Dining Plan substitution

[Mazzy]

If we booked the Dining Plan with one counter service meal and one table service, is it possible to use one of the table service credits for a counter service meal? Bit of a strange question I know, but my DH wants to know! Thank you!

 

[Cafeen]

The best answer is...

Sometimes.

It's not a policy to allow this, though often they will and most often at the resort CS locations.

 

[Nadjalu]

As Cafeen said it doesn't always happen.

Usually the times you see this available to guests it is as Free dining times.
And I agree if it happens at other times it is usually resorts not in the parks.

 

[ashleym337]

this is good to know as I thought that you were able to do one TS meal for 2 CS meals. Is that something that was true in the past and has now changed??

 

[Cafeen]

this is good to know as I thought that you were able to do one TS meal for 2 CS meals. Is that something that was true in the past and has now changed??

Even when they do downgrade the credits from TS to CS, it's always 1 for 1.

Snacks sometimes are allowed to be purchased for CS credits in a 3 to 1 ratio. This is commonly believed to be because they can consider the snacks as the 3 parts of an included CS meal.

 

[TDC Nala]

Used to be that during free dining (when it was only offered once a year) that Disney would announce that dining plan users could trade a TS credit for CS meal plus extras, like an extra snack or merchandise. They don't announce it anymore and they don't have a specific period any longer where doing such a switch is allowed at all CS restaurants all the time. Best you can do is ask at the CS restaurant where you want to use your TS credits. Some of them will accept, and some of them will say you can't. It may actually come down to who you ask.

Most guests who are able to make the switch appear to have good luck at resort CS restaurants. And it's now a one for one trade - for your one TS credit, you will receive one CS meal, no extras.

At many of the resort CS you can trade a CS credit for two or three snacks. This is less likely to be allowed in the parks or at stores and shops. Don't know if you would be allowed to trade a TS credit for snacks.

Just from reading your signature that you are anticipating staying at the Dolphin in 2012...You can't get the dining plan at the Dolphin. So if you're considering a dining plan you will need to change resorts.

 

[Mazzy]

Used to be that during free dining (when it was only offered once a year) that Disney would announce that dining plan users could trade a TS credit for CS meal plus extras, like an extra snack or merchandise. They don't announce it anymore and they don't have a specific period any longer where doing such a switch is allowed at all CS restaurants all the time. Best you can do is ask at the CS restaurant where you want to use your TS credits. Some of them will accept, and some of them will say you can't. It may actually come down to who you ask.

Most guests who are able to make the switch appear to have good luck at resort CS restaurants. And it's now a one for one trade - for your one TS credit, you will receive one CS meal, no extras.

At many of the resort CS you can trade a CS credit for two or three snacks. This is less likely to be allowed in the parks or at stores and shops. Don't know if you would be allowed to trade a TS credit for snacks.

Just from reading your signature that you are anticipating staying at the Dolphin in 2012...You can't get the dining plan at the Dolphin. So if you're considering a dining plan you will need to change resorts.

We were planning on staying at the Dolphin, but are now considering a different resort with the free dining plan, I'm just covering all options at the moment.

Thanks everyone for your help!

 

[ancestry]

Although others have been successful at swapping things around like TDC Nala explained we never had any luck doing this. However we haven't had or traveled during free dining. Anytime we have asked to switch things around CS for TS, TS for CS, snacks for CS, etc we were always told that we can't do that. Based on board reports they seem to be more willing to do this during free dining though.

 

[Mazzy]

Although others have been successful at swapping things around like TDC Nala explained we never had any luck doing this. However we haven't had or traveled during free dining. Anytime we have asked to switch things around CS for TS, TS for CS, snacks for CS, etc we were always told that we can't do that. Based on board reports they seem to be more willing to do this during free dining though.

Thanks for your reply, as we are travelling during free dining it might be worth a shot if we wanted to give it a try.