Question About the Dining Plan...

[Disney Dining Dad]

This may be a dumb question, but if you have the dining plan, do the servers at restaurants know that and offer guidance on what is included or do you just need to keep track at each restaurant of what is covered and what would be an additional cost?

Also - If we consistently fill up our refillable mug at our resort and the parks throughout the day, we conceivably wouldn't need to use the "snack or non-alcoholic drink" credits on drinks and could just focus on the snacks?

 

[jormom1030]

You can only refill your mug at the resorts not the parks.

 

[Nicnicnic.nic]

Usually the server will ask if you're on the dining plan and then tell you what you can order....at least that's been my experience

 

[DanceDisney23]

I want to add that you should focus on the snacks anyway. Don’t use a snack credit to get a bottle of water or soda. That’s a terrible value. One exception are specialty drinks like floats, frozen beverages, or Starbucks. Try to use the snack credits for things that are priced at $7 or more.

There are water refill stations in the parks. You can refill the mugs, or better yet, an insulated bottle at those, and you won’t need to waste snack credits.

 

[_19disnA]

We were at Disney a few years ago with 2 other families and all had the dining plan. Servers at all of the restaurants were very helpful in letting us know what was included or what wasn't. Many of the most expensive drinks were not included, for example. They would ask who was on any dining plan when we placed our order and would not know that unless we told them. You can still pay out of pocket if you choose to do so at any restaurant. I can recall we ate somewhere for lunch and the math to use the dining plan didn't work out so we just paid the bill as you would at any restaurant. Clearly what is/isn't included isn't something you would know or need to worry about ahead of time. Having three families in different rooms, they also asked to make sure the right people were charged to each room.

 

[kanerf]

I will often save a table credit by paying for a less expensive meal so that I can have two credits to use at one of the signature restaurants.

 

[Jeb2318]

Doing some research before our trip and it’s unclear what specific meals and snacks are available with the quick service dining plan. If I look at menus online it just says some dining plans accepted. Normally you see the purple icon next to included items on the physical menu. Is there a place I can view the most current photos of the menus to get a better idea of what’s included? Looking specifically for the water parks and boardwalk offerings.

 

[Mle8308]

Doing some research before our trip and it’s unclear what specific meals and snacks are available with the quick service dining plan. If I look at menus online it just says some dining plans accepted. Normally you see the purple icon next to included items on the physical menu. Is there a place I can view the most current photos of the menus to get a better idea of what’s included? Looking specifically for the water parks and boardwalk offerings.

The purple icon is just for snacks, not meals/entrees. They don't usually say in advance what items are included because menus change. Generally, most of the regular entrees or offerings at a QS location are included. If you want an extra (like a side of melted cheese, it is extra - you can use a snack credit, but that is a ridiculous waste of one). You can go onto MDE and look up the menus at the water parks and Boardwalk, normally all the sandwiches/burgers/salads are included. Kids do have to order from the kids menu if one exists.

 

[Jeb2318]

The purple icon is just for snacks, not meals/entrees. They don't usually say in advance what items are included because menus change. Generally, most of the regular entrees or offerings at a QS location are included. If you want an extra (like a side of melted cheese, it is extra - you can use a snack credit, but that is a ridiculous waste of one). You can go onto MDE and look up the menus at the water parks and Boardwalk, normally all the sandwiches/burgers/salads are included. Kids do have to order from the kids menu if one exists.

That’s great thank you. Now for the boardwalk food stands are those usually snacks or meals? What about the boardwalk ice cream?

 

[Mle8308]

That’s great thank you. Now for the boardwalk food stands are those usually snacks or meals? What about the boardwalk ice cream?

I don’t remember how many are still there, some are third party, but the hotdogs would be considered a meal. Some of the items at the ice cream place would be snacks, but not everything on the menu. Generally it’s one scoop of ice cream or a one scoop sundae. The more elaborate shakes or sundaes are not. Snacks are generally items priced up to about $10, with a few exceptions. You can go on YouTube and search for videos on the best snack values on the DDP.