FAQ about the Disney Dining Plan

[CJK]

Hi all! To add another wrinkle to these possible changes, I just got off the phone with my AAA/CAA travel agent. I told her what info BBGirl found out about the dining plan. She immediately phoned her rep at Disney and the rep said that it isn't true. TS meals and CS meals are all pooled together on your hotel room card. Also, there should never be a fee for getting an empty plate to share a meal at TS restaurants.

I'm glad to hear about the sharing meals part in particular. We couldn't possibly eat all that food so we were looking forward to sharing our TS meals so as to be able to go to a couple signature restaurants.

 

[dani12]

We went in May and our DD5 and DS4 shared some counter services and we used the left-over CS for breakfast on a few days. We didn't save TS meals and try to use them at a different time b/c we didn't want to have to have any more sit down meals than we already had. But in my opinion, I'm surprised Disney hasn't already fixed the computer to track adults vs. kids meals. That's a big difference when people pay out of pocket for kids and then turn around and use it for an adult meal. I would love to know what it is like now, that's why I still subscribe! Good luck to everyone that is going and have a great time!

 

[DisneyMom5]

Hi Jenn,

What kind of things are they adding to the kids menus for appetizer's and desserts?

TIA,

I'd like to know too!

 

[BBGirl]

Hi all! To add another wrinkle to these possible changes, I just got off the phone with my AAA/CAA travel agent. I told her what info BBGirl found out about the dining plan. She immediately phoned her rep at Disney and the rep said that it isn't true. TS meals and CS meals are all pooled together on your hotel room card. Also, there should never be a fee for getting an empty plate to share a meal at TS restaurants.

I'm glad to hear about the sharing meals part in particular. We couldn't possibly eat all that food so we were looking forward to sharing our TS meals so as to be able to go to a couple signature restaurants.

Disney Guest services says that as of August sharing with a person 3 or over can be charged a plate sharing fee varing by place. Not will be CAN be. Now weather your server/restuarant charges you the the fee will be at their discrestion(sp?). Most wait staff will try not to most restuarant managers want to. Some will now that it is allowed, have been asking for it etc... That is why this info is being given out now, most people making PS now are for Aug/Sept when the change will be in effect. I have to wonder if this is just for the free dining time?? He did say though that they still haven't but plans are in works to seperate(sp) child and adult meals but as of this moment they really don't. Only TS credits will matter. If you are there today they don't, tomorrow if they get all the bugs out they will. This is why dining CM's and dining mangement are saying this now because it is going to happen noone knows when. I planning on it being this way when I go down in July and if it's not it will be a bonus if it is it doesn't change my vacation plans. He says it will be this way no later than August which really makes me think the free dining is behind the change.
HTH
Tina

 

[Good Ol Gal]

Disney Guest services says that as of August sharing with a person 3 or over can be charged a plate sharing fee varing by place.

Very interesting!! thanks for clarifying

 

[DisneyMom5]

Disney Guest services says that as of August sharing with a person 3 or over can be charged a plate sharing fee varing by place. makes me think the free dining is behind the change.
HTH
Tina

Why is it a big deal to share at a per plate type restaurant (not all you can eat)? I KNOW they would prefer you to order tons of expensive food, but really, does it matter that much? Is Disney getting that "ripped off" by one couple sharing one big meal? sheesh.
I don't plan on saving dining plan credits, as we have one more night's stay than we do park days so we have plenty of credits. But dining plan aside, some people just like to share!
Oh well.

 

[BBGirl]

Very interesting!! thanks for clarifying

Yea there seem to be changes on the way. Even if your not on the dining plan with plate sharing. His words were that he feels that policy is very "UNDISNEY" like but it is going to BE the policy. He says it might change back if enough customers complain or if the wait staff complain about it effecting their tips. He actually said he's hoping it changes before it goes into effect. He put me down as complaining about it. I'm sure wherever wait staff can get away with not charging plate sharing they will that the feeling he gave me. Manager leaves chef's in charge wait staff ask chef chef says yea whatever volia no charge for plate sharing. I'm just saying ask before you order don't be surprised when the bill comes.
Le Ceiller is 1 table service credit by the way which is why I called in the first place. Child under 2 are FREE as long as you don't get them their own plate. Just put stuff from my plate onto her plate. Silliness really but if that's how we have to do it. She can have a plate just not go through the buffet. At CRT breakfast pre-plated they "should" bring her her own plate but they might try to charge me for her. I was told to let them and have it fixed at the resort. Also told the same thing about if the card doesn't work as they are having problems with the dining part not reading at some places but he would not tell me where. Charge it to the room and then have it fixed at the resort. Resort CM's supposedly know everything about all this as they have to encode the card. So any problems bring it to them. Bet they just LOVE him telling people that one.
HTH someone as I was on the phone forever to get these answers from someone in managment at guest relations.
Tina

 

[RedRuby]

You know what? I think I have just decided to adopt your attitude, and let it all go! 17 days until we leave, and I've gotten to the point today where I am obsessing like it is my wedding 15 years ago. Not worth it!

Hey, ya, that's just the feeling (and I'm still not at my 90-day mark) Same feeling over overload.
We were considering just doing one TS credit per meal, and maybe a kids' meal, and all sharing (so, technically two 3 yo sharing a children's meal, and 2 adults sharing an adult's meal). Then I was stressing about making enough ARs, and at the 'right times' and using up enough CS credits as well...and then trying to figure out how to fit the extended family into this scheme.

As my UK friends would say, sod it!
If it's too much hassle and/or expense, we'll just order all the food and stick the inevitable leftovers in the cooler bag (well, and eat the ice cream on the spot). Our kids don't have credits anyway, and half our ARs will likely be at buffets/family-service so I probably don't have much to worry about....

(Half our credits at buffets? I was trying to limit buffets but we've got three big donald duck fans = Breakfastsaurus for brunch; a German food fan = Biergarten for a lunch or dinner; a potentially large group of friends who are considering hitting Ohana's together = Ohana's; that's three of our seven TS credits per adult already!)

 

[Nora94]

Disney Guest services says that as of August sharing with a person 3 or over can be charged a plate sharing fee varing by place. Not will be CAN be. Now weather your server/restuarant charges you the the fee will be at their discrestion(sp?). Most wait staff will try not to most restuarant managers want to. Some will now that it is allowed, have been asking for it etc... That is why this info is being given out now, most people making PS now are for Aug/Sept when the change will be in effect. I have to wonder if this is just for the free dining time?? He did say though that they still haven't but plans are in works to seperate(sp) child and adult meals but as of this moment they really don't. Only TS credits will matter. If you are there today they don't, tomorrow if they get all the bugs out they will. This is why dining CM's and dining mangement are saying this now because it is going to happen noone knows when. I planning on it being this way when I go down in July and if it's not it will be a bonus if it is it doesn't change my vacation plans. He says it will be this way no later than August which really makes me think the free dining is behind the change.
HTH
Tina

I am glad that you found new information to share here. But again, HOW is anyone that has previously gone suppossed to know what the future of the dining plan or anything in life for that matter, will be? The question you asked in the way you asked it had been given. Obviously YOU had information that those of us having shared our experience couldn't possibly have had.

You know what, I've been back from my trip for almost 2 mos now. My information IS old. Guess it's time to hang up my Mickey Ears and retire for a few years from this board until I am ready to plan my trip to DisneyLand for spring of 08.

Wishing you all great trips...
Nora

 

[robinb]

You know what, I've been back from my trip for almost 2 mos now. My information IS old. Guess it's time to hang up my Mickey Ears and retire for a few years from this board until I am ready to plan my trip to DisneyLand for spring of 08.

Wishing you all great trips...

Nora: If only people who are actively trip planning answer questions around here, then there wouldn't be anyone with new information! Your 2 month old info is better than my 6 month old info. I know that BBGirl talked to some CMs, but I won't believe a thing about the meal plan until someone comes back and tells us it has changed. CMs say the darndest things . It's nice to have a heads-up on what might happen, but until it does I won't be worried too much. In the meantime, the DIS and everyone who comes here for advise needs your knowledge .

 

[BBGirl]

Nora: If only people who are actively trip planning answer questions around here, then there wouldn't be anyone with new information! Your 2 month old info is better than my 6 month old info. I know that BBGirl talked to some CMs, but I won't believe a thing about the meal plan until someone comes back and tells us it has changed. CMs say the darndest things . It's nice to have a heads-up on what might happen, but until it does I won't be worried too much. In the meantime, the DIS and everyone who comes here for advise needs your knowledge .

Thank you again Robin. Nora I'm sorry if I upset you. I do understand where you are coming from and at least you did answer as I'm sure many people just thought it and didn't. I just wish that you hadn't made it seem like I didn't read when I did. I was checking to see if anyone else had heard the same because if 3-4-10-20 people were told the same thing then we all would be able to tell it's proably right. If I'm the only one-- maybe I got a new, doesn't know Disney rep. Does your info help me plan YES. I know I will try Comic's Ray's do to your other thread info. I have two plans "non-pooling" and "pooling". I know my info could be wrong. I state this 3-4 times in my email but I'm trying to let people know so they can a. ASK b. plan for if my infomation is right. I would HATE for someone to go down to WDW and not find this info out until they get there. Not when I was told it before . Please stay we do need you.
Tina

 

[melaniemiller2002]

Sticky anyone????

 

[scrapperjill]

Why is it a big deal to share at a per plate type restaurant (not all you can eat)? I KNOW they would prefer you to order tons of expensive food, but really, does it matter that much? Is Disney getting that "ripped off" by one couple sharing one big meal? sheesh.
But dining plan aside, some people just like to share!
Oh well.

I totally agree. By looking at the menus and what is included in the TS meals...I can NOT imagine eating all that food. We planned on sharing where we could (not buffets or family style of course) but to just not waste food. IMO if we each ordered our own meal..we would end up wasting sooooo much. Even if we (2 adults) each ordered a meal and had our dds share with us...which is what we do alot...seeing the don't eat much at all. We will either do that on a regular basis here at home...or have the girls order ONE kids meal to share. Even if we ordered an adult meal with the child TS credit...if we planned on sharing the meal between the kids or even with the kids I don't see any big problem or ordeal that should come of it.

I'm just waiting to hear of all the plan changes....which I'm sure are comming....I'm just hopping it's not ALL changed by out trip time in October....after the free dinning event.

 

[Good Ol Gal]

 

[nittany89]

Wanted to share this from our trip.
Just got back from 6 nights at WDW. We chose the Magic Your Way with Dining. We were 3 adults and 1 child. Overall, after counting up the receipts, we saved over $400.00 in meals. If we had chosen more of the Epcot meals, even more would have been saved.
This is where we had table service:
1. Teppanyaki - Dinner
2. Cinderella's Table - Dinner
3. 1900 Park Fare - Dinner (buffet)
4. Cape May Cafe - Dinner (buffet)
5. Boma - Dinner (buffet)
6. Crystal Palace - Lunch (buffet)

Our child was required to order off the kids menu at Teppanyaki and the castle, but the meal choices were good, so I didn't mind that at all. There were no restrictions on any of our meals - either counter or table service.
The only trouble we had was caused by the conceirge at our hotel (Coronado Springs) who had deleted our reservation in error the 3rd day of our trip and needed to readd it. In the processing of readding the reservation, we lost 4 counter service meals. The hotels apparentely have no way of adding or deducting meals since they are calculated by reservation nights automatically. At the point that the error was made, we had only used 4 counter service meals, instead of 8, so when rebooking, 4 were lost. We needed to charge a counter service meal to our room and get reimbursed. No big deal - but definetely something Disney needs to work out.

 

[jennyf10]

Nittany89, did you pay out of pocket for any child's TS meals and then use that credit towards and adult dinner?

 

[nittany89]

No. We didn't choose to make it any more complicated - and at those 2 places (castle and Japan), the childs meals weren't cheap!
At all the counter service meals he ordered regular meals, not child meals.

 

[jennyf10]

Thanks! Sounds like you had a great trip!

 

[Good Ol Gal]

Thanks for giving us your opinions nittany. It is always great to hear first hand what you did.

 

[ntburns22]

I finally think I understand this dining plan. We check out of our hotel in the morning and I can still use my credits till midnight that night right?