Disney Dining for idiots-can anyone explain it to me?

[bigdreams]

Hey guys,

We are going back to the world next August, although we have spent many holidays at Disney world this will be our first time staying on site!!!! We have taken advantage of the free Disney dining plan offer but how does it actually work, I've looked at other posts but I'm still confused, can anyone explain it to me in idiot form?

we have 1qs and 1ts and snack a day. In an eligible restaurant or quick service can you pick anything off the menu or are there restrictions? if so how do you know what is included and whats not?

With table service and tipping will they just bring you over a bill at the end with the amount you need to tip?

Also does everyone need to be present when ordering the meals including the kids? does everyone in the party have their own separate amount of credits? Do you have to scan each individual magic band at the till?

I realise these are probably really stupid questions but if anyone can explain to me how it works would be v grateful.

 

[karen4546]

As far as QS goes - the whole party does not have to be present. Snacks are single serve items usually under $5 but some floats, sundaes, and Starbucks are over $5 and still included.

Now at TS the number of credits should equal number of your party or less. You can split pay for meals (this can be confusing )where you pay Oop for someone and use dining credits for others.

Using snack credits for water, fruit, or anything under $3 is not advisable. Since it is not the best use of a snack credit.

Be our Guest is a great use of QS credit for breakfast or lunch (breakfast before park opening is great).
Also the lobster roll at Boardwalk Bakery. Oh and the bakery items there are great use of snack credits.

QS credit are NOT DISTINGUISHABLE on DDP so you can order all adult meals. This is great because instead of buying 2 kids meals buy 1 adult meal and split it between them. This will give you extra QS credits so that maybe you can use your TS credit for Hoop Dee doo or another 2 credit meal.

You will get a bill with suggested tip. I can not stress enough on tipping. Please tip AT LEAST the suggested amount.

THE CREDITS ARE NOT SEPARATED THEY ARE POOLED. So, if your party separates and someone buys 5 snacks then your total snack allotment is down by 5.

Only one band needs to be scanned when you dine or pay at QS.

Please know that Dis is a place to find answers and most are eager to help. Enjoy your trip.

 

[The Eighth Dwarf]

I'm going to try to explain this best I can, so forgive if you already know all this.
QS is Quick service, so it's 1 credit per meal. If you are staying 14 nights you get 14 credits times the number in your party. So if it's you ,partner and say 2 kids you get 14 times 4 credits.
So that's 56 QS plus 56 TS plus 56 snack credits and you will also get 4 refillable mugs.

QS meals are usually 1 main, 1 dessert and 1 fountain drink. You just tell the cashier you're on the dining plan and they will talk you through what you can and can't order, most things are avaiable on the dining plan. I think you can now substitute the dessert for a salad if you wish, but this is a new thing and I've never done it.

TS is table service, and again it's 1 main 1 dessert and 1 fountain drink. If you fancy a starter or some extra sides you can ask and the server will bring you a separate bill for those. When you are paying on the dining plan they will bring you a bill, it will have what you ordered and the suggested tip amount 18% I think.
Once they scan your band, you put in your pin and that's you paid.
When you get the bill it wil also tell you how many credits you have left.

I've probably made this sound more complicated than it is, all I can say is don't be stressing, it really is easy.

One more thing don't be forgetting to make your ADRs.

 

[Shazzie B]

Your receipts show you how many credits you have left so it's easy to track. Also items that are available as a snack credit normally have a purple & white Dp logo against them. If in doubt ask, servers & QS cashiers are all really helpful.

There are loads of tips to make the best use of your credits. You'll perhaps struggle to use all the snack credits, we do, but you can buy bags of sweets with them to bring home if you wish. Also when we have a QS meal we'll very often order a large soft drink to share ( I struggle to drink a load of fizzy whilst eating) and a bottle of water to have later. Also we don't ever have a TS on the evening we arrive (personal preference, we're just not hungry enough) so use the TS credits to eat at one of the restaurants that 'charge' 2 TS credits or a dinner show.

Have fun planning your meals

 

[bigdreams]

Fab thankyou so much guys, much appreciate your replies they have helped alot

Just a few more questions does anyone know if you can exchange any of your ts credits for qs credits, Im planning on making dinner reservations for most days for our family but on the occasion where there might be a couple of days we wont plan if we couldn't get into a table service would they exchange it for qs?

When ordering drinks with your meal can you ask for a large or do you have the standard size? also do you need to tell the cashier at the beginning that your paying with Disney dining credits before they ring it up?

Im so excited already, still over a year to wait don't know how im going to cope aha

 

[Shazzie B]

Yes you can ask for a large drink with QS meal, a tip a CM passed on. I think the 'rules' have now changed so that you can get a QS with a TS credit (not 100% sure though).

 

[scoobydooby]

Your credits are not actually per day they are per trip. So you could use them all in the first three days if you wanted and that would be fine. But when they're gone they're gone. They expire at midnight the day you check out so any left at that point and you've lost them. You can use left over snack credits on bags of sweets and the like to take home.

 

[chmurf]

Yes you can ask for a large drink with QS meal, a tip a CM passed on. I think the 'rules' have now changed so that you can get a QS with a TS credit (not 100% sure though).

If tjhe qs meal is at a hotel, take a bottled drink from the fridge for later, and use your refillable mug for the meal. You'll get unlimited refills during your meal and a bottle for later
Doesn't work in parks butif things havn't changed some restaurants have refill stations. If my memory serves me right bog (lunch) and restaurantsorus and a couple other places have them (needs confirmation that it's still the case)

 

[bigdreams]

Fab guys these are some great tips

If tjhe qs meal is at a hotel, take a bottled drink from the fridge for later, and use your refillable mug for the meal. You'll get unlimited refills during your meal and a bottle for later
Doesn't work in parks butif things havn't changed some restaurants have refill stations. If my memory serves me right bog (lunch) and restaurantsorus and a couple other places have them (needs confirmation that it's still the case)

Will remember to do this re qs meal at the hotel, great idea

 

[Elise79]

Fab thankyou so much guys, much appreciate your replies they have helped alot

Just a few more questions does anyone know if you can exchange any of your ts credits for qs credits, Im planning on making dinner reservations for most days for our family but on the occasion where there might be a couple of days we wont plan if we couldn't get into a table service would they exchange it for qs?

When ordering drinks with your meal can you ask for a large or do you have the standard size? also do you need to tell the cashier at the beginning that your paying with Disney dining credits before they ring it up?

Im so excited already, still over a year to wait don't know how im going to cope aha

The new rules allow exchange of either a TS or QS credit for 3 snacks at certain locations in one transaction. At the moment you can't change a TS for a QS meal.

How about booking a couple of breakfasts so you aren't tied up each evening?

Most locations allow large fountain drinks.

Most CM ask if you are on the DDP anyway but it never hurts to tell them then they can help you

Just so you know you can't mix credit types in one transaction so If you have some items that you want as a QS credit and others as snacks it will be 2 transactions.

 

[ChelleFeegan]

I keep getting conflicting messages about the kids QSDP. Some people say you don't have to order off a kids menu as you can't "tell" which is adult or child on the bands. Others say you have to. Does anyone have a receipt that shows the QS credits left? Just for a reference point? I am really worried we are going to go and order 3 entrees and be charged three adult QS credits and have all the kids QC credits left at the end.. if that makes sense.

 

[chmurf]

QS credits ARE NOT differenciated.

A Child QS credit just does not exist. (nor does an Adult QS credit, they're all QS credits)

here is what your statement shows (the one you get at check in, you also can request one at any time)

 

[Elise79]

I keep getting conflicting messages about the kids QSDP. Some people say you don't have to order off a kids menu as you can't "tell" which is adult or child on the bands. Others say you have to. Does anyone have a receipt that shows the QS credits left? Just for a reference point? I am really worried we are going to go and order 3 entrees and be charged three adult QS credits and have all the kids QC credits left at the end.. if that makes sense.

As Chmurf said there are no difference in CS credits. They used to say that children had to order from the children menu where available and this was enforced by the CMs on the till not allowing more adult/child credits that were shown on the KTTW card or MB. This rule has recently been relaxed so you can order any number of meals in one transaction.

 

[scoobydooby]

I have posted on here numerous times before I have never had a cast member differentiate between adult and child QS credits. Even without the change you would have been fine. My DS ordered adult credits all the time when he was under 10 and my DD children's ones when she was over 10. They could not have cared less.

 

[kcplus5]

qq on the tipping with the meal plan, can I just tip in cash or do I have to charge it? we have a large family of 7 and im just trying to plan accordingly!

 

[scoobydooby]

You can tip with cash.

 

[chmurf]

qq on the tipping with the meal plan, can I just tip in cash or do I have to charge it? we have a large family of 7 and im just trying to plan accordingly!

you can tip with any payment method you like. Cash, Gift Card, room charge, Credit Card ...

note that with a party of 7 there is an automatic 18% tip

 

[BagOLaughs]

We did the dining plan for the 1st time in 2013 so I understand how you're feeling.

I can't add much to what has already been said except don't stress about it too much. When you get there and order your 1st meal you'll have it down!

Don't forget to book your advance dinner reservations! Also I wouldn't use a QS credit on breakfast. In my opinion its not the best use of a credit as you don't get a "dessert" included - just a drink and the meal.