I got answers!

[CamColt]

I have emailed Disney multiple times trying to get answers to 2 of my burning questions. I was given generic responses a few times, but finally got information.

1)Can some members of a party use their respective credits and some members pay OOP to save their credits at the same meal?

Disneys reply... "Any member of a party may opt to "save" their dine plan credits and pay out-of-pocket for a meal.
How you use the dine plan credits is your choice. You need only tell the wait staff how you want the meal paid for, before you order."

2)Can the DDE be used for extras such as alcoholic drinks, that aren't covered by the dining plan, when using the plan for a meal?

Disney's reply..."Regarding use of the Disney Dining Experience, I called and was advised that the bill for alcohol, or any other items that you wish to use the Disney Dining Experience for, must be on a separate bill from any other items.
Essentially, you will need to ask your server at the beginning of your meal to separate your bill 3 ways: One for the guests utilizing their Disney Dine Plan credits, one for guests paying out-of-pocket for their meals so as to save their dine credits for a signature table service meal at another time, and then a third bill for the alcohol and extras for which you wish to utilize your
Disney's Dining Experience discount."

Can't say I understand why the bill has to be split 3 ways as I would be using the DDE on everything not covered by the plan or that I was paying out of pocket, but Im guessing they just over simplified it here (Or Im missing something, LOL!)

So, what this means, who really knows, but those were the answers I got if anyone is interested.

 

[JimMIA]

Can't say I understand why the bill has to be split 3 ways as I would be using the DDE on everything not covered by the plan or that I was paying out of pocket, but Im guessing they just over simplified it here (Or Im missing something, LOL!)

Sounds like they misunderstood your question a bit. As long as the same person is paying for the OOP meals and the alcohol, and they are the DDE cardholder, you should be able to use DDE for both. Sounds the DDP dude called the DDE dude and neither one clearly understood the question.

 

[CamColt]

Sounds the DDP dude called the DDE dude and neither one clearly understood the question.

ROFL! Probably because I had to ask it 3 or 4 different ways before they finally answered me.

 

[Wafflestoo]

Hey there,

You just got answers for the 2 questions that I had wanted to know. Thank you very much.

Meg

 

[bicker]

Unfortunately, I doubt the answers to those questions are explicit enough to be used as documentary "proof" for CMs in the field of the answers to the most burning questions. For example, for the first question, neither the question nor the answer covers transferability, either within the party or to folks outside the party, both of which we know Disney has taken steps to stop.

 

[CamColt]

I agree, bicker. I did not ask anything about transferring or sharing, as I personally am not interested in doing any of those.

I asked if some members of a party could use their respective credits for the same meal others paid cash for. Some here have reported CMs at Disney Dining are saying this cannot be done, and yet it would be legitimately following the guidelines of the plan. That is where my question came in.

According to what I was told (correct or not ) the Cast Members at Disney Dining are incorrect and some members of a party can use credits while others pay cash (to save for a 2 credit meal)at the same meal.

This may not be the burning question here, but it was for me.

 

[suffolkprincess]

when we were there last fall (November-- not free dining) there was always a LOT of confusion with split-tender transactions. So-- yes-- TELL THEN UPFRONT, unless spending 30+ minutes to settle your bill sounds fun to you. And, yeah, not every restaurant was challenged by this, but some notables who were: CRT, Akershus, and 1900 Park Fare.

But then, by now they might have gotten themselves straight with the training.

 

[OKWMom]

I agree, bicker. I did not ask anything about transferring or sharing, as I personally am not interested in doing any of those.

I asked if some members of a party could use their respective credits for the same meal others paid cash for. Some here have reported CMs at Disney Dining are saying this cannot be done, and yet it would be legitimately following the guidelines of the plan. That is where my question came in.

According to what I was told (correct or not ) the Cast Members at Disney Dining are incorrect and some members of a party can use credits while others pay cash (to save for a 2 credit meal)at the same meal.

This may not be the burning question here, but it was for me.

It was for me as well. Thank you for the information.

 

[bicker]

And I don't think those CMs are enforcing what they believe is the policy, but rather applying enforcement in the only manner they can think of to efficiently and effectively apply what they do believe is policy... in other words, they're imposing what's easiest to impose, rather than trying to find a way to impose the minimal measures necessary to enforce what really needs to be enforced.

 

[suffolkprincess]

And I don't think those CMs are enforcing what they believe is the policy, but rather applying enforcement in the only manner they can think of to efficiently and effectively apply what they do believe is policy... in other words, they're imposing what's easiest to impose, rather than trying to find a way to impose the minimal measures necessary to enforce what really needs to be enforced.

This might relate to my earlier post-- when I was a young waitress (lo these many decades ago) I used to make up policies to cover things I either didn't know how to do or that took too loong to do. I never consider anyone being above things I myself have done, so, even with their disney CM super-training, it might be possible that it isn't that they *can't* let you mixed tender your meal (one adult OOP, the other DDP, the kid free, for instance is a possibility some might try) but that they "can't" do it after the fact, without getting a manager involved to re-ring everything. Because that is what we found-- every time we asked to have a mixed tender after the fact (because we didn't know better) mgmt had to go and separate the check.


Hey-- ya'll knowledgeable folks-- I am getting ready to start a thread re: my ADRs and maximizing the DDp without any credit-pool-sleight-of-hand. I'd love your feedback!

 

[bicker]

I think that's a great idea Princess, but my fear is that the dishonorable folks will just use it as another excuse to advocate their dishonorable tactics, despite your plea to the contrary.

There are some really good hints I've read though, like splitting the ribs and chicken platter at Cosmic Ray's. That platter is large enough for two adults, for sure, and so you can do that on two days, and there's an extra CS credit right there. It helps maximize the Dining Plan, and it is completely and utterly in accordance with the terms and conditions.