Please help me with this dining plan!!!!!

[Mouse House Mama]

Okay- we are using the DDP for the forst time this August (free!!! ) and we have no idea what we are doing! How many credits are things? Is there a list? Are some TS meals more than 1 credit (like Fantasmic package?) I have tried to figure all this out to no avail. Please help us!!!

 

[LadyOmega]

As I am pretty new to this site, I am not sure if there is a list on here of all that, but I know there is one on www.allearsnet.com. It divides everything into what credit is used, and which require 2, etc.
As far as I can remember, the only restaurants in the park that are 2 credits are Cindy's Royal Table in MK, and The Brown Derby in MGM. The Fantasmic package is only 1 credit, unless of course you go to Brown Derby (2). There are a few resort restaurants that use 2 credits as wel, like California Grill in the Contemporary resort.
Hope this helps a little, and maybe someone who has been around longer can direct you to a list of that info (if there is one), on this site.

 

[beattyfamily]

Okay- we are using the DDP for the forst time this August (free!!! ) and we have no idea what we are doing! How many credits are things? Is there a list? Are some TS meals more than 1 credit (like Fantasmic package?) I have tried to figure all this out to no avail. Please help us!!!

Right above your post is the FAQ thread all about the dining plan. That should help you a lot.

You should book some reservations cause the free dining makes the restaurants fill up fast.

Only a few restaurants are 2 TS like the Castle, Yachtsman Steakhouse, California Grill, Brown Derby (with or without the Fantasmic package), the dinner shows like Hoop De Doo and the Luau.

Most of the rest are just one TS credit, even all the character meals are one TS credit.

Let us know if you have any more questions.

 

[WDWCommandos]

My husband and I use the directory Disney has supplied on their web site.
It explains the plan perfectly and has a great list of all the restaurants. You will need ADOBE ACROBAT READER to view it though.
Good luck!

You can fnd this list of instruction at Disney's Vacation Planning web page, under Dining Finder and then click on the DDP learn more box (purple and to the top right). In the first paragraph of the page you will see a selected restaurants link.Click on that and you should see this great list!!

 

[Mouse House Mama]

Thanks so much for all the great info! I have another question though- I booked the dining package and that meant I had to buy park hoppers for me, dh, and ds4 (the other kids are under 3! ) anyway- I have an AP and CRO told me that I didn't have to activate my PH and then I could give it to my dh to use on our next trip. Well, today I call CRO and was told that if I don't activate my PH then I can't use my dining credits in any theme park restaurant. Only in resort restaurants and places that don't require theme park admission. I am so annoyed because -
1) I am being told something different every time I call CRO.
2) I probably would have just taken the AP rate instead of the package.
3) I paid for the ticket so what does it matter how I get into the park?

Can anyone here clear this up for me? I know you guys have more info than CRO. Thanks!!!

 

[abeyst]

Talk to the front desk and explain to them what you're doing. They'll work everything out for you.

You can also save your ticket and use it as a credit toward your AP renewal (if you're renewing it).

 

[pooch]

that you have AP's that get you into the parks. If you did't have AP's and then didn't activate your ph's, you wouldn't be able to get into the parks. Your AP's get you into the parks. You can save the tickets you purchased to get the free dining plan until later.

Hope this helps

 

[Mouse House Mama]

Thanks everyone! I feel much better about it now! You guys are the best!!!

 

[robinb]

Our whole family has APs and we used free dining last year. We booked the package with 7-day PHs because my niece didn't have an AP. We simply saved our PH's on our key cards until it was time to renew our APs in December. Since we renew at the parks we applied the cost of the PHs to the cost of our DVC AP without a problem. We're going again this year and I'm not worried. It sounds like you got a confused CM on the phone.

BTW, you will want to book your ADRs ASAP. I booked Alfredos for Sunday 8/20 two months ago for 3 people, but it was a tiny bit too late to see IllumiNations on our last night. I have been trying to move the reservation up to a more reasonable time once or twice a week since then, but it's totally booked.

Here is an Excel Spreadsheet that I created to help me plan my meals last year: http://personalpages.tds.net/~rb/DIS/MYM-Dining-Planner.xls It keeps track of your restaurant names, ADR numbers, times, number of credits per meal and any additional notes. It also calculates your remaining credits as you add meals to the spreadsheet. Feel free to download it and enter your own data .

 

[Mouse House Mama]

I can't thank you enough!!! RobinB - I wil definet;y download that spreadsheet. Thank you for all your help. I made a bunch of adr's today and was able to get everything we wanted.