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New to dining plan???
- Thread starter Jakjak
- Start date
Wendy Pleakley
Well-Known Member
A lot has been written about the dining plan.
If you're paying for it, you will need to order higher priced items if you want to get your money's worth.
You may be able to substitute items, such as a salad for dessert, but you'll need to ask. It's unlikely a waiter will list all of your options.
Sometimes you can get something like a milkshake as your drink, which many people aren't aware of nor think to ask. If in doubt, ask.
Tips are not included so be sure to tip your wait staff.
If you're paying for it, you will need to order higher priced items if you want to get your money's worth.
You may be able to substitute items, such as a salad for dessert, but you'll need to ask. It's unlikely a waiter will list all of your options.
Sometimes you can get something like a milkshake as your drink, which many people aren't aware of nor think to ask. If in doubt, ask.
Tips are not included so be sure to tip your wait staff.
carriebeth
Well-Known Member
We have had a few waiters/waitresses make suggestions to maximize your value when they find out we have a dining plan but most often they won't really give you info unless you ask about something in particular.
As far as snacks, thats really all up to you. Snack items are marked with a special symbol on all menu boards at locations. Prices are listed so you can clearly tell what a better value is but if you order a snack item worth $2 a cast member isn't going to suggest something else to you that is more expensive or anything. Its really best to do some research before you go so you know what is available and where. Before we go we always make snack possibility lists for each park using websites that list snack credit items by location. That way each day at whatever park we are at we know where we can find items we would like to have and know what else is out there so we don't get something and regret it later when we see something even better.
As far as snacks, thats really all up to you. Snack items are marked with a special symbol on all menu boards at locations. Prices are listed so you can clearly tell what a better value is but if you order a snack item worth $2 a cast member isn't going to suggest something else to you that is more expensive or anything. Its really best to do some research before you go so you know what is available and where. Before we go we always make snack possibility lists for each park using websites that list snack credit items by location. That way each day at whatever park we are at we know where we can find items we would like to have and know what else is out there so we don't get something and regret it later when we see something even better.
CAPTAIN HOOK
Well-Known Member
At Table Service / Buffet meals - when your waiter / waitress first arrives at your table, advise them that you're on the DP - they will take one of your MDE cards to check that you have sufficient (and the correct type of) credits for the meal that you're about to order.
Once that's over with you'll be told what isn't available to order on the plan - or more accurately, what you have to pay extra for.
At Counter Service venues just order your meal and present your MDE card at the pay point - if in doubt about what you can / cannot order, ask the cashier.
Snacks - just present the MDE card on payment
Once that's over with you'll be told what isn't available to order on the plan - or more accurately, what you have to pay extra for.
At Counter Service venues just order your meal and present your MDE card at the pay point - if in doubt about what you can / cannot order, ask the cashier.
Snacks - just present the MDE card on payment
tractor tipper
Well-Known Member
Not being picky, MDE card thought it worked of the Magic band.
Weather_Lady
Well-Known Member
The cast members are great about telling you what is included on the dining plan, and which items on the menu are eligible to be counted as the drink, dessert, and/or entree.
What they may not tell you about -- and what you'll want to research ahead of time -- is what the rules are for substitution. (e.g., at CS restaurants, you may substitute your drink or dessert (or both) for snack items from the same menu). At a la carte TS restaurants, you can ask to substitute your dessert for a side salad, soup or fruit, if offered -- just ask your server if any DDP dessert substitutions are available at that venue.
As others said, if you want to "get your money's worth" from the DDP, you'll need to be visiting the most expensive 1-credit TS restaurants , (exception: dinner at CRT and brunch at the California Grill are both 2 credits, and worth the DDP expenditure as they cost 2x the average TS meal out-of-pocket), at the most expensive time of day (dinner, for those that don't have an all-day menu), and ordering the most expensive items everywhere you go. If saving money on the DDP is not important to you (e.g., you wanted it for the prepayment factor and not to save money), then you don't need to worry about any of that.
What they may not tell you about -- and what you'll want to research ahead of time -- is what the rules are for substitution. (e.g., at CS restaurants, you may substitute your drink or dessert (or both) for snack items from the same menu). At a la carte TS restaurants, you can ask to substitute your dessert for a side salad, soup or fruit, if offered -- just ask your server if any DDP dessert substitutions are available at that venue.
As others said, if you want to "get your money's worth" from the DDP, you'll need to be visiting the most expensive 1-credit TS restaurants , (exception: dinner at CRT and brunch at the California Grill are both 2 credits, and worth the DDP expenditure as they cost 2x the average TS meal out-of-pocket), at the most expensive time of day (dinner, for those that don't have an all-day menu), and ordering the most expensive items everywhere you go. If saving money on the DDP is not important to you (e.g., you wanted it for the prepayment factor and not to save money), then you don't need to worry about any of that.
DisneyJeff
Well-Known Member
- In the Parks
- No
It does work with your MagicBand. You usually have to enter your PIN as well. We just finished a trip where we used the dining plan for the first time and found it a little confusing when using it for a table-service meal. After your meal, they will bring you out a check that shows the price of the meal you ordered as well as recommended tip amounts. They will also list any items that were ordered that were not included on the meal plan (like appetizers or alcoholic beverages). At that point, you enter your tip amount and give the check back to your server. They will then process the payment to your room account for the additional charges. Then you will be given a receipt that shows your remaining dining plan credits.
