Splitting dinners on DDP

[sausageman1]

I've just heard on the The Dis podcast that you can not split meals on the DDP. I understand you can't with a buffett, but has been the experience at a place like Le Cellier or San Angel.

We have free DDP our kids our 12 & 11. We just don't need that much food. My plans also use the extra SD credits so we can attend HDDR and the Luau. I've understood we're not supposed to split, but the servers usually look the other way.

What's been anybodies experience.

Thanks

 

[bicker]

Generally, folks haven't encountered problems. However, that could change at any time, and there have been rumors that Disney, at times, has considered prohibiting meal sharing, because so many people are beginning to engage in it and it damages their model so significantly.

 

[bob_and_mary]

HI. We were just there about 2 weeks ago and have daughters that are 12 and 14. One problem we ran into was that at some places the CM would let our daughters split a meal, but it became a much larger issue if we wanted to purchase something (other than an extra drink) for them. For example, at LeCellier both of them wanted soup and split everything else. At that point it was going to to create issues so we did not get the extra soup. So the bottom line is our girls were able to split dinners at LeCellier and WCC, but not always without some issues.

 

[NMW]

I posted this a while ago I think. Friends of ours with 10 and 12 year old boys dined at Flying Fish on the DDP and wanted to split a steak. The server told them that it is their policy that everyone on the DDP must order their own entree. It wasn't a really big deal for them, they were just doing it because she thought it was a lot of steak for them to eat. I think they wanted to get each of them soup or some sort of app and pay OOP for the extra, but when told "no sharing" they just ordered them each their own app and own steak. I think it may depend on the restaurants policy, but I can't imagine you'd have problems at most places.

 

[septbaby]

I just reviewed the 2007 brochure. There actually is not a stated sharing/spliting policy, so I think it is up to each establishment. However, they are clear that Adults cannot use child credits.

Just thought I mention this because, I along with others have stated that sharing is OK, but the plan literature doesn't actually say that.

 

[JoiseyMom]

I shared with my DD10 last year, there was just too much food for the 2 of us. I didn't want to be stuffed, and I didn't want to waste all the food she didn't eat. We shared at a few restaruants and used the extra TS's at HDDR. I hope we can do that again this year. Not allowing people to share is going to suck.

 

[bicker]

You can try asking for smaller portions. We sometimes do that so we're not tempted to over-eat.

 

[sausageman1]

It's against all good things I believe in to ask for smaller portions. Feed the beast.

 

[JimMIA]

As others have stated, I think you will find a variance in the policies from restaurant to restaurant, and probably from server to server.

After 1/1/2008, splitting/sharing will be more difficult because of the elimination of the appetizer -- which was probably one of the reasons they took the appetizer out of DDP.

 

[CarolA]

I think Jim has some VERY valid points.

The appetizer was probably removed for the three points he has made several times on this board

1. Profit. Disney is making more money (we know the App cost more then a $1)
2. Timing. If you don't get an appetizer the meal moves quicker and they can turn more tables which reduces the whining about "I can't find anyplace to eat"
3. Meal Sharing. Once again having 4 people manage to eat 8 TS meals was costing Disney money. Plus you were "taking" up a space that they weren't making a profit on. I would expect the "managed" resturants to take a harder line on this, but we will see.....

 

[lonegungirl]

It's against all good things I believe in to ask for smaller portions. Feed the beast.

Heh. I think we belong to that church as well.

DM and I have shared all over the place without problems. I would agree with those who have said that it is dependent on the particular server you happen to get and always subject to change. If I had to guess, I would think that when they start the new dining plan next year, they might make the sharing policy more definite, but that until then it's likely to stay undefined. But that's me asking the Magic 8 Ball.

What I would do, is if you have any places you really want to go to, or have to make prepaid reservations, I would do those first in the trip. Otherwise, if they find yourself unable to share, you may use your credits up early in the trip and not have enough for the shows, etc.

 

[sausageman1]

I have it planned out if we don't get split meals, we'll just cancel one of the shows, then we'll have extra TS credits for the rest of the week.

 

[luckytobeme88]

we will be using 2TS at California Grill during our up-coming trip too. We will probably split some CS lunch then use a CS credit for dinner instead.

 

[SnoWhiteLookAlike]

How do you feed a child in your party under 3 if you can't share? Ideas please!!

 

[rkwells]

The server told them that it is their policy that everyone on the DDP must order their own entree. .

It sounds like from different individual experiences here that it's a YMMV situation but, correct me if I'm wrong...a few months back weren't there several threads reagarding WDW cracking down on this and enforcing the policy stated above????

 

[PrincessMom4]

Yeah, that's ,my question too SnoWhiteLookAlike...I have a child almost 2 and a half.

Also what if you don't finish a meal, can you not take it with you bcak to your resort? (assuming you have a fridge)
Isabell

 

[eeyoresnr]

Also what if you don't finish a meal, can you not take it with you bcak to your resort? (assuming you have a fridge)
Isabell

I would like to know this as well

 

[luckytobeme88]

I guess when you give some of your TS food to a toddler is perfectly acceptable. Saving your TS to use for a signature restaurant just sounds kind of you-know...not right. I am sorry [

 

[JimMIA]

we will be using 2TS at California Grill during our up-coming trip too. We will probably split some CS lunch then use a CS credit for dinner instead.

Or hit a "heavy" CS like Cosmic Ray's for your main meal one day. For one CS there, you can get ribs, BBQ chicken, or a chicken and ribs platter -- plenty of food for your big meal of the day without splitting, scraping and stressing.

 

[JimMIA]

How do you feed a child in your party under 3 if you can't share? Ideas please!!

Having a <3 year old eat off your plate is not sharing.

If you just read the basic info on the dining plan in the DDP FAQ at the top of this page, you'll see that toddlers are allowed to eat off other DDP participants plates.

The CMs will also usually bring them something to drink, extra plates, etc.