Dining Package Ressies, but some want a la carte

[HeidiGW]

So Grumpy, ahem, DH is not a park commando like the children and I. And, he isn't crazy about crowds like at Fantasmic! or parades. He has seen it once, never needs to see it again.

My question is if I make a Fan! MM dining or Tony's Fantasy parade reservation knowing he doesn't want to go to show/parade/whatever, but he wants to eat lunch with us.
do I make it for five and he could order a la carte or share...Getting charged for four deals and getting four vouchers?
Or do I need to make a ressie for four with the deal and then one regular dining ressie, and tell them we are together upon arrival.
Or just get him the deal and "waste" the ticket.
I am not as concerned about the money aspect, as I'm guessing the numbers of vouchers are finite. We are going at a busy time, and I would hate to be taking away the opportunity for someone who wants to get the combo ressie.
Plus, with the appy (which we like) with those meals we will waste food even taking the desserts to go or foregoing it. He is all to happy to play "clean up hitter" with the children's adult meal plates. My 11-year-old doesn't even finish a small kids' meal.

Another situation may arise, with the CP dinner package. IF I want to see it a second time (different narrator. I will not wait in the standby line for hours, the packages are certainly worth it.)...Say my daughter and I want the package at VN, and DH and two kids just want pizza? Can we all eat together or should be on our own?

TIA!

 

[Lesverts]

Similar situation for my November trip. I am just planning on making 2 separate reservations and just ask to be seated together.

 

[VillainFavs]

Similar situation for my November trip. I am just planning on making 2 separate reservations and just ask to be seated together.

I'm not sure about all the OP's questions, but just wanted to comment on this one. You can ASK to be seated together with two separate reservations but there's no guarantee that you will be! You have to go in prepared to sit separately if that's all they have available. Think of it this way. You make a reservation for 2 and another for 4. They have a small table that will fit 2 people and another across the room that will sit 4. Can't put you together!

We've always done the dining plan, never paid OOP, so we've just gotten the package for everyone even if someone ends up not using a ticket for the show. I know that's a little bit different.

 

[Lesverts]

I'm not sure about all the OP's questions, but just wanted to comment on this one. You can ASK to be seated together with two separate reservations but there's no guarantee that you will be! You have to go in prepared to sit separately if that's all they have available. Think of it this way. You make a reservation for 2 and another for 4. They have a small table that will fit 2 people and another across the room that will sit 4. Can't put you together!

We've always done the dining plan, never paid OOP, so we've just gotten the package for everyone even if someone ends up not using a ticket for the show. I know that's a little bit different.

It is a situation where it is 3 and 1. So I don't foresee an issue.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

For Fantasmic and FOF parade, if 4 people are definitely going to the show/parade, I would make the reservation for 5. You can always gift your DH's voucher to another guest. Making a reservation for 4 and then a reservation for 1 and asking to be seated together may make things rather complicated and as PP pointed out, there's no guarantee they can seat you together which would mean DH has to eat alone.

For the CP package, if only 2 people are going, I would make the CP package for 2 and a regular reservation for 3 around the same time and take your chances to see if you can sit together. If not, it seems to me it wouldn't be that big of a deal? At least no one would be eating alone for that one. That's what I would do in this situation anyway.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

It is a situation where it is 3 and 1. So I don't foresee an issue.

Based on OP's post, it sounds like it is 4 and 1, so it definitely could be an issue.

 

[sharonabe]

It is a situation where it is 3 and 1. So I don't foresee an issue.

It could still be an issue, depending on where the tables are. It's not a given that a table for 3 will seat 4. You may not have an issue, but you do need to be prepared to eat separately if you do the two separate ADRs.

Another situation may arise, with the CP dinner package. IF I want to see it a second time (different narrator. I will not wait in the standby line for hours, the packages are certainly worth it.)...Say my daughter and I want the package at VN, and DH and two kids just want pizza? Can we all eat together or should be on our own?

VN could be a problem just because they are very strict with their dining regulations. If you're paying OOP, it may not matter, but it could. If this is where you all want to eat, go ahead and make the two ressies and hope for the best, but be prepared to be seated separately.

 

[alex9179]

For F! and FoF, I would forgo the packages all together. FP F! at some point in the day for those who want to go and order what you each like instead of what is assigned. There are a lot of vantage points for FoF. I understand that you're hedging your bets during a busy season and only you can decide where to compromise.

For CP, just depends on what is important to you. Waste the package entitlements or roll the dice with seating. I would NOT expect to be seated together, but asking to do so certainly wouldn't hurt. Would the members not going to the second CP mind having different plans, altogether? Maybe eating at another favorite place or going on rides if CP were that important to only 1 or 2?

 

[HeidiGW]

THANK YOU EVERYONE for your great responses!!!

For F! and FoF, I would forgo the packages all together. FP F! at some point in the day for those who want to go and order what you each like instead of what is assigned. There are a lot of vantage points for FoF. I understand that you're hedging your bets during a busy season and only you can decide where to compromise.

For CP, just depends on what is important to you. Waste the package entitlements or roll the dice with seating. I would NOT expect to be seated together, but asking to do so certainly wouldn't hurt. Would the members not going to the second CP mind having different plans, altogether? Maybe eating at another favorite place or going on rides if CP were that important to only 1 or 2?

Oh yeah, we're fine with splitting up an doing different things. (DH is ALWAYS game to back to the room and take a nap!) It keeps him happy, so we're happy.
The issue is that with many of the packages, the meal and the event are HOURS apart. So we're not ready to ditch Grumpy when it is time to eat.

For Fantasmic and FOF parade, if 4 people are definitely going to the show/parade, I would make the reservation for 5. You can always gift your DH's voucher to another guest. Making a reservation for 4 and then a reservation for 1 and asking to be seated together may make things rather complicated and as PP pointed out, there's no guarantee they can seat you together which would mean DH has to eat alone.

I didn't realize that you get individual vouchers. Last time we bought a Fan! package deal at Christmas 2015, I remember showing the castmember my receipt. Possibly they ran out? I don't remember why.
If I could give the extra seat(s)/spot to somebody, that would be nice. We are going Christmas week again. We're nuts. I know.
My biggest concern was really taking reservations from people who wanted or need it. And, I hate to waste food.