Query on Free Dining

[Girlsontour]

Myself, Kara and Luccy have free dining next October (2011)....if Kara's B/F comes too, but not through VH, just through a flight and pay for extra person in the room to the hotel will he have to pay for dining when we get to Disney?

Does everyone in the room have to dining?

Thanks for any info

 

[2Tiggies]

Myself, Kara and Luccy have free dining next October (2011)....if Kara's B/F comes too, but not through VH, just through a flight and pay for extra person in the room to the hotel will he have to pay for dining when we get to Disney?

Does everyone in the room have to dining?

Thanks for any info

I would suggest that you phone Disney (in the US, where you will be paying for your DD's DBF). The rule is that everyone in your room has to be on the same dining package, if any. What you might be able to do, since you are going to wait anyway before you pay for his accommodation, is to keep your eye open and see if the US FD offer is extended for next year. It ONLY has to be offered on your CHECK IN DATE to get it for your whole stay, so if they extended it to whenever your check in date is, he would qualify for FD. However you have to book this at least 72 hours before arrival and you would need to get him a 2 day base ticket, but if you can pull that off you will save a lot of money over paying for his DDP in full - which they will very likely expect you to do, as well as purchase a one day base ticket for him to allow him to add the DDP.

 

[Girlsontour]

Thanks for that - wow, this free dining is really complicated!!!

 

[wideeyes]

I would suggest that you phone Disney (in the US, where you will be paying for your DD's DBF). The rule is that everyone in your room has to be on the same dining package, if any. What you might be able to do, since you are going to wait anyway before you pay for his accommodation, is to keep your eye open and see if the US FD offer is extended for next year. It ONLY has to be offered on your CHECK IN DATE to get it for your whole stay, so if they extended it to whenever your check in date is, he would qualify for FD. However you have to book this at least 72 hours before arrival and you would need to get him a 2 day base ticket, but if you can pull that off you will save a lot of money over paying for his DDP in full - which they will very likely expect you to do, as well as purchase a one day base ticket for him to allow him to add the DDP.

I am not sure if they will let one person in the room be on the USA free dining while the rest of the room is on the UK free dining terms. I think everyone has to have the same package. If it is booked with VH then it will make it a bigger pain getting it added as the room contract is VH. Unless he is having his own room booked through Disney usa.

 

[2Tiggies]

I am not sure if they will let one person in the room be on the USA free dining while the rest of the room is on the UK free dining terms. I think everyone has to have the same package. If it is booked with VH then it will make it a bigger pain getting it added as the room contract is VH. Unless he is having his own room booked through Disney usa.

I agree, there is a chance that more than one thing here could cause even more complications. I cannot understand why VH will not add an extra person onto the reservation and give free dining. I mean it isn't VH giving way the food is it?

Anyway, my recommendation to make a phone call still stands. As you say, dining whether free or not, can be very complicated.

I do remember another thread about this last week but I don't recall VH reasons for it. I think it may be worth pushing them for it.

As Wideyes says, very possibly that you can't mix the different packages in the same room. I originally thought it would make sense to try and get a deal at the point you will be handing over the money (in this case, in the US). The trouble with the US is they are so sticky about everyone in the room being on the same dining plan, etc - while VH are telling you that you can't

 

[wideeyes]

VH are a pain with this sort of thing and will very rarely budge. The problem with booking with VH is the contract is between VH & Disney and while your contract is with VH. One of the reasons I book direct.

I have found that Disney UK will at least try and help find a soloution and get a manager to help. The CM who does the booking can't add free dining after the booking period has ended as the system won't let them however a manager can if they are willing.