Welcome to planDisney Mary Jane! How exciting that you are planning a magical trip to
Walt Disney World with your son and his family! Thank you for reaching out with your question about dining plans. I’d be happy to help you understand how dining works when traveling with family members who are using the Disney Dining Plan, so you can enjoy your meals together without any confusion.
You don’t need to have the
Disney Dining Plan just because your son and his family are using it. Each resort reservation manages its own dining plan, so your choice doesn’t affect theirs. Since you’re linked through My Disney Experience under
Family & Friends, you can still make dining reservations for your whole group, even though only part of your party has the dining plan.
When you sit down to eat, the server will ask how you’d like to handle payment. Your son’s family will be able to use their dining credits, while you can pay out of pocket for your meal. Most restaurants can easily split the check so that everyone pays in the way that makes sense for them. The only thing you’ll want to do is let your server know at the beginning of the meal who is on the dining plan and who is not, so they can apply credits correctly and make sure everything is handled smoothly.
I hope this helps you feel confident and prepared for enjoying meals with your son and his family. With everyone able to dine together, whether using the Disney Dining Plan or paying out of pocket, your group can focus on making magical memories around the table. Thank you for visiting planDisney with your question, and wishing you a wonderful, stress free vacation filled with laughter, delicious food, and unforgettable moments!
Kay