Do you start out with all of your dining credits? For example, we wanted to do Artist Pointe as our arrival dinner which is 2 TS credits per person. Will we be able to use those on our arrival day?
This is my first question… probably more to come… i’m working it out today one step at a time.
Edit to add: 2) How does DDP work at Epcot during a festival? I seem to recall booths being considered snack credits, but i don’t know if that’s for accurate. And i’m guessing if they take snack credits for food, then alcoholic drinks there would be considered a la carte
I saw that drinks with glow cubes aren’t usually allowed under DDP- can i purchase just the glow cube separately?
table service credits include a beverage… and kids must order off kids menu if available. Kids entrees always include milk. So does that mean the DDP won’t cover an additional N/A drink for them? Or could i still order an additional N/A drink for them?
Credits apply to the entire group of people on your Dining Plan, not to individuals.
Credits become available on Check-In day, after you execute a Check-In (in person or online).
You can use credits in any amount and on any day as you wish (i.e. 4 TS credits for 2 guests on one day and none on the next day)
Most festival booths are 1 Snack credit (look for the purple DDP symbol on the menu boards)
There are some Quick Services restaurants in World Showcase (i.e. Regal Eagle)
Ages of the Children determine how charges are levied and there is some variation between restaurants and servers .. I’ve never had an issue getting a drink of choice for a child.
I’m planning 3 character dining meals, which price out to a little over $200/meal (not including tip) and the meal plan for the two adults with three kids for free dining adds up to about $1200, so I’m heavily leaning toward it.
A lot of times the dining plan does not work for people these days. One of the exception is the kids eat free option. Combine TS hat with character buffets, especially if you can go to 1 credit character buffets, it sounds like a great plan.
this article from Touring Plans says:
At Table Service restaurants your children must order off the kid’s menu, but you’ll still have Quick Service credits which might be used for adult Quick Service meals.
Does this mean kids can use their quick service credits for something other than kids meal at QS restaurants? for example, at flame tree, their kids menu consists of a hot dog and an uncrustable- so they could order barbecue instead from flame tree? or is this only for a quick service like Sleepy Hollow which doesn’t have a kids menu?
edit to add: another article said “quick service restaurants are more relaxed about kids menu” so i guess that answers that. it’s more YMMV, but chances are good
Honestly, if you can save the money ahead, buy discounted gift cards …??? Try putting all the money you’d spend on the dinning plan on those great deals on Disney gift cards instead. you’d probably save money; have money left over. I called recently to ask about trading QS for TS etc. and none of that is allowed anymore.
once upon a time, gratuity was included in the price of the DDP… that was probably the only time you could at least break even
The numbers surprisingly look solidly in my favor between character dining, alcohol, and getting free dining for kids. We always pay for our whole trip with discounted Disney gift cards, so we would use those to pay for the dining plan and to pay tips.
