Deluxe Dining plan question

[LAKid53]

Thank you for answering and figuring up what you did. Just to show what we figured up and please tell me if I have done the calculations wrong (I'm not the best at math). We are staying for 7 nights and have 2A and 2C. We figure that is 42 adult credits and 42 child credits. They have 3A and 1C. So 42/5 adults=8 meals per adult and 2 meals left over for my husband and I to go on an anniversary lunch. (they are watching the children for us). 8 meals x 3Children=24. 42-24 credits=18 child credits left over. These are the ones I am wondering if we can use at quick service places like Be our Guest for children and adults. We will plan to eat breakfast in our room (cereal or something) and just use the credits for lunch and dinner on the 7 days in the parks. We will not eat there on arrival or departure days so it will leave 2 meals not paid for if we can use the child credits for two quick service meals. If not we will just pay for the adults to eat at 4 meals.

So their child is the 12 year old, thus an adult on the meal plan? That makes a big difference.

The Deluxe dining plan is 3 table/quick service credits per person per night.

7 night stay (I'm going to ignore snacks in my calculation):

Adults - total of 42 table/quick service credits (3 credits/night/adult x 7 nights is 21 credits per adult times 2 adults equals 42)

Child - total of 42 table/quick service credits (3 credits/night/child x 7 nights times 2 children)

You will have only 42 total credits to share between 5 adults...that's 8 table/quick service meals, plus the 2 left over credits you want to use for an anniversary lunch.

The three kids can have a total of 14 meals. Any unused child credits can't be used by adults for a meal off the adult menu. While some have said you might be able to get by using kids credits for adults, I wouldn't count on that, especially at Be Our Guest.

You will need to call Disney dining and specifically ask if adults can use leftover child dining credits at a quick service restaurant, especially BoG. Even if you plan on ordering off the kid's menu, they may not let you, since that's technically against the dining plan's policy.

Good luck

 

[LAKid53]

For the 8 table service credits they will be adult credits so adult meals and they are all at character dining/buffets anyway. It will only be the 18 left over kids credits that I am hoping we can use at counter service places.

Make sure that some of those character meals don't require 2 credits per person.

 

[LAKid53]

I am hoping that @Master Yoda is correct that there is no difference in counter service credits for child and adult credits.

Maybe for most quick service, but Be Our Guest is different from most. And everyone better like the limited children's menu. I've ordered off the kid's menu before, but I was paying cash. They may not be that flexible with DDP.

You need to call Disney Dining and ask these specific questions. Ignore the poster who recommended you call until you get an answer you like.....

 

[DryerLintFan]

So their child is the 12 year old, thus an adult on the meal plan? That makes a big difference.

The Deluxe dining plan is 3 table/quick service credits per person per night.

7 night stay (I'm going to ignore snacks in my calculation):

Adults - total of 42 table/quick service credits (3 credits/night/adult x 7 nights is 21 credits per adult times 2 adults equals 42)

Child - total of 42 table/quick service credits (3 credits/night/child x 7 nights times 2 children)

You will have only 42 total credits to share between 5 adults...that's 8 table/quick service meals, plus the 2 left over credits you want to use for an anniversary lunch.

The three kids can have a total of 14 meals. Any unused child credits can't be used by adults for a meal off the adult menu. While some have said you might be able to get by using kids credits for adults, I wouldn't count on that, especially at Be Our Guest.

You will need to call Disney dining and specifically ask if adults can use leftover child dining credits at a quick service restaurant, especially BoG. Even if you plan on ordering off the kid's menu, they may not let you, since that's technically against the dining plan's policy.

Good luck

Okay,.... so if you try to game the system by sharing a dining plan with another family (and again, I'm not certain they'll let you do this, but whatever)

You have 8 meals per adult (which you're using mainly for character meals, so that's going to be ridiculously expensive if you get there and they won't let you share your dining plan with the other family) plus the two credits for your anniversary lunch.

Each kid has 14 credits, which after joining you on the 8 meals each adult has, means you have 6 credits left per child.

This means that each adult will need to pay out of pocket for 6 meals in addition to the dining plan meals. So when you're doing the math, you should be considering not just the $1050 it would cost to upgrade your plan, but also the amount it would cost for 30 additional adult meals.

This bumps the total price back to the amount you listed that it would cost for them to buy their own plan ($1631). Having them buy their own plan would net you a lot more food, and a lot less stress.

ETA: I quoted this post for emphasis

 

[LAKid53]

Okay,.... so if you try to game the system by sharing a dining plan with another family (and again, I'm not certain they'll let you do this, but whatever)

You have 8 meals per adult (which you're using mainly for character meals, so that's going to be ridiculously expensive if you get there and they won't let you share your dining plan with the other family) plus the two credits for your anniversary lunch.

Each kid has 14 credits, which after joining you on the 8 meals each adult has, means you have 6 credits left per child.

This means that each adult will need to pay out of pocket for 6 meals in addition to the dining plan meals. So when you're doing the math, you should be considering not just the $1050 it would cost to upgrade your plan, but also the amount it would cost for 30 additional adult meals.

This bumps the total price back to the amount you listed that it would cost for them to buy their own plan ($1631). Having them buy their own plan would net you a lot more food, and a lot less stress.

ETA: I quoted this post for emphasis

I'm not the OP. I was just explaining the math to the OP. And in just about every post, I've stated my doubts and recommended the OP call Disney Dining.

The OP indicated the other family is staying off property, so they can't purchase a dining plan.

 

[DryerLintFan]

I'm not the OP. I was just explaining the math to the OP. And in just about every post, I've stated my doubts and recommended the OP call Disney Dining.

The OP indicated the other family is staying off property, so they can't purchase a dining plan.

I know I just thought you laid it out really well so I quoted yours for emphasis

 

[LAKid53]

I know I just thought you laid it out really well so I quoted yours for emphasis

Oh, okay. I was wondering why you'd directed your response at me.

I do, though, agree that the OP is, in essence, trying to game the system. And yes, once those credits are exhausted, that dining cost is going to dramatically increase, as you pointed out.

Personally, I wouldn't risk it. I'd keep the free dining that came with my resort room and tell the other family they are on their own.

 

[21stamps]

Oh, okay. I was wondering why you'd directed your response at me.

I do, though, agree that the OP is, in essence, trying to game the system. And yes, once those credits are exhausted, that dining cost is going to dramatically increase, as you pointed out.

Personally, I wouldn't risk it. I'd keep the free dining that came with my resort room and tell the other family they are on their own.

It's too expensive of a risk to take imo. I'm assuming that the point of this is financial considerations.. the finances would be a lot worse if you purchase the plan and can't use it in this way.

Disney just closed a FP loophole, they have chips in mugs, I think there is enough evidence to see that they are trying to prevent people from cheating their systems..a dining plan loophole would be a huge one.

 

[DryerLintFan]

For what its worth OP, if you stick with the free dining plan and then pay out of pocket for your anniversary lunch and a character meal or two, you'll be getting a satisfying amount of food for very little money and still getting to enjoy those experiences.

I'm with everyone else. I wouldn't attempt to share a dining plan with another family.

 

[LAKid53]

For what its worth OP, if you stick with the free dining plan and then pay out of pocket for your anniversary lunch and a character meal or two, you'll be getting a satisfying amount of food for very little money and still getting to enjoy those experiences.

I'm with everyone else. I wouldn't attempt to share a dining plan with another family.

I would add to your suggestions, start saving for those out of pocket meals now. Get the discounted Disney gift cards offered through some retailers and start loading them with money. Tell the other family to do the same, since you can't share a dining plan with them.

We stopped doing the dining plan when the TiW card came out. The dining plan didn't fit how we eat and we were either eating too much or had unused credits. Many times, two appetizers is a perfect dinner for me - and that's not covered on the dining plan.

 

[DryerLintFan]

Buying Disney gift cards from some grocery stores can also earn you a lot of fuel perks and you can use those to pay for those out of pocket meals.

 

[Courtney6682]

I am hoping that @Master Yoda is correct that there is no difference in counter service credits for child and adult credits.

He is correct, a CM even confirmed it for me in Feb of this year

 

[21stamps]

He is correct, a CM even confirmed it for me in Feb of this year

So they don't see the credit as a child credit at all? Not even at BOG?

I had planned on having T hide in a corner while I ordered us each a falafel platter at Tangerine Cafe if we did the dining plan again.lol

 

[Courtney6682]

So they don't see the credit as a child credit at all? Not even at BOG?

I had planned on having T hide in a corner while I ordered us each a falafel platter at Tangerine Cafe if we did the dining plan again.lol

Correct lol...I had always heard this on this forum and had it be true a few times. The day before we left in Feb I asked CM what we had left and she wrote down 7 adult TS credits, 5 kids TS credits, and then just 4 quick serves. I know they were a mix of child and adult credit because of Kevin and Mia missing the first 3 days of the trip

 

[21stamps]

Correct lol...I had always heard this on this forum and had it be true a few times. The day before we left in Feb I asked CM what we had left and she wrote down 7 adult TS credits, 5 kids TS credits, and then just 4 quick serves. I know they were a mix of child and adult credit because of Kevin and Mia missing the first 3 days of the trip

Wow! That's good info.

 

[larryz]

Ignore the poster who recommended you call until you get an answer you like.....

It's not calling until you get the answer you like. It's calling until you get the answer that comes in most often -- it's more likely to be correct.

Personally, I think OP's concept violates Disney Dining Plan conditions (non-transferable) to use the plan to pay for meals for people not on your reservation, but I know it happens and that it depends a lot on the server you're dealing with.

But if they're going to run analytics on FP+ use and MDE accounts, imagine how easy it would be for an analyst to flag their MDE/Resort account when a guest party of 2 adults and 2 kids pays for 5 adult and 3 child meals at the same seating in a TS restaurant...

 

[LAKid53]

It's not calling until you get the answer you like. It's calling until you get the answer that comes in most often -- it's more likely to be correct.

Personally, I think OP's concept violates Disney Dining Plan conditions (non-transferable) to use the plan to pay for meals for people not on your reservation, but I know it happens and that depends a lot on the server you're dealing with.

True about the server. You might get one that, as long as you have sufficient credits, won't care. But you might get the server who will want to use a MB from each family....

 

[nickys]

It's not calling until you get the answer you like. It's calling until you get the answer that comes in most often -- it's more likely to be correct.

Personally, I think OP's concept violates Disney Dining Plan conditions (non-transferable) to use the plan to pay for meals for people not on your reservation, but I know it happens and that it depends a lot on the server you're dealing with.

But if they're going to run analytics on FP+ use and MDE accounts, imagine how easy it would be for an analyst to flag their MDE/Resort account when a guest party of 2 adults and 2 kids pays for 5 adult and 3 child meals at the same seating in a TS restaurant...

As of this year, Disney has specifically said it is fine to pay for your guests' meals with dining credits.

The question of adult vs child credits though, I don't know the answer to.

 

[DWhetstone]

Since several people were getting all over me about "gaming the system" and getting me worried, I called Disney directly and spoke with a cm just now in the dining section and was told yes it is ok to share my DDP points with others, it is not against the rules, and I am not gaming the system. Sharing of points is allowed. In case anyone else was wondering. As to it not being economical, even if we have to pay OOP for adult CS meals, it will only be a few so it won't matter that much. We will still save money.

 

[LAKid53]

Since several people were getting all over me about "gaming the system" and getting me worried, I called Disney directly and spoke with a cm just now in the dining section and was told yes it is ok to share my DDP points with others, it is not against the rules, and I am not gaming the system. Sharing of points is allowed. In case anyone else was wondering. As to it not being economical, even if we have to pay OOP for adult CS meals, it will only be a few so it won't matter that much. We will still save money.

The reason some of us expressed concern is that Disney just cracked down on something similar regarding FP+. And the dining plans did mention not allowing transfer. We didn't want you to get stuck with cash dining bills you weren't expecting.

But good to know that Disney allows the sharing of credits....they need to make that clear in the literature for the dining plans.

Glad it worked out for you.