Dining Plan & Family Split in Several Rooms

[maileenm]

We have a large family all going to Disney the week of Easter which we know is busy and pricey. I looked at the cost of the restaurants that can usually deal with our size group (12) with ADRs and most of them are like Boma or Ohana with a price range of $30-$60/adult. I assume since it will be Easter week the price will be close to the $60 range.

So I was contemplating getting a dining plan because that is approximately $60/adult/day and $20/child/day. My problem is that I have 5 people in my immediate family so one of the kids is staying with grandma in another room. Myself, husband, 2 kids in our room and my mom and my other child in another room.
Grandma doesn't want a meal plan and doesn't think she would use it all. Is there ANY way that I can just get the meal plan for my family of 5? If not then what are some suggestions? I was thinking of paying for the meal plan for my room of 4 people then paying out of pocket for the meals that my other child eats each day. (Basically settle up my child's bill in grandma's room at the hotel desk each evening.) The child that will be in grandma's room is 4 so she would not be eating a lot anyway.

Thoughts, ideas, brainstorms.... I'm looking for a reasonable way to eat.

 

[kmb584]

We have a large family all going to Disney the week of Easter which we know is busy and pricey. I looked at the cost of the restaurants that can usually deal with our size group (12) with ADRs and most of them are like Boma or Ohana with a price range of $30-$60/adult. I assume since it will be Easter week the price will be close to the $60 range.

So I was contemplating getting a dining plan because that is approximately $60/adult/day and $20/child/day. My problem is that I have 5 people in my immediate family so one of the kids is staying with grandma in another room. Myself, husband, 2 kids in our room and my mom and my other child in another room.
Grandma doesn't want a meal plan and doesn't think she would use it all. Is there ANY way that I can just get the meal plan for my family of 5? If not then what are some suggestions? I was thinking of paying for the meal plan for my room of 4 people then paying out of pocket for the meals that my other child eats each day. (Basically settle up my child's bill in grandma's room at the hotel desk each evening.) The child that will be in grandma's room is 4 so she would not be eating a lot anyway.

Thoughts, ideas, brainstorms.... I'm looking for a reasonable way to eat.

Unfortunately, no. If one person in the room has the DDP then everyone in the room has to have it too. The only solution would be to, as you said, pay out of pocket for your daughter's meals.

 

[poohfriend77]

How old is your youngest? If one of your kids is under 3, you could technically all be on the same room reservation, even if one sleeps with Grandma.

Otherwise, I think you might be better off paying OOP for one kid anyway. You can charge it to your room; no need to worry about settling up Grandma's account each day. Obviously you'd have to pay the full child price for buffet/family-style meals, but you might be able to get away with having kids share QS meals or add only an appetizer or fruit to a meal to have enough to go around. Even if you do order her own meal, you can make sure the cheapest one is OOP. You might actually come out ahead!

 

[maileenm]

Thanks, that is what I was kind of thinking. My daughter is 4 and she would be the cheapest eater since my other two kids are 8 and 12 (and also bottomless pits).

 

[MSSANDRA]

I would do what you suggested and do the DDP for four, and have the little one on her DG room. You will have to pay OOP for any AYCE places, but you may well not have to order her anything extra at many meals. DS shared most things with me at that age.

 

[mjkacmom]

When we went, 7 of us were on the DDP, and my parents, in a different room, were not. They just paid OOP for TS meals, and we were usually able to just share CS with them, and snacks. Worked out great! Since she's only 4, you might not even have to buy her all of her own meals (she could share with a sibling or an adult).