DDP vs Mobile Ordering

[Wdw1015]

I know that currently, the dining plan does not allow for mobile ordering. I’m trying to figure out if we want the dining plan (still need to do the math) but I’m curious if the mobile ordering option is so amazingly good that people feel it’s worth foregoing the dining plan? Thoughts from those who have used it?

 

[Dug720]

I can't answer that, but I know if you have any allergies/special food needs you cannot use mobile ordering. (Just putting it out there for anyone with the same question who has food allergies in their party because it becomes a moot point then.)

 

[sharonabe]

I know that currently, the dining plan does not allow for mobile ordering. I’m trying to figure out if we want the dining plan (still need to do the math) but I’m curious if the mobile ordering option is so amazingly good that people feel it’s worth foregoing the dining plan? Thoughts from those who have used it?

I would say it's definitely another factor in the equation if time = money to you. You should be saving time with mobile ordering which gets you back to the attractions faster and saves some foot soreness if you don't have to wait in line.

Having said that, unless you're going at some of the more crowded times of the year, it may not save you that much time. We went the first week of Nov, ate mostly QS, and didn't wait in hardly any lines for ordering food at all, so the mobile ordering wouldn't have made that much of a difference for us.

 

[sponica]

I would say it's definitely another factor in the equation if time = money to you. You should be saving time with mobile ordering which gets you back to the attractions faster and saves some foot soreness if you don't have to wait in line.

Having said that, unless you're going at some of the more crowded times of the year, it may not save you that much time. We went the first week of Nov, ate mostly QS, and didn't wait in hardly any lines for ordering food at all, so the mobile ordering wouldn't have made that much of a difference for us.

I also think if you eat on the early end or late end of a lunch period the lines probably aren't as bad...I mean that's why they sell all those Mickey bars, so that I can get away with not eating lunch until 2...

 

[Melissa Perez]

I've never been on the dining plan, but I would think it a good idea for you to look at the places that offer mobile ordering (you can do so on the app) . It isn't every location, and if it's places you wouldn't visit, it could make your decision much easier.

 

[Blue32]

The DDP does not work for our family....but mobile ordering did!

 

[Wdw1015]

I've never been on the dining plan, but I would think it a good idea for you to look at the places that offer mobile ordering (you can do so on the app) . It isn't every location, and if it's places you wouldn't visit, it could make your decision much easier.

Good idea!

 

[DisBuckMan]

Can't speak for the dining plan...but it's enough of a time-saving convenience for us that we're willing to forego our AP and DVC discounts to use it.

 

[WishICouldSpeakWhale]

My husband didn't use a dining credit on our most recent trip (even though we had a few extra) in order to use mobile ordering at Satuli in Pandora. When we were leaving after he finished eating, we followed the people who had been in front of us in line. That couple was looking for a table with their tray of food - meaning that they had just gotten it in the time it took my husband to order and eat. It was totally worth spending the $17 in cash to get out of there that much faster.

I'm not a huge fan of the dining plan. We had it for free over Thanksgiving week, and there were no other discounts available for the time we were going. I would take it again if we could get it for free and there were no other discounts, but I won't pay for it. Definitely check the math on things you typically order. Having the option of mobile ordering if you are paying with a credit card anyway is really nice.

 

[Queen of the WDW Scene]

I usually get the dining plan but for my last trip I didn't and I used mobile ordering at Cosmic Ray's twice.
IT IS AMAZING!!!
Found a seat, ordered, and my sister went to pick it up while I stayed at the table.
She was back in about 30 seconds.
No waiting in line to order, no waiting to pick up, no walking around with a tray trying to find a seat.

I'm going again in February and I decided not to get the dining plan again specifically for mobile ordering lol.

My trip in December 2018 I'll have the dining plan and I'm guessing by then it will allow for mobile ordering although as someone else pointed out a couple weeks ago on another thread allowing those with a dining plan to do mobile ordering will then jam up the system making it not as amazing.

 

[foohpah]

I usually get the dining plan but for my last trip I didn't and I used mobile ordering at Cosmic Ray's twice.
IT IS AMAZING!!!
Found a seat, ordered, and my sister went to pick it up while I stayed at the table.
She was back in about 30 seconds.
No waiting in line to order, no waiting to pick up, no walking around with a tray trying to find a seat.

It does not always work like that. We mobile ordered twice at the QS place in Pandora last week. The first time was a later dinner and we did exactly that. When we arrived we found a table and waited until our order was ready to pick up which was within just a few minutes. The next time was for lunch. My feet were killing me and I was looking forward to getting off of them while waiting for our order to be ready. A CM would not let me enter the seating area without food even though we had used mobile order. So instead the 4 of us stood around the mobile order pickup area while I was in pain. We had to wait about 15 minutes before we got our food - I was not happy by that point. Once we had our food though we were let in.

Mobile order worked great at other locations - better than waiting in line but I think if you can show you have already mobile ordered and said you are there you should be allowed to show your phone and get a seat.

 

[DisBuckMan]

It does not always work like that. We mobile ordered twice at the QS place in Pandora last week. The first time was a later dinner and we did exactly that. When we arrived we found a table and waited until our order was ready to pick up which was within just a few minutes. The next time was for lunch. My feet were killing me and I was looking forward to getting off of them while waiting for our order to be ready. A CM would not let me enter the seating area without food even though we had used mobile order. So instead the 4 of us stood around the mobile order pickup area while I was in pain. We had to wait about 15 minutes before we got our food - I was not happy by that point. Once we had our food though we were let in.

Mobile order worked great at other locations - better than waiting in line but I think if you can show you have already mobile ordered and said you are there you should be allowed to show your phone and get a seat.

I don't know which restaurant you're talking about, so the following comment may or may not be pertinent to your situation, but....

I'm actually in favor of a restaurant not allowing folks to be seated if they don't have their food yet, *IF THE RESTAURANT IS BUSY*. It's ridiculous for folks to be wandering around with their food looking for a place to sit, while there are people sitting with no food. It slows down table turn in the restaurant. Everybody's feet are hurting and tired.

If the restaurant is not busy, then there's no problem with it.

ETA: I see that it was Satu'li Canteen, which I'm sure was VERY busy during lunch last week.

 

[sharonabe]

I don't know which restaurant you're talking about, so the following comment may or may not be pertinent to your situation, but....

I'm actually in favor of a restaurant not allowing folks to be seated if they don't have their food yet, *IF THE RESTAURANT IS BUSY*. It's ridiculous for folks to be wandering around with their food looking for a place to sit, while there are people sitting with no food. It slows down table turn in the restaurant. Everybody's feet are hurting and tired.

If the restaurant is not busy, then there's no problem with it.

ETA: I see that it was Satu'li Canteen, which I'm sure was VERY busy during lunch last week.

I agree with you on this for regular orders, but I have to agree with the OP that if you have a mobile order, you should be allowed into the seating area while one person goes to pick up the food you have already ordered. Having everyone at the pick up place makes that area congested and confusing for everyone, including the CMs filling the orders.

 

[DisBuckMan]

I agree with you on this for regular orders, but I have to agree with the OP that if you have a mobile order, you should be allowed into the seating area while one person goes to pick up the food you have already ordered. Having everyone at the pick up place makes that area congested and confusing for everyone, including the CMs filling the orders.

You don't have to stand around at the pick up area. We stand outside. The app sends you a notification when your order is ready.

Again...people with hot food ready to eat not being able to find a table while others who do not have their food yet take up tables should never be allowed at QS restaurants. As the OP stated...it took 15 minutes for them to get their food. In that case, is it ok for them to hold down a table for that long while others who have their food are wandering around looking for a place to sit? Another family could have sat at that table, eaten, and probably be gone or close to gone in that time.

Cast members are preventing it because it is an issue.

 

[Carla1183]

It was a HUGE time saver for us! We actually ordered before we walked to a restaurant, so the food was almost always ready right when we walked up. I'd have to do the math if I was deciding about DDP, but if it was close to breaking even, the mobile ordering might tip me over the edge of not doing it. I'd guess we saved 20+ minutes of waiting each time we used it, longer in some cases. We used it for Coloumbia Harbor House, Pecos Bills, S'atuli, Flame Tree, Aloha Isle, Backlot Express, Pinnochios Village Haus. Probably saved us a few hours over the course of 5 days which is several attractions!

 

[Aela]

Have they said they are going to expand it to DDP? I would LOVE to be able to use snack credits that way!