FAQ about the Disney Dining Plan

[Marseeya]

Just wondering...for those that give an extra tip (we are 20%ers or more, since we own a restaurant!) how do you give the extra tip at Disney? Do you leave cash or charge it to the room? I was really hoping to avoid carrying around cash.

We charged tips to the room, but only when we ordered alcoholic drinks (which was every meal ). If you don't order anything extra, there's nowhere to charge a tip to the room, so if you don't plan on drinking you might want to take a little cash to the restaurant.

 

[BBGirl]

Hello just a bump
Love the thread

 

[Iluvthemouse]

OK I have read through this thread and have a question.

How do you "pay" for the childs meal? I mean, doesnt the bill come and they scan your card and it takes off the credits?

 

[Good Ol Gal]

How do you "pay" for the childs meal? I mean, doesnt the bill come and they scan your card and it takes off the credits?

If you don't want to use a credit for your child/children's meals you just tell your server at the beginning of your order.

They will then ring up the items seperately. When the bill comes you will get two... one for the credits and one for the non-credit items.

Remember, the tip included will only be for the meals used with the credits, so you will need to tip on the seperate bill also.

 

[princess aurora]

Good thread to help me sort out and understand this plan better, so thanks.

I stopped reading at about page 16, sorry I just couldn't read on anymore.

For planning purposes I was wondering if anyone has figured out any easy method of tracking their credits? I'm sure some expert "over" planner out there has come up with a spreadsheet or chart or someway of helping them get the best bang for their buck on this dining plan. I just sat down now to figure out some options for family of 2 adults, 2 kids under 7 with an 8 night stay ie.,
Day 1 = Lunch: 3 CS spliting one btw our 2 girls. Snacks: 4, Dinner: 4 TS (Carry over 1 CS)
Day 2 = Brft: cash, Lunch: 3CS, Snack: 4C, Dinner: 4TS (Carry over 1CS)
Day 3 = Brft: cash, Lunch: 3CS, Snack:4C, Dinner: 4TS "signature" meal & cash for kids dinner (carry over 1CS)
Day 4 = Character Breakfast: 4TB, Lunch: 3CS, Dinner: use 3 CS from carry over etc...

Anyone have a "simple" method they've used or are planning to use?????? I plan to be a little flexible for ex eatting 2 TS meals in one day if we choose and just paying cash if we do not have the credits etc.... so I just want to use it as a guideline. Any other suggestions?

 

[Nora94]

I kept a piece of paper in the hotel room and at the end of each day subtracted the appropriate numbers from the total. Then the next time we used credits I checked the bottom to make sure the total left was correct.

a few pages back some one posted and excell spreadsheet she had developed.

 

[BBGirl]

OK I am now convinced that he CM's have no idea how the dining plan works. I was just told that the credits are put onto our cards as in 6TS, 6 CS, 5 CS on my card, 6 blah blah on DH and DS. Is can't be right and really would be a pain in the @$# as how would I order whatever at a CS for all us mine would only have adlut meals what about DS. I was alo told that they are different. We will have 12 adult TS's etc and 6 Childern's etc. I just don't know?? We were planning on adding and extra TS by paying for DS at CRT(dinner) LeCeiller(dinner) and Spoodles(dinner) but if we can't use them as adlut meals this doesn't work. Also we were planning on getting 3 adult CS meals to spilt bewteen the 4 of us as we have a DD(2) who they won't let me put on the plan. I was also told at buffets DD(2) can NOT have a plate in front of her or we will be charged for her. This is my first trip, I am tring to plan things that we will have a wonderful trip to remember but right know I'm thinking it will be an only trip. Telling me that I have to pay 10.99 for DD(2) to eat a buffet that's states under 3 free. Does anyone really not put a plate infront of their 2+ year old that feed themselves? If they would let me put her on the same plan as everyone else in my family then it wouldn't be an issue. I wonder if someone here could help me out?? Are all the meals on everyone in your partys cards?? Are they really not seperated(sp?) into adult and childs or are they?? If they are how are you guys using childern's to get adult meals??
Thanks
Tina

 

[Nora94]

did you read this thread yet? Every single question you asked is in this thread farther up.

Sorry, not being rude but
at buffets, character meals - under 3 gets to eat for free with a plate and their own food and chair.

credits are pooled - it is listed children and adults, but at counter service you can order all adult meals. The only place you HAVE to order a children's meal is at a table service unless you plan on sharing your meal with the child (when it's not buffet or character).

Sorry, just these questions have all been answered. Most in the first 15 posts on this thread!

 

[princess aurora]

I kept a piece of paper in the hotel room and at the end of each day subtracted the appropriate numbers from the total. Then the next time we used credits I checked the bottom to make sure the total left was correct.

a few pages back some one posted and excell spreadsheet she had developed.

That's it Exactly!!! Thanks so much for letting me know and for Robinb for creating it. I knew some smart cookie would already be on top of it. It would have taken me forever, so this is wonderful!!!!!!

 

[BBGirl]

did you read this thread yet? Every single question you asked is in this thread farther up.

Sorry, not being rude but
at buffets, character meals - under 3 gets to eat for free with a plate and their own food and chair.

credits are pooled - it is listed children and adults, but at counter service you can order all adult meals. The only place you HAVE to order a children's meal is at a table service unless you plan on sharing your meal with the child (when it's not buffet or character).

Sorry, just these questions have all been answered. Most in the first 15 posts on this thread!

I read the entire thread and was told differently by DISNEY I was tring to double check that I read right and disney was wrong. I thought that what these boards were for. SORRY!!!! Oh yea and I think you were RUDE!!

 

[BBGirl]

did you read this thread yet? Every single question you asked is in this thread farther up.

Sorry, not being rude but
at buffets, character meals - under 3 gets to eat for free with a plate and their own food and chair."

NO I was told buy Disney not other board not other person DISNEY if we put a plate in front of DD(2) they WILL charge us. I was seeinf if anyone else had been told this. Like I said earlier I thought that's what the board was for.
Tina

 

[threeboysmom]

Tina, sorry for all the confusion regarding the dining plan. What you have read here on the DIS is correct. Most of the time Disney CM's are very misinformed or uninformed. Take what they say with a grain of salt!!

Your 2 yo will definitely be FREE, even with a plate of food sitting in front of her! Just make sure you let them know his/her age when you are seated.

So far, all childrens credits and adult credits are all pooled together - there is NO difference in a child's credit and an adult credit. However, I do expect that to change in the future once Disney catches wind of what is happening...

Any more questions, please feel free to ask!!

 

[jnrrt]

BBGirl,

We've never used the plan, so I can't comment on that, but we have taken our daughter to many restaurants before she was three, and she was never charged for anything. When it was buffet, she ate off the buffet. I remember specifically at Cinderella's Royal Table, she got her own meal that was identical to my older daughter's, but we were not charged. So that CM was definitely wrong. Now, I don't know if they would let you order anything you wanted and have it be free, but you can definitely feed your toddler.

It would be pretty stupid of Disney to be have a policy that was that child unfriendly - we found that everyone there was very helpful, and it was set up for kids.

 

[BBGirl]

BBGirl,

We've never used the plan, so I can't comment on that, but we have taken our daughter to many restaurants before she was three, and she was never charged for anything. When it was buffet, she ate off the buffet. I remember specifically at Cinderella's Royal Table, she got her own meal that was identical to my older daughter's, but we were not charged. So that CM was definitely wrong. Now, I don't know if they would let you order anything you wanted and have it be free, but you can definitely feed your toddler.

It would be pretty stupid of Disney to be have a policy that was that child unfriendly - we found that everyone there was very helpful, and it was set up for kids.

What the CM said was that I have to feed her "off my plate that she could not have a plate of her own" or I would be charged. I have been to many buffets with my DD and have never been charged for her either this is why most of my TS are buffet type meals so she doesn't feel leftout with nothing brought to her when we plate share at sit down places. I doubt it true but wanted to make sure here. What meal were you at CRT for?? We are going for dinner and breakfast. Planning on paying out of pocket for DD at dinner but breakfast is supposed to family style all you can eat.
Thanks for you answer. I helps to know I'm not completely crazy that most people would question a Disney CM saying this.
Tina

 

[BBGirl]

Bump if we're not near the top there will be no sticky

 

[jennyf10]

Just want to subscribe - so much information to read!

 

[robinb]

That's it Exactly!!! Thanks so much for letting me know and for Robinb for creating it. I knew some smart cookie would already be on top of it. It would have taken me forever, so this is wonderful!!!!!!

You're welcome! The spreadsheet really helped me a lot and I was happy to share it with my DIS friends.

 

[Good Ol Gal]

good morning all Dining Plan Fans!

 

[Nora94]

Sorry again. But posts #32, 37, 41, 78, 82, etc. all covered what you asked. That was just in the first few pages of posts, there were many more past that...

We had breakfast at Cinderella Table and our 2 1/2 yr old was served the same foods as her sister (5 yr old) and we only had 3 credits off the table service. Same with Chef Mickey.

We NEVER ordered a meal for each child. One or the other ate off of ours or it was a buffet/character meal. We would tell the server that this one was having part of so and so's food and they would bring a seperate plate, sometimes splitting the food.

Here is a link to our dining experience with a under 3 kid, explains how we shared and how it all worked out... http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=805780&page=1&pp=15

Nora

 

[robinb]

What the CM said was that I have to feed her "off my plate that she could not have a plate of her own" or I would be charged.

I think there was a little communication problem with the CM you talked to. Your 2 year old is FREE at all buffets or pre-plated meals (like Cinderella's Breakfast) and she can have her own plate, etc no matter how you are paying. She can also eat off your plate at any Counter Service or Table Service restuarant of your choosing no matter how you are paying. If, however, you order something for her off the menu at a non buffet or non pre-plated restaurant you will be charged.