Disney dining plan

[greencinders]

Hi we've got quick service dining and think it's fab as we've had it before , but we are thinking of upgrading for table service , quick service and a snack , thing is I was wondering how do you find this dining , as we don't plan we're we eat we just eat when were hungry , also my husband doesn't really eat other than jacket potatoes so was wondering could I use a table service for everyone in the family and pay out of pocket for his meal . Also could I use down grade a table service for a quick service meal . Sorry for all the questions any dining tips will be much appreciated.

 

[sharonabe]

Hi we've got quick service dining and think it's fab as we've had it before , but we are thinking of upgrading for table service , quick service and a snack , thing is I was wondering how do you find this dining , as we don't plan we're we eat we just eat when were hungry , also my husband doesn't really eat other than jacket potatoes so was wondering could I use a table service for everyone in the family and pay out of pocket for his meal . Also could I use down grade a table service for a quick service meal . Sorry for all the questions any dining tips will be much appreciated.

Yes, you can use DDP for everyone else and pay OOP for your husband.

How many are in your family? If it were just you and your husband, it would be easier to eat at TS without a reservation (ADR), but it sounds like you have several members.

If you're willing to eat at off times, and at non-popular places, you MIGHT be able to do walk-ups, but that would require getting out of the parks. Other than EP, TS restaurants at the parks are limited and they do fill up.

 

[allysetraskos]

First of all some table service meals are hard to come by and need a reservation... Last time we went, I went to EVERY sit down restaurant in MK for Dinner NOTHING was available even for stand by...
You can pay Out Of Pocket for his meal and not use a credit but you CANNOT select Quick Service for some people and Table Service for others... Everyone get the same type and number of meals. Its up to you if you use the credit on your Magic Band or not.

 

[butterfly71076]

Sounds like you should just stick with the QS dining plan. Almost all TS restaurants need a reservation, and since you are not planners, it might not be worth the extra money. Especially if you think your husband won't enjoy it. QS is definitely the way to go for non planners!

 

[greencinders]

Myself, husband, dd14 and dd5 will be on the dining plan. These are a few places where I would like to try
Cinderella's royal table
Teppan edo
Beaches and cream
Whispering canyon cafe
T-Rex
These are just a few places , we're going 13 th of august I understand that when using a ts we all need to use it but could we down grade to qs if we all done it. I was thinking of using qs during the day then a meal later in the evening. Do most of the restaurants serve jacket pots or chips/fries. I feel better that I can pay out of pocket for dh as his meal won't be worth a ts. Trying to work out if I'm better paying out of pocket for all or upgrade

 

[flortlebap]

We like our TS meals, but honestly, it's a LOT of food. If you want to use all your credits, you'll need a big appetite

This year we are doing more TS meals with two credits so we don't feel forced to eat a sit down meal every day.

Don't forget that TS meals aren't entirely free - you'll still need to factor in a gratuity and alcohol costs.

 

[BigMommaMouse]

Myself, husband, dd14 and dd5 will be on the dining plan. These are a few places where I would like to try
Cinderella's royal table
Teppan edo
Beaches and cream
Whispering canyon cafe
T-Rex
These are just a few places , we're going 13 th of august I understand that when using a ts we all need to use it but could we down grade to qs if we all done it. I was thinking of using qs during the day then a meal later in the evening. Do most of the restaurants serve jacket pots or chips/fries. I feel better that I can pay out of pocket for dh as his meal won't be worth a ts. Trying to work out if I'm better paying out of pocket for all or upgrade �� as on top of upgrade price I've got to factor in. 20% tip or gratuity . I know this is a how longs a piece of string q but do you think $200 per table service be enough , none of us drink alcohol , this would be for. 2 adult meals and deserts children's meal and desert plate of chips or jacket and pop for us all. Thank you all for your input don't know much about this dining plan ��

I really think it all depends. We do table service because it feels fancy to have a sit down meal everyday. We got hooked in 2008 when we received free dining. Are you going for 14 days? Then stay with paying out of pocket for the table service meals. Your list would be 6 table credits but if you upgraded you would be paying for 14. $200 for CRT, but not for the rest of them.
You can see all the menus on line on the Disney Site. You will have to reserve your tables at 180 days, to avoid disappointment.

PS - your daughter would have to order off the adult menu, Disney adult is 10+

 

[Nancyg56]

My family uses the DDP and we like it, but under your circumstances, i would think long and hard about how you tour. Your DH is not going to use his credits, so unless you manage a signature meal someplace, they will be wasted. Your family typically likes to tour, and eat when they want, so this will have to change in order to ensure that you utilize the money you invested in the plan.

If I was traveling with my DGD, I would purchase the QS plan, because she and i would not need a sit down meal every evening, and we would be perfectly content with the choices we had. If my DH is with us, we need a TS meal at least once a day. I know y family's dining habits. You need to think about how your family would dine in the parks, factor in the cost of the meals they would enjoy, check to see if they are even available for the time you are traveling, and then decide if the investment is worth what you eat and enjoy.

 

[dakotix]

First of all some table service meals are hard to come by and need a reservation... Last time we went, I went to EVERY sit down restaurant in MK for Dinner NOTHING was available even for stand by...
You can pay Out Of Pocket for his meal and not use a credit but you CANNOT select Quick Service for some people and Table Service for others... Everyone get the same type and number of meals. Its up to you if you use the credit on your Magic Band or not.

You can't just show up at a table service restaurant. You must make a reservation and it's a good idea to do so 180 days out to get the locations you want.

 

[Indio]

We are a family of 5 - all adults. We have never been able to justify the cost of the Dining Plan. We usually do eat several table service meals each trip, but we don't eat a lot and we don't order the most expensive things on the menu. We usually allow $20-$25 per person per table service meal. For us, this is more than enough. I certainly wouldn't do the Dining Plan if your husband only eats potatoes. You would be losing a ton of money and you have to get it for the entire trip - you can't just get it for a few days. I'd stick to paying out of pocket for the table services. BUT, you do need to make some ADR's (reservations) if you want to eat TS - especially Cinderella's Royal Table.

 

[ibela]

my husband doesn't really eat other than jacket potatoes so was wondering could I use a table service for everyone in the family and pay out of pocket for his meal . Also could I use down grade a table service for a quick service meal . Sorry for all the questions any dining tips will be much appreciated.

So long as you're not at a fixed price meal (ex. character meal, Ohana, etc.) then you can pay OOP for his fries while everyone uses a TS credit, it's not an all or nothing situation at the table, just let your server know that his will be OOP and that's all he wants.

If you've used up all your QS credits and want to downgrade a TS, I've done that at our resort QS. If you do this more than once, you should probably reconsider the dining plan.

You can probably get ADRs at the resort TS places but most that will be available as a walk-up will be less expensive and also not a great use of the dining plan. Not sure how many times you've been before but we like having a nice TS meal in the evening or mid-day to break up our day and relax a bit. And the kids love the character meals - and I love not waiting in lines for pics!

You should check out the Dining Plan board and the Restaurants board on here for some more info. Happy planning!

ETA: Surely the man cannot live on potatoes alone. There must be something he likes? The menus on this site (look under Dining, top bar) will give you a look at what's available as well as prices so you can compare what it would cost out of pocker vs. dining plan cost to see what makes most sense for your family.

 

[nkereina]

It doesn't expressly say anywhere that you can use a TS credit on a QS meal, but it's been done before. You wouldn't want to however, because you are paying for that TS credit. Even if you have free dining, you are paying rack rate (full price) on your room in order to have those credits.

Agree with PPs - if there are any places that are must-dos or you want to eat at "normal" dining times, you should make an ADR. If you are traveling during free dining, you will almost need an ADR. Very few exceptions.

Lastly, you can pay OOP for some of DH's meals but you would still need to get the dining plan for him. You can't buy the dining plan for you and your kids, and leave him off and pay OOP for him. Everyone in the room must be on the dining plan if you purchase it (or are getting it through free dining). If he does not intend to order an entree, dessert, and non alcoholic beverage other than water, then again you should reconsider the plan and look into potential room discounts.

 

[ghtx]

Yes, you can use DDP for everyone else and pay OOP for your husband.

To clarify - everyone in the party on the reservation must have the dining plan - you are not allowed to order the dining plan for just three out of four people on your reservation (I am pretty sure that's right).

However, at a meal you can choose to only use, say, three dining plan credits, and pay for a fourth meal OOP (or just share and not get a fourth meal). Then you would be accumulating the extra dining credits.

But I think OP was asking if the husband could just opt out of paying for the dining plan while everyone else pays for it - I am pretty sure that's not possible.

ETA: Just noticed the PP beat me to it!

 

[My3Princez]

It sounds to me like the way your family likes to tour and eat, you really would feel restricted by the TS Dining plan. Honestly, unless you are getting the Dining plan for free, I would take the same amount of $ you would spend on the Dining plan and just use that money to buy the family food! That way, everyone can eat exactly the way it works for them.
When we do the Dining plan (which is only when we get it for free) we stick with the quick-service plan and treat ourselves to one or two nice Table Service meals and just pay for those. We just don't like having to deal with dining reservations AND ride reservations ALL THE TIME!

 

[sharonabe]

Myself, husband, dd14 and dd5 will be on the dining plan. These are a few places where I would like to try
Cinderella's royal table
Teppan edo
Beaches and cream
Whispering canyon cafe
T-Rex
These are just a few places , we're going 13 th of august I understand that when using a ts we all need to use it but could we down grade to qs if we all done it. I was thinking of using qs during the day then a meal later in the evening. Do most of the restaurants serve jacket pots or chips/fries. I feel better that I can pay out of pocket for dh as his meal won't be worth a ts. Trying to work out if I'm better paying out of pocket for all or upgrade

 

[Virtucomp]

Hi we've got quick service dining and think it's fab as we've had it before , but we are thinking of upgrading for table service , quick service and a snack , thing is I was wondering how do you find this dining , as we don't plan we're we eat we just eat when were hungry , also my husband doesn't really eat other than jacket potatoes so was wondering could I use a table service for everyone in the family and pay out of pocket for his meal . Also could I use down grade a table service for a quick service meal . Sorry for all the questions any dining tips will be much appreciated.

When you order the dining plan for your resort stay everyone on the reservation must get the dining plan. Otherwise everyone would order 1 and split meals.

The dining plan may not be very useful if your DH does not expect to use it. You might be better off taking the money you would pay for the plan and putting it on a gift card and use that as you dining plan. You already allocate the money for food so your not feeling so guilty ordering expensive meals but your not locking DH into food he may not want.

I've done a lot of number crunching when using the DDP. i save all my receipts from one trip and added it all up. We saved $50 on a weeks stay with a family of four. That included all the deserts that we probably would not have order if they did not come with the meal.

 

[BigMommaMouse]

When you order the dining plan for your resort stay everyone on the reservation must get the dining plan. Otherwise everyone would order 1 and split meals.

The dining plan may not be very useful if your DH does not expect to use it. You might be better off taking the money you would pay for the plan and putting it on a gift card and use that as you dining plan. You already allocate the money for food so your not feeling so guilty ordering expensive meals but your not locking DH into food he may not want.

I've done a lot of number crunching when using the DDP. i save all my receipts from one trip and added it all up. We saved $50 on a weeks stay with a family of four. That included all the deserts that we probably would not have order if they did not come with the meal.

I think they most likely got the UK free dining plan. It only gives you QS unless you stay a Deluxe Hotel or Resort. At least now you have to, a few years ago we got TS free dining when we stayed at Port Orleans.

Looking at your numbers wow you saved a lot less then I expected.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

You will absolutely need reservations for CRT and Beaches & Cream. The others, eh. As you have four people you might need them for Teppan Edo or Whispering Canyon unless you choose lunch there. T-rex, you can call them directly while you are in Florida and book for any day and time you want.

I don't know how valuable the table service plan might be for an adult who eats nothing but baked or fried potatoes. I don't remember seeing baked potatoes on many TS menus. Most calculations on the regular plan are based on each member of the party eating a full meal. Teppan Edo does not serve potatoes of any type.

 

[ifjf414]

Hi we've got quick service dining and think it's fab as we've had it before , but we are thinking of upgrading for table service , quick service and a snack , thing is I was wondering how do you find this dining , as we don't plan we're we eat we just eat when were hungry , also my husband doesn't really eat other than jacket potatoes so was wondering could I use a table service for everyone in the family and pay out of pocket for his meal . Also could I use down grade a table service for a quick service meal . Sorry for all the questions any dining tips will be much appreciated.

Some restaurants you won't be able to get into without a reservation, especially if you go during the free dining promotion. Check out the restaurants you might want ot go to and see if they have day of reservations available today. That would give you a good idea of the chances of walking in when you go.

Yes, you can choose to pay out of pocket for some meals while using table service credits for others. You only have to use the credits for the meals you want to.

Yes you can use a table service credit for a quick service meal. Disney would be quite happy if you did.

Depending on how many times you plan on eating table service meals it may be worth it to just pay out of pocket for those times.

 

[greencinders]

Thanks everyone for all your help , I know I have to pay for the dinning plan for all members of the party and i know I have to. Book restaurants way in advance , the table credits that dh wouldn't use , I was going to use on Cinderella's royal table which I know he would have to use his credits then as we've done chef Micky and Hollywood and vine before , like most of you have said il have to go through the menus and calculate would we are more likely to order and see if I can find places that serve chips , this is hard as a lot of places don't list them even though some places do , do them . We was quoted £558 for 3 adults and 1 child to upgrade the dining plan for 2 weeks , is this good , also I have to sort money out for tips too x