CM Dining Plan

[WDWFigment]

Another question for you CMs. So my friend who is working the College Program informed me that he was informed of an offer to purchase the Disney Dining Plan along with a hotel package for $20.99 per person per day. He said it was a special offer for staying at a particular resort for a given time.

My question; if we purchase this but decide want to eat without him, will we be able to do so, or will he need to be present each time we use the Dining Plan? Also, I know technically he is supposed to stay with us in order to get the room discount, but will he be able to book it if he is not staying with us? He didn't seem to know and isn't going to be able to call the Cast Member number for reservations until tomorrow, and I am very curious about all of this.

 

[Gorjus]

There was an offer back in January I think. You received 60% off the room rate if you booked it with the dining plan for $20 per night.

No, he doesn't have to eat with you. The room is given a certain number of credits. You can use them all up in one day by one person if you wanted. Not likely, I know.

There are 2 room rates. One is for cast members staying in a room. This is more discounted than the other and you have unlimited times you can do this. However, you have to be in the room and present at check in. The other is for when the cast member isn't using the hotel room. You are allowed, I think, 5 of these per year.

 

[ImaYoyo]

A side note, OP is correct that there currently IS an offer to add the dining plan to a resort stay at Saratoga or OKW only. To get the offer, you need to call the cast reservation line and book it over the phone. The offer is not available for online bookings. I'm going to try to grab a room at OKW, book a round of golf, and enjoy some yummy food!

This offer is ONLY valid if the cast member is staying in the room. He cannot do it as part of the "other guest bedroom". And yes, the resort can check and make sure he's a part of the room, and yes, he can be terminated if he is not. Be REALLY carefull about that one.

 

[ImaYoyo]

Cast Members can enjoy a XXX% room discount at Disney's Old Key West Resort and Saratoga Springs Resort and includes the Disney Dining Plan with the resort stay for only $XXXX per adult and $XXXX per child (ages 3-9) per night. Disney Dine Plan includes one (1) Table Service Meal; one (1) Quick Service Meal; one (1) Snack per person, per night for everyone ages 3 and over on the package. Applicable taxes and gratuities are included.

When : Offer is valid most nights from July 29, 2007 through August 25, 2007.

PLEASE NOTE:

•The Cast Member Special Offer is open to all Florida site Cast, Crew, Imagineers and retirees who have a valid complimentary entrance pass, company ID or company retiree ID. Spouse or registered domestic partner must provide either a valid company ID, company retiree ID or Main Gate or Silver Pass accompanied by a photo ID upon check-in at the resort.

•Disney Dine Plan includes one (1) Table Service Meal; one (1) Quick Service Meal; one (1) Snack per person, per night for everyone ages 3 and voer on the package.

•Availability can change without notice and length of stay restrictions may apply. Advance reservations required.

•At the time of booking, Cast must provide the names of all Guests staying in the room along with the ages and birthdays of all the children under the age of 18, as well as their home address, contact phone number, and their SAP Personnel Area number.

•When making a reservation 30 days or less from the date of arrival, a deposit of one night's room and tax is required at the time of booking. If the reservation is made 31 days or more from the time of arrival, a deposit of one night's room and tax will be due within 14 days of the date of booking.

•Cancellations must be received at least six days prior to the arrival date in order to receive a full refund of your deposit. Cast Members should call (407) WDW-CAST (939-2278) to modify or cancel an existing reservation and have their confirmation number readily available.

 

[ImaYoyo]

(prices excluded for reasons of JOB SECURITY)

 

[WDWFigment]

^^That would be the offer I was alluding to; didn't know if I could post details like that. I guess we won't be doing that, unless I can convince him that he needs to eat at some nice restaurants for a few days, and also needs to stay in a hotel. Might be a little difficult, but probably a better option than risking termination.

 

[Gorjus]

Why wouldn't he want to stay in a room for a change? Why wouldn't he want to eat at the nice restaurants for $21 a day? I used the winter deals twice and had a ball.

 

[WDWFigment]

Why wouldn't he want to stay in a room for a change? Why wouldn't he want to eat at the nice restaurants for $21 a day? I used the winter deals twice and had a ball.

Yeah, that's a really good point, plus, we were figuring it would cost extra for him to stay in the room, but it's a DVC resort, so if we only have 3 people in our room, it shouldn't have an additional fee, right? I have no problem letting him stay in the room for free, and I'm sure he'd love going to some nice restaurants for such a low price per day.

 

[mousermerf]

He doesn't have to goto the restaurants with you. He'll have his little card so he can go with friends or later or what-have-you and you guys will have your cards. Just don't dip into each other's pools.

I know when i worked in the parks i could toss on a sweater/jacket/some sort of "plain clothes" and go buy lunch on my break at a park restaurant. He could use the quick service credits if he has to work that day

 

[WDWFigment]

Yeah, we went ahead and did it. Couldn't get OKW, but Saratoga was still available, so we got that. Should make the trip quite a bit better!

Next question, how likely are we to get into the Poly Luau if they are no longer taking ADRs? I'm assuming people will cancel. I hope.

 

[WDWFigment]

Update/Question pertaining to this...

Last year we did this and ended up having a GREAT time! We ended up getting a FREE room upgrade at SSR to a one-bedroom. It worked out so well; our friend actually was able to take a couple days off and eat every meal with us, as well.

So, we had so much fun doing that, we're wondering the likelihood of this being offered again this summer? Obviously no one knows for sure, but do they traditionally offer this same deal each year during slower periods? I got a similar offer (albeit not with the same prices) from Disney Visa last week. It seems SSR and OKW are the 'standard' resorts for these offers...maybe they're trying to entice individuals to buy into DVC at those resorts (sure convince us with SSR!)? Or more likely, those are just the DVC resorts with the most available rooms at those times?

Any prognosticating would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

 

[nanna]

I'm not sure, but i know they offered the same deal for the holiday discount from mid october 2007 until the start of february 2008, but the difference was you could stay in any resort.

 

[WDWFigment]

I'm not sure, but i know they offered the same deal for the holiday discount from mid october 2007 until the start of february 2008, but the difference was you could stay in any resort.

Yeah, it seems most of the "promotions" duplicate themselves (or replicate very similarly) each year. However, this one seems a little more contingent upon how many openings there are at SSR and OKW (although one would think this would be fairly similar from year-to-year). I'm just curious if it typically has been offered in each of the last 3 summers (or something like that), or some other "sign" that it will be offered again.