Dining Plan Question

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Virginia
1

<p>I am planning on starting first semester with a 15 meals per week dining plan (if that is too much, I can always change to 13 for second semester, right? I know you can upgrade during the same semester - can you downgrade for a different semester? I'm guessing that needs to be done in advance?)</p>

<p>But my main question is: where do you use flex dollars? I know that you can eat outside of the dining hall at specific locations (i.e. sbarro's and chik-fil-a) by doing meal exchange, which (if I am correct) uses one meal swipe for whatever option you choose at locations participating in meal exchange, up to 2 times a day.</p>

<p>The dining plan website says flex dollars may be used at 'retail locations on grounds' but I'd like a better idea of what that means, with examples, please. Does this mean at the dining hall when your meals are used up, at the specific locations (chik-fil-a, etc.), and/or something totally different?</p>

2

<p>Bump! I would like to know this too. I got the 13 to start off b/c you can alwyas buy more</p>

3

<p>I switched to unlimited for my first semester and used the plus 15 my second. Unlimited is good because you never need to worry about what to eat and you can go in and out of dining halls more often. I would sometimes go just to get ice cream after a tough calc test haha. You can also use swipes at the Castle, to get smoothies (amazing) at the AFC and at certain places in the Pav and Crossroads during certain times (Chick-Fil-A). 15 was nice because you had all of those plus dollars. I used most of mine on dumplings by the amphitheater, bagels in Rice Hall, and to get the Chophouse option in Runk when nothing else looked good. I suggest going with the unlimited, but you’ll be fine with any.</p>

4

<p>Get the Plus 13! Do not get 15 meals per week. UVA’s dining hall food is not good. Again, it is not good. </p>

<p>Here’s a link to thread that talks all about UVA’s food/dining plans/plus dollars: <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-virginia/1226165-food.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-virginia/1226165-food.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

5

<p>Since the plans all cost the same, Unlimited is better IMO. You get more Plus Dollars with the 13/15, but the food that you can buy with Plus Dollars is so expensive anyway.</p>

6

<p>I’d say go with the Plus 13 first semester then 10 second like I did. It’s really useful when you’re hanging out with your friends and want to order Dominos or go to the store and get something to eat when all the dining halls are closed (8pm). The food isn’t that good anyways… </p>

<p>I think for plus 13, you get 250 plus dollars and 430 plus dollars for plus 10.</p>

7

<p>@QandAorBust and @evitaperon: I don’t really eat that much. The ice cream thing sounds nice, but I don’t think I’d get good use out of unlimited. I usually eat kid’s meal sizes simply because I can’t finish large portions, and on the weekends I generally have a snack or small lunch and then dinner.</p>

<p>@bigwill11205 and @plue00: Thank you for the link. I am also concerned about 13 meals per week (as is my mother) because I’m not sure what I’ll have ready and available in a dorm. I’m from out of state and won’t have a car at my disposal. I do know I’ll have a microwave (hopefully whoever is assigned as my roommate won’t mind renting/bringing a mini fridge!) but at least 15 guarantees me 2 meals a day + an extra? I’m not sure what I’m gonna do for breakfast on weekdays - take cereal in takeout boxes to my dorm or just buy some granola bars / instant oatmeal for my dorm room, maybe.</p>

<p>I don’t want to be eating out all the time, and I don’t think I’ll have much (if any) pantry space. So what do you do for those meals? I was planning on 15 because it was a middle-of-the-road option.</p>

8

<p>idyllic – you might wait until after Orientation/registration to decide on your meal plan. If your schedule works out that you have classes through lunchtime some days, you might prefer plus dollars, which can be used for snacks. My DS did not have time for dining hall lunches every weekday; so the 15 meals went to waste for him.</p>

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<p>you can switch a few weeks into the semester still too, right? just try out the larger one and switch down later. can’t hurt… everyone switches down, better to please the parental units for the first semester.</p>

10

<p>Idyllic- If you are an out of state freshman I would suggest getting the unlimited meal plan. It is not easy getting to the store without a car and if you are a light eater you may benefit from having the unlimited because you could then stop in at the dining halls whenever you would like and get very small meals without worrying that you were using one of your swipes etc. The last thing you want to worry about first semester is food when you are trying to get settled. Additional plus dollars can be added at any time after that. Also depending on where you reside you may be very far from the “corner” where a lot of students like to eat. If you look at the prices of the meal plans the unlimited option is not bad. This year it cost us alot more for my second year for food with the combination of cooking in the apt, eating on campus/out. Just an opinion. My S had the unlimited plan his first semester and I know I felt it was one less thing I had to worry about.</p>

11

<p>Thanks for the advice, everyone. I’m going to talk over it again with my mom after orientation - good point there, AVA55.</p>

12

<p>Hi Idyllic,</p>

<p>Hopefully you’ve gotten the answers you need, but I just wanted to leave you with one more post. I’m the current Marketing Assistant for U.Va. Dining and I was a student at U.Va. who worked for Dining for 3 years before I became a full-time employee - I think I can safely say I’ve tried everything they have to offer. :)</p>

<p>Downgrading between semesters - Yes, you can downgrade between semesters. You have from December 5, 2012 to January 21, 2013 to downgrade your plan.</p>

<p>Plus Dollars (called “Flex Dollars” at some other universities) - Plus Dollars can be used to purchase food items at every U.Va. Dining location on-Grounds - here’s a map: <a href=“http://■■■■■■/LxsE6O[/url]”>http://■■■■■■/LxsE6O&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>They can be used in the dining rooms when you run out of meal swipes, at retail convenience stores (C3 at Lambeth, C3 at Runk, etc.) to buy full meals (i.e., a burger combo) or dorm room staples (i.e., chips, drinks, milk, cereal, bread, yogurt), or at our retail cafes and coffee shops (Pavilion XI Food Court, Crossroads Food Court, The Castle, Starbucks at the South Lawn, McLeod Cafe, Fine Arts Cafe, West Range Cafe, Einstein Bros Bagels in the Bookstore and Rice Hall). </p>

<p>The main thing to keep in mind is that Plus Dollars can only be used for food purchases. We do sell things like shampoo and toothpaste in our convenience stores, but they cannot be purchased with Plus. The reason for this is simple - we want you to eat!! :)</p>

<p>If there’s anything that I didn’t answer here or you are still fuzzy on, please feel free to find me at orientation. I will be at the resource fair on day 2 in the Aquatic and Fitness Center from 12p to 2:30p and I will be happy to help you out. :)</p>

<p>-Amber</p>

13

<p>Great information asters! A note to first year students, instead of reloading Plus Dollars when necessary, you may want to consider putting the funds on Cav Advantage instead. The money is accessed through your ID so nothing additional to carry. These funds can be used just as Plus Dollars, at the book store, vending machines, laundry machines, copiers, etc. The other benefit is these funds do not expire from year to year. Just another option to consider.</p>

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<p>Amber - Thank you so much for this information! It was extremely helpful and just what I was looking for. :)</p>