Disney Dining plan questions?

[ibisti]

Hi this is a first post, so please be kind to me! We have just booked our 2013 vacation to the Wilderness lodge and as part of the deal we have the dining plan thrown in. We have been to Disney many times but have never had a plan to use and had a couple of questions? We are there for 10 days so I guess we have 10 counter credits and 10 table service credits each to use ( 2 adults and 2 children) and the snacks etc. Do the credits have to be used exactly or if you run out of counter credits can you use a table service credit as a counter one as its "worth more"? You might think this is a bit odd but in reality with 2 young children we may use the counter ones up with quick bites in the evening when they are too tired for a proper meal out.
Also I think others have answered this but the choice of places to eat on the 2013 list is much smaller that the 2012 list. Is it likely more restaurants will be added closer to the season?
Thanks in advance

 

[afar28]

You can't use tables as counters For future vacations, there is a quick service dining plan with extra counter services I believe. I'm not quite sure about the list of places to eat (sorry). Also did you make ADR's? It is tough to get into some reasteraunts without one, even harder if your going in a busy season (like July)

 

[Master Yoda]

The number of credits you have will be equal to your nights that you are staying at your resort.

You can use the credits in any combination you wish. If you could use 3 table service credits on your first day if you wish.

You can not exchange one kind of credit for another. During peak season Disney will sometimes allow you to use a table service credit at a quick service location but this is not the norm.

The list is always small up until the cut off date due to yearly contracts with the third party owned restaurants. By the time the list becomes finalized most or all of the third party owned restaurants will be back on the list.

 

[ibisti]

Thanks for the prompt reply. I get that you can use them in any order, but I was just seeing if once the counter credits had been used up if there were only table service credits remaining could they be used at a counter service restaurant? It would be a shame to leave having had to pay at a counter service and having table service credits remaining!

 

[OswaldTheRabbit]

Although I am not sure how old your kids are some restaurants are 2 TS credits (like cinderellas round table) so sometimes we use two TS then pay out of pocket for a cheap counter service on another night. Some QS (counter service) are so big that you can split them amongst you. So sometimes we play with the credits like that and only use 1 between the 2 kids.

Just a tip though.... You can make ADR (advanced dinner reservations) 180 days before your trip so you can make them and always cancel them if you change your mind.


We personally like the DDP because we use our dinners (at 5:00 or so) as a break for the kids to recoup and give our toes a rest.

Have fun... We really want to do the WL! It looks amazing!

 

[Master Yoda]

Thanks for the prompt reply. I get that you can use them in any order, but I was just seeing if once the counter credits had been used up if there were only table service credits remaining could they be used at a counter service restaurant? It would be a shame to leave having had to pay at a counter service and having table service credits remaining!

You can not exchange one kind of credit for another. During peak season Disney will sometimes allow you to use a table service credit at a quick service location, but this is not the norm.

 

[ibisti]

You can't use tables as counters For future vacations, there is a quick service dining plan with extra counter services I believe. I'm not quite sure about the list of places to eat (sorry). Also did you make ADR's? It is tough to get into some reasteraunts without one, even harder if your going in a busy season (like July)

I didnt want to keep them for future vacations but use them all up during our stay. As for the advance reservations I will look into it closer to the time as our trip is in May. On previous trips we must have been lucky as we ate at a few restaurants with out prior reservations, some there was a wait for an hour or so but we had a drink and waited.

 

[Master Yoda]

I didnt want to keep them for future vacations but use them all up during our stay. As for the advance reservations I will look into it closer to the time as our trip is in May. On previous trips we must have been lucky as we ate at a few restaurants with out prior reservations, some there was a wait for an hour or so but we had a drink and waited.

I would not wait any longer than 180 days out. Many of the more popular places like Ohana, Chef Mickey, Crystal Palace, etc will book up solid at 180 days. Many times you will not even have the option to wait, you will simply be turned away.

 

[ibisti]

I would not wait any longer than 180 days out. Many of the more popular places like Ohana, Chef Mickey, Crystal Palace, etc will book up solid at 180 days. Many times you will not even have the option to wait, you will simply be turned away.

I guess thats what alot of visitors will do but the whole structure of booking tables for restaurants so far in advance seems a bit to constraining. We like to take each day as it comes and not have to do things as we made a decision 6 months earlier.

 

[The Incredible Schmulk]

I would not wait any longer than 180 days out. Many of the more popular places like Ohana, Chef Mickey, Crystal Palace, etc will book up solid at 180 days. Many times you will not even have the option to wait, you will simply be turned away.

Agreed. I always feel a little like a zealot doing it, but you really must be online or on the phone the morning and hour that reservations open up for your date 18o days in advance, especially if you really want to book one of the more popular restaurants or sometimes even the more popular times at the next tier restaurants. It's a ridiculous way to have to go about your vacation planning business, but it's better than the free-for-all mass hysteria that would ensue if the reservation system went away.

Imagine the walk-up crowd outside of Le Cellier if you were not able to reserve a table in advance... It's a truly frightening prospect.

 

[Monty]

If you are on the regular DDP and don't want to make ADRs you will leave with un-used TS credits. The free dining has made that a virtual guarantee.

If you are dead set against making ADRs, I would suggest you keep an eye on room-only discounts and if a good one comes available for the dates you're there, jump on it. The "free" dining you're getting is probably going to cost you more than a good room discount. With 9 or 10 nights' discount at 35-40% you could pay for everything you would eat and still your total cost will be less, particularly if your preferences lean more to QS than TS restaurants.

 

[dreamfinder]

I guess thats what alot of visitors will do but the whole structure of booking tables for restaurants so far in advance seems a bit to constraining. We like to take each day as it comes and not have to do things as we made a decision 6 months earlier.

Unfortuantely if you don't make at least some choice 6 months out, you may end up walking all over the park trying to find an open restaurant, or settling for CS when you still have TS credits left. Based on your dining habits, you may end up doing better to look for a room discount and take that instead of free dining. OR I believe you can still use to TS credits for a room service pizza? I believe. That may help to use your left over credits, but doesn't come close to maximizing your value.

 

[Mukta]

If you are on the regular DDP and don't want to make ADRs you will leave with un-used TS credits. The free dining has made that a virtual guarantee.

If you are dead set against making ADRs, I would suggest you keep an eye on room-only discounts and if a good one comes available for the dates you're there, jump on it. The "free" dining you're getting is probably going to cost you more than a good room discount. With 9 or 10 nights' discount at 35-40% you could pay for everything you would eat and still your total cost will be less, particularly if your preferences lean more to QS than TS restaurants.

This is really great advice. If you aren't going to use all of the dining points in your package, you may be better off with a room discount. You have to maximize your dining to make the free dining worthwhile.

 

[PhilharMagician]

I didnt want to keep them for future vacations but use them all up during our stay. As for the advance reservations I will look into it closer to the time as our trip is in May. On previous trips we must have been lucky as we ate at a few restaurants with out prior reservations, some there was a wait for an hour or so but we had a drink and waited.

You cannot keep any of your dining credits. The dining credits will expire at the end of the day that you check out of your resort. You either use them or loose them.

Two ideas:
1. You can switch your dining plan to a Counter Service plan and save some money.
2. Make your reservations @ the 6 months out for Table Service meals for the entire vacation time. Then at any time you can cancel any reservation if you decide to go somewhere else. At least this way you will have a reservation set for your family somewhere.

If you are finding it hard to decide what may interest your family to eat then go to http://www.wdwmagic.com/dining.htm and search all the menus for some greast food. If you ask around here you will get some great dining info for some very knowledgeable eaters!!

Good luck.

 

[Monty]

You cannot keep any of your dining credits. The dining credits will expire at the end of the day that you check out of your resort. You either use them or loose them.

Two ideas:
1. You can switch your dining plan to a Counter Service plan and save some money.
2. Make your reservations @ the 6 months out for Table Service meals for the entire vacation time. Then at any time you can cancel any reservation if you decide to go somewhere else. At least this way you will have a reservation set for your family somewhere.

If you are finding it hard to decide what may interest your family to eat then go to http://www.wdwmagic.com/dining.htm and search all the menus for some greast food. If you ask around here you will get some great dining info for some very knowledgeable eaters!!

Good luck.

The OP has "dining plan thrown in", which I'm assuming means free dining, he can't save money be downgrading to QS.

 

[psukardi]

I guess thats what alot of visitors will do but the whole structure of booking tables for restaurants so far in advance seems a bit to constraining. We like to take each day as it comes and not have to do things as we made a decision 6 months earlier.

Hate to be a snark filled jerk, but if you go with that line of reasoning and logic you'll be eating cheeseburgers and struggling to find quality sit down meals.

180 days out for ADRs is the new norm for the mouse. IF you don't play by his rules you have to deal with it.

 

[maryszhi]

if I were you I would use the "table service" for any character meals you are planning. Also there is a way to use them up at signature restaurants that require two table credits. Those are just some ideas. I would plan a mock write up of plans and see if there is a way to use the table service ones so you do not waste them.

 

[maryszhi]

Hate to be a snark filled jerk, but if you go with that line of reasoning and logic you'll be eating cheeseburgers and struggling to find quality sit down meals.

180 days out for ADRs is the new norm for the mouse. IF you don't play by his rules you have to deal with it.

agreed. it use to be you could easily do walk ups during low season. now you will be lucky to get a table a month before. its just the times i guess gosh i miss the olden days....

 

[PhilharMagician]

The OP has "dining plan thrown in", which I'm assuming means free dining, he can't save money be downgrading to QS.

Thanks Monty, I thought he said that they had it thrown in.

 

[ibisti]

Ok, so by the sounds of things the Disney dining has changed in the last 5 years since our last visit! Looks like some forward planning is in order!