Question with free dining plan

[CRB#33]

We have the free dining at the end of the summer. My question is if it's possible to trade a dessert for an appetizer. We're just not sweet eaters.

Just wondering if that's a possibility.

Thanks

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

Nope, its not. You can ask if you can get fruit instead (it'll depend on the restaurant).

 

[purple figment]

You'll find that there is a lot of leeway to the dining plan rules, but subbing an appetizer for a dessert is not one of them. You might be offered an alternative dessert, but not an appetizer. The closest we experienced is the Signatures would allow the cheese plate as a dessert on the Deluxe Plan so possibly on the regular plan as well.

 

[TDC Nala]

One of the DDP rules that is the most strictly enforced is that desserts cannot be swapped for appetizers - for any reason, including medical conditions. They will offer an alternate or substitute dessert, but switching out for an appetizer is not allowed.

 

[kjbean]

I have 2 questions:

1) It's not an issue for me, but just out of pure curiosity, why are they so strict about not swapping a dessert for an appetizer. I can see that they need to have restrictions applied and to keep consistent across the board, instead of letting one table substitute vs not allowing the next. And I'm sure it could be a cost issue of desserts could cost less. But just curious if there is any other reason that we may not be aware of. Again, I'm not trying to pose an argument, just wondered if there was a reason to the strictness of it.

2) We are not big dessert eaters in general, so while it *would* be nice to swap for an appetizer, I know we can't so I don't plan on even trying to ask. But with that said, we don't HAVE to get the dessert, do we? If we don't get it, it wouldn't be applied to what our tip should be based on correct? Or, if we DO want a dessert, but too stuffed to eat at the time or rushed for the next thing (ie: Fantasmic!), would we be able to order our dessert to go?

Thanks

 

[Alesia]

I have 2 questions:

1) It's not an issue for me, but just out of pure curiosity, why are they so strict about not swapping a dessert for an appetizer. I can see that they need to have restrictions applied and to keep consistent across the board, instead of letting one table substitute vs not allowing the next. And I'm sure it could be a cost issue of desserts could cost less. But just curious if there is any other reason that we may not be aware of. Again, I'm not trying to pose an argument, just wondered if there was a reason to the strictness of it.

2) We are not big dessert eaters in general, so while it *would* be nice to swap for an appetizer, I know we can't so I don't plan on even trying to ask. But with that said, we don't HAVE to get the dessert, do we? If we don't get it, it wouldn't be applied to what our tip should be based on correct? Or, if we DO want a dessert, but too stuffed to eat at the time or rushed for the next thing (ie: Fantasmic!), would we be able to order our dessert to go?

Thanks

1) The answer is probably a little bit of all of the things you mentioned, but probably the biggest factor is that appetizers are generally much more labor intensive than desserts. In any restaurant, The main purpose of any special (including the DDP) isn't to be nice to the customer, it's to make things easier on the kitchen (and, to a slightly lesser degree, the waitstaff.)

2) As far as getting dessert to go - it depends. You can ask - they may be able to accommodate you or they may not. I'm not sure about the rest.

 

[dbmarie]

But with that said, we don't HAVE to get the dessert, do we? If we don't get it, it wouldn't be applied to what our tip should be based on correct? Or, if we DO want a dessert, but too stuffed to eat at the time or rushed for the next thing (ie: Fantasmic!), would we be able to order our dessert to go?

I have always been able to get my desert to go. Also some places they allow you to get a milkshake or fresh fruit in place of a desert.

 

[mom2of2]

1) The answer is probably a little bit of all of the things you mentioned, but probably the biggest factor is that appetizers are generally much more labor intensive than desserts. In any restaurant, The main purpose of any special (including the DDP) isn't to be nice to the customer, it's to make things easier on the kitchen (and, to a slightly lesser degree, the waitstaff.)

2) As far as getting dessert to go - it depends. You can ask - they may be able to accommodate you or they may not. I'm not sure about the rest.

Not sure why you think the DDP is easier for the kichen, they have no idea how a guest is paying and as for it being easier for servers....it's not, by any means.

OP you dont have to order dessert if you dont want it, but you will be able to get it to go.

 

[Alesia]

Not sure why you think the DDP is easier for the kichen, they have no idea how a guest is paying and as for it being easier for servers....it's not, by any means.

Desserts are easier than appetizers. More importantly, predictability is easier than unpredictability. It's always easier if you are controlling what courses are going to be ordered. If 75% of your tables are ordering the same courses it's so much easier to develop a flow than if some people are ordering appetizers and an entree, some are ordering an entree and dessert, some are ordering all three, some are only having appetizers, some are having appetizers and dessert, etc.

 

[purple figment]

Overall desserts are easier and quicker to prepare than appetizers. Often desserts are pre-made and just have to be plated while appetizers might have to be assembled and cooked/baked/fried.

Additionally, by eliminating one course completely restaurants are able to turn over tables faster. In the early years appetizers were included in the basic dining plan. Often people would have half the group order apps and at the end of the meal, the other half would order desserts or everyone would order both (like the current DxDDP). Having an app course could easily add 20 -30 minutes to the table.

 

[smiths02]

DD

Desserts are easier than appetizers. More importantly, predictability is easier than unpredictability. It's always easier if you are controlling what courses are going to be ordered. If 75% of your tables are ordering the same courses it's so much easier to develop a flow than if some people are ordering appetizers and an entree, some are ordering an entree and dessert, some are ordering all three, some are only having appetizers, some are having appetizers and dessert, etc.

I was going to echo this. Desserts are often cheaper/easier to produce AND most people are not dining solo so if DH and I shared an app and the a dessert...we would take up a table longer but the restaurant would still only get reimbursed for one TS credit each.

As others have said...you can skip dessert or get it to go or sometimes get a less sugary alternative (sugar free something or fruit)

The dining plans are all about increasing Disney's bottom line.