Sharing DDP

[SantiJB]

Hi WDW friends!!

I am preparing my WDW October trip. This is my first time in WDW and my first time using DDP. We are only 2 adults.

Due to save TS credits and to visit the highest number of restaurants I can, I am thinking to use 1 TS credit in each restaurant and share the meal between us. Is it possible??

I have read some reports about sharing meals but I can't understand very well the final conclusions about it. Could anyone help me??

I can understand that if we go to a TS restaurant and we say "we want to share 1TS meal" it is possible (I don't kwon) that the waiter say us we can't. But if we go to a 1TS restaurant and only one of us order a 1TS meal and the other one say I only want to order a drink, I can't understand how the waiter can say us we are obliged to order 2TS meal.

Sorry I am spanish and I don't know if we can understand what I am trying to say.

We are interesting to share the meal in the following TS restaurants:

- Le Celier (1TS)
- Coral Reef (1 TS)
- Alfredos (1 TS)
- Citricos (2 TS)
- Narcosses (2 TS)

Please help me!!!!

Regards.

 

[bicker]

The problems you've read about concerning sharing stem from inconsistent enforcement of certain rules. Some guests have reported that they have been inconvenienced by the enforcement of those rules, even though they weren't breaking those rules. It's a significant risk, especially where you might be concerned about a communications difficulty between yourself and the server. It will continue to be a risk at least until Disney applies system changes that address the rule-breaking directly, and thereby eliminate the need for the inconsistent enforcement. However, it's just a risk. You may actually encounter no problems at all.

Two things to note, though, about sharing. First, some of the finer restaurants have smaller portions, so I wouldn't be surprised if you leave some of the restaurants on your list a bit hungry. Second, when you split a meal, the server is doing the same amount of work (or more) as when you order two meals. Since your Dining Plan credit only covers the gratuity for one meal when you split a meal, you should make up the difference by tipping the server a bit extra, to cover the gratuity for the service provided to the second person.

 

[SantiJB]

Thank you very much for your answer.

Please could anyone speak me about his experiences about meal portions?? Where are they small?, where are they large??. Which restaurants are better for sharing???

Regards.

 

[bicker]

Please understand that this is something that is changing just over the last few years. (There is a trend in the United States, at finer restaurants, towards more "European" portions, i.e., smaller portions.)

Coral Reef and Citricos are the most likely places for you to encounter smaller portions, from what I've read. 50s Prime Time Cafe is one place I typically recommend for folks who are looking for portions large enough to share. x

 

[SantiJB]

uppppp

 

[SantiJB]

uppppppppppppppp

 

[SantiJB]

any answer????

 

[Mom of 3]

I haven't been yet. But I can't see how they can force everyone in your group to order a meal (unless it is a buffet). We will have ME, DH, DS10 and DS6. I plan on only ordering 3 adult TS meals and sharing with DS6. Here's my reasoning. I'm not going to eat an appetizer so DS6 can have mine, DH is diabetic and won't eat dessert so DS6 can have his. That is practically a whole meal right there for a 6 year old.

Now if they absolutely tell me I can't do this I'll deal with it. For instance if they are afraid I am going to use DS6 TS for adult meals. But my plan is to use his TS credit for an extra CS + 2 snacks as allowed under the dining plan because my kids will be hungry again 2 hours after eating a meal - they are boys and are always hungry.

Or I could order 2 adult TS and 1 child TS and save the additional adult TS for another TS meal at some point.

Either way I'll think we will have plenty of food. Also, I understand that servers get a tip based on what you order but to be honest if I was ordering out of pocket. We still wouldn't order as much food as we would with the 3 adult TS as provided under the plan.

When we usually eat out we usually order 2 entrees between the 4 of us and 1 dessert to share.

I would just tell them what you want to do and hope for the best.

 

[4mcbjCtr]

I am not a big eater, but found at LeCellier, I didn't have a lot left over. I ordered the filet. That was on the DP with appetizer and dessert. As previously stated by bicker, the portions are definately getting smaller.

Also, it has been reported at the 2TS restaurants that you are unable to share. They are more likely there to deduct 2TS per person at the table on the plan. Just beware of that when going to too many 2TS meals.

 

[toocooltobeMom]

If you plan to share all your meals (ie, ordering 1 dish among the 2 of you), why not just pay all your food OOP. DDP specifies no sharing clearly.

 

[bicker]

The Dining Plan doesn't specify "no sharing." Rather, it is non-transferable. For example, while different folks in your party surely can share food ordered for them using Dining Plan credits, you cannot share the benefits of the Dining Plan with folks who aren't in your party. For more details about these rules, please contact Disney directly, since the moderators will close any threads that ask for interpretation of the rules.

 

[toocooltobeMom]

Thanks for correcting me, Bicker,
But I have just got off the phone w/CM @ WDW, who told otherwise. I am so confused now. She told us that whenever we use TS credits that everyone in our party must order their own entree's. CS may be shared b/c you're not served at the table. I read the detailing of DDP as you said. As your post read, it didn't specify no sharing!!
We have already booked for 08/07 w/MYW plus Dining.(OOP) We can't wait for the mercy of WDW to pity us w/Free dining. So we picked the week before the Brits get in town for the special promo.

 

[bicker]

CMs have been known to be wrong. There are many threads in this forum where guests have relayed their experiences with legitimate sharing (as well as some thread in this forum where guests actually admitted to the type of "sharing" that is not permitted). When it comes to any of this, the only CM that matters is the one serving you when you have your meal. That's the most reliable place to ask for clarification. Know that any information you get in advance, unless it is in writing on Disney letterhead, is just a guess, and may not be reliable.

 

[toocooltobeMom]

It's so true.

 

[emmabelle]

Just back last night from Disney, my daughter (14) and I shared meals at two restaurants, Chefs de France, and Cap'n Jacks and at Le Cellier I paid oop for a kids meal for her. All the servers let me do it, I'll have to say that the server at Cap'n Jacks kind of gave me a look, but she still did it with no questions asked. There was plenty of food for me and her to share, since neither of us are big eaters, I don't know if there would have been enough for me and my husband to share, since he eats alot more than my DD does. Just make sure that you keep an eye on your remaining credits after each meal because at Chefs the server accidently took off four credits instead of three credits, he quickly resolved the problem, thankfully I looked at the receipt.

 

[Mad4Dizne]

We are going with a few other people--who are not on the plan,what then???

 

[jjohnson]

Haven't you asked this before?

 

[bicker]

I sure did seem like a rerun.

It cannot hurt to repeat the message stuck at the top of this forum, just in case it is relevant:

Any questions regarding the use of the plan that are not answered specifically in the WDW Dining Brochure cannot be accurately answered on these boards and should be addressed to WDW Dining. Interpretation of the rules has led to a tremendous amount of debate on these boards. To avoid further conflict, we will close any threads that ask for interpretation of the rules and encourage the poster to contact WDW Dining.

 

[Sammie]

We are going with a few other people--who are not on the plan. If they made us use our TS credits for them--that wouldn't be right......

If everyone at your table is not on the plan you will get seperate bills. One for those on the Plan and one for those not on the plan. They will automatically be billed the 18% tip so make sure they know that.

 

[kamanda]

We had absolutely no problems sharing. Just tell them ahead of time. I did not try all the restaurants on your list but we did go to Coral Reef. The portions there are very small so unless you have a really small appetite or you're looking to snack in between meals, I would doubt you will be full from sharing 1 TS there.