In October 2010 Disney Vacation Club members gained the flexibility to book a Disney Dining Plan for only a portion of their stay rather than the entire duration. Effective immediately this policy has been reversed and Dining Plans can only be purchased for the entire length of stay.
When the current Disney Dining Plan was unveiled back in 2005, it was designed as a length-of-stay plan whereby guests were required to purchase the dining plan--and theme park tickets--for the entire duration of their Disney hotel stay.
Several months later Disney Vacation Club members also gained access to the Dining Plan (and its future variations.) Members were not required to purchase theme park tickets but the length-of-stay requirement remained.
As part of new computer enhancements implemented last fall, Disney Vacation Club members were able to start breaking their trips into multiple "Accommodations" or segments. Each Accommodation could feature a different number of villa occupants and purchasing options relative to the Disney Dining Plans. Effectively, members could purchase a dining plan for only a portion of their stay rather than for the entire duration.
On Tuesday September 6, 2011 the length-of-stay mandate has been resurrected. Members will no longer be able to purchase any of the Disney Dining Plans for only a portion of their DVC villa stay. This policy change affects all future reservations which do not already have a Dining Plan attached, regardless of when the reservation itself was secured.
DVCNews.com contacted a Disney Vacation Club representative for comment and clarification but has not yet received a response.
