Dining plan questions?

[mad madam mim78]

Need help figuring out the dining plan. I got my first freebie today and I want to make sure I understand it correctly.

The full days are easy. Breakfast in the morning, snack, and sit down dinner. What about arrival days. Do we get the breakfast credit even though we aren't to arrive until 3?

Same with checkout. Do we just get the breakfast credit? Do we get a snack and dinner credit? I don't really know where the cutoff is. I plan on using every single credit on this thing. HELP!!

Also are appetizers included in the meal? I think drinks and dessert are.

 

[Pink Mouse Ears]

Your credits are based on the number of nights you stay. So, if you stay 5 nights, you get 5 snacks, 5 table service, and 5 counter service credits for each person for the length of your stay. You can use them whenever you wish. You can have a snack for breakfast, CS for lunch, and TS for dinner or you can have a TS for breakfast at any sitdown place, a snack between, and a counter service dinner. You can skip a snack one day and have 2 the next day.

Appetizers are not included. Just drinks (non-alcoholic, non-specialty) and dessert. Some meals are sometimes excluded.

Signature restaurants require 2 TS credits.

 

[softballmom3]

It doesn't have to be breakfast. We usually eat breakfast in the room or use our snack credit for something small. I believe it works on nights stayed. If you stay 5 nights you will have 5 TS 5CS and 5 Snacks per person. You can use them the day you arrive. As soon as you check in actually.

Appetizers are not included in regular dining plan.

 

[WsPrincess]

Your credits are based on the number of NIGHTS you have not on the days. You can use your credits however you want to use them.

So with the regular dining plan you get 1CS, 1TS and 1 Snack for each night you are there. If you have 5 nights, each person gets 5 of each credit.

With the Deluxe Plan you get 3 Credits that can be used as TS or as CS (and 2 snacks) so it is up to you how to use them.

We have one a signature dinner and used 2 credits and then the next day used CS for lunch and dinner. We usually just have something quick like cereal bars for breakfast or do a big breakfast with a TS credit. It is however you want to use them which is really nice

 

[vicki_c]

Credits are not really associated with days. You get all your credits at check in and they are good until midnight of your check out day. You can use them In Any combination you want, on any days you want. No appetizers unless you are on the deluxe dining plan.

 

[Pink Mouse Ears]

^^This was assuming you have the DDP (basic plan) and not the quick service or deluxe plan.

Another tip- if you don't use your snack credits during the day, you can buy snacks at the confectionery, gift shops, etc. and use snack credits. Just look for the DDP snack credit symbol.

 

[Pink Mouse Ears]

^^This was assuming you have the DDP (basic plan) and not the quick service or deluxe plan.

Another tip- if you don't use your snack credits during the day, you can buy snacks at the confectionery, gift shops, etc. and use snack credits. Just look for the DDP snack credit symbol.

My arrows were referring to my own post. I was a bit late!

 

[Cafeen]

From your description (breakfast/snack/sit down dinner), it sounds like you're getting the standard plan, aka DDP (Disney Dining Plan). This comes with 1 QS (Quick/Counter Service), 1 TS (Table Service) and 1 Snack per person per night of stay. Now, we all know this already , so I'll continue on.

When you check into the resort, all of your credits will be available for all nights of your stay. So, for example, 3 people staying 5 nights, you will have 15 of each as soon as you check in. If you so desire, you can use every single credit that day (I'd not suggest it though ). These credits may be used in whatever order and amounts (up to the limit on your card, which is the number and breakdown of your traveling party) you wish. They can be used even after you check out, but they will expire at midnight immediately following check-out.

Now, each QS and TS meal covers an Entree, Dessert, and Drink (soft-drinks, sometimes coffee/tea, sometimes bottled water) or an admittance to a buffet/family style/fixed price type of thingy. Prix Fixe menus (fixed price, specific 3 course type menus) are also allowed on the plan in most cases. In fact, if you're good with the offerings (no substitutions), this is a great way to score a covered appetizer on the normal DDP.

There are some special cases as well...
Marrakesh - feasts (similar to the prix fixe menus I describe above) have a surcharge added to them when purchasing with the DDP.
Via Napoli - Most strict when it comes to the dining plan. Does not allow larger pizzas to be purchased with credits (individual only), does not allow sharing on the DDP, extra toppings to the "make your own" pizza will be charged to the guest.
"For 2" - Items that are marked as being "for 2" must be purchased by 2 people on the DDP, they (usually) cannot be split up and served to just 1.

Appetizers (other than included in the prix fixe menus), extra sides, alcohol, and other specialty items will not be covered by the plan and will be charged separate. When in doubt at a particular meal, ask your server or cashier and they'll point the stuff out to you. Also, at most TS locations, you WILL be given a spiel on what's covered and all that. You WILL know it by heart by the time you leave!

I think I covered most everything and probably way more than you wanted to know. Don't sweat it too much though as you'll become well versed after a couple days .

 

[navywifetill2002]

For you CT breakfast is just a breakfast entree and drink but for lunch or dinner it's entree, dessert, and drink. If you're trying to "make the most" of your DDP you may want to do a "snack" for breakfast (a bowl of oatmeal should be a snack credit) and save your CT for lunch or dinner. We're actually taking some breakfast foods for the room and using our meals for dinners and lunchs (we do have TS breakfast at CP one day).

 

[mad madam mim78]

^^This was assuming you have the DDP (basic plan) and not the quick service or deluxe plan.

Another tip- if you don't use your snack credits during the day, you can buy snacks at the confectionery, gift shops, etc. and use snack credits. Just look for the DDP snack credit symbol.

So I can get chocolate covered rice crispy treats as a snack?!!!

 

[TDC Nala]

You can check the Confirmed Snack thread to see what has been accepted as a snack. For the most part, yes, you can get rice krispy treats.

 

[mad madam mim78]

From your description (breakfast/snack/sit down dinner), it sounds like you're getting the standard plan, aka DDP (Disney Dining Plan). This comes with 1 QS (Quick/Counter Service), 1 TS (Table Service) and 1 Snack per person per night of stay. Now, we all know this already , so I'll continue on.

When you check into the resort, all of your credits will be available for all nights of your stay. So, for example, 3 people staying 5 nights, you will have 15 of each as soon as you check in. If you so desire, you can use every single credit that day (I'd not suggest it though ). These credits may be used in whatever order and amounts (up to the limit on your card, which is the number and breakdown of your traveling party) you wish. They can be used even after you check out, but they will expire at midnight immediately following check-out.

Now, each QS and TS meal covers an Entree, Dessert, and Drink (soft-drinks, sometimes coffee/tea, sometimes bottled water) or an admittance to a buffet/family style/fixed price type of thingy. Prix Fixe menus (fixed price, specific 3 course type menus) are also allowed on the plan in most cases. In fact, if you're good with the offerings (no substitutions), this is a great way to score a covered appetizer on the normal DDP.

There are some special cases as well...
Marrakesh - feasts (similar to the prix fixe menus I describe above) have a surcharge added to them when purchasing with the DDP.
Via Napoli - Most strict when it comes to the dining plan. Does not allow larger pizzas to be purchased with credits (individual only), does not allow sharing on the DDP, extra toppings to the "make your own" pizza will be charged to the guest.
"For 2" - Items that are marked as being "for 2" must be purchased by 2 people on the DDP, they (usually) cannot be split up and served to just 1.

Appetizers (other than included in the prix fixe menus), extra sides, alcohol, and other specialty items will not be covered by the plan and will be charged separate. When in doubt at a particular meal, ask your server or cashier and they'll point the stuff out to you. Also, at most TS locations, you WILL be given a spiel on what's covered and all that. You WILL know it by heart by the time you leave!

I think I covered most everything and probably way more than you wanted to know. Don't sweat it too much though as you'll become well versed after a couple days .

Another question. I have 5 year old twins and they are notorious for not eating their meals. Is it allowed to split a meal. Say split breakfast. Save the other twins credit and get a lunch or snacks?

 

[TDC Nala]

They could split the meals but the kids' meals are very small - and kid's credits need to be used for kids' meals (unless the restaurant has no kids' meal). And for the most part you can't use a CS or TS credit to get snacks.

 

[mad madam mim78]

They could split the meals but the kids' meals are very small - and kid's credits need to be used for kids' meals (unless the restaurant has no kids' meal). And for the most part you can't use a CS or TS credit to get snacks.

Ok...awesome. I am so excited. I've never gotten a dining plan. I've never eaten at the nice restaurants. I've already made my ADR's. (which I never do) but I'm afraid if I don't do it this trip the FD may never happen again. LOL

I appreciate all the info. I'm going to start tallying up all the credits and figure out the proper way to use them between my family of 5. I love that dessert is included. We can always take those back to the room and snack on them in the evening.

If anyone has any helpful hits please let me know. I plan on taking granola bars and water into the park so we dont have to waste snack credits on water. I'm so stoked!!!!

 

[TDC Nala]

Remember if you use a TS or CS credit for breakfast, that dessert is not included with breakfast, just the entree or combo plate and beverage.

 

[mad madam mim78]

Remember if you use a TS or CS credit for breakfast, that dessert is not included with breakfast, just the entree or combo plate and beverage.

right

 

[navywifetill2002]

I'm also planning my 1st trip on the DDP. I have a 3 year old that won't eat much of what's on the kids meals so I was looking for places she could eat off the adult menu and this is what I've found.

Restruants with No kids menus…
Toluca Turkey Legs - Hollywood Studios
Casey's Corner - Magic Kingdom
Pete's Doggone Good Dogs - Magic Kingdom
Main Street Bakery - Magic Kingdom
Golden Oak Outpost - Magic Kingdom
Sommerfest - Epcot
Yorkshire County Fish Shop - Epcot
Boulangerie Patisserie - Epcot

 

[purple figment]

If anyone has any helpful hits please let me know. I plan on taking granola bars and water into the park so we dont have to waste snack credits on water. I'm so stoked!!!!

Have you seen the pdf for the dining plan? It sounds like you have the regular DDP (1 TS, 1CS, 1 snack perperson per day.) Here's the link (click on the first one on the right - "2012 Dining Plan"):

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/planning-guides/in-depth-advice/disney-dining-plan/

For snacks, here's a great thread:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2853528