New Policy for Adding Dining Plan

[DebbieB]

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2567035

For those with existing reservations, check this part:

Existing reservations under a single accommodation can later be split into separate accommodations, but it is a complicated process and there is some risk of the inventory being lost.

 

[Disneywedding2010]

I just got off the phone with member services about an hour ago and she said I could add the dining plan up to 48 hours before my arrival.

 

[tjkraz]

Wow....this is a REALLY nice perk! TJ, I read your article; however, I have a 3 year old asking me questions during the middle of it, so forgive me if this was explained, but for existing reservations this can still be done, right? It's just a bit more complicated? We have a ressie for March, 2 confirmation numbers (split stay), and would very much like to add the DDP for a few of those days. I'm hoping we can take advantage and it's not just new reservations as of Oct. 14.

So is this all going to be possible after Oct 14th? I read the article at DVC news and was thinking, before I read it, that I would see about splitting the DDP for our Dec trip but it sounds like it could get hairy and there is a chance that we could lose our room. Looks like I still may run the numbers if its possible though.

Yes, you can split up the dining for trips that are already booked. But the process is a bit more complicated. It basically involves canceling several days of the trip (those you want split-off) and re-booking those days under a separate "accommodation." As stated, the risk is that another DVC booking agent could grab those days between the time they are canceled and re-booked.

I suspect it is a VERY small risk but we've read reports of it happening before here.

Best thing to do is to split the trips up at the time of booking and then pay for the DDP later.

 

[brookelizabeth]

I've had that happen to me - the room was there and when they went to book it just a minute later - it was GONE. Of course it was NYE week, not late Feb/early March, but it still makes me nervous. We'll see if we risk it or not....

Thank you for the info!!!

 

[Bouncin-Tigger]

Has anyone heard anything about the prepay option that was being talked about a few months back. I thougt I read that there was going to be an option to pay in advance or that it was going to be a mandatory to pay before checkin.

 

[erionm]

Has anyone heard anything about the prepay option that was being talked about a few months back. I thougt I read that there was going to be an option to pay in advance or that it was going to be a mandatory to pay before checkin.

Beginning Oct 14, you will have to pay for the dining plan at the time it's added to a room reservation. You will still have the option of adding the dining plan up to 48 hours in advance of your arrival.

 

[Sammie]

Has anyone gotten clarification on cancelling the DDP after you prepay?

 

[photobob]

So do I understand the only way to buy the DDP for a portion of your vacation is to split the reservation into separate accommodations? For example for a Sun-Fri stay you wanted say the DxDP for Tues and Wed of the trip you'd have a separate accommodation for Sun and Mon, another for Tues and Wed and another for Thurs and Fri?? Why can't they just let you have the DDP for whatever portion of the stay you want, seems like that would be a lot less confusing for everyone, especially MS. Don't get me wrong I really do appreciate the attempt to give us more flexibility with the DDP and this could make more DVC members participate but it seems like a it is going be a big headache for MS setting up reservations.

 

[kdzgon]

So do I understand the only way to buy the DDP for a portion of your vacation is to split the reservation into separate accommodations? For example for a Sun-Fri stay you wanted say the DxDP for Tues and Wed of the trip you'd have a separate accommodation for Sun and Mon, another for Tues and Wed and another for Thurs and Fri?? Why can't they just let you have the DDP for whatever portion of the stay you want, seems like that would be a lot less confusing for everyone, especially MS. Don't get me wrong I really do appreciate the attempt to give us more flexibility with the DDP and this could make more DVC members participate but it seems like a it is going be a big headache for MS setting up reservations.

But it was always an option to split a trip into multiple bookings and choose different dining options for each reservation.

The booking changes seem to include:

1. Multiple bookings for the same trip will be consolidated under one reservation number, even if the bookings span several locations
2. The DDP will(can?) follow actual occupancy (eg, 4 guests check in on day 1, 2 more join them on day 4, days 1-3 will include DDP for 4, starting day 4 it will be DDP for 6)
3. Starting Oct 14 we will need to pre-pay for any DDPs
4. Cash reservations will require one night's payment (incl tax) up front
5. Email confirmations will be available

(NOTE: I am using "DDP" as a generic term for any of the available dining plans - QS, DDP, DxDP)

IMO, the ability to split a reservation into multiple facets in order to take advantage of differing dining options is not a change - we have always had that ability.

 

[AnnaS]

But it was always an option to split a trip into multiple bookings and choose different dining options for each reservation.

The booking changes seem to include:

1. Multiple bookings for the same trip will be consolidated under one reservation number, even if the bookings span several locations
2. The DDP will(can?) follow actual occupancy (eg, 4 guests check in on day 1, 2 more join them on day 4, days 1-3 will include DDP for 4, starting day 4 it will be DDP for 6)
3. Starting Oct 14 we will need to pre-pay for any DDPs
4. Cash reservations will require one night's payment (incl tax) up front
5. Email confirmations will be available

(NOTE: I am using "DDP" as a generic term for any of the available dining plans - QS, DDP, DxDP)

IMO, the ability to split a reservation into multiple facets in order to take advantage of differing dining options is not a change - we have always had that ability.

Let's see if I am understanding this right - we always had the ability to split a reservation in order to get the DDP for part of our stay (I actually never though of that - duh- but would not want to risk moving so would not have done it anyway) but there was a chance that we might have to move, correct? With this new change - we are guaranteed the same room, yes?

 

[Dean]

But it was always an option to split a trip into multiple bookings and choose different dining options for each reservation.

The booking changes seem to include:

1. Multiple bookings for the same trip will be consolidated under one reservation number, even if the bookings span several locations
2. The DDP will(can?) follow actual occupancy (eg, 4 guests check in on day 1, 2 more join them on day 4, days 1-3 will include DDP for 4, starting day 4 it will be DDP for 6)
3. Starting Oct 14 we will need to pre-pay for any DDPs
4. Cash reservations will require one night's payment (incl tax) up front
5. Email confirmations will be available

(NOTE: I am using "DDP" as a generic term for any of the available dining plans - QS, DDP, DxDP)

IMO, the ability to split a reservation into multiple facets in order to take advantage of differing dining options is not a change - we have always had that ability.

It actually seems to be more than that. With the info available so far, it looks like you can have 2 levels of reservations and have different DDP options for different days (or none for some days) regardless of occupancy. If this true, I suspect it will be fairly easy to do without a risk of losing any reservation.

 

[Sandisw]

But it was always an option to split a trip into multiple bookings and choose different dining options for each reservation.

The booking changes seem to include:

1. Multiple bookings for the same trip will be consolidated under one reservation number, even if the bookings span several locations
2. The DDP will(can?) follow actual occupancy (eg, 4 guests check in on day 1, 2 more join them on day 4, days 1-3 will include DDP for 4, starting day 4 it will be DDP for 6)
3. Starting Oct 14 we will need to pre-pay for any DDPs
4. Cash reservations will require one night's payment (incl tax) up front
5. Email confirmations will be available

(NOTE: I am using "DDP" as a generic term for any of the available dining plans - QS, DDP, DxDP)

IMO, the ability to split a reservation into multiple facets in order to take advantage of differing dining options is not a change - we have always had that ability.

Yes, we did have the option to do this but only if you were moving resorts or did not link reservations for the same resort and room.

If you were staying at the same resort and room, but on unlinked reservations, you had to check out/in and could be asked to move rooms. It was a risk that some were not always comfortable with.

With the new system, this piece will be eliminated. So, next summer, I can stay my entire 6 nights at BLT and only get the DDP for the first and last night without having to worry about changing rooms or having to check in/out several times.

 

[tjkraz]

Has anyone gotten clarification on cancelling the DDP after you prepay?

I'll see if I can find out next week.

But it was always an option to split a trip into multiple bookings and choose different dining options for each reservation.

Yes and no.

OFFICIALLY, all stays at a single resort were supposed to be processed by Member Services as a single reservation with one Dining Plan election for the entire length of stay.

You might have been able to find an agent who would actually split the trip into two segments (one with DDP and one without), but they were not supposed to be doing that. And the old (current) system would require multiple check-ins and room keys for each portion of that stay.

As another poster illustrated, as of October 14th we could conceivably have different room occupancies and dining plan elections for every single night of a 6 night stay. One check-in...one set of room keys. I don't think you can really compare that to the current process of checking-in 6 separate times...assuming you can even get an agent to configure such a trip.

 

[CarolMN]

So do I understand the only way to buy the DDP for a portion of your vacation is to split the reservation into separate accommodations? For example for a Sun-Fri stay you wanted say the DxDP for Tues and Wed of the trip you'd have a separate accommodation for Sun and Mon, another for Tues and Wed and another for Thurs and Fri?? Why can't they just let you have the DDP for whatever portion of the stay you want, seems like that would be a lot less confusing for everyone, especially MS. Don't get me wrong I really do appreciate the attempt to give us more flexibility with the DDP and this could make more DVC members participate but it seems like a it is going be a big headache for MS setting up reservations.

I agree and suspect it is a system limitation. They could probably program it to do that, but remember, MS will now be using the same basic reservation system as CRO.

My guess is that this is how it works for CRO cash guests if any of them want to buy separate packages for a continuous stay. It appears that they are still waiving the ticket purchase and minimum stay requirements for DVC members. That's a nice perk!

 

[DVC Grandpa]

For the past few years I have always made my room reservations in weekly increments. I currently have three consecutive weeks booked for January. In the past the only drawback is that we had to go to the front desk and close and reopen the account at the end of the reservation stay. We thought it gave us flexibility in the event one or more of the weeks had to be altered or cancelled. We have done this during the high peak seasons as well as the off season. We have yet had to cancel or change any reservation. Now it sounds like we may be able to take advantage of the DDP during one of those weeks if so desired.

 

[LIFERBABE]

This sounds wonderful, but what about the mugs?

Does this mean I can now use my mug for the entire DVC stay even if I purchased it at BLT and move over to AKV?

Sorry but I had to go there

 

[Sammie]

This sounds wonderful, but what about the mugs?

Does this mean I can now use my mug for the entire DVC stay even if I purchased it at BLT and move over to AKV?

Sorry but I had to go there

Go to your room and stand in the corner, with your mug.

 

[gamomof2]

So here is our possibe scenario. Our daughter would like to take 4 friends next June for their Senior trip (I will be along). Two friends eat like birds, 2 friends have been to WDW with us before and think everything is overpriced and my daughter and I love the DDP because we can try new things. Will it be possible to get varying plans to accomodate eating habits and budgets? Each girl is paying their own meal expenses.

So 4 nights basic DDP for DD and myself.
4 nights qsdp for 2 girls
no DDP for 2 girls.

Possible?

 

[LaNina72]

So here is our possibe scenario. Our daughter would like to take 4 friends next June for their Senior trip (I will be along). Two friends eat like birds, 2 friends have been to WDW with us before and think everything is overpriced and my daughter and I love the DDP because we can try new things. Will it be possible to get varying plans to accomodate eating habits and budgets? Each girl is paying their own meal expenses.

So 4 nights basic DDP for DD and myself.
4 nights qsdp for 2 girls
no DDP for 2 girls.

Possible?

I'm interested in this scenerio as well.

I'll be going down with Momma Bear and Darling Brother for 5 days. But DB is scheduled to be off-site a few of the days with some friends. So I'd be interested in DDP for myself and MommaBear for the duration. (I need him on the ressie for ME to/from MCO.)

 

[Buzzsgramma]

As members of DVC...i would welcome this idea...we are scheduled for 8 nites at BWV in Nov....and although we love to go to TS dining i am hesitant to book for all of those nites....the cost plus all that food.
i usually just buy the TIW card.......