Sharing on DDP?

[NorweJenNY]

Does anyone share meals on the DDP?

I'm not talking about all-you-can-eat meals, but other places.

For instance, can my family (2 adults, 2 kids), go to Coral Reef to share 1 adult meal and 1 kids meal, and then on another day, go to Beaches 'N Cream to split 1 adult meal and 1 kids meal? Is there a sharing charge? Or do they not allow it on the dining plan?

Now that we're finally trying DDP, I thought this might be a better way of trying more TS's and not getting too full either.

Thanks for your help!

 

[PictureJumpr]

Yes, as long as you are not in a buffet or all-you-can-eat/family-style location, you most certainly can share entrees/meals in the manner which you describe.

There is no sharing charge at any restaurant except apparently Shula's (which is not a DDP restaurant anyway), and in many cases if you tell the server 'my husband and I are sharing the salmon' or whatever then you will receive the meal already split on seperate plates. Other places will just bring you an extra plate to the table.

As for the kids' meals, they are somewhat smaller than the adult plates and one dinner may not be quite enough to satisfy two children - in which case you could order a second meal oop (they run about $7.50 in most TS locations) or order sides to supplement for the kids.

You will have to pay oop for the beverages for the sharing folks, and when we do this we always make sure to tip the server as though everyone had ordered their own meal since it is our choice to share and lower their table total, although this is just our habit and not a requirement.

 

[n2mm]

I agree about the kids meals. They are tiny and not shareable. Our last trip with our Granddaughters (3 1/2 and 18 months) we had to buy meals for BOTH of them. The 3 yo gobbled down her entire meal at every CS and TS with no problem and she's not a big eater. For the 18 month, we generally bought the entree (not the entire meal). They are going with us in May and we know we will be buying 2 entire meals for them at each sitting. As for sharing TS, I imagine it's doeable, but have found the meals more normal size now. Not many "huge" meals that I've ever seen. The friend chicken at the 50s Prime Time is still a bigger meal, but the sides are only about a half cup portion. (we just ate there last month). In the past I use to leave alot of food, but now I have no problem finishing my meals. You could certainly try to do some splitting of meals, but I just wanted to warn you so that you have a backup plan.

 

[Tricia1972]

I have heard that Beaches and Cream can be 'sticklers' about sharing. They're the only restaurant that I've heard this about, but since you specifically mentioned B&C I thought it worth mentioning. They definitely have not allowed people on the DDP share, but I don't know how widespread this is enforced.

I've never heard of an issue at any other restaurant though.

 

[NorweJenNY]

I have heard that Beaches and Cream can be 'sticklers' about sharing. They're the only restaurant that I've heard this about, but since you specifically mentioned B&C I thought it worth mentioning. They definitely have not allowed people on the DDP share, but I don't know how widespread this is enforced.

I've never heard of an issue at any other restaurant though.

That comes as quite a shock... has anyone else had this issue?

It was actually after I read someone's review where they shared a meal at Beaches N Cream when I thought about applying that sharing idea! I just wanted to check about sharing while on DDP because I didn't know if the people making that review were on it or not. The more I think about it, I'm not sure why that should matter though...

 

[NorweJenNY]

I agree about the kids meals. They are tiny and not shareable. Our last trip with our Granddaughters (3 1/2 and 18 months) we had to buy meals for BOTH of them. The 3 yo gobbled down her entire meal at every CS and TS with no problem and she's not a big eater. For the 18 month, we generally bought the entree (not the entire meal).

Wow! That's a shocker! Good eaters... those two little girls!

My two boys actually ended up sharing counter service meals quite a bit last year... one is big into the main dish (the hot dog, the burger, etc.)...and the other one is more into the sides... grapes, applesauce, fries... not well balanced, but I'm not gonna be too picky on vacation. So, anyway, they actually share pretty well. And if we're at Beaches N Cream, I'm sure dessert will help fill tummies quite well too! (even if that's what we order an extra one of OOP)

 

[MickeyMomOfThree]

We shaared at a few restaurants on our November trip both me with our oldest DD14 and the 2 younger girls shared kids meals a few times. We never had any trouble and at a couple places they actually plaed the meal on 2 seperate plates for us (Kona and 50s PT if I recall correctly.)

 

[hrh_disney_queen]

Those that have shared, did you ask first, or just say one person wasn't ordering and then share? I had this same question about sharing, in the sticky for this board it says it is officially (per Disney) not allowed, but consistently is allowed at the restaurants-"ask your server". I was told by another Diser to just order the meals we want, order a beverage for the one not ordering, and share from each other's plates...no one would come up and say "no, you can't do that".

I was wondering how many people have actually shared and not been questioned about it.

 

[MickeyMomOfThree]

We always said when we were ordering that so and so would be sharing. That is how we were always at least given a second plate. We didn't do it in secret at all.

 

[n2mm]

Wow! That's a shocker! Good eaters... those two little girls!

My two boys actually ended up sharing counter service meals quite a bit last year... one is big into the main dish (the hot dog, the burger, etc.)...and the other one is more into the sides... grapes, applesauce, fries... not well balanced, but I'm not gonna be too picky on vacation. So, anyway, they actually share pretty well. And if we're at Beaches N Cream, I'm sure dessert will help fill tummies quite well too! (even if that's what we order an extra one of OOP)

Strangly the girls don't eat that much at home, but on vacation they can put it away. We do often save the grapes for snacks later. Now that the little one is latose intolerant and can have NO dairy, so will have to have her own desert and often her own meals (no mac/cheese/pizza/hotdogs -- which is all they serve) and of course no ice cream. Our 3 yo got the pizza at TS alot and I was amazed that she ate the entire thing and that is after eating her chicken noodle soup. We just don't know how bigger kids do it. If you get the CS chicke nuggets it comes with FOUR nuggets. Our baby girl can eat those in about 5 minutes -- of course we have to take the crust off now as it has dairy in it!

As for sharing at Beachs and Cream. I too have read the same reports about folks getting hasseled about sharing, but only when using the DDP. We don't use the DDP at B&C and we have shared a sandwich often (probably ate there 10 times last year, actually ate there 4 times this year so far -- we stay at BCV and BWV ALOT). We usually share a sandwich, but get our own desert. The last few times we shared at B&C (January 2009) the servers have been great and will split our meal and serve it on 2 different plates so that we don't have to do it ourselves. We do tip extra for the extra service, but since we go often we have come to know the CMs too, which helps.

We use the DDP (when we buy it) to supplement our meals. By no means do we use it exclusively for our meals. We like to do TS for breakfast so we pay OOP for those meals. If we want extra sides or adult beverages, again we just pay OOP. But we do have the TIW card too.

 

[NorweJenNY]

We don't use the DDP at B&C and we have shared a sandwich often (probably ate there 10 times last year, actually ate there 4 times this year so far -- we stay at BCV and BWV ALOT). We usually share a sandwich, but get our own desert. The last few times we shared at B&C (January 2009) the servers have been great and will split our meal and serve it on 2 different plates so that we don't have to do it ourselves. We do tip extra for the extra service, but since we go often we have come to know the CMs too, which helps.

We use the DDP (when we buy it) to supplement our meals. By no means do we use it exclusively for our meals. We like to do TS for breakfast so we pay OOP for those meals. If we want extra sides or adult beverages, again we just pay OOP. But we do have the TIW card too.

I get the feeling that you eat very well when you go to WDW!

We've been hoping to try BWV or BCV at some point in the future... with the Boardwalk right there, Epcot WS just a short walk/boat ride away... lots of FABULOUS options to satisfy one's tastebuds! TIW would probably be very useful here!

 

[RMulieri]

Beaches and Cream are sticklers. They would not allow sharing when we were down in Sept.They told us this the minute we were seated

 

[serene56]

Curious question- when sharing meals on the DDP like the OP is suggesting== would you not have many credits left at the end of the stay?

With the DDP do we get 3 meals for each person-- how would we share?

 

[NorweJenNY]

Curious question- when sharing meals on the DDP like the OP is suggesting== would you not have many credits left at the end of the stay?

With the DDP do we get 3 meals for each person-- how would we share?

I could be wrong, but there might be a miscommunication here...

Just to be clear, I'm talking about the Disney Dining Plan (DDP = 1 TS, 1 CS, 1 snack)... it sounds like you might be thinking about the Deluxe Disney Dining Plan (DxDDP = 3 TS, 2 snacks, 1 mug)...

If that is the case, there'd be so much food on DxDDP that I would never consider sharing!

On regular DDP, we could make more use of meals if we're allowed to each have our own breakfast (4 CS credits), but share a lunch(2 TS credits), and share a dinner (2 TS credits)...

 

[NorweJenNY]

Beaches and Cream are sticklers. They would not allow sharing when we were down in Sept.They told us this the minute we were seated

So, at Beaches N Cream... let's say my dh gets a meal and 1 ds gets a meal, on dining plan credits, but I order small things OOP, like a chili for myself and a side of fries for my other ds... but we share the desserts included on the meal plan. With desserts being so big, would they have a problem with this?

Any opinions/suggestions?

 

[TDC Nala]

Disney will not come out and state officially that sharing is allowed at its restaurants...thus the wording of the sharing section of the DDP FAQ on this board. It's up to the restaurant whether they will allow it and under which circumstances. We can say it's generally been allowed with the caveat that meals ordered on the dining plan are not to be shared with people who are not on your dining plan.

All we can say about Beaches & Cream is that the board has had several reports that B&C did not allow guests on the dining plan to share meals. I don't know if they'd let you share desserts or not. If you each order a dessert I don't know why they wouldn't let you all sample each other's dessert. If someone orders OOP and you want to sample someone else's dessert - I do not know if B&C in particular would have a problem with that. If no one's tried that you would have to ask when you get there. If someone orders an entree but not a dessert because you'd rather share the dessert, I don't know why you'd do that, because you get a dessert with your entree. If you want to share with a child under age 3, that should always be permitted.

 

[serene56]

Just to be clear, I'm talking about the Disney Dining Plan (DDP = 1 TS, 1 CS, 1 snack)... it sounds like you might be thinking about the Deluxe Disney Dining Plan (DxDDP = 3 TS, 2 snacks, 1 mug)....

I still have a hard time with all the "little" words. Yep, I thought you were talking about the deluxe meals. That is what we are thinking of getting-- BUT after reading this posts-- Maybe sharing could be a way for us to go. We are a family of 6 adults and 1 child. so 3 of us can share- hmmm,
thanks for clearing that up for me.

 

[NorweJenNY]

I still have a hard time with all the "little" words. Yep, I thought you were talking about the deluxe meals. That is what we are thinking of getting-- BUT after reading this posts-- Maybe sharing could be a way for us to go. We are a family of 6 adults and 1 child. so 3 of us can share- hmmm,
thanks for clearing that up for me.

That would be really expensive and just a TON of food if you did a family like that on DxDDP! (Lots of adult meals to pay for) But if you're able to afford it and have a group that likes to eat, don't let me stop you!

I'm thinking DDP is better... I even just read a report where a family had 10 TS meals leftover at the end of a trip while on DxDDP... I can't imagine! They still felt they got their money's worth!

I think get DDP, and if necessary, add a couple of extra meals OOP. I don't know if we'd ever be able to eat that much...

Though maybe on a shorter trip... I can see DxDDP for a 3-day, 2-night trip, where we have a total of 6 meals (3/night x 2 nights) but spread it out over 3 days... 2 TS per day sounds more doable! Plus, there's a bunch of snacks to use too!

If we intended on doing lots of signature meals, I suppose that would be another case for DxDDP, but right now, I don't see it for our family.

 

[n2mm]

So, at Beaches N Cream... let's say my dh gets a meal and 1 ds gets a meal, on dining plan credits, but I order small things OOP, like a chili for myself and a side of fries for my other ds... but we share the desserts included on the meal plan. With desserts being so big, would they have a problem with this?

Any opinions/suggestions?

They usually don't have a problem sharing deserts. Sometimes hubby gets one and I don't, but every time we do, they always bring an extra spoon, just in case I want a bite or two. But keep in mind, we've always paid OOP here and have never used DDP, so they could have a different set of rules for the DDP.