Split two meals to save a TS meal?

[bookworm2]

Hello,

I'm wondering if DH and I should split meals at ESPN and Sci-Fi so that we could add another TS meal to our agenda. Any thoughts? Thanks!

 

[bicker]

I talked about the idea with my wife and our guests, and we all concluded that it wasn't worth the bother. If we wanted an extra meal (which we did end up having, incidentally) we agreed it would be best just to pay out-of-pocket for it.

 

[momx2]

I'm going to do this a couple of times. Once at ESPN, me an DD are going to eat DH's appetizer Nachos and order an extra appetizer. Also, I plan to just order an extra appetizer at Spoodles and share another appy. with DH. My DD also plans on sharing with me at 50s Prime Time. We should get another sit down out of this. I didn't do this to get another TS, but my DD doesn't like the kids menu at 50s and she will want the nachos at ESPN. It just worked out that way. I wouldn't force it, but if it works out that way then good.

 

[cmwade77]

I agree, but something that you can do to minimize out of pocket expense is getting one on the dining plan and one off the dining plan, that way you can share the appetizer and dessert and each have a main course, works really well this way, esp. at 50's Prime Time Cafe as the portions are huge.

 

[bicker]

Not anymore. We were four adults, three of us watching our weight, at 50s Prime Time Cafe in February, and all the plates were completely empty when the table was bussed. Reasonable (smaller) portions all around now.

 

[MichiganMomto4]

Are the servers okay with this? I mean, essentially, you're talking about two people at a table (or 4, whatever) eating only 1 (or 2) meals with the tip being 18% of that meal even though they are still technically waiting on 2 or more people. It seems they'd be getting shorted their tip.

 

[Disluver]

Not anymore. We were four adults, three of us watching our weight, at 50s Prime Time Cafe in February, and all the plates were completely empty when the table was bussed. Reasonable (smaller) portions all around now.

Interestingly, we were there just at 50s PTlast week and did not notice a difference in the portions since our last time there in August. Same with the other restaurants we went to. I would be very upset if the restaurants started to really cut back on portions and continued to charge the same prices or more because of the DDP. For our three of our four trips this year we are paying out of pocket. Please tell me this is not so. Has anyone else noticed this? Yikes!

As to the OP's question, DH have always shared cetain meals at WDW before and since the DDP. It depends on how hungry we are. Sometimes we each order our own entre, sometimes jsut appetizers. With the implementation of the DDP, I anticiapte that a plate fee may be charged in the future. It will jsut be another negative impact of the DDP on a certain WDW population.

 

[thunderbird1]

I agree, but something that you can do to minimize out of pocket expense is getting one on the dining plan and one off the dining plan, that way you can share the appetizer and dessert and each have a main course, works really well this way, esp. at 50's Prime Time Cafe as the portions are huge.

This is what I would do, and you could even have the non-DDP person order just an appetizer or soup or salad. No offense to those who share, because I really don't care what others do, but I personally would be uncomfortable ordering one meal and splitting it between two adults. I know it doesn't really make sense, even to me, because I don't have any problem just ordering a dinner salad, or an appetizer, or even just a couple of side dishes (I'm a vegetarian, so I sometimes end up doing this at non-veg-friendly restaurants anyway), but that's my take on it.

 

[bicker]

Are the servers okay with this? I mean, essentially, you're talking about two people at a table (or 4, whatever) eating only 1 (or 2) meals with the tip being 18% of that meal even though they are still technically waiting on 2 or more people. It seems they'd be getting shorted their tip.

I would expect most guests to tip an extra $3-$4 per non-ordering guest.

 

[bicker]

I would be very upset if the restaurants started to really cut back on portions and continued to charge the same prices or more because of the DDP.

Restaurants don't have much reason to do it (food ingredients are only a limited percentage of the costs a restaurant incurs for each patron), other than in reaction to guests sharing meals, to the extent you encounter this, credit goes to fellow guests to a great extent.

 

[srgibbs]

We have added an extra meal to our stay so when we eat at Chef Mickey's we plan to pay for the 2 Adults and use the DDP for the kids Buffets since they cost more than a kids meal at a restaurant. The kids will either share 1 meal at 2 other Table Services or we will pay OOP for thier meal at a TS. My DD3 eats next to nothing so we will probably just let them share 2 meals at non character buffets.

 

[kaytieeldr]

I agree, but something that you can do to minimize out of pocket expense is getting one on the dining plan and one off the dining plan

Not if the two people are on the same reservation. Everyone on a given reservation must be participating in the Disney Dining Plan, or nobody on that reservation can.

 

[srgibbs]

Not if the two people are on the same reservation. Everyone on a given reservation must be participating in the Disney Dining Plan, or nobody on that reservation can

We have never had that experience. If you want to pay oop for someone at the tables meal we have never had a problem.

 

[disneyfav4ever]

I was planning on splitting a meal at Flying Fish with my DM, but we'd order at least one extra appetizer, probably an extra dessert, and I know DM would at least have wine. So we'd still have a decent sized bill, and tip accordinlly. If that's not allowed, we'll just use four TS credits, and pay OOP for Akershus.

 

[smartestnumber5]

I've never been to either ESPN or Sci-Fi. But GF and I have shared a credit and order another appetizer or two in the past. We've never gone away hungry.

I think Spoodles is probably a good place for sharing. We were there in January (no DDP that time) and ordered two appetizers--the mediterraean dips and a salad--and then had dessert. We were pretty stuffed when we left.

 

[Hollymom1229]

I don't know about outright sharing anymore, though I'm sure most places would allow it. I know for DH and I at Jiko, we always split an app, got our own entree, and split dessert, long before the DDP. So when we go there this year on the DDP, we'll do the same thing and OOP one of the entrees.

 

[RACHELSMOM1]

Not if the two people are on the same reservation. Everyone on a given reservation must be participating in the Disney Dining Plan, or nobody on that reservation can.

It is correct that everyone must participate in DDP, but that does not apply at restaurants, just to check in to your hotel. We have paid for some at the same time we used DDP during TS meals, and no problem.

 

[The Sweetness]

I was thinking of sharing at a couple of places too. At PT 50s, and Mama Mels. I dont need my own ap and dessert. I can share a bit w DH and DD 15. Order an iced tea and entree, and save the 2 credits towards our last mornings breakfast at AK

Now that I am thinking about it... The cost of the entree and drink at those 2 places, + tax & tip, is about the cost of a meal at Donalds anyway

 

[scrapperjill]

Not if the two people are on the same reservation. Everyone on a given reservation must be participating in the Disney Dining Plan, or nobody on that reservation can.

I don't think the poster ment have one person on ther reservation buy the DDP and the other one not to. I think they just ment at the resturants have one person use their credit to pay for their meal...and the other person pay out of pocket for something. Of course I could be totally off....but that's the way I took it.

DH and I have discussed sharing a couple meals. Right now we have one or two more ADR set than we have credits for. We'll either decide to keep them how they are and split at a couple place so we have credits to use (spreading the credits ) or we'll cancee the ADR that we decide we don't want to do. Myself I'd like to share and try more places...BUT then again there is soooo much food and if we use some TS credits for two diffrent TS places one day we'll still have all those CT credits to use. I think over all and end the end we would probably feel alot better by sharing. There's soooo much food and quite offten it's soooo yummy you don't want to leave much behind. Anyways IMO I don't see anything wrong with shareing a meal now and then...at Disney or not.

 

[RACHELSMOM1]

Okay, I have been on DDP many times. We go to WDW 4-5 times per year. We have shared before- it is allowed, just tell the waiter when you order how you want to do it. And, please dont forget to tip the amt you pay OOP.