Dining plan VS. No Dining Plan

[Mtnman44]

I have no idea, but I could make some educated guesses. However, it may not even be true, and might just be something I wrongly perceived.

Why would they treat a DDP family differently than a non-DDP family? They still need to work for their tip. As a matter of fact, by this logic, it would be the TIW folk they treat the worst as they know the 18% tip is automatic.

 

[gmi3804]

Why would they treat a DDP family differently than a non-DDP family? They still need to work for their tip. As a matter of fact, by this logic, it would be the TIW folk they treat the worst as they know the 18% tip is automatic.

But they don't know you're a TiW cardholder until the end of the meal, right?

 

[pharmjenn]

Does the server necessarily know you are on the dining plan from the start? We will have some on the plan and some paying cash. Do we need to explain who is who at the beginning of each meal?

 

[twinklebug]

But they don't know you're a TiW cardholder until the end of the meal, right?

We're supposed to let them know up front, but in the past I've forgotten to tell the server and pulled my TIW card out toward the end.

Does the server necessarily know you are on the dining plan from the start? We will have some on the plan and some paying cash. Do we need to explain who is who at the beginning of each meal?

They do check as you're being seated.

 

[gmi3804]

But they don't know you're a TiW cardholder until the end of the meal, right?

We're supposed to let them know up front, but in the past I've forgotten to tell the server and pulled my TIW card out toward the end.

I've never been asked if I'm a TiW cardholder, and I've never heard that we're supposed to tell someone upfront. I understand that a manager needs to approve the discount in the system at the time of payment, but other than that reason why would anyone need to know if you have a TiW card anytime sooner than the end of the meal?

 

[Niewoe]

I guess I don't understand. You generally cannot have a TS meal without making an ADR and thus you have planned for it.

Another one of our planned meals is at Chef Mickey's. $47.91 for the two of us. That leaves $18.09 for 2 counter service meals and 2 snacks. One adult counter service meal is easily $10. So how this isn't working out to a savings I don't quite understand?

There is no fancy planning going on here. I am taking DS to multiple character meals because that is what he wants to do. We will have our CS meals and snacks as we need them. Nothing fancy happenin' here!

I completely understand that the dining plan may not be for some people, but to give a blanket statement that you have to do extensive planning and eat the most expensive meals just isn't true.

Agreed! When traveling with a kid who wants to go to character meals (and who am I kidding, I want to go as well) the DDP makes the most sense to me. I only made ADR for one meal a day... it really was not restricting.

After reading this thread though, I will do the math and see if we will actually save money if we pay OOP. However, we paid OOP this last trip (pre DVC members) and it was painful for my husband to hand over his credit card each time. I think he would stress less with credits to use than seeing the $.

 

[majortom1981]

our last stay in january we paid cash and used tiw. IF you do a table service every night and use the TIW card it broke even for us. we did not save any money by paying cash. We are 2 people

As of right now i wouldnt pay cash again. All it does is defer when you pay it. With the dining plan its before your trip and with cash its during.