Hi Helen,
Welcome back to the Disney Parks Moms Panel, and thank you for your question. I’m really liking the 2018 Disney Dining Plan’s expanded beverage options. My recent visit to Walt Disney World felt truly all-inclusive; sitting down in the air conditioning and having a nice meal and fancy drink was a wonderful luxury.
In my experience, your servers will work with you to make the
Disney Dining Plan work for your family’s needs. On our recent stay, my daughter wanted an adult meal, so we paid out of pocket for hers and charged the rest of our meal to the Dining Plan. That worked with no trouble at all. You can also pay separately for items not included or add-ons like souvenir cups or glow cubes.
Two things to keep in mind, Helen. First, the flexibility of the Disney Dining Plan is at the discretion of the individual restaurant and your server. For example, we were able to swap salads for desserts in some Table Service restaurants, but not all. My advice is to talk to your server and see what can be done, but I’m thinking your strategy won’t be a problem in most locations. Your server might even be able to suggest off-menu items that can be prepared for your choosy child; we’ve had pasta and burgers made for my picky son in the past. The other thing to note is that you will end up with multiple receipts to sign. There will be one for the Disney Dining Plan charges and another for your off-plan charges, including gratuity. I didn’t find this to be a big deal, but it’s sometimes a little confusing and may take some extra time at the end of your meal.
One last Disney Dining Plan tip: the Pineapple Upside Down Cake with Dole Whip on top at Aloha Isle in Magic Kingdom Park is a snack credit. It was my favorite snack on my recent trip - pure, pixie-dusted pineapple magic.
Wishing you a magical vacation,
Robyn