Free dining questions

[orbaya]

I have several FD questions.

1. Do we need to make advance reservations for table service meals, but not anything else? How do I make these reservations?

2. We will be at MK and AK only so any recommendations for us? Our party consists of two adults and one 2 year old.

3. Can we use the DP anywhere on Disney property, including hotels?

4. Can you use the DP for character meals? We would love one with the Disney Clubhouse characters as those are the ones DS recognizes. Any suggestions?

Anything else you can tell me about this? Thanks!

 

[patsal]

Yes make advanced dining reservations either online or by calling disney.
Yes to character meals and resort resturants
You would need to go to DHS to do the character meal with Disney Jr. characters.
At WDW try Crystal Palace for Pooh characters, or go to Chef Mickey's at the contemporary for the classic Mouse/Duck etc.
At AK try the Safari Breakfast or lunch at Tusker House to get characters.

 

[orbaya]

Yes make advanced dining reservations either online or by calling disney.
Yes to character meals and resort resturants
You would need to go to DHS to do the character meal with Disney Jr. characters.
At WDW try Crystal Palace for Pooh characters, or go to Chef Mickey's at the contemporary for the classic Mouse/Duck etc.
At AK try the Safari Breakfast or lunch at Tusker House to get characters.

Thanks! What is DHS? This is all so overwhelming!! Thank goodness for this site!

 

[TDC Nala]

DHS is Disney's Hollywood Studios. If you are only going to MK and AK it is not an option for you, since you need to have admission to the Studios park to get to the Disney Jr. character meal.

Reservations by phone at 407-WDW-DINE or online at www.disneyworld.com/restaurants. You must be 180 days or less from the date you are reserving for. When is your stay?

 

[smitch425]

Thanks! What is DHS? This is all so overwhelming!! Thank goodness for this site!

Disney's Hollywood Studios. You would need to go there for a Disney Junior meal, BUT not for a Mickey Mouse Clubhouse type meal. The Fab 5 can be found at Chef Mickey's at the Contemporary Resort. DHS has a Disney Junior show that your little one would likely love. Is there a particular reason for choosing Animal Kingdom over DHS?

 

[Nancyg56]

Here is a link to dining in Disney. There are menus and locations for you to check out

http://allears.net

AK has a character meal in Tusker House. I don't know how it is but you can have breakfast or lunch there.

Can you let us know what you are looking for? There are several character breakfasts to choose from that are not in the parks but not Disney Playhouse.

 

[orbaya]

Thanks for responses!!!

We will be there from 10/27-10/31. We are not planning on parks on the 27th or 31st but are open to dinner on the 27th and breakfast on the 31st for character meals.

I just looked into booking Tuskers House at a convenient time for us, and we need to enter payment info now. How do I make sure that it counts towards our free dining and not our credit card?

 

[smitch425]

Thanks for responses!!!

We will be there from 10/27-10/31. We are not planning on parks on the 27th or 31st but are open to dinner on the 27th and breakfast on the 31st for character meals.

I just looked into booking Tuskers House at a convenient time for us, and we need to enter payment info now. How do I make sure that it counts towards our free dining and not our credit card?

You will have to enter your credit card info regardless of having a dining plan because they will charge $10 per person if you do not show up. More info on this can be found in the first post of this sticky thread...

http://www.www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2836290

 

[orbaya]

You will have to enter your credit card info regardless of having a dining plan because they will charge $10 per person if you do not show up. More info on this can be found in the first post of this sticky thread...

http://www.www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2836290

Thanks for the link! I looked it over, but I don't see how our free dining "pays" for the meal instead of our credit card. It makes sense to have the $10 non-refundable deposit for no-shows, but if I were to pay the full amount on my credit card today, and show up for the meal with my free DP, how do I make sure that my credit card is refunded?

Not sure if this makes sense?

 

[smitch425]

Thanks for the link! I looked it over, but I don't see how our free dining "pays" for the meal instead of our credit card. It makes sense to have the $10 non-refundable deposit for no-shows, but if I were to pay the full amount on my credit card today, and show up for the meal with my free DP, how do I make sure that my credit card is refunded?

Not sure if this makes sense?

Most meals are not charged at booking. You would just arrive and tell your server that you are on the dining plan. They may ask if you are on the dining plan before you even get a chance to bring it up. There are only a few meals that must be paid at the time of booking, like CRT and the dinner shows.

ETA: The first post in the sticky I linked you to states which meals are prepay.

 

[orbaya]

Ah okay. I guess I should have read more carefully. I guess that's what happens when I have a 2 year old using me as a climbing tool.

 

[TDC Nala]

Thanks for the link! I looked it over, but I don't see how our free dining "pays" for the meal instead of our credit card. It makes sense to have the $10 non-refundable deposit for no-shows, but if I were to pay the full amount on my credit card today, and show up for the meal with my free DP, how do I make sure that my credit card is refunded?

Not sure if this makes sense?

You're not paying for the meal. You are putting down a guarantee that you will either honor the reservation, or cancel it at least by the day before. For Tusker House you do not pay for the meal when you book it, but at the restaurant.

 

[Dizneydaz]

All great answers. I didn't see an answer about the resorts, etc.

Yes, you can use the DDP at all the resorts and at DTD. Some of our favorite CS locations are at the resorts. We have our own car so getting around to eat at other than park locations is easy.