Split Stay With Dining Plan - Virgin Holidays

[Linda67]

Hi everyone

I wonder if you can help me out?

I've booked my trip for 2011 with Virgin

5 nights at Wilderness Lodge
3 nights Disney Cruise (booked independantly with Disney)
6 nights back at Wilderness Lodge

We have also purchased two Ultimate 14 Day Disney Tickets

I have the free dining plan as part of my package but I am concerned about how Disney will handle the split stay, even though it's the same resort througout my trip

Virgin tell me that the Dining Plan is on both portions of my stay at WL and that it wont be a problem but when I called Disney for a quote to compare prices they told me that the only way I could do this was to book two totally seperate packages with a ticket for each package (the 14 night Ultimate ticket wouldn't cover both stays at WL) and Disney were way more expensive

Are Virgin right here

I understand that I will check out after 5 nights and then check back in after my cruise for the final 6 nights but Virgin tell me that this isn't a problem

Has anyone done anything similar?

Thanks for your help all

 

[disney_princess_85]

Virgin are wrong and Disney are correct. You will probably have to get two 7-day tickets instead, so you can get the DDP.

Hi, by the way!

 

[wayneg]

Unfortunately when you check out of the 1st hotel your DDP ends(at midnight), many on here have tried doing split stays and transferring the dining to the 2nd resort but as far as I know no-one has been succesful.
Unless Virgin have got a new agreement with Disney to allow it then it won't be possible, only way would be to pay for the room at WL while you are on the cruise, you would gain 3 days extra dining credits to use and keep your dining for your last 6 nights so possibly worth doing, especially if you are planning some signature meals/dinner shows requiring 2 credits. Or buy 2 lots of tickets like Lauren suggests.

If Virgin insist its possible get it in writing to confirm.

 

[Linda67]

Virgin are wrong and Disney are correct. You will probably have to get two 7-day tickets instead, so you can get the DDP.

Hi, by the way!

Hi there
I keep telling Virgin this and they tell me that it is absolutely fine.
Really not sure what to do here, I don't want to spend half of my trip chasing a Virgin rep to get this sorted

Unfortunately when you check out of the 1st hotel your DDP ends(at midnight), many on here have tried doing split stays and transferring the dining to the 2nd resort but as far as I know no-one has been succesful.
Unless Virgin have got a new agreement with Disney to allow it then it won't be possible, only way would be to pay for the room at WL while you are on the cruise, you would gain 3 days extra dining credits to use and keep your dining for your last 6 nights so possibly worth doing, especially if you are planning some signature meals/dinner shows requiring 2 credits. Or buy 2 lots of tickets like Lauren suggests.

If Virgin insist its possible get it in writing to confirm.

On my invoice it states 'Dining Plan' under the first five nights then it lists a '3 night independent stay' and then it states 'Dining Plan' under the final 6 nights so I kind of have it in writing

I did ask what the additonal cost was to keep the room for the extra 3 nights but it was over £500 so didn't seem to make sense IF I could get the dining plan without doing this

 

[Stitch's Greatest Fa]

When I wanted to book through Disney and do split stays, I was told I needed a new ticket for each time I checked in - so we have decided to be dining planless.

 

[2Tiggies]

I wouldn't be put all my faith in Virgin with this one. Even Disney UK insisted along similar lines that I would be okay with having upgraded my 8 year old to adult dining plan. I spoke to multiple staff members who all insisted but on the Disney US booking page it showed her as a child. I phoned Disney in the US and they told me as she was listed as an 8 year old she would get the kids plan despite that I had paid for her as a full adult in terms of airfare, supplements, accommodation and park tickets. It took months to sort out, but eventually a senior supervisor confirmed my suspicion that it is ultimately the system in the US that has to issue the actual credit components of your package onto your KTTW card and they would only know to do what their system was set up to do, no matter what you have in writing.

Now the point of me telling you this is that with Disney in the UK and in the US, split stays require separate tickets to create the qualifying package to add the DDP, whether paid for or free. Like Wayne says, unless VH has a special agreement with Disney it is unlikely that they will be able to implement this. I would personally email VH and ask them to explain how it will be handled in accordance with their agreement with Disney.

 

[wayneg]

Is it possible VH have charged you for the DDP for your 2nd hotel? I have never had dining included on a VH package so not sure if they itemise in so much detail.
Even if its not possible it is on your invoice its included, personally I would go with the invoice. Its what you asked for and you have it in writing. If they have it wrong then I would expect Disney and VH to sort it between them.
Do VH send vouchers out like WDTC? If they do then the vouchers will tell you exactly whats included.

 

[Linda67]

Thanks for everyones advice here

I am going to email VH for 100% clarification

I booked the trip at a high street Virgin Holidays branch but I am not convinced the girls in there totally get what I am taking about

As I said the invoice does list the dining plan on both portions of the WL stay and I haven't been charged for it

 

[Elise79]

We booked through VH last September (as there was 7 of us and it was easier!) and we had vouchers and the DDP was listed as an item on our invoice. I can not remember if the DDP was listed on the vouchers i know the tickets were seperate.

TBH I know people have tried split stays in the past with VH and have had problems.

The Dining Plans must be booked a minimum of 21 days before departure and are NOT available to guests staying in more than 1 WALT DISNEY WORLD Resort hotel during the duration of their holiday. Bookings MUST include a minimum 5-night stay and maximum 21-night stay at a WALT DISNEY WORLD Resort hotel AND Disney park tickets, for all people on the booking, both booked through Virgin Holidays. The Disney Dining Plan must be booked for everyone on the booking, for the full duration of their stay

However looking at the both T&C from VH website it would appear to be ok as it is one hotel.