2 DDP questions

[RDCAnthony]

We are planning a family trip for March. There are a total of of 8 of us booking a grand villa at OKW. Everyone is planning on getting the dining plan. Heres my first question does everyone staying at the Grand villa need to be on the dining plan? Here the situation my wife recently had a gastric bypass, so she eats very little. So the dining plan would be a huge waste of money for her. If everyone does need to book it I was thinking of not listing her as someone staying at the resort (not like they would know that she is staying there and the villa sleeps 12 anyways) This brings up my second question, do we all need to be on the dining plan when we sit together at a Disney restaurant? She may still order something but it might be off the kids menu. Thank for any help

 

[maxiesmom]

Yes everyone needs to be on the dining plan, no exceptions. If your wife can't eat much you can pay out of pocket for her, and she could order off of the kids menu. Then you would just have extra credits for the rest of you to use. The restaurants will not have a problem doing that for you.

You do need to list her on the room for a couple of reasons: First, if you are flying in to Orlando your wife won't be able to use Magical Express if she is not listed on the reservation. Second, she won't be able to take advantage of Extra Magic Hours, as each person has a resort ID they must show in order to ride the rides during EMH. Thirdly, if you are caught with a person not listed, Disney would be within its rights to cancel your reservation, leaving you without a place to stay. Not something you want to worry about happening.

 

[amyr1]

I believe everyone on the reservation must have the same 'plan'--so everyone has to have the dining plan or nobody can have it.

you can certainly pay for someone's meal oop--they can't force you to use a dining credit just because everyone else at your table is using theirs.

Perhaps you wife could just order an appetizer or kids meal, pay oop, and then leave her credits to be used by others in the reservation?

We do this with my ds who eats kids meals but Disney insists he's an "adult." We use his credits for him when doing buffets but when we are at a TS that offers kids meals, we just pay oop for his and save his credit to use later. This lets us get in another meal or two during our trip.

HTH
Amy

 

[nkereina]

I believe your wife could order off the kids menu and still use dining credits to pay for it, since she would have to get the dining plan too. You wouldn't be getting the best value for the credits but at least you wouldn't have to pay OOP for it. I don't know if there's ever free dining in March but if there is, then this will be a non-issue.

(I can't believe I'm helping a Patriots fan )

 

[prncess674]

Kid's meals while smaller are loaded with fat and starch and are probably not what your wife should be eating. Also realize that if you go to any buffet or AYCE restaurants that even though she eats small portions does not mean she will get a reduction in price.

 

[RMulieri]

ALL people on the same reservation need to be on the same dining plan.If you do not list her on the room, she will NOT get a KTTW and therefore would not be allowed to use EMH privelages .

 

[maxiesmom]

Kid's meals while smaller are loaded with fat and starch and are probably not what your wife should be eating. Also realize that if you go to any buffet or AYCE restaurants that even though she eats small portions does not mean she will get a reduction in price.

Good point on the buffets and family style restaurants.

And while many of the kids meals may not be the healthiest, if the OP's wife wishes to go that route, a little research will help a lot. You can get things that are a bit healthier on the kids menus, such as salmon, but you will have to hunt them down.