Question about Dining Plan

[Mic]

I have searched for the answer, but can't find it! We will be at the Boardwalk for a total of 8 nights(party of 4) in a 1-bedroom. My college-age daughter might join us for the last 3 nights, but we are not sure if she can make it right now. I had planned on adding the dining plan for the 4 of us that are definitely going. If my daughter joins us for the last 3 days, what is DVC's policy on the dining plan for her? Do I have to add her? I would not be opposed to adding her the last 3 nights, but do not want to pay for all 8 days' worth of dining if she is not there. Does anyone have any experience with this situation, or the "official" DVC policy? Thanks!

 

[Chuck S]

The "official" DDP policy is that all people on the reservation have to be on the plan for all nights of the reservation. And everyone in the room should be listed on the reservation.

Remember that DVC does not set the policies for the DDP. The DDP is made available through an agreement between DVC and WDW Resorts, and has to follow the same rules, except for requiring a park ticket purchase, as regular WDW Resort packages.

 

[CraftyMouse]

If you want the dining plan for your daughter you will have to pay for it for the length of your reservation. There's no way around that. My advice would be to skip the dining plan for her and just pay for her meals with cash. That way you won't have to worry about adding her at the last minute and won't have to pay for meals she will not be there to eat.

 

[Mic]

Thank you Chuck and Crafty for the quick response. I *thought* my choices would be to either pay for all nights, or not add her at all, but she will need a room key. Since I am paying with the first 6 nights with points, and the last 2 nights with cash, would it be possible to consider this two separate reservations? They are currently "linked" together, since all 8 nights were booked through Member Services, but would it be possible to check-out on the 7th day(after spending 6 nights on points), then check back in for the last 2 nights, adding my daughter to the reservation for those last 2 nights only? If I am allowed to do that, then I would pay for the dining plan for the first 6 nights for four of us, then not have it at all the last 2 nights. Is this possible? Thanks so much for the help!

 

[CraftyMouse]

Thank you Chuck and Crafty for the quick response. I *thought* my choices would be to either pay for all nights, or not add her at all, but she will need a room key. Since I am paying with the first 6 nights with points, and the last 2 nights with cash, would it be possible to consider this two separate reservations? They are currently "linked" together, since all 8 nights were booked through Member Services, but would it be possible to check-out on the 7th day(after spending 6 nights on points), then check back in for the last 2 nights, adding my daughter to the reservation for those last 2 nights only? If I am allowed to do that, then I would pay for the dining plan for the first 6 nights for four of us, then not have it at all the last 2 nights. Is this possible? Thanks so much for the help!

Yes, you can unlink the reservations, but you will run the risk of having to move to a new room for the last two nights.

Another option is to pay for the dining plan for her and then use her extra credits for some "Signature" dining experiences. There are some restaurants that take 2 credits per meal. You would have 5 extra credits to use so each of the 4 members of your party could opt for one Signature meal to use up those credits.