MYW dining plan

[dani12]

Is it true that when using the dining plan that they don't track whether you use an adult meal or children's meal? There are 4 of us going: me, DH, DD5, and DS4. We were thinking that we could use two counter meals at a time b/c my husband and I could share with our kids. I would appreciate any input you may have. Thanks.

 

[ceecee]

We're thinking of doing the same thing. I know on the Character meals which are usually buffets we would all have to use one, but I am wondering if they would make us for the other table service places. No way we could eat that much food. Does anyone know the answer?

 

[disneycrazzzy]

You are right, they don't differentiate between child and adult meals. We utilized the following strategies to maximize the plan:

1) we used the plan for two adults and paid for the child (under 12) twice to gain additional meals.

2) we bought adult meals at all counter service restaurants because they had better choices (we had two adults and 1 child)

3) we only had a package for three people, and was able to pay for an additional person with an extra meal at the Concourse Steakhouse

4) We had one meal valued at $140+ for two adults and 1 child (three table service meals) at Concourse Steakhouse. It was so good, we invited a friend and ate another meal there valued at $190+ for three adults and 1 child (4 table service meals).

5) At Cosmic Ray's we ordered two meals (for the four of us)...the chicken and rib combo....and split them. This entree choice is usually $13+.

With a few snacks and breakfast items in our room, we were able to get by with little out-of-pocket food expenses throughout our 7 day trip. We would do the dining plan again. We never had any problems doing any of these things with CMs. I always told the CMs we were on the dining plan and they were always helpful in maximizing the plan.

 

[dani12]

Thanks disneycrazzzy for the info. That is what we were planning on doing. We have mostly character meals/buffets for our table service meals so we can't substitute those but we were thinking we could stretch our counter meals; even add on some breakfast meals. Did you do any breakfasts with your plan?

 

[ceecee]

Thanks Disneycrazzy! Did you have to use 6 options at the Concourse for the three of you? (3 x 2 options for a signature)? We have 2 adults and one child, does she have to use two as well (or can we share with her).

 

[jjohnson]

Thanks Disneycrazzy! Did you have to use 6 options at the Concourse for the three of you? (3 x 2 options for a signature)? We have 2 adults and one child, does she have to use two as well (or can we share with her).

Concourse is a 1 option restaurant so you only use up 3

 

[MandM-Mom]

We have the dining plan for our upcoming May trip, although after reading so many disboards I keep switching my Ps but so far here is what we are using we are a family of three- 2 adults and DD4
We are staying 4 nights so we have 12 table, 12 CS, 12 snacks---


4 TS Coral Reef 2 adult dinners- pay for 1 childs meal, $4.99
3 TS Donald Breakfastosaurous for 3
2 TS Cinderellas Royal Table Dinner 2 adult dinners-pay for 1 childs meal, $4.99
3 TS Ohana's breakfast for 3

We plan on sharing CS meals with dd4 as well,
We probable will use the snacks just for the drinks

 

[dani12]

We have the dining plan for our upcoming May trip, although after reading so many disboards I keep switching my Ps but so far here is what we are using we are a family of three- 2 adults and DD4
We are staying 4 nights so we have 12 table, 12 CS, 12 snacks---


4 TS Coral Reef 2 adult dinners- pay for 1 childs meal, $4.99
3 TS Donald Breakfastosaurous for 3
2 TS Cinderellas Royal Table Dinner 2 adult dinners-pay for 1 childs meal, $4.99
3 TS Ohana's breakfast for 3

We plan on sharing CS meals with dd4 as well,
We probable will use the snacks just for the drinks

Sounds good. For our table service meals we have:
dinner at Crystal Palace
dinner at Boma
breakfast at Cindy's table
breakfast at Chef Mickey
dinner at O'hana and
lunch at Princess storybook

So we are done with our TS and will just try to stretch our counter service meals. Hopefully it will work b/c my DD5 and DS4 will eat every hour if I let them! Oh to be young again...

 

[MandM-Mom]

Oh how lucky you are to get your Breakfast at CRT, I would love to try the Storybook lunch but DH would starve. I would do it just to have DD4 see the princesses. Have a great trip!

 

[dani12]

Hope you have a good trip also. We will also be at the ASMo from the 4th-10th. I just checked on the WDW website and entered our dates and they were sold out
But on a positive note, there were rooms at ***!

 

[dani12]

Just wanted to see if anything has changed with the dining plan. We are leaving in 3 days and didn't want to get to WDW and be "surprised" that they can differentiate b/n adults and kids meals. Can anyone help?

 

[abk96]

Did you see that they added more restaurants? Some in Epcot and DTD.

Have a great time and let us know how everything went.

 

[Mady/Sophiemom]

Just wanted to see if anything has changed with the dining plan. We are leaving in 3 days and didn't want to get to WDW and be "surprised" that they can differentiate b/n adults and kids meals. Can anyone help?

We just got home this AM, and ere able to pay for the kids, and save their credits towards our meals.

Here's what we did, for our 32 table meals:

4 credits- 1900 Park Fair Breakfast
4 credits- Mama Melrose (Fantasmic Pkg.)
4 credits- CRT breakfast
2 Credits- Marrakesh (paid cash for the kids)
4 Credits- Rose and Crown
4 credits- Narcooses- adults only (kids ate at Neverland Club)
2 credits- Chef Mickeys (paid cash for the kids)
4 credits- Akershus dinner
4 credits- Ohana dinner


For the counter service- the cashiers actually told us to go ahead and order adult meals for everyone. The only exception was at Tusker House where they told me, I could only get 2 adult meals. I knew this was false, and did argue a bit with the manager. I told her to take 4 adult credits, instead of 2 adult, and 2 children, but she said they could not do it. They were quite rude, and told me that the other restaurants knew that too, and were doing it the same way they were. Basically said I was lying.

The credits are all grouped together, without noting a difference on the reciept w/ the number remaining. On your room key, it does say
dining-2 ad, 2 ch. But don't let that confuse you. I worried a bit when I saw that, but once we used the plan at the first restaurant, and saw the reciept, I showed up exactly how I was told it would be.

Have fun- I want to go back!!

 

[Harmony]

When I first got the meal plan, I specifically asked the CM if we could "share or pool" our credits. (this used to be done with the wishes so I was hoping that the new plan would work the same) She told me that the child's credits *had* to be used for the child and could not be used for an adult meal. In other words, the credits weren't transferable.

Now I'm really confused.

 

[abk96]

Yes, I was told that it comes up on the cashiers computer when they put the card through. I'm not even going to attempt this. I'll probably be the one to be embarrassed.

 

[FromVatoDisney]

Yes, I was told that it comes up on the cashiers computer when they put the card through.


To the OP: Was this your experience? I too was planning on paying for the kids out of pocket a couple of times and using their credits elsewhere!

 

[abk96]

I was planning on doing the same thing because I read it on another website. When I wrote about doing it on another board, people were kinda mad at me. Saying come on...that's not the way the plan was meant to be used.

I felt aweful. So now I'm not doing it.

 

[Mady/Sophiemom]

I was planning on doing the same thing because I read it on another website. When I wrote about doing it on another board, people were kinda mad at me. Saying come on...that's not the way the plan was meant to be used.

I felt aweful. So now I'm not doing it.

It states right on the brochure that I rec'd at check-in:


Quote

Note: Upon check-in all meals from the package are combined into one central account for maximum flexibility. Any guest in the party may use the meals from this central account at any time during their package stay until all the meals are gone.

End Quote.

IMO- and many others- That is how Disney intended it, since that is what they print on their brochure. Also as I stated earlier, all counter service w/ the exception of Tusker House, allowed me to order 4 adult meals. A few even suggested it, when I was ordering kids meals.

Believe me, Disney is not stupid, they have the computer skills to fix, what some say is an unfair to Disney loophole. If they wanted it changed they would change it.

No table service server even blinked an eye when I said I was paying for my kids, and to use the plan towards the adult meals. It would be different if you were trying to pass off an 8 Y.O. as an adult at a table service.

Disney recieved about $4,000 of my money this past week. In return I rec'd an awsome family vacation, but believe me they still made $$. My ordering adult meals for my kids at the counter cost Disney approx. $100-$125, total for the week, retail. Their cost for those meals- prob. $25 at most.

I don't keep my reusable mugs for later stays, nor do I carry the same nasty paper cup to the food court for free refills all week. I don't pool-hop, and don't park at the contemporary, for easy MK access. I will however, use the dining plan the way Disney has instructed me to on their literature.

Just my 2 cents (OK the post went long, so I'll say 4 cents )

 

[tammy/mom of two]

We returned home last Sunday and had no problems using the meals the way we wanted to.(bummer that the new Epcot returants started the day after we left so that gives you more choices to use those great credits). We always let our server know ahead atime with no problem..i have to agree with a former poster who said Disney know what is up. Think of it, not only do we buy the plan. We are paying for more children's table meals. Never would we have gone to this many sit downs and had appetizer,entrees and desserts. My husband and I had grown-up drinks three times(unheard of) our children even commented on it and our seven year old asked if we were drinking too much at the third meal.LOL I paid more for one glass of wine than most bottles of wine we buy again a very rare occasion. So right there disney made up the difference.
Look at it as Disneys way to make sure you eat there, pay a little extra for your kids meals, grab a quick breakfast and pay out of pocket and don't forget some people have already reported that they did'nt use all their cridits. If we had not been driving we may have left a couple of c.s but used Last6 at EOS indtd. Enjoy, splurge, relax. We did

 

[abk96]

Mady/Sophiemom,

Thanks! I just might reconsider doing this. Sorry, didn't mean to make you upset.