Please give me an idiots guide to dining plan, I'm confused!

[Donald Ducks wife]

We may go for dining plan, the quick service one. From googling etc this is what I think it is,

You get meal credits on a card, which you can redeem for meals

But does everyone have there own card, or is it one card per family? It's me and my 5 year old going, if he wasn't hungry and I was, we could just share an adult meal, and keep his credits for another meal? Or use those credits to buy snacks to take back to the hotel room?

So I'm I right in thinking you can use as many credits from your card as much as you want each day or are you only given a set each day and they get renewed each day?

We might want to eat cheaply a couple of days, to save credits, and then go for a big meal, is that possible?

Sorry I must sound dumb, but I have never done any sort of meal plan at any resort, so it's all new to me.

 

[wilma-bride]

When you check in at your resort, your Key To The World (KTTW) will be loaded with your dining plan credits. On the Quick Service plan, you will get 2 credits per person per day plus snacks (can't remember whether one each per day or two each). All of your credits for your total stay will be available to use from check-in.

THe credits will be attached to the room so either room key (KTTW) can be used to pay and the credits will be deducted. At the bottom of your receipt, it will show you how many credits you have remaining.

Technically, you can only use the same number of credits as per people on your reservation each time you go through the check-out at a counter service place (so, 1 adult, 1 child). Some counter service places don't have a child's option so will let you order from the adult menu and use a child's credit. It might be worth (if you are going to share) making sure they use a child's credit at those places rather than an adult one if you are only buying one meal.

At the counter service places, if there are items that you can use snack credits for they will be indicated with a 'snack credit'logo (looks like a popcorn box with SC written on).

HTH

 

[chmurf]

(can't remember whether one each per day or two each).

in 2013 it's been scaled down to 1 snack per day per person

 

[dixonsontour]

Yes sharing an adult Quick Service meal may work well for you - portions are decent and you get dessert and a drink.

Some places are great for QS - it's definitely not just burgers and fries.

I'd recommend Be Our guest lunch or wolfgang puck express at DTD. A of A where it looks like you are staying has good QS options aswell.

What you can't do is use your QS as a part payment for a character or table service meal. Only option is to pay in full or pay to upgrade to the full dining plan before you go with whoever you booked with.

The restaurants board on the DIS has lots of info - I like the food reviews section, shows exactly the type of food and snacks you get.

 

[MrRomance]

We may go for dining plan, the quick service one. From googling etc this is what I think it is,

You get meal credits on a card, which you can redeem for meals

But does everyone have there own card, or is it one card per family? It's me and my 5 year old going, if he wasn't hungry and I was, we could just share an adult meal, and keep his credits for another meal? Or use those credits to buy snacks to take back to the hotel room?

So I'm I right in thinking you can use as many credits from your card as much as you want each day or are you only given a set each day and they get renewed each day?

We might want to eat cheaply a couple of days, to save credits, and then go for a big meal, is that possible?

Sorry I must sound dumb, but I have never done any sort of meal plan at any resort, so it's all new to me.

Quick overview of the Quick Service Dining Plan...

When you check in you and your son will get a Key To The World (KTTW) card that will be your park tickets, room key and will hold all of your meal credits. All credits will be loaded on all cards. You can also attach a credit card to your room and use the KTTW card to charge your purchases to.

You will get 2 meals and 1 snack per day and a resort mug each that is valid for your entire stay. You pick up the mug at your quick service restaurant at your resort. The resort mug is can be filled up at your resort as often as you wish.

BIG TIP --- if you're eating at your own resort, you will get a drink as part of your meal credit, so if you take your resort mug with you and use that, and then take a bottled drink with your meal, you can take the drink back to your room for later or to take the park with you.

What you get for your credits varies from location to location, but you essentially get a meal, a dessert and a large drink for each credit. For example, one of the meals my daughter and I really enjoy (and usually share) is the turkey dinner at Port Orleans Riverside. You get turkey, mash potatoes, vegetables & corn bread, then we get an apple pie and ice cream for dessert and a large drink. My daughter and I often share a meal because it's a lot of food.

You might find that your son eats a lot more than usual because he'll be very active, but it is a rare day that I don't share a quick service meal with my daughter.

BIG TIP 2 -- The examples given for your snack credit in the official literature are not the ONLY things you can get for your credit. Pretty much anything up to about $4 is considered a snack credit. We often use the snack credit to buy a large cinnamon roll for breakfast giving us 3 meals. Don't waste your snack credits on bottles of water and pieces of fruit, buy those out of pocket and use your snack credits for higher ticket items.

The portion sizes are RIDICULOUS in many cases, so sharing meals is perfectly fine!

 

[orangetiggs]

The yak and yeti counter service place in animal kingdom does chicken fried rice for a snack so easily could be a lunch

 

[wiigirl]

in 2013 it's been scaled down to 1 snack per day per person

 

[darthtatty]

Are you thinking of buying the dining plan?
Not sure its something id do, Id probably just pay as I went.
If youre going to share meals and not into desserts, or if you want some table service meals (you cant combine quick service meals to use at a table service restaurant) Then it may be cheaper for you to pay as you go.

we enjoy the dining plan when we get it free
We used our snack credits at the end of the holiday, to buy bags of sweets to bring home.
Theres a dining section on the forum, you could always look there for meal ideas.

 

[wilma-bride]

Are you thinking of buying the dining plan?
Not sure its something id do, Id probably just pay as I went.
If youre going to share meals and not into desserts, or if you want some table service meals (you cant combine quick service meals to use at a table service restaurant) Then it may be cheaper for you to pay as you go.

Nicky has a point. I just re-read your OP and realised that you are thinking of buying the dining plan - for some reason, when I read it the first time, I thought you meant you had already got it with your booking. If it is just you and your DS, I would not waste money buying the dining plan, I would definitely just pay out of pocket for meals. Like Nicky says, you can pick and choose between counter service and table service then. If your DS is not a big eater, this would be by far the best (and cheapest) option.

 

[Ffiharri]

Nicky has a point. I just re-read your OP and realised that you are thinking of buying the dining plan - for some reason, when I read it the first time, I thought you meant you had already got it with your booking. If it is just you and your DS, I would not waste money buying the dining plan, I would definitely just pay out of pocket for meals. Like Nicky says, you can pick and choose between counter service and table service then. If your DS is not a big eater, this would be by far the best (and cheapest) option.

Couldn't agree more.

 

[joolz1910]

Nicky has a point. I just re-read your OP and realised that you are thinking of buying the dining plan - for some reason, when I read it the first time, I thought you meant you had already got it with your booking. If it is just you and your DS, I would not waste money buying the dining plan, I would definitely just pay out of pocket for meals. Like Nicky says, you can pick and choose between counter service and table service then. If your DS is not a big eater, this would be by far the best (and cheapest) option.

I wouldn't buy it either. Instead, do some research, choose a few Table Service and also find out which Counter Service meals are highly rated. As has already been recommended: Yak and Yeti at AK and Wolfgang Puck at DTD.

 

[wilma-bride]

I wouldn't buy it either. Instead, do some research, choose a few Table Service and also find out which Counter Service meals are highly rated. As has already been recommended: Yak and Yeti at AK and Wolfgang Puck at DTD.

Not forgetting Earl of Sandwich

 

[darthtatty]

Not forgetting Earl of Sandwich

Ive got a feeling you like EoS


Donald Ducks wife-
There are so many good places to eat. As well as the ones mentioned, we like- Columbia Harbour House (chh) at Magic kingdom and
Pizza Planet at DHS, you can get a small basic pizza but we love it and it can be split.

I just realised who started the topic. youre staying at AoA resort arent you?
They look like they do some great meals & snacks there.

I use this site to get an idea for restaurants and the type of foods they do-
http://allears.net/menu/menus.htm

Then I use the dining review section on this forum to get ideas of what the meals look like and if people enjoy it there-
http://www.disboards.com/forumdisplay.php?f=127

good luck with your decision, personally I wouldnt get the dining plan.
To get your moneys worth, you have to get the most expensive things at each meal. youd also have to eat all of the meals, at the end of our holiday we had a few left over.

good luck.x

 

[Donald Ducks wife]

Thankyou for all your replies. I agree, that we would be better just paying out of pocket, BUT as my son is classed as disabled. We are entitled to apply to a local children's charity for a grant for food while we are on holiday, so if we get awarded that, then I will add on the dining plan, as then in theory it wouldn't cost me anything and then I wouldn't have to worry too much about budgeting.

 

[darthtatty]

Fingers crossed you get awarded the grant

The links are really useful for meal and food ideas, if you do get the dining plan.

 

[amacspad]

in 2013 it's been scaled down to 1 snack per day per person

Complete Orlando now say 2 snacks for 2014

2 Quick Service meals per person per day which includes a choice of one entrée, one dessert, and one single-serving non-alcoholic beverage or one complete combo meal with dessert and one single-serving non-alcoholic beverage. Dessert is not available with breakfast.
2 Snacks per person per day includes a choice of one medium fountain soft drink, one 20-ounce bottle of soft drink or water, one popcorn scoop (single serving box), one frozen ice cream novelty, single piece of whole fruit, single-serving bag of snacks, 12oz coffee, hot chocolate of hot tea or single serving prepackaged milk or juice (only 1 snack pp for 2013).
One Refillable Resort Mug per person during the package stay. Entitles guest to unlimited refills of fountain soda from the quick service restaurant in the hotel where the guest is staying. Mugs are not eligible for refills in Theme Park, Water Park or Downtown Disney locations.

Debs x

 

[tinkerpea]

Thankyou for all your replies. I agree, that we would be better just paying out of pocket, BUT as my son is classed as disabled. We are entitled to apply to a local children's charity for a grant for food while we are on holiday, so if we get awarded that, then I will add on the dining plan, as then in theory it wouldn't cost me anything and then I wouldn't have to worry too much about budgeting.

Fingers crossed you get it too, but I'd still not go for the QS if your going to pay I'd either do OOP or the normal DDP so you could so TS meals and go to character meals with your kiddo!

I've never heard of any charity's doing what you said, that is fab