Does everyone have to eat?

[Bastiansmom]

We are planning a trip for Fall 2010. We are trying to talk my dad into going with us. He doesn't eat much (only 1-2 meals a day). We want the deluxe dining plan, and he would most likely just get the regular plan on a separate reservation. Would it be possible for him to go to restaurants with us and just have OOP coffee? Would this work for buffets, character meals? He won't have as many meal credits as us, and won't eat as much, but I don't won't him to have to wait outside while we eat either.
TIA

 

[noahdove]

If and only if he goes as a separate ressie will he be able to order just what he wants. But, if he is on yours, he will be part of the party, but, he will not have to order, the meal will remain on your meal plan as unused. So, in the end you will have lots of credits left over.

 

[Epcot4Me]

I am not sure how it works on the dining plan, but I know a few years ago my cousin had an upset stomach, but wanted to come to CP with us. She wasn't eating anything, but since it was a character buffet, they told her they had to charge her a separate fee just to go in. I don't remember what it was, but it was enough that she instead went to the hotel. It makes sense to me with all buffets or family style meals, since they can't monitor you to make sure you aren't eating anything.

 

[Bastiansmom]

Dad will have his own room reservation booked with the regular dining plan.
My family (ME,DH,DS) will have our room reservation with the deluxe plan.

Since dad will have one less credit per day than us, can he go to eat with us and not eat? We will use all of our credits, we are just trying to figure out a way for him to use "less" credits.

Also, if this is allowed, we will have to make a reservation for 4, because that's how many people are going to be at the table, right?

 

[snykymom]

If it's not a buffet (character or otherwise), if he doesn't order he won't be charged. For buffets (character or otherwise), he will be charged for walking in the door. (It's kind of like saying, Does dad have to pay to go into the park if he won't be doing any rides?)

You have to make an ADR for 4 if you want dad to have a chair.

 

[Bastiansmom]

Kind of like that... but a lot of people go to the parks and don't ride rides, not so many go to restaurants and don't eat.

I guess we will have to re-think this.

 

[jomommy]

Well, when we went last year there were a couple of meals that we went too when not everyone ate. We were on the dining plan. I was pregnant and still feeling "green." Anyway, eventhough we had ressies for 6 only 4 ppl ate (my 2 yo didn't order) at Sci-Fi (TS) and Garden Grill (Character meal). I just paid for drinks OOP. Of course, that was over a year ago and things change constantly. Not to mention, there seems to be a real lack of consistency with the way things are done.

 

[Princess Disney Mom]

I guess this is a little different. We went with my sisters family to Chef Mickey when my sister found out a situation she had to tend to immediately and was on her cell and did not eat. Too stressed to eat plus trying to resolve the problem. We were not charged for her meal. Our waitress understoond and saw she did not eat.

 

[clanmcculloch]

The official policy is that at all you can eat restaurants (buffets and family style) or flat priced meals (like Fantasmic or CP packages), everybody at the table pays. At restaurants where you order off a menu, he is free to order just a coffee and pay out of pocket for that.

Try to schedule the meals that he will eat at as the ones where he'll have to pay (or use a credit) anyway and then let him order coffee at the places where he doesn't have to pay.