Logistics of paying for DP at time of booking

[Tiger926]

We have finally gone back to TIW - yeah! So, no more DP for us, but DH and have been thinking about the announcement that the DP must be paid in full at time of booking as mentioned in new Disney Files Mag.

Here are some thoughts:

1. Payment in full - Depending upon what plan is purchased, and length of time, this could mean thousands of dollars for families to pay out in advance. I have to imagine if there is no cancellation policy enforced or book by date policy, then guests will just wait until a few days before. I have to imagine that everyone would do this as it doesn't tie up your money to Disney way in advance.

2. Cancellation period - We are assuming that DVC is going to implement a cancellation period, as many families do book at 11 months and will probably add DP as well. So, over the course of almost a year, vacation plans could change many times. Will they offer refunds? Will they implement a cancellation period?

3. Member Services - This sounds like a make work project as it's going to require some extra maintenance and such. Will they raise dues as MS might be busy dealing with DP issues with cancellations or changing or upgrading Dining Plans? This may cause a heck of a lot of work for MS in terms of refunds, changes, etc.

What do you all think? Just wondering about the whole implementation of this, the inconvenience to guests and work to MS.

Tiger

 

[DebbieB]

I haven't read the Disney Files yet but is the rule still that you can add it up to 48 hours before arrival? I would not add it until close to the date if you have to pay in advance.

 

[stitch'sgirl]

I just rented out points for the first time this year, to pay for a DCL trip with cash vs. points. The renters asked me to request DP for them. That caught my eye in the DF - how would I have paid for the DP for the renters? It seems a little risky to me.

 

[Anjelica]

I have the Disney Files Mag with me today and was just skimming through when I caught their section on the new "Wishes" IT initiative section.

..."So what do Members need to do differently? The short answer is "nothing." Just book as you normally do, and let the system work it's magic. It's worth nothing, however, that Wishes will require Members to pay for their Disney Dining Plan upon booking (rather than upon check-in), and Members making cash reservations must pay for one night plus tax upon booking. Call Member Services for more details."

Hmm....I think I need to call MS to get more clarification.

 

[Anjelica]

Interesting call - MS was fairly helpful. Here is what I got out of it:

- The new "Wishes" system won't be in place until Fall, at the earliest.

- MS/DVC's booking system is going more towards the "regular" non-DVC booking system. In that system, when you add the Dining Plan on to a reservation you pay for it upfront.

- The 48-hour before Check-In rule regarding adding your Dining Plan, so far, will not change when the new system goes into place.

- When the new system goes into place folks with existing reservations will be grandfathered from this policy. It will only be for new bookings regardless of the check-in dates

- When you add the Dining Plan onto your ressie, when the new system is in place, you will be required to pay in full the entire Dining Plan

One thing she did remind me of was that although you can add the Dining Plan, under the new system, up to 48 hour's before check-in there are several shows/dinners that require you either have the Dining Plan or you must pre-pay (i.e. Hoop Dee Do Revue, CRT, Fantasmic Package).

Again - take this all with a grain of salt as I'm sure anything can change between now and when the new system gets put into place.

 

[Tiger926]

I just rented out points for the first time this year, to pay for a DCL trip with cash vs. points. The renters asked me to request DP for them. That caught my eye in the DF - how would I have paid for the DP for the renters? It seems a little risky to me.

Thanks - I did forget to include this as I posted quickly today. This is a huge wonder of ours since owners are in control of renters' reservations. How in the world is this going to play out? You cannot expect owners to pay in full, yet if that is the new rule, it should be consistent across the board. Hmmm?

Interesting call - MS was fairly helpful. Here is what I got out of it:

- The new "Wishes" system won't be in place until Fall, at the earliest.

- MS/DVC's booking system is going more towards the "regular" non-DVC booking system. In that system, when you add the Dining Plan on to a reservation you pay for it upfront.

- The 48-hour before Check-In rule regarding adding your Dining Plan, so far, will not change when the new system goes into place.

- When the new system goes into place folks with existing reservations will be grandfathered from this policy. It will only be for new bookings regardless of the check-in dates

- When you add the Dining Plan onto your ressie, when the new system is in place, you will be required to pay in full the entire Dining Plan

One thing she did remind me of was that although you can add the Dining Plan, under the new system, up to 48 hour's before check-in there are several shows/dinners that require you either have the Dining Plan or you must pre-pay (i.e. Hoop Dee Do Revue, CRT, Fantasmic Package).

Again - take this all with a grain of salt as I'm sure anything can change between now and when the new system gets put into place.

Great info - nothing in there about cancellations/changes/refunds. This is the area that I think might be the most problematic.

Thanks, Tiger

 

[wendypooh]

I read that as well............... and frankly, I don't get it? It makes NO sense what so ever. WHY would anyone think this is a good idea? Plans change, you have to book at your home resort 11 months out - others 7 months out - IF you add the DP at that point and you are required to pay then - what happens when plans change? The whole, paying, refunding, re-scheduling, re-paying...............it's nonsense - who comes up with these ideas?

It just seems like a huge headache for MS and all of us!

 

[tinkerfan1]

I sure hope this is wrong. I'll be lucky to have the money for my DDP before 6 months in advance when the dining reservations need to be made. If we can add the DDP 48 hours before arrival, though, I guess we just add the DDP at that point and pay then...just make our reservations prior to that time.

 

[rlovew]

Thanks - I did forget to include this as I posted quickly today. This is a huge wonder of ours since owners are in control of renters' reservations. How in the world is this going to play out? You cannot expect owners to pay in full, yet if that is the new rule, it should be consistent across the board. Hmmm?

They can expect the owners to pay in full- you are not supposed to be a commercial renter- even though you are allowed to rent up to 4 times a year- they don't have to make things like this convenient for people that choose not to use their points for themselves.

I would guess either owners will refuse to add the dining plan at all or they will not add it until they have received the money from the renters. I know that if I was to offer a room to someone (even for free) I would probably just tell them I can't add the dining plan on for them rather than having to deal with it.

 

[Sandisw]

It sounds like our ability to do the DDP is becoming more in line with what cash guests are required to do (pay in advance--although they have until 45 days prior to get it paid for).

I do hope that they still keep the same timeframe for adding so that we can do it closer to check in.

As far as refunds, I don't see why they would not be given as they are for the regular guest. IMO, though, this has the biggest impact on those that offer reservations to others for rent. Not only because the owner will now have to figure out how to get the money in advance, but also figure out a way on what would happen if the renter wants to cancel the DDP after having added it.

What I am waiting to find out is if we will still be able to do different DDP's for split stays at different resorts. We like to do DDP for a few nights and then QSDP for the rest when we change resorts. I know there will be one "travel" plan, but I am hoping that we can still customize this piece.

 

[Chuck S]

I know that if I was to offer a room to someone (even for free) I would probably just tell them I can't add the dining plan on for them rather than having to deal with it.

I give rooms for free to friends every few years when I have a lot of banked points. I don't think it will be a big deal for folks giving rooms to friends, except they'd need to schedule a time to be together to call and add the plan, then the member can hand the phone to the friend and they can give MS their credit card number, assuming they live nearby. An even better option would be for the friends/family to be able to pull up the DVC reservation on line, and add the DDP themselves.

 

[Tiger926]

They can expect the owners to pay in full- you are not supposed to be a commercial renter- even though you are allowed to rent up to 4 times a year- they don't have to make things like this convenient for people that choose not to use their points for themselves.

I would guess either owners will refuse to add the dining plan at all or they will not add it until they have received the money from the renters. I know that if I was to offer a room to someone (even for free) I would probably just tell them I can't add the dining plan on for them rather than having to deal with it.

I'm actually not talking about 'commercial' renters. To me, those are renters who do it often, as a business. I'm just talking about renters who did it once in awhile for a variety of reasons. Since they allow a few rentals each year for each contract, Disney is saying renting is ok, so in paying for the DP, I would imagine that the owners will have to pay. The whole commercial thing is another whole can of worms. Sorry for the confusion.

Good point about you as an owner saying that you can't add the DP for a renter. As owners, we make up the stipulations that we will rent under in terms of a personal nature (all DVC policies must be followed of course), so we don't really have to offer that as it's an extra service of convenience for the renter that might in fact cost a lot of money to the owner.

Thanks, Tiger

 

[SCDizneyDawn]

Another difficult situation is when you travel with multiple families in one unit. We were in a 2br at BLT in Oct and there were 7 of us from 3 different families all on DDP. We considered TIW but DDP was easier because TIW can only be a single check.
Loved that we were able to use 3 diff credit cards to pay for the DDP.

 

[Chuck S]

Another difficult situation is when you travel with multiple families in one unit. We were in a 2br at BLT in Oct and there were 7 of us from 3 different families all on DDP. We considered TIW but DDP was easier because TIW can only be a single check.
Loved that we were able to use 3 diff credit cards to pay for the DDP.

In a way, you still can...it just takes a little bit of work. Whoever book the DDP pays at time of booking (which can be as little as two or three days in advance of arrival). Then during the trip, after you've spent some money on your room charges, the other parties pay on your room charges what they normally would have paid for the DDP using their credit card at the front desk. Assuming you normally would spend as much as their shares of the DDP would have cost on Disney merchandise. Or, if you fly, they could pay for some of your airline tickets.

 

[DisneyFreaks]

We definitely have to pay in advance? We'll be arriving in November so I'm assuming this will be in effect by then. Can someone tell me if using a credit card is the only way they will accept payment for the DDP? We have four families going but I am the one who books everything. I do not want to put that large of an amount on my credit card. Will they accept my bank debit/credit card for payment?

 

[Chuck S]

We definitely have to pay in advance? We'll be arriving in November so I'm assuming this will be in effect by then. Can someone tell me if using a credit card is the only way they will accept payment for the DDP? We have four families going but I am the one who books everything. I do not want to put that large of an amount on my credit card. Will they accept my bank debit/credit card for payment?

If the reservaton is already booked, and the DDP already added before the system upgrade, you should be able to pay at checkin. Otherwise, they should take your debit/credit card, and you can have the other guests in your room pay you and have the money in your account prior to when you call.

 

[AmongMadPeople]

- MS/DVC's booking system is going more towards the "regular" non-DVC booking system. In that system, when you add the Dining Plan on to a reservation you pay for it upfront.

It sounds like our ability to do the DDP is becoming more in line with what cash guests are required to do (pay in advance--although they have until 45 days prior to get it paid for).

I'd hardly say it's required to pay up front when all you have to do is make a deposit on your package up until 45 days out.

So far, I'm really disappointed in the way this new system news is unfolding. The way the website news article read is not at all like this new info from Disney Files and MS is reading. If this is really how it's going to be, I'll just be waiting to add DDP until the last minute.

 

[Crystal_27]

For what it's worth, I just called MS this morning to add the DDP to our December, 2010 vacation and asked whether I could pay for it now or wait until check in, and the CM on the phone told me that their systems are not yet set up to receive pre-payment. So, for now at least, our only option is to continue to pay for the DDP upon check-in.

 

[DisneyFreaks]

If the reservaton is already booked, and the DDP already added before the system upgrade, you should be able to pay at checkin. Otherwise, they should take your debit/credit card, and you can have the other guests in your room pay you and have the money in your account prior to when you call.

Thanks Chuck. We haven't added the DDP to our reservation yet. Hopefully I can do that before that system upgrade but it's good to know they will accept our bank card.

 

[Deb & Bill]

I'd hardly say it's required to pay up front when all you have to do is make a deposit on your package up until 45 days out.

So far, I'm really disappointed in the way this new system news is unfolding. The way the website news article read is not at all like this new info from Disney Files and MS is reading. If this is really how it's going to be, I'll just be waiting to add DDP until the last minute.

It sounded like DRC is also getting a new reservation management program (Lilo) and the deposit until 45 days out might also be gone.