Via Napoli and sharing was a no

[disneymom2one]

Hi all...

Back from a great trip. Our very first meal on the Deluxe Plan was at Via Napoli for lunch. We decided to share (using two credits for the three of us - all clearly on the dining plan - card said three and there were three of us - 2 adults and a teen). My husband talked to a manager (prior to us sitting down) and he said it was "Disney policy" that if you were on the dining plan, everyone had to use a credit.

We decided to try somewhere else and walked right into Marrakesh. They said it was fine before we even went in. It was allowed but I have to tell you it wasn't easy. The waitress had to go ask someone who had to go ask someone else.

At that point, we gave up on sharing for other meals. I don't like headaches on vacation. It was fine - we had plenty of credits anyway. Our reason for sharing is that we had a split DVC stay and had no dining plan for our final night at AKL (at Beach Club first) so we wanted to stretch things out for the final day. We were still able to by doing QS (where it's easy to share) for a couple of meals.

We did talk to the concierge at the Beach Club and she said Disney had no policy on it (and it's not mentioned in the brochure) but that it was up to individual restaurants.

Anyway, that was just our experience. No biggie. We had a great time.

 

[hannahdrewmom]

We were able to share when we were there in Oct. It will be interesting to see if it was that particular CM or if it is a new policy at Via Napoli. I hate to think it would be a new policy because honestly their portions are large (especially if you are willing to pay oop for an app.)

 

[OandA]

Hmm we've never had a problem with that. We went in 2008 as a group of 4 (all 1 room at Poly) and we split up. My parents went with their friends and my brother and I went with our friends. We had the 2 of us at a table of 4 most nights and only the 2 of us had the DP and we used it fine every night and the other paid with cash.

I wouldn't lump Via Napoli into saying they don't accept it. It probably all depends on who is working that night. And that goes for all restaurants.

 

[LilyWDW]

Just want to ask a question to clear something up...

Did you say to the manager WHAT you wanted to share? Or was it a general "Can we share entrees?" type of thing?

Just curious.

 

[disneymom2one]

We asked if we could use 2 credits to feed 3 people, all of whom were on the dining plan. We were told that if we used the dining plan, three credits had to be deducted.

Again, it didn't ruin ten minutes of our vacation. We had only planned to share at some lunches and it was easy enough to not share.

 

[OllieDannyandMe]

My six year old daughter and I are planning to eat at Via Napoli on our trip to Disney in August. It's just the two of us on the trip. I am wondering if we might have better luck sharing, if I simply order one meal and share it with her.

I cannot imagine that they would deduct two credits, if we only order one meal. If they did, it would be okay. But I plan to give it a try without asking first, and then, accept whatever happens.

 

[OllieDannyandMe]

We asked if we could use 2 credits to feed 3 people, all of whom were on the dining plan. We were told that if we used the dining plan, three credits had to be deducted.

Again, it didn't ruin ten minutes of our vacation. We had only planned to share at some lunches and it was easy enough to not share.

I wonder if Via Napoli would have been more accommodating if you had been seated and ordered two meals, and then, said that your teenager only wanted to order an appetizer, and that you would pay out of pocket for that.

If it is acceptable with the restaurant, that might help to stretch dining credits. Also, the third party would then have a plate, and it would be easier to share some of the entrees, without asking for a plate. I noticed Via Napoli has some appetizers for $6, so it might be worth giving it a shot, if a family is trying to stretch their credits.

 

[disneymom2one]

I wonder if Via Napoli would have been more accommodating if you had been seated and ordered two meals, and then, said that your teenager only wanted to order an appetizer, and that you would pay out of pocket for that.

If it is acceptable with the restaurant, that might help to stretch dining credits. Also, the third party would then have a plate, and it would be easier to share some of the entrees, without asking for a plate. I noticed Via Napoli has some appetizers for $6, so it might be worth giving it a shot, if a family is trying to stretch their credits.

Maybe. I think we could have pushed the issue but it was vacation and just not worth it. I also believe that sharing if we weren't on the plan would not have been an issue. I also think it might have been different at a Disney owned restaurant (someone correct me if I'm wrong about Via Napoli).

 

[aubriee]

Don't forget that there have been reports of Beaches and Cream not allowing people on the DDP to share. I think that's the only restaurant I've heard of having a no sharing policy though and it's just for people on the DDP. People not on the DDP have no problem sharing there.

 

[vinotinto]

Maybe. I think we could have pushed the issue but it was vacation and just not worth it. I also believe that sharing if we weren't on the plan would not have been an issue. I also think it might have been different at a Disney owned restaurant (someone correct me if I'm wrong about Via Napoli).

I think that's definitely the right attitude. No need to waste precious vacation time, when you have tons of credits on the DxDP.

I've also heard that non-Disney restaurants are a little different regarding policies. We shared once last trip on the DxDP - and surprisingly it was at a non-Disney restaurant (Yak & Yeti). We simply told the server and he said no problem. I'm glad we shared there because that day we had breakfast at Tusker House, lunch at Y&Y and dinner at Cali Grill and it would have been waaaay too much food to order 4 meals for lunch.

 

[Tinkerbellie16]

That is interesting - and so glad it didn't concern you or ruin your vacation!

I can't imagine someone forcing you to eat and use a dining credit. I do think that if they don't want people to 'split plates', they should just have a split plate charge. And the dining plan is all about flexibility and not everyone has to use their credits at once. I think I would tell them that two of us is on the dining plan and the other will pay out of pocket and then just get a soda (or maybe an app or soup or salad if you want). Well, my two cents

 

[feezle]

That makes no sense. What if the third person wasn't a member of your party(local friend visiting for the day)?