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

[Chuck S]

From what i recall the "guidelines" always were stated as 72 hours prior...assume they were being accommodating to last minute guests (and building some revenue too?).

Hopefully, this will streamline the checkin process a bit for the rest of us who have already made up their minds as to the DP before checking in.

Would be nice if they had an "express" checkin line; for those who don't need tix added to their room keys, above last minute DP add-on, etc. No fun to get stuck behind someone processing tons of reward/gift cards to room account either for charging privledges - each one is processed sep.; can take quite a while.

Where's that wish list?

I agree, an express check-in system would be nice...but you KNOW some people would want to make changes once they arrived.

You used to be able to call the front desk and give your credit card number, they'd assign you a "ready room" if one was available, and have your packet waiting for you at the express desk. I miss that.

 

[dcfromva]

Technically that is not correct. You must buy it for ALL people for the WHOLE reservation. If you are staying at WDW for 12 days and you only want the DDP for six of the days, book two separate reservations. Do not let MS or the front desk link the reservations. We have done this several times without a problem.

Do you have to check out and check back in again if your ressies are not linked?
Might you be risking having to be moved to another room?

-DC

 

[Chuck S]

Do you have to check out and check back in again if your ressies are not linked?
Might you be risking having to be moved to another room?

-DC

Yes.

 

[yitbos96bb]

That has always been the rule. You can not drop days from the plan either. You must buy it for ALL people for the WHOLE trip.

Whole Reservation... not whole trip.

If you move from a studio to a two bedroom, its two seperate reservations and you can not have have the dining plan for one but have it for the other... as I did just a few months ago. Same thing with switching resorts, etc.

 

[castleri]

I just booked a reservation a couple days ago and the CM told me I could add the dining plan up till the day before. So has this changed? Or is it just cancelling the DP that is 72 before?

That is the same thing I was told about adding it. In fact one CM said I could call from the airport when the plane landed and add it but that I could not add it after I got to the front desk. I don't think I would take that chance however. I would book at least 24 hours ahead and preferably more.

 

[BCV23]

Yes, the info from DVC has always stated "prior to checkin." Nothing about 72 hours, 3 days, etc.. I know some on the DIS have stated it is 3 days and have done so often enough that I imagine some people now believe it.

I agree that if the policy has changed, we should be notified by DVC.

However, the OP did say something about making it short and sweet. Perhaps there is more to it....linked reservations or something of the sort?

 

[Dean]

I'm not sure rule is the right word. The DDP must be added or changed through MS and at the time this started, they were not open on Sat at all so it could easily be 3 days from the last time MS was open till you checked in. They have often stated 3 days but this was just to give them time. However, realistically you can add the DDP at least until the day before check in if MS is open. You might be able to do so earlier the day of. Technically one was never able to add, cancel or change at check in though a few were able to do so in the usual Disney inconsistency. But as noted above, given the choice of changing your reservation or turning a guest away, I doubt one would be held to the plan.

 

[offtheice]

That has always been the rule. You can not drop days from the plan either. You must buy it for ALL people for the WHOLE trip.

. You can cancel out of the meal plan up to right before you ck in.Atleast thats the way it was before. They told me that a month ago they changed it to 72 hrs with member serv the ones that can only do it. i was cking in on sat morning with member serv not opening to 1:00. I didnt want to waste my entire day not ck in , sitting in the lobby waiting for member serv .. I had three ressies with one of them being at the beach club ,then moving to the boardwalk for two nights , and the last a standard view. I wanted to cancel out of the second and third ressies. I wasnt able with the second , but the last one for one night the girl at the desk took care of me.

 

[offtheice]

There have been a couple of reports about it taking over an hour for the front desk to correct problems with the dining plan for DVC members. It sounds like the computer systems are separate so front desk staff cannot just go in and change things. So maybe this new rule is to prevent this sort of problem from happening in the future by having members make any necessary changes to the DDP arrangements before they get to the check-in desk so the front desk doesn't get tied up for long periods trying to sort things out.

As to what they would do if you show up and refuse to pay, I imagine it just gets added to your bill and you would be prevented from making any DVC reservations in the future until you cleared up the debt.

The second part of my stay ,they wouldnt let me ck into the boardwalk without charging for it . The mang told me they would of to cancel the ressie, and this would take couple hrs. I just paid for it ,which I really didnt want too ..

 

[offtheice]

You will be charged (even if you make the reservation for check in on the SAME day of check in). You cannot cancel it. I tried. I was cited the three day policy rule. I even spoke with the manager of OKW who confirmed that I could not cancel the DDP.

Be very careful. I was asked by my DVC MS CM if I wanted the plan. I expressed curiosity. The CM took that as confirmation and attached the DDP to my reservation. I was surprised at check in to learn that I had it on my reservation. So be very clear if you don't want it when you are making your DVC accomodations.

When I made my ressies 12 mths prior to this , I asked the Cm if I didnt want any of the three planned meal plans on the the three different ressies, she said i could cancel them at ck in . What she did say is I couldnt add them . Disney decided to change this a month ago according to the mang at boardwalk with a 72 hr prior that has to be done with memeber services. What no one did is notify everyone out there that this was happening.. I was lucky that I had the money to pay so I didnt make a big stink until the last night ressie when I told them I have no money left ..

 

[offtheice]

Yes, the info from DVC has always stated "prior to checkin." Nothing about 72 hours, 3 days, etc.. I know some on the DIS have stated it is 3 days and have done so often enough that I imagine some people now believe it.

I agree that if the policy has changed, we should be notified by DVC.

However, the OP did say something about making it short and sweet. Perhaps there is more to it....linked reservations or something of the sort?

This is how it worked. .I made the ressie for a 1bd at the beachclub from 3/18 to 3/24 .. I added the DP and had no problem with this one. We then had a second ressie for a studio at the boardwalk with a boardwalk view for 3/24 to .3/26.DP added I then had a third ressie for the last night with a studio with a standard view. My plan was use the Dp the first part, because we rented a car for 3/24 and planned on just eating off prop for the last 4 nights. I was planning on going to sea world on 3/24 which I spent 2 hrs trying to get this taken care of .. My main problem is it seems its getting worse on property with the lack of communication that is going on from the mang to the staff.

 

[kimberh]

I would recommend not waiting until the last day for anything. MS is having way to many computer problems!

 

[tksbaskets]

Might I ask how the dining plan works with DVC? Is it tied in with your room key? I know we have to get park tickets separately from our room key now. Can you tell I'm a newbee??

 

[Chuck S]

Might I ask how the dining plan works with DVC? Is it tied in with your room key? I know we have to get park tickets separately from our room key now. Can you tell I'm a newbee??

Yes, it is on your room key. It is identical to the DP sold through the Disney Packages, except there is no park ticket purchase requirement. You can get whatever type of park ticket you wish, from any vendor you wish. You pay for the DDP at check-in. DVC reservations do not get free DDP, even if it is offered to WDW resort packages.

 

[tksbaskets]

Thanks Chuck!

 

[DisneyHumbug]

I added the plan yesterday for DD and BF. I was quoted the total cost and asked about cancellation. MS stated to call before check in. Since they are checking in on a Sunday, I imagine to cancel we would have to call MS on Saturday.
She invited DN and GF to stay with them the last night, but now I guess in order for them to get room keys, we would have to split the reservation into 2 separate ones, since DN isn't on the meal plan.
We haven't used the DP yet, she'll be our "guinea pig" we have DDE, but since they now charge for the 2nd card, she doesn't have that.

 

[BCV23]

offtheice, thanks for more explanation.

Perhaps if you had gone about your day on the 24th without checking in and called MS from Sea World to drop the DDP, all would have been well. I know the manager told you otherwise but it seems very unDisneylike to install a more restrictive policy without notification. When you were able to modify your reservation on Monday, was it after MS had opened?

 

[dianeschlicht]

Technically that is not correct. You must buy it for ALL people for the WHOLE reservation. If you are staying at WDW for 12 days and you only want the DDP for six of the days, book two separate reservations. Do not let MS or the front desk link the reservations. We have done this several times without a problem.

Yes, that's what I meant. We have done this several times where we make 2 seperate reservations when we have guests for part of the trip and do not want DDP, but want it when it is just the 2 of us.

 

[offtheice]

offtheice, thanks for more explanation.

Perhaps if you had gone about your day on the 24th without checking in and called MS from Sea World to drop the DDP, all would have been well. I know the manager told you otherwise but it seems very unDisneylike to install a more restrictive policy without notification. When you were able to modify your reservation on Monday, was it after MS had opened?

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..

 

[NARM Forever]

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