Help me not make people mad :-)

[bagheeramom]

I've noticed a lot of the "vents" regarding being behind people in line not knowing how to order with the dining plan.

I'm skeered I'm gonna make some of y'all come back and vent about me.

Tell me how to best deal with the dining plan while i'm there.... I've got 2 rooms, 6 children. 2 of my children are under 3, 2 of them are "Children's menu" age, and the other 2 are "adult menu" age. How do you keep track of things? What is it important to know?

Also, my 70 yo parents are going to Disney for the first time with us. They will be clueless as well... what advice can i give them?

 

[lilyv]

bagheeramom, It will help so much if you make sure you understand the program. That way, you can help explain it to your group. How blessed you are to have your parents with you. Have a wonderful trip-you'll be making such special memories together!

 

[bagheeramom]

bagheeramom, It will help so much if you make sure you understand the program. That way, you can help explain it to your group. How blessed you are to have your parents with you. Have a wonderful trip-you'll be making such special memories together!

Well, I read that "everything you need to know about the DDP" sticky post... and it seems so self explanatory and not difficult. But then I see peoples rants about the idiot that they were behind in Cosmic Rays... and I get worried thinking "what do I not understand about it? Am I gonna really tick someone off?" I mean, with 6 kids, we take a long time in line anyway - LOL!

 

[lilyv]

I think you're doing the best you can. If I had to try to order for multiple people, especially at a busy counter service I'd probably keep a small notepad in my purse. Quick get orders, (particularly for the kids) and then when you hit the window you can place your order with a minimum of fuss. I'm sure the other adults can handle their own orders, unless they'd prefer your help. Have fun! Don't worry about this....

 

[momof1princess]

hi i think lilyv had an excellent idea...stand back from the order podium a little bit and let everyone scan the menu board, write down what they want, THEN get in the order line for the closest/fastest moving podium. since you have a large party, it might also be helpful to let everyone know that once you write it down, that's what they get, lol. the kids will be relatively easy, b/c there are only 2-3 choices for them. you might also check out allearsnet.com for menus, so you have sort of an idea where you want to eat and what's available there. best of luck and have a wonderful time!

 

[PrincessTiffany]

I've noticed a lot of the "vents" regarding being behind people in line not knowing how to order with the dining plan.

I'm skeered I'm gonna make some of y'all come back and vent about me.

Tell me how to best deal with the dining plan while i'm there.... I've got 2 rooms, 6 children. 2 of my children are under 3, 2 of them are "Children's menu" age, and the other 2 are "adult menu" age. How do you keep track of things? What is it important to know?

Also, my 70 yo parents are going to Disney for the first time with us. They will be clueless as well... what advice can i give them?

We also have a large family and have taken my parents with us twice. We haven't had any problems at all with the dining plan. We found it easy and convenient. At CS I make sure I have everyone's order before I get in line. I would do that with or without the dining plan. And if for some reason you do have to take an extra minute or two and ask a CM a question, don't worry about it. Tell "Grumpy" behind you in line, that you are not Snow White, and he needs to go find some other princess to harass! lol

 

[lynninpa]

You will find wonderful tips here, like writing everyone's order down. Yet the one thing that might mess things up is if you are too stressed out about upsetting people in line behind you! Read & heed the tips here that will work for you-but please, take a deep breath and relax! We had a party of nine last year and many were nervous about never having used the DDP before. It was a breeze! Have a fantastic adventure!!

 

[Mr Man]

I've noticed a lot of the "vents" regarding being behind people in line not knowing how to order with the dining plan.

I'm skeered I'm gonna make some of y'all come back and vent about me.

Tell me how to best deal with the dining plan while i'm there.... I've got 2 rooms, 6 children. 2 of my children are under 3, 2 of them are "Children's menu" age, and the other 2 are "adult menu" age. How do you keep track of things? What is it important to know?

Also, my 70 yo parents are going to Disney for the first time with us. They will be clueless as well... what advice can i give them?

It appears to me that the simple fact that you are on this board asking questions prior to your trip will ensure a favorable outcome.

I can admit that I flubbed my first time w/DDP getting breakfast at the Main Street Bakery. I could not work out which items were snacks.....which I could make an entree......what is a breakfast dessert, and cappucino? etc...... I am certain the people behind me were ready to vent. I smiled and apologized to them. They smiled back. I got better at it, and you will too. The CM finally took pity on me and just rang it all up as 2 CS & 2 snacks. It was a lot of food. French Toast Loaf.....mmmmmm.....

 

[septbaby]

How considerate of you to inquire. The key is know what you want or know what questions to ask of the CM taking your order. You deserve good service just like the person behind you. If you want you could say to the person behind you, I'm placing an order for 9 people, then they can decide to stay in line or move elsewhere. You are on vacation, don' let others stress you out. Just make sure your children are safe and your parents are tended to, not much else is important. Also if there are any special dietary needs in your party, get what you need, don't settle to make it less of a hassle for the rest of us in line. Disney is great about accomodating, so don't feel like you're a bother.

Finally, be proactive, come back to the boards after your trip and vent about the impatient so and so in line behind you! The best defense is a good offense.

Have a fantastic time and take loads of pictures, sounds like a historic chapter for your family.

 

[ParkPrincess]

My suggestion would be to go to allearsnet.com and look at their menus. Try and decide what places you would like to go for your meals and get an idea of what everyone would order. You don't have to be exact, but this will get you familiar with the food options.

Now, I'm a huge planner...HUGE!! I plan out where we're going to eat every meal. If you're like me, you can go ahead and type up what everyone will want at each restaurant and print it out on a small sheet of paper. Pull it out at the CS restaurant, and there ya go.

 

[aubriee]

I think you're doing the best you can. If I had to try to order for multiple people, especially at a busy counter service I'd probably keep a small notepad in my purse. Quick get orders, (particularly for the kids) and then when you hit the window you can place your order with a minimum of fuss. I'm sure the other adults can handle their own orders, unless they'd prefer your help. Have fun! Don't worry about this....

This is an excellent idea. The only time I've gotten frustrated waiting for someone to order is when they wait until they get up to the cashier to start looking at the menu and then can't decide what to order or when someone on the DDP keeps insisting that yes they do get an appetizer and a side with counter service. If you know what you are entitled to and know what you plan to order before you get to the cashier there shouldn't be a problem.

An entree (or combo meal if available), a dessert, and a drink is simple enough to understand, but you'd be surprised at how many people can make it complicated. I saw a guy at Flame Tree BBQ last Sept that just kept insisting he got a side, plus the combo meal. He wanted a BBQ sandwich with corn on the cob, baked beans, plus a side of onion rings, dessert, and a drink and just kept insisting it was legal on the DDP because the beans and corn were listed as part of his entree and so he still got to choose a side. Then he was insisting that he could order their big fruit salad platter as a dessert, because everyone knows fruit is dessert, not a main dish

 

[kaytieeldr]

A couple of posts suggest checking out allearsnet's menus. While that's an excellent site, I don't think enough DISers are aware we have the menus right here http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/dining.htm!

 

[OneBadApple]

I've noticed a lot of the "vents" regarding being behind people in line not knowing how to order with the dining plan.

I'm skeered I'm gonna make some of y'all come back and vent about me.

Tell me how to best deal with the dining plan while i'm there.... I've got 2 rooms, 6 children. 2 of my children are under 3, 2 of them are "Children's menu" age, and the other 2 are "adult menu" age. How do you keep track of things? What is it important to know?

Also, my 70 yo parents are going to Disney for the first time with us. They will be clueless as well... what advice can i give them?

I'm a bit nervous as well when it comes to QS and snack credits and I only have me, DH, DD11 and DS9. This November will be only our 2nd trip to Disney and 1st time using the DDP.

 

[bookgirl2632]

The DDP is really easy. I suspect that the ones the "grumpy" people get stuck behind are those who do not take the time to learn about the DDP.

Relax. It's not rocket science. Know what you are ordering. Ask a CM for help if you need to. They are very helpful and patient. As for the grumpy people behind you, pay no attention. They can wait their turn.

Have fun on your trip!

 

[AnninIowa]

Even people who aren't on the plan can hold up the line, so it's not just a DDP issue! It's amazing how some people just cannot choose..."Hmmm, do I want a cheeseburger or a hamburger? I just don't know what to get! What do you recommend? Honey (standing 50 feet away), what should I order? Can you make me cheeseburger with the cheese on the side? Can I have two bottom buns instead of a top and bottom? Oh, wait! Can I have a hot dog instead (after they already have the burger)? Is that an all-beef dog?"

 

[ParkPrincess]

A couple of posts suggest checking out allearsnet's menus. While that's an excellent site, I don't think enough DISers are aware we have the menus right here http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/dining.htm!

Thanks for the heads up! I had no idea they had those on this site.

 

[dmurphy42]

I completely agree with Princess Tiffany. If you are organized enough to be raising six kids and getting them to WDW, you will deal with the DDP and the ordering of food like the pro you must be. Have fun!

 

[Mickiethepooh]

The problem is not the dining plan so much as people having everyone in line and not getting everyones order before they get into a line, writing is very important if you have many people obviously..
But people being what they are that will never be the norm I am sure.

 

[2BusyPlanning]

I agree with everyone above, but I needed to add one little thing. Make sure you check your receipt everytime! Make sure they took off the right amount of kids meals and adult meals (or snacks if you ordered something extra). Sometimes they can make that mistake.

Have a wonderful time!

 

[Xiarra]

I agree with everyone above, but I needed to add one little thing. Make sure you check your receipt everytime! Make sure they took off the right amount of kids meals and adult meals (or snacks if you ordered something extra). Sometimes they can make that mistake.

Have a wonderful time!

I have to agree with checking your receipt... When I went in 2004, we were charged 4 Table Service meals at one of the places in DTD... we caught it but the server was under the impression that they charged 2 TS for each person at their restaurant. It took a little bit to get it fixed, we went to our guest services counter at AKL and they helped us get this fixed and they credited 2 TS back to our plan.