Navigating guests, DVC ressies, and dining plan... how do I do this?

[Ducky4Disney]

Ok, here's my dilemma. I am planning a trip to SSR this Oct and I needed to make the ressie like, last month - but we're trying to figure out who will be there when. My MIL will be coming to stay for a few days and my Dad and S-Mom live in FL so I know they'll be visiting for a few days. Simplest option is to get a 2 bedroom for the whole time - we'll have no problem using the 2nd room, even if our toddler ends up in it - but now I'm throwing in the dining plan.

If I make the ressie with just me, DH, and DS (who is 2) then I can add DP for just us. This means guests will not have a room key or a parking tag. Hmmm... can we request another pariking tag? How about a room key?

A different option is to reserve a 1 bdrm and a studio and link the reservations. MIL can have her name on the studio separate from us. That fixes the key and parking problem, plus she can add DP for just her stay.

However, I will have to split up the reservation for her stay then my Dad's stay. That makes 3 reservations total. In a perfect world, MIL will check out the same day my Dad checks in and my linked reservations can be uninterupted - meaning we can keep the same lock-off room. Otherwise, when MIL checks out my Dad could get a studio located somewhere else.

If MIL and my Dad don't check-in and out on the same day, it gets worse. We have a lock-off for a few nights with MIL, she checks out, then there's a night of dead space before my Dad checks in - what are the odds he'll get the room attached to ours?

I am making this too complicated? I have a tendency to do that. I suppose it hinges on us wanting to get DP.

If you've made it this far, these are the basic questions:
1 - can we request a second parking pass?
2 - can we request an extra room key for a guest staying with us (not on the reservation)?
3 - can I make three reservations and link them together - hoping to get a lock-off and keep it the entire time?

Thanks for your help!
D4D

 

[edk35]

GOOD LUCK......I will sit back and let the experts handle this one

 

[JimMIA]

 

[dianeschlicht]

You need the dining plan for all people for the whole time. Nothing convoluted about that other than the horrendous extra cost to you. That's why we don't do the dining plan when we know there will be guests.

 

[paults]

your going in OCT and the Food and Wine Festival will be in full swing at Epcot. Why not use the money for the dining plan at the F&WF. I bet your guests would love this event.

 

[Chuck S]

I would simply not do the dining plan at all for this trip, and reserve the two bedroom lock-off. Put everyone on the reservation from the start, and pay for a full cleaning on whatever day your guests switch out.

 

[DiznyDi]

I would simply not do the dining plan at all for this trip, and reserve the two bedroom lock-off. Put everyone on the reservation from the start, and pay for a full cleaning on whatever day your guests switch out.

Excellent advice!

 

[Ducky4Disney]

It's looking like that is the best option. DH and I like the DP so we don't have to think much about food expenses while we're there. A friend of mine just went through this and instead of DP she opted for the DDE card... not a bad option really.

BTW: We're not paying for anyones dining plan but ours - so no extra cost to us.

I'll run the DDE idea by DH, I think that's a good option for this vacation.

D4D

 

[dianeschlicht]

It's looking like that is the best option. DH and I like the DP so we don't have to think much about food expenses while we're there. A friend of mine just went through this and instead of DP she opted for the DDE card... not a bad option really.

BTW: We're not paying for anyones dining plan but ours - so no extra cost to us.

I'll run the DDE idea by DH, I think that's a good option for this vacation.

D4D

No extra cost for you in the long run, but since you need to pay for the dining plan for all guests on the day you check in and even for the time they are not there, it is going to be a sizeable chunk at first. Then of course, it might be difficult to get them to reimburse you for the portion they aren't going to use.

 

[Ducky4Disney]

Oh, yes that would be true - but I would not expect anyone to pay for something they weren't going to use completely. That's what I'm trying to work around. So people who want the DP during their stay can have it and only pay for their stay. That's why my options are; only us on the ressie, we get DP and guests are not listed on ressie (no room keys/parking pass); everyone on ressie no DP for anyone; or try to create separate ressies for all parties involved and keep our rooms together.

Now I'm realizing that DDE isn't offered to DVC members anymore and I'm not an AP holder anymore - wah!

D4D

 

[dianeschlicht]

Nothing has changed with the DDE offerings. It has always been just AP holders or Florida residents who are elegible for DDE. DVC members have never had the option of DDE unless they were also AP holders. We always get APs and always get the DDE card as it is a good savings. We find the dining plan to be way too much food. We will do it when it is just the two of us, but that's it. There is no way around not getting the dining plan for everyone on the reservation for the length of the trip. If you don't declare your guests, they aren't officially there, so no way to get the dining plan for them.

 

[Ducky4Disney]

There is no way around not getting the dining plan for everyone on the reservation for the length of the trip. If you don't declare your guests, they aren't officially there, so no way to get the dining plan for them.

I'm well aware of this. If I put all my guests on the reservation then we won't get DP because there's no reason for someone to pay for 6 nights of DP when they are only there for 3 nights. If I make *separate* reservations... ours is 6 nights in a 1 bdrm... MIL is 3 nights in a studio... Dad is 3 nights in a studio... then people can opt for or against the DP and only pay for their stay.

I could have sworn that DVC was offered DDE at some point... but I'm PG and my mind is mush so I must be imaging things. I got DDE when I had an AP and not long after it was offered to AP holders. That's what I must be thinking.

D4D

 

[dianeschlicht]

Re-reading your last post, if you really want the dining plan, your best bet is to get everyone their own accommodations.