FAQ about the Disney Dining Plan

[princess aurora]

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/
?

So far the answer is YES! Right now Disney is "pooling" the credits. That means even though you paid for child and adult credits the computer system Dining is using right now only sees CREDITS period. So in theory if you purchase meals at a TS restaurant for your 2 children you would technically have 2 available TS credits to use at your discretion.*

* The debate seems to be over "at your discretion." Some are suggesting how wrong it is to do this since you have purchased child credits but in turn will use them for adult meals. Others are also saying that Disney has "caught on" to this trend and is in the process of changing the system.

Personally I say go for it, what ever works for you and your family. I wouldn't get too hung up on child vs adult credits until Disney actually changes the program. There are plenty of families out there that aren't aware of this little loop hole and I'm sure another group of families that enjoy the Dining Plan to the fullest and then continue to eat in TS or bump up to Signature Dining expereinces for lots of their meals or even after their credits are used up.

That of course is just my humble opinion

 

[llb]

Okay, let me ask you this - if 4 of us eat lunch and pay out of pocket, I will have 4 counter service credits not used. will that show as 4 counter service credits or 4 credits. I would like to eat at San Angel for lunch and pay out of pocket, that will provide me with either 4 credits or 4 counter service credits. If they are 4 credits I can use them toward Brown Derby, if they show as 4 counter service credits then I can't apply them at Brown Derby and I will have four extra counter service credits never used. Can you advise me, I need to wrap my brain around this. Thanks so much

 

[indigoxtreme]

The credits are shown for what they are CS, TS and snack. You cannot use a cs toward a TS.

 

[unixadm]

Okay, let me ask you this - if 4 of us eat lunch and pay out of pocket, I will have 4 counter service credits not used. will that show as 4 counter service credits or 4 credits. I would like to eat at San Angel for lunch and pay out of pocket, that will provide me with either 4 credits or 4 counter service credits. If they are 4 credits I can use them toward Brown Derby, if they show as 4 counter service credits then I can't apply them at Brown Derby and I will have four extra counter service credits never used. Can you advise me, I need to wrap my brain around this. Thanks so much

As of right now (with the current terms of pooling credits together) you will have the following attached to your room key:

4 CS per day (1 for each person)
4 TS per day (1 for each person)
4 Snacks per day (1 for each person)

Let's say you are staying for 7 nights.
Your room key will start out with the following
28 Counter Services (4 per day x 7 nights)
28 Table Services (4x7)
28 Snacks (4x7)

You can currently use the CS any way you want, the TS any way you want, etc....but you cannot mix and match. (Can't use a CS for a TS or vice versa)

Here is the official doc from Disney:
http://adisneyworld.disney.go.com/m...gespecific/eng/nontheme/tickets/MYWDining.pdf

 

[scrapperjill]

Okay, let me ask you this - if 4 of us eat lunch and pay out of pocket, I will have 4 counter service credits not used. will that show as 4 counter service credits or 4 credits. I would like to eat at San Angel for lunch and pay out of pocket, that will provide me with either 4 credits or 4 counter service credits. If they are 4 credits I can use them toward Brown Derby, if they show as 4 counter service credits then I can't apply them at Brown Derby and I will have four extra counter service credits never used. Can you advise me, I need to wrap my brain around this. Thanks so much

You can save them and pay out of pocket for CS meals...but you CAN NOT use your CS credits for TS meals. So in the end..you'd have left over CS credits...and have paid out of pocket for your CS meal...which could have been taken care of with the credits in the first place.

To make matters even more confussing..you can share meals at TS places (non-buffet, non-family style and non character meals)...and end the end stretch your TS credits further...So if you and your family for four...purchased just two meals at a couple TS places..you'd save two credits each meal....to use somewhere else.

 

[Pkdcoastrs]

At this time I don't have any questions, still at only page 11 or so LOL.

But I did want to help bump this page (if it isn't already sticky, i forget!)

 

[Belle♪♪♪]

Hello, Please forgive me if I'm asking a ?? that was address before
I heard so much about the dining plan in fact we added it to our reservation $35.00 adult / $10.00 per child under 9. those that means that if we spend more than $35.00 example: the total per 1 adult meal is $40.00 we need to pay the $5.00 difference???. My other ?? is about the tip, gratitute, tax, is this included on the package I saw somewhere something about 18% tax on top of the total of your meal , is this included in the dining plan of you have to pay for it out of your pocket??

sorry is confusing

 

[clombardi]

Hello, Please forgive me if I'm asking a ?? that was address before
I heard so much about the dining plan in fact we added it to our reservation $35.00 adult / $10.00 per child under 9. those that means that if we spend more than $35.00 example: the total per 1 adult meal is $40.00 we need to pay the $5.00 difference???. My other ?? is about the tip, gratitute, tax, is this included on the package I saw somewhere something about 18% tax on top of the total of your meal , is this included in the dining plan of you have to pay for it out of your pocket??

sorry is confusing

You do not have to pay the difference. The tip is included in the plan. you do not have to add any out of pocket, but could if you felt that the service was excellent.

 

[Belle♪♪♪]

You do not have to pay the difference. The tip is included in the plan. you do not have to add any out of pocket, but could if you felt that the service was excellent.

Sorry have to write again just to say thank you ! very helpful

 

[unixadm]

Hello, Please forgive me if I'm asking a ?? that was address before
I heard so much about the dining plan in fact we added it to our reservation $35.00 adult / $10.00 per child under 9. those that means that if we spend more than $35.00 example: the total per 1 adult meal is $40.00 we need to pay the $5.00 difference???. My other ?? is about the tip, gratitute, tax, is this included on the package I saw somewhere something about 18% tax on top of the total of your meal , is this included in the dining plan of you have to pay for it out of your pocket??

sorry is confusing

NO.....you pay NOTHING EXTRA no matter how much the meal costs. Tax AND Tip ARE included! (althoough if I get excellent service I will give them some extra $$)

The only exceptions are alcoholic beverages, and add-ons to meals such as extra mushrooms, an extra appetizer, (can't imagine this since everyone gets an appetizer), etc.

Basically you get a Counter Service, Table Service and snack for each person per day.

TS consists of an appetizer, main course, dessert and non-alcoholic drink
CS consists of Entree, Dessert, Beverage or a Full Combo Meal with Dessert and Beverage
Snack is Frozen Ice Cream bar, Popcicle, fruit bar, popcorn, single piece of fruit. potato chips, a 20 oz coke, bottled water or fountain drink

In our case, we are staying 7 nights and have 4 people in our party.

My room key will start out with the following
28 Counter Services (4 per day x 7 nights)
28 Table Services (4x7)
28 Snacks (4x7)

We can se the CS any way you want, the TS any way we want, etc....but you cannot mix and match. (Can't use a CS for a TS or vice versa)

We could eat a TS for breakfast lunch and dinner on one day which will use up 12 TS off of our room key (4 for breakfast, 4 for lunch, 4 for dinner)

We would then have 16 left to use as we please.

Here is the official doc from Disney:
http://adisneyworld.disney.go.com/m...gespecific/eng/nontheme/tickets/MYWDining.pdf

 

[robinb]

sorry is confusing

Belle♪♪♪: You're gonna love this answer .

You do not have to pay anything more out of pocket, just use your Counter Service Credit or Table Service Credit. If your TS meal is more expensive than $35, no worries! It's covered 100%. The only thing that is not included across the board is alcoholic or specialty drinks (like kids drinks with light-up ice cubes). More good news: tax and tip is also included! If you think the service was really good (or if you're a big tipper) you can leave your server a bit extra.

 

[Belle♪♪♪]

NO.....you pay NOTHING EXTRA no matter how much the meal costs. Tax AND Tip ARE included! (althoough if I get excellent service I will give them some extra $$)

The only exceptions are alcoholic beverages, and add-ons to meals such as extra mushrooms, an extra appetizer, (can't imagine this since everyone gets an appetizer), etc.

Basically you get a Counter Service, Table Service and snack for each person per day.

TS consists of an appetizer, main course, dessert and non-alcoholic drink
CS consists of Entree, Dessert, Beverage or a Full Combo Meal with Dessert and Beverage
Snack is Frozen Ice Cream bar, Popcicle, fruit bar, popcorn, single piece of fruit. potato chips, a 20 oz coke, bottled water or fountain drink

In our case, we are staying 7 nights and have 4 people in our party.

My room key will start out with the following
28 Counter Services (4 per day x 7 nights)
28 Table Services (4x7)
28 Snacks (4x7)

We can se the CS any way you want, the TS any way we want, etc....but you cannot mix and match. (Can't use a CS for a TS or vice versa)

We could eat a TS for breakfast lunch and dinner on one day which will use up 12 TS off of our room key (4 for breakfast, 4 for lunch, 4 for dinner)

We would then have 16 left to use as we please.

Here is the official doc from Disney:
http://adisneyworld.disney.go.com/media/wdw/images2003/languagespecific/eng/nontheme/tickets/MYWDining.pdf

great , thanks no more doubts,

 

[macraven]

i have been looking at the menus and find not all counter service places have a side. i am aware that if i get a burger and fries at pecos bill, that is considered a combo.

cs: entree/side/beverage/dessert or combo/beverage/dessert



if a counter service does not have a side with the entree choice, is anything substituted?
some of the counters at epcot made me realize not all places have combos.


raven

 

[Belle♪♪♪]

Belle♪♪♪: You're gonna love this answer .

You do not have to pay anything more out of pocket, just use your Counter Service Credit or Table Service Credit. If your TS meal is more expensive than $35, no worries! It's covered 100%. The only thing that is not included across the board is alcoholic or specialty drinks (like kids drinks with light-up ice cubes). More good news: tax and tip is also included! If you think the service was really good (or if you're a big tipper) you can leave your server a bit extra.

love it !!!!!!! thanks, you'll are great

 

[christinadei]

Bump! This really needs to be sticky. It's so hard to find this information and the links, etc.

 

[LoveWDW]

Bump! This really needs to be sticky. It's so hard to find this information and the links, etc.

I agree it should be stickied. Meanwhile, I use the UserCP (far left, the dark color strip near the top of the page, with FAQ, Members List, etc across it.
The User CP lists my subscribed threads, which include those posted to, so I use that list to find this thread.

 

[LoveWDW]

i have been looking at the menus and find not all counter service places have a side. i am aware that if i get a burger and fries at pecos bill, that is considered a combo.

cs: entree/side/beverage/dessert or combo/beverage/dessert



if a counter service does not have a side with the entree choice, is anything substituted?
some of the counters at epcot made me realize not all places have combos.


raven

I'm glad you asked this, I have the same question. The only thing I am seeing listed for side is a bag of chips. Is this all there is?

 

[donnych]

bumping

 

[clombardi]

When we were there 7/7-7/14, you did not get to order a side. You only wound up with a side at a CS if it came as a part of a combo meal. The Dining Plan info provided by WDW says that at a CS meal you are entitled to an entree, drink, and dessert. It doesn't mention a side. I kept forgetting that when we were planning our trip.

 

[billwendy]

hi,

we were just able to get the meal package for free for our september trip!!! hurray!!!

any idea on what they will charge for the glowing drinks and 50"s?

at the food court, if you have a snack, can you get 2 things like 2 bags of pretzels and have it count as 1 snack?

thanks, wendy