Disney Dining Plan ---- Can it be shared/split??

[bicker]

As you pointed out, they're charging for the experience, and what they're charging is precisely what those experiences are worth (or in some cases, it appears they're still undercharging, since there are still some meals which are sold out long ahead of time). I know that my DN6 had as much of a good time at WDW as we did, if not more.

If you just want food, you definitely want to go elsewhere.

 

[keishashadow]

Although I would certainly welcome Junior pricing, both on park tickets & the dining plan, I don't think WDW overcharges for ALL meal offerings.

We pay @ least $20 for a good, steak meal in Pittsburgh - same @ the world.

CS chicken strips/fries (enough for 2 people) approx. $9.

The dining plan covered all of our meal costs each day - a bargin IMO.

As for the creative thinking on utilizing the DP, the brochure is worded ambiguously enough that some could interpret it as a license to: share meals, pay OOP for children & use their credits for adults, even invent phantom children for extra dining credits.

Although there have been reports of "crack downs" on the policy (especially when attempting to pay OOP while dining credits remain for children), others have indicated that servers continue to encourage this type of usage, probably because it inflates their overall tip.

We were among the 1st to purchase & use the plan last year. There were no brochures available @ the time. Relied soley on the info that CM relayed, i.e. Adults use adult credits, Children use child credits; all credits listed on each guest's resort id - obviously what they intended. In what universe would WDW want guests to be able to manipulate the pricing system so & "cheat" WDW out of $27/day pp income? Absolutely comical that anyone even had the gall to think so.

You can call WDW 3 times & get 3 different answers to the same question. Whether in or out of WDW, you need to be comfortable with your own actions.

 

[5boyz]

Once again the all mighty buck.......I don't see the point!!! What discounts are there for kids and of course they shud be offering them.....why shud a small child pay the same as an adult!!!! I paid $12.99 for a stupid hot dog at the Norweign Restaurant last year for my 6 year old....we took her there to see the Princesses for her birthday....wow they were there for all of 2 seconds and nothing like they told me on the phone it was going to be like!!!! I personally think $1852.46US is pathetic for 10 nights worth of meals!!!! For 6 people by the way 2 kids 2 teens (15 & 16) and 2 adults!!!! Sorry I don't see your point.....I thought Disney was about family, not someone getting rich!!!! So we can experiene the "MAGIC"!!!

 

[5boyz]

Keishashadow.....I sooooooooo agree with you!!!!!!

 

[keishashadow]

Thanks, I don't often hear that .

Keishashadow.....I sooooooooo agree with you!!!!!!

 

[Rowlf]

5boyz, when you have that many people doing anything, you have to expect that it is going to cost quite a bit. That's just the way it goes. I don't think anything you listed sounds out of line. It SHOULD be more expensive to get the Disney experience at the 'Norwegian' (aka Akershus) restaurant.

 

[5boyz]

Rowlf....Sorry you feel that way!!! The thing is I don't get the disney magic that everyone keeps talking about!!!! $1800. to eat for 10 days is pathetic!!! But that's fine because I am not taking that option anyway!!!! Have you been to the Norweign Restaurant?

 

[kaytieeldr]

I agree, there should be a junior price. My 11 yr old barely finishes a kid meal and he has to get the adult plan and he will never eat that much. still, we are getting it because with our large party, it will just make everything easier. I think 19.99 would be a good price for 10-15 yrs old.

Well, no, not really. I mean, many teenagers eat more heartily than some adults. How can you set a cutoff of fifteen? Besides, then what's to stop Guests from complaining "But my thirteen year old is a 'junior' on the dining plan, why do I have to pay adult ticket prices for him?"

 

[DVC Sadie]

What some people fail to see is that Disney is first and foremost a "business", therefore revenue is their number 1 priority as it should be considering it has to answer to shareholders. We all have a right to choose whether or not to purchase the dining plan or not. If the DDE does not fit your family then there are still other options, such as OOP which could be less expensive for families who have children or adults who do not eat as much. I guess I just don't see why some people are so upset about a dining plan that they have a choice of buying or not. Just my perspective.

 

[Carrie Ellis]

Well, I think this applies to most things in life. You look at what it cost and see if it is worth it to you. I don't think it is worth getting upset over or mad about. I might see a BMW and really want it and get mad about the price because I know it is just metal and probably some of the parts are the same thing that they put on lower price cars but...it is the price they charge for that car. So, I drive a KIA van, I didn't want to pay the price for a BMW. Same with the dining plan. Decide if it is worth it and that you can afford it; then make a decision. There is price placed on a certain amount of food so I do not see a problem sharing. But taking a child credit for an adult is probably a round about way of stealing. I think we all have to be careful about the choices we make in front of our kids. I have seen my mom switch stickers on a watermelon to save a dollar (one was seedless and was not). My mom is a clean cut woman who is married to a police officer (my dad) and that still bothers me to this day. Seeing things like that when you are young really makes things grey when you get older. What is right and what is wrong?

 

[5boyz]

Ok then since it is suppose to be Magic YOUR Way Premium Package....then let it be my way.....I want to stay 10 nights but only have 5 nights of the meal plan!!!!! Not Magic DISNEY'S Way Premium Package.....you stay 10 nights you have to take the 10 night food plan!!!!!!

 

[Donna]

LOL! I like your way of thinking! What IS the point of making us take it every night? If you stay 10 nights and only want 5, then you have 5 credits to use when you choose. Hey, i like that for the new dining plan name, USE WHEN YOU CHOOSE,

 

[5boyz]

Thanks Donna!!! I like your name for it too.........cuz that is how it shud be!!!! We are the ones on vacation!!!!

 

[Carrie Ellis]

5boyz, You can have 5 nights worth. You just have to make two reservations. I would assume (I really don't know) that it is a way for them to curb the chance that people will use all the child credits on adults. As it is now, it is so much food that you really have to use credits on your kids or you will end up loosing some at the end. Of course, if there was another family that was not on the plan, you could work the system that way too. I think the price for adut and child is fair. As far as the junior situation, I agree. Next year my twins will be in that situation so I will have to decide if I would want to pay almost $40/day each for the plan. I have not even thought much about it yet but it might lead to "no" and we will just pay OOP. No biggy! If they ever offer a junior price then it would be nice but I am not going to worry about it. One other thing, you really have to think about the fact that this price INCLUDES tax and tip! They really add up!

 

[5boyz]

Carrie!!

I already asked someone else this....how do you make the 2 reservations? Put 1 adult in each room? There is myself , husband, 2 teens and 2 kids! We most likely will be staying in 2 rooms anyway!!! LOL!!! Yes I never really thought about the tip!

 

[aka-mad4themouse]

5boyz,
I think that Carrie means that if you want the dining plan for only 5 days, then make a ressie for 5 nights including the dining plan and then make another ressie for the next 5 nights for room-only. At chec-in, let them know that you want the ressies linked. Hopefully, you will not need to change rooms (not a guarantee) but you will need to "check out" and then "check in" on the 6th day.

This would give you the dining plan on days 1-6 (5 each of the TS, CS and snack per person), and then 4 subsequent days paying OOP for meals.

 

[5boyz]

I don't get the using child credit for adult meals????? What is the difference what you use........you paid for all of it anyway!!!!!!

 

[MickeyP]

Make one reservation from 3/21-3/26 and another one form 3/26-3/31.
And, you would be wise to pay oop for our daugher and use the adult meal credit for a sit-down lunch. I truly don't believe this is wrong when SEVERAL servers suggested I do this. Disney knows what's going on. It was probably their original plan to count on people "figuring out" how to get more bang for your buck. People somehow feel like they are getting more than they should. And the ones who feel it's wrong...pay more.Think about it, it's been going on for over a year.They could put the kaibash on this in a week IF they wanted to. I think Disney's the smart one here.

 

[5boyz]

Mad4....that sounds like a great plan!!!!!!!! The only thing is don't you have to use the 5 days in the first 5 days? I would like to do every other day!!!

 

[MickeyP]

You actually have to do it in the first 6 days.