Favorite things or tips for DDP?

[ToyStory3]

We are thinking of doing DDP if free dining comes out. Any tips or things to pass along? I understand what it includes but wondering about ways to maximize it or things you've learned about it.

I really want us to use the snack credits for treats and snacks. It's one of the things I'm my excited about. Do most pay for one meal OOP each day or do you use your snack credit for a breakfast item? Do you go to one sit down and one counter service each day or do you mix it up?

Thx!

 

[figment_jii]

Do most pay for one meal OOP each day or do you use your snack credit for a breakfast item? Do you go to one sit down and one counter service each day or do you mix it up?

My family usually ends up paying for some meals OOP; not necessarily one meal per day because we typically only eat two meals per day (breakfast or lunch and then dinner). We typically do at least one sit down meal per day (dinner normally) and then the other meal is either another TS or a CS.

Tips and tricks...

• Make sure you use your snack credits for pricey items. Drinks (bottled or fountain) aren't necessarily the best use of the snack credit. Many folks seem to set a minimum threshold value (e.g., $4) and then only use a snack credit if the items costs more than the threshold.
• Generally, breakfast is generally not an efficient use of a TS credit. You do not get a dessert with breakfast, so you'll lose out on that part of the meal.
• Not everyone has to use a DDP credit at each meal. You can mix payment methods. So if someone wants an inexpensive item and no dessert, you can pay OOP for their meal and use the DDP credits for the person who wants the expensive items (and dessert).
• If the QS entree comes with sides (they're included in the description of the item), then you get the sides regardless of payment method. If the sides have a seperate price point, then you must pay OOP or use a snack credit (if eligible) for the item (if you want it).
• Some QS locations will allow you to substitute bottled water or fruit for the dessert portion of the QS meal. You have to ask at each location because it varies.

 

[jezebel73]

We generally use one CS and one TS per day, but I like to have a signature meal, so we either end up with one meal OOP or we skimp on the CS. By skimp, I mean we get 2-3 CS to feed 4 people a few times then it evens out to cover them all. If you want more signature meals, that just means more OOP or "skimping". Usually we do the TS for dinner, but we throw in a breakfast buffet at some point.

I agree with the PP on getting good value snacks. They can often fill you plenty so you don't need 3 real meals. And we bring some basic snacks from home like granola bars and fruit snacks in case we get desperate.

 

[T4K]

"Not everyone has to use a DDP credit at each meal. You can mix payment methods. So if someone wants an inexpensive item and no dessert, you can pay OOP for their meal and use the DDP credits for the person who wants the expensive items (and dessert)."

I've read on here that the above isn't true. That if you have a dining plan and sit down at a restaurant with others using a dining plan, you must use a dining plan too. Or am I misunderstanding?

 

[Melanie B]

"Not everyone has to use a DDP credit at each meal. You can mix payment methods. So if someone wants an inexpensive item and no dessert, you can pay OOP for their meal and use the DDP credits for the person who wants the expensive items (and dessert)."

I've read on here that the above isn't true. That if you have a dining plan and sit down at a restaurant with others using a dining plan, you must use a dining plan too. Or am I misunderstanding?

You can mix payments you just can't share meals with folks who are not on a DDP. We ate at Via Napoli in November we used credits and my parents paid oop.

 

[figment_jii]

"Not everyone has to use a DDP credit at each meal. You can mix payment methods. So if someone wants an inexpensive item and no dessert, you can pay OOP for their meal and use the DDP credits for the person who wants the expensive items (and dessert)."

I've read on here that the above isn't true. That if you have a dining plan and sit down at a restaurant with others using a dining plan, you must use a dining plan too. Or am I misunderstanding?

You might be thinking of the requirement that everyone on your resort package reservation has to have the same package elements (e.g., tickets, dining plan). For example, let's say there are four of you on your resort package reservation. All four of you must have the dining plan or none of you have the dining plan; you cannot have two people on and two people off the plan on the same resort package reservation.

Once you get to the restaurant, you do not all have to use the dining plan credits when eating at a TS meal. You can choose who is paying OOP and who is using credits. I've done this at several restaurants within WDW and it's generally not an issue. You just have to tell the server who is using the plan and who is not.

There are a couple of caveats when using the DDP:

• You cannot use your dining plan credits to purchase meals for people who are not on your resort package reservation. For example, if you have a friend joining you for one meal, you cannot use your credits to buy their meal for them.
• You cannot pay for a 2 credit meal using a mixture of one credit and OOP. For each person dining at the 2TS location, who wants to use credits, you must have 2 credits available.
• Via Napoli does not allow guests to share meals. In others words you cannot use one credit to feed two people. Via Napoli is the only non-buffet/non-AYCTE venues with this rule.
• Places with items that say "for two" require that there must be two people using DDP credits to pay for the item. So if you only have one person using dining credits at that meal, you cannot order htat items as part of that person's dining plan meal. You can order it and pay OOP.

 

[Lisa71]

We had an issue with Wolfgang puck express when my DH was getting our son something at earl of sandwich the cashier insisted I needed another meal...I was polite and just ordered the three meals. We were eating outside and I just think she was new.