Hey Howdy Hey Kendra and welcome to planDisney!
The
Disney Dining Plan can be such a great benefit for those wanting to pay for their meals upfront and not have to worry about the cost during their vacation. I would agree with you that it makes sense in certain cases however depending on the age and palate of kids, this may not make the most sense all the time!
I am happy to report that when dining at Disney, you should not have an issue at all dining with grandparents who have the Dining Plan and others who do not. Typically, your server will ask early or just before they prepare the check if anyone has the dining plan. The Cast Members will be able to work with the grandparents to get their dining credits applied to the meal and the check will be ready for those paying at the time of the meal. No worries at all! The only time it may get tricky is in the case of a meal that you have to pay upfront such as
Cinderella's Royal Table. But using it during your vacation should be easy to do!
During your vacation, you will have access to a valuable tool to save you time. You will have the ability to
Mobile Order food and drinks right from your
My Disney Experience app. Once you log in, tap on the three horizontal lines on the bottom right and then the "Order Food" tile. You will be able to order food in advance or at the moment right from your smartphone. You can feel free to bypass the traditional stand-by line and only have to go up to the window when your food is ready. It is super easy to use and so convenient to spend more time in the parks rather than in lines.
I wish for the best experience you can have on your upcoming family vacation. If you have any further questions, please feel free to drop by and let us know, we are always happy to help!
Have a Magical day,
Nick