Hey there, Wes! It's great to welcome you back to the Disney Parks Moms Panel.
Since so many of my vacations revolve around food, I love anytime I'm able to chat about dining at the Walt Disney World Resort.
Wes, you bring up a great question about the intricacies of the
Disney Dining Plans. Let's see if we can clear things up a bit. First, in my experience, the Cast Members at each dining location have always done a great job asking if we were using one of the
Disney Dining Plans prior to ordering; but I will encourage you to volunteer that information up front if they don't ask. For example, the last time we sat down at
Le Cellier (one of my husband's favorite spots for steak) the server asked if we would be using a dining plan as he took our drink orders.
Second, what will be included with each meal is dependent upon the type of restaurant. At a
Quick-Service location you may select one single serving entree and beverage. So, when my family and I stop for lunch at the
Colombia Harbour House, I might order the
Lobster Roll with a lemonade while my husband orders the
Trio Platter and a Coke. Both choices would be considered 1 Quick-Service entitlement.
Now, if you have a
dining plan that includes Table-Service entitlements, for those meals,
a dessert is also included. At a buffet or family style meal (like you would find at
Garden Grill Restaurant), 1 Table-Service entitlement will be redeemed that includes your beverage. Wes, for any adults in your party over age 21 who may enjoy an alcoholic beverage, you may use that as your included drink (
where available).
Wes, I would highly recommend browsing through the menus you can find online before booking any Advanced Dining Reservations or planning out your park days. Looking through the menus prior to visiting has really helped my family decide where we want to eat and think about how best to use our dining plan entitlements. One other tip I will offer is that perusing the menus allows us to set aside a tip budget for the trip since
gratuities are not included in the Disney Dining Plan.
Wes, I hope this helps as you are looking ahead to your Magical trip. If you need anymore planning assistance, restaurant recommendations or support, please come back and see us here at the Disney Parks Moms Panel!
Wishing you a vacation that is delicious in every sense of the word,
Lauren