Sharing Signature meals

[lovedisney50]

We will be on the dining plan for our November trip. Can my dh & I share a signature meals? I can't eat much & can't drink when I eat.

 

[fruitsnack]

We were in WDW in September and dined at Le Cellier - they had no issues with us sharing the meal.

 

[Brocktoon]

We were in WDW in September and dined at Le Cellier - they had no issues with us sharing the meal.

Were you on the Dining Plan? I thought all table guests on the dining plan will get credits deducted whether you share a meal or not.

The restaurant will probably have no issue at all if you share a meal, but there's a good chance you'll still get the credits deducted whether you order a full meal or not. Only other choice would br to pay out of pocket for that meal.

 

[CarrieR]

They only deduct credits for each adult at buffets/AYCTE. Otherwise it's one credit per adult meal served.

Sharing would be at the discretion of the restaurant, but I can't see an issue. We've definitely shared at LC before... aside from that we don't often dine at signatures.

 

[figment_jii]

I've shared meals at several Signatures before and it hasn't been a problem. If you let the server know you'll be sharing, the plates are sometimes split in the kitchen for you (not always, but sometimes).

As mentioned previously, the only times when you cannot "share" is at a buffet (e.g., Chef Mickey), fixed price meal (e.g., CRT), all-you-care-to-eat (e.g., 'Ohana), dining packages (e.g., Fantasmic dining package), and dinner shows (e.g., HDDR). You also cannot share at Via Napoli when using the dining plan; if you're paying OOP then it does not matter.

Regarding the DDP, you are only charged a credit if you order something (assuming you're not at one of the type of places listed above). So if you go to Hollywood Brown Derby (for example) and only order one entree, one drink, and one dessert, you'll only be charged 2 credits because HBD (like Le Cellier) is a Signatures and each meal costs 2 credits. On the other hand, if you opt for the Fantasmic Dining Package at the HBD, you'll each be charged 2 credits regardless of how much or how little you order (so it'll cost 4 credits for two adults).

 

[TheRustyScupper]

1) MrsRustyScupper and I almost always share meals.
2) Our appetites are small
. . . we are old folks
. . . I will not say how old we are
. . . but, when young, Dinosaur in AK used real dinosaurs, not animatronics
. . . in fact the ride was much better when my buddy invented the wheel *
3) For sharing, there weren't questions, problems, or even weird looks from servers.


* OK, it wasn't my buddy, alone. He was part of a committee designing square
cave floor tiles, and this is what they ended up with.

 

[Princess Disney Mom]

They gave me a terrible time at the Big river grille and brewing works. My daughter just wanted a bowl of soup and they insisted since we were on the meal plan we could not pay OOP for her and had to use 1 TS. Lucky I said I would pay OOP for her when we ordered. After the waiter told me that it was 1 TS just for a soup I said we would leave and none of us would eat there as I was not burning an adult TS on a bowl of soup. He was shocked then said we could pay OOP. Crazy.

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[RnbwSktles]

I pretty sure there was a thread not too long ago about this and there was a pretty big debate about sharing on the DDP. Most people seemed to think this was not allowed anywhere, since you are technically cheating Disney.*

Has their policy changed?

*The definition of cheating was debated, but it basically came down to someone on the DDP being able to pay for someone who is not on the plan. If repeated often, two people could theoretically share the price of 1 DDP and Disney makes less money. Of course, you get less food this way and might starve, but I suppose it could work for some!

 

[purple figment]

We have been to almost all of the signature restaurants and never had a problem sharing. Most of the sigs are Disney owned so you'll be able share.

Other than the exceptions mentioned by figment_jii we've never had a problem sharing at any Disney owned restaurant.

The third party restaurants sometimes have stricter rules, such as the previously mentioned Via Napoli and its no sharing of credits. I've not heard that Big River Grill requires everyone to use a credit. That has come up in the past with a different restaurant, but it seemed to be a misinformed server. It sounds like the same at Big River Grill.

 

[TDC Nala]

Were you on the Dining Plan? I thought all table guests on the dining plan will get credits deducted whether you share a meal or not.

The restaurant will probably have no issue at all if you share a meal, but there's a good chance you'll still get the credits deducted whether you order a full meal or not. Only other choice would br to pay out of pocket for that meal.

Only at certain restaurants - buffets, all you can eat, fixed price restaurants, dinner shows, special packages. Of the a la carte restaurants it appears that at this time only Via Napoli has a restriction against guests who are on a dining plan sharing a dining credit (in other words, using the credit allotment for one meal to feed two or more people.)

In the past there were reports that Beaches and Cream wasn't allowing sharing of dining credits, but I haven't seen that reported in a couple of years now.

I pretty sure there was a thread not too long ago about this and there was a pretty big debate about sharing on the DDP. Most people seemed to think this was not allowed anywhere, since you are technically cheating Disney.*

This was regarding sharing your credits with persons who are not on the plan, as Disney has a specific written rule that says credits may not be redeemed to provide meals for persons who are not on your room reservation or dining plan. Technically, sharing your DDP meal with a guest who is not on your room reservation, with the intent of providing a full meal for them (sharing a couple of bites of your food shouldn't be a problem) falls into that category. It doesn't, however, apply to guests on the same room reservation and dining plan sharing credits among themselves.

 

[RnbwSktles]

This was regarding sharing your credits with persons who are not on the plan, as Disney has a specific written rule that says credits may not be redeemed to provide meals for persons who are not on your room reservation or dining plan. Technically, sharing your DDP meal with a guest who is not on your room reservation, with the intent of providing a full meal for them (sharing a couple of bites of your food shouldn't be a problem) falls into that category. It doesn't, however, apply to guests on the same room reservation and dining plan sharing credits among themselves.

Oh ok. So can they easily see the other person in the plan?

 

[TDC Nala]

Please take notice that the Restaurant board is not going to allow discussion of HOW it might be possible to use your dining credits to pay for your guests' meals, which was a moderating decision made because Disney specifically states in the Dining Plan brochures that meal credits should not be redeemed to pay for meals for guests who are not on the resort reservation or dining plan.

 

[RnbwSktles]

Sorry, didn't mean to turn the thread into anything controversial. I was just confused!

 

[vdoucet78]

My travel agent told me it was not possible to share even if both ppl are on the DDP. I like hearing that others have had success though, maybe we will try and see. I really want to be able to share most meals if we can, neither of us eat very much (post-bariatric surgery) and we always share when eating out and still don't usually finish an entree!

 

[mom2of2]

Oh ok. So can they easily see the other person in the plan?

Yes, it's on your card

 

[happymommy]

My travel agent told me it was not possible to share even if both ppl are on the DDP. I like hearing that others have had success though, maybe we will try and see. I really want to be able to share most meals if we can, neither of us eat very much (post-bariatric surgery) and we always share when eating out and still don't usually finish an entree!

I'm sure they will also give special consideration since it is due to medical condition that you eat very little.

I'm assuming that you got the dining plan free; paying for it wouldn't make as much sense since you wouldn't really take advantage of it (unless using it more for character meals and such, which are otherwise kind of expensive).

To the OP: it sounds like it's probably okay most places. I've shared meals at Big River at the Boardwalk with my friend as well as at 50's Prime Time with her once and with my DD at least twice. And they split the plates in the kitchen at 50's prime time both times. I also order kids meals sometimes at counter service places, although now it seems they're not priced much less some places. I simply don't like to eat a lot when we're walking so much at Disney, it makes me feel sick.

 

[AquaDame]

I don't think the OP has come back and confirmed she is on the dining plan, so I just wanted to say that my husband and I share meals often without so much as a sideways glance. It's just too much food sometimes! We are not on the dining plan, but do use the Tables in Wonderland discount.

 

[figment_jii]

My travel agent told me it was not possible to share even if both ppl are on the DDP.

I've been on the DDP and at most a la carte places, you can share. As said previously, you cannot share at buffets, fixed price meals, family style meals, dining packages, and at dinner shows, regardless of payment methods. When on the DDP, you cannot share at VN and perhaps at La Hacienda (some reports earlier this year, but not recently). Other than that, you can use one credit (or 2, if at a Signature) to feed two people if both of you are on the same resort reservation. If in doubt, ask the server before ordering.