Just a tidbit if you plan on using the dinning plan.

[David Wood]

Just a follow up question then. We are DVcers now, Have a grandaughter nder 3. Thought I would get her a childs olan as well as everyone else on the group. But she is under 3 and therefore does not have to have a park ticket. I have been told if on the plan must have a ticket. What right?
DWW

 

[Dean]

Does anyone know what happens if you have additional people joining you during your stay. Our friends my join us for 3 nights of a 7 night stay. Would we have to pay for their DDP for all 7 day or can we add them just for the 3 days?

NARM

yes you would have to pay for all 7 days according to the rules.

 

[Dean]

Just a follow up question then. We are DVcers now, Have a grandaughter nder 3. Thought I would get her a childs olan as well as everyone else on the group. But she is under 3 and therefore does not have to have a park ticket. I have been told if on the plan must have a ticket. What right?
DWW

Others have reported being able to get the plan for those under 3 if desired. It is not a rule everyone has to have a ticket with the DVC DDP plan though it is advantageous.

 

[BCV23]

With your question about modifing for mon .. Actually no . I waited to the next group of front desk people came in sun night and got a non college intern who helped me..

That is so sad that it is funny. A manager can't help you and cites a supposed recent change yet an experienced CM can.

I called about a couple of upcoming reservations today and asked about DDP. My husband and I ares still negotiating about whether to do the DDP next trip. We check in on a Sunday and I asked if we could add or cancel on Saturday. The CM assured me we could but advised not waiting until Saturday because of the limited MS hours. Good advice of course. She reiterated that MS has to add the DDP. Nothing about 72 hours.

Of course, the bottom line is to do it with MS prior to checkin as DVC has always stated.

David Wood, the confusion over tickets and the DDP might be the fact that guests booking a Magic Your WAy package must buy at least a one day ticket for everyone buying the DDP. As Dean said, DVC members staying on points at DVC resorts do not have that requirement.

 

[Dean]

That is so sad that it is funny. A manager can't help you and cites a supposed recent change yet an experienced CM can.

The question then is who was in the right. One thing about DVC, that tends to apply to many service type companies, is that the rules are variably enforced. Often all you have to do is hang up and call back and someone does what you want. Is it a problem with the first person you get or is the second person overstepping their directives. Obviously you have to look at each situation to answer the question but it happens with DVC all the time.

 

[BCV23]

It seems to me in this instance both went beyond the scope of the stated DVC policy.

The manager did in claiming that there is a new 72 hour policy. This would appear to be a lie.

The experienced CM cancelled for the OP when the policy is that MS needs to make and cancel DDP reservations. While he/she may have gone beyond and above the norm, that is good customer service for which WDW and DVC are justifiably famous. Secondly, it was obviously allowed by the system.

I am certainly not advocating waiting. The policy as stated everywhere I've read is to call MS prior to arrival or checkin.

 

[Dean]

It seems to me in this instance both went beyond the scope of the stated DVC policy.

The manager did in claiming that there is a new 72 hour policy. This would appear to be a lie.

The experienced CM cancelled for the OP when the policy is that MS needs to make and cancel DDP reservations. While he/she may have gone beyond and above the norm, that is good customer service for which WDW and DVC are justifiably famous. Secondly, it was obviously allowed by the system.

I am certainly not advocating waiting. The policy as stated everywhere I've read is to call MS prior to arrival or checkin.

It also illustrates another issue. That is there are rules then there are suggestions. It is clear that the 3 days is a suggestion and not really a rule. It's in place to give everyone (MS & the Member) a chance to get things done. The only real rule is it has to be done by MS prior to check in. But a number have stated being able to add or cancel at check in as well as being able to get extra room keys during a stay without adding the DDP for those extras.

One of the big problems with the DDP is the rules don't match the usage for DVC members nearly as well as it does for cash disney resort stays. I'd think it's very small percentage of guests that have people coming and going from a single unit during their stay and a much larger percentage of DVC members doing the same. Also if you have two families in cash rooms, one can get the DDP and the other can opt out usually because they are in separate rooms. For a larger DVC unit such as a 2 BR, this option is not possible technically unless you split it up for separate reservations. At some point DVC/Disney will have to make some changes to accommodate some of these issues or decrease the likelihood that members will use it.

 

[BCV23]

The 3 day/72 hour suggestion as you call it has never been in writing to my knowledge. I've only read that on the DIS. The reservations, mailings and website all state "prior to."

Your second point is interesting. I know for my family in the early years, we were all together for the entire reservation at a WDW resort. But this changed as our children hit college. I wonder what the actual numbers are? For DVC members from Florida, I would think there would be many instances of subparties coming and going. I would think this is less likely to happen for those coming from longer distances. If popping for airfare, most people probably try to maximize their stays whether in a WDW or DVC resort I would think. An interesting question though.