Question about DxDP

[texaslady22]

We've always done the "traditional" dining plan. However, last week I traveled to DIS for work. One meal I went to a counter service. I waited in a long, long line, then got my tray, then walked around looking for a place to sit, and then I sat eating my mediocre burger in a crowded place. The next day, I ate both meals in a sit-down restaurant. Woohoo is that the way to go! Sit down, get waited on, get out of the heat, have someone refill your soda. Love it!!

So, we just planned a last-minute trip and decided to do the DxDP!

We're staying 3 nights, and here are our ressies:

Animal Kingdom:
Tusker House (ROL package) early lunch
Rainforest Cafe dinner

Hollywood Studios:
50s Prime Time early lunch
Minnie's Seasonal Dine (fantasmic package)

Magic Kingdom:
Ohana breakfast 7:30
Tony's Town Square lunch (parade package)
Be Our Guest late dinner

Epcot:
Garden Grill early breakfast
Coral Reef dinner

Here are my questions: I can do that, right? Because for 3 nights, we'll actually have 4 DAYS we can use the credits?

Also, I have a RF Cafe giftcard I need to use. If I bought the 2 kids meals with it, would I think have 2 additional credits we could use for CS breakfast on one day or something?

One more question - My 7 year old has severe food aversions and only eats chicken (nuggets or strips) or steak. At the restaurants without a Kid's Steak (thinking Tony Town Square), I can order steak for myself, right, and give it to him? Then I could share with my husband and eat my son's kid's meal if I wanted to, right?

I was very thrilled to see that BOG and Coral Reef both offer steak kid's meals. (He will also eat a few other things, such as crackers, rolls, beef like prime rib that we can CALL steak, eggs, and bacon...so I think we'll be okay on the buffets, right?)

 

[eeyoresmom]

Yes you can do that. You have 9 ts credits to use per person and you have until midnight of checkout day to use them. You should also be able to use the kids credits as planned but that is something I would keep checking as "the rules" could change.

 

[Phatscott25]

I have a related question. I've been led to believe that on the DxDP Disney's system cannot tell the difference between a kid and adult credit. So essentially a child credit will work for an adult meal. @eeyoresmom is this what you're referring to above? If so, is my thinking correct?

 

[eeyoresmom]

Yes.

 

[Faldred]

DxDP meal credits are pooled for everyone on the registration. This means that in theory, you can use any credit, regardless of whether or not it was original intended for an adult or a child, for either an adult meal or a child meal.

In practice, there are some reports that certain restaurants won't let you use, say, three credits on adult meals if your party consists of two adults and a 7-year-old. That is, a meal purchased for a child using credits must come from the kids' meal section of the menu. (Obviously doesn't apply at AYCE/buffets.)

 

[purple figment]

Agree with Faldred that while in theory there is no distinction between Adult and Child credits on the DxDDP, it says on the DxDDP brochure that "Guests ages 3-9 must order from a children's menu, where available" so some restaurants, especially third party venues, might enforce this.

 

[Srbright]

I have a related question. I've been led to believe that on the DxDP Disney's system cannot tell the difference between a kid and adult credit. So essentially a child credit will work for an adult meal. @eeyoresmom is this what you're referring to above? If so, is my thinking correct?

We have had the DxDDP for the past 5 years. Every restaurant but 1 (30 nights, 60+ TS meals) enforced the kids eat off the kids menu. Even when DD was 10 and DS was 8 she got an adult meal and he had to get a child's meal.

The lone exception to this was at Fultons. DS had been having a rough day and when the waiter let his sister order a lobster and he couldnt his poor heart broke so his dad and I took pity on him. We asked the waiter if we could order his meal and pay cash for it. The waiter said the system doesn't enforce the difference and to go ahead and order what ever he wanted.

It comes down to the server and th ed restaurant because if they let every child order adult then they would significantly cut into their revenue. I would not count on them letting you do that.

Stacy

 

[Phatscott25]

@eeyoresmom, thanks for your response and help. @Srbright, thanks for the detailed explanation. I'm going to specify the scenario I'm contemplating and are wondering whether it will work or not.

I'm planning a trip later this year with my immediate family and my neighbors. 4 adults, 3 "adult" children in Disney's dining plan and 2 9 yr olds. As of right now we are all booked for a 2 bed villa at BLT. At the 7 months mark I'm considering switching to 2 studios at the Poly. That's what got my gears turning about the DxDP.

Let's say that in the 2 studios I put 2 adults and 2 9yr olds in one and add the DxDP. Based on how I'm interpreting what you are saying I would have a total of 84 credits for the week that would essentially work for everyone in the party for adult TS meals with the exception of the 2 9yr olds who would most likely have to order from the kids menu. Is my thinking correct?

 

[eeyoresmom]

Yes. You should explain to your server that you are going to use deluxe Disney dining plan credits to pay for the adult meals and you will pay for the kids meals with cash or credit card. Yes you could have them swipe your magic bands for payment for the kids meals but I would be afraid they would accidentally use credits from the dining plan. You could also safely pay using a magic band from the other studio. This scenario would work right now but Disney often changes things up so have a back up plan just in case.

 

[senadler]

Let's say that in the 2 studios I put 2 adults and 2 9yr olds in one and add the DxDP. Based on how I'm interpreting what you are saying I would have a total of 84 credits for the week that would essentially work for everyone in the party for adult TS meals with the exception of the 2 9yr olds who would most likely have to order from the kids menu. Is my thinking correct?

Yes you should be able to do this. I have also never had a problem, even when we were in one room with the deluxe plan, telling the server I want to pay for the kids meal. They bring you a bill to sign for both the plan and what you are paying for, so you will know that they have done it properly.

As far as the original question, the kids in our party usually prefer the kids meals, but on the few occasions that they wanted to order off the adult menu we did not have an issue. We just had to ask, and if the server wasn't sure they checked with someone and we were allowed to order. While it is not guaranteed, it is definitely worth asking.

 

[Phatscott25]

Thanks for the responses. I believe then that my thinking was correct. I'm not concerned about the kids ordering kids meals because most likely that's what they'd want anyway. I was just basically getting clarification on the apparent ability to "game the system" for lack of a better word. So essentially, I could pay 2 adult rate and 2 kid rate DxDP for the week and use them solely on adults and it would work.

Thanks for the additional tip BTW to pay cash for the kiddos making the discounted DxDP credits worth even more. Hopefully things don't change by then.

 

[HeatherGoode1]

Does the deluxe plan still work where the kids meals are pooled with adult meals? We are arriving this Saturday for a week, booking two rooms with my family and then my parents and mother in law in the other room. I'm thinking we book the deluxe dining plan for 2 adults and 1 child, giving us 42 adult meals and 21 kid meals. Are these still pooled together to give me 53 table service meals? We will have five adults, one child and one infant in the two rooms total and I'm thinking we use the credits for adult meals and pay cash for kid meals.

I called dining and they said the credits are not pooled together and that the three magic bands have to be swiped and that my daughters credit can't be used for an adult meal even if she wants one (that was my way of asking without asking )

It sounds like she's wrong and all credits go into the same pool for the room. Right?

Anyone recently do this and can confirm this scenario before I pay $1700 in dining? Thanks!

 

[eeyoresmom]

With the deluxe plan you will have TS 63 credits all "loaded" onto the 2 adults and 1 child's magic band. When the CM takes your order tell them you are paying cash for the kids meal and using credits for the adult meals. At the end of the meal you hand him one of your magic bands, not one for your parents room. That doesn't even make sense what the dining CM told you . I haven't used the DxDDP in a few years but this is being allowed as of right now. I do caution you that Disney can and does change their rules "midstream" but you should be good for this weekend

 

[sharonabe]

Does the deluxe plan still work where the kids meals are pooled with adult meals? We are arriving this Saturday for a week, booking two rooms with my family and then my parents and mother in law in the other room. I'm thinking we book the deluxe dining plan for 2 adults and 1 child, giving us 42 adult meals and 21 kid meals. Are these still pooled together to give me 53 table service meals? We will have five adults, one child and one infant in the two rooms total and I'm thinking we use the credits for adult meals and pay cash for kid meals.

I called dining and they said the credits are not pooled together and that the three magic bands have to be swiped and that my daughters credit can't be used for an adult meal even if she wants one (that was my way of asking without asking )

It sounds like she's wrong and all credits go into the same pool for the room. Right?

Anyone recently do this and can confirm this scenario before I pay $1700 in dining? Thanks!

Unless you are DVC, this may be a moot point. You have to add any dining plan at least 72 hrs before check-in. DVC is allowed 48, so if you're going to do it AND you're DVC, you need to do it NOW!!

 

[HeatherGoode1]

We are DVC members. I know we have 48 hours before check in to add it. I'm trying to figure out if we should just move my daughter's reservation to my parent's room or move the mother in law reservation out of my room to just give us two adults and one kid.

Thanks for your help! I'll report back on how this all works.

Great to hear that the loophole is still in effect. And, I thought that the CS rep was wrong about swiping magic bands!

 

[TinkerTerry]

I just did this exact thing in December. Worked like a charm. and remember with the deluxe plan you also get appetizers. A lot of food. We didn't even end up buying separate kids meals.

 

[12disneybee]

I just did this exact thing in December. Worked like a charm. and remember with the deluxe plan you also get appetizers. A lot of food. We didn't even end up buying separate kids meals.

have done this for 14 days. have one person in each party use the magic band for DXDP... not one issue