Sharing DDP???

[themudd4]

Actually, it doesn't make it impossible. It does make it wrong.

I knew someone would call me out for that. I did say MY OPINION...and it is just that! While I do not purposely go out to break the rules...if I seen the OP & her mother sharing a meal I do not view that as wrong...regardless of who paid and whom didn't! Disney views this as wrong at that is their policy and they are entitled to it...it is just "MY OPINION."

 

[christa112]

I can't imagine they would let adults share at a buffet. They would lose tons of money that way.

I can understand 2 children sharing for the price of an adult or in my case where we are a family of 5 (2A & 3C--ages 4, 7 & 9) ordering for 4 of us and having my youngest share from everyone, which I don't believe they will allow.

 

[sjaakie]

I knew someone would call me out for that. I did say MY OPINION...and it is just that! While I do not purposely go out to break the rules...if I seen the OP & her mother sharing a meal I do not view that as wrong...regardless of who paid and whom didn't! Disney views this as wrong at that is their policy and they are entitled to it...it is just "MY OPINION."

Maybe everyone who tries to use the ‘backdoor” ore cheating the system could read the rules.



Q. Can I use my Disney Dining Plan to redeem meals for friends or family members who are not included in my reservation and have not purchased this plan.
A. Sorry, you may not use your Disney Dining Plan to redeem meals for friends or family members who are not included in your reservation and have not purchased this plan


Its such a simple rule.

 

[themudd4]

Maybe everyone who tries to use the ‘backdoor” ore cheating the system could read the rules.



Q. Can I use my Disney Dining Plan to redeem meals for friends or family members who are not included in my reservation and have not purchased this plan.
A. Sorry, you may not use your Disney Dining Plan to redeem meals for friends or family members who are not included in your reservation and have not purchased this plan


Its such a simple rule.

ONCE AGAIN...I am not saying it is not a rule! I know it is ..I get that!
I stated MY OPINION! Unless I misunderstood the OP, she wasn't asking to redeem a meal for someone else, rather to share the meal she has purchased (assuming it is not during free dining). Like I said, IT IS MY OPINION, that regardless of who pays for it I do not see meal sharing to be wrong.

If she was not on the DDP she could share a meal with her mother, so IMO, if she is paying for her meal be it the DDP or OOP then I PERSONALLY do not see it as wrong. That is my 2 cents...take it for what it is worth!

JUST FOR THE RECORD: Yes, I know this is against Disney policy...I personally have NEVER shared a meal with anyone not already in my room and on my plan.

If you still have a hard time following what I am saying I am sorry, but this is not something I feel a need to debate on any further. I have my opinion, just like everyone else on these boards has theirs.

Hope everyone has a great day!

 

[kaytieeldr]

I know this is against the rules,

DISBoard Guidelines prohibit posting information on ways to get around the rules.

 

[Katiebell]

Ah...nm

 

[septbaby]

Hmm, if we get back to the facts of the DP we can close the loop for a couple of posters who actually had questions in this thread:

The Disney Dining plans are sold per room. That is to say everyone on the room reservation must purchase the exact same plan for the length of the reservation. You cannot book 4 people in a room and only buy the plan for 2, it is an all or nothing offer. If you just want to buy the plan for 2 people then you'll have to move the others to another room and they don't have to buy the DP. You are not required to buy the DP, it is an optional package.

Unless the Annual Pass or DVC rules apply everyone must also purchase at least a 1 Day Base ticket as part of their package to qualify for the DP. Failure to do this makes the reservation ineligiblefor the DP unless AP/DVC rules apply.

You may not use your Disney Dining Plan to redeem meals for friends or family members who are not included in your reservation and have not purchased this plan.

Any adult attending a buffet will be charged full price for the meal; so no need to worry about sharing. Again refer to the rule above about using plan credits to pay for someone not on the plan.

 

[Gulliver]

All this talk about rules and cheating Disney and how what the OP is proposing is just "wrong".

Look, the OP is talking about saving food (and yes, money) by not ordering more than what her family can eat. Is Disney going to lose money because they're going to sell one less meal plan for food that won't be finished? Perhaps, but I doubt they'll go bankrupt because of it.

We suffer in the developed nations from a serious lack of perspective. I just finished watching a news feature about the increasing problem of world famine due to recent increases in food prices. People are literally rioting in the streets as we speak. Not for a filet or a creme brulee but for simple staples like wheat and rice.

It might be "wrong" to try to circumvent "THE RULES", but is it right to order too much food and leave it unfinished to be thrown in the garbage?

I know I won't win any fans by getting up on my soapbox. This is supposed to be a fun forum for us to talk about something that allows us an escape from our everyday lives. But since others have felt the need to bring the topic of morality into the discussion, I felt I had to say something to present another point of view.


BTW, I am going to Disney in September and both my wife and I will be purchasing the Deluxe DP, as per the rules. However, there will be at least one meal where I plan on redeeming just one dining credit and sharing between the two of us to avoid ordering more food than we can eat.

 

[kaytieeldr]

It might be "wrong" to try to circumvent "THE RULES", but is it right to order too much food and leave it unfinished to be thrown in the garbage?

Of course not (and yeah, it's ultimately silly to complain because there's no more maple sauce for the filet when others have NO food, but that's a topic for another thread). But it needs to be remembered that the Dining Plan does NOT work for every Guest. It doesn't appear to make sense for the OP's party to purchase ANY Dining Plan; they'd be better served by paying out of pocket for desired food choices.

 

[bicker]

Indeed. Like everything else, offerings like the Dining Plan should be used as they're intended, not exploited beyond the bounds of that intention. If that's not "enough" for a patron, then the Dining Plan should be bypassed.

 

[septbaby]

No matter how well intended, the rules are the rules. If the OP thinks he/she can feed the family for half of what the DP allotment then pay out of pocket and share until you've cleaned those plates. Disney does not require the DP so we all have an option. Even in the free dining window you don't have to take the DP and you never have to take all of the food on or off the plan.

Honestly, I think the OP was asking an honest question with no mal intent. The answer if he/she choses the DP for her family is crystal clear: no you cannot do that. However, sharing has a place at Disney and paying OOP gives you the most flexibility with sharing.

 

[ElizabethB]

It is not "cheating" to share your meal with someone who is not booked in your room, does not have the DDP, and does not have a big appetite. Good grief. Are they really going to police each table to see who takes a bite of someone else's dessert. Give me a break. DH likes everyone at the table to order a different entree and different dessert so we all get to taste and share and enjoy everything. It may not be the way others eat, but it's the way we eat. And, we don't expect to be prohibited from doing that by silly and archaic "rules". If my fork can never take something off DH's plate, I'll quit dining out.

If I were the OP, I would share with my parents all I want. I agree that the restaurant won't redeem a meal credit to pay for a meal for someone not on the plan, but there is no way they can stop my grandma from buying a soda and a salad and then having a few bites of my pasta. Sheesh! The only "rule" I would follow is that I would be extra generous with my tipping if grandma only orders a salad and drink. I'd tip as if she ordered more.

I say the pool police on these boards team up with the dining plan police, create their own message board about following the letter of the law, do a group read of Les Miserable (in case they don't know a classic novel about the outcome of following the absolute letter of the law to the misery of all) and leave the rest of us to enjoy our vacations!

 

[Gulliver]

It is not "cheating" to share your meal with someone who is not booked in your room, does not have the DDP, and does not have a big appetite. Good grief. Are they really going to police each table to see who takes a bite of someone else's dessert. Give me a break. DH likes everyone at the table to order a different entree and different dessert so we all get to taste and share and enjoy everything. It may not be the way others eat, but it's the way we eat. And, we don't expect to be prohibited from doing that by silly and archaic "rules". If my fork can never take something off DH's plate, I'll quit dining out.

If I were the OP, I would share with my parents all I want. I agree that the restaurant won't redeem a meal credit to pay for a meal for someone not on the plan, but there is no way they can stop my grandma from buying a soda and a salad and then having a few bites of my pasta. Sheesh! The only "rule" I would follow is that I would be extra generous with my tipping if grandma only orders a salad and drink. I'd tip as if she ordered more.

I say the pool police on these boards team up with the dining plan police, create their own message board about following the letter of the law, do a group read of Les Miserable (in case they don't know a classic novel about the outcome of following the absolute letter of the law to the misery of all) and leave the rest of us to enjoy our vacations!

Hear, hear. Couldn't have said it better myself.

 

[christa112]

I think the problem lies with people who would take advantage of this to the fullest.

Obviously, you can't have a group of 7 people and only have one person order food and they rest just purchase drinks and everyone eat off that one person's plate and unfortunately there are people out there like that.

 

[bicker]

I think the rationalizations are getting pretty thick in here.

I think Christa is right: If people bent the rules very little and very occasionally, then no big deal. The problem is that, in our society, some people bend, twist, break, and turn rules over on the head, whenever possible, and that sort of abuse precludes allowing any leeway. We've seen time and time again Disney offer something with a measure of leniency, people abuse that generosity, and then Disney curtail or eliminate the leniency, including adverse impacts on folks who were actually following the rules as well as those who were not. Many folks don't want more of Disney's offerings ruined by such abuse.

 

[sjaakie]

I wonder how the people that "bent the rules" would react if its was there restaurant ore business.
Imagine having a restaurant, a party of six comes in and only three wish to pay for the meal.
De others eat from the plates of the paying party.
I think you would soon have to close your doors.

 

[Katiebell]

Honestly, I think the OP was asking an honest question with no mal intent. The answer if he/she choses the DP for her family is crystal clear: no you cannot do that. However, sharing has a place at Disney and paying OOP gives you the most flexibility with sharing.

I agree, I think it was an honest question.

But it needs to be remembered that the Dining Plan does NOT work for every Guest. It doesn't appear to make sense for the OP's party to purchase ANY Dining Plan; they'd be better served by paying out of pocket for desired food choices.

My parents and sister are taking a trip with my family (husband, 6 and 3yr old) in Oct. We have two separate rooms reserved onsite and both currently have DDP. It seems like with the deluxe plan, having appetizer, main, and dessert, there will be a lot of food. I am wondering if my parents decide to not take the plan, will the restaurants not offering buffet allow my parents to "share" our meals from the DDP - purchasing their own drinks of course.

I think that it's just that the Deluxe plan is too much for their family -- 2 TS meals a day, appetizers and desserts...yeah, that's a lot. Works for some, not for others. Especially if anyone in their party is a light eater. In their case, the basic DDP for everyone might work. Or the DDP for only one party, and the other party (separate room reservation) paying OOP, but not with the expectation that they will be sharing half of the DDP meals. Or everyone just OOP and the problem is moot. But even if they are lighter eaters, if they go to buffets/character meals with the grandkids, they would have to pay full price anyway...so why not get the regular DDP plan?

 

[DCDisney]

Besides the issues of the rules and when I have made ADRs and they read the disclaimers they often mention that DDP credits are per person; it is really unfair for a server who has a party of 6 and expects a corresponding tip to get half that. I can see sharing apps and desserts around the table if the other 3 at least order something besides a drink. For the most part over the past year or 2 portions have gotten much smaller at WDW. Eating an entree and a dessert is not like if you go somewhere like Cheesecake factory. I can see that with the DDDP it is a ton of food but as someone else mentioned if waste is an issue just get the regular plan and use some of the savings to buy an extra app here and there to share.

 

[abeyst]

OP- you can order your meal and share it with whomever you want.

Although I'd agree with others, and say maybe basic dining plan might be a better fit for your group. And you can still share if you decide to eat at some 2TS places.

 

[kaytieeldr]

It is not "cheating" to share your meal with someone who is not booked in your room, does not have the DDP,

It IS, if the Guest doing the sharing is paying for their own food with Disney Dining Plan credits. Period. This is not an interpretation, or an opinion. It is a RULE, instituted by Disney.

And, we don't expect to be prohibited from doing that by silly and archaic "rules".

Archaic indicates old. The Disney Dining Plan, and its rules and regulations, are current.