DLX Dining Plan-Not finding this info anywhere

[Honeystar120608]

We are considering the DLX Dining Plan. It might be worth it to us. I have done the math and if we get the rezzies that I am trying to get, it should work!

My main question is this... we will be 2 adults and a 3.5 yr old and a 2.5 yr old. For the most part the 2.5 yr old will be fine. There is no charge for her. The buffets will be fine. There are a cpl restaurants where I would like to order her a kids meal. I was really hoping that they will let me use a credit of mine for her meal. If her big brother has a make your own sundae, she will definitely want one as well.

The main catch of the Dining plan is that there is no stress of figuring out money and carrying all that cash (esp since we are from Canada).

Just trying to figure out what will work best for us.

Obviously at a quick service meal I can work with the dining plan...well, maybe. This is our first trip so Im not sure what to do.

TIA!

 

[septbaby]

Basic rule if you get a separate meal for the 2yo you have to pay for it. The 3yo will have his own credits. Sharing is always allowed. You can order the kids dessert and your 2yo can eat it. I had the make your own sundae at Coral Reef and my 6yo nephew got one with his kids meal. You'll either have to share dessert or skip it that meal.

You cannont order 2A and 2C meals, your plan is only for 2A and 1C, so expect to pay for that item. You could use a snack credit for an extra item. For example order a kids meal, but use a snack credit to also get an Uncrustable for the 2yo.

 

[Honeystar120608]

Ahhh got ya. So the 'sort of' way around it is by ordering a side dish with a snack credit. That would work I am sure. If we wanted to order just a dessert from the kids menu A)Would they allow it since it's part of the kids meal and B) How much would it cost? And do you think they would consider that a snack credit?

There must be a thread on here showing kids meals. If they are a fair size, they can split one. Depends how hungry my 4yr old is (well almost 4 by then). He can pack it away.

 

[septbaby]

Actually, you can do it with a clear conscience: the 2yo is allowed to share. So if you order extra fries, muffin, cereal or an Uncrustable at a CS place for a snack credit, she's allowed to have it.

The kids dessert would be ordered as part of your adult meal and you would allow her to eat it. I did this twice: at Coral Reef I got my own make your own sundae and ate it right along side my 5yo nephew. The other time was at Narcoossee's our 5yo didn't order much, so we paid OOP for his pasta ($6) and I ordered the kids banana split for dessert as part of my adult meal. He had a bit and I had a bit, it was good but we were stuffed from dinner.

 

[Honeystar120608]

Actually, you can do it with a clear conscience: the 2yo is allowed to share. So if you order extra fries, muffin, cereal or an Uncrustable at a CS place for a snack credit, she's allowed to have it.

The kids dessert would be ordered as part of your adult meal and you would allow her to eat it. I did this twice: at Coral Reef I got my own make your own sundae and ate it right along side my 5yo nephew. The other time was at Narcoossee's our 5yo didn't order much, so we paid OOP for his pasta ($6) and I ordered the kids banana split for dessert as part of my adult meal. He had a bit and I had a bit, it was good but we were stuffed from dinner.

So the side dishes such as fries or veggies would be a snack for sure? As you CR is one of the restaurants we are going to with this in mind. DH and I wouldn't have any troubles sharing one dessert. We know we will be full to the brim. So that would be fine in the few cases that we would need to do it. Ok, I will have to number crunch once more to see if the dlx dining is worth it or if the dining plan and paying some oop is any better.

 

[Cinderumbrella]

I have never heard of using a snack credit at a TS restaurant, only CS.

 

[Honeystar120608]

I just re read, right, only at CS restaurants, not TS. Ok... just doing the math on it all right now. humm hummm

 

[septbaby]

Yes, there will some items available for a snack credit at CS restaurants.

At TS places you'd have to either use a TS credit or pay OOP. The key at those places will be sharing or booking enough buffets/AYCE if you don't want to buy extras for the baby.

 

[Honeystar120608]

Oh I don't mind using an extra TS credit for the handful of times I would need to order her a meal. We have so many AYCE reservations. There are about 4 TS where we would need to buy her her own meal or share in whatever which way.
I don't want to get the dlx dining plan if I can't use it wisely. I am hearing conflicting statements on if I can use a ts credit with the dlx dining plan for her, while I use one of my own at the same meal. ANd Im wondering if perhaps it is one of those borderline rules where some restaurants may allow me and some may not.

 

[disneymidwife]

I spent a week in August on the basic dining plan with my husband and boys ages 7 and 6 and them a week on the basic dining plan with my friend, her 2 year old twins, my 3 and 1 year old daughters. Let me start by saying, I can eat anyone I know under the table and never get full AND I was all set for the deluxe plan for our Dec trip... Until I realized how much food you actually get on the basic plan.. now I cannot imagine going with the deluxe plan. I can go on forever, if you have any specific questions I can definetly help since it is still very fresh in my mind Just send me a PM!!

 

[mommyoftwinfants]

I believe what the PP's are saying is that if you go to a TS place that is not AYCE you will not be able to use a credit for your DD but your DD could eat off of any plate at the table and just use your dessert to order a kids sundae and you and the other adult could maybe share their dessert or just sneak a few bites from the kiddos when they are not looking HTH

 

[septbaby]

I believe what the PP's are saying is that if you go to a TS place that is not AYCE you will not be able to use a credit for your DD but your DD could eat off of any plate at the table and just use your dessert to order a kids sundae and you and the other adult could maybe share their dessert or just sneak a few bites from the kiddos when they are not looking HTH

Exatly, you will only be able to spend a maximum of 2 Adult and 1 Child credit at any meal. So you wouldn't be able to use DP credits for 4 meals at once. You can order the 3 meals, but anyone in your group can eat the food. At a CS restaurant anyone can also use a snack credit to add to a meal, but TS reastaurants only accept meal credits or money for meals, never snack credits.

 

[Cinderumbrella]

Kids meals are only about $7 OOP at a TS (including the drink and dessert).

That being said, I am sure the 2 kids will be able to share without issue. The kids portion at the TS places are HUGE.

 

[Honeystar120608]

Kids meals are only about $7 OOP at a TS (including the drink and dessert).

That being said, I am sure the 2 kids will be able to share without issue. The kids portion at the TS places are HUGE.

Very good to know! I have been trying to dig around this site to see pictures of the kids meals. But they are hard to come by. I wouldnt mind spending the $7 oop on the basic dining plan, but paying that much for the dlx dining, that is why i was asking.

The more I look around and figuring out our schedule, the more I think we will go with the dlx. We might not use all of our credits, haven't tallied up the reservations yet, but we will definitely be getting our money's worth. I know the totals for all the meals and even if we break even, the idea of not worrying about paying or worrying about how much cash we have on hand is a huge factor. I like the idea of this. We are from Canada, so we need to watch how much cash we have on us and bring. Dining Plan will certainly help us out in this area.
Of course, we will need cash for tips.

I wonder, at the end of the trip, if we have extra meal credits, can you trade them in for something, say, at a candy store or snacks? Just to use them and brings things back with us?

 

[Cinderumbrella]

I don't know about TS credits, but you can definitely use all the snack credits on goodies to bring home.

We never have an issue using our TS credits We character breakfast EVERY morning so we don't have to stand in lines during the day for autographs We also do a lot of signature dinners vs a lunch and regular dinner.

I was looking to see if I had a picture of DS's spaghetti from Le Cellier but I don't. The portion they gave him was more than enough to fill me!! Remember that on DxDDP, the kids also get an appy and dessert so that should be plenty of food to share between the two.

 

[septbaby]

allears.net has some menu information

there is a food photo thread on this site too

 

[Magical Mama]

My DS will turn 3 the day after we arrive to WDW and after talking it over with DH we decided to book DxDP for all of us. DS could have not been on the plan since he starts the vacation as two years old. But we did the math, and at like $19 a day for DS, we decided it was worth it. We are doing alot of character meals and some 2 credit meals. So we would have been short on the DDP for credits. And if DS wasn't on the plan, I did not want to have to worry about sharing meals (he can be picky and I don't always want chicken nuggets or pizza to eat ) when we were at TS meals. I also didn't want to have to worry about carrying money at the parks to pay OOP. We're staying at POP, so I figure with the extra creidts, we can order pizza! And we plan on using snack credits to stock up our room with snacks since I won't have much room in the luggage to pack food (darn $15 a suitcase!).

I guess it will just be what works best for your family. Hope it all works out!!!

 

[victorandbellasmom]

My DS will turn 3 the day after we arrive to WDW and after talking it over with DH we decided to book DxDP for all of us. DS could have not been on the plan since he starts the vacation as two years old. But we did the math, and at like $19 a day for DS, we decided it was worth it. We are doing alot of character meals and some 2 credit meals. So we would have been short on the DDP for credits. And if DS wasn't on the plan, I did not want to have to worry about sharing meals (he can be picky and I don't always want chicken nuggets or pizza to eat ) when we were at TS meals. I also didn't want to have to worry about carrying money at the parks to pay OOP. We're staying at POP, so I figure with the extra creidts, we can order pizza! And we plan on using snack credits to stock up our room with snacks since I won't have much room in the luggage to pack food (darn $15 a suitcase!).

I guess it will just be what works best for your family. Hope it all works out!!!

Wouldn't the price for your ds be more than $19/night9dxdp) as you'd now have to buy park tickets for him?

We upgraded to the deluxe in Aug during free dining and had a great time. We got to experience many different restaurants and we chalked up our extra time at sit down meals as down time in the parks. Dh can't see going back without getting the deluxe plan.

 

[septbaby]

My DS will turn 3 the day after we arrive to WDW and after talking it over with DH we decided to book DxDP for all of us. DS could have not been on the plan since he starts the vacation as two years old. But we did the math, and at like $19 a day for DS, we decided it was worth it. We are doing alot of character meals and some 2 credit meals. So we would have been short on the DDP for credits. And if DS wasn't on the plan, I did not want to have to worry about sharing meals (he can be picky and I don't always want chicken nuggets or pizza to eat ) when we were at TS meals. I also didn't want to have to worry about carrying money at the parks to pay OOP. We're staying at POP, so I figure with the extra creidts, we can order pizza! And we plan on using snack credits to stock up our room with snacks since I won't have much room in the luggage to pack food (darn $15 a suitcase!).

I guess it will just be what works best for your family. Hope it all works out!!!

Since he is 2 at the start of the trip you do not need a ticket for his entry and he eats for free at those AYCE and buffet places. It would be cheaper not to put him on the DP and pay for any extras you need for him. I can't imagine you'd need $19 a day to feed a 3yo a kids CS meal is $4 and TS dinner entree is $8.

 

[Honeystar120608]

Great input guys! Thanks! We are definitely going for the dlx dp. As I told dh, next time we go the kids will be 5 and 6. They won't want to sit and TS dinners and will want to be on the go. This is good for us since they will want breaks more often, and good for us to be able to try the restaurants out. We have lots of character meals, and CRT and Spirit of Aloha. I was fortunate to get the 8am CP breakfast along with an early Chef mickeys breakfast and early Ohanas. To us, the time change 8am res will feel like 9am since we are in the atlantic time zone. SO that works to our advantage.

Im so excited to try all the different kinds of food!!!