Did I receive the wrong info about DDp?

[disneydreamer74]

Hello all! I have not been to WDW in almost 15 years and the last time I went there was no dining plan!! So, we booked a package with free DDp. A woman I met recently told me that when she took her family (a year ago) they did the dining plan, and that she would never do it again. Her reasons were:
1) there were limited options on the menu for kids at counter service. She said you have to choose the kids pick. And this resulted in nothing but mac and cheese and chicken strips! My DD4 is soo picky and would not either of those options!! Yikes!
2) She claimed that when they did TS there were only a few things on a menu that you could choose, and they rarely got to eat what they would have wanted to eat if they were not on DDP.
I have read posts on this board that seem to be contrary to this. Is this accurate?

 

[vicki_c]

#1 is correct - if there is a kids' meal option, at either CS or TS, your children have to order a kids' meal. There are more options at CS than what was posted, but it's not the greatest selection at CS. TS meals are better.

#2 - incorrect - you can order what you want from the menu in almost all cases that I know of. DDP participants are not limited to selected items from the menu.

 

[TDC Nala]

The above is correct as far as the child's restrictions. Children on the child's dining plan must order from a child's menu if there is one. Other than that there is no restriction in what one may order from a menu in a participating restaurant. I think Marrakesh still has surcharges for anyone who orders the multi-course "feast" meals on the regular dining plan though.

Some restaurants have a three-course fixed price option. If you choose to order from these on the regular dining plan they will throw in the appetizer. However, you are not REQUIRED to order from the fixed price menu if you are on the dining plan.

It's also true that menus at TS restaurants that accept the dining plan are not extensive. They do not have multiple and varied options like restaurants would at home. You might typically find a choice of about six entrees. On the regular dining plan, you also cannot have an appetizer covered by the plan (except the kids, who are ordering from the child's menu). You also can't swap your dessert for an appetizer. So if one wants appetizers, one will find oneself paying for extra items off the plan, or just foregoing the appetizers.

 

[2kids2luv]

With the DDP you will receive conflicting opinions of its value. Our family enjoys the DDP and feel its a great value (we've paid and this trip it's FREEE).

#1. CS kid meals are pretty basic and your child needs to order from this menu. My DS lived on cheese burgers and my picky DD ate PBJ mostly. My kids ate the grapes and carrots too. I also shared portions of my meal if necessary. Look over the menus at allears because some CS have different menus (Columbia House in MK). You can always pay OOP for something your child wants.

#2. This was not our experience. We didn't find any exceptions except souvinier cups and some drink items mainly. I know there was a couple things excluded but it was the exception.

 

[disneydreamer74]

Okay good to know thanks!!! I just read in a WDW guide book that CS credits do not specify children or adult, so if an adult does the ordering and orders and adult CS meal for a child they will receive it. Any truth to that?

 

[KungFoomF]

OP's child is too young for this probably, but when our daughter was 8 we simply said she was 10 and paid the price difference on the ticket because she was just too old to still be eating mac and cheese all the time. This was actually the CM's idea on the phone when we booked so I think Disney is fine with it. She got to order from the adult menu and was happy. And I was happy, too, because I got to eat some of her food because no way an 8 year old girl is eating all of the food you get at some of the places.

 

[TDC Nala]

Okay good to know thanks!!! I just read in a WDW guide book that CS credits do not specify children or adult, so if an adult does the ordering and orders and adult CS meal for a child they will receive it. Any truth to that?

This is against the written rule of Walt Disney World regarding the child's dining plan. All DDP literature states children are to order from the children's menu where one is available. This includes CS.

In addition, your key card will have printed on it the information about how many adults and how many children are on the plan. You will be permitted to order only the meal types matching this information.

 

[disneydreamer74]

With the DDP you will receive conflicting opinions of its value. Our family enjoys the DDP and feel its a great value (we've paid and this trip it's FREEE).

#1. CS kid meals are pretty basic and your child needs to order from this menu. My DS lived on cheese burgers and my picky DD ate PBJ mostly. My kids ate the grapes and carrots too. I also shared portions of my meal if necessary. Look over the menus at allears because some CS have different menus (Columbia House in MK). You can always pay OOP for something your child wants.

#2. This was not our experience. We didn't find any exceptions except souvinier cups and some drink items mainly. I know there was a couple things excluded but it was the exception.

I think DDP will be a godsend if only for the convenience of having nearly everything pre-paid!! I have been looking at the menus on allears and am taking note of CS options for DD!! As long as there are hamburgers, pizzas, or hot dogs she will be happy..but if necessary I will purchase something else for her! Thanks for the tips!

 

[aubriee]

I go to WDW several times a year and nearly always use either the DDP or the DxDDP. There is no difference in the menus and there is no restrictions for people on the DDP. For example at Narcoosee, we always get the steak and lobster, which just happens to be the most expensive item on the menu. The only restriction if you want to call it that, is that some entrees and appetizers are listed for two people, so two people must order them to share. Even so, there are some exceptions even to that rule. I know at Rose & Crown I always order the cheese appetizer which is listed for two people and I do the same thing and order the antipasto platter for two at Momma Melrose. I've never had a problem ordering either for just myself. The only other restriction I can think of is that the two most expensive sushi options at California Grill cannot be ordered as an appetizer on the DxDDP (only as an entree).

Children do have to order from the children's menu and their selections are not that good from what I hear, but there are some better options out there if yo search the menus before you leave. For example, I know Le Cellier has a steak on the kid's menu. Go to Allearnet.com and look at the menus for options your child might like.

Out of curiosity I just went and checked out the children's menus and found: Flame Tree BBQ: chicken drumstick and hot dog, 50's Prime Time: meatloaf, Mama Melrose: pizza, spaghetti or penne pasta, Coral Reef: mahi mahi, chicken, meat macaroni, Sunshine Seasons: sweet & sour chicken, mini sub, chicken leg with mashed potatoes, Chef de France: chicken strips, flounder with green beans and tomatoes, Rose & Crown: shepherd's pie, bangers & mash, Tony's: cheeseburger calzone, spaghetti & meatballs, pasta primavera, and Mickey shaped ravioli, Citricos: pasta in marinara sauce, roasted fish, steak, GF Cafe: salmon, grilled steak, Raglan Road: fried chicken, battered cocktail sausages, sheperd's pie, fish & chips, shrimp & chips, WGP Cafe: spaghetti & meatballs, pizza, salmon, California Roll, and crispy chicken roll.

oops: I just reread your post and realized you were taking about the counter service restaurants having bad choices for kids. Again though I think that if you check out the menus beforehand that you could make out OK. Personally we love the DDP and can not imagine going without it.

 

[disneydreamer74]

This is against the written rule of Walt Disney World regarding the child's dining plan. All DDP literature states children are to order from the children's menu where one is available. This includes CS.

In addition, your key card will have printed on it the information about how many adults and how many children are on the plan. You will be permitted to order only the meal types matching this information.

Oh I see!! Since I have been browsing the menus I think I will be able to find something for my DD to order from select CS restaurants. SHouldn't be a problem after all, I just needed to research the options. Thanks

 

[clanmcculloch]

One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet by anybody is that maybe she was referring to the fact that appetizers aren't included on the basic DDP. If your friend is the type of person who would prefer to order an appetizer instead of an entree then generally this isn't allowed (though some servers will do it but in general it can't be done). Or maybe she was frustrated because she hadn't done any reading ahead of time and just assumed that she could order an appetizer with her meal on the DDP because she just read the plan as a meal, not an entree despite what the brochure says. Most people who make comments like these haven't done ANY planning or reading ahead of time. Yes there are those who the plan does not suit (quite a few in fact) but not because there are very few adult options.

 

[disneydreamer74]

One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet by anybody is that maybe she was referring to the fact that appetizers aren't included on the basic DDP. If your friend is the type of person who would prefer to order an appetizer instead of an entree then generally this isn't allowed (though some servers will do it but in general it can't be done). Or maybe she was frustrated because she hadn't done any reading ahead of time and just assumed that she could order an appetizer with her meal on the DDP because she just read the plan as a meal, not an entree despite what the brochure says. Most people who make comments like these haven't done ANY planning or reading ahead of time. Yes there are those who the plan does not suit (quite a few in fact) but not because there are very few adult options.

I agree that this woman must have just gone to WDW commando and had likely not previewed the menus or options. Honestly, if it were not for DIsboards my Disney trips would harried and stressful! I learn so much on these boards!!

 

[Brygida]

Hello all! I have not been to WDW in almost 15 years and the last time I went there was no dining plan!! So, we booked a package with free DDp. A woman I met recently told me that when she took her family (a year ago) they did the dining plan, and that she would never do it again. Her reasons were:
1) there were limited options on the menu for kids at counter service. She said you have to choose the kids pick. And this resulted in nothing but mac and cheese and chicken strips! My DD4 is soo picky and would not either of those options!! Yikes!
2) She claimed that when they did TS there were only a few things on a menu that you could choose, and they rarely got to eat what they would have wanted to eat if they were not on DDP.
I have read posts on this board that seem to be contrary to this. Is this accurate?

In many CS places, my son loved the kid choices - as they often include applesauce, carrot sticks, grapes, apple slices and other things he regularly eats. Many CS places also put the kid meal in a very cute Mickey Mouse shaped plate that he loved.

What is offered for CS varies so much between the venues! One of my son's favorite places was Wolfgang Puck Express which has many smaller versions of the adult meals - including spaghetti & meatballs, etc - WPE is real homecooked food. Definately recommend it. Also, several food-court-style venues have good kid choices, like Sunshine Fair at the Land in EPCOT and the food court at the Grand Floridian.

 

[catne]

click on this link...has loads of compiled info as to what's on the kid's menus at all the Disney restaurants (and also includes the places that do not have kid's menus, so kids order the regular food there. Note that those places are few & far between, and have extremely limited menus...like just turkey legs, lol.) If you go through this list, then you can get an idea of where to go when you're in parks or DTD.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2479727

 

[JustCallMeMommy]

Keep in mind that when you are doing the free dining plan, you have nothing to lose (other than whatever alternate deal you could have gone with). You can always share a meal with you DD or buy her a menu item and use the credit for that meal at another time.

 

[dixonsontour]

We did DDP for the first time with DD almost 4.

What worked for 2 was to split 2 adult cs between us and DD for lunch.

Then use her cs for breakfast for her (we'd use a snack credit like a bagel for us) or an extra meal as she eats more often than us eg if we had a TS buffet breakfast, we didn't need lunch but she could have a childs meal then.

For TS choose buffets or some places have decent kids choices eg le cellier has steak.

If no childs cs menu then she can have an adult meal officially eg caseys hot dog meal at MK.

For TS all options were included for adults and we dined at 14 TS. Some places even offered extras like a milkshake or smoothie for your drink.

 

[tinka-belle]

Another thing she may have been looking at.........

Very few menu choices at the TS places, often just 8 or 10 or so entrees to choose from. She may have thought this was the DDP menu, not realizing that it's the ONLY menu, cash or DDP. People seem to be used to the 6 page menus you get at a normal restaurant like Chili's, and think just a few entrees offered is pretty restrictive.

I agree, probably didn't do any homework on Disney or the restaurants there.