Splitting meals on DDP?

[asmit4]

Just booked our free dining trip Now I'm working on ADRs.

Say we want to go to Planet Hollywood for dinner. We both want ribs but the portions are huge.

What if we order 2 drinks, 1 meal, and 1 dessert. Can we pay for the drink OOP, along with the tip and use only 1 credit?

 

[maj42169]

I am no expert, but I have heard that this is not done on the dining plan! But, someone with more knowledge please help.

 

[TiggerDad3]

There are some places that will allow this and some will give you hassle.

You will need to talk to each location individually when you arrive of your intentions. The ordering only one meal and paying OOP for a drink for the other person is not a problem, that is definately allowed but, some places will attempt to charge you 2 credits if you share.

Some portions are very large depending on your appetite....

Good Luck and Have a great Trip!

 

[odaddy!]

Always ask at each restaurant, it varies all the time.

 

[laurabelle]

We've shared meals on and off the DDP and have never once had any server act like it was an issue. When on the DDP I just tell the server before order how many credits we'll be using and we are paying OOP for extras. Right now I have an AP and a DDE card so I let them know I'm using my DDE discount on wine and OOP food. No problems. I think it helps to let them know ahead of time how you are using the plan.
I have not eaten at PH in about 10yrs, so I can't answer for this particular restaurant...

 

[Gracie'sMom]

Last year we split meals at two seperate resaurants (Sci-Fi and WCC) and it was not an issue at all. Obviously, you can't do this at the buffets and all you can eat places. This year we will end up doing this several times as both my husband and I have now had weightloss surgery and simply can't eat a full portion on our own if we tried! Why waste food and order two full meals?? We will have several leftover credits by the end of the week but since it's during free dining I'm not so worried about that. We'll use what we can and maybe treat the person in line behind us if they will let us!

 

[brumley5]

We'll use what we can and maybe treat the person in line behind us if they will let us!

Well, I'm with you on this one, I would hate to have those extra meals go by the wayside (we go in June and are paying for the DDP) bt it does state that you cannot "spend" this on a non DDP person. But if you don't make a big deal out of it and let the person behind you know before you get to the counter, it shouldn't be a problem. At the counter service, no one really knows who all is getting what, unlike the TSs. But then as you pointed out, DDP will be free for you (you lucky one!) so no one is losing out, not even Disney.

My 2 cents!

 

[dyin`tago]

last sept wife and I who are not big eaters split a meal at narcoosees and they were just fine with it.

the only place that gave us a hassle,complaining that they lose money on the plan was wolfgang puck`s cafe` at downtown disney. worst part was we had to leave half the food because we were full and the food was very disappointing.

 

[seashellmom]

I was hoping to split meals also with my DD, but then I realized that all but 2 of our ADR are for buffets or family style restaurants. Any suggestions for places we could share a meal? We are doing Kona and Coral Reef.

 

[asmit4]

I had asked the question about splitting meals and still wasnt really sure of what the answer was. I think we are going to try it at 1 place this time around and see what happens.

Thanks for the info!

 

[ExtinctDino]

I was hoping to split meals also with my DD, but then I realized that all but 2 of our ADR are for buffets or family style restaurants. Any suggestions for places we could share a meal? We are doing Kona and Coral Reef.

We split a meal on the DDP at Coral Reef in Sept. 2006. Also at Rose & Crown. In Sept. 2007 we did this at San Angel Inn and Le Cellier. I've never been given any problems about it by CMs.

 

[Disney Debbie]

DD & I have split many times at many different places with no problem.

 

[earthfaries]

When I called this morning to make ressies for our trip in Sept. I asked about the two 5 year olds sharing at a non-buffet and they said no, it wasn't allowed at all on the DDP

I would try it anyway, and will when we go. The kids are very picky eaters and always share their meals when eating out

 

[laurabelle]

Just booked our free dining trip Now I'm working on ADRs.

Say we want to go to Planet Hollywood for dinner. We both want ribs but the portions are huge.

What if we order 2 drinks, 1 meal, and 1 dessert. Can we pay for the drink OOP, along with the tip and use only 1 credit?

I haven't used the DDP at PH, but I always tell the server before ordering what how plan to use my credits and paying OOP for extras.

last sept wife and I who are not big eaters split a meal at narcoosees and they were just fine with it.
the only place that gave us a hassle,complaining that they lose money on the plan was wolfgang puck`s cafe` at downtown disney. worst part was we had to leave half the food because we were full and the food was very disappointing.

I had a similar experience 2 yrs ago on free dining at WPC. The server was really pushing the most expensive choices, but we don't order by price, we order what we want to eat. He had absolutely not problem with my (Disney adult) dd and I sharing our meals though.

I was hoping to split meals also with my DD, but then I realized that all but 2 of our ADR are for buffets or family style restaurants. Any suggestions for places we could share a meal? We are doing Kona and Coral Reef.

Any place that is non-buffet, non-all-you-can-eat.

 

[Sugardimples]

Of course you can share a meal (except at buffets or family-style meals). Even if an indivudal server gives you attitude (and I have never had a server give attitude about this at Disney or anywhere else), you don't have to order anything you don't want.

 

[jrandtysmom]

Last year we split meals at two seperate resaurants (Sci-Fi and WCC) and it was not an issue at all. Obviously, you can't do this at the buffets and all you can eat places. This year we will end up doing this several times as both my husband and I have now had weightloss surgery and simply can't eat a full portion on our own if we tried! Why waste food and order two full meals?? We will have several leftover credits by the end of the week but since it's during free dining I'm not so worried about that. We'll use what we can and maybe treat the person in line behind us if they will let us!

What did you split at WCC? I'd like to order the skillet but don't think I could eat all of that and hate to waste so could I split it with one of my children?

 

[JimMIA]

Last year we split meals at two seperate resaurants

That was last year, and this is THIS year. Many of the DDP policies changed on Jan 1, 2008.

Generally, you should be allowed to share/split meals between people on the dining plan. Many people do that to save credits for a Signature Dining event, for example. But, as others have noted, your ability to share/split -- even legitimately -- will vary from restaurant to restaurant, and sometimes even from server to server.

We will have several leftover credits by the end of the week but since it's during free dining I'm not so worried about that. We'll use what we can and maybe treat the person in line behind us if they will let us

If your server permits that, they will be risking their job. All of the servers have been put on notice that they will be disciplined (up to termination) if they violate the DDP's rules. That kind of sharing is one of the things that resulted in the radical reduction in the value of DDP this year.

We just got back last night, and one of the restaurant managers told me there was so much cheating on DDP that they had to make a very painful decision to either cut the program way back for 2008 or eliminate it entirely. His words were, "People were robbing us blind!"

He also said they are especially looking very closely at Free DDP later this summer

 

[justplaingoofy]

We've shared plenty of meals on the ddp... last visit was Jan.08.

When we split we double tip so the servers are still making what they would based if we were both ordering meals...

A great place to split was 50's primetime... they have a great milkshake which is pretty big and has two servings & they brought it out in 2 cups. (we hadn't planned on splitting the drink, I just hadn't ordered mine yet)...

We've split at:
50's primetime
LeCellier
Rose & Crown
San Angel Inn
Whispering Canyon
Mama Melrose

Don't believe they allow sharing skillets at Whispering Canyon since its all you can eat...

 

[Gracie'sMom]

Hi Jim,

Yea, there's been many changes to the program and since I've not used it yet this year, I will obviously be behind the learning curve on it. If they don't let us split a meal then they are more than welcome to send out two meals that well over half of each will be left on the plate given our laproscopic gastric banding restriction of less than a cup of food in volume per meal. It would be a shame to have food brought out though that will just sit there going to waste. I'm not a wasteful person by nature and was actually thinking about disney on that one.

As far as the "treating" the person behind me I'm sure it depends on how covert we are. When I mentioned this I was thinking about the snacks credits and maybe treating the child in line behind me to a pretzel or frozen treat not a table service meal.

Yes, I know it's not the intent of the program but I'm comfortbale with my decision and if I am told no I am also mature enough to accept that as well but it's worth a try!

 

[Gracie'sMom]

Hi Jrandtysmom,

I actually don't remember what we had at that meal. I know only two people decided to get the skillet of our party of seven. I think I either had a burger or sandwich as I do remember I wanted fries (so I could ask for ketchup). That was our last night of our trip last year and we were running on autopilot by then. Sorry, I wish I could be more help!

I don't think they will let you split a skillet though unless the child you will be sharing it with will be under three years old.