Will this work with dinning plan?

[DisNorsworthys]

I am not sure if I have a correct understanding of the way the credits work with the dinning plan. Is there really no way for the resturant to tell if your remaining credits are child credits or adult credits? I keep reading about people choosing to pay for their child's meal and saving their credits for a meal upgrade to use themselves. My DH and I are considering buying an additional child's plan for our 15 mth. old DS and using his credits plus credits from paying for our other DS and DD's meals for our Hoop de Doo Revue. We're worried that this won't actually work, that we cann't use child credits for an adult meal. Is a credit just a credit or are the credits specifically for an adult or a child? Can anyone help us here?
Thanks,
Amanda N.

 

[CLEO Z]

We just got back and a credit IS just a credit. They just won't let a child eat off of the adult menu at a table service using a credit. If a kid eats at a table service you can A) use the credit and have them eat off the kids menu B) have them eat off the kids menu, you pay and use the credit for adult later or C) pay for them to eat off of the adult menu and save the credit. I recommend option B, particularly at the buffets.

At counter services it doesn't matter at all. Order what you want regardless of age.

 

[tallpkb]

Cleo Z, I need some clarification. At TS restaurants that are NOT family style or buffet, can a parent and child share a meal, and just use one credit? What about a 10 year old (who has to order off the adult menu) and a child share the adult meal and use one ticket?

 

[gigi1313]

to the op: you cannot "buy" the dining plan for your 15mos old... the dining plan is only available to those buying a vacation package which includes park tickets and lodging... since the 15mos old does not "get" (or need!) park tix, he is not eligible for the dining plan!

 

[CLEO Z]

Cleo Z, I need some clarification. At TS restaurants that are NOT family style or buffet, can a parent and child share a meal, and just use one credit? What about a 10 year old (who has to order off the adult menu) and a child share the adult meal and use one ticket?

Yes to both questions. And gigi is right about the 15 mo old. In my opinion you get a ton of food with the plan and sharing works great - as long as you can agree on what to get! By the way -many of the restaurants that serve mac-n-cheese offer it as a side dish that is plenty big enough for a child. It saves money over ordering it as a kids meal.

 

[tallpkb]

Thanks, Cleo! So all the sit down restaurants have a side of mac & cheese, even if it's not on the menu? Can that 'side' count as an appetizer?

 

[CLEO Z]

Thanks, Cleo! So all the sit down restaurants have a side of mac & cheese, even if it's not on the menu? Can that 'side' count as an appetizer?

No, not all sit downs have mac-n-cheese. Sorry if my post implied that! Some sit downs and counter services have it. We got it as a "side" at a couple of the counter services that had it and gave it to my son. It wasn't listed at all places as a "side", just as a kids meal. Getting it as an adult "side" worked good for us. Never tried to get it as appetizer at a sit down.

 

[CLEO Z]

BTW- We went to a lot of restaurants. At the buffets and family style places, my 14 mo old ate free, including beverage. At places like Norway, where they have a specific menu, but its "all you care to order", he had a kids meal/with beverage for free. The only table service place we ordered him a kids meal and paid was at Kona Cafe. Here's what we did:
CP- he ate free from buffet
CRT- he ate free kids meal
HDD- he ate free from family style service
Akersus- he ate free kids meal
Ohana- he ate free from family style service
Kona Cafe- paid for kids meal
Tony's- shared his sister's kid's pizza (would have cost otherwise, but the pizza was big enough for both)

 

[DisneyCrazyX5]

We plan to share counter service meals for our family (mom, dad and 3 sons-5, 5, and 9). We think 2 breakfast platters (adult size) from our hotel and 3 adult sized meals for lunch will fill us up. If not I will buy 2 kid meals for the twins. We plan on using table service for all five of us each time.
Janell

 

[CLEO Z]

We plan to share counter service meals for our family (mom, dad and 3 sons-5, 5, and 9). We think 2 breakfast platters (adult size) from our hotel and 3 adult sized meals for lunch will fill us up. If not I will buy 2 kid meals for the twins. We plan on using table service for all five of us each time.
Janell

I guess it depends on how big your kids eat. My 14 mo old eats more than my 3.5 yr old! You may need three breakfast meals -if your kids like pancakes have two of them split the adult platter. They will give you an extra plate and you can divide it up out of the kids sights if you need to. I know some siblings like having their "own" meal. Three lunches should do you fine too. We would buy an extra beverage as a "snack" credit. Just make sure that if you get a beverage that doesn't count as a snack that you use it with your meal credit. For example: Buy your large Nestle Quick Chocolate milk with the meal credit and your coke with the snack credit. If two of your kids like chocolate milk the huge nestle bottle will serve two.

I found that the dining plan sounds more confusing than it actually is .

 

[purplepixie]

Remember that CS includes a dessert even at breakfast. I've seen people mention that they get a muffin or some kind of pastry for the dessert. That should help even out a meal for more people if your not real big eaters.

 

[DisneyCrazyX5]

Remember that CS includes a dessert even at breakfast. I've seen people mention that they get a muffin or some kind of pastry for the dessert. That should help even out a meal for more people if your not real big eaters.

That is why we think it will work. Refillable mugs for coffee for DH and I , 2 milks, 2 breakfast platters, 2 fruit cups. We will also be taking Poptarts, granola bars and my Vanilla Frosted Mini Wheats. Since we are not early risers we thought this would be the best use of our cs credits. We do plan on one character breakfast. Most mornings we will probable eat in our room.

My husband had finally understand the plan and wants to see if we will need to buy any additional food.

 

[freakylick]

I found that the dining plan sounds more confusing than it actually is .

I wonder if that's because people make it more confusing by trying to take advantage of "flaws".

If people used the system the way it's intended, it is fairly simple. The only complications are which foods fall under which category (e.g.-are milkshakes a dessert or a drink?) and which items are included in the plan...of course these change depending on the CM, so when all else fails, ask your server.