Please Explain the Dining plan

[Circus181920]

I thought that I understood the dining plan but as I do more research on the boards, I get more and more confused. My family is contemplating the 1 counter service, 1 sit down, and 1 (or 2?) snack credits a day for a 9 day trip.

(1) What are some examples of snacks-would a churro or baked good at Main Street Bakery count, or is it just like the nestle ice cream bar stuff?

(2) I hear that Signature Restaurants take 2 sit down credits, but does that mean you can order anything on the menu (in other words, will 2 credits get you anything or does a steak cost more credits than say, chicken)?

(3) Do you get a drink, an appetizer, entree, and dessert with one sit down credit?

(4) Does one counter service credit include a drink and a meal and dessert?


Thanks for the help!

[design_mom]

1) There are a whole lot of things included as a snack including things you mention, not just ice cream bars. There's a thread here ( http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2381706 ) that provides a partial list of what's included.

2) We did not dine at any signature restaurants, but at all the restaurants we tried (and I assume signature would be the same), you got your choice from the menu. There was no extra charge (or discount) if you ordered the most/least expensive thing on the menu. At a signature, I believe they charge you 2 credits per person, but everything else is the same.

3) With the regular dining plan (which is the one you mentioned -- 1 counter service, 1 table service, 1 snack) you do not get an appetizer. You'd get an entree, a dessert and a non-alcoholic drink at a table service.

4) Yes. At a counter service, you'd get an entree or combo meal, plus a drink and a dessert.

The other thing that I thought was a little confusing about DDP is that your credits are based on the number of NIGHTS you're staying, not the number of days. (If you're doing 9 days/8 nights, you'd only get 8 "sets" of credits...but you can use them at any time and in any order.) Just thought I'd pass that along in case you were confused about that like I was.

[TDC Nala]

We've got two sticky threads for you at the top of the forum - the Everything You Always Wanted To Know thread for dining plan details and FAQ, and the Confirmed Snack thread which reports items DIS posters have been able to get for a snack credit (this is NOT an official Disney-endorsed list of dining plan snacks).

(1) What are some examples of snacks-would a churro or baked good at Main Street Bakery count, or is it just like the nestle ice cream bar stuff?

See the Confirmed Snack Thread.

(2) I hear that Signature Restaurants take 2 sit down credits, but does that mean you can order anything on the menu (in other words, will 2 credits get you anything or does a steak cost more credits than say, chicken)?

From what you've written you are considering the basic dining plan. At a signature you're entitled to ANY entree and ANY dessert on the menu for your two TS credits.


(3) Do you get a drink, an appetizer, entree, and dessert with one sit down credit?

On the basic plan a table service credit entitles you to one entree, one dessert, and one non-alcoholic beverage. Appetizers are not included except for children age 3-9, and they have to order from the children's menu - what they get as a first course is more a side dish than it is an appetizer. If the meal is breakfast, you aren't entitled to dessert. Juice is substituted, so you get two drinks.

(4) Does one counter service credit include a drink and a meal and dessert?

A counter service entitles you to one entree or combo meal, one dessert, and one non-alcoholic beverage. If the meal is breakfast, you get juice instead of the dessert.