Question about Friends and DVC

[douglas4315]

Hi all,

I have 2 questions:

My wife and I along with our 20 month old son are going back down to SSR in July for 5 days. We are bringing another couple with us that have a 2 year old and a 9 month old. We both got studios and I am wondering if they are going to qualify for all the same perks we are since they are our guest and using our DVC points? Can they get discounts just like us?

Second question:

Has anyone ever used the Disney Dining Plan when they are not really looking to go to the parks? The 5 days we are there we may do 1 park, 1 water park, DDT, and just hang around the pool.

Any help would be great!!!

 

[Chuck S]

Your guests will receive all the onsite perks (free theme park parking, resort delivery of park purchases, room charging, bus transportation, etc) like any resort guest. As far as DVC perks, like "discounts", it depends. They can not get the Annual Pass discount. And many of the other discounts are requiring the actual membership card as well. But their room key will say DVC MEMBER, and they may receive some discounts based upon that. I know my guests last June received the Spa discounts and the Diving Quest discount at EPCOT. So the DVC discounts will be hit & miss. They are not "entitled" to them by virtue of them staying on your points, but it never hurts to ask.

 

[douglas4315]

Thanks Chuck

Any advice on our question regarding the DDP?

 

[tjkraz]

If you'll have a car available and don't mind driving to the different resorts, I think the dining plan will work out OK. You'll still want to get dining reservations for many of the more popular locations, but there is plenty of variety available at the resort restaurants.

If you won't have a car, I don't think I would spring for the DDP. Most of the Downtown Disney restaurants are not on the dining plan. Also, Disney doesn't offer direct resort-to-resort bus transportation. You'll have to give yourself 60-90 minutes just to make many of the bus trips between resorts. If you're going to be sticking close to the resort, IMO you'd be better off using someone like Garden Grocer to have some groceries delivered to the room and fend for yourselves when you can.

 

[Dean]

I agree with the above info. Personally I think it'll be even tougher than normal to get value of the DDP in this situations. But it ultimately depends on how you use it and where you dine. You might consider getting it for one couple but not the other if it doesn't make sense to do so for everyone. I'd also look at the menus for the restaurants you're reserved at and compare those to your usual dining style. Enjoy.