Need help from dining plan experts - I fear I will not be allowed to get dining plan

[JLS]

Here is our situation - would really appreciate some help.

Me, my husband and 1 year old son have a 2-bedroom villa reserved at Beach Club from May 21 through 29th. From May 21-25, my best friend will be flying down and joining us in the suite then going home. From May 27-29, my mom and sister will be spending a couple of days with us as guests in the suite.

My question is this: My husband and I want to get the dining plan for our stay. I don't know if my friend, mom or sister want to get it, but even if they did, they are only staying a few days compared to our full stay. I got the DVC postcard re the dining plan stating that all people in the suite must buy the dining plan for the entire duration of the stay. Does my situation with "visitors" preclude us from buying the dining plan? Can we buy it regardless and then if my friend/mom/sister want the dining plan for the period of their stay, can they get it for just those days? If our guests don't get the dining plan, even for just the days they are staying, are we completely precluded from getting it too?

Any advice would help - I want to know the full "scoop" before I call.

Thanks.

 

[Deb & Bill]

All guests staying in the room need to be registered. If you don't register them, they won't get a room ID. Unless MS will work with you, I fear you will have to buy the dining plan for all the people staying in the room.

 

[Dean]

I asked this question of MS specifically in regards to an II exchange. There were really two questions. One if you had a reservation for 7 days but were leaving at 5 could you shorten it? Second question was if you had others staying with you for part of the time, would they be required to purchase. The answers were for the entire 7 days and everyone who stayed. Still, I'd bet if you check in and then add your friends later, you could get the cards with no problems but it is a gamble you likely don't want to take. If you'll be in a 2 BR, you might change it to a 1 BR plus studio so it shows up as separate reservations. A few more points but you'd have the dining plan choices. Or you might just plan to get the DDE and take advantage of those discounts.

 

[Beca]

You know, these are really good points. Maybe DVC needs to "address" how the dining plan works for DVC members, since we do vacation differently than other guests.

Hmmm.....maybe a topic to bring up at a members' meeting.



Beca

 

[Dean]

You know, these are really good points. Maybe DVC needs to "address" how the dining plan works for DVC members, since we do vacation differently than other guests.

Hmmm.....maybe a topic to bring up at a members' meeting.



Beca

LOL, you know DVC's going to be think they gave us a DP and now we're still not happy.

 

[Deb & Bill]

LOL, you know DVC's going to be think they gave us a DP and now we're still not happy.

Maybe they need to give us our perks like they did the AP perk. You have to show your blue card.

 

[Beca]

LOL, you know DVC's going to be think they gave us a DP and now we're still not happy.

I know....I thought about that as I was writing..."All we do is complain!!" But seriously, maybe there could be a rule such as, "If you are staying in a studio or 1bdrm, all parties must be on the dining plan. If you are in a 2bdrm or GV, the dining plan may be purchased for just part of your party."

It seems like that would be fairly easy to administer, and fair. But, that's jmo!!



Beca

 

[JLS]

This is what I feared... Thanks for the responses. I am very disappointed that
we would not be able to get the dining plan simply because we have people coming to stay with us. That really doesn't make any sense to me. It seems like it takes away from the flexibility of DVC and the Dining Plan. As you all pointed out, I'm sure many people are in or will be in the same situation.

Dean (or others) - I was thinking that if I just had my husband and son on the reservation for now as registered guests, and I called up and ordered the dining plan just for us for the entire stay, and then later (or at the time of check in) showed up and added my friend as a guest, and then later added my mom and sister when they showed up, then it would work because they wouldn't go back and "revoke" the dining plan we already paid for. But, Dean, you mentioned that I wasn't "likely to want to take that risk" or something like that. Can you explain why that would be a risk? Is it a risk that they wouldn't allow me to add my guests, or just a risk that they may deny or revoke the dining plan?

Thanks again.

 

[DebbieB]

I think that is how Disney makes money on the dining plan - by requiring it for all people in the room and for all nights. If they allowed you to pick and choose, it would cut into their profits, possibly making it unprofitable. People who eat alot would buy it while others in the room would not, some people would buy it and share the food with those who didn't buy it.

 

[Dean]

Dean (or others) - I was thinking that if I just had my husband and son on the reservation for now as registered guests, and I called up and ordered the dining plan just for us for the entire stay, and then later (or at the time of check in) showed up and added my friend as a guest, and then later added my mom and sister when they showed up, then it would work because they wouldn't go back and "revoke" the dining plan we already paid for. But, Dean, you mentioned that I wasn't "likely to want to take that risk" or something like that. Can you explain why that would be a risk? Is it a risk that they wouldn't allow me to add my guests, or just a risk that they may deny or revoke the dining plan?

Thanks again.

You pay for it at check in so that would not help. Your only chance would be to check in with just the 2 of you and then add the others later. But it's too big a chance IMO. Or, as I mentioned, you could get separate rooms. And Debbie is correct, this is how they make money on the plan. They sell it to all knowing some will eat more and some less. I've seen in the past where All Inclusive plans see a decrease in food consumption after 3 days (no I haven't found the documentation yet).

 

[Judique]

Here is our situation - would really appreciate some help.

Me, my husband and 1 year old son have a 2-bedroom villa reserved at Beach Club from May 21 through 29th. From May 21-25, my best friend will be flying down and joining us in the suite then going home. From May 27-29, my mom and sister will be spending a couple of days with us as guests in the suite.

My question is this: My husband and I want to get the dining plan for our stay. I don't know if my friend, mom or sister want to get it, but even if they did, they are only staying a few days compared to our full stay. I got the DVC postcard re the dining plan stating that all people in the suite must buy the dining plan for the entire duration of the stay. Does my situation with "visitors" preclude us from buying the dining plan? Can we buy it regardless and then if my friend/mom/sister want the dining plan for the period of their stay, can they get it for just those days? If our guests don't get the dining plan, even for just the days they are staying, are we completely precluded from getting it too?

Any advice would help - I want to know the full "scoop" before I call.

Thanks.

Ummmm....this one would make me want to bend the rules just a bit.....
If the OP were to get the plan for 3 people for the full length of her stay, the number of days would be exactly matching the total number of days her guests are all staying. She wouldn't be paying anything more or less then if just one person stayed for the entire trip as her guest. It's still not exactly according to the rules, but I would probably do it. The credits would be pooled on the cards anyway. Putting on my flamesuit....

 

[Deb & Bill]

One problem with getting the people signed up for the DP as they arrived: You have to notify DVC before you check in that you want the dining plan. And then pay when you check in. So, according to the literature we have all received (a one page letter), you wouldn't be able to add anyone.

 

[JLS]

Again, thanks for the replies. I don't think I am going to be able to switch from a 2 bedroom to a 1 bed plus Studio at this late date, but I will try.

My thinking was this - just to clarify: We call ahead and reserve the dining plan for me and my husband (our son is too young at 1 year), and then check in the three of us and pay for our dining plan. So far, so good. When my friend arrives later that day or the next day, can I just check her in separately down at the front desk, add her name on the room as our guest, and get a key for her? If it is separate check in and my friend who is staying for a few days does not ask for the dining plan, are they going to all of a sudden REVOKE our dining plan, or just because we have purchased it would they (could they?) force my friend to buy the plan for the 8 days. Would the front desk even check out our dining plan situation when my friend checked in?

Please no flames - I am not trying to cheat Disney or anything like that. I'm just wondering how it really works. We are perfectly willing to pay for the dining plan for all of the days that we are there and that our guests are there, but I don't see why we should be denied the dining plan just because we have someone coming staying with us for a few days in the suite. That's why we reserved a 2 bedroom! If that is the rule, this would discourage members from being able to invite others along for a few days to enjoy their suite, which seems like a big reason to have the flexibiliy of DVC-sized accomodations in the first place.

 

[wilderness01]

It doesn't really seem like you will be able to do this. I don't personally think the stress/worry will be worth it. If you can't redo the reservation then maybe you should just forgo the dining plan. Either that or do not put the people on your reservation. Maybe that is not honest either, since really they want to know how many people are staying in the room for safety issues, but that seems like your only option if you are determined to get the dp. The worst then for your guests is that they couldn't go to EMH and have to cab it over to the villas since ME will be out of the question as well. By not putting the people on your reservation, you are really not cheating the hotel as you have the right to have more people in your room, but I guess not being entirely honest either. No flames from me. Good luck with your decision.

 

[lundve]

This is a very thought-provoking thread for me as I am running into a similar scenario. My DS will be 17 months when we visit later this year. We will have a 2BR for 4 adults and 1 infant. We were planning on using the DP for the 4 adults. The wrench gets thrown in as my MIL is planning on dropping in, staying a night, and then taking my DS back to her place for the remainder of our stay; thereby giving us time with and without our 17-month old at WDW. At the time this seemed like genious.

From Disney's point of view I can understand how they have decided on the rules. From a business perspective, they are banking on unused credits.

As a DVC member, I wish they'd tweak the rules just a tad; perhaps to say something like the following: if the DP is purchased for the reservation, each individual staying under that reservation must purchase the DP for the length of their stay (on an individual basis).

Until that change is made to the rules, members just have to break up their ressie's into chunks that line up with the guests appearances/disappearances. This trades in a bit of annoyance (possibly having to move every time) for a convenience (getting the DP). In fact, now that I've talked this out, this may be what we decide to do for our vacation as the alternative, no dining plan, isn't acceptable.

-Shawn

 

[Dean]

APlease no flames - I am not trying to cheat Disney or anything like that. I'm just wondering how it really works. We are perfectly willing to pay for the dining plan for all of the days that we are there and that our guests are there, but I don't see why we should be denied the dining plan just because we have someone coming staying with us for a few days in the suite. That's why we reserved a 2 bedroom! If that is the rule, this would discourage members from being able to invite others along for a few days to enjoy their suite, which seems like a big reason to have the flexibiliy of DVC-sized accomodations in the first place.

Technically those are the rules. Remember that Disney didn't approach this for DVC members, DVC asked for it and was granted access. All you have to do is not get it and you're no worse than you would have been before the DP. No one can know what DVC would do when you went to check in the other people. They could put you in the position of adding them only if you were paying for all days on the DP. And if they took that stance, I doubt they'd refund or revoke yours if you they didn't want the dining plan.

 

[Dean]

This is a very thought-provoking thread for me as I am running into a similar scenario. My DS will be 17 months when we visit later this year. We will have a 2BR for 4 adults and 1 infant. We were planning on using the DP for the 4 adults. The wrench gets thrown in as my MIL is planning on dropping in, staying a night, and then taking my DS back to her place for the remainder of our stay; thereby giving us time with and without our 17-month old at WDW. At the time this seemed like genious.

From Disney's point of view I can understand how they have decided on the rules. From a business perspective, they are banking on unused credits.

As a DVC member, I wish they'd tweak the rules just a tad; perhaps to say something like the following: if the DP is purchased for the reservation, each individual staying under that reservation must purchase the DP for the length of their stay (on an individual basis).

Until that change is made to the rules, members just have to break up their ressie's into chunks that line up with the guests appearances/disappearances. This trades in a bit of annoyance (possibly having to move every time) for a convenience (getting the DP). In fact, now that I've talked this out, this may be what we decide to do for our vacation as the alternative, no dining plan, isn't acceptable.

-Shawn

This is somewhat different. You would just need to list her as a guest, she wouldn't even need a room key for the one overnight.

 

[lundve]

This is somewhat different. You would just need to list her as a guest, she wouldn't even need a room key for the one overnight.

What if she decides to stay two nights? three? Does Disney draw a line somewhere? If so, I would imagine it would be at the first "overnight". I don't know, this'll be my first villa stay... so excuse my lack of experience with Guests.

 

[Dean]

What if she decides to stay two nights? three? Does Disney draw a line somewhere? If so, I would imagine it would be at the first "overnight". I don't know, this'll be my first villa stay... so excuse my lack of experience with Guests.

technically even for one night she would be supposed to buy for the entire time under the rules. My point was to practicality that if it's only overnight she won't really need a room key or even have to be on the reservation. If you try to add her, you have the same problem discussed above.