Why can't 1 out of 2 families do the dining plan, HELP!!

[Goldilocks07]

We are 2 families under one resort reservation. I am arriving on Thursday leaving Wednesday, my friends are coming Friday to Sunday, staying in my room. I want to to do the dining plan, but unfortunately my friends can't, unless they pay for all the extra days they are not there.

Is there any way around this? I just find it ridiculous that 2 separate families, especially 2 that don't even arrive at the same dates, can't do the dining plan on the days they are actually there. Am I missing something?

 

[Bjkandma]

Any one in the room under one reservation must purchase the dining plan for length of stay.

No, there is not a way around this.

 

[sharonabe]

We are 2 families under one resort reservation. I am arriving on Thursday leaving Wednesday, my friends are coming Friday to Sunday, staying in my room. I want to to do the dining plan, but unfortunately my friends can't, unless they pay for all the extra days they are not there.

Is there any way around this? I just find it ridiculous that 2 separate families, especially 2 that don't even arrive at the same dates, can't do the dining plan on the days they are actually there. Am I missing something?

The dining plan is tied to the room, so if you're all in the same room, it doesn't matter that you're there on different days. Disney doesn't know that you're two separate families; they just see the number of people in the room.

The only way around it is to get two different rooms OR you don't put them on the reservation at all until they get there. There is a possibility that they will not be able to stay with you in your room if you do that though. I haven't seen it reported lately, but at one point, they weren't allowing "day guests" in a room that already had dining.

 

[MarissaMarissa]

Its because you are all staying in the same room. Disney view your party as you+your friends for the length of your stay, Thursday- wednesday. It doesn't matter that you are separate family units to Disney and that some of your party will be there a shorter length of time than you. You could always put the cost of the dining plan onto giftcards and spend them how you would spend your dining plan credits!

 

[Goldilocks07]

You could always put the cost of the dining plan onto giftcards and spend them how you would spend your dining plan credits!

What do you mean? Like pretend I'm getting the dining plan buy putting the cost per day on a card? That doesn't apply to us because we would be getting the dining plan to cut down my costs. I can pay out of pocket, everyone can do that. What I'm using the plan for, is to save- it works for us because we still go to Character Meals, which as we all know, are well worth the 1 credit (or even 2), compared to paying cash. If I didn't do Character Meals, the dining plan would be useless, as we eat and spend less per day on regular food.

I hear you on the way Disney sees the reservation, but my late-arriving guests aren't buying park tickets either or spending on anything else, because they aren't physically there, and the room cost is the same whether there are 2 or 4 people in the room. So that way of thinking shouldn't apply. Should they also have to buy park tickets for the length of my reservation as well? Should they only be able to use the Magical Express on the arrival and departure date of my hotel reservation?

I am penalized for someone else who isn't even there. And to be honest, they are as well, because my late arrivals can't get the plan either. There's no reason for this.

Frustrating.

 

[Goldilocks07]

The dining plan is tied to the room, so if you're all in the same room, it doesn't matter that you're there on different days. Disney doesn't know that you're two separate families; they just see the number of people in the room.

The only way around it is to get two different rooms OR you don't put them on the reservation at all until they get there. There is a possibility that they will not be able to stay with you in your room if you do that though. I haven't seen it reported lately, but at one point, they weren't allowing "day guests" in a room that already had dining.

I asked about not putting them on the room. But then they can't use the Magical Express or have Magic Bands or Fast passes or something like that.

 

[MarissaMarissa]

another option is to do 3 separate reservations and put the dining plan on the two reservations that your friends would not be on, you wouldn't have credits those days, but then you could have the plan for some of your days without having to have it on your whole reservation

 

[Goldilocks07]

another option is to do 3 separate reservations and put the dining plan on the two reservations that your friends would not be on, you wouldn't have credits those days, but then you could have the plan for some of your days without having to have it on your whole reservation

Interesting, but complicated, and would involve us moving in and out of rooms just to save $20-$30 a day.

I looked to split up the reservation, instead of us all being in one room (which we prefer because we adults like some wine and balcony time, ha) into 2 studios, but everything is booked (this is for the first week of March 2020).

In any event, I was hoping you guys knew something I didn't- looks like I just need to save up a little more.

 

[sethschroeder]

Basically Disney knows that people would game system. You would get people getting a Deluxe plan for 2 that they share with 4 people for a week and only do character meals as an example.

 

[Goldilocks07]

Basically Disney knows that people would game system. You would get people getting a Deluxe plan for 2 that they share with 4 people for a week and only do character meals as an example.

Wait, what? How is that gaming the system? I don't understand. (not that I would cheat, but I just don't understand what you mean).

 

[Goldilocks07]

Ohhh, you mean each person would get the deluxe plan but let's say 2 people in the room didn't, and they would 'dole out' their points among the remaining guests to 'share' the dining plan?

Ok well that sounds really complicated and can you share points anyway? Like if we were 4 people dining at O'hana, I couldn't say "yes, I'm on the dining plan and I want to use my 4 dining credits for this entire party". That makes no sense. I would think that credits couldn't be shared, at least at a sit down restaurant. Now THAT would seem like cheating for sure.

However, on the flip side, when I've done the dining plan, my daughter and I have shared meals- and that's simply because we are 2 people who eat for one regular sized human. She's still small. I could see how NOT using credits is ok, but to use credits for other people at a full-service restaurant, that seems wrong to me.

 

[sethschroeder]

Ohhh, you mean each person would get the deluxe plan but let's say 2 people in the room didn't, and they would 'dole out' their points among the remaining guests to 'share' the dining plan?

Ok well that sounds really complicated and can you share points anyway? Like if we were 4 people dining at O'hana, I couldn't say "yes, I'm on the dining plan and I want to use my 4 dining credits for this entire party". That makes no sense. I would think that credits couldn't be shared, at least at a sit down restaurant. Now THAT would seem like cheating for sure.

However, on the flip side, when I've done the dining plan, my daughter and I have shared meals- and that's simply because we are 2 people who eat for one regular sized human. She's still small. I could see how NOT using credits is ok, but to use credits for other people at a full-service restaurant, that seems wrong to me.

Yes sharing points. Allowing you to have one room and pick and choose who has the plan would make sharing credits even easier and a standard planning measure. You would see a whole board about it on this site if it became allowed.

Their goal is to make you overpay not save money with the dining plan.

There is no way to stop you really from giving food to others but they can draw the line at not allowing it for those in the same room.

 

[SteveMouse]

Dining plan points are pooled at the room level. Everyone on the reservation has access to all the points allocated to the room.

You can potentially add your friends to you room when you check in (or the day of their arrival). If they are active on your reservation, they are entitled to use DME.

note that there will be a charge per night for each adult over 2. They would tott receive any dining plan points.

 

[sharonabe]

I asked about not putting them on the room. But then they can't use the Magical Express or have Magic Bands or Fast passes or something like that.

my late-arriving guests aren't buying park tickets either or spending on anything else, because they aren't physically there, and the room cost is the same whether there are 2 or 4 people in the room.

FP is taken care of if they already have tickets and they are your friends and family. YOU will be able to make FP for them at the 60 day mark.

As to ME and Magic Bands, they could pay for MBs and alternate transportation. That would be a small price to pay for you to be able to get the DDP for your entire stay.

As to your frustration to the "why" Disney doesn't allow it, you've answered it already in the part I put in green. Disney would lose more money. You're already getting a "discount" by not paying for another room. You are TWO separate families using ONE room. That's your choice, but Disney gets to decide how add-ons are handled and in order to recoup some of the money "lost" by putting more people in one room, they want everyone in the room to pay for the add-ons.

 

[sharonabe]

Ok well that sounds really complicated and can you share points anyway? Like if we were 4 people dining at O'hana, I couldn't say "yes, I'm on the dining plan and I want to use my 4 dining credits for this entire party". That makes no sense. I would think that credits couldn't be shared, at least at a sit down restaurant. Now THAT would seem like cheating for sure.

Not cheating at all. Disney says your credits are yours to use in any way you want, including buying others a meal with them. There is an entire sticky thread on how people get two rooms, put the plan on the people in one room and share all the credits with everyone. BUT they are paying for TWO rooms.

 

[Moliphino]

I am penalized for someone else who isn't even there. And to be honest, they are as well, because my late arrivals can't get the plan either. There's no reason for this.

Frustrating.

I get that it's frustrating that it doesn't work for you, but it's package rules. You aren't being penalized, your plans just don't fit with the requirements for a package.

 

[igrsod]

Not cheating at all. Disney says your credits are yours to use in any way you want, including buying others a meal with them. There is an entire sticky thread on how people get two rooms, put the plan on the people in one room and share all the credits with everyone. BUT they are paying for TWO rooms.

That is what we are doing for our next trip. My hubby and I have one room, my adult kids and their partners in another room. We are getting the deluxe dining plan for our room 6 dining credits per day and 4 snacks, and sharing that for the whole family. I did the math and it works out to be the cheapest for us.

 

[igrsod]

Sadly, you have to purchase the plan for everyone in the room for the length of the reservation. Sometimes the dining plan just doesn't work out for certain vacation situations.
Honestly, most times, the dining plan isn't a "deal". It is usually cheaper to pay out of pocket.
Don't worry about it too much. You will have a great time even without the dining plan.

 

[Goldilocks07]

Thanks all, I see everyone's point.

We did the dining plan one vacation, and loved it. But again, with the character meals it makes sense and really saved us. I guess we keep it as is-

I appreciate everyone's feedback. Love you guys!

 

[Nancyg56]

I get that it's frustrating that it doesn't work for you, but it's package rules. You aren't being penalized, your plans just don't fit with the requirements for a package.

I agree. Packages are there to choose if they work for your family. Once you add additional people to your room you change the dynamic of your family structure, so at that point you may need to revisit your needs.