Splitting meals

[mjr0483]

What is the attitude in DLP restaurants about splitting meals?

 

[Ware Bears]

Hi, it's not really the done thing, and when you see the portion sizes you'll understand why! Dessert is fine to share though, just ask for two spoons.

 

[cwis]

You should have no issues splitting any meal.

Like in WDW you can also order what you wish, be it only starters or deserts. (I've had success eating a starter only at the Blue Lagoon at a time where you would receive a free fast pass doing so, and got absolutely no trouble or questionning.)

There is absolutely no requirements whatsoever (don't forget portions are sized for the European culture and you may be hungry if you share your meal, though).

 

[DLPDreams]

There's only one meal I've ever felt we should have split at DLRP and that was a pizza meal deal at Colonel Hathis as the pizzas are big. Everywhere else, I'm afraid we would have been hungry! I'm sure you can do it though.

 

[Anemone]

Sharing won't be an issue at counter service places however you will not be allowed to split a meal at buffets or most table service restaurants. Many of the TS restos are now set menu only - Annette's and Blue Lagoon are pretty much the only ts restaurants left that let you eat a la carte since the recent change at Walt's.

Character dining in particular is more about the characters than food and unfortunately too many people took advantage of the a la carte option at Café Mickey by sharing pizzas between 4 or more and now everyone has to pay for a 2 or 3 course meal there. AdC don't allow people to share meals either unless one is an infant.

 

[carlins_leap]

The double fish and chips in Toad Hole is definitely a sharer!

 

[dlpSteve]

Sharing won't be an issue at counter service places however you will not be allowed to split a meal at buffets or most table service restaurants. Many of the TS restos are now set menu only - Annette's and Blue Lagoon are pretty much the only ts restaurants left that let you eat a la carte since the recent change at Walt's.

Character dining in particular is more about the characters than food and unfortunately too many people took advantage of the a la carte option at Café Mickey by sharing pizzas between 4 or more and now everyone has to pay for a 2 or 3 course meal there. AdC don't allow people to share meals either unless one is an infant.

I'm intrigued by this comment as from my experience almost all restaurants offer a la carte too - including Walt's. I can't actually think of any that are set menu only?

 

[Anemone]

Really Steve? Auberge de Cendrillon? Bistrot Chez Remy? Café Mickey? and while I haven't been since Walt's menu changed in April this year I am told that you can no longer eat a la carte from their menu. Of the table service restaurants that do offer a la carte, how many of them in your experience will allow people to share a meal?

 

[dlpSteve]

Walt's is still a la carte too. Auberge and Cafe Mickey are special cases like Inventions as they are all Character dining with set prices.

As for splitting meals - I've never done it and I wouldn't, but that's me. I wouldn't feel comfortable taking up a seat and not paying for a meal, because in effect, splitting is one person and one person not. But that's just my own personal opinion - everyone is different and if DLP don't mind then there should be no problem.

 

[cwis]

Sharing won't be an issue at counter service places however you will not be allowed to split a meal at buffets or most table service restaurants. Many of the TS restos are now set menu only - Annette's and Blue Lagoon are pretty much the only ts restaurants left that let you eat a la carte since the recent change at Walt's.

Character dining in particular is more about the characters than food and unfortunately too many people took advantage of the a la carte option at Café Mickey by sharing pizzas between 4 or more and now everyone has to pay for a 2 or 3 course meal there. AdC don't allow people to share meals either unless one is an infant.

I have taken a picture of the Walt's menu yesterday, and starters/entrées/desert can still be bought individually.
I don't believe it would be allowed for AdC to refuse to share meals (IANAL).

 

[Anemone]

I have taken a picture of the Walt's menu yesterday, and starters/entrées/desert can still be bought individually.
I don't believe it would be allowed for AdC to refuse to share meals (IANAL).

I was misinformed about Walt's then.

However if AdC won't allow guests to go and not eat at all without paying (and they have refused people this - even for disabled children) then I really can't see them allowing people to share a meal. By all means try and let us know if it works.

 

[Anemone]

As for splitting meals - I've never done it and I wouldn't, but that's me. I wouldn't feel comfortable taking up a seat and not paying for a meal, because in effect, splitting is one person and one person not. But that's just my own personal opinion - everyone is different and if DLP don't mind then there should be no problem.

And finally we get back to the actual question that the OP asked. Do DLP allow it? and I've seen nobody say they have been allowed. However on Trip Advisor and fb groups people have said they tried and were not allowed. Now there's an idea for a blog! Do let us know how it goes.

 

[cwis]

Fact is, DLP knows rules are more consumer-friendly in France than in other countries of operation. They sometimes claim that something is enforced by policy (such as electronic tickets which they make you believe are non-transferable) but they somehow manage to let guests do whatever they want, as long as they have no legal way to prevent them to do so.

Regarding sharing meals, this is a tricky case since it could be argued that each customer in a restaurant shall be a paying customer. If one is sharing a meal, the other one might not be paying anything.

However, if everyone is indeed paying for something (be it a drink or a desert), then the argument goes. I can see no legal grounds for DLP that would allow them to charge a meal for everyone at a table.

Unfortunately, given the time being spent by DLP to actually train the staff in restaurants (hint : no time is allocated to training), I wouldn't be surprised by a cast giving false recommendation or rules. If you're willing to argue, ask to speak to a duty manager, and explain you just want to sit by the rules, and for whatever reason splitting a meal is part of the experience you want (which, again, should be fine as long as you are a paying customer).

There's a saying in French stating that false rules are only real for people who believe they're true.