Disney Dining Plan

drizzellla · ‎03-14-2010

Has anyone used the Disney Dining Plan?

A dear friend is going to Walt Disney World. It started out being just her husband's family. But recently more people have "invited themselves". Well, my friend made reservations to some very desirable restaurants in Walt Disney World (Princess meal in the Castle etc.). And to make the reservations she had to use her credit card. So since there are now 20+ people going - she is concerned about maxing out her credit card. And she does not know or never meet some of the people who are going on the trip. She is not sure about these people she never meet reimbursing her.

She doesn't want to cancel the reservations BUT she doesn't want to end up paying for all the meals either. Is there a way that she is not financially responsible for 20+ people?

homedecor1 · ‎03-09-2010

Obviously this group of people will be staying on property. When they check in they will need (or u tell them) to put THEIR credit card on file and REMOVE info from your magic band. You can call Disney and have it taken care of before you arrive -- I'm sure the can straighten it out. Heading there tomorrow and will be doing the same I held the reservation BUT won't be paying for anyone except me & my 2 guests.

Pickwickpapers · ‎06-24-2013

Probably not. Meals at the castle are usually on reservation basis. So you are reserving a seat and charged whether you go or not once the deadline for changes has passed. The meal plan is a different deal in that you get a certain number of meals daily. But again you purchase a certain number of plans for a certain number of days. IMO it is highly risky to charge any of these food purchases on your credit card for so many people and people that you don't really know. Look at the Disney website for a detailed explanation before you use your card. P.S. The dinner in the castle is quite nice......we took our granddaughter a few years ago...

drizzellla · ‎03-14-2010

Homedecor - Have a great time. It is so nice this time of year.

MOM of Mason - glad to hear you took your granddaughter, I hope to go one day and eat in the castle.

I only used the Dining Plan one time and that trip it was only 2 of us. My friend is so organized she made up a spreadsheet of every reservation and every detail. Unfortunately, most of the people who are going with her don't want to decide anything until they get there. In fact they told her they were not going to purchase their tickets until they get to the Park. She has an uphill battle.

I appreciate your input and passed it on. I told her it is best to talk to Disney and have it straightened out.

Krimpette · ‎03-09-2010

Wow! Why would she have done that? Do that many people even want to be together for several meals? I hope she can get out of that, but I'm not sure how.

Burnsite · ‎03-10-2010

Hi, drizella, Did your friend make reservations for 20? Or did she reserve for herself and you? If that is the case, the outriders can be told that they will make their own arrangements for meals if they will not pay in advance.

If she paid for her own plan but just reserved at restaurants for the others, she can cancel those reservations, or point out that if they want the Disney Dining plan, they must pay for it in advance, as you have.

Maybe I misread your message, but that's a lot of people to latch on to someone else's vacation at the last moment!

The Disney Dining plan is for people like Henry VIII, though. I tried it once and getting to the restaurants diverted other plans that would have been fun. Three meals/I think 2 snacks a day. An unintended effect is that food at Disney used to be more special than it is now. There is a tendency for all the meals to be less authentically ethnic and more to middle American tastes.

I overheard this once in the Italy restaurant in Epcot from two young kids on a date: "Waiter, can you tell me...what is the difference between _pasta_ and _antipasta_? Maybe he was a Star Trek fan thinking in terms of matter and anti-matter.

Qwackertoo · ‎03-11-2010

Some of those reservations are harder to get . . . and must be made months in advance . . . so depending on dates of travel if sooner than later . . . you can't just up your reservation from say 8 to 20 for the "hard to get" ADR's.

IF you are staying in a Deluxe and have the DDP . . . some of those table service meals may be covered. We're past the phase of the Princess etc. meals . . .

Just depends on where you are staying, deluxe, mod, budget and which dining plan whether table service or quick service.

But yep, due to "no shows" they've starting charging for "no shows" IF not canceled within required time frame.

terrier3 · ‎03-10-2010

The Disney Dining Plan is WAY TOO MUCH FOOD, IMO.

You can do a lot better with having a good breakfast, snacks during the day and then dinner. Or to save money, have your biggest meal at lunch and just snack later on.

I have been to Disneyworld 20+ times and I don't think the Dining Plan is a good deal. You'll want to be enjoying the parks, not sitting down for all your meals, IMO.

Qwackertoo · ‎03-11-2010

On 10/12/2014 terrier3 said:
The Disney Dining Plan is WAY TOO MUCH FOOD, IMO.

You can do a lot better with having a good breakfast, snacks during the day and then dinner. Or to save money, have your biggest meal at lunch and just snack later on.

I have been to Disneyworld 20+ times and I don't think the Dining Plan is a good deal. You'll want to be enjoying the parks, not sitting down for all your meals, IMO.

It is a GREAT deal when you catch it during one of the FREE offer time periods!!! Even then it is still TOO MUCH FOOD!!! A few times we'd get a cashier to let us get an extra bottle of water instead of a dessert . . . some would allow the switch and others wouldn't.

terrier3 · ‎03-10-2010

On 10/12/2014 Qwackertoo said:
On 10/12/2014 terrier3 said:
The Disney Dining Plan is WAY TOO MUCH FOOD, IMO.

You can do a lot better with having a good breakfast, snacks during the day and then dinner. Or to save money, have your biggest meal at lunch and just snack later on.

I have been to Disneyworld 20+ times and I don't think the Dining Plan is a good deal. You'll want to be enjoying the parks, not sitting down for all your meals, IMO.

It is a GREAT deal when you catch it during one of the FREE offer time periods!!! Even then it is still TOO MUCH FOOD!!! A few times we'd get a cashier to let us get an extra bottle of water instead of a dessert . . . some would allow the switch and others wouldn't.

OP didn't say anything about getting it for free...she is concerned about the charges on her CC.