DVC Dining Plan

[HeatherPage]

Thanks for the clarification

 

[Califgirl]

I can't believe I've read the entire 49 pages of this thread, but the information has been great and I am almost absolutely sure that I will add the Dining Plan. However, I do have a couple of questions.

What is an ADR (is it Advanced Dining Reservations or what I think of as simply a reservation?) - how is it different from a PS (priority seating)?

Are ADR's required for using the Dining Plan? Do I have to have all my meals planned out in advance?

I am just not an uber planner and I generally prefer to make reservations a day or so ahead. Is this totally unrealistic for DisneyWorld? My husband and I will be there May 7-14 - leaving on Mother's Day. If this helps you get a feel for the crowds we might encounter, and our probablility of being able to get a TS meal without a reservation.

I am really going to have to start reading some of the other boards, but can you tell me about the Fantasmic Experience with dinner? How do I book this (with the DP option) Is there also something similar for illuminations? Since it is just the two of us, does anyone have recommendations for Dinners? (we are staying at OKW and won't have a car, how problematic will that be?)

My husband is planning to golf a few days at the onsite courses. Is the dining Plan usable at the golf courses - CS? Snack? It would be nice if he could get a bite to eat after his round before he heads back to the villa.

Thanks for the help! And thanks for all the great information on this thread. It answered so many questions already!

 

[patsal]

I can't believe I've read the entire 49 pages of this thread, but the information has been great and I am almost absolutely sure that I will add the Dining Plan. However, I do have a couple of questions.

What is an ADR (is it Advanced Dining Reservations or what I think of as simply a reservation?) - how is it different from a PS (priority seating)?

Are ADR's required for using the Dining Plan? Do I have to have all my meals planned out in advance?

I am just not an uber planner and I generally prefer to make reservations a day or so ahead. Is this totally unrealistic for DisneyWorld? My husband and I will be there May 7-14 - leaving on Mother's Day. If this helps you get a feel for the crowds we might encounter, and our probablility of being able to get a TS meal without a reservation.

I am really going to have to start reading some of the other boards, but can you tell me about the Fantasmic Experience with dinner? How do I book this (with the DP option) Is there also something similar for illuminations? Since it is just the two of us, does anyone have recommendations for Dinners? (we are staying at OKW and won't have a car, how problematic will that be?)

My husband is planning to golf a few days at the onsite courses. Is the dining Plan usable at the golf courses - CS? Snack? It would be nice if he could get a bite to eat after his round before he heads back to the villa.

Thanks for the help! And thanks for all the great information on this thread. It answered so many questions already!

ADR's are just PS's they just changed the name, couldn't tell you why!

Based on what I saw in December, I don't think I would go without most of the ADR's. The theme parks had signs that encouraged the use of CS since all TS locations were full for the day. I saw people turned away from many restaurants very early (4:10PM). I think, if I were you I'd make the ones I really wanted, and maybe try to wing it a little with a phone call from the room for the rest. With hours posted on the website 180 days out it shouldn't be as tricky to plan.

As far as the golf course, You can use them at the Sand Trap (Eagle Pines/Osprey Ridge) for TS, no snack or CS is listed.

 

[byoung]

I agree no.

 

[pbharris4]

If you are getting the dining plan then I would defintely make ADRs for as many TS meals you get. Why? Because you run the risk of not getting into a restaurant and not using a TS credit, hence..wasting money. I strongly recommend making ADRs. It's better to plan ahead and be prepared. The only time of year that I would forgo making a lot of ADRs is maybe late January and the first week or two of February. As we have gone before during those times and even though we made ADRs we didn't need them for most places (except character meals). If you are more of a "wing it" type person..the dining plan may not be for you. It's not totally impossible to get in a TS place, but it may be really late in the evening or very early or maybe you'll get lucky.

You can use the DP with the Fantasmic Dinner Package (requires a credit card #-no charge unless you're a no show). YOu can go to Mama Melrose, Hollywood & Vine or Brown Derby. To make any ADRs you can call 1-407-WDW-DINE give them the dates, times you are thinking of, etc. Keep the reservation #s! I called at 180 days out and some places & times were already starting to fill up!

 

[pbharris4]

One other thing I wanted to say about planning ahead....It REALLY helps to plan if you go during the busy times. Planning doesn't mean you have to have a strict schedule, but a guideline to go by. I plan on what days we go to the parks and what TS place we will eat at and everything else is flexible. WDW is just so huge and gets soooo crowded that it's can be overwhelming and you feel like to have to get it all in. My 1st 2 trips (since I got married) were in Jan. & Feb. we winged it because we could. Our 3rd trip was in July and I planned for some reason..sure glad I did. I had no idea how the crowds were going to be and we wouldn't have been able to get what we wanted. Have a great trip.

 

[eeyore45]

I am SO sorry if this question has already been asked!!! We are going with another family. We are all planning on buying the DP. Would I need to buy their's and then have them pay me back? Or can I just use her credit card to buy their plan at the same time I buy mine???

Thanks!!!

For DVC you pay when you check in, so I'm not sure how your other family is paying - if you are paying, and then they pay you back?

For me, since I cant "prepay" I"m buying Disney Dollars up to the amount of the DP when I check in, I will use the Disney Dollars to pay for the DP...

hth

 

[sallyjane]

For DVC you pay when you check in, so I'm not sure how your other family is paying - if you are paying, and then they pay you back?

For me, since I cant "prepay" I"m buying Disney Dollars up to the amount of the DP when I check in, I will use the Disney Dollars to pay for the DP...

hth

I love the Idea of the Disney dollars thanks

 

[Califgirl]

Thanks so much for all the advice! As soon as I finish doing my taxes, I'll sit down and decide which restaurants I want to try and make ADRs for them. You're right, I can still be flexible with most of my trip even if I have dinner reservations.
thanks for all the great advice! And I like the idea of disney dollars too! I was trying to figure out how to pre-pay, and that seems like the perfect way.

 

[Luvmyfam3]

Thanks for the advice!!! I guess I totally misunderstood because I was thinking that you HAD to buy the DP before you checked in....

 

[LakeAriel]

I am using my Disney Visa and will use my rewards for the dining plan! I am also saving all my change to cover any balance! No ,I am not bringing a bucket load of quarters on the plane!
I just love checking in and not having any outlay of cash!

 

[NMW]

If they're adding kids appetizers, sounds like the do care if they kids order from the adult menu. Expect this to be a step toward tougher enforcement of the rules in place.

From what I understand about the dining plan, they have always cared about this. I'm always on the restaurant board and I have never read a post where someone wrote that their child was able to order an adult entree at a TS restaurant. Do you know someone that was able to do this? I've read lots and lots of posts where someone wrote that their child was able to order an adult appetizer, because the restaurant did not have any childrens appetizers on the menu. Never have I read that a child was able to order an adult entree or an adult dessert for that matter.

I have read posts that claim their child was able to get the adult meal at a CS place, especially ones that don't have cheeseburgers on the kids menu. However, the difference between these meals is only a couple dollars. When the posters told the CM's that a cheeseburger is the only thing the kid would eat, the CM's let them get the cheesburger. I read a poster saying that they even offered to pay cash for the cheeseburger or pay the difference and the CM told them to forget it. I have NEVER read that a child wanted the steak at Kona (for example) and the CM allowed this. Our friends who have done the MYW dining plan did not report this either.

What some posters on the dining board claim repeatedly to have done is USE the credits they bought for their child for an adults meal. Like putting Jr in a kids club and taking grandma to Le Celliar with a credit they bought for their child. If the child is AT the restuarant though and using a credit, I can't imagine a CM letting him order an adult entree, or I should say it would surprise me a great deal. In the past when our family did the gold and silver plans, which were way more expensive than MYW dining, my children always had to order a child's entree and dessert. They were however allowed to order adult appetizers if the menu did not have children's appetizers.

 

[Dean]

From what I understand about the dining plan, they have always cared about this. I'm always on the restaurant board and I have never read a post where someone wrote that their child was able to order an adult entree at a TS restaurant. Do you know someone that was able to do this? I've read lots and lots of posts where someone wrote that their child was able to order an adult appetizer, because the restaurant did not have any childrens appetizers on the menu. Never have I read that a child was able to order an adult entree or an adult dessert for that matter.

I have read posts that claim their child was able to get the adult meal at a CS place, especially ones that don't have cheeseburgers on the kids menu. However, the difference between these meals is only a couple dollars. When the posters told the CM's that a cheeseburger is the only thing the kid would eat, the CM's let them get the cheesburger. I read a poster saying that they even offered to pay cash for the cheeseburger or pay the difference and the CM told them to forget it. I have NEVER read that a child wanted the steak at Kona (for example) and the CM allowed this. Our friends who have done the MYW dining plan did not report this either.

What some posters on the dining board claim repeatedly to have done is USE the credits they bought for their child for an adults meal. Like putting Jr in a kids club and taking grandma to Le Celliar with a credit they bought for their child. If the child is AT the restuarant though and using a credit, I can't imagine a CM letting him order an adult entree, or I should say it would surprise me a great deal. In the past when our family did the gold and silver plans, which were way more expensive than MYW dining, my children always had to order a child's entree and dessert. They were however allowed to order adult appetizers if the menu did not have children's appetizers.

I'm sure you're right, that certain people in the system have cared about it else they would not have the stipulation. My reference was to the fact that a number on this board have stated otherwise citing that CM encourage kids to eat from the adult menu and the like. And I don't do the restaurant board but I can tell you there have been a number posts on this board about this issue. And I don't recall a single one off hand where it was stated that kids were blocked from ordering from the adult menu though I'm sure it's happened and there have been several posts where the kids were allowed to order adult. As well as where people paid cash for the kids meals and used their credits for others such as a signature option. It would be very un-disney like to actually follow the rules but it would give me a glimmer of hope and order for them to do so.

 

[sonogirl]

I have been skimming through the posts, but I need to ask this question,


As a DVC member, I have AP passes, can I buy the dinning plan?

Thanks, Lori

 

[LakeAriel]

YES! I just did! You don't need the AP to do it just your membership card. You do need to be staying on points and buy it for everyone in your room for every night of your stay on points! Have fun!

 

[sonogirl]

Thanks for the quick response!!

 

[BitsnBearsMom]

Sorry if this has been asked but.... how does the DCV dining plan work when you have split stays? we are at OKW for 5 nights, BWV for 4 nights and SSR for 4 nights? Do you only have the first 5 nights on the card then the other nights are added as you go to the different resorts?

 

[LIFERBABE]

Do you only have the first 5 nights on the card then the other nights are added as you go to the different resorts?

Yes.

You would have to add the dining plan to each reservation. When you check in, they add your credits to your resort room key for that length of stay.

 

[BitsnBearsMom]

Ok... but another question. If for example we had 1 sit down per person left on the Friday we check out of one and into another can we use the 1 from the one card and the other from the next ressie to do hoop de doo?? Just want to make sure I plan it right so we have enough meal credits.

 

[Paging Tom Morrow]

I would highly doubt it. DP is for the length of your stay for the reservation.