out of your day, and that would be worth it to me. I'd likely just add the dining plan for the last night and enjoy a signature meal!

 

[Dean]

For 3 days you might reconsider getting the DDP for the entire 3 days assuming you are arriving early enough on day 1 to make any use of the plan. You could do a signature or show that would use up the extra credits. You could also do a character breakfast on the departure day before heading out.

 

[nezy]

It sounds as if OP has thought this out to best accomadate her situation as it will be at that time. I don't think the OP is very concerned about check-in/check-out even if she does have to do that plus make a move.

It is a good suggestion- as well as the input and concerns of others who are mentioning the inconveniences that could be incurred if you do need to check in /check out again.
That is why I love these boards , just when you think you've got it all figure out, someone has another perspective.

 

[mickeyworld]

We saved up two nights and went to The GRand Floridian for diner. The three of us ordered to our hearts desire, the check was for $330.00 and included the tip and we just presented our card. You can really get your monies worth if you plan. Just remember, sdo your homework- like a bottle of water can be a snack!

 

[Pennyguy23]

I would pay $80.00 just for peace of mind that I don't have to move and check out check in. Even if I didn't get the extra food credits. That is just me, its how I vacation. You have to think, how much is your time worth?

 

[princesspat209]

question about ddp & staying @ dvc vacation home as members. When we are going in sept. we purchased the dining plan for our 2 week stay, if our daughter wanted to join us for 5 days @ the end of our stay can we purchase the dining plan for just those 5 days for her ? thanks for any help.

 

[bobbiwoz]

question about ddp & staying @ dvc vacation home as members. When we are going in sept. we purchased the dining plan for our 2 week stay, if our daughter wanted to join us for 5 days @ the end of our stay can we purchase the dining plan for just those 5 days for her ? thanks for any help.

You can if you book her into a studio for the 5 nights, if she's on your ressie then you will have to pay for her DDP for all of the nights. The DDP has to be purchased for everyone in the room for all of the nights of the visit.
You could also separate your reservation into 2 and not have them linked. Then you are risking having to move, but maybe you would want to try a different resort or different room type for her portion of the visit anyway!
Bobbi

 

[iamdaisyduck]

It sounds as if OP has thought this out to best accomadate her situation as it will be at that time. I don't think the OP is very concerned about check-in/check-out even if she does have to do that plus make a move.

It is a good suggestion- as well as the input and concerns of others who are mentioning the inconveniences that could be incurred if you do need to check in /check out again.
That is why I love these boards , just when you think you've got it all figure out, someone has another perspective.

Thanks Nezy, I was feeling less than appreciated for my suggestion. I am glad to see that at least one person understood that I was only making a suggestion and not a recommendation for everyone. You're right, this works for us, it may not work for everyone. I was just trying to put it out there so if someone was looking for an option they could. When we stayed in October I didn't realize that I could split it up until I was already there and I would have liked to try it. Ideally, I would probably stay for a longer length of time on the one ressie and then switch to another room/hotel for the second part of my trip. In this case we are cruising and leaving Saturday morning so for us to have the DDP until midnight the day we checkout is useless. That is why we opted for only the 2 nights. The amount of food that you are allowed to eat is tremendous and we really didn't need to pay an additional $100 + for another night.

It is a well thought out plan for us, I am not worried about checking in/checking out because we are probably not going to the parks (except for maybe one day at the Magic Kingdom). I have stayed at SSR several times already and the check-in procedure has never lasted more than 10 minutes. If I have to move my room it's no big deal because I am not unpacking the luggage I have packed for the cruise. I am only going to be unpacking one small suitcase that I have stuff for our 3 days in. I know I don't need to justify my "idea" but for those of you who think I am nuts for doing this the way I am this is why.

I love these boards because they are a lot tips and help for people traveling. There are many times I read something on here that I would have never thought of on my own and then it becomes part of something I do every time I go to Disney. This was only meant to be one of those tips.

 

[canda]

I got to SSR this past DEC. a lot early than expected. Around 3am. I had to check in as we had no where to go. They had a 2 bd room which I paid cash for. I was told I had to check out and into a new points 2 bd room the next day. I said fine. I can sleep until 10. Well at 10 am the front desk called and said we could stay in the same room and the checkin was complete. I did not have to stop by front desk.

I don't think they let you get by with stuff like at BWV and BCV.

I think that the SSR CM's are great.