Can we share DDP credits?

[Baldy]

I know there has been a lot of talk about changes to the dining plan for 2016.
We are hoping to share our DDP credits with my sister's family on our trip next summer.
I just got the following response from the Disney Help line (see screenshot). I asked her specifically about sit down character meals. Can this be true or was Chamberlin misinformed? If its true, this is fabulous news. I asked the same question earlier in the year and was told "You cannot share Dining Plan credits at this time, but please keep checking back with us."

 

[Monty]

Asd far as I can tell, the "rules" changed this year. In 2014, the DDP brochure included the statement "You may not redeem meals or snacks for any Guests who are not on
your Disney Dining Plan.", but the 2015 brochure does not include that language.

So, you should be good to go.

 

[englanddg]

This is a guess on my part, but I suspect the reasoning is that Disney was running into a lot of issues with redemption for parties that were staying in multiple rooms. For example, if your family is in two rooms, the Dining Credits are attached to your room, not the individual, and not the group as a whole. This makes it really tough when Granddaddy (who is assigned in room 1) wants to take Grandchild (who is assigned to room 2) out for a special breakfast or something. In all, it was probably easier for them just to remove the limits and allow rooms to manage their credits individually rather than enforcing the rule.

That said, people were likely doing it already, and have been for a long time, even if "against the rules" as every person at the table isn't checked for DDP (at least not in my last 3 trips...they may have done it before then, but I don't recall), only one card/band is checked. And, as long as that card/band has enough credits, it doesn't go beyond that. To be frank, the Dining Credits for kids/adults aren't marked in the system either. So, while a child is marked, you can use their credits for adults and the system doesn't know any better.

I'll also toss out there, the redeem 1 Dining Credit for 3 Snack Credits is also indeed true, and easy to do.

 

[mickaroonie]

Last year on my last day I had 3 meals left on my meal plan I used one for lunch and that left 2 meals I didn't want them to be wasted, so I asked the cast member if I could use them to buy lunch for a young couple standing in line behind me, and she said I could. Needless to say the couple was very happy!!

 

[NonnaT]

Last year on my last day I had 3 meals left on my meal plan I used one for lunch and that left 2 meals I didn't want them to be wasted, so I asked the cast member if I could use them to buy lunch for a young couple standing in line behind me, and she said I could. Needless to say the couple was very happy!!

Nice! Good karma!

 

[englanddg]

Nice! Good karma!

I love little things like that too...and have done them.

One of the things I don't like about the new FP system is I miss giving (and getting) FPs to / from people who decided they don't want theirs anymore. It was a wonderful little guest on guest interaction, and part of the "magic" to me. Can't do that anymore...

 

[Baldy]

Thanks for the input everyone. If there is anyone who has successfully purchased table service meals for people not on the dining plan, I would love a confirmation. Are there any places that don't allow it (e.g. character meals or non-Disney operated restaurants)?

 

[englanddg]

Thanks for the input everyone. If there is anyone who has successfully purchased table service meals for people not on the dining plan, I would love a confirmation. Are there any places that don't allow it (e.g. character meals or non-Disney operated restaurants)?

Just keep your mouth shut and scan your band.

That's all I'll say.

 

[DManRightHere]

I love little things like that too...and have done them.

One of the things I don't like about the new FP system is I miss giving (and getting) FPs to / from people who decided they don't want theirs anymore. It was a wonderful little guest on guest interaction, and part of the "magic" to me. Can't do that anymore...

CM's gave me a free FP when I volunteered to ride something with a small child when they needed someone. The CM's made a big deal over it to make me feel good I guess. There is still that to look forward to.

 

[NonnaT]

Thanks for the input everyone. If there is anyone who has successfully purchased table service meals for people not on the dining plan, I would love a confirmation. Are there any places that don't allow it (e.g. character meals or non-Disney operated restaurants)?

It was a while ago, but yes, we had DDP 3 years ago, and met up with DGS and DGD to take them out for a special dinner. They wanted to go to HardRock (oh the horror, so much noise!) Anyway, we told our waitress that we were on DP and they weren't. She said something sweet, and said let me check something. She came back and told us if we wanted we could put all the meals on DDP. We were happy to do so, tipped her well! BTW the food far exceeded our expectations, it was delicious, just really LOUD in there!

 

[NonnaT]

Just keep your mouth shut and scan your band.

That's all I'll say.

That probably works as well!