Upgrade costs for dining plans 2013 and 2014

[Minnie39]

Hi there can anybody help?

We are a family of 4 (2 adults, DS 12 & DD 8) coming to WDW in August for 18 nights. We booked with virgin Holidays and got free dining QSDP. We've enquired about upgrading to DDP to be told that it will cost us £3000+!!! We only want to upgrade not buy another package!!!

Can we upgrade when we get there? We're staying at Port Orleans Riverside.

Many thanks

 

[IrisSphere]

I am wondering if anyone ever did the calculation on the extra tip that you would need to pay if you upgrade to the deluxe plan? I know it's all subjective, but wondering if there is even a ballpark floating around somewhere?

I can of course estimate based on the places we would like to eat at, but wondering if people ever considered this in the "upgrade" costs.

Thanks!

 

[TDC Nala]

I am wondering if anyone ever did the calculation on the extra tip that you would need to pay if you upgrade to the deluxe plan? I know it's all subjective, but wondering if there is even a ballpark floating around somewhere?

I can of course estimate based on the places we would like to eat at, but wondering if people ever considered this in the "upgrade" costs.

Thanks!

Tipping discussion is not permitted on the Restaurant boards. Here is the Tipping Information Thread:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2300858

Although discussion of personal tipping habits is not permitted on this thread either, and asking how much other people tip might fall into that category.

 

[IrisSphere]

A debate on tipping was not really the point of my question. But thanks anyway.

 

[TDC Nala]

Hi there can anybody help?

We are a family of 4 (2 adults, DS 12 & DD 8) coming to WDW in August for 18 nights. We booked with virgin Holidays and got free dining QSDP. We've enquired about upgrading to DDP to be told that it will cost us £3000+!!! We only want to upgrade not buy another package!!!

Can we upgrade when we get there? We're staying at Port Orleans Riverside.

Many thanks

No, you can't upgrade when you get there.

I don't know if there are limits for UK bookings that are the same as US bookings, but for US bookings it has to be done no later than 3 days before arrival.

I would suggest you talk to your travel or booking agent and make it very clear to them that you are looking to upgrade only the dining plan, not the room or any other part of your package. If they still give you that figure, then that's what it would cost at the desk if they let you do it that way.

 

[TDC Nala]

A debate on tipping was not really the point of my question. But thanks anyway.

Please read the first post of the tipping thread. The Restaurant boards allow no tipping discussion outside of that thread, debate or not. The first post explains the reasons for this.

 

[divawife]

messed up will try again!

 

[Hordes]

Big props to TDC for supplying. Something I was looking for for 2013!

 

[sal1013]

if you purchase the DDP can you still use your points for the Character Dining ?

 

[TinkerbellsMom0923]

if you purchase the DDP can you still use your points for the Character Dining ?[/QUOT

Most charactor meals are 1 table service dining point, some are 2. We are doing 2 charactor dining meals on our DP. One is Akershus Royal Banquet and the other is O'Hana, both for breakfast. There are alot of choices though.

 

[TQH1022]

deleted

 

[mummabear]

if you purchase the DDP can you still use your points for the Character Dining ?

I am also trying to work out if you can use the quick service dining credits for character dining (expecting it to take multipule credits of course) or if you have to get the table service? Can you use dining credit for the dessert and fireworks captain cook thing?
I just can't see how the DP saves money it is coming up as a $1200 addition for QS and $1700 for TS (13 nights but only 10 days in the park) but I am trying to work out whats worth it since we are planning on spending around $400 on Character dining (we have 2 adults, 1 child and 1 inf)

 

[TDC Nala]

On the regular plan or the QS plan, you cannot use quick service credits for TS dining. This includes character dining. It is not permitted to trade multiple QS credits for table service dining.

If you purchase the regular dining plan, you can use your TS credits for character dining. All character meals are 1 TS credit with the exception of Cinderella's Royal Table which is 2 credits. Some include Mickey's Backyard Barbecue which is also 2 credits, but it is classified as a dinner show and not as a character meal.

If you purchase the deluxe dining plan the credits are interchangeable for TS or CS so you can use those credits for any character dining you want.

Can you use dining credit for the dessert and fireworks captain cook thing?

No.

 

[Nohal]

I just got off the phone trying to upgrade my bounceback offer from free quick service to the regular DDP. Called twice and still wasn't able to do it because for some reason they can't find the right code. The first time I called I had to tell the CM that dining was per night not per day so he finally got it right but couldn't find a code to change it. I figured he didn't know what he was doing so I hung up. Called back and the next person I talked to modified my reservation and had me paying for the entire total of the DDP and she couldn't find a code either. At this point I am totally frustrated that what seems to me is a simple uprade is so difficult. I am just going to stick with the quick service and eat some table services that I want. Thanks for letting me vent!

 

[TDC Nala]

Make sure they understand that ALL you want to do is upgrade the dining plan, not the entire reservation. Don't be afraid to ask for a supervisor.

Even then, there are lots of problems like this every day with the Disney reservation line.

 

[Nohal]

I ended the last conversation with keep my reservations the way there are I don't want to make any changes. Hopefully they are still the same. What do you think my chances would be to wait and call during "normal" business hours during the week to get someone who knows what they are doing?

 

[TDC Nala]

It's a toss up no matter when you call. Sometimes they don't understand that all you want to upgrade is the dining plan, or they can't figure out how to do it.

 

[JudyW]

Thank you!

 

[Disfan454]

Sorry for the newby question but how what are some of you referring to with the Free dining? Do some resorts have buffets in throughout the day that you go to or something?

 

[TDC Nala]

Sorry for the newby question but how what are some of you referring to with the Free dining? Do some resorts have buffets in throughout the day that you go to or something?

No. Free dining is a promotion sometimes offered by WDW which means they'll throw in a dining plan at no extra cost (which one depends on the level of resort you book) if you book a full price room at a Disney resort for at least 3 nights (without any discount on the room itself) and at least 2-day tickets as a package reservation. This must be booked by the guest directly through Disney (or by a travel agent on the guest's behalf).

The dining plan works exactly like the plan would work if you'd paid for it. You get the same amounts of credits and you spend them exactly the same way, choosing the restaurants you wish to spend them at.

There's no current offer for anyone who doesn't live in Great Britain.

Disney Dining Plans are basically a prepaid meal plan, in which you pay Disney ahead of time for meals and they give you "credits" to use. The number of credits you receive and the types of restaurant where you can use them varies by plan. There is one plan where you can use the credits only to pay for meals at quick service (i.e. "fast food") restaurants. The others add table service (sit down and be served, or buffets) in varying quantities.