changing table service to counter service

[bytownmickey]

We are going in September this year on the free dining plan. Since the dining plan no longer includes an appetiser, and we have 10 people in our group which means an automatic 18 percent tip now is added on. I am thinking of switching some of our table meals to counter meals. I think many of the counter meals are quite good. Has anyone else been able to change this with the dining plan, and is anyone thinking of doing the same? Cheers.

 

[Teresa Pitman]

I'm not sure if I understand what you mean. With the dining plan, you get one counter service credit and one table service credit for each night you are staying. If you are staying for, say, three nights, you have three of each. You can't use a table service credit at a counter service restaurant. The only exception that I know of is that when it was very busy (I think this was during free dining) last year, they did allow people to trade a table service for a counter service (I think you also got a snack or something). But normally it's not allowed.

Teresa

 

[bytownmickey]

Because we are such a large group and it is the free dining, we are having a hard time to get tables for all of us. Disney actually comes out ahead if they allow people to "downgrade" from a table service to a counter service, because of the costs difference between the two meals. Our rep from Dreams Unlimitted has been unable to get a straight answer from Disney one way or the other (other people have also inquired) . If people cannot get the reservations at restaurants that they are requesting, it would be unfair for Disney to not allow people to simply apply there table service credits to counter service credits. Otherwise we would lose out and have to buy a counter service meal, what is fair in that? Nowhere in the Dining Plan info does it say that you cannot exchange a table service for a counter service meal - which is much cheaper.

 

[Eveningsong]

Did you consider doing a grand gathering. I believe the minimum amount is 8.

Tips are included in Grand Gatherings?

 

[Teresa Pitman]

I'll be interested to see if Disney does let you make that change. A family that I know went last year and didn't make ADRs. When they got there they found they were having a really hard time finding table service restaurants, but they were not allowed to use their table service credits for a counter service restaurant. They had to pay OOP for the extra counter service meals and they simply lost the table service meals they couldn't get into. (I think they did do at least one signature meal and used up two that way.)

They argued the same way you are - that the counter service meals are cheaper and therefore it should be allowed. But they weren't able to do it.

Maybe it will help that you are trying to arrange this in advance, rather than when you get there.

I have to say, though, that if you think you are going to be doing mostly counter-service meals, why would you get the dining plan? You'll probably lose money that way. You'll probably be better off just buying your meals OOP.

Teresa

 

[Teresa Pitman]

Ah, sorry. I just re-read your post and saw that you are going during free dining. I know that they did allow people to subsitute some counter service for table service previously during free dining so maybe they will allow it for you. I hope so.

Teresa

 

[kimsuenew]

Last year this was allowed during free dining, there was even a promo running on our Resort channel (at SSR) about it (that was how we found out).

We traded in 4 TS for 4 CS breakfasts, and they also gave us a lanyard and pin set for each trade (very plain lanyard with two pins each, but it gave us an extra eight pins to trade and we did not have the time to do anymore TS meals).

It would be "win/win" for Disney, much cheaper to reimburse/provide CS than TS!

To the OP, did you try to find availability and then base parks days around that by chance? We wanted select places so on a couple of days we had to base the park we were going to that day on the ADR's we were able to get! We luckily got all ADR's we wanted that way, by being very flexible. Your group is large however, I understand that.

The tip could be easily divided among all diners, evenly based on the number of people in your party, and then it wouldn't be quite so bad. Also, take into account that your dining is free! Yes, the tip not being included is a bummer, but the food is all free. An 18% tip, in lieu of the actual cost of a TS meal, is not to bad (IMO)!

 

[Northstar]

Could you also consider splitting your party up for some table service meals?

I wasn't on the dining plan, but had to do this to get reservations at Boma for a party of 7 on our last trip. We couldn't get a table for 7, but could get two tables, for 4 and 3, at the same time. So I booked two reservations, one under my name, one for an adult at the other table.

We arrived together and the two tables were seated within 5 minutes of one another. We were far apart, though, so no chance of putting the tables together to socialize.

Anyway, you can just cancel those tentative ADRs if they do decide later that they will definitely allow you to use your TS credits for CS meals.

 

[bytownmickey]

I have spoken to a rep at WDW dining reservations. I was told that we can indeed change our table service to counter service. We have booked some places by splitting up the group, but the Canadian is fully booked for the three days that I tried. Thanks everyone for your help!!