? About Spliting Meals

[Suellen]

If DH and I are both on Deluxe Dining... can we spilt an Entree and App and Dessert and just buy the extra soda and use only one meal?

Here is the situation:

We have only one day at Epcot and I was able to get Tutto Italia at 11:40 and Coral Reef at 3:40. We LOVE both of these places and were trying to decide which to keep and which to cancel.

Then I thought why not split at each place and then we won't be too full.

It is more about not overeating that using the meals.... but I also hate to waste two meals by only eating 1/2 especially when we would order the exact same thing anyway.

[Mad4Mickey]

I really do not see a problem with this at all and I do not think they will either : ) THey do tend to be a little more understanding when you give them a reason

[Tricia1972]

The only restaurant that I've heard that you can't share at is Beaches & Cream (other family style/buffet locations, which seems obvious, but if I don't mention that prevision someone will correct me on it :goodvibes)

What you're doing shouldn't be an issue at all, and I don't blame you for wanting to share with those reservations. They both sound wonderful and this way you'll get just a sampling at both places.

[Jeanieblue114]

So, that means you can go into a TS restaurant and just use 1 credit and split a meal?

I rarely order my own meal at a restaurant, let alone with a dessert.

We are on the regular Dining plan. I know you can do it with CS. But I didn't know that you could do it with TS.

[Suellen]

Thanks! I am so happy it sounds like we can do this!!!! DH will be happy too since he won't be forced to chose!!!

[DisTwix]

Thanks OP for this question and the others for their answers! We are leaving on Friday, have the DDP for the first time, and I was literally just thinking about this this morning. My friends and I regularly split entrees when we are paying out of pocket, and I was thinking it seemed silly to stop that practice because we were getting it "free".

Hurray - I think this will be even better than I thought!

[Jeanieblue114]

Is it definitely true that DH and I can go into a TS restaurant and share 1 meal and dessert and only use 1 TS credit?


I RARELY order my own full entree and dessert and the dining plan has actually been concerning me (we have a frig in the room for leftovers, but who has a chance to run back to the room?).

I would love to be able to just split one meal for 1 TS credit instead of throwing things away or trying to eat it all and getting sick.

[Jeanieblue114]

oops..guess this should be posted on the dining plan page.

feel free to move it...sorry.

[Sugardimples]

It's definately true. We do this all the time!

[Jeanieblue114]

Thank you!

[danceintherain]

Interesting...it never occurred to me that this would be possible.
I suppose it's still not possible for me, because DH almost always finishes everything on his plate no matter how much he gets....

[madelyn]

You can share entrees? We will be on Free Dining for 3 nights in Nov and have a 11 year old son (as well as a 2 year old and a 8 year old). In order to stretch our dining credits we were thinking of buying him kids' entrees (more fitting to his appetite and palate anyway) and saving his adult credit for us to use at a later time (allowing us to keep 1 or 2 more ADRs). But I got mixed answers whether we could do this or not. Some said that they would allow him to get a kids' meal but would charge him an adult credit for it. Others said they were able to pay for whatever they wanted out of pocket.

[Luv2Roam]

My guess is people will find it varies from restaurant to restaurant. I don't see it as an issue. But I could foresee someone being told they cannot, or be charged a plate fee.
It most likely will not happen. Just keep advised that is a possibility is all.

[Sandy321]

They wouldnt let dd share our meal at Calif Grill - the manager came over and said it was "policy" we all had to order a meal! I felt like klassless trashy hick for even suggesting sharing at Calif Grill!

dh wouldnt let me try sharing at any other place!!

[BriarRosie]

I know they have no problems with sharing when you're paying out of pocket. Apparently they were sticklers with sharing at California Grill with the dining plan credits.

[DCDisney]

- the manager came over and said it was "policy" we all had to order a meal! I felt like klassless trashy hick for even suggesting sharing at Calif Grill!

dh wouldnt let me try sharing at any other place!!


Yeesh they certainly could have dealt with it better especially since a child was involved. It wasn't like 8 people trying to share 2 meals and lots of bread :laughing: We had an issue with a restaurant that we go to a few times a year not letting my son order off the kids menu anymore. He is young enough by over a year but looks older because he is tall. At first I got really mad and then I realized I could order him a side item for $1.50 and we all shared our seafood with him. He ended up getting more food and we wasted less. Plus it was much cheaper that way for us than the kids meal. The same place had a shared plate charge of $8 but by buying him a side he had a plate. I'm planning on having my barely adult aged kids (10 and 11) share an adult meal at 2 places because they can't possibly eat a whole steak or even half. If that's a no go we'll order 1 adult meal and 1 side dish OOP.

[Jeanieblue114]

I know that it's not a problem at Disney to share meals when payingn OOP. I have done that for most meals. I just figured that the Dining plan 'rules' would require you to spend the credits if you were sitting there and not share at a TS place.
It's actually been bothering me (but it was free DDP so I just went with it).

I have a digestive issue that requires me to go have the opening to my stomach opening regularly streched so the food can go through and doesn't get 'stuck'. I don't have any medical card or anything about it. I just always share meals and each snacks. I just learned to do more grazing.
But eating a full TS meal with dessert will possibly make me feel ill. Add on the walking around and the heat..and I will just feel ick. I don't want to feel like I just had thanksgiving dinner 2 or 3 times a day.
I don't have any extra TS meals reserved. I just figure if I have extra credits from us sharing, I'll grab CS meals with them when it's convenient or take some sandwiches on the road. I'm not in the slightest bit interested in maxing out the value. I just want to feel comfortable and do NOT want to waste all of that food by throwing it out.

As for the comments about feeling lower class for sharing a meal, I actually feel like I am being a bit more..well (not to offend)...a bit more of a lady for not gorging myself until I need to roll out of the restaurant.

[danceintherain]

You can share entrees? We will be on Free Dining for 3 nights in Nov and have a 11 year old son (as well as a 2 year old and a 8 year old). In order to stretch our dining credits we were thinking of buying him kids' entrees (more fitting to his appetite and palate anyway) and saving his adult credit for us to use at a later time (allowing us to keep 1 or 2 more ADRs). But I got mixed answers whether we could do this or not. Some said that they would allow him to get a kids' meal but would charge him an adult credit for it. Others said they were able to pay for whatever they wanted out of pocket.

You probably would not be able to use a kids credit for your 11 year old, especially if the actual "child" is getting their own meal. They can only redeem the total number of meals on a reservation, so they would only be able to redeem one child credit per order, since there would be only one child on the reservation.
You can sometimes get away with paying out of pocket for kid's meals for "adults" (we've done it) but it depends on the restaurant, and they're much more strict about using Dining Plan credits, because technically it's a "discount."

[TDC Nala]

Splitting the one meal for the one credit depends on where you eat. You can never share one meal at buffets or all you can eat family style or fixed menu, fixed price restaurants. You cannot share the all you can eat skillet at Whispering Canyon for one credit. There are several reports that Beaches & Cream does not allow dining plan users to share entrees. There's been one report from a dining plan user in this thread who was not permitted to share an entree with a child at California Grill. You can always ask at any restaurant that is not buffet or all you can eat.

[madelyn]

You probably would not be able to use a kids credit for your 11 year old, especially if the actual "child" is getting their own meal. They can only redeem the total number of meals on a reservation, so they would only be able to redeem one child credit per order, since there would be only one child on the reservation.
You can sometimes get away with paying out of pocket for kid's meals for "adults" (we've done it) but it depends on the restaurant, and they're much more strict about using Dining Plan credits, because technically it's a "discount."

We were not hoping to use a kids' credit for our 11 year old son's meal. We wondered whether we could pay out of pocket for his kids' meal entree (more fitting to his appetite and palate) and save his adult credit either for him for a buffet or for an adult entree for either my husband or myself at a non-buffet or all you can eat place.

[danceintherain]

We were not hoping to use a kids' credit for our 11 year old son's meal. We wondered whether we could pay out of pocket for his kids' meal entree (more fitting to his appetite and palate) and save his adult credit either for him for a buffet or for an adult entree for either my husband or myself at a non-buffet or all you can eat place.

Oh ok... then yeah some places may be fine with it, others might not be.

[cnorth]

Could the issue with Cali Grill just be them? I know you are not allowed up there just for drinks/appetizers. Since you can watch the fireworks from there, that seems to be their way of restricting the amount of people up there.:confused3

[TDC Nala]

Could the issue with Cali Grill just be them? I know you are not allowed up there just for drinks/appetizers. Since you can watch the fireworks from there, that seems to be their way of restricting the amount of people up there.:confused3

It's not just California Grill because there are reports that Beaches & Cream won't allow sharing entrees on the dining plan.

Honestly, it's going to depend on the restaurant. It also might depend on the server and manager you have that particular day and how strict they feel like being. There's no written rule that sharing is or isn't allowed at WDW restaurants that aren't buffet or all you can eat.

And you ARE allowed to go to California Grill for drinks and appetizers - I do it often. The catch is that there must be room available in the restaurant. The tables are usually fully booked and the closer you get to fireworks time, the more crowded the lounge gets, but if I go to the lounge at opening or after the fireworks end, I have no problems getting up there.

[Tuta]

I've worried slightly about there being too much food as well...I guess we've all been conditioned to "clean our plate"...but really, if you're full, quit eating...because it will be waste one way or another. :rolleyes1

[Princess Disney Mom]

Beware, we went to a TS (not buffet) and all she wanted was a soup. I had to fight the manager to let us pay the $5.99 for the soup as he insisted to charge her a TS! We were on free dining and he said everyone had to use a TS. I told him we would leave if that was the case and he seemed shocked and relented. Geez!

[Jeanieblue114]

what restaurant is that?

I'm sure a lot of us would like to avoid confrontation during out meals.

[Sandy321]

Beware, we went to a TS (not buffet) and all she wanted was a soup. I had to fight the manager to let us pay the $5.99 for the soup as he insisted to charge her a TS! We were on free dining and he said everyone had to use a TS. I told him we would leave if that was the case and he seemed shocked and relented. Geez!

I'll also clarify (my mind isnt what it used to be!) My dd was an "adult" by Disney standards and she had been "ill" (blood sugar issues) The manager did allow us to order her 2TSmeal and take it to go - they didnt bring it out with our meals but put it in a "to go" container when it was time to leave, it was all in containers,and a bag to carry... she visibly was tired, and withdrawn, but not "sick" in the sense of colds and flus

and then I should balance that negative story with a positive -

at H&V we had a Fantasmic Dinner pkg (different year because it was free dining, but we were staying on points at DVC and paid for dining plan - that may have made the difference also!) The CM noticed dd wasnt eating, and asked, and we mentioned she was just having a "bad day"... knowing we had to pay for the F!pkg as well as the buffet - The CM came back and said she wasnt going to charge us, since "I saw what she ate" - needless to say, the kindness overwhelmed us!! (and of course she was tipped well) but we were stunned -

Disney does allow leeway to the CM's to provide :wizard: magic - sometimes we forget - its magic, and just sometimes we expect that "its not hurting anyone" - but we dont see on a daily basis what they must see....