Magic Dining Question

[**pixiedust**]

If I have a party of four (two kids, two adults) and we are all on the dining plan, does that mean we can order 4 appetizers and 4 desserts as well as our entrees at a table service restaurant if we go in for a table service meal? This may sound silly but I want to make sure I get this straight. It doesn't make sense to me that we could get all that food. Thank you!!

 

[whacked]

Essentially you do get all that food. That's what makes it a good deal.

That being said, your kids (depending on age) will have to order off the kids menu. Often there are Kids appetizers and desserts.

Can't remember the age cutoff off the top of my head, I think it's 9 or under for the children's plan ($11 now I believe). If they qualify, they order off the kids menu if available.

If they are old enough to eat on the adult plan, they pay the higher price and order whatever they want.

 

[**pixiedust**]

They are 3 and 6 so they would get the kids rate. But even having two adult apps. seems excessive. I have a DH who would definetly eat all of it, so I wonder how Disney makes money off of this. I probably shouldn't worry about that though, huh?

 

[Frantasmic]

It is a ton of food.

We never pressed the appetizer for my 5 year old son. Some places do not have children's appetizers. Some people have previously reported being able to order an adult appetizer for their children at places that didn't have an appetizer for kids since it is listed in the dining plan brochure.

 

[lucky1]

They are 3 and 6 so they would get the kids rate. But even having two adult apps. seems excessive. I have a DH who would definetly eat all of it, so I wonder how Disney makes money off of this. I probably shouldn't worry about that though, huh?

It is a LOT of food. Disney is making money because they have it upfront rather than counting on you maybe or maybe not have that many meals during your trip. Also food tends to have a high markup.

You actually don't have to order everything if you don't want to. Sometimes I really hate food going to waste when I know we will not eat it so many times we did pass on dessert. Sometimes you just can't help yourselves when you see the yummy things on the menu.

We throught it was worth it. Never worrying about how much we were spending in the restuarants.

 

[mnasf]

The adults do get all of the food you mentioned.

As far as the children go it depends on where you eat and on your server.

We were on the dining plan last week, and ate at Le Cellier twice. One time they offered by DD age 6 an appetizer off of the adult menu and one time they told her she could only have a kids meal. Since it is so much food and we can share I never felt I needed to push to get extra food.

At CRT dinner and Teppenyaki (sp) in Japan, the kids meal comes with a kids appetizer (which is more limited than the adult appetizer menu).

You will find that is best to tell your server each time you are seated that you are on the dining plan and they will tell you what you can order. It prevents any missunderstanding when it comes time to pay for the meal.

You should also note that the dining plan includes any non-alcholic beverage. So, at buffets (like Chef Mickeys) you can order a smoothie with your dinner. My kids loved getting a smoothie.

 

[Cookie Princess]

The dining plan is great, but it really was too much food for our family. You might want to consider doing some sharing. I remember being at a couple of dinners when I was looking at my plate and still feeling full from lunch. If we were too full to eat the desserts, and didn't want to cart them back to our hotel, we just didn't order them. It was like being "Thanksgiving Day" stuffed every day.

 

[dizplanner]

Your appeatizer could be a salad or a soup. If you do this, it doesn't seem quite so bad.

 

[gilld]

I've found a link to all the restaurants/counter service venues etc but can the snack credits be redeemed at the Marketplace at The Beach Club/Beachclub Villas?

 

[LPZ_Stitch!]

They are 3 and 6 so they would get the kids rate. But even having two adult apps. seems excessive. I have a DH who would definetly eat all of it, so I wonder how Disney makes money off of this. I probably shouldn't worry about that though, huh?

From what I've heard, the food that goes on your plate is actually the least expensive part of running a restaurant. That's partly the reason for the enormous portions you see in some places. A gigantic pile of cheese-fries (or desert) doesn't actually cost much more than a small portion, but it certainly impresses customers!

 

[jennifer293]

When we went in May DD4 had to order her meal from the kids meal but was allowed to pick an appetizer off the adult menu. We did eat at a lot of buffets so we didn't do this but a few times. IT IS A LOT OF FOOD!!!!

I GAINED 6lbs. on that trip!!!! LOL

 

[Jennifer_Jayhawk]

One posted commented that you should tell the server that you are on the dining plan so that they can direct you to what is available. Isn't the entire menu on the plan?

 

[Supercod]

You should tell your server your on the dining plan, they will help you better, also they get you more value out of it as they get a bigger tip the more they can get you to "spend" without you actually spending any more than 1 dinning point per person. As a group of 8 our server gets an automatic tip of 18% as part of the dinning plan.

Example, in Coral Reef as this is a 2 point place they told us kids can have an Adult appetizer great as this was more food for the Adults having pain in the neck fuss pot kids with us

Also in Boma for Breakfast we got told you get smoothes and other drinks as part of the dinning plan along with regular coffee, tea and juice that anyone would get.

As with everything in life you get some people who are excellent and others who not got a clue, this what I have found during my current trip then ends on Saturday

 

[bigmac5]

At CS a lot of meals come with fries. You can get a fruit cup instead. I did this and saved it for later as they come with a lid. When we were there in Aug/Sept the fruit cup was fresh watermelon, cantaloupe, honeydew and grapes. Very refreshing on a hot day.

 

[BitsnBearsMom]

Sorry to be thick but you can order ANYTHING off the menu??? or is it limited to a few choices? Or is there a different menu?

Seems too good to be true!

 

[Supercod]

Table and Counter service you can order anything and for a Snack they have a limit on what you can order, but you see a small square with Disney Dinning Plan sign next to the items, however sometimes a few things for whatever reason don’t have this sign but you can get them.

By the way don’t waste your dinning plan for a table service in Mexico at Epcot, this was the worst meal and the worst service I have ever had, ever and not just in Disney World, still with 9 other nights of excellent service and food behind me, I guess you can’t expect to win them all.

 

[budbeerlady]

It is a heck of a lot of food for $35 an adult, so that is why we are doing the plan! But we also want to take the time for a sit down meal everynight and unwind from our day as we are not going during peak season I dont feel like we are really missing any ride time. I also love the idea that we are eating and not worrying about the bill. I am calling this my all-inclusive vacation and am taking little money with us. That is why we did the plan.

 

[unixadm]

Read my dining plan/restaurant review linked in my sig. It shows how much food you get and the fantastic deal that the dining plan can really be!

I just found out that DVC members can now get the dining plan starting for trips in April.....we are SO happy about that...we have a trip planned the 1st week of April...guess I gotta start figuring out which restaurants we want this time!

 

[BitsnBearsMom]

Great!! Thanks for the info... I also just read that DVC gets the dining plan which is why I was inquiring about it for our first trip 'home' in October!

Can't wait... will be so nice to be able to have our food paid for and not have to worry about it!!

 

[bytheblood]

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