A few questions about the Disney Dining Plan

[travelfearlessly]

We're traveling to Disney in a few weeks and this will be the first time using a dining plan. I was wondering whether a person has to be physically present in order to get their food? For example, if the hubby is in line with our daughter waiting to meet a character can I grab his Quick Service dinner for him? Will I need his Magic Band? Are we required to enter PIN numbers like when we make purchases?

Also, I've read somewhere that you can trade out a dessert for a side item. Has everyone had consistent luck with this? Our daughter is not yet 3 so she's not on a dining plan and I was hoping to give her all my side items such as a fruit cup instead of desserts and then using our snack credits for the sweet treats for us all to share.

 

[G719]

All the credits are pooled by room so you can pay for all the meals with just your band. You do enter a pin number when "paying" for your meals with your credits. We had much success in November subbing out desserts. You can swap for any item on the menu that is listed as available for a snack credit. We swapped dessert for fries to share meals or for a second drink when we shared a meal. It worked very well. I believe this applies to only QS not TS.

 

[Mom2Kids2003]

We went in September and we were able to to swap out desserts for snack items instead. We only did this at our resort, so I'm not sure if it is working at all of the QS restaurants in the park yet. If you have your refillable Disney cup, you can also swap your drink for a snack item and then use your refillable mug to get your drink instead. Keep in mind that they are only refillable at your resort. Hope that helps!

 

[AP1209]

We're traveling to Disney in a few weeks and this will be the first time using a dining plan. I was wondering whether a person has to be physically present in order to get their food? For example, if the hubby is in line with our daughter waiting to meet a character can I grab his Quick Service dinner for him? Will I need his Magic Band? Are we required to enter PIN numbers like when we make purchases?

Also, I've read somewhere that you can trade out a dessert for a side item. Has everyone had consistent luck with this? Our daughter is not yet 3 so she's not on a dining plan and I was hoping to give her all my side items such as a fruit cup instead of desserts and then using our snack credits for the sweet treats for us all to share.

No, the person does not have to be present for you get their food. They can take all the credits off of your band. You will have to enter your pin number. I'm not 100% certain on the dessert for a side item so I will leave that question for someone more qualified.

 

[travelfearlessly]

All the credits are pooled by room so you can pay for all the meals with just your band. You do enter a pin number when "paying" for your meals with your credits. We had much success in November subbing out desserts. You can swap for any item on the menu that is listed as available for a snack credit. We swapped dessert for fries to share meals or for a second drink when we shared a meal. It worked very well. I believe this applies to only QS not TS.

Thanks for the info. I was mostly concerned about QS and most of our TS meals are buffet and I was told she can eat for free at buffets.

We went in September and we were able to to swap out desserts for snack items instead. We only did this at our resort, so I'm not sure if it is working at all of the QS restaurants in the park yet. If you have your refillable Disney cup, you can also swap your drink for a snack item and then use your refillable mug to get your drink instead. Keep in mind that they are only refillable at your resort. Hope that helps!

Yea, I also read about swapping out the drinks but my husband and I plan to grab apple juices and chocolate milks with our meals at the resort, then use those drinks for our daughter when we go to the park. We're going with a large family and also plan to buy bottled water at the grocery store too. We totally underestimated how much water we drank during our last trip!

 

[G719]

We went in September and we were able to to swap out desserts for snack items instead. We only did this at our resort, so I'm not sure if it is working at all of the QS restaurants in the park yet. If you have your refillable Disney cup, you can also swap your drink for a snack item and then use your refillable mug to get your drink instead. Keep in mind that they are only refillable at your resort. Hope that helps!

The mugs work at all resort QS not just the one you are staying at. They do not work in the parks. We used our mugs on our last trip at Fort wilderness, wilderness lodge, and the contemporary. We were staying at FW.

 

[DIS_MERI]

You should be able to swap your drink and/or dessert out for any item that has the DDP snack symbol. Which means you can get 2 drinks, if you want to give up the dessert. At places like WPE that do not have DDP eligible snacks, you cannot substitute anything (including getting a bottled water or juice instead of a fountain drink, in my experience). Of course, for breakfast you don't get a dessert, so you can only sub 1 item.

 

[Tinkerbell7479]

We had no problem subbing a dessert for a side at a TS a few weeks ago. We had the deluxe dining plan and split a meal at Coral Reef. DH had the entree and water and I had the appetizer and a side of fries. Worked out well for us

 

[Nancyg56]

Thanks for the info. I was mostly concerned about QS and most of our TS meals are buffet and I was told she can eat for free at buffets.



Yea, I also read about swapping out the drinks but my husband and I plan to grab apple juices and chocolate milks with our meals at the resort, then use those drinks for our daughter when we go to the park. We're going with a large family and also plan to buy bottled water at the grocery store too. We totally underestimated how much water we drank during our last trip!

You can get all the filtered water you want at any quick service rrestaurant. They will give you a covered cup filled. DO nto be afraid to ask....and it doesnt taste too bad eitherLOL!

 

[Nancyg56]

The mugs work at all resort QS not just the one you are staying at. They do not work in the parks. We used our mugs on our last trip at Fort wilderness, wilderness lodge, and the contemporary. We were staying at FW.

The mugs are a good when you resort hop. We liked to take a cup of coffee or a cold drink with us, and after we were through enjoying the resort decorations, we woul dget another. Then just rince the cup and put a little paper towel inside ( I alwasy do this even at home after I dry the cups).