Dining Plan Newbie

[tinkerbell1991]

Hi Everyone,

I'm looking at booking a trip to WDW next autumn while the free dining is available

I have never used the dining plan before so I apologise in advance if some of my questions seem stupid

When I look at menus on certain websites such as "Touring Plans" that have the dining plan icon next to restaurants, it is only showing what snacks can be bought. In regards to quick service ones which we will have, can it be used on any meal regardless of price and as long as it's not a sharing meal where the dining plan logo is located?

Also, it looks like Be Our Guest is showing as a quick service option for lunch only but wasn't 100% sure if this was correct as don't the servers bring you your food?

Finally, as we're only there for 5 nights, can we "save" our credits to use more than the 2 we are allocated on one day? For example, can we use 1 quick service credit and 1 snack credit on one day and 3 the next day?
We're greedy and have found out that we can use 1 quick service of 3 "snacks" at the food & wine festival as long as it's in one transaction - we're greedy and will probably try a lot of things and maybe even come back at night to enjoy more. Please don't judge ha ha

Thank you so much in advance

 

[ebradley23]

You can order an meal regardless of price at any restaurant included in the dining plan. The only exception would be for children's TS credits. They can only be used on designated kids meals on the menu. Technically it should work the same way at QS Restaurants too, but Disney doesn't differentiate between adult QS credits and kids. They just list all of them together Ex: my family is on the regular DDP. We are a family of 2 adults/1child staying for 7 nights. We have 14 adult TS credits, 7 child TS credits and 21 QS credits.


For QS meals, you can actually split the meals. They have no way of knowing, and they don't care. TS meals are a different story, since you're being served your meal by a CM.

A list of restaurants included in the plan can be found here:

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/m...alog/WaltDisneyWorld/en_us/PDF/2016Dining.pdf

As for how you use the credits, that's up to you. You can use 3 QS credits in one day and none another day if you want. Personally, I go through each menu to determine what we will likely order to figure cost. Based on cost, I decide ahead of time at which restaurants we will use credits and which we will pay OOP. There are several sites that have cost averages showing which ones are better values on the dining plans too.

 

[tinkerbell1991]

You can order an meal regardless of price at any restaurant included in the dining plan. The only exception would be for children's TS credits. They can only be used on designated kids meals on the menu. Technically it should work the same way at QS Restaurants too, but Disney doesn't differentiate between adult QS credits and kids. They just list all of them together Ex: my family is on the regular DDP. We are a family of 2 adults/1child staying for 7 nights. We have 14 adult TS credits, 7 child TS credits and 21 QS credits.


For QS meals, you can actually split the meals. They have no way of knowing, and they don't care. TS meals are a different story, since you're being served your meal by a CM.
A list of restaurants included in the plan can be found here:

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/m...alog/WaltDisneyWorld/en_us/PDF/2016Dining.pdf

Thank you, I was just a little confused.

What do you mean when you say that you can split the meals? Sorry if I'm sounding really dumb.

Also, do you know if you're able to carry over credits onto another day?

Finally (I promse), with the quick service meal, do you get a drink and dessert included or have I misread that?

Thank you

 

[tinkerbell1991]

I also just remembered another question, if I book with a value hotel, I get 1 quick service for breakfast - can this be used at any point throughout the day? or only before a certain time in the morning

 

[Ambehnke]

Hi Everyone,

I'm looking at booking a trip to WDW next autumn while the free dining is available

I have never used the dining plan before so I apologise in advance if some of my questions seem stupid

When I look at menus on certain websites such as "Touring Plans" that have the dining plan icon next to restaurants, it is only showing what snacks can be bought. In regards to quick service ones which we will have, can it be used on any meal regardless of price and as long as it's not a sharing meal where the dining plan logo is located?

Also, it looks like Be Our Guest is showing as a quick service option for lunch only but wasn't 100% sure if this was correct as don't the servers bring you your food?

Finally, as we're only there for 5 nights, can we "save" our credits to use more than the 2 we are allocated on one day? For example, can we use 1 quick service credit and 1 snack credit on one day and 3 the next day?
We're greedy and have found out that we can use 1 quick service of 3 "snacks" at the food & wine festival as long as it's in one transaction - we're greedy and will probably try a lot of things and maybe even come back at night to enjoy more. Please don't judge ha ha

Thank you so much in advance

1) Quick service meals can be used on any meal and sharing meals doesn't matter. So if you have three people you could get one or two meals and share it no problem. This obviously can't be done at buffets or AYCTE. You can also use a child's credit for an adult entree at QS.

2) BOG lunch is quick service. You order and they bring you your food.

3) You get a pool of credits and can use them any way you'd like. You can spend them all the last day if that's what you desire.

 

[Ambehnke]

Thank you, I was just a little confused.

What do you mean when you say that you can split the meals? Sorry if I'm sounding really dumb.

Also, do you know if you're able to carry over credits onto another day?

Finally (I promse), with the quick service meal, do you get a drink and dessert included or have I misread that?

Thank you

1) I think I cleared that up.

2) Yes

3) Yes

 

[Ambehnke]

I also just remembered another question, if I book with a value hotel, I get 1 quick service for breakfast - can this be used at any point throughout the day? or only before a certain time in the morning

I don't believe it's designated at breakfast although I've never stayed value. I think they don't differentiate different meals just QS credits you can use whenever you want.

 

[ebradley23]

Thank you, I was just a little confused.

What do you mean when you say that you can split the meals? Sorry if I'm sounding really dumb.

Also, do you know if you're able to carry over credits onto another day?

Finally (I promse), with the quick service meal, do you get a drink and dessert included or have I misread that?

Thank you

I edited my original response to go back and answe your question about carrying over credits. I realized I had forgotten to answer.

By splitting, I mean you can order one meal and share between two people. Many of the QS portions are huge (think chicken and ribs with a side and dessert). It's a great way to stretch those credits to cover more meals.

Yes, each comes with dessert and a drink included. its not just soda either. We would get this lemonade slushie thing at several QS restaurants. I was surprised it was included.

 

[tinkerbell1991]

I don't believe it's designated at breakfast although I've never stayed value. I think they don't differentiate different meals just QS credits you can use whenever you want.

Brilliant, thank you so much - it's appreciated.

I was just worried I'd order a meal from a counter service that did the dining plan but there were only certain items that I could order. I didn't want them looking at me like I had two heads when trying to use my credits on something that maybe wasn't in the "offer" lol.

I'm debating which seems the best option now, that's the problem as the quick service plan now has 2 quick service meals and 2 snacks each day, but the breakfast one obviously has only 1 quick service.

Are there any places that you would recommend that are definately great value for money spending your credits at?

 

[ebradley23]

The QS credits are just listed as credits for your stay. None are specific to a certain meal. Most people advise not using credits for breakfast, since dessert isn't included with breakfast. You get more value using the credits for lunch or dinner which include dessert. We typically use snack credits to replace breakfast to stretch our credits further.

I think you may be confusing the plan designations with restaurants. Some restaurants only accept the plan for certain meals. Example: Main Street Bakery only accepts QS credits for breakfast. You can't use a QS credit for lunch. They do also offer items for purchase with snack credits throughout the day.

 

[Ambehnke]

Brilliant, thank you so much - it's appreciated.

I was just worried I'd order a meal from a counter service that did the dining plan but there were only certain items that I could order. I didn't want them looking at me like I had two heads when trying to use my credits on something that maybe wasn't in the "offer" lol.

I'm debating which seems the best option now, that's the problem as the quick service plan now has 2 quick service meals and 2 snacks each day, but the breakfast one obviously has only 1 quick service.

Are there any places that you would recommend that are definately great value for money spending your credits at?

The best bet is to let the CM know which dining plan you have ahead of time and if you try ordering anything that won't work they will clear that up for you if needed.

If you are going with strictly a QS plan its best to look at menus ahead of time to get an idea of where you will get the best value but something like flame tree bbq (AK) comes to mind as a place where you could order a meal to easily share. There are plenty of others too. I think the fajitas at Pecos are easily enough for two people as well with the add your own toppings option.

IF you go with the regular dining plan your best TS credit use (in regards to what it would cost OOP) would be character meals.

 

[ebradley23]

Sorry, I gave you the link to the regular dining plan earlier. Here is the one for quick service.

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/m...altDisneyWorld/en_us/PDF/2016QuickService.pdf

 

[Hopefully]

Brilliant, thank you so much - it's appreciated.

I was just worried I'd order a meal from a counter service that did the dining plan but there were only certain items that I could order. I didn't want them looking at me like I had two heads when trying to use my credits on something that maybe wasn't in the "offer" lol.

I'm debating which seems the best option now, that's the problem as the quick service plan now has 2 quick service meals and 2 snacks each day, but the breakfast one obviously has only 1 quick service.

Are there any places that you would recommend that are definately great value for money spending your credits at?

See bolded above please
I think you are still confused. There is no DDP which is "the Breakfast One" What are you referring to? If you get the QS meal plan you get your QS and Snack credits per night of your stay. You choose which meals to use them at. None are "Breakfast" credits. You can use them however you desire - spread them out or use them all on one day. Yes they can be carried day to day,

 

[CarolynFH]

The Disney Food Blog just reported that UK visitors staying at a Value resort during certain dates in 2017 will receive "Free Breakfast," which hasn't been offered here in the US to my knowledge. I suspect that may be the source of confusion here. I would assume that the free breakfast would have to be acquired during breakfast hours and wouldn't be available during lunch or dinner, but that's just my assumption.

 

[tinkerbell1991]

Thank you all for your above help and advise.

In regards to the breakfast quick service, the below link is what I am referring to:
http://www.disneypackages.co.uk/?ut...k&utm_campaign=free-dine&utm_content=carousel

If I stay at a value hotel, free breakfast is included. If at a moderate one, the quick service with 2 meals options and 2 snacks is offered.

I will definitely want to use my credits for lunch, that's why I was wondering if I could save my breakfast one until lunch time and get better value from it?

 

[Ambehnke]

Thank you all for your above help and advise.

In regards to the breakfast quick service, the below link is what I am referring to:
http://www.disneypackages.co.uk/?ut...k&utm_campaign=free-dine&utm_content=carousel

If I stay at a value hotel, free breakfast is included. If at a moderate one, the quick service with 2 meals options and 2 snacks is offered.

I will definitely want to use my credits for lunch, that's why I was wondering if I could save my breakfast one until lunch time and get better value from it?

I didn't realize you were from the UK or that this breakfast QS was an option. I'm guessing that would only be usable during breakfast since that would save Disney $$$ without the desserts.

 

[LinderInWonderland]

That UK promo does say breakfast, but then it just says '1 self service credit'. If it's similar to the one QS 'free dining' that was being offered this summer, I would imagine you could use it for any time of day. It will be on Disney to clarify that. I wonder if they will only make it available at your value resort food court for 'free breakfast'. Weird.

 

[sharonabe]

As to what you can get with a QS meal, the UK 2017 deal was rumored to change the plan. A QS meal will no longer have the dessert entitlement, but you now get 2 snacks/night. So your meal would only be the entree and drink.

The breakfast deal at the values would only give you the entree and drink and I'm pretty sure you have to use it for breakfast.

You might want to ask over on the UK board where UK visitors with more experience could help you.

 

[tinkerbell1991]

Thank you all, I'm definately swaying towards getting the dining plan, it just seems an obvious choice.

Thanks again

 

[tinkerbell1991]

Sorry to be a nuisance again, but could I use a quick service credit at be our guest for breakfast as I've just noticed that it's $24 a meal there so didn't know if this excludes BOG from counter service for breakfast?