How Long are Dining Plan Credits Valid?

[Mom2aJessieGirl]

We are planning a trip down 11/28-12/2 and we are currently trying to decide whether or not to add the dining plan to our package. It will be me, DD6 and my sister (2 Adults, 1 Child). We've each been to WDW/DLR multiple times and are familiar with all the restaurants so we have a general idea as to where we want to go. We are not the type of gals to plan super strict ADRs...we'd rather eat on the fly (and for our dates we should have an ok time doing so). We want to do this trip as cheaply as possible, while still enjoying the perqs of park dining. I don't want to be a pack mule on this trip...no carrying in our own lunches! All that being said, I still have a few questions that y'all can hopefully help answer.

1. Say we only got the dining plan for Mon/Tues/Wed, would we be able to use any remaining credits during the Thurs/Fri portion of our trip? Or would we have to use them up by the end of the day on Wed?

2. We are also considering NOT getting the dining plan at all, and just trying to split two entrees at each meal between the 3 of us. Any pros or cons to doing this?

I'm sure I have more questions, but that's a good start. Thanks in advance for your help!

 

[dandave]

If you split your ressie into two segments and get the dining plan for M/T/W nights, the credits expire at midnight on the day you check out of that ressie. In this case, they would expire on Thursday night at midnight.
Yes, I think you could share meals, apps, apps & desserts, etc.

 

[stargazertechie]

We are planning a trip down 11/28-12/2 and we are currently trying to decide whether or not to add the dining plan to our package. It will be me, DD6 and my sister (2 Adults, 1 Child). We've each been to WDW/DLR multiple times and are familiar with all the restaurants so we have a general idea as to where we want to go. We are not the type of gals to plan super strict ADRs...we'd rather eat on the fly (and for our dates we should have an ok time doing so). We want to do this trip as cheaply as possible, while still enjoying the perqs of park dining. I don't want to be a pack mule on this trip...no carrying in our own lunches! All that being said, I still have a few questions that y'all can hopefully help answer.

1. Say we only got the dining plan for Mon/Tues/Wed, would we be able to use any remaining credits during the Thurs/Fri portion of our trip? Or would we have to use them up by the end of the day on Wed? You would only have until 11:59.59 on Wednesday to use them. I tried to use them 30 seconds after midnight the "day" after my departure and they were no longer valid

2. We are also considering NOT getting the dining plan at all, and just trying to split two entrees at each meal between the 3 of us. Any pros or cons to doing this?If you're light eaters, I think this is the way to go. Unless you are traveling with heavy eaters, I don't see a value in the DDP

I'm sure I have more questions, but that's a good start. Thanks in advance for your help!

Hope this helps.

 

[Cafeen]

When getting the DDP for only a part of the reservation, it's treated as two separate trips. (Even for DVC segmenting). This means that you'll have to effectively check out then back in on that split day (this matters for the wording of the below ).

DDP credits for all plans expire at midnight following check out. In your case, this would be the check out of that segment of that trip (so midnight after checking out on Wednesday). They would not be valid on Thursday or Friday!

Keep in mind one thing about this, there have been quite a few reports of credits expiring after 11am or noon, and even CMs stating this. That is simply not true. It's a bug in the system causing this and credits must be honored up until midnight!

As far as "is the DDP the right choice?". It depends. With splitting meals, you may actually be able to work in more meals that you otherwise would. This may be advantageous to you (e.g. instead of going to 2 TS and spending 3 credits at each, you can go to 3TS while spending 2 credits at each), or it may not be if you don't want to do more meals out.

I will say, with your length of stay (looks like 4 nights?) that I wouldn't bother with this and just go OOP with your splitting meals plan. Even doing the stuff I described above (in this case it would be 4TS at 3credits each or 6TS at 2), you'd likely end up with leftover credits somewhere, so it's not really worth it.