No Dining Plan?

[OneMoreTry]

I have over 300 pts that I paid alot of money for so I am not sure I would want to pay for the room......

You could rent those points for about $3000. How much would you have to pay for the room?

 

[Anewman]

I know that I am booking on short notice and am glad to stay at POR and pay the extra points but still feel that the DDP should be available. Seem like DVC members have to jump through alot of hoops to attach the plan -like pay cash for a night and buy a one day pass in order to work around the system.

No hoop jumping required when you stay at a DVC resort, unless you consider calling with longer notice a hoop.

You feel the plan should be available?
It is, they gave you options and more were given in this thread.

 

[Chuck S]

Again, Disney Travel doesn't have to extend the Dining Plan to ANY DVCers at all, it is designed as part of a package to sell cash rooms. It is a courtesy, really, that they allow it on ressies at DVC resorts which I suspect has to do with DVC Sales marketing, more than being "nice" to DVCers.

Member Services does not book regular resort rooms directly, they are booked through Disney Travel through an agreement with DVC, and are considered room only ressies. just like AP discounted rooms. Since Disney Travel controls the regular resort rooms, their package rules apply...nothing sinister there.

 

[bpmorley]

But no one is forcing the OP to stay at POR, it was offered because the dates requested were full(guessing) at all DVC resorts.

Sounds to me like they have already tried to accomidate the op for trying to book on short notice. Had the OP booked sooner and gotten into a DVC resort they would be happy to add the DDP.

UMMM, yes they are. The DVC does not have access to a DVC resort. We pay way too many points to stay at non-DVC resorts. I personally don't get what the big deal is. Anyone staying in WDW should be able to buy the DP.

 

[Anewman]

UMMM, yes they are. The DVC does not have access to a DVC resort.

So if I choose a last minute trip, lets say Dec. 23-29 and they are full at all DVC resorts but they find me a room at CSR. You would call that "forcing" me to stay at CSR?

interesting point of view



Yes it would be nice to stay on points anywhere and be able to buy the DDP, but I do not see what the big deal is with understanding the current policy.

 

[keishashadow]

UMMM, yes they are. The DVC does not have access to a DVC resort. We pay way too many points to stay at non-DVC resorts. I personally don't get what the big deal is. Anyone staying in WDW should be able to buy the DP.

I was recently told by CRO that the DP is considered to be a component of a package plan & that they do run out of various pkg availability @ the resorts (hard to believe, unless they'd be referring to code promos IMO).

 

[DebbieB]

I know that I am booking on short notice and am glad to stay at POR and pay the extra points but still feel that the DDP should be available. Seem like DVC members have to jump through alot of hoops to attach the plan -like pay cash for a night and buy a one day pass in order to work around the system.

I'm not sure I understand "jump through alot of hoops, pay cash for a night". Unlike the general public, we can add the dining plan without a ticket purchase when staying on points at a DVC resort. They even extended it to cash nights booked through member services. They could have very easily said we had to purchase at least a 1 day ticket but they didn't. They gave us that concession but only at DVC resorts (through member services).

 

[CarolMN]

I was recently told by CRO that the DP is considered to be a component of a package plan & that they do run out of various pkg availability @ the resorts (hard to believe, unless they'd be referring to code promos IMO).

I think there is definitely limited capacity for the Dining Plan add ons. (If there isn't, there sure should be)! If the DP is oversold, you will have many unhappy guests who cannot find anywhere to use their credits. Thus Disney recently added the buffet in Tomorrowland and allowed TS credits to be exchanged for CS & snack credits. I do not think they want to do things like that on a permanent basis.

I am personally grateful that DVC members are even allowed to add the DP, especially since we don't also have to buy a ticket to get it or even stay for a minimum number of nights. I think DVC members and guests with the DP are likely taking up some of the DP package capacity.

FWIW, staying at a non-DVC resort on points is really trading out of DVC. We are not even guaranteed that it will always be an option. I don't think it is a realistic to expect to have the DP at a non-DVC resort unless you book through CRO and buy a package. JMHO. YMMV.

Best wishes -

 

[lovetheworld]

That's how I would feel. We already get ripped off when we don't stay in a DVC resort and now this. Some phone calls have to be made.

I clearly understand that the current is not to offer the DDP when booking outside of DVC resorts but as stated above we are paying a "point" premium to book at other locations. I think that a contractual agreement should be considered to add the DDP when booking at any location under DVC points. I did not realize that there were so many hostel people out there I am glad you see my point bpmorley. I guess it must be that Jersey/Philly connection

 

[Chuck S]

I clearly understand that the current is not to offer the DDP when booking outside of DVC resorts but as stated above we are paying a "point" premium to book at other locations. I think that a contractual agreement should be considered to add the DDP when booking at any location under DVC points. I did not realize that there were so many hostel people out there I am glad you see my point bpmorley. I guess it must be that Jersey/Philly connection

No one has been "hostile" towards you personally that I can see, they simply disagree with your position on the DDP being available on non-DVC stays, and have listed the reasons why it is not. Remember, as CarolMN said, it is a trade, just like any other non-DVC trade and it isn't even guaranteed that we'll always have the ability to stay at regular WDW hotels on points, no matter what the cost. The rooms are "owned" by Disney, not DVC members, and Disney/Disney Travel sets the rules...everyone should realize that when they trade out. It is made clear on the DVC Member website"

"Disney Dining Plan Now Available to Members
Members can now enjoy the Disney Dining Plan when staying at a Disney Vacation Club Resort at the Walt Disney World® Resort on or after April 1 (this excludes Disney's Hilton Head Island Resort and Disney's Vero Beach Resort). Important Note: The Disney Dining Plan must be booked in advance of arrival and must be purchased for your entire travel party (ages 3 and over) for your entire length of stay. Call Member Services to add it to your reservation or to make a new reservation today."

Note: Bold type above is in context and a direct paste from the DVC member website.

Hopefully, DVC members would take the time to familiarize themselves with the rules prior to booking non-DVC ressies on points.

 

[lovetheworld]

No one has been "hostile" towards you personally that I can see, they simply disagree with your position on the DDP being available on non-DVC stays, and have listed the reasons why it is not. Remember, as CarolMN said, it is a trade, just like any other non-DVC trade and it isn't even guaranteed that we'll always have the ability to stay at regular WDW hotels on points, no matter what the cost. The rooms are "owned" by Disney, not DVC members, and Disney/Disney Travel sets the rules...everyone should realize that when they trade out. It is made clear on the DVC Member website"

"Disney Dining Plan Now Available to Members
Members can now enjoy the Disney Dining Plan when staying at a Disney Vacation Club Resort at the Walt Disney World® Resort on or after April 1 (this excludes Disney's Hilton Head Island Resort and Disney's Vero Beach Resort). Important Note: The Disney Dining Plan must be booked in advance of arrival and must be purchased for your entire travel party (ages 3 and over) for your entire length of stay. Call Member Services to add it to your reservation or to make a new reservation today."

Note: Bold type above is in context and a direct paste from the DVC member website.

Hopefully, DVC members would take the time to familiarize themselves with the rules prior to booking non-DVC ressies on points.

I did not book the room and waitlisted for a DVC resort when I realized that it was not available to me. I do have a DDE card so if I do not get the DDP then I will just use my DDE card. I just personally think that it should be offered no matter where you book when you are are booking.

 

[Dean]

I clearly understand that the current is not to offer the DDP when booking outside of DVC resorts but as stated above we are paying a "point" premium to book at other locations. I think that a contractual agreement should be considered to add the DDP when booking at any location under DVC points. I did not realize that there were so many hostel people out there I am glad you see my point bpmorley. I guess it must be that Jersey/Philly connection

The option could be removed for DVC members tomorrow or could be limited in any way Disney saw fit including ticket purchases, LOS or even one DVC resort and not another if they so chose. I think we all see your point but I think most of us realize this is their ball and their court and DVC members are lucky to have any options at all.

 

[lovetheworld]

The option could be removed for DVC members tomorrow or could be limited in any way Disney saw fit including ticket purchases, LOS or even one DVC resort and not another if they so chose. I think we all see your point but I think most of us realize this is their ball and their court and DVC members are lucky to have any options at all.

I agree the ball is in their court but we "DVCers" always need to express our opinions that is what makes change happen. I love being a dvc member and am that glad that we are offered so many perks. Yes, there are always things that can be improved with the membership.

 

[Dean]

I agree the ball is in their court but we "DVCers" always need to express our opinions that is what makes change happen. I love being a dvc member and am that glad that we are offered so many perks. Yes, there are always things that can be improved with the membership.

I would agree but suggest there is a fine line between making one's desires known and demanding. Your posts came off as demanding, basically "how dare they not extend the DDP to points used at the DC hotels". You likely didn't intend to come across this way. Members asking are what got the ball rolling for what we have now.

On a side note, wasn't the cutoff between the kids price and adults for the Food n Fun option more like 12/13 rather than 9/10?

 

[DebbieB]

It seems like everytime DVC gets us a long fought after "perk" there's always someone who complains it isn't enough. Like when we finally got the discount on annual passes, there were complaints that it wasn't extended to MYW passes. After 15 months we finally got the dining plan at DVC resorts, now there are complaints it wasn't extended to non-DVC resorts. The part that concerns me is that eventually DVC will say, we can't make them happy no matter what, so why bother.

 

[Jennyvelaz]

Was the cash ressie with a discount code or is there a fixed price? My friend just got her Oct 16 package AND all her TS ressies made for her for $68 (5 day total DDP). I Know some recvd the DDP for free (with package price anyway..nothing is for free), which is a nice bonus! I have read all the posts and I understand some of the frustration. We are all trying for TS reservations and cannot get any for our stay-DVC or not.

 

[dvc-NE]

We stayed last month at Yacht Club using points. MS told me that it had to be at a DVC resort to get the DDP. They said maybe next year it may become possible. What I did not know at the time was that anyone who purchased a package then got the DDP free. Oh well, we still had the DDE card to fall back on, can't really complain. But I was not aware about the DDP only available at the DVC resorts.