Shring on Dining Plan

[n2mm]

Are you allowed to get TS meals to-go if you are on the DDP or OOP? Either the whole meal or part?

Just curious. Our next trip is a DVC 1 bedroom so we'll have a kitchen and I can easily see keeping leftovers (esp desserts).

This, of course, is another way to share a meal -- although not very practical unless your restaurant is close by and you have the facilities. However I can also see taking your food to someplace quiet and eating it outside on a nice day.

WE bring leftovers back to our DVC resort all of the time. Most places have no problem boxing up stuff for you. I've brought back fried chicken from the 50s Prime Time, and desert back from LeCellier and Concourse last month. Of course you might want them to not put sauces or whipped cream on your desert. The chocolate cake gets boxed up alot. Usually we just share one desert and bring "home" the other one for later.

 

[Katiebell]

Interesting to think in terms of that last day if everyone needs to order something. Say the grandparents watch the kids one night while parents go out to eat so that at your last lunch, you only have 2 TS credits left for 2 adults and 2 kids (assume kids are over 9 so adult/child credit doesn't come into play). So, you order 2 sets of appets, entrees and desserts and think thats enough for the 4 of you for lunch, esp since going to pick up a few snack items for the road. If no sharing is allowed, you MUST order something seperate for the kids to eat. Seems like a weird requirement and not particularly family friendly.

Precisely. If families don't have each member use exactly their allotted credits each day (1 TS, 1 CS, and 1 snack), they will either end up with wasted credits they've paid for and can't use (since they will expire at midnight and can't be used on a future vacation), or if they try to get one last meal on the last day before they leave, they will have to pay OOP for at least some of their family members. Or if they do a couple of 2 TS meals during their trip, they will also end up paying OOP for at least a couple of meals. So, again...why is sharing or splitting meals allowed for guests paying OOP but not for guests on the DDP?

 

[jodifla]

Precisely. If families don't have each member use exactly their allotted credits each day (1 TS, 1 CS, and 1 snack), they will either end up with wasted credits they've paid for and can't use (since they will expire at midnight and can't be used on a future vacation), or if they try to get one last meal on the last day before they leave, they will have to pay OOP for at least some of their family members. Or if they do a couple of 2 TS meals during their trip, they will also end up paying OOP for at least a couple of meals. So, again...why is sharing or splitting meals allowed for guests paying OOP but not for guests on the DDP?

To me, it's completely clear why they wouldn't allow sharing on the DDP but would allow it OOP.

When DH and I go out, we normally split the appetizers and dessert and both order entrees. This, I would imagine, will never be prohibited anywhere...it's pretty much a standard.

I think the problem is that the DDP comes with the appetizer and dessert, but that credit is meant for ONE person, not TWO. It's already a DEAL, so you aren't supposed to make it more of a deal by splitting it.

 

[jodifla]

Are you allowed to get TS meals to-go if you are on the DDP or OOP? Either the whole meal or part?

Just curious. Our next trip is a DVC 1 bedroom so we'll have a kitchen and I can easily see keeping leftovers (esp desserts).

This, of course, is another way to share a meal -- although not very practical unless your restaurant is close by and you have the facilities. However I can also see taking your food to someplace quiet and eating it outside on a nice day.

I wouldn't count on being able to get meals to go. DDP put the kabosh on that awhile ago. You can get leftovers to go, but they've even balked at putting desserts in a box to go an Olivia's.

More bad effects from the DDP!

 

[Marshay]

they've even balked at putting desserts in a box to go an Olivia's.

Guess that's what napkins are for!

 

[Katiebell]

To me, it's completely clear why they wouldn't allow sharing on the DDP but would allow it OOP.

When DH and I go out, we normally split the appetizers and dessert and both order entrees. This, I would imagine, will never be prohibited anywhere...it's pretty much a standard.

I think the problem is that the DDP comes with the appetizer and dessert, but that credit is meant for ONE person, not TWO. It's already a DEAL, so you aren't supposed to make it more of a deal by splitting it.

When you pay OOP, you and your husband each order an entree, and split one appetizer and one dessert. Is that correct?

If my husband and I split a meal on the dining plan, he would use one TS credit for appetizer, entree, and dessert. We would split the appetizer and dessert, and I would order separate entree OOP. Or if he had a really large entree and we split that instead, then I would order another appetizer and/or dessert.

What is the difference?

It's not an issue of making it more of a deal, at least not for us. It's wanting the convenience of the DDP, but also wanting to have more reasonable sized portions, and not waste food.

For some folks, it's also because they want to save a credit or two so they can go to a 2 TS credit meal -- signature or a dinner show.

 

[gina2000]

To me, it's completely clear why they wouldn't allow sharing on the DDP but would allow it OOP.

When DH and I go out, we normally split the appetizers and dessert and both order entrees. This, I would imagine, will never be prohibited anywhere...it's pretty much a standard.

I think the problem is that the DDP comes with the appetizer and dessert, but that credit is meant for ONE person, not TWO. It's already a DEAL, so you aren't supposed to make it more of a deal by splitting it.

I totally agree with this. I mistyped earlier when I said that OOP patrons also aren't welcome to split entrees. My stance is that OOP patrons are in effect paying ALOT more for their meals than the DDP. And they are allowed alot more leeway as a result. Let me give you an example.

When we dined at Bistro de France, our bill came to about (or over....I can't remember) $200 for three adults. Each of us ordered an appetizer, an entree and a dessert. (What can I say....we hadn't eaten all day and we were really hungry). If we had the DDP, the max it would have been is $120 (assuming the DDP only pays for a TS meal which it does not). Huge difference, no? Now, divide the DDP into sharing portions. Two orders, perhaps? It's worth $80 (I rounded, too lazy to add) assuming no CS and no snack (which we all know is not true). That's a huge, huge difference from the original $200 price tag.

Now, how do the restaurants feel about it? Can they continue to operate that way? You tell me.

 

[Sammie]

I wish. I have to not only RDP into the computer where I keep my email, I then have to find the stupid message from Disney, and then copy-and-paste. I really should make it into a macro. Anyway, here it is:

That still does not clarify sharing with someone outside the plan or those on the plan. I was told by Dining that sharing within the plan is fine. That the credits are yours and you can use them anyway you see fit with the others on your plan.

 

[jodifla]

That still does not clarify sharing with someone outside the plan or those on the plan. I was told by Dining that sharing within the plan is fine. That the credits are yours and you can use them anyway you see fit with the others on your plan.

It's pretty clear that Disney is getting ready to end sharing on the DDP, or more precisely, splitting a meal.

It's ALREADY a deal, folks. PAY YOUR FAIR SHARE! That way, the dining experience won't slide any further.

 

[jodifla]

I totally agree with this. I mistyped earlier when I said that OOP patrons also aren't welcome to split entrees. My stance is that OOP patrons are in effect paying ALOT more for their meals than the DDP. And they are allowed alot more leeway as a result. Let me give you an example.

When we dined at Bistro de France, our bill came to about (or over....I can't remember) $200 for three adults. Each of us ordered an appetizer, an entree and a dessert. (What can I say....we hadn't eaten all day and we were really hungry). If we had the DDP, the max it would have been is $120 (assuming the DDP only pays for a TS meal which it does not). Huge difference, no? Now, divide the DDP into sharing portions. Two orders, perhaps? It's worth $80 (I rounded, too lazy to add) assuming no CS and no snack (which we all know is not true). That's a huge, huge difference from the original $200 price tag.

Now, how do the restaurants feel about it? Can they continue to operate that way? You tell me.

Exactly! It's not hard to see from a business standpoint.

 

[Sammie]

It's pretty clear that Disney is getting ready to end sharing on the DDP, or more precisely, splitting a meal.

It's ALREADY a deal, folks. PAY YOUR FAIR SHARE! That way, the dining experience won't slide any further.

How is it clear?

I asked if sharing on the plan was acceptable, they said sharing was fine, nothing was said about it is fine now but we are fixing to change it.

Unlike when I asked about child and adult credits last year and was told many times it was going to change and did.

I am sure if they had a problem with it they would have said so. I could care less either way, does not affect me. I was asked by someone else to ask my contacts if sharing was acceptable, I asked and was told it was.

 

[jodifla]

How is it clear?

I asked if sharing on the plan was acceptable, they said sharing was fine, nothing was said about it is fine now but we are fixing to change it.

Unlike when I asked about child and adult credits last year and was told many times it was going to change and did.

I am sure if they had a problem with it they would have said so. I could care less either way, does not affect me. I was asked by someone else to ask my contacts if sharing was acceptable, I asked and was told it was.

But plenty of people are getting messages from guest services saying that there is no sharing on the DDP....looks like they are getting ready to make a change.

I think "sharing" will always be acceptable. Splitting meals so you don't have to order is likely going the way of the dodo bird.

 

[allyphoe]

If my husband and I split a meal on the dining plan, he would use one TS credit for appetizer, entree, and dessert. We would split the appetizer and dessert, and I would order separate entree OOP.

It's not an issue of making it more of a deal, at least not for us.

Except that you are making it more of a deal. If you ordered the appetizer, entree, and dessert OOP, and he ordered a separate entree on the DDP, that would be a much worse deal for you. The way you've suggested is a much better deal for you. "Fair" for everyone would be to add up the total bill, split it in half, and have half covered by the DDP and half OOP.

 

[Dis Ohana]

Interesting thread. I am so glad I read this before going ahead with the DDP. It sounded like a great thing at first. I had planned on splitting TS meals with my DD (11) so we could possibly try more TS places, or hit a signature dining choice. It would probably mean not using a few CS, but I figured the plan would still pay for itself.
I still think if we were 2 adults traveling on this plan and if we used it as intended (each having 1CS and 1TS per day) it would be a good value. But we enjoy more TS meals than CS, and my DD eats like a bird, I am also a very light eater. It would be a huge waste of food for me or her to try to eat a meal with apps, main and dessert alone.

 

[bicker]

The main reason that has been given here for not splitting meals is that the restaurant is effectively losing capacity -- two people splitting one meal does not generate as much revenue as two people each ordering their own meal

In the case of the Dining Plan, that's only part of the reason. It extends to include the fact that the Dining Plan is priced based practically on a per meal basis ("four people eating five meals"), rather than on a per entree basis ("twenty entrees"). Extending the value of the Dining Plan beyond its intended use invalidates the foundation of the pricing model. (Keep in mind that our interpretations of even the marketing materials, much less the more amorphous "what the Dining Plan is good for" assumptions, may be far off from the assumptions used to set pricing, and the true intended use of the plan.)

But, if that is truly the case, and the restaurants are primarily concerned about wasted table space, why do they allow patrons paying OOP to split meals?

I suspect it is, "Because they have to."

I wonder if the real reasons are that Disney is counting on unused leftover credits on the DDP (thus increasing their profit

No -- not "increasing" their profit -- just achieving the level of profit intended by the pricing model.

 

[bicker]

How is it clear?

It is clear because we're getting this answer in response to the specific question.

"If we are four adults on the Dining Plan, can we visit Spoodles, for example, order three meals, and use just 3 table service credits, sharing the food from these three meals among the four of us?"

Again, their answer was... "sharing is not permitted."

 

[bicker]

I still think if we were 2 adults traveling on this plan and if we used it as intended (each having 1CS and 1TS per day) it would be a good value.

That's really the whole point in the end. The Dining Plan is really intended to provide convenience, not a mind-blowing financial bargain. It is clearly supposed to be a marginally better deal than paying OOP, not a remarkably better deal. Disney appears to be continuing to take steps to ensure that folks are using the Dining Plan as intended, and that abuse of the Dining Plan is kept in check.

 

[disneymom2one]

I wouldn't count on being able to get meals to go. DDP put the kabosh on that awhile ago. You can get leftovers to go, but they've even balked at putting desserts in a box to go an Olivia's.

More bad effects from the DDP!

We were able to have Olivia's box up food in December.

 

[Sammie]

It is clear because we're getting this answer in response to the specific question.

"If we are four adults on the Dining Plan, can we visit Spoodles, for example, order three meals, and use just 3 table service credits, sharing the food from these three meals among the four of us?"

Again, their answer was... "sharing is not permitted."

Who is saying this Guest Services, who is reading for a computer screen where it says no sharing due to no sharing among non plan members or directly from Spoodles?

Because I have found no one directly involved with Food and Beverage that has said no sharing among plan members.

 

[bicker]

That's a good point Sammie. So we need to get the Disney Dining people to set the Guest Communications people and the reservations people straight. How do we do that?