2010 DDP, DxDP and QS plans FAQ

[Grumpy]

Welcome to the 2010 Disney Dining Plan FAQ by Tricia1972

Magic Your Way Package with Dining
The Disney Dining Plan is a prepaid Meal Plan available with the purchase of a Magic Your Way Plus Dining Package includes a resort room plus at least a one-day base ticket. According to Disney’s literature, everyone in the room must be on the same package and ticket options. Packages and package components, including dining entitlements, are nontransferable. All dining entitlements expire at midnight on day of checkout.

AP holders
Walt Disney World annual passholders may purchase a room/dining package without the requirement to purchase tickets. This is still considered a package reservation and is subject to the same deposit, cancellation and change fees as other packages. Annual passholders may be able to apply an annual passholder room discount when booking this package. The package requires the presentation of one adult annual pass at check-in.

DVC
Disney Vacation Club (DVC) members may purchase the dining plan with any reservation on Disney Vacation Club points. They may also purchase a dining plan on cash reservations made through DVC Member Services. DVC members must add the dining plan to their reservation no later than 48 hours before checking in, and it is paid for at check-in. All persons listed on the reservation must purchase the same dining plan for the length of the reservation.

DVC members making reservations through Member Services are ineligible for the free dining promotion, which requires a room plus tickets package reservation.

Walt Disney World offers three different dining plans, and two dining and more plans in 2010

Click on the hyperlink to see plan specifics
*************************
The Quick Service Dining Plan (QSDDP) entitles each guest to receive 2 Quick Service or Counter Service (CS) credits and 2 Snack credits per nights stay.

EXAMPLE: Sunday to Saturday stay (6 nights) allots 12 CS and 12 Snack credits per guest age 3 and over. This plan also includes one Resort Refillable Mug per person good for unlimited refills of beverages at resorts only for the length of stay. Beverages usually include soft drinks, coffee, tea and hot chocolate.

The regular Disney Dining Plan (DDP) entitles each guest to receive 1 Table Service (TS) credit, 1 Counter Service (CS) credit and 1 Snack credit per night’s stay.

EXAMPLE: Sunday to Saturday stay (6 nights) allots 6 TS, 6 CS and 6 Snack credits per guest age 3 and over. NOTE: This plan does not include a Resort Refillable Mug.

The Deluxe Disney Dining Plan(DXDP) entitles each guest to receive 3 meal credits and 2 snack credits per night’s stay. Deluxe meal credits can be used for either table service or counter service.

EXAMPLE: Sunday to Saturday stay (6 nights) allots 18 meal credits and 12 snack credits per guest age 3 and over. This plan also includes one Resort Refillable Mug per person good for unlimited refills of beverages at resorts only for the length of stay. Beverages usually include soft drinks, coffee, tea and hot chocolate.
*************************

Adult credits are assigned to guests age 10 and older. Child credits are for guests age 3-9. Children age 2 and under do not receive dining credits. Adult and child credits are not interchangeable. Children must order from a child’s menu at restaurants where one is available. However, generally speaking an adult is allowed to use an adult entitlement to order a children's meal from the child's menu.

One nice feature about the dining plans is how the credits can be used. Credits are not limited to your daily allotment, and you may use multiple credits per day. (As long as there are enough remaining credits of course) Those on the Regular Dining Plan or Deluxe Dining Plan can even choose to exchange two table service credits for a show or signature dining experience if they desire.

Signature restaurants requiring 2TS credits per person:
• Artist Point (Wilderness Lodge)
• California Grill (Contemporary Resort)
• Cinderella’s Royal Table character breakfast/lunch/dinner with photo package (Magic Kingdom)
• Citricos (Grand Floridian)
• Flying Fish Café (Boardwalk Inn & Villas)
• Hollywood Brown Derby (MGM Studios)
• Jiko - The Cooking Place (Animal Kingdom Lodge)
• Narcoossee's (Grand Floridian)
• Yachtsman Steakhouse (Yacht Club)

Dinner Shows requiring 2 TS credits per person:
• Disney's Spirit of Aloha Dinner Show (Polynesian)
• Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue (Fort Wilderness)
• Mickey's Backyard Barbecue (Fort Wilderness)

Exclusions, limitations and/or surcharges may apply (especially at Downtown Disney restaurants). We will try to keep a full, up-to-date list of those here.
Limitations/Exclusions/Observations
• Tangierine Cafe - limits your dessert to Baklava only.
• The Lunching Pad - no dessert
• Teppan Edo - The salad isn't included as part of the entree - can be ordered as an appetizer on DxDDP.
• Raglan Road - Dessert "Sampler" is excluded where offered. Appetizers “for two” can be ordered by two (deluxe) dining plan guests.
• Wolfgang Puck Cafe - Sushi is considered an entree, not an appetizer.
• California Grill - Yoshi's Deluxe Sushi Platter and Snake in the Grass are considered entrees.
Some restaurants may not permit a cheese board/platter to be ordered as a DDP dessert.

Other Information
If you want an all-inclusive package that includes more than just dining, Disney also offers the Premium and Platinum package plans.
Premium Plan

Cost
Premium Dining Plan:

$164.99 per guest 10 and older
$114.99 per child 3-9 years old

Platinum Plan

Cost
Platinum Dining Plan:

$220.99 per guest 10 and older
$154.99 per child 3-9 years old

And a wine add-on plan for any dining plan that includes table service:

Disney Wine and Dine Plan

If you book either the Magic Your Way Plus Dining, Magic Your Way Plus Deluxe Dining, Magic Your Way Premium or Magic Your Way Platinum Package, you can add on the Disney Wine and Dine Plan.

The Wine and Dine Plan includes one bottle of wine per room per night of your stay. For example, if you have a five night package, you will be entitled to 5 bottles of wine.

When dining at a Signature Restaurant or when choosing Private In-Room Dining, two bottles will be redeemed.

You will make your selection from a designated wine list at select locations. This list will offer a variety of choices. (Subject to change and availability.)

The Wine and Dine Plan does not include Gratuity. It must be purchased for the length of your stay.

[Grumpy]

Cost
Quick Service Dining Plan:
$31.99 per guest 10 and older
$9.99 per child 3-9 years old
The price for the Quick Service Dining Plan is per night of stay, and includes sales tax. The Quick Service Dining Plan must be purchased for everyone registered on the reservation for the entire length of the reservation.


Included in the plan
Each Counter Service (or Quick Service) Credit includes one of the following:
Breakfast: Juice, Entrée, Non-alcoholic beverage
OR one Combo Meal, Non-alcoholic beverage

Lunch: Entrée, Dessert, Non-alcoholic beverage
OR one Combo Meal, Dessert, Non-alcoholic beverage

Dinner: Entrée, Dessert, Non-alcoholic beverage
OR one Combo Meal, Dessert, Non-alcoholic beverage
Guests ages 3-9 must order from a children’s menu where available.

WDW CS children’s menus usually consist of an entrée and two “sides” that may be selected from a list, which generally includes:
fresh fruit
fresh vegetables
sugar free gelatin
applesauce
french fries if you request them,
cookies, pudding or ice cream


Children on the dining plan are entitled to select an entrée and two of these “sides” – but one “side” counts as dessert. (They do not get to choose two “sides” plus a dessert.)

Children’s desserts are not comparable to adult desserts at CS. There are numerous complaints from parents who feel their younger children are upset by the fact that they have to order smaller desserts while older members of the party get larger, more standard desserts. If you want regular desserts at CS for your child age 3-9, the options are
1) purchase an extra dessert
2) use a snack credit to get an extra dessert
3) use the child’s CS credits at restaurants that do not have a separate children’s menu, some of which offer regular size desserts
4) share your dessert with your child

[Grumpy]

Cost
Regular dining plan Peak Season
February 12 – April 10, 2010
June 4 – August 14, 2010
December 17 – 31, 2010
$47.99 per guest 10 and older and
$12.99 per child 3-9 years old

Regular dining plan Regular Season
$41.99 per guest 10 and older and
$11.99 per child 3-9 years old
The price for the basic Dining Plan is per night of stay. The basic Dining Plan price includes tax but does not include most gratuities. The Dining Plan must be purchased for everyone registered on the reservation for the entire length of the reservation.


Included in the plan

Counter Service
Each Counter Service (or Quick Service) Credit includes one of the following:
Breakfast: Juice, Entrée, Non-alcoholic beverage
OR one Combo Meal, Non-alcoholic beverage

Lunch: Entrée, Dessert, Non-alcoholic beverage
OR one Combo Meal, Dessert, Non-alcoholic beverage

Dinner: Entrée, Dessert, Non-alcoholic beverage
OR one Combo Meal, Dessert, Non-alcoholic beverage
Table Service
Each Table Service meal on the Regular Dining Plan includes one of the following:
Breakfast: Juice, Entrée, Non-alcoholic beverage
OR One full buffet

Lunch: Entrée, Dessert, Non-alcoholic beverage
OR One full buffet

Dinner: Entrée, Dessert, Non-alcoholic beverage
OR One full buffet

WDW CS children’s menus usually consist of an entrée and two “sides” that may be selected from a list, which generally includes:
fresh fruit
fresh vegetables
sugar free gelatin
applesauce
french fries if you request them,
cookies, pudding or ice cream


Children on the dining plan are entitled to select an entrée and two of these “sides” – but one “side” counts as dessert. (They do not get to choose two “sides” plus a dessert.)

Children’s desserts are not comparable to adult desserts at CS. There are numerous complaints from parents who feel their younger children are upset by the fact that they have to order smaller desserts while older members of the party get larger, more standard desserts. If you want regular desserts at CS for your child age 3-9, the options are
1) purchase an extra dessert
2) use a snack credit to get an extra dessert
3) use the child’s CS credits at restaurants that do not have a separate children’s menu, some of which offer regular size desserts
4) share your dessert with your child

[Grumpy]

Cost
Deluxe dining plan:
$71.99 per guest 10 and older and
$20.99 per child 3-9 years old
The price for the deluxe Dining Plan is per night of stay. The deluxe Dining Plan price includes tax but does not include most gratuities. The Dining Plan must be purchased for everyone registered on the reservation for the entire length of the reservation.

Included in the plan

Counter Service
Each Counter Service (or Quick Service) Credit includes one of the following:

Breakfast: Juice, Entrée, Non-alcoholic beverage
OR one Combo Meal, Non-alcoholic beverage

Lunch: Entrée, Dessert, Non-alcoholic beverage
OR one Combo Meal, Dessert, Non-alcoholic beverage

Dinner: Entrée, Dessert, Non-alcoholic beverage
OR one Combo Meal, Dessert, Non-alcoholic beverage

Table Service
Each Table Service meal on the Deluxe Dining Plan includes one of the following:
Breakfast: Juice, Entrée, Non-alcoholic beverage
OR One full buffet

Lunch: Appetizer, Entrée, Dessert, Non-alcoholic beverage
OR One full buffet

Dinner: Appetizer, Entrée, Dessert, Non-alcoholic beverage
OR One full buffet.

WDW CS children’s menus usually consist of an entrée and two “sides” that may be selected from a list, which generally includes:
fresh fruit
fresh vegetables
sugar free gelatin
applesauce
french fries if you request them,
cookies, pudding or ice cream


Children on the dining plan are entitled to select an entrée and two of these “sides” – but one “side” counts as dessert. (They do not get to choose two “sides” plus a dessert.)

Children’s desserts are not comparable to adult desserts at CS. There are numerous complaints from parents who feel their younger children are upset by the fact that they have to order smaller desserts while older members of the party get larger, more standard desserts. If you want regular desserts at CS for your child age 3-9, the options are
1) purchase an extra dessert
2) use a snack credit to get an extra dessert
3) use the child’s CS credits at restaurants that do not have a separate children’s menu, some of which offer regular size desserts
4) share your dessert with your child

[Grumpy]

Cost/Payment/Tipping Questions

How much does the plan cost?
The price for the regular Dining Plan (by far the most popular plan) is $41.99-$47.99 per guest 10 years old and over depending on the 'season'. The price for children, 3-9 years old, is $11.99-$12.99. The price for the Quick Service Dining Plan is $31.99 per guest 10 and older and $9.99 per child 3-9 years old. The price for the Deluxe Dining Plan is $71.99 per guest 10 and older and $20.99 per child 3-9 years old.

This is the cost per night of stay and is required for each night of your stay (on the same reservation). The Dining Plan must be purchased for everyone registered on the reservation.

Are tax and tips included?
The price of the plan includes tax but does not include gratuities in most cases (only Cinderella’s Royal Table, the dinner shows, in-room dining and pizza delivery include gratuities)

Booking the Dining Plan Questions

Do I have to stay onsite?
Yes, you must book a package reservation at any Disney resort, or stay at a Disney resort using DVC points, to use the dining plan.

Can I purchase the Dining Plan if I am staying onsite at the Swan/Dolphin, or Shades of Green?
No, the dining plan is available only to guests of Disney-owned resorts.

Is there an admission purchase requirement?
With the exception of DVC members staying on points and Walt Disney World annual passholders, you must purchase at least a one-day base theme park admission ticket for every person on your reservation age 3 and over, but you do not have to purchase a ticket that matches the number of nights you are staying. Everyone on the reservation must purchase the same type and length of ticket.

Do I have to purchase the Dining Plan for the entire duration of my visit?
The Dining Plan must be purchased for each night of your reservation. Your dining plan is tied to the number of nights you stay at your resort, not to your park tickets. If you wish to purchase the Dining Plan for only a portion of your visit, you would have to make separate reservations (which could lead to having to switch rooms mid-trip, and to complications regarding the purchase of park tickets).

How far in advance can I add the dining plan before my arrival?
The Dining Plan can be added to qualifying packages until shortly before your arrival date. The number of days varies depending on circumstances, so the recommendation is to be sure that you've made final arrangements at least a week prior. Call Disney or your travel agent for specific restrictions.

DVC members must have the dining plan added to the reservation up to 48 hours prior to check-in. Call DVC Member Services to add the plan. DVC renters must ask the member they are renting from to call Member Services.

Can I still get my AP or other discounts?
The Dining Plan is only available as an add-on to qualifying Magic Your Way Packages (or to DVC reservations) - it cannot be added to a room-only reservation. Annual passholders may qualify for an AP room discount in addition to the room/dining package for AP holders. For standard room/ticket packages, there are some discounted packages that do qualify for the Dining Plan, but some do not. Note that AAA can offer some packages with the Dining Plan with the AAA discount, but these must be booked through AAA directly -- they cannot be booked through Disney.

What is "free dining"? Will they offer free dining this year?
During the heart of Hurricane Season, Disney has offered free dining to help encourage reluctant guests to visit during this normally very quiet time of the year. The free dining promotion requires guests to book a Disney MYW package including tickets, paying for the hotel at the rack rate, and in return offers the regular Dining Plan as a free add-on to the package.

Note that free dining cannot be combined with any other discount. Free dining cannot be applied to an annual passholder room/dining package or a DVC reservation. The general public Free Dining package promotion for 2009 was released on March 30 and is available for booking until July 26 for stays starting between August 16 and October 3. The number of packages available is limited.

Using the Plan Questions

How many credits do I receive?
The number of credits you receive is based on the number of nights you are staying at the resort. On the regular (most popular) plan, you receive one Table Service credit (TS), one Counter Service/Quick Service credit (CS), and one snack credit, for each person registered on your reservation, for each night of your reservation.

What if I go offsite for the day, do I lose my credits?
No, you do not lose them. They are good for the entire trip. For example you could, in theory, save all your snack credits and use them on your last day.

When do my dining credits expire?
Your credits will expire at midnight on the day you check out of your resort.

Is there a special menu we must order from?
No, you order from the regular restaurant menu.

Are add-ons such as side dishes included in the plan?
No, they are not.

What about glow cubes, mini-bars, and souvenir or refillable mugs?
These are also not included in the regular Dining Plan and would have to be paid for separately. The Quick Service dining plan and the Deluxe dining plan include one resort refillable mug per person.

Can we order menu items intended to be "for two"?
Generally speaking, the Dining Plan only includes menu items that are intended for a single diner; it cannot be used to get menu items intended for more than one diner, and (again generally) you cannot even "pool credits" from multiple diners to order such items. There are exceptions, of course, especially to the last part; i.e., some restaurants will sometimes allow Dining Plan patrons to order menu items intended for more than one diner, if that number of diners are willing to order it and share.

Does the family have to eat together, or can we split up?
All Dining Plan credits are accessible from all of the room keys associated with a reservation, so you can split up and eat.

Does everyone at the table have to use Dining Plan credits to pay?
You can split the check, and pay cash for any guests at your table not on the DDP or for whom you don't want to use credits. Let your server know who will be using which payment method so the checks can be properly split.

Do I have to make advance dining reservations for all my Table Service meals?
Advance Dining Reservations (ADRs) are not required but STRONGLY suggested. The popularity of the DDP has led to many restaurants being fully booked far in advance. If you have your heart set on eating at a special place, make the reservation so you know you have a spot. You can walk up the day you are there and attempt to be seated, but you may have a long wait or be turned away. You may make ADRs 180 days in advance, online at www.disneyworld.com (use the search function to find specific restaurants) or by calling 407-WDW-DINE. DVC members may also make reservations through Member Services.

If I order my meal, but do not get dessert, can I order it later?
It has been reported that when ordering ice cream at counter service locations, you can have your receipt stamped. This allows you to return to the restaurant for a short time after you finish your meal to get dessert, so your ice cream isn't a sloppy mess. However, that is not part of the Plan itself, and may or may not be offered to you at any specific restaurant. While you may take a dessert away with you at table service restaurants, you may not eat your meal and then return later to the table service restaurant (or a different restaurant) for dessert only.

I’m on the regular plan that doesn’t include appetizers. Can I get an appetizer in place of my dessert?
Reports are that substituting an appetizer for a dessert on the regular dining plan is not permitted under any circumstances. Disney restaurants usually offer a substitution of items such as fruit, sorbet, and sugar-free dessert selections to accommodate the health-conscious or medical conditions.

Can I use TS credits for CS meals?
Not generally. During the free dining promotions in August/September, Disney has extended offers to use TS credits for CS meals, but such offers are temporary and usually confined to the free dining promotion period. Outside this offer, some (but not all) resort front desks have allowed some (but not all) guests to convert some of their remaining TS credits into CS credits, with the understanding that it is a one for one conversion (no extras such as snacks) and once converted, they cannot be converted back. However, that is not an official part of the Dining Plan, and you may or may not be successful in getting your resort front desk to do this for you.

Can I use two CS credits for a TS meal?
No. There is no way to combine CS credits to "pay for" a TS meal.

Can I exchange CS credits for snacks?
Not usually. However, some eateries which support both CS and snack credits may allow you to use one CS credit for two or three snacks. That's not a standard, though, and may not be consistent either.

Can I share meals on the Dining Plan?
Sharing is never permitted at buffet or prix fixe meals. Beyond that, this is actually two separate questions, addressed below...

Can I share meals with guests not on the Dining Plan?
No. The Dining Plan cannot be shared with guests who aren't registered as part of your hotel reservation.

Can I share meals with other guests on the Dining Plan staying on the same hotel reservation?
There is no clear answer to this. Consistently, guests seem to be allowed to share the meals ordered on the Dining Plan amongst the guests at their table, with the exception of fixed price meals, such as buffets or other all-you-can-eat options. However, this question has been asked directly to Disney via email, by a number of guests, and consistently, they have answered this question by saying specifically that, "sharing is not permitted." Despite several attempts to get clarification about that statement, no clarification appears to be forthcoming from Guest Communications, and nothing official has been released by Disney Dining to resolve the confusion. Ask your server.

Children's Meals and Character Meals Questions

Do character meals require two TS credits per person?
Only Cinderella's Royal Table is a 2 TS meal. All other character meals are 1 TS. (Mickey's Backyard Barbecue features characters and costs 2 TS credits, but is considered a dinner show.)

Are you only allowed to do one character meal per stay?
You can attend as many character meals as you like.

What if I want to attend a character breakfast and have a sit-down meal the same day?
You can use the credits whenever you wish, including more than one TS meal on the same day, as long as you have enough credits in your account to pay for the meals.

Everything I've seen references ages 3-9 for children. What if there is a child under 3 on the reservation? Do you just pay OOP for them?
Children under 3 years old may share from any other party members’ plates as desired. In the case of buffets and other all-you-can-eat options, this is like getting an infant or toddler’s meals for free, and you can prepare a separate plate for them. At other restaurants and eateries, you can still, of course, share your food with your infant, but if you want anything else for your infant, you would have to pay for it separately.

Some guests have reported that they were able to purchase the children’s Dining Plan (normally for children 3-9 years old) for their infant or toddler (under age 3). However, in turn, they had to purchase the infant a park ticket as well. This is because the dining plan is available only for persons age 3 and over. In order to get dining credits, you’d have to register an infant under age 3 on your room or package reservation as being 3 years old, and 3-year-olds are required to have park tickets. The same problem arises when a guest wishes to “upgrade” a child age 9 or under to the adult dining plan – it would be necessary to register the child as being 10 years old, and to purchase an adult park ticket for the child on a package reservation that includes tickets. This approach would work better on an annual passholder or DVC reservation, where a ticket purchase is not required to get the dining plan.

Which CS locations do not have a separate children’s menu?
I understand that where there is no children’s menu, children can order off the regular menu.
• Toluca Turkey Legs
• Casey's
• Pete's Doggone Good Dogs
• Sommerfest
• Yorkshire County Fish Shop
• Main Street Bakery
• Golden Oak Outpost

Can I pay for my child's meal in cash, and use their credit for a meal for me?
If your child is 9 or younger, sorry, child meal entitlements cannot be used for adult meals. If you don’t mind eating a meal from the children’s menu, you can use the child’s credit to purchase one, then eat it yourself. If the child is 10 years old or older, they get adult credits, so the answer is yes.

Can I pay for my child’s meal in cash, and save his/her TS/CS credits to use for them on another day?
Yes.

Can my ten or eleven-year-old order a child meal and "pay" for it with their adult Dining Plan credit?
Generally, yes. Let your server or cashier know what type of credit you are using to pay for the meal.

My child doesn’t like the children’s meal choices. Can I order an adult meal for my 9 year old?
Children’s credits must be used to purchase meals from the children’s menus, where a children’s menu is available. The best you could probably do is have an adult trade meals with the child once the meals are ordered and delivered. The following quotes a message from a Disney Dining castmember, regarding changes to the Dining Plan as of 2007, relevant to the issues discussed in the several questions above:

Quote:
Originally Posted by BuffaloGal
Beginning January 1st, all credits will be separated into adult vs child. At any given meal period (Breakfast, Lunch, or Dinner) you will only be able to use the entitlements on your [KTTW] card (if it says 2A2C, then you get two adult and two kid's meals). ... You will not be allowed to buy dinners for a neighboring table because you have credits left. ... You get that as part of a package and package entitlements are non-transferable. Just like you can't give extra days off of your ticket to your sister. You got them at a huge discount and you can't give them away.

Per this policy, as an example, if your Key to the World card shows that you have two adults and two children on your reservation, you will be able to order on your dining plan in one transaction a maximum of two adult and two child meals. While you can order fewer meals than you are entitled to according to the number of persons on your reservation, you will not be permitted to order more. (While the party in the above example could order one adult and two child meals on the dining plan, they would not be permitted to order meals for three adults and one child and pay for the third adult meal with the dining plan.)

"Is the Dining Plan right for me?"

Is the package a good deal?
The answer to this question depends on you and your family. You need to determine how much you save doing your trip with and without the plan. For some, it is a better deal to get the discounts, but for others, the food expense is greater than the amount saved. You need to review the list of participating restaurants and try to set up a sample meal plan for your trip. Make sure to include all your snacks, drinks, tax and tip. Try to compare apples to apples. Make out your list showing where you would eat if on the plan. Then compare where you would eat if not on the plan, but were still able to eat what you wanted. Then compare that with how you would eat if Disney did not have this plan at all.

Doesn’t this plan force me to stick to a schedule?
You can look at it that way (in fact, the new Quick Service dining plan is WDW’s response to this concern), but many dining plan users like taking a break for TS meals and knowing that they have a reservation made at a certain restaurant for a certain time. You can always call and cancel a TS reservation if you change your mind.

Miscellaneous Questions

Is the dining plan the same as the Tables in Wonderland (TIW) card I keep reading about?
No, it is not the same thing. The Tables in Wonderland (formerly Disney Dining Experience/DDE) is a dining discount program for eligible Florida residents and annual passholders, 21 and older, which provides a 20 percent discount on food and beverages (including alcoholic beverages) at a number of Walt Disney World Resort hotel and theme park restaurants and lounges.

If I have a Tables in Wonderland (formerly DDE) card, can I use it for alcoholic beverages when I am on the dining plan?
You may use Tables in Wonderland at any participating restaurant to get a discount on off-plan items such as appetizers or alcoholic beverages. These will be billed separately.

Can I use the dining plan for the Fantasmic Dining Package at Disney’s Hollywood Studios?
Yes. The Fantasmic Dining Package (generally a very early meal reservation including preferred seating for the Fantasmic evening show) costs the same as a regular meal at the participating restaurants would cost on the dining plan (1 credit for Mama Melrose’s or Hollywood & Vine, 2 credits for Hollywood Brown Derby). Current reports are that the Fantasmic package meal at Brown Derby or Mama Melrose’s includes the appetizer, even on the regular dining plan. A meal at these restaurants on the regular dining plan, without the Fantasmic package, would not include the appetizer. Hollywood & Vine is a buffet.

Is the Dining Plan valid for the Food and Wine Festival?
Use of snack credits was permitted in 2009 for any food item or non-alcoholic beverage at the World Showcase festival kiosks, regardless of the cost of the item. Dining Plan credits may not be used to book special meal events or the Party for the Senses.

Is there an automatic gratuity for dining plan users?
Walt Disney World restaurants charge an automatic 18% gratuity only to parties of six or more or any party using a Tables in Wonderland (DDE) discount. Dining plan users will not be charged an automatic gratuity unless they are a party of six or more.

What methods can I use to pay the tip?
Table service gratuities are not included in the dining plan. You may use cash, a credit card, a Key to the World card with a credit card attached for charging, Disney Gift Cards, or Disney Visa Rewards Points to pay gratuities. You may wish to let your server know what method you will be using to pay.