Best Way to "pre-pay" meals without DDP...need tips

[Clare]

We are going to WDW with a group of 9 (my parents, BIL/SIL, DH, myself & our 3 kids).

We have decided against the DDP....at $55.59 per day per adult it's just not a good value for the restaurants we've chosen & our eating habits.

My brother and I are concerned that my Dad will try to insist on paying for all meals while we are there, and we'd like to avoid the "check dance" at each meal.

So....I'm trying to think of the best way for us to chip in for the meals ahead of time. What do you guys think?

Buy a Disney World gift card for him to use at table service meals?

Call and make a "Payment" to his reservation (which I made, so could do) & just have him do room charge for meals?

What would make the most sense?

 

[DisneyFansInLINY]

We bought gift cards in advance to prepay our meals. I bought them at BJ's at a discounted price. $100 gift cards are sold for about $4 off and $50 gift cards are sold for about $2 off. Not a huge savings but I bought $1550 worth of gifts cards and saved about $62.

 

[Cafeen]

Buy gift cards (Disney or generic) ahead of time. Have him charge to room. Sneakily pay off room charges with said gift cards .

 

[PictureJumpr]

You don't even have to buy gift cards - you can use cash or another credit card to pay down your room charge account at any time during your trip.

If Dad grabs a check you want to pay and puts it on the room key, just stop at the front desk when you get back to the resort and pay for it - they'll remove it from the room charge balance.

You might also discreetly speak to your server and tell them that under no circumstances is anyone but you (or your brother, or whomever) to get the check. I've actually done this, both at WDW and in other places, to get checks away from my mom or other friends or family members. I've even had servers specifically wait until the person is up at the buffet, or off to the restroom, or otherwise occupied, to bring me the check. I've also "headed for the restroom" with my credit card in my pocket, and waylaid the server away from the table to give him/her the card and have the check paid before it is even brought over.