Disney Dining Plan and WLS

[Mish]

I know I am going to get a lot of negative feed back on this but I have my big girl panties on and can take it. Everyone is entitled to their opinion.

I think it is a shame that Disney will not allow someone to pay for everyone else in their party to get the Dining Plan and excuse the person who had the surgery. I had Surgery 3 months ago and would never be able to eat all of that food. They won't be loosing money i still have to eat. I think I should be able to pay out of packet for my part. I understand that this is a business but I don't think it is fair. My son and husband enjoy the dining plan and find it easier then paying out of pocket. Thinks have changed over the years since they started the dining plan. I have purchased it on every trip since it came out but with more and more people having the surgery they should rethink their policy. I am still going to eat. Well that is my vent.

Michelle

 

[kaytieeldr]

It's a conditionam of a package: everyone is required to have identical features.

This topic comes up periodically, and the common sense response is, "the dining plan isn't for everyone; if it doesnt work with your plans or the way you eat, pay out if pocket for everyone."

Less than 7/100% (0.069) of people had wls last year (webmd+us census). If Disney were to make an exception for this, everyone else would start clamoring for tge same option for various reasons.

 

[aaarcher86]

If they did that it couldn't be limited to weight loss surgery guests. Any reservation would need to be able to pick and choose who gets the DDP and who doesn't. That wouldn't be a great business decision. What are they going to do? Give the CMs extra work at the FD verifying the surgery?

I personally disagree with you. I think it's just as silly for someone to have WLS and expect companies to do something special because of it. They let anyone in your party use the credits, so it's not as if your family couldn't use the credits and you buy something out of pocket. They let adults order off the kids menu without issue.

It's not like it's just the DDP with those rules. Tickets on a package require everyone to have the same thing too.

 

[maxiesmom]

I think it is silly that I have to pay $25 for a character breakfast buffet when I can only eat one small plate of food. I just don't eat a ton. But I know that going in, and it is up to me if I pay the price or not.

Same thing with the dining plan. You know what the rules are before you buy it. If they make an exception for someone who had surgery and can't eat much, then they should make an exception for me, and for my 19 year old niece who still eats like a bird, and my mom who doesn't eat a whole lot..........

Don't like the rules of the dining plan, don't buy it. Simple.

 

[DJFan88]

I do agree with maxiesmom on this one because there are a lot of reasons people may not eat as much, it's just a condition of the plan and if it won't work to your benefit, you may be better off without it.

I'm sure you've heard these suggestions before, but just in case, if it's just the convenience of the paying, why not give DH and DS each a big Disney gift card, they even have a (small) discount if bought at BJ's or Target. That way they can order their food easily -- they may even get Appetizers now and like that better. Or, to make it easier, you keep the gift cards and link a credit card to their bands so they can just charge on it wherever they eat, and then cash out at your resort with the gift cards you prebought. You should come out ahead especially if you figure what you would spend on the DP and then if you had leftover on the gift cards you could just apply it to your balance or a souveniers. Plus, they wouldn't even need cash for tips as they could charge that too.

 

[sharonabe]

OR you could let them use your credits and eat at more signatures or more TS meals as a family where you pay OOP for an app. It would almost be like having the DxDDP on a DDP price.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

Some have written that they find it "unfair" that an adult who does not intend to go on any rides has to pay the exact same admission price to the park as anyone else. But then they are asking WDW to "police" which guests ride and which ones don't.

You at least have an out. Order your meals OOP and use the credits to buy additional meals for the rest of your party. Except at buffets/family style/fixed price where you will pay the same price as anyone else because the restaurant can't effectively "police" how much each guest eats or doesn't eat. You may as well use your dining credits for those.

Or, just don't get the dining plan. You'll save money that way if you are not doing lots of buffets or fixed price meals.

 

[maclondon]

I'm on the dining plan only because it was free. It doesn't seem to save a whole heap - esp as like you eating 2 big meals a day is more than we ever would.

and I'd always have an appetiser over a dessert!
we will probably use them on a couple of the character dinning experiences then have counter meals - which look massive.

I'm from the UK we don't have big portions over here so one table service meal will keep me going all day.

We are staying on site 5 nights then off site 9 days - and some of the ADR I'll be making will be for when we are off site so will be paying OOP for those.

mac

 

[mefordis]

Can you leave yourself off the reservation, then when you show up buy tickets separately, and add yourself to the room and pay the fee? I don't think they can add you to the dining plan on last minute notice.

Just an idea, not sure if it would work.

I know I am going to get a lot of negative feed back on this but I have my big girl panties on and can take it. Everyone is entitled to their opinion.

I think it is a shame that Disney will not allow someone to pay for everyone else in their party to get the Dining Plan and excuse the person who had the surgery. I had Surgery 3 months ago and would never be able to eat all of that food. They won't be loosing money i still have to eat. I think I should be able to pay out of packet for my part. I understand that this is a business but I don't think it is fair. My son and husband enjoy the dining plan and find it easier then paying out of pocket. Thinks have changed over the years since they started the dining plan. I have purchased it on every trip since it came out but with more and more people having the surgery they should rethink their policy. I am still going to eat. Well that is my vent.

Michelle

 

[TDC Nala]

Can you leave yourself off the reservation, then when you show up buy tickets separately, and add yourself to the room and pay the fee? I don't think they can add you to the dining plan on last minute notice.

Just an idea, not sure if it would work.

It can be done but there are a few issues with it.

- Person added at check-in cannot book FP+ at 60 days from arrival. If they don't have tickets, they can't book any FP+ until they get tickets. If they have tickets they can book FP+ 30 days out.

- Person added at check-in doesn't have access to Disney's Magical Express airport transportation for arrival.

 

[mefordis]

Ah, great points. Thank you.

It can be done but there are a few issues with it.

- Person added at check-in cannot book FP+ at 60 days from arrival. If they don't have tickets, they can't book any FP+ until they get tickets. If they have tickets they can book FP+ 30 days out.

- Person added at check-in doesn't have access to Disney's Magical Express airport transportation for arrival.

 

[Allison]

Actually, I think it is fair because it is not carving out exceptions for a certain population. The conditions of purchase are known up front and your party has to make the best decision for your circumstances.

 

[WildGrits]

I had WLS 10 months ago.

I still will get the DP for my family.

I don't mind paying for the plan even though I will not each much.

I do wish I could eat off the Kids menu instead of the normal size portions. I would pay OOP for the smaller portions and give my meal points to my other family members.

 

[sharonabe]

I had WLS 10 months ago.

I still will get the DP for my family.

I don't mind paying for the plan even though I will not each much.

I do wish I could eat off the Kids menu instead of the normal size portions. I would pay OOP for the smaller portions and give my meal points to my other family members.

You CAN do what you wish as long as everyone is on the same plan. The credits are pooled for your family; they are not appointed to each individual. Pay OOP for your kid's meal and let them use your credits to eat at more TS or a few signature meals.

 

[WDWFanForLife]

I know I am going to get a lot of negative feed back on this but I have my big girl panties on and can take it. Everyone is entitled to their opinion.

I think it is a shame that Disney will not allow someone to pay for everyone else in their party to get the Dining Plan and excuse the person who had the surgery. I had Surgery 3 months ago and would never be able to eat all of that food. They won't be loosing money i still have to eat. I think I should be able to pay out of packet for my part. I understand that this is a business but I don't think it is fair. My son and husband enjoy the dining plan and find it easier then paying out of pocket. Thinks have changed over the years since they started the dining plan. I have purchased it on every trip since it came out but with more and more people having the surgery they should rethink their policy. I am still going to eat. Well that is my vent.

Michelle

Are you by any chance an Annual Passholder or DVC Member? If so, you may want to consider TIW. The cost for AP/DVC is approximately $100 and is good at most TS restaurants, but I believe the only QS location it can be used at are the resort food courts (not resort QS locations). TIW entitles you to 20% discount on entire bill (including appetizers and alcoholic beverages, which are not included in the DDP). The TIW card is good for up to 10 people in the party, but the TIW card holder must pay the bill. TIW card holders also get complimentary valet parking at resorts when dining at a resort restaurant and complimentary parking at theme parks when dining at a theme park restaurant.

Just a thought! Enjoy your trip!

 

[katie111]

I totally get your point but unfortunately there is no way to monitor it. I really just don't understand why everyone in the room has to be on the same package anyways. What can't 2 people be on the plan and 2 people be off of it? Why is that any different than people in 2 rooms next door to each other, one room being on the plan and one off the plan. Either way the people that are on the plan only have their allotted amount of credits.

A couple years ago we went to Disney when my youngest was 4. He had a feeding tube and was unable to eat any table food. We still had to pay full price for him at the buffets although at Crystal Palace they actually took him off the bill when the waitress noticed he did not eat anything (we didn't ask for this). I know at the character buffets you are also paying for the experience but it was still tough to hand over $20-25 for absolutely no food. The problem is that if they started making exceptions then people would abuse the system.

 

[aaarcher86]

Disney already screws up enough reservations as it is. Can you imagine if they had to start doing different things to individuals on the reservation?

I get it - we've got an almost 9 year old who is at risk of receiving a feeding tube, so clearly, she doesn't eat much. It's a rough price to swallow - and it'll be harder when she's 10 and paying adult prices! But this stuff is totally optional, too. Of people deserving dining discount exceptions, WLS patients are lower on my list than children who don't eat any actual food (be it disabilities or the like) - personal opinion. It's great WLS patients are making such a life change - everyone doesn't have to cater to it.

Skip the DP and order something small OOP. Problem solved.

 

[candacewi5]

I too had WLS 2 months ago and we leave in 5 days for WDW. I did purchase the DP for my family. We have figured out how our credits will work out with me not using most of my credits. I will just end up picking food off of my family's plates since I can only eat about 1/4 cup of food at a time. We just planned out using all of my credits amongst the other members of my family and getting more meals than we expected! You can work around the WLS restriction and still make out really well with the dining plan. My boys get 2 extra TS meals and 2 extra QS meals this way! We also minimized the number of buffet meals we will have because the value isn't there for me.