Questions about Sharing Meals at Disney

[My2QTs]

We are paying OOP for several meals and I want to make sure that we can share. We don't need to order four meals everywhere we go. I know on buffets we can't and on meals with entertainment I think everyone has to eat (i.e.CRT, Akershus), but places like LTT, kona, Plaza, etc...can we order two meals and the four of us share?

 

[rentayenta]

As long as it's not at a buffet, yes!

 

[Inkmahm]

I often share a meal with my niece so I would say yes, you can do that no problem.

 

[redrosesix]

Absolutely -- we do it all the time, especially since you can't make substitutions on many meals. You just can't share at buffets.

 

[MouseMomx2]

As long as it is not a fixed-price meal (buffets, all-you-can-eat places, CRT & Akershus, etc.) you can share meals. It doesn't matter if you are paying OOP or you are on the DDP. The only exception is if you are dining with others who are not on the DDP. You cannot share a credit between someone on the plan and someone not on the plan. As long as all diners have the DDP then meal-sharing is allowed.

People share at WDW restaurants all the time. In fact, your meal will usually come out of the kitchen already split onto two plates. We do it all the time and have never had an issue.

 

[My2QTs]

We are considering doing some sharing at several restaurants on our trip. We do have the DP but we want to to try a few extra places and will be paying OOP. I am planning on sharing at 50s PT, KOna BF and Dinner, and LTT. As long as its not a buffet, can we pay OOP for meals and share, even if we are on the DP but don't want to use our credits at certain places? This just seems like it would be against Disney rules in some way since we have four people sharing two meals.

 

[TDC Nala]

You won't be able to share at LTT if it's dinner. Dinner is an all you can eat meal served family style, and you can never share at a buffet, an all you can eat family style restaurant, or a fixed price, fixed menu restaurant (like CRT). LTT is a la carte at lunch, so you might be able to share if it's lunch.

There is no across-the-board written policy at WDW about sharing. All we can go by is what's been reported on the boards. The reports currently are that it appears sharing is OK at most a la carte restaurants. The only restaurant that won't allow dining plan guests to share entrees is Beaches & Cream. They apparently allow sharing if you're paying OOP, just not on the plan.

Also note that it appears to be up to every individual restaurant whether to allow patrons to share a meal or not, and that any restaurant where it's been reported that sharing is allowed could conceivably change that policy at any time. So it's wise to always be prepared if you go into a restaurant expecting to share all your meals.

 

[grumpyyoungguy]

We are considering doing some sharing at several restaurants on our trip. We do have the DP but we want to to try a few extra places and will be paying OOP. I am planning on sharing at 50s PT, KOna BF and Dinner, and LTT. As long as its not a buffet, can we pay OOP for meals and share, even if we are on the DP but don't want to use our credits at certain places? This just seems like it would be against Disney rules in some way since we have four people sharing two meals.

You are right on target...As long as it is not a Buffet you CAN share whether you use DDP or OOP. We go to WDW about 2 times per year on average and have done this many times in the past.

For the DDP the server will only subtract credits for the number of meals you order and not the number of people in your party. You can even use fewer that the number of credits in your party for each meal. This is a good use of DDP especially at the restaurants that serve extremely large portions. Some restaurants will even split the meals for you on two plates before delivering to your table. I have been told by others though that some resturants will charge an extra plate charge but we have never been charged an extra plate charge.

What we have done is have 5 people in a party all with DDP but only used 3 credits then split the meals. That way you have 2 DDP credits to use at another ADR (perhaps one that takes 2 credits).

This is a great way to maximize your credits

Have a great trip I know you will enjoy it.

 

[Allison]

You are right on target...As long as it is not a Buffet you CAN share whether you use DDP or OOP.

Buffet and family-style.

 

[TDC Nala]

Buffet and family-style.

To expand on that: Buffet, all you can eat family style (like Ohana, Garden Grill or LTT dinners), or fixed price, fixed menu (like CRT, Akershus or the dinner shows). Also, while Whispering Canyon Cafe is an a la carte restaurant, they have an all you can eat skillet on the menu. You can't share the skillet with anyone who didn't order it, and you can't buy the child's skillet for anyone over age 9.

 

[MouseMomx2]

Of course they will let you share. You aren't getting anything for free. If you order two meals you pay for two meals. You are each eating 1/2 a meal so you are getting less food, but if that works for you then it's all good. We regularly share meals at WDW. It keeps us from feeling too full and allows us to try all the places we are interested in.

As others have said, this is not allowed at buffets or all-you-can-eat meals, as the are priced per person, not per plate.

 

[disneyfanUSA]

We shared at Le Cellier & Sci Fi on our last trip...no problem.

 

[nemoandstitch]

does anyone know if a 3 year old can share at CRT or Akershus this year?? my DS turns 3 less than a month before we go and is a picky eater, usually more intrested in what others are eating than on his own plate, or will they take the DDP credits off per person sat down rather than meals ordered xx thanks in advance

 

[DisMama3]

does anyone know if a 3 year old can share at CRT or Akershus this year?? my DS turns 3 less than a month before we go and is a picky eater, usually more intrested in what others are eating than on his own plate, or will they take the DDP credits off per person sat down rather than meals ordered xx thanks in advance

You cannot share at fixed menu places like CRT, they still deduct the DDP credits. Akershus is only family style for breakfast so I imagine you can't do it then either. But for dinner you order your own meal so I don't see it being an issue then. In fact, during our January trip this year, we said our 2.5 year old son (who wasn't on DDP because of age), would just share with his 4 year old sister since neither are good eaters. The waiter was SO nice and brought him his own full plate, at no charge. I felt bad because they truly could have split the grilled chicken breast as it was HUGE. This became one of our favorite dinner spots as they have different options which are well done and you don't leave feeling gross as they push the veggies and better sides.

 

[sjs314]

I have to say we have never shared meals but I am Definately considering doing it on our next trip. We are paying OOP and love trying new places so after reading this tread seems like it might be a great option!

 

[mom2of2]

does anyone know if a 3 year old can share at CRT or Akershus this year?? my DS turns 3 less than a month before we go and is a picky eater, usually more intrested in what others are eating than on his own plate, or will they take the DDP credits off per person sat down rather than meals ordered xx thanks in advance

Your son is 3 so he is no longer free, dining credits will be deducted for him.

 

[Conservative Hippie]

We are so cheap when we buy food at WDW we always share. Like other's have said, those that charge per person (like the skillet at WCC, buffets, family-style, fixed price), you cannot share, same as in the "real world." Regular table and counter services, of course you can split an entree or an appetizer or both, just like the in the "real world."

 

[robinb]

does anyone know if a 3 year old can share at CRT or Akershus this year?? my DS turns 3 less than a month before we go and is a picky eater, usually more intrested in what others are eating than on his own plate, or will they take the DDP credits off per person sat down rather than meals ordered xx thanks in advance

I feel your pain! However, 3 is when Disney charges for tickets and meals. They will deduct a child's credit(s) for his meal at those restaurants.

 

[nemoandstitch]

thankyou for your replies, he already has tickets and meal plan in place but was trying to work out best value for meals to see if can add an extra meal in, think we will just stick to the buffet restaurants so he can pick when he likes there xx

 

[rickers353]

I am so glad to read this. One of my sons and my nephew do not eat a lot, but we would be forced to put them on the adult DDP. I tried to tell my wife it is better for us to go OOP and share. Not only that but it opens up so many other eatery options.