DinIng plan for dummies?

[lifesgr8]

Can someone give me a link to the thread explaining the dining plan, like dining for dummies or Disney dining plan 101??!?

I have been reading for hours & still confused. Just read about renting DVC points?? I rented bcv through my timeshare ... Now can I still add the dining plan?

When I purchase dining plan does it just put a bundle of "credits" on to each persons ticket & the older kids can go pay themselves? Or do I have to be in charge of them all? How do I know how many credits stuff is worth? Where do I find info on the mechanics of it all?

Would using an annual pass discount on oop food be a better way to save & not deal with all of these questions?

I have also been going to the menu info & pricing out what food oop would cost me & it seems the lowest dining plan would save me $$. BUT if I were not on a plan I don't think I would splurge on snacks & drinks at all. On the other hand with 5 kids I don't want to be a food miser either! Of course I see now that, that plan lost a snack for when we are going. I think upgrading to the next plan is not saving me much from oop & will make me crazy trying to figure out how to use it all. (or can I use ts credits for a cs meal, as we are not sit down to eat park goers. Could use the extra ts credits to feed never full teenagers??)

So how for 7 people do I keep all this straight? Credits, meals, snacks???

 

[westonkamom]

I don't think you can get the dining plan with DVC. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong.

 

[sharonabe]

I don't think you can get the dining plan with DVC. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong.

If you're renting points, you can BUY the dining plan, but you can't get free.

OP, if you use your TS credits for a CS, you're basically still using the QSDP, so that would not make good monetary sense.

Let's use the QSDP for reference since you don't think you want to sit down to eat.

Each person gets 2 QS (quick service/counter service) meals. This includes the entree, dessert, drink. Each person also gets 1 snack a day which is good for any thing on a menu with the DDP symbol (check the snack sticky above to get an idea of what you can get). Each person also gets a refillable mug to use at your resort for coffee/soda/tea.

The credits will be available on your Key to the World Card, so the kids could go off on their own and have lunch/dinner/snack without you being there. At the end of the day, you would need to find out what everyone "bought" so you could keep track of what you have left. I would tell the kids to save ALL their receipts so you can double check. The receipt will tell you how many credits were used for that meal and how many you have left.

 

[plutolovr]

From what I researched you can get the Dining Plan through an exchange. You must purchase it at least 3 days prior to your check-in and pay in full.

Credits are applied to the entire room and everyone in the room must have the same plan. Each person's KTTW card will have access to all the credits. If you'll be splitting up you need to make sure each person knows what they are allotted so no one goes over.

Now, if you have APs, you may want to look into the Tables In Wonderland Card. This will save you 20% at most table service restaurants and at some counter service restaurants, including alcohol.

 

[vicki_c]

Everything plutolover posted is accurate.

For the OP - there really aren't many great dining discounts with an AP unless you have a TiW card as described above. The breakeven point for a TiW card though is $375 in eligible meals, after you have spent $375 you start actually saving some money. The regular AP food discounts are spotty - only some restaurants, sometimes only for certain meals, etc.

 

[lifesgr8]

Really? My annual pass at DL got me 10% off almost every place we ate. WDW must be totally different?!

Everything plutolover posted is accurate.


For the OP - there really aren't many great dining discounts with an AP unless you have a TiW card as described above. The breakeven point for a TiW card though is $375 in eligible meals, after you have spent $375 you start actually saving some money. The regular AP food discounts are spotty - only some restaurants, sometimes only for certain meals, etc.

 

[lifesgr8]

Everything plutolover posted is accurate.

For the OP - there really aren't many great dining discounts with an AP unless you have a TiW card as described above. The breakeven point for a TiW card though is $375 in eligible meals, after you have spent $375 you start actually saving some money. The regular AP food discounts are spotty - only some restaurants, sometimes only for certain meals, etc.

So the tiw card is $375 & doesn't work everywhere?

 

[lifesgr8]

I knew it would not be free, I was not sure if I could buy it where I "exchanged" into DVC.
Thank you for the explanation! Makes this so much more clear.
So on the entree.... If we choose a hamburger that comes with fries... Is that the entree? Or would that be more credits since it has fries? Can I save up the dessert credits to use for novelty treats that I can pack in stroller for later, or do they have to be bought with the meal?

If you're renting points, you can BUY the dining plan, but you can't get free.

OP, if you use your TS credits for a CS, you're basically still using the QSDP, so that would not make good monetary sense.

Let's use the QSDP for reference since you don't think you want to sit down to eat.

Each person gets 2 QS (quick service/counter service) meals. This includes the entree, dessert, drink. Each person also gets 1 snack a day which is good for any thing on a menu with the DDP symbol (check the snack sticky above to get an idea of what you can get). Each person also gets a refillable mug to use at your resort for coffee/soda/tea.

The credits will be available on your Key to the World Card, so the kids could go off on their own and have lunch/dinner/snack without you being there. At the end of the day, you would need to find out what everyone "bought" so you could keep track of what you have left. I would tell the kids to save ALL their receipts so you can double check. The receipt will tell you how many credits were used for that meal and how many you have left.

 

[plutolovr]

So the tiw card is $375 & doesn't work everywhere?

No, no, no, the card will cost you $75. But you would need to spend $375 to recoup the price of the card. But it looks as though you have a large family so that would be easy to do.

Here is a list of eligible places:
Tables in Wonderland Restaurant List

Participating Restaurants and Lounges as of March 2011:
All-Star Movies Resort
World Premiere Food Court

All-Star Music Resort
Intermission Food Court

All-Star Sports Resort
End Zone Food Court

Animal Kingdom Lodge
Boma-Flavors of Africa
Jiko-The Cooking Place
Sanaa
Victoria Falls

Beach Club Resort
Beaches & Cream Soda Shop (eat-in only)
Cape May Cafe
Martha's Vineyard Lounge

BoardWalk
Belle Vue Lounge
Big River Grille and Brewing Works
ESPN Club
Flying Fish Cafe
Kouzzina by Cat Cora

Osprey Ridge Golf Club
Sand trap Bar & Grill

Caribbean Beach Resort
Shutters at Old Port Royale

Contemporary Resort
California Grill
Chef Mickey's
Outer Rim Lounge
The Wave

Coronado Springs Resort
Maya Grill

Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground
Crockett's Tavern
Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue (9:30 p.m. show only, offered seasonally)
trail's End Restaurant (Excludes take-out)

Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
1900 Park Fare
Cítricos
Garden View Lounge
Grand Floridian Cafe
Mizner's Lounge
Narcoossee's
Victoria & Albert's (excluding Chef's Table and Queen Victoria Room)

Old Key West Resort
Olivia's Cafe

Polynesian Resort
'Ohana
Kona Cafe
Spirit of Aloha Dinner Show (late show only)
Tambu Lounge

Pop Century Resort
Everything Pop Dining (excluding merchandise)
Port Orleans Resort
Riverside:
Boatwright's Dining Hall
River Roost

French Quarter:
Sassagoula Floatworks and Food Factory
Scat Cat's Club

Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa
Artist's Palette
The Turf Club Bar and Grill
The Turf Club Lounge
Wilderness Lodge
Artist Point
Territory Lounge
Whispering Canyon Cafe

Yacht Club Resort
Ale and Compass Lounge
Captain's Grille
Crew's Cup Lounge
Yachtsman Steakhouse


DOWNTOWN DISNEY Marketplace
Cap'n Jack's Restaurant
Fulton's Crab House

DOWNTOWN DISNEY Pleasure Island
Paradiso 37
Portobello
Raglan Road

DOWNTOWN DISNEY West Side
Bongo's Cuban Cafe
House of Blues (excludes Sunday brunch)
Planet Hollywood
Wolfgang Puck Cafe

Epcot
Akershus Royal Banquet Hall
Biergarten Restaurant
Bistro de Paris Restaurant
Chefs de France Restaurant
Coral Reef Restaurant
Garden Grill Restaurant
La Hacienda new
Le Cellier Steakhouse
Nine Dragons Restaurant
Restaurant Marrakesh
Rose & Crown Pub & Dining Room
San Angel Inn Restaurante
Tokyo Dining
Tutto Italia Ristorante
Via Napoli

Disney's Hollywood Studios
50's Prime Time Cafe
Hollywood & Vine
Mama Melrose's Ristorante Italiano
Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater Restaurant
The Hollywood Brown Derby
Tune-In Lounge

Magic Kingdom
Cinderella's Royal Table
Liberty tree Tavern
The Crystal Palace
The Plaza Restaurant
Tony's Town Square Restaurant

Animal Kingdom
Flame tree Barbecue
Pizzafari
Restaurantosaurus
Tusker House Restaurant


Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort
Il Mulino New York trattoria
Garden Grove
Kimonos
Shula's Steak House
Todd English's bluezoo
ESPN Wide World of Sports
ESPN Wide World of Sports Grill

 

[lifesgr8]

Does the tiw card expire after a certain time? We are staying at bcv, after pricing the beaches & cream menu for 7 of us ... That might be handy.

It seems the qsdp will make the vacation a real vacation. I normally would not buy drinks or desserts. But I also hate saying no all day long to 5 kids, so this would make it affordable to give everyone those extra things I normally would not pay for

 

[ses1230]

Can I save up the dessert credits to use for novelty treats that I can pack in stroller for later, or do they have to be bought with the meal?

Do you mean your dessert or do you mean snack credits? There are no "dessert credits."

Snack credits can be used for novelty treats (generally items up to $4), and you can use them (the credits) however you like. If you want to save all your snack credits for your last day for treats to take home, you can do that.

If you mean dessert that comes with the meal, you have to choose from what is on the menu and you have to get it right them. (although some food courts let you come back within a certain timeframe to get your dessert.)

 

[sharonabe]

and yes, if the entree says it comes with fries (or potatoes or salad or apples or whatever), you get that without using any other credits....it's part of the entree.

 

[plutolovr]

Does the tiw card expire after a certain time? We are staying at bcv, after pricing the beaches & cream menu for 7 of us ... That might be handy.

The TIW card is good for a year.