Please help out a Dining Plan noob.

[ChrisM]

(Just realized this is probably the wrong forum for this thread - SORRY!)

I've never used a dining plan before, so a raft of questions about the (regular) dining plan:

- I just added the free dining plan promo to my existing reservation, but already made all of my ADRs. What do I do about these ADRs now? Do I just call WDW-DINE and let them know that we have DDP participants for the existing reservations?

- If I do the above, what if I have reservations where part of the party will be on the DDP and part will be paying out of pocket? How does that work?

- I believe I already pre-paid for CRT. How do I go about switching this to the DDP? And, again, what if some of the CRT reservation participants will be using the DDP and some will be paying out of pocket?

- Can you add DDP days to a free DDP promotion? Can you add invidual credits?

- How does tipping work? Do you get a receipt that has an actual dollar value so you can calculate an appropriate tip? Just charge it to your KTTW card?

- I have 4 adults and 2 children under 10 staying in the same room under the same reservation. 2 of the adults will be leaving a day early (despite the reservation continuing another day with the remainder of the party). Will the remaining 2 adults be able to use any DDP credits left over by the 2 adults that have left? Or are they somehow locked into an individual's name and they will check IDs? Do I just use their KTTW cards instead of mine? (I obviously have no idea how this really works.)

- As an adult, can I share any of my meal with my children? Portions can sometimes be enormous, and table service meals offering an appetizer and dessert in addition to an entree is a lot of food. Can I share any of my appetizer, entree, or dessert with my children or will the staff freak out about it?

Thanks for any and all of the help!

 

[PrincessTiffany]

(Just realized this is probably the wrong forum for this thread - SORRY!)

I've never used a dining plan before, so a raft of questions about the (regular) dining plan:

- I just added the free dining plan promo to my existing reservation, but already made all of my ADRs. What do I do about these ADRs now? Do I just call WDW-DINE and let them know that we have DDP participants for the existing reservations?

- If I do the above, what if I have reservations where part of the party will be on the DDP and part will be paying out of pocket? How does that work?

- I believe I already pre-paid for CRT. How do I go about switching this to the DDP? And, again, what if some of the CRT reservation participants will be using the DDP and some will be paying out of pocket?

- Can you add DDP days to a free DDP promotion? Can you add invidual credits?

- How does tipping work? Do you get a receipt that has an actual dollar value so you can calculate an appropriate tip? Just charge it to your KTTW card?

- I have 4 adults and 2 children under 10 staying in the same room under the same reservation. 2 of the adults will be leaving a day early (despite the reservation continuing another day with the remainder of the party). Will the remaining 2 adults be able to use any DDP credits left over by the 2 adults that have left? Or are they somehow locked into an individual's name and they will check IDs? Do I just use their KTTW cards instead of mine? (I obviously have no idea how this really works.)

- As an adult, can I share any of my meal with my children? Portions can sometimes be enormous, and table service meals offering an appetizer and dessert in addition to an entree is a lot of food. Can I share any of my appetizer, entree, or dessert with my children or will the staff freak out about it?

Thanks for any and all of the help!

1. You keep your ADRs and do nothing. Modifying your resort reservation, even if adding DDP or Free DDP, has absolutely nothing to do with the ADRS you have already made.

2. Tell the server who is on the plan and who is not.

3. Call Disney Dining and tell them you are now on the DDP and they will credit your pre-paid amount.

4. You can not add individual credits, everyone in your room is on the same plan and has the same allottment of dining credits. You can have a free dining discount applied to your entire stay, up to 14 nights.

5. Any party over 6 has an automatic 18% tip added on to their bill, no exceptions.

6. Yes, you can.

7. Sharing is frowned upon by Disney restaurants. You are on the DDP, if you don't use your credits for your's or or child's meal the credits will go to waste.

Please see this thread for all the Free Dining Info and Guidelines:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=42096898#post42096898

 

[havoc315]

(Just realized this is probably the wrong forum for this thread - SORRY!)

I've never used a dining plan before, so a raft of questions about the (regular) dining plan:

- I just added the free dining plan promo to my existing reservation, but already made all of my ADRs. What do I do about these ADRs now? Do I just call WDW-DINE and let them know that we have DDP participants for the existing reservations?

Except for pre-paid dining reservations, being on the DDP has no effect on the reservation. You just tell them you are on the DDP when you are seated.

- If I do the above, what if I have reservations where part of the party will be on the DDP and part will be paying out of pocket? How does that work?

Then part of the party pays with credits, and part of the party pays out of pocket. You can ask for separate checks, but that's not required. You can simply say, "we will be redeeming credits to pay for X, Y, and Z, and paying for the rest."

- I believe I already pre-paid for CRT. How do I go about switching this to the DDP? And, again, what if some of the CRT reservation participants will be using the DDP and some will be paying out of pocket?

This is a bit trickier, but still works. I had the same issue last year. I tried to call, and have them refund the pre-paid and apply the credits. The CM couldn't do it, and her supervisor couldn't do it -- As the restaurant was booked up, they found I would lose my reservation if I tried to cancel it. I was told that on the actual date of the reservation, at check-in, at the restaurant, they could refund the credit card, and apply the dining credits.

Then a few weeks later, I was speaking to a different CM about a different reservation, and she volunteered... "oh... I see you paid for CRT.. would you like me to refund it and apply the credits?" She was able to do it. I told her about my earlier experience, and she basically said that a lot of the CMs don't know how to do it in the computer.

So the moral of the long story -- You could try to get it refunded now. Worst case scenario, you can get it refunded on the date of your actual reservation.

- Can you add DDP days to a free DDP promotion? Can you add invidual credits?

No. It is tied to the number of nights of your reservation. The only way to add credits would be to upgrade to the deluxe dining plan.

- How does tipping work? Do you get a receipt that has an actual dollar value so you can calculate an appropriate tip? Just charge it to your KTTW card?

You get a receipt showing the whole bill. It even has a recommended tip. For parties of 6 or more, you are automatically charged the tip.

- I have 4 adults and 2 children under 10 staying in the same room under the same reservation. 2 of the adults will be leaving a day early (despite the reservation continuing another day with the remainder of the party). Will the remaining 2 adults be able to use any DDP credits left over by the 2 adults that have left? Or are they somehow locked into an individual's name and they will check IDs? Do I just use their KTTW cards instead of mine? (I obviously have no idea how this really works.)

Credits are tied to the reservation, not the individual. So the adult credits can be used by any adult on the reservation, any time during the stay.

- As an adult, can I share any of my meal with my children? Portions can sometimes be enormous, and table service meals offering an appetizer and dessert in addition to an entree is a lot of food. Can I share any of my appetizer, entree, or dessert with my children or will the staff freak out about it?

There are a couple of restaurants that will reportedly require every person on a dining plan to expend a credit. But typically, sharing among people under the same reservation, is not a problem. That is, as long as your child ordered a children's meal, nobody is going to stop you from giving them half of your dessert. You mentioned appetizers -- Appetizers are NOT included in the basic dining plan.

Thanks for any and all of the help!

You're welcome.

 

[lmcbw]

Another question from a Dining Plan Newbie... can meal credits be used towards room service?

 

[mommyof3princess27]

http://bookwdw.reservations.disney....=Promo&promotionCode=fy12dine&market=fy12dine
on page 3(its a pdf) but I think its more TS credits...

 

[Minder]

You need to check with the resort about using a TS credit for room service, but I know I have seen it done before.

The only problem was that a Pizza sent to your room, that would cost about 12 dollars if you picked it up and paid for it, costs 2 TS credits (The equivelant of about 90$ delivered)

I wouldnt do it.

 

[havoc315]

Another question from a Dining Plan Newbie... can meal credits be used towards room service?

Yes, but it's usually a poor use of credits. It requires 2 TS credits, but will include the gratuity. It still ends up being a very poor use of credits.

 

[sndral]

When you pay for your meal, you can hand them any KTTW card of any adult in the room to pay for all adults & children on that reservation, no need to hand over everyone's KTTW card (don't know if child's KTTW card would work as well.) Each time you use credits (snacks, cs, or ts) you'll get a receipt which will tell you how many credits you have remaining - not a bad idea to check this to make sure things are being charged correctly. It's pretty easy once you get the hang of it (which takes like 1 meal.) As mentioned above, you do not get appetizers on the basic dinning plan, although I have had a few signature restaurants credit an appetizer as a desert, not that I asked - when they realized I didn't want desert they just did it. You can order items not covered (alcoholic or designer type drinks, appetizers, etc.) and pay for them either by charging your KTTW card, charging another card or using cash. The waiters are super helpful, if you're confused - just ask.