No more segmented vacations for ddp

[Deb & Bill]

we are staying in a 2 br the whole trip...my concern is that people are leaving and we will still be charged for them

Of course you will. That's how the dining plan works.

i guess we see it different ways. we dont want to do only a few days here and there during our trip, we just dont want to pay an extra 200 bucks because they wont let us have a seperate reservation for the last 2 days when 2 people will have left and then have 4 ts meals and 4 counter service meals to worry about using...maybe we'll let some lucky family of 4 have a nice treat and use 4 ts on them and then us 4 cs on another family

The dining plan wasn't intended to be a pick one from column A, one from Column B plan. It was intended to be food plan from start to finish. And if your plans didn't match it, you didn't get the dining plan.

 

[treehugnmama]

WOW...no flames please...but..I can't believe all this 'segmenting' talk...it's crazy. We have been members for 11 years and go at least 4 times a year and have NEVER segmented to use DDP. Disney allowing DVC to use DDP at all is a perk, like it or not. They don't have to offer it. I believe in trying to always find the best deal, but to blatantly abuse the system on purpose seems crazy to me. Just book your vacation instead of making it more complicated than it needed to be. And stop trying to find a loophole in everything so things get taken away. JMHO.

7 Months ago when I booked my upcomming vacation ms told me about this...not trying to find a loophole didn't even know about it till they told me...then i booked all my reservations based on it....my beef is not that it is or isn't available but that I now don't have the proper ressies to warrent the dp all week

 

[RachaelA]

we are staying in a 2 br the whole trip...my concern is that people are leaving and we will still be charged for them





i guess we see it different ways. we dont want to do only a few days here and there during our trip, we just dont want to pay an extra 200 bucks because they wont let us have a seperate reservation for the last 2 days when 2 people will have left and then have 4 ts meals and 4 counter service meals to worry about using...maybe we'll let some lucky family of 4 have a nice treat and use 4 ts on them and then us 4 cs on another family

If you were staying on a cash reservation or on a normal Disney (non-DVC) reservation, you'd have to pay for the dining plan for the whole trip even if half your party left after a couple days.

 

[LSchrow]

abuse? i don't think so....DD and i used the DDP for 1 night of our 11 day trip in may. we did not abuse the system - just booked and ate.
we enjoyed eating dinner at our favorite sit-down restaurant (coral reef) one night, and lunch at morrocco the next day, and "saving" about $20 each.
we have in the past, repeatedly used DDP for length of stays (way too much food - we only eat one big meal a day, and sometimes just 2 small ones) as well as the TIW card (not worth it for 2 ppl that don't eat much - even over 2-3 a year, 10-12 day vacas).
we planned on using the DDP for 1-2 days for oct, DH and myself. aside from the way too much food issue, i really can't think of enough WDW restaurants we actually enjoy the food at to book the plan for the full length of our stay. now, our plan this trip is to eat in room and off-site exclusively.

angry, no. sad, yes - it was fun while it lasted tho

 

[ftballfan7]

WOW...no flames please...but..I can't believe all this 'segmenting' talk...it's crazy. We have been members for 11 years and go at least 4 times a year and have NEVER segmented to use DDP. Disney allowing DVC to use DDP at all is a perk, like it or not. They don't have to offer it. I believe in trying to always find the best deal, but to blatantly abuse the system on purpose seems crazy to me. Just book your vacation instead of making it more complicated than it needed to be. And stop trying to find a loophole in everything so things get taken away. JMHO.

You are painting with a pretty broad brush here. Blatantly abusing the system? Really? A change was made allowing this. When I made my reservation I asked about it and was told it was allowable and how it would work. I didn't try to be sneaky or deceitful. Doing things like walking reservations is abusing the system. I don't believe this is.

I have stated before that I am not surprised they ended segmenting. I am disappointed that they will not allow those who have upcoming vacations do it after they had been told they could. Plans have been made and are difficult to change now at this late hour. That said, I am still looking forward to my vacation and we will enjoy ourselves.

 

[DHar]

If you were staying on a cash reservation or on a normal Disney (non-DVC) reservation, you'd have to pay for the dining plan for the whole trip even if half your party left after a couple days.

wouldnt i be able to book 2 reservations if i'm paying cash?...say 1 for 4 days and then 1 for 3 days?.....dvc wont let you do that unless you change resorts or room categories...i may call reservations and just for laughs see if i can book 2 reservations like that

 

[ftballfan7]

wouldnt i be able to book 2 reservations if i'm paying cash?...say 1 for 4 days and then 1 for 3 days?.....dvc wont let you do that unless you change resorts or room categories...i may call reservations and just for laughs see if i can book 2 reservations like that

If you are staying on cash, you can also wait until the extras arrive to add them and not have to get the ddp for them at all. Or add them at check in if they leaving early.

 

[DMKEDM]

Since when is following the rules as the rules are crafted "abusive?"

Disney did a poor job of designing its rules governing DVC & the DDP--and when they discovered the flaws in the rules as they worked in operation, they changed them. But the people following the rules were not and are not "abusing them." How in heavens name are we all supposed to know what Disney "intends" w/its rules? We're supposed to follow the rules, not some "intent" that isn't explained other than by a bunch of observers who have no more ability to "know" what Disney "intends" than anyone else does!

It's my "hot button." I believe in following the rules. I do not believe in forcing "the public" to guess at what the rules really mean. I don't think walking a reservation is an abuse. I don't think day-by-day reservations were an abuse. I don't think using the wait lists extensively were an abuse. I don't think segmenting a reservation for DDP purposes was an abuse. In all cases, people followed the rules as Disney designed them.

I was "caught" by this change, too. In fact, 3 days before the change I'd called and the CM offered to segment for me in order to accommodate our T-giving reservation (my DS is joining me 3 days after I arrive). But I wasn't yet ready to decide on which days of DDP I wanted, so I said I'd call back. I hadn't called back by the time Disney changed the rules. So now I have to decide between "all" or "nothing." So be it. Some time between now & 3 days before I get there I'll make that decision...

I totally sympathize w/the folks whose plans are now all messed up as a result of this change (like I totally sympathized w/people who got caught w/the loss of free valet parking and like I totally sympathize w/myself now that I can no longer use the wait list in a way that works well for me and my DS)...but the bottom line is Disney makes the rules and Disney can change the rules. And people who live within the rules as they exist when they are making their plans are NOT "abusing!!!!"

And I hope everyone has a magical day...

 

[Grumpy Grandma]

They are treating DVCers exactly the same as cash guests. I really don;t see a problem. Now, if theylet cash guests pick and chose days and/or when they can add guests to the plan, DVC may have a complaint...but as long as the same rules apply to cash guest, I have no problem. AGain, the DDP was never intended to be a $$ saver. In fact, DVCers weren't even allowed to add the DDP for several months after it was introduced to cash guests. The DDP was designed for the way cash guests travel, by the cash reservation division of Disney....they control the program, not DVC.

If the DDP rules don't work for you, don't get the DDP. Seems pretty simple. That is the way it was prior to the system upgrade loophole less than a year ago.

I've never used the DDP, and we've eaten quite a bit onsite. I've always come out cheaper paying cash and being able to order what we really want to eat rather than being forced to have entree, beverage and dessert at every TS location.

Couldn't a cash guest make a reservation that included the dining plan for 4 days for 6 people and then make another reservation including the dining plan for 2 days for 4 people in the same resort knowing that they might have to change rooms and only pay for the dining plan for the actual number of people? Of course they would need tickets for each separate reservation so that might not work but I think they'd be allowed to do this. Or they could make the 2nd reservation for room only and pay for those meals out of pocket.

 

[vicki_c]

If you are staying on cash, you can also wait until the extras arrive to add them and not have to get the ddp for them at all. Or add them at check in if they leaving early.

This should still be true for DVC stays as well.

I'm in the camp that thinks it's unfortunate for those with screwed up plans, but don't see any unfairness in the treatment of DVC stays like a cash stay when it comes to the DDP.

 

[DHar]

Since when is following the rules as the rules are crafted "abusive?"

Disney did a poor job of designing its rules governing DVC & the DDP--and when they discovered the flaws in the rules as they worked in operation, they changed them. But the people following the rules were not and are not "abusing them." How in heavens name are we all supposed to know what Disney "intends" w/its rules? We're supposed to follow the rules, not some "intent" that isn't explained other than by a bunch of observers who have no more ability to "know" what Disney "intends" than anyone else does!

It's my "hot button." I believe in following the rules. I do not believe in forcing "the public" to guess at what the rules really mean. I don't think walking a reservation is an abuse. I don't think day-by-day reservations were an abuse. I don't think using the wait lists extensively were an abuse. I don't think segmenting a reservation for DDP purposes was an abuse. In all cases, people followed the rules as Disney designed them.

I was "caught" by this change, too. In fact, 3 days before the change I'd called and the CM offered to segment for me in order to accommodate our T-giving reservation (my DS is joining me 3 days after I arrive). But I wasn't yet ready to decide on which days of DDP I wanted, so I said I'd call back. I hadn't called back by the time Disney changed the rules. So now I have to decide between "all" or "nothing." So be it. Some time between now & 3 days before I get there I'll make that decision...

I totally sympathize w/the folks whose plans are now all messed up as a result of this change (like I totally sympathized w/people who got caught w/the loss of free valet parking and like I totally sympathize w/myself now that I can no longer use the wait list in a way that works well for me and my DS)...but the bottom line is Disney makes the rules and Disney can change the rules. And people who live within the rules as they exist when they are making their plans are NOT "abusing!!!!"

And I hope everyone has a magical day...

 

[vicki_c]

Couldn't a cash guest make a reservation that included the dining plan for 4 days for 6 people and then make another reservation including the dining plan for 2 days for 4 people in the same resort knowing that they might have to change rooms and only pay for the dining plan for the actual number of people? Of course they would need tickets for each separate reservation so that might not work but I think they'd be allowed to do this. Or they could make the 2nd reservation for room only and pay for those meals out of pocket.

This is true. I tend to think that as things settle out, DVC members will be able to do this as well. There just seems to be major confusion right now over contiguous reservations - they should (IMO) get separate reservation #s and be able to be treated independent of one another, like in the past. If I'm recalling all the different stories we've heard in this thread, it seems like some MS staff are saying you can do that and some are saying you cannot (and trying to do that with a reservation that is currently all under one number if definitely problematic since it's already been made and you start to run into issues with cancellations and availability).

 

[ckdsnynt]

Okay, I am really confused and hope you guys that have been dvc'rs longer than I have been will help me out here!

What does "segmented" mean?

Thanks.

 

[Granny]

Okay, I am really confused and hope you guys that have been dvc'rs longer than I have been will help me out here!

What does "segmented" mean?

Thanks.

In the case of DDP, segmented means that instead of using DDP for an entire trip, we were allowed to pick and choose which days of the trip we wanted to be on the plan. So we could "segment" the trip with some parts having the plan and some parts not having it.

Now it is back to where it used to be...DDP is for the entire trip or not at all.

 

[Sandisw]

wouldnt i be able to book 2 reservations if i'm paying cash?...say 1 for 4 days and then 1 for 3 days?.....dvc wont let you do that unless you change resorts or room categories...i may call reservations and just for laughs see if i can book 2 reservations like that

I think DVC would allow this too if you book it that way from the start, which is how it would work with cash.

A cash guest can not book a 7 night stay and then call back a few months later and ask them to segment out the last 2 nights--they have to cancel and rebook the whole package. I am positive that DVC would allow you to do that right now--cancel the last two nights and then rebook them as a new reservation. The problem would obviously be with availability at this point.


Unfortunately, I think the real problem for many is that the rules changed mid stream in the planning process, and they are not allowing any grandfathering in for those that planned for being able to do a segmented dining plan stay (for whatever reason).

I just wonder if you are now going to see split stays done under different #'s, like they used to, instead of the one travel plan #, as my August 2012 trip is done that way. All three reservations I made have their own #s.

In addition to the issues with the dining plans, it also prevented on line check in--even for those that had reservations segmented due to wait lists.

It just makes me think that maybe what this is really all about goes beyond just the dining plan issue.

 

[vicki_c]

Sandiw and I are twin daughters from different mothers!

 

[Lizzim]

A little off topic, but what puzzles me is the one reservation number per trip. I have a reservation for BLT which is immediately followed by a reservation at HHI. This trip appears with one confirmation number for the whole trip, despite the fact that they are in different states.

I wonder what would happen if I tried to add a dining plan? Would they try and make me add it for the whole trip?!

 

[ckdsnynt]

In the case of DDP, segmented means that instead of using DDP for an entire trip, we were allowed to pick and choose which days of the trip we wanted to be on the plan. So we could "segment" the trip with some parts having the plan and some parts not having it.

Now it is back to where it used to be...DDP is for the entire trip or not at all.

I thought that was how it always was! That's what I understood it to be and how I treated it. Last Christmas when we went as a group of 31 and stayed at BLT, we had several that arrived late or came early yet we paid for all of them as if they came on the same day and left on the same day. I guess we were stupid and overpaid!

 

[DHar]

I think DVC would allow this too if you book it that way from the start, which is how it would work with cash.

A cash guest can not book a 7 night stay and then call back a few months later and ask them to segment out the last 2 nights--they have to cancel and rebook the whole package. I am positive that DVC would allow you to do that right now--cancel the last two nights and then rebook them as a new reservation. The problem would obviously be with availability at this point.


Unfortunately, I think the real problem for many is that the rules changed mid stream in the planning process, and they are not allowing any grandfathering in for those that planned for being able to do a segmented dining plan stay (for whatever reason).

I just wonder if you are now going to see split stays done under different #'s, like they used to, instead of the one travel plan #, as my August 2012 trip is done that way. All three reservations I made have their own #s.

In addition to the issues with the dining plans, it also prevented on line check in--even for those that had reservations segmented due to wait lists.

It just makes me think that maybe what this is really all about goes beyond just the dining plan issue.

no, they wont allow it....we had it booked that way....a 2 br stand view for 5 nights with 7 guests, and then a 2 br standard view for 2 nights with 5 guests....they took it upon themselves to combine them

 

[vicki_c]

I thought that was how it always was! That's what I understood it to be and how I treated it. Last Christmas when we went as a group of 31 and stayed at BLT, we had several that arrived late or came early yet we paid for all of them as if they came on the same day and left on the same day. I guess we were stupid and overpaid!

It IS how it always was, including last Christmas if I'm recalling the time frames right. It has only been for the last 7-8 months that we could do this segmenting thing, and now they are going back to how it was. You didn't overpay.