Dining Plan Question

[Toy_Story2010]

We are going Thanksgiving week (11/20-11/28). It is my third trip to the world but only the second for the family im going with (ten of us total) and they haven't been there since 2000 AND didn't utilize the dining plan.

When my dad and I go its in January and we always use the dining plan and make ADRs.
However, the group I'm going with, as of right now, they do not want to make any ADRs. They say if they can't get any reservations we will just use the hotel or parks CS. How will this work if we do this? Does the CS end up being counted as the TS since we will be using two CS per day (lunch and dinner?)

No matter how hard I try they refuse to make any ADRs and tell me I am just over planning.

[quadsthen1]

While I have never been Thanksgiving week, I do hear that it is very busy there that time of year. So walking up to get a table at a Table service restaraunt may be near impossible (unless you try odd times, like 2:00). If you are not going to do any ADRs and just be satisfied eating at Quick service restaraunts...why not consider the quick serive dining plan?? Sounds like that may be a better fit for you. I would hate to have paid for 8 table service meals and not get them all! Then if you do get the opportunity to eat at a table service restaraunt, you could pay oop, with the money you saved by doing the quick serv dining plan!!

[danceintherain]

Sometimes they'll let you use Table Service credits for Counter Service meals, but not always. It depends on the CM at the CS place. Also, this would be a terrible waste of money.
If you're not getting ADRs, then I would recommend just getting the Quick Service Dining Plan, if you must do the Dining Plan.

It will be VERY difficult to walk up to restaurants and get a table for 10 people during Thanksgiving, especially if you don't get around to eating until "normal" meal times. If you walk up right as a restaurant opens around 11am, then you would probably have more luck, but I wouldn't be surprised if the restaurants are completely booked. I've seen people getting turned away in January (value season) so Thanksgiving will be much more difficult.

If you are attached to getting the Regular Dining Plan, then trick them. Go ahead and make ADRs as soon as possible. Maybe not for the first few days of your trip, but let them have a day or two to see that they can't just walk up to restaurants and get a table. Then, tell them that you checked for the next couple of days and made a few ADRs. After the trip tell them the truth.

The only way you would have a problem with this is if you can't convince them to go to the park you have an ADR for. Maybe you can ask them non-food-related questions about their touring plans.
Do they want to get up for Morning Extra Magic Hours? Most people don't, so you could pretty easily get lunch ADRs for one of the parks that doesn't have morning EMH, and persuade them to go there.
What about evening Extra Magic Hours?
Are you getting Park Hoppers? this would give you more flexibility to get dinner ADRs somewhere and make it there by the end of the day

Another option would be to talk to each member of the group individually, and find like minded people who will agree to a little bit of planning. Then, you could just get ADRs for the group that consented ahead of time, and those who wouldn't listen to you can be the ones that eat Counter Service the entire time. I can't imagine that entire group touring around together the whole time anyways.

[thebells_Dallas]

ive never been at this time of year but i have been in june last year when it was very busy. i would talk to everyone in your group and really explain to them the need for ADR's. like was mentioned, what a waste of money to use a TS for chicken strips and french fries at a CS location :confused3

show them what you research there are plenty of experts and those of us that are on here (some experts, some that wish we were like me) that can tell you from real experience at least that you need ADR's. i personally wouldnt go to DW without ADR's. find a compromise with the others and then just go have fun. that's the bottom line!! :thumbsup2

[sharonabe]

We did the Quick Service Plan on our trip in December and really enjoyed it. I only ate one hamburger the whole week, and that was my choice. You get two meals and two snacks every day and a refillable mug for the resort. With the meals you get your entree, dessert, and a drink. We used one of our snack credits each day for breakfast pastries/muffins. We had plenty of food. There are many counter service places where you can get more value for your money....check out the menus at allearsnet.com.

[MrsLS]

personally I wouldn't get the dining plan then, unless its free because it would be a waste of $, especially also if you're going to use CS for TS credits (if you can). I would also book ADR's for yourself if you really want to do TS dining too, do you have to stay with your group the whole time? We've gone with people on vacation, not disney, and have done different things some days.

[FlightlessDuck]

If they don't want to make ADRs, they should either have the quick service dining or no dining plan.

Or go separately and do what you want. :thumbsup2

[frayedend]

It seems you have a few issues with the group. From your post I gather they expect you all to eat together (the part where they said, "we will eat counter service"). If that is the expectation then you do have a problem. Because getting a table can be difficult for a small party, getting one for a table of 10 will be nearly impossible.

That being said, if you aren't needing to eat togther just let them know you are making ADRs for your family and if they want to be included they need to let you know now. Hopefully they won't feel the need to be joined at the hip for the entire trip or I foresee a lot of frustration with your vacation.

[FlightlessDuck]

I went with three families last year, with a total of 11 people.

They were OK with me and MouseEarsJenny planning out our ADRs and stuff.

But it still was far from our best trip. In hindsight, we should have spent more time apart, including dinner.

You should think more about this.

[KellyNY]

For the group of 8 (their family), it would be nearly impossible to get a table without ADR in any season. Keep your ADRs and eat with your father. Let them eat where they want and meet after meal if you want to do parks as a group. If they do not understand, it is their loss, not yours. Would be not fair to you to not use your ADRs and use points for CS meal instead.

[Virtucomp]

You could also make a few ADRs for later in the week and if the plans don't work out cancel the ADR a few days in advance.

We went one year in June and did not make many ADRs. We didn't have the dining plan so we were not pre-paying. We ended up eating CS all week because everything was booked.

I would suggest either a CS meal plan or making at least a few ADRs. Or you could just light $500 on fire now and get no plan.:rotfl:

[BradyBz12]

Agree with PPs that getting walk up or even "day of" ADRs for a group of 10 Thanksgiving week is going to be all but impossible.

If they're all fine with CS meals, then personally I wouldn't bother with the dining plan at all. That way if some of you want to make ADRs and have TS meals you can, but you're not locked into anything and won't be wasting money paying for meals you won't be able to use.

Good luck!

[LaurenT]

My personal advice would be:
Scrap the dining plan - it's a savings, but not that much and may end up costing you since you don't know how you'll wind up taking care of your meals.
Next - I would do this, I would make adr's for all but the first day there. You may find regret among the family that they couln't sit down to eat in any of the nice places because they didn't listen to you...they won't know that until that first day when they are passing the restaurants and wishing they could get in...if that happens you can be a hero, with adr's all set for the rest of the trip. If they really stick to not wanting to have a reservation anywhere, you can cancel them and some other family who didn't get their adr's done in time will wind up with a nice surprise!

[fireman1]

Thats tough..you have been and you know you will most likely need ADR's. Not to sound mean or anything but you may have to look out for you and yours and make them for YOUR family. If the others don't want to follow suit and risk not having ADR's, then that's on them.:) They can't say you didnt warn them, right.

[Brian_WDW74]

I've moved this thread to the Dining Plan board. :)