First Time Dining Plan Users

[harriettbrawner]

We have a trip with 12 family members September 16-22 and we're staying at Fort Wilderness. We decided to try the dining plan this time for simplicity's sake more than saving money. Our group is 6 adults and 6 kids ages 15, 12, 9, 5, 2, and infant. The 5 year old is super picky so he may starve and the two littlest don't count for the plan.

We're doing the QS plan and I'm not as focused on getting the most expensive items with it as I am with using all of the credits and making our meal times count so I have a couple of questions:

1. We're planning to save our credits for arrival and departure days to use for breakfasts and extras during the week. Does the window service at Trail's End count for quick service? We have a reservation for the buffet the day before we check (paying OOP), I'm just trying to think of options for a quick breakfast.

2. If we're using them for breakfast will I be able to tell which is the snack credit and which is the qs credit?

3. What is your best tip for making the most of the credits with the least stress/drama? I'm definitely going to be tracking them on MDE.

 

[sharonabe]

2. If we're using them for breakfast will I be able to tell which is the snack credit and which is the qs credit?

This is the only question I can even speak to. Trying to keep track of that many people and credits is beyond me.

When you look at the menu board anywhere on property, you'll see a purple stylized D logo next to any item that is eligible for a snack credit. Some of those will be drinks. Your QS meal consists of an entrée or combo and a drink. As long as you order the drink at the same time you order your entrée, that will all be one QS credit. Your snack credit will NOT be used for that drink. If you just go to the counter and order a drink by itself (or any of the other D logo items), it will count as a snack credit. Most CMs at the order station will ask you if you're on the dining plan and/or if you're using credits, so you can be specific when you order if you wish.

 

[momto3pirates]

Not trying to be the bearer of bad news, but the only time we did the dining plan with a big group it was a disaster. Some people just didn't get it and used way more than their share. Some people paid cash when they should have used the plan. It was just very complicated for people who don't take the time to learn the process. It seems no matter how much I tried to explain it they didn't get it. To us it's easier with big groups to just let everyone pay their own way.

 

[lindsayjs]

We have a trip with 12 family members September 16-22 and we're staying at Fort Wilderness. We decided to try the dining plan this time for simplicity's sake more than saving money. Our group is 6 adults and 6 kids ages 15, 12, 9, 5, 2, and infant. The 5 year old is super picky so he may starve and the two littlest don't count for the plan.

We're doing the QS plan and I'm not as focused on getting the most expensive items with it as I am with using all of the credits and making our meal times count so I have a couple of questions:

1. We're planning to save our credits for arrival and departure days to use for breakfasts and extras during the week. Does the window service at Trail's End count for quick service? We have a reservation for the buffet the day before we check (paying OOP), I'm just trying to think of options for a quick breakfast.

2. If we're using them for breakfast will I be able to tell which is the snack credit and which is the qs credit?

3. What is your best tip for making the most of the credits with the least stress/drama? I'm definitely going to be tracking them on MDE.

Items that qualify as snack credits have a purple and white icon beside them. I've never used dining plan with a group that large but I'm a fan of the simplicity in general. Just track your credits and remember qs credits aren't divided into child or adult. So if you're 5 year old wants to nibble off other plates in your group you can use their credits for others. Check your credits at each meal and make sure it matches up so you can get it fixed if needed.

 

[Ginger03]

Depending on people's appetites, share meals to have enough credits for breakfast. Some meals are very large, and can easily be divided into two, particularly if you snack during the day. For example the breakfast bounty platter is a lot of food in the morning before a busy day. Another large meal is the chicken ribs combo. I hate throwing out tons of food, so I would rather order less to start, and add on more if people are still hungry.

 

[MaryLovesPoohBear]

Remember you receive credits based on number of nights, not number of days. So you won't have arrival and departure days.

You might want to plan out your meals, even though you aren't planning on being concerned with cost.

My friend and I have quick service for our trip later this month. Calculating, based on our "free dining" it cost us $45 each. We don't have to worry about maximizing the cost. I made a simple spread sheet counting out our credits. That way we won't leave any on the table, so to speak.

If it was a large group, like yours, I would give each person/family a punch card so they could mark off their meals and snacks. You can request a punch card on a thread here on the Creative DISigns forum.

 

[Nancyg56]

I know you are not trying to maximize your plan, but I do think that with the size of your group you may need a meal plan in place just to keep track.

I plan for a family of 9 and normally use the regular DDP. Tracking meals that you all are having at the same time is one thing, but the CS meals can be difficult. I would suggest you have a rough outline for QS meals so you have an idea where folks will eat and how many credits will be used along the way. My family shares CS meals and becuase we are used to traveling together, we really don't need to count who is having what. It all works out but I think that is because we plan ahead. I know in advance where my family will probably want to eat breakfast and lunch, as well as where we may want to share a meal. This makes a difference when it comes to having enough credits for our arrival day and our departure meals.

Trackin for 12 with no advance planning in place met be problematic unless you do as was suggested earlier. A punch card and when you run out of punches you pay OOP.

 

[harriettbrawner]

Remember you receive credits based on number of nights, not number of days. So you won't have arrival and departure days.

According to what we've been told our credits begin on the day we check in and are good through midnight on the day we check out.

I'm not sure if I feel better about managing it or think we've made a huge mistake, but we'll manage. We've planned out our fastpasses and are planning to eat meals together so that's one issue handled. Also, we're not going to take everyone in line to order, we'll figure out what we're having and then just have a couple of us go through the line while everyone else gets seated. If someone wants to go off on their own they'll just have to pay out of pocket.

 

[MaryLovesPoohBear]

According to what we've been told our credits begin on the day we check in and are good through midnight on the day we check out.

I'm not sure if I feel better about managing it or think we've made a huge mistake, but we'll manage. We've planned out our fastpasses and are planning to eat meals together so that's one issue handled. Also, we're not going to take everyone in line to order, we'll figure out what we're having and then just have a couple of us go through the line while everyone else gets seated. If someone wants to go off on their own they'll just have to pay out of pocket.

Yes, they are available when you check in, until midnight of your checkout day.

BUT, when calculated how many credits everyone receives, you should count the number of nights you are staying.

For example, if Irma doesn't mess me up, my husband and I will arrive this Sunday. We checkout next Sunday. We are there for 8 days, 7 nights. If we had the dining plan, we would receive 7 days worth of allotments. For quick service we would each receive, in addition to the mug, 14 meals and 14 snacks. If we use two meals every day of our trip, we will be out of meals and not have any for our check out day.

 

[sharonabe]

I'm not sure if I feel better about managing it or think we've made a huge mistake, but we'll manage. We've planned out our fastpasses and are planning to eat meals together so that's one issue handled.

With this plan, you should have no problem. Just make sure you plan the number of meals equal to the number of credits and you're done.

The problem you MAY have is with the snack credits. I can't imagine you'll all be together 24/7. Everyone gets 2 snacks per night of stay. Make sure they all know how many they get. If they eat more than two snack eligible items, then will need to be VERY clear with the CM that they want to pay OOP for the extra ones. If they don't, the CM will deduct a snack credit if your family member indicates they are on the plan.

True horror story from a few years ago where one member of a large family had used ALL the snack credits for the ENTIRE family in about two days because they were getting water, an apple, an ice cream, on and on without realizing they weren't all his credits.