Im a little overwhelmed -- lots of questions!

[ctaci]

Hey all - if someone could either help me out by answering some questions or just point me in the right direction to find them myself I would be VERY grateful!

Ok -- I just booked our trip yesterday. I havent gotten anything in the mail (assuming I will?) and Im a little anxious to get things ready since we are going March 1st and I feel a little behind!


I have the dining plan with 1 sit down meal, 1 snack, and 1 quick service. Do I have to use the sit down for dinner?
Since I cannot get an appetizer (it says for ages 3-9 only) can we then order one and pay for it? I guess basically Im asking if we go outside the meal plan can we just pay the difference?
I have to call ahead for the reservations, so that means 7 TS choices with the time. Should I shoot for early or just assume everyone is running on schedule?
Are the meal plans as complicated as I am making them out to be? :blush: I just want to know if there are a lot of rules and regulations. If I go to a restaurant from the list it wont be difficult to find things we want to eat right? Im just worried about being confined or restricted in any way.
Oh yeah, is there a smart way to do the meal plans? We will be paying for some dinners/lunches out of pocket Im sure so should I save those for things like the Sci-fi Drive In which seems a bit cheaper in price compared to Jiko?
The Spirit Of Aloha Dinner Show -- I can book this the same way we book our dinners? So really we would be chosing 5 restaurants for our TS and then the Aloha show would take the remaining 2?


OK - I really am sorry if this is too much or this is the wrong place to post. Its our first trip to DW and actually our first trip anywhere together and Im SUPER excited and dont want to mess anything up!

Thanks for any help :)

[ctaci]

Hey all - if someone could either help me out by answering some questions or just point me in the right direction to find them myself I would be VERY grateful!

Ok -- I just booked our trip yesterday. I havent gotten anything in the mail (assuming I will?) and Im a little anxious to get things ready since we are going March 1st and I feel a little behind!


I have the dining plan with 1 sit down meal, 1 snack, and 1 quick service. Do I have to use the sit down for dinner?
Since I cannot get an appetizer (it says for ages 3-9 only) can we then order one and pay for it? I guess basically Im asking if we go outside the meal plan can we just pay the difference?
I have to call ahead for the reservations, so that means 7 TS choices with the time. Should I shoot for early or just assume everyone is running on schedule?
Are the meal plans as complicated as I am making them out to be? :blush: I just want to know if there are a lot of rules and regulations. If I go to a restaurant from the list it wont be difficult to find things we want to eat right? Im just worried about being confined or restricted in any way.
Oh yeah, is there a smart way to do the meal plans? We will be paying for some dinners/lunches out of pocket Im sure so should I save those for things like the Sci-fi Drive In which seems a bit cheaper in price compared to Jiko?
The Spirit Of Aloha Dinner Show -- I can book this the same way we book our dinners? So really we would be chosing 5 restaurants for our TS and then the Aloha show would take the remaining 2?


OK - I really am sorry if this is too much or this is the wrong place to post. Its our first trip to DW and actually our first trip anywhere together and Im SUPER excited and dont want to mess anything up!

Thanks for any help :)

[DizneeMommy]

Hey all - if someone could either help me out by answering some questions or just point me in the right direction to find them myself I would be VERY grateful!

Ok -- I just booked our trip yesterday. I havent gotten anything in the mail (assuming I will?) and Im a little anxious to get things ready since we are going March 1st and I feel a little behind!


I have the dining plan with 1 sit down meal, 1 snack, and 1 quick service. Do I have to use the sit down for dinner?
Since I cannot get an appetizer (it says for ages 3-9 only) can we then order one and pay for it? I guess basically Im asking if we go outside the meal plan can we just pay the difference?
I have to call ahead for the reservations, so that means 7 TS choices with the time. Should I shoot for early or just assume everyone is running on schedule?
Are the meal plans as complicated as I am making them out to be? :blush: I just want to know if there are a lot of rules and regulations. If I go to a restaurant from the list it wont be difficult to find things we want to eat right? Im just worried about being confined or restricted in any way.
Oh yeah, is there a smart way to do the meal plans? We will be paying for some dinners/lunches out of pocket Im sure so should I save those for things like the Sci-fi Drive In which seems a bit cheaper in price compared to Jiko?
The Spirit Of Aloha Dinner Show -- I can book this the same way we book our dinners? So really we would be chosing 5 restaurants for our TS and then the Aloha show would take the remaining 2?


OK - I really am sorry if this is too much or this is the wrong place to post. Its our first trip to DW and actually our first trip anywhere together and Im SUPER excited and dont want to mess anything up!

Thanks for any help :)
1-no, you can use your TS for any meal.
2-yes, you can pay for an app. out of pocket
3-we arrived for TS about 10 or 15 minutes early and were usually seated on time
4-nope, it's easy as pie!
5-yes, choose your cheapest meals to do OOP. (and breakfast and lunch are cheaper than dinner)
6-exactly!!:thumbsup2

We loved the DDP, and are using it again this June!!

[ctaci]

Thanks so much. Its just a bit overwhelming -- cant wait to make a decision and make those reservations!

[pumba]

hey no worries at all......I am going to move this over to the dining plan and you will get alot of answers right there.
You are lucky you are going so soon.....we have to wait until the end of April and I am sooooo ready to go...

[schwoomp]

Hey all - if someone could either help me out by answering some questions or just point me in the right direction to find them myself I would be VERY grateful!

Ok -- I just booked our trip yesterday. I havent gotten anything in the mail (assuming I will?) and Im a little anxious to get things ready since we are going March 1st and I feel a little behind!


I have the dining plan with 1 sit down meal, 1 snack, and 1 quick service. Do I have to use the sit down for dinner?
Since I cannot get an appetizer (it says for ages 3-9 only) can we then order one and pay for it? I guess basically Im asking if we go outside the meal plan can we just pay the difference?
I have to call ahead for the reservations, so that means 7 TS choices with the time. Should I shoot for early or just assume everyone is running on schedule?
Are the meal plans as complicated as I am making them out to be? :blush: I just want to know if there are a lot of rules and regulations. If I go to a restaurant from the list it wont be difficult to find things we want to eat right? Im just worried about being confined or restricted in any way.
Oh yeah, is there a smart way to do the meal plans? We will be paying for some dinners/lunches out of pocket Im sure so should I save those for things like the Sci-fi Drive In which seems a bit cheaper in price compared to Jiko?
The Spirit Of Aloha Dinner Show -- I can book this the same way we book our dinners? So really we would be chosing 5 restaurants for our TS and then the Aloha show would take the remaining 2?


OK - I really am sorry if this is too much or this is the wrong place to post. Its our first trip to DW and actually our first trip anywhere together and Im SUPER excited and dont want to mess anything up!

Thanks for any help :)

You're asking great questions considering you're just starting to think about this. I'm also going 3/1, but have been reading these boards for a year!
1. You can use the sit down meals in any combination- breakfast, lunch or dinner. And, you can use them any day, so you could have 2 sit down meals one day and 2 counter service meals another day.
2. Yes, you an order additional items that aren't on the meal plans, like appetizers, alcoholic drinks, etc.
3. I'm not sure I understand this question. But, for instance, if you scheduled a 7pm ADR, I think you are supposed to check in at 7, but it could take a little longer than that before you actually get a table.
4. I'm fairly certain that as long as you are going to a restaurant that accepts the meal plan, you can pretty much order what you want. The wait staff will help if there are any restrictions, but I doubt you will have a problem finding things you like. Like I said, this is my first trip too, and I'm not using the dining plan, but I've done a lot of reading on it.
5. When I was debating using the dining plan, I definitely priced out what the meals might total at each of our choices, and then was going to pay out of pocket for the least expensive ones.
6. Yes, the Spirit of Aloha uses 2 of your table service credits.

Have a great trip, Michelle

[Pooh's-Honey-Pot]

They are good questions! We have just booked DDP for the first time, and you have cleared up a lot for me!!:thumbsup2

[melc0305]

I have just started looking into the plan as well. Don't worry, OP, I was overwhelmed, too! I appreciate the good questions and responses.