Same room; Different arrival days

[MichiganMomto4]

I tried searching for some kind of answer to this but I failed.

We are sharing a room with someone who is arriving a few days before us. We are all on the dining plan. ME is picking us up on our respective arrival days.

My question is, since it is only one room - will we all have the same number of DDP credits on our keys?

 

[TDC Nala]

All the credits for the entire stay will be accessible from all key cards assigned to the room.

Even though you arrive on a different day, you will have credits for all nights on the reservation. If the reservation is 7 nights, everyone registered on it will be allocated 7 nights worth of credits, even if some of them stay only 4 nights. Anyone registered in the room can use the credits, however.

 

[MichiganMomto4]

Thank you! I was pretty confused about this and wasn't sure how it would work since Disney knows we won't be arriving until a few days later.
I better work up an appetite

 

[princessmom29]

Just a thought: You are gonig to be charged for dining for the entire lenght of stay, even though you don't arrive until later. You might want to look at wether it is cheaper to pay for the dining credits for the days you will not be there or to split up into 2 rooms so that you won't have to pay for dining for the days before you arrive. It might be a better deal and would give you more room if you are staying value.

 

[MichiganMomto4]

It's free dining, but thanks for the thought

 

[crashbb]

It's free dining, but thanks for the thought

That might be a problem.

During free dining there are CMs that require everyone to be there at check in. People were making up phantom people to get the extra credits (worth it to pay the extra person fee to get the extra credits).

I'm not sure if that is happening this time around.

 

[squirrel]

I've also heard that.

I don't know if they do ask to see everyone at check in as we all have gone up to check in.

Now that more/most people are required to purchase a 2 day ticket to get free dining, they may not be checking for everyone.

They must know that some are arriving later as you have ME arranged.

 

[Cafeen]

Best thing, if questioned, explain the situation at check-in (well, have your friend do it, since you won't be there ). If not questioned, don't sweat it.

One thing to keep in mind though, ME is not run by Disney, so they may very well not know of your arragements beforehand.

And, just as an added bit of anecdotal reference, last year's trip I checked in a few hours before the 2 that were traveling with me (we were on Free Dining) and wasn't asked. Of course, a few hours is different than a few days though.

 

[TDC Nala]

I've heard of the possibility of being able to produce everyone at check-in but from what has been reported it's random and rare.

And as Caffeen says, if questioned, whoever checks in first should be able to explain the situation.

 

[StacyMarie]

I went through this same scenario at the Poly 4 weeks ago. Myself, my mom, and my 2 DDs arrived at the Poly for our 8 night stay, my DH did not arrive until 4 days into our trip. When I checked in, I was given our KTTW cards along with dining credits for EVERYBODY for our entire length of our stay. My DH, who did not arrive until 4 days into our trip and was only going to be there for 4 days was given 8 days of dining credits. Everybody in the room is required to have the "same package" whether they will be there or not. The only ID that was required when I checked in was mine. They did not ask me to produce everybody on the reservation and they even knew my husband was not going to arrive until 4 days later but he was still given the same amount of dining credits as the rest of us.

 

[MichiganMomto4]

Thanks for the information on the possibilities everyone. It would only be fair to get the credits for the days we are staying but on the other hand, since we are all on the same ticket option, I wonder what difference that makes. Like someone mentioned "phantom guests" - they would also need park passes so I guess I don't get how that would save money for anyone trying to cheat the system into giving them more dining credits ???

 

[crashbb]

Thanks for the information on the possibilities everyone. It would only be fair to get the credits for the days we are staying but on the other hand, since we are all on the same ticket option, I wonder what difference that makes. Like someone mentioned "phantom guests" - they would also need park passes so I guess I don't get how that would save money for anyone trying to cheat the system into giving them more dining credits ???

Seven nights worth of dining plan credits in 2011 would be $321.93 (assuming non-peak timing). A two-day park ticket is $172.53. Thus, a savings of $149.40. As long as you are staying 4 nights or more, you save money with a phantom person.

Unlike the dining plan, you can change your park tickets after you get there. So, you get everyone the minimum two days worth of tickets and then add days to the tickets of the "real" people. You then save the ticket for the "phantom" person for a later trip.

In the past, I don't think you needed a two day ticket for everyone.

Also, I forgot to factor in the extra charge for adults 3 and 4 - that's why the "phantom" guests are usually kids.

BTW - I know that you weren't planning on cheating the system. Just posted as a warning since I remember reading about it last year.

 

[MichiganMomto4]

But then what do they do with all that extra food? I've done the DDP 4 times and it is always MORE than enough. I'm at Disney to have some fun and be able to move around while I'm there, not eat myself into a coma

I guess my mind just doesn't think like a criminal (and I surely don't mean that yours does!! But obviously, there are people out there who do anything they can to cheat the system and think that makes them a winner. Sad.)

 

[suzsaz]

I still don't understand the financial logic of being on the dining plan, not arriving for a few days and then paying for those extra days. I am assuming they sat down and did the math. For example, I am going with five people in January. We are doing two rooms. It would be cheaper for us to NOT do the dining and just get the room at the Value price and pay out of pocket. I've got to be assuming correctly that the original poster is not going during a Value period...otherwise it just wouldn't make sense for them to be throwing all that money away. I guess it is good if they want to eat at 2 point signature restaurants.

 

[Sammie]

I still don't understand the financial logic of being on the dining plan, not arriving for a few days and then paying for those extra days. I am assuming they sat down and did the math. For example, I am going with five people in January. We are doing two rooms. It would be cheaper for us to NOT do the dining and just get the room at the Value price and pay out of pocket. I've got to be assuming correctly that the original poster is not going during a Value period...otherwise it just wouldn't make sense for them to be throwing all that money away. I guess it is good if they want to eat at 2 point signature restaurants.

They are on free dining.

 

[TDC Nala]

Yes, if you're on free dining, you're not out anything by not using the extra credits. However, you do have the option of using the extra credits.

 

[MichiganMomto4]

I still don't understand the financial logic of being on the dining plan, not arriving for a few days and then paying for those extra days. I am assuming they sat down and did the math. For example, I am going with five people in January. We are doing two rooms. It would be cheaper for us to NOT do the dining and just get the room at the Value price and pay out of pocket. I've got to be assuming correctly that the original poster is not going during a Value period...otherwise it just wouldn't make sense for them to be throwing all that money away. I guess it is good if they want to eat at 2 point signature restaurants.

Yes once again, it is FREE dining. Makes perfect financial logic and the math was pretty easy.

 

[suzsaz]

Even though it is "free dining"...it truly isn't free dining if you are going during a value or special time when the rooms are heavily discounted. Just do the math. For instance, if you are going where you can get a discount on the room and room alone, you will come out better just getting a room, and paying out of pocket for your meals. I've worked on my own numbers every which way, and just gave up and did the "free dining" just because it is something that we never did before, a novelty if you will, and I am in a position now where money isn't as tight as it used to be.(this will be our 16th or so trip with the kids...I don't even remember how many times we've gone).

Different families have different priorities. I for one don't like to be tied down to ADRs, and would prefer to eat on the run, grab a table where/when we can (or at least have 1 or 2 ADRs), even split meals. If you are a family that likes to eat and don't mind being subjected to ADRs (which we will be for the very first time), the I guess it might come out OK. All I know is that I am going to be eating steak six nights in a row...something I would NEVER do when not on vacation.

 

[MichiganMomto4]

I appreciate the other perspective suzsaz but we leave in 11 days - so even if we wanted to, there are no discounts or changing to be had. I doubt there were when we made the ressies (grand gathering so I didn't do it). We have done the DDP several times and it works for us.

I do have a suggestion for you though. Of course not knowing who is in your traveling party, it may or may not work. But if you don't want to be tied down to ADRs every single day, do some signatures restaurants. You can still get the rest of your meals counter service without paying oop if you share some of them. We do that all the time - mostly because even the counter service meals are A LOT of food and make you feel heavy for the parks; but sharing those is a great way to stretch them out on a day when maybe you don't do a TS because you did or are doing a signature. Another "trick" that I love is my snack credit "meal" at the Patissiere (can't spell that!) in France. You can get the ham and cheese croissant yummy!! - it's plenty for me for lunch and it's a snack credit

 

[suzsaz]

Thanks for your advice. I will keep that sandwich from France in mind...sounds like a GREAT deal.

I did think about the signature restaurants, so I actually have Narcooses booked for our last night....and also a back up 1 point restaurant.
Perhaps I'll book another 2 point rest for our next to last night too, just in case.

However, we've been to WDW a ton of times, and we would only do 2 to three sit downs a trip...only because of cost, etc, etc. At this time, we haven't been with the kids in a couple of years...we are going down on winter break from college and we are going full speed ahead with the DDP.
I figure it is something totally different from things we've ever done, and it will create some new memories for us. We've NEVER eaten in the Coral Reef, or Narcooses or Chefs de France. We will this trip! I honestly thinnk it's going to be too much food. And it makes no sense to doggy bag anything (which I do at home now since as I get older, I truly can't eat that much in once sitting) since we'll just be getting up and eating all again the next day lol!

Have fun on your trip! We'll be wearing winter coats on ours LOL!