FAQ about the Disney Dining Plan

[Atotty]

We thought about doing a split stay. The way our TA explained it to me was you can get the tickets for the entire stay, however, the first meal plan ends at midnight the day you check out and switch to the other hotel so none of the meals can carry over from the first 5 days.

I know the meal plan does expire but I'm not sure if the ticket info she gave me is right. After hearing all the info on the free dining promo, people had to have at least a one day ticket to get the dining plan....so I don't know if at the second hotel, you'd have to have at least a one day ticket to get the dining or not.

 

[clombardi]

I understand you can pay for child's meals then use those credits for adults at another time but I do not want to do this if it is not how Disney intends the free dining plan to work, but if it is not against the rules we will do it. (I want to maximize but not cheat.)

We used the dining plan last week and I was so nervous about telling the servers that I wanted to pay for my DD7 OOP. I was needlessly worried though because both times that I did it, the servers said that was a good idea so we could use the credits for another meal. It seems that Disney is not seeing this a loophole.

 

[clombardi]

One more question and I apologize if it was already answered and I didn't catch it. Do you have to book the dining plan at the same time as you book the rest of your package or can you do it after you've had some time to really weigh it all out???

I added the dining plan a month after we booked our package. I think you have until 5 days before your trip to add it.

 

[lezammer]

Thanks to everyone for their invaluable info about this confusing dining issue. But I have to admit, it seems like ALOT of work just managing all the points and stuff. I'm in the planning stages of a Nov 2005 trip to WDW with DH, DD (2 yrs) & DS (9 mos). I'm thinking against the dining plan for several reasons:

1. With 2 little kids, I can't plan in advance where we are going to eat, let alone schedule priority seating. I mean who knows how they'll be that day.

2. I don't want to feel limited or tied down to have to eat at certain places, even though there are plenty of restaurants to choose from. DH is a pretty healthy eater and I checked out some menus of restaurants/cafes close to where we plan on staying and I don't see many salads or veggies on it. And the ones that had fairly healthy options to choose from were far and few between. We certainly don't want to have to eat at the same restaurant daily b/c it is one of the few that have healthy meal options, nor are we going to head on over to a restaurant at a resort on the other side of DW just to eat there (not with 2 little kids anyway). If it was just the 2 of us it wouldn't be a problem.

I don't know. I guess if you like that kind of food, the dining plan is DEFINITELY worth it. I'm happy to eat burgers everyday, but DH would just die! Maybe I'll leave him home...

 

[scrapperjill]

Thanks to everyone for their invaluable info about this confusing dining issue. But I have to admit, it seems like ALOT of work just managing all the points and stuff. I'm in the planning stages of a Nov 2005 trip to WDW with DH, DD (2 yrs) & DS (9 mos). I'm thinking against the dining plan for several reasons:

1. With 2 little kids, I can't plan in advance where we are going to eat, let alone schedule priority seating. I mean who knows how they'll be that day.

2. I don't want to feel limited or tied down to have to eat at certain places, even though there are plenty of restaurants to choose from. DH is a pretty healthy eater and I checked out some menus of restaurants/cafes close to where we plan on staying and I don't see many salads or veggies on it. And the ones that had fairly healthy options to choose from were far and few between. We certainly don't want to have to eat at the same restaurant daily b/c it is one of the few that have healthy meal options, nor are we going to head on over to a restaurant at a resort on the other side of DW just to eat there (not with 2 little kids anyway). If it was just the 2 of us it wouldn't be a problem.

I don't know. I guess if you like that kind of food, the dining plan is DEFINITELY worth it. I'm happy to eat burgers everyday, but DH would just die! Maybe I'll leave him home...

I could be wrong but I think most of the restraunts have a wide variety of options...lots of chicken and fish.... and of course vegi dishes and salads. Also keep in mind with the dinning plan you really ONLY need to plan one of your meals a day....the TS meal...the CS meals and the snacks you can just grab when ever your hungery. But then again you kids are real young....but I also think with them being so young you only have to pay for yourself and DH....(I could be wrong about the 2yo...but for sure the 9mo would be no-charge). And with planning....I think of it this way...I'd rather plan ahead and know were eating dinner/lunch/or breakfast at "XX" time than to be hunger and want to go eat at some place to find out the wait will be 45 min...

 

[abacobaby]

lezammer: We have a 2 year old DD and we when we booked our trip for November I was told I do not need to pay for her. You don't need to pay for children until they are 3 years old (same goes for park tickets). Actually, if you were to pay for your 2 year old (so she could have her own food and not share with you), you would actually have to get park tickets for her too. There is no need to pay for either of your children. Your 2 YO can share with you and if you want, just ask them for a small plate. The only time you will have to pay is if you order something specific off of the menu for your child. If you do that, just tell them you'll pay for that out of pocket. Hope this helps.

 

[ckret01]

If I wanted can I use 3 counter services in a day if I wanted? Like counter breakfast, lunch and dinner?

 

[kimisabella]

If I wanted can I use 3 counter services in a day if I wanted? Like counter breakfast, lunch and dinner?

Yes, you can use your credits in any combination, all cs's one day, all ts's one day - it doesn't matter.

 

[troone15]

Is this option open for people with Annual Passes? It sounds like a great option.

 

[jjohnson]

Is this option open for people with Annual Passes? It sounds like a great option.

No. Because it is a package you would need to purchase park tickets.

 

[angel's momma]

No. Because it is a package you would need to purchase park tickets.

But it can be one day tickets & they can be saved for future use or to purchase the next AP, so it does work out for some AP holders.

 

[garada3]

Let me start off by apologizing if this has been asked already. I read through page 25 of this thread and spent too much time (dial up connection).

My three kids will be 11, 9 and 7. The oldest will be charged adult price for the meal package (34.99 per day) but will not eat from the adult menus. He is a plain food person, no sauces, spices or exotic ingrediants. Can he order from the kids menu in table service restaurant?

Please don't bash him for his preferences or us for his pickiness. We expose him to many different types of food. It is his vacation too.

 

[PaulaSue]

I am very sorry if this has been asked before..................

I just looked up the places that you can use the dinning plan for and I have a question. For the table service locations with the Micky Head next to them like the The Crystal Palace (a buffet with character). Is that just 1 TS credit a meal a person or is that 2 TS credits a meal a person? Am I correct it is 1 credit and places like The Hollywood Brown Derby would be 2 credits a meal a person? The code at the bottom of each page is confusing me.

TIA!

 

[LoveWDW]

http://hotels.about.com/gi/dynamic/...s&zu=http://allearsnet.com/pl/packages05a.htm

This is a chart that shows you which restaurants require two TS credits.

 

[Lalita]

I am very sorry if this has been asked before..................

I just looked up the places that you can use the dinning plan for and I have a question. For the table service locations with the Micky Head next to them like the The Crystal Palace (a buffet with character). Is that just 1 TS credit a meal a person or is that 2 TS credits a meal a person? Am I correct it is 1 credit and places like The Hollywood Brown Derby would be 2 credits a meal a person? The code at the bottom of each page is confusing me.

TIA!

Yes the Crystal Palace is only one credit per person. Yes the Hollywood Brown Derby requires 2 TS credit.

 

[freakylick]

My three kids will be 11, 9 and 7. The oldest will be charged adult price for the meal package (34.99 per day) but will not eat from the adult menus. He is a plain food person, no sauces, spices or exotic ingrediants. Can he order from the kids menu in table service restaurant?

I have no direct experience with this, but I would think if you asked the server, he would be more than happy to oblige. After all, you are exchanging a more expensive adult meal to get a cheaper kids meal. Just be sure to explain the situation to your server before you begin ordering.

 

[glass-slipper]

just subscribing!

 

[scrapperjill]

Let me start off by apologizing if this has been asked already. I read through page 25 of this thread and spent too much time (dial up connection).

My three kids will be 11, 9 and 7. The oldest will be charged adult price for the meal package (34.99 per day) but will not eat from the adult menus. He is a plain food person, no sauces, spices or exotic ingrediants. Can he order from the kids menu in table service restaurant?

Please don't bash him for his preferences or us for his pickiness. We expose him to many different types of food. It is his vacation too.

You may also be suprised with some of the adult meals that are offered....and unless the food is pre prepaired....you should be able to "request" a more plain version of the adult menu. No bashing here...I know what pickey eaters are DH is one of them. And I know he'll be asking for ALOT of modifyed meals. No sauces...no veggies...his list goes on

 

[renessa]

At many restaurants, it is easy to find a pasta dish, chicken breast, or steak or even burger that can be left plain. Your server will be able to answer any questions, but we had no trouble with the few modifications we asked for.

 

[llb]

Are the credits noted as a counter service lunch credit (child) and a sit down credit in the pot? If I purchase 2 lunches for my child, will I end up with two credits that I can use at a sit own dinner for an adult. We we're thinking about going to the Brown Derby, it sounds like it would be worth buying 2 lunches to get the 2 credits to use there. Am I understanding this correctly Thanks/
?