Just added DDP - can anyone tell me what

[JJ&JSMOM]

the procedure is when you go to order your food? I know I'm OCD but I'm wondering - do you show them the card first? Do you say - I have 2A & 2C and we're on the DDP? Will they offer information for us firsttimers? Are the signs clear as to what is covered by the DDP?

We'll also have DD2 who from time to time we'll order her own meal - she is a good eater & usually has her own meal when we go out to eat. How does that work into the equation? - I know its OOP. Can anyone walk me through the "process"?

I know its a crazy question but I'll be ordering for our family of 5 and w/3 kids I'd like to know what I'm doing (or at least act that way ) before we get there. As I'm sure most of you know mealtimes can be very crazy w/kids. Plus I want to keep careful track of my credits so I want to be as clear as possible when ordering! Thanks for any advice/info!

 

[sjms71]

Most Ts places will ask you is you are on the DDP. At CS they will just swipe your room key. There is a sticky about the DDP, read it hang around here until your trip you can and will learn a lot from these boards. Make your TS ADR's as soon as you can restaurants do fill up. If you have a question you can't find the answer to just ask everyone is great here. Have fun!!

www.allearsnet.com has all the menus

 

[JJ&JSMOM]

Most Ts places will ask you is you are on the DDP. At CS they will just swipe your room key. There is a sticky about the DDP, read it hang around here until your trip you can and will learn a lot from these boards. Make your TS ADR's as soon as you can restaurants do fill up. If you have a question you can't find the answer to just ask everyone is great here. Have fun!!

www.allearsnet.com has all the menus

Got all my ADRs 2 months ago just wondering at the CSs what the procedure is? Sounds like all you do is give them the room key and tell them what you want and if anything isn't covered we would pay OOP. Sounds easy enough.

I've learned a lot from these boards - a great bunch of people hang out here. Its nice to have a group of people who understand my "addiction". My family & friends think I'm nuts because I know pretty much all the ins & outs of disney. But I love it! Thanks for the advice.

 

[sjms71]

Good job making AdR's months ago . We have never had a problem having to tell anyone about being on DDP as for as CS. I can't imagine what you would have to pay for oop there is sooo much food. If for any reason you are unsure how they took anything off your card just get a print out at your hotel. I think we only had a problem once where they charged a dessert as a snack credit. We saved our receipt and they fixed it at the hotel.

 

[JJ&JSMOM]

Thanks for the help!

 

[jsilvio2002]

We just got back from our trip and we found the dining plan was a great way to go. I too am a little OCD about how everything would work. Here are a few tips. You can pay for all meals with one card, you don't have to show each card. All table service restaurants asked before ordering if you are on the dining plan. Several liked to take the entire order from beverage to dessert all at once. Others take it in several stages. We asked ahead of time if special drinks or side items were included and all were helpful in answering questions. When I checked out at the counter service locations, I started by saying I want to use 3 counter service meals, or I want to use 3 snack credits. That way the cast member knew up front what I expected to be charged, and I checked my receipts. All table service meals we had to sign a receipt. Some counter service locations required a signature, some did not. We never had to sign for a snack credit use. In 7 days we never had a problem being overcharged or any confusion about what was covered. Most table service places allowed us to get coffee after meals at no charge. The rules about beverages vary with each restaurant. Sometimes we were told a non-alcoholic drink and a beverage with dinner such as tea or coke. Others said only one beverage was covered.

 

[fairymommy]

JJ&JSMOM, congratulations on loosing the weight! I so want to loose 30 lb.s before disney, but I don't think all this talk of yummy food is going to help!

 

[juttawdw]

I also wanted to know , what would be the easiest way to order 1cs from the diningplan and 1 kids meal OOP, can you do that in 1 order?

 

[momimouse27]

Got all my ADRs 2 months ago just wondering at the CSs what the procedure is? Sounds like all you do is give them the room key and tell them what you want and if anything isn't covered we would pay OOP. Sounds easy enough.

I've learned a lot from these boards - a great bunch of people hang out here. Its nice to have a group of people who understand my "addiction". My family & friends think I'm nuts because I know pretty much all the ins & outs of disney. But I love it! Thanks for the advice.

Last year was our first year to use the DDP so I was unsure also. But most of the CM's are aware that the majority of people that are there during that time are on the free dining. However, make sure you are aware and read what is and isn't covered by the dining plan and keep up with what you have left. I believe they send you a sheet listing what you get and what restaurants take the DDP-keep it with you.

Every time you use a TS or a CS you will get a receipt that will tell you what you have left on your meal plan. These are invaluable because I know on our vacations we are so busy enjoying ourselves we're really not thinking about credits and such. It helps to be able to stick that ticket in my fanny pack and refer to it to make sure we are on track!

Good luck and have fun...the DDP is awesome!!

 

[jsilvio2002]

We tried to buy a bottle of water and pay oop but use a snack credit for a pretzel. That seemed to confuse the castmember. We ended up paying on two tickets--one for the pretzel with the plan and another order for the water paying out of pocket. After that we always used two orders if we were going to pay out of pocket for anything.

 

[wendypooh]

Yes - you can do that! You can pay OOP for anyone at any meal. Just tell the CM what you are doing.

I.E. - you go to Cosmic rays and order your food and order your childs food, when you go to pay, just tell the CM that you want to only use 1 CS credit and pay OOP for the child. We have used the DDP on our last 4 trips and have done this at CS and TS meals with NO problem at all.


I think the main thing to remember is to tell the CM what you are doing BEFORE they swipe your card - AND make sure they understand what you want to do........ you may have to tell them twice - some CM's have apparently had problems decifering, but we never ran into any of them. Also, check your receipt to make sure the correct # of credits were used. If not, you can have it fixed pretty easily from what I understand at your resort.

Good Luck!!!

I also wanted to know , what would be the easiest way to order 1cs from the diningplan and 1 kids meal OOP, can you do that in 1 order?

 

[JJ&JSMOM]

Wow thanks for all the replies - seems like its pretty easy. Meal times for us can be so hectic trying to figure out who wants what and then figure out if its on the DDP but I think I have a good idea of what to expect. I get so confused sometimes w/the kids talking & asking questions and as my Mom puts it I have "brain fog" from time to time .

Originally we were booked at OKW w/a kitchen etc so I didn't add the DDP. When we switched to the Poly I figured the DDP would be the easiest for us and we wouldn't have to carry alot of cash around for meals. I actually just got back from our AAA office to pay off our trip - what a nice feeling!

 

[JJ&JSMOM]

JJ&JSMOM, congratulations on loosing the weight! I so want to loose 30 lb.s before disney, but I don't think all this talk of yummy food is going to help!

Thanks for the congrats - its an ongoing battle! I know I get on the Restaurant thread and I tell ya that doesn't help at all especially the bday cake thread ! Looks like you have 3 months till you go - going to Disney is a great motivator. I need to get back exercising - whole family was sick in May so that really screwed up my routine. But I'll get back into it again! Good luck! Aloha!

 

[JJ&JSMOM]

I think the main thing to remember is to tell the CM what you are doing BEFORE they swipe your card - AND make sure they understand what you want to do........ you may have to tell them twice - some CM's have apparently had problems decifering, but we never ran into any of them. Also, check your receipt to make sure the correct # of credits were used. If not, you can have it fixed pretty easily from what I understand at your resort.

Good Luck!!!

Great tip! Thanks!