FAQ about the Disney Dining Plan

[robinb]

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...

Nora:

It's perfectly OK for BBGirl to ask for clarification on something a CM told her that doesn't jibe with what is posted here. We're all here for a little and not .

 

[eaturpasta1]

RobinB....
any way you could convert that Excel into a Microsoft Works or .wks type?

I dont have excel and I am unable to read your program with mine

 

[jnrrt]

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

We were at CRT for breakfast.

And I think that Robinb's answer was a good clarification. I know that we were always able to feed her, but since she really didn't (and still doesn't) eat much, I couldn't remember other non-buffet specifics other than CRT. But if you're ordering for each person other than buffet and pre-plated, they must charge you. Otherwise, I know my infant would be feeling hungry for filet mignon, and mommy would be sharing .

I do know, though, that even if you're sharing off your plate, they will always bring you an extra plate, and sometimes split it for you. To imply that having a plate in front of her means she would be charged is pretty ridiculous, in my opinion.

 

[asaj]

There will probably be a couple days where we have a character breakfast and then a TS dinner. So that comes out to 2 TS credits for each of us that day. I am wondering, in your opinions, would it be better to pay out of pocket for the character breakfasts, and then use our TS credit for dinner instead? Are the character breakfasts typically cheaper (I know, it all depends on where we go for dinner, but I don't know that yet, so I am asking in general).

I know we could use two TS credits that day, but then we may get to the end of our trip and not have anymore. Which brings up another option, should we just use our credits as we go, and then if we are out before we depart, we start paying out of pocket?

We are coming up on 90 days out, and trying to plan things, so just wondering what your thoughts were.

Thanks,
Andy

 

[Good Ol Gal]

Andy~

We are doing the same thing, some days doing two TS meals.

What we are going to do is pay for the kids meals out of pocket at the breakfast, and some dinners too! that saves the TS credits for the adult dinners and breakfastes, which are more expensive. Don't know if or how many kiddos you have with you, but that may work.

 

[BBGirl]

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

Nora I have read your other thread too. As I stated in my OP, I was told different by DISNEY not what a read on another board , not what someone else said, but DISNEY. If you don't want to answer my question because you feel it's been asked and answered then don't but I don't need you telling me not to ask it. Disney has changed the dining plan at least twice added and taken away since this thread was started. How do you know they still do it the same as when you were there or even as yesterday?? Disney can change the rules anytime they see fit.
For evryone else:
Going by what Disney told me today and asked to speak to manager to check. They now have xx childern's credits xx adult credits for TS and CS. They are all on everyone who has a card cards. Those of you planning on paying OOP for childerns meals to save those credits for later for adult please check before you do so. I called TODAY this is what I was told. I was also told the same about buffets again by the manager I can NOT have a plate in front of my little one without being charged for it at buffets. I doubt they really do it but that is the rule. I was also told that MOST dining plan restuarants are now charging a sharing fee for plate sharing. PLEASE ask at your restuarants. I'm trying to pass on info that might effect peoples vaction plans. If I'm wrong I'm sorry just passing on what I have been told by Disney dining managment. Could they be wrong--you bet ya'. As I stated in OP I don't think Disney's CM know how the dining plan works even to managment now and that is what is making me angry. I can not get the same answer twice but this one I have now gotten yesterday and today. Also I wanted to see if anyone was told the same as this might be right and Disney has changed the dining plan this way. Those of you who have answered with your experances(sp?) THANK YOU!! You have helped the frustration factor but I will have to take what Disney has said into consideration of course and plan for it if that is what happens.
Thanks again
Tina

 

[asaj]

Andy~

We are doing the same thing, some days doing two TS meals.

What we are going to do is pay for the kids meals out of pocket at the breakfast, and some dinners too! that saves the TS credits for the adult dinners and breakfastes, which are more expensive. Don't know if or how many kiddos you have with you, but that may work.

We just have one 5 year old DD, and she eats like a bird, so maybe we should just plan on paying for her (at buffets), and sharing other TS meals with her, that will free up some credits for us.

I guess it isn't worth stressing over. Most of the dining will be free, if we end up have to pay for a meal or two, no biggee.

Thanks,
Andy

 

[BBGirl]

Nora:

It's perfectly OK for BBGirl to ask for clarification on something a CM told her that doesn't jibe with what is posted here. We're all here for a little and not .

THANK YOU ROBIN.

 

[CJK]

Wow BBGirl - if your info you heard from Disney is in fact true, that will really change our eating plans. We just had a planning session with our family this weekend and finally got them to understand the dining plan and if this news is true, I'll have to un-teach them all I taught them! Eek!

 

[jennyf10]

Hi BBGirl,

I spoke with the Disney dining people back in April when deciding whether or not to do the meal plan and was told I could 'bank' my DD10's meals since I paid the adult price for her but I could not 'bank' my DS6's meals and use his credits for a grown up. This was confirmed by two dining CMs. However, I know that people have used the meal plan this very way based upon reviews posted after I spoke with Disney. I'm creating a contingency plan, just in case. I have 'dining with meals pooled' and also 'dining without pooling' in case Disney offically starts to keep track of children TS and adult TS meals. Or are they now starting to track this? Can anyone respond who has used the meal plan and paid OOP for children 3-9 and then used the TS credit towards an adult meal? I'm sorry if this is off the point (3-younger on MP) but based on BBGirl's post, I'm anxious to know if Disney now keeps track of children/adult meals.. Thanks!

 

[jenndisney]

I'm anxious to know if Disney now keeps track of children/adult meals.. Thanks!

We just got back. Our card did say on it 2 adults and 1 child. However, we were able to bank for our one meal we needed to do that for. That does not mean that Disney will not change it.

Also, it seems that many of the TS restaurants are redoing their childs menus to include an appetizer and dessert on them. We saw this at Sci Fi and one other one that I can not remember right now (jet lag and vacation DT's).

Had a great trip and loved the dinning plan. I will be writing a review of all we saw and learned in a day or so. One thing I will share is that there are two Wolfgang Puck Expresses at Downtown Disney and only one of them takes the dinning plan. We learned this the hard way after ordering all our food and then handing over the card. Thank Goodness we had some cash on us!

Also, Thanks to everyone for helping to keep this thread at the top. I asked Tinkerbell to help spread the pixie dust so we could get a sticky, but it doesn't look like it worked.

 

[clombardi]

Going by what Disney told me today and asked to speak to manager to check. They now have xx childern's credits xx adult credits for TS and CS. They are all on everyone who has a cards card. Those of you planning on paying OOP for childerns meals to save those credits for later please check before you do. I called TODAY this is what I was told.
Tina

Oh no! This has me a bit worried about our July plans! If anyone just got back from a trip in the past week and used children's saved credits for adult meals another night, please post and let us know how it went.

Thanks so much for the heads up BBGirl!

 

[Atotty]

Hi Jenn,

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

TIA,

 

[madge]

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

children under 3 are not charged for a buffet, whether you are on the MYW dining plan or not. We did 3 chracter meals last fall with our 2-year-old daughter, she ate whatever she wanted and we were not charged a dime.

Hope this helps!

 

[asaj]

We just got back. Our card did say on it 2 adults and 1 child. However, we were able to bank for our one meal we needed to do that for. That does not mean that Disney will not change it.

Also, it seems that many of the TS restaurants are redoing their childs menus to include an appetizer and dessert on them. We saw this at Sci Fi and one other one that I can not remember right now (jet lag and vacation DT's).

Had a great trip and loved the dinning plan. I will be writing a review of all we saw and learned in a day or so. One thing I will share is that there are two Wolfgang Puck Expresses at Downtown Disney and only one of them takes the dinning plan. We learned this the hard way after ordering all our food and then handing over the card. Thank Goodness we had some cash on us!

Also, Thanks to everyone for helping to keep this thread at the top. I asked Tinkerbell to help spread the pixie dust so we could get a sticky, but it doesn't look like it worked.

Ah, so it does keep track of adult vs child. We will have two adults and a 6 year old DD, so I doubt we'll try to figure out how to bank her meals and what not. I don't want the stress. We'll just use her credits for her meals, and be done with it. If we have to pay for a meal here and there, no problem. There comes a point where you have to stop planning how to maximize everything, and just enjoy the trip. That point for me is now.

Thanks for the info.

Andy

 

[madge]

We just got back. Our card did say on it 2 adults and 1 child. However, we were able to bank for our one meal we needed to do that for. That does not mean that Disney will not change it.

Also, it seems that many of the TS restaurants are redoing their childs menus to include an appetizer and dessert on them. We saw this at Sci Fi and one other one that I can not remember right now (jet lag and vacation DT's).

Had a great trip and loved the dinning plan. I will be writing a review of all we saw and learned in a day or so. One thing I will share is that there are two Wolfgang Puck Expresses at Downtown Disney and only one of them takes the dinning plan. We learned this the hard way after ordering all our food and then handing over the card. Thank Goodness we had some cash on us!

Also, Thanks to everyone for helping to keep this thread at the top. I asked Tinkerbell to help spread the pixie dust so we could get a sticky, but it doesn't look like it worked.

looking forward to reading about your experiences! I'm very interested in some of the child's appetizer offerings

 

[clombardi]

Ah, so it does keep track of adult vs child. We will have two adults and a 6 year old DD, so I doubt we'll try to figure out how to bank her meals and what not. I don't want the stress. We'll just use her credits for her meals, and be done with it. If we have to pay for a meal here and there, no problem. There comes a point where you have to stop planning how to maximize everything, and just enjoy the trip. That point for me is now.

Thanks for the info.

Andy

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!

 

[ChipNDale]

So child credits are tracked?

We have 3 adults DS11 and DD9 We want to bank the DD9 for use as an added adult buffet at Chef Mickey this July 2-9 so i would like to realy understand how this works. Was planing on just sharing with DD9 at all table non-buffet resturants to use the credits later.

Thanks all for help.

 

[jjohnson]

IMHO

I for one would be glad if Disney splits up the Adult & Child credits. It's just wrong. Why should it be ok to pay $10.00 for an average $30-40 meal. I do understand paying for a picky eater dd or ds over 9 out-of-pocket & using their credits but not a childs credit for an adult meal. If you paid the adult price, then it wouldn't be dishonest.

 

[asaj]

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!

Good for you! You feel that??? That is the weight of obsession being lifted off of your shoulders.

No, seriously, I think you can go crazy. I say, use the thing like it was meant to be used, and have a good time. If I spend all my time worrying about what a restaurant may or may not allow me to do, and how it could impact all of my other planning, I'll go crazy.

I mean no offense to those of you who have special needs, or the patience to plan it all out so that you get the most out of it. I mean, if there are loopholes, then by all means. I, for one, am just going to pick my restaurants now, make my PS's, and enjoy myself (not that you all won't )

Andy