Chatting with a CM about sharing DDP

[disney2d2]

Chatted with a disney Cast Member while trying to book a package at disneyworld.com (I got a popup chat offer...)

Chat Information - Thank you for contacting Disney. Please hold while we route your chat to a Disney Cast Member who will help you with your question.
Chat Information - Welcome to Disney! My name is CM. How can I help you today?
you: hi
CM: Hello!
you: I'd like to know if two adults can share one table service credit
CM: No, unfortunately, a table service is per person and cannot be shared
you: even if both people are one the plan and are staying on disney property?
CM: Yes, remember that the Disney Dining Plan is per person,per day.
you: I understand, but our whole point in doing such a thing would be maximize our dining experience
you: by visiting different restaurants, say in World Showcase...
CM: So I can better assist you, let me ask you a question. What is your concern regarding the table service?
you: concern, well none really.
you: We are planning to stay for four nights with the dining plan
you: and as I understand that between the two of us we will have 8 table service credits
you: and all I thought was that we can share once or twice and visit more than 4 restaurants...
CM: The reason that I asked was to make sure I understood your question. And to answer that, each of you has four. You do not have eight. The plan works in a per person basis, therefore you cannot use it to share it.
you: Ok, I got that. Then what about counter service credit, does Disney also enforce a no-sharing policy on those too?
CM: Yes, it is the same with all components of the Disney Dining plan
you: Just to make that you understand what I am paying for, you do know that both of us will be paying for the dinning plan for all four days
you: so I really do not see why we cannot even share a counter service meal
CM: That is correct since the plan cannot be bought individually.
you: which really means that we probably won't be using all our credits
you: we are not BIG eaters...
you: and we hate seeing food go to waste...
CM: In reality,both of you will be eating, so the services will not go to waste.
you: kind of confusing
you: but I get your point
you: thanks
CM: You're welcome!

I really didn't get her point, and I don't understand why we can't share although both of us are paying for it. Also, if DIS'ers with DDP experience can shed some light here, and if this policy is in fact enforced, we'd rather not get the Dining plan, since we won't be eating a lot (rather, enjoying the rides) and don't mind paying for an entree since we can easily share one.

[goodeats]

What an absolutely infuriating conversation? Her side doesn't make any sense at all! Has she even used the plan before?! Why couldn't you share a counter service credit?

If I couldn't share, I would not use the plan either.

[cgbsilver@hotmail.co]

Now, that really makes no sense at all. I am guessing she has no Idea.

[dreamalittledream]

could you have asked
"can I use my credit to order a appy, entree, soda and desert and have DH order a beer (or his own drink) and no food and feed him bites of food from my plate. " that way you are not sharing the "credit" but rather the "meal" would that have made it more clear?

[Lewisc]

The chat doesn't make much sense. AFAIK the credits are still pooled. There really isn't any way to stop CS sharing. I guess they could reduce the portions, exclude the double burger, to make sharing CS meals less likely.

You certainly can't "share" the dining plan by only purchasing the plan for one guest in your room but it was clear that wasn't your question.

I don't think I'd accept anything said by that CM.

That said restricting sharing at TS makes some sense. I'm sure the plan is priced assuming some credits will go unused. I'm sure the plan is priced assuming some guests will skip appetizer and/or desserts. You'll get your monies worth in most restaurants even if you skip appetizers and dessert, just order a drink and an entrée. You pay the same price no matter how much or how little you eat in a buffet restaurant. I guess Disney could say a guest is charged a credit by eating in the restaurant, even if they share. Doe Disney intend to provide you 4 TS meals or does Disney intend to allow you to stretch that to 8 meals if you patronize the restaurants with large portions and order the menu items with the largest portion size.

I'll agree with Sammie from another thread. Guests using "child" credits to buy adult meals and to treat people not even staying at WDW is causing Disney to tighten up.

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

Here is the policy as it actually existed in practice.

1. Buffets and all you can eats. No sharing.
2. A-La-Cartes. Depends upon the restaurant. Most, however, allowed it.
3. Counters. They couldn't stop it if they wanted to. No problem at any counter.

Though from recent posts, there appears to be a change in stated policy on the part of some (not all) CM's, I haven't seen where there's a widespread change in actual practice yet.

[bertalander]

I'd like to see them try to enforce no sharing of CS meals. THAT is the silliest thing I have every heard.

[Lisa_Belle]

I just hope they don't push the CS issue and make everyone in the party stand in line. Can you imagine the chaos if Mom, Dad, Johnny, Susie, Buddy and Katie all had to stand in line and then not think about what they wanted to eat until they actually had to order? It would take forever and a day to get through those lines. I can see it now:

I want a burger and fries. No, wait, make that chicken fingers. Do you think that would be too much? Should I really get fries? OK, give me tea to drink. Now is that sweet or unsweet? Oh, but if its Nestea and not brewed then I want a coke. No, not a regular coke, a diet coke. Um, I'm on the dining plan so I get a dessert with that. What do you have? I'm allergic to chocolate cake. Maybe I should just have the cookie. But that has chocolate chips in it. Can i just save my dessert until later?

BTW - I'll bet if you call back and get another CM, you'll get a whole 'nother answer.

[paulh]

on the CS isue are we expected to order 4 meals and have everyone eat in frount of them (we are 4adults)whats to stop me getting 4 meals and dw getting 4 meals behind me in line while we are waterparks.As stated on dinning plan brociure your credit to do as you please we will be with friends and will buy for them at waterparks .They can enforce the no sharing at TS but not at CS
Paulh

[Lewisc]

Which a la carte restaurants are not allowing sharing?


Here is the policy as it actually existed in practice.

1. Buffets and all you can eats. No sharing.
2. A-La-Cartes. Depends upon the restaurant. Most, however, allowed it.
3. Counters. They couldn't stop it if they wanted to. No problem at any counter.

Though from recent posts, there appears to be a change in stated policy on the part of some (not all) CM's, I haven't seen where there's a widespread change in actual practice yet.

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

Which a la carte restaurants are not allowing sharing?

There have been reports of various places at various times on the boards here. I think it may be as much a function of the particular CM as the restaurant.

[drogerstn]

As somone pointed out earlier, I think the CM in the chat got confused over "sharing the plan" versus "sharing food off of one order".

It would take a major change to say that all people on one package must be present and submit a credit for a TS meal when using TS credits. Right now, one person could be eating at a TS restaurant with some non-plan friends while the rest of the family may be eating at a different location and time... (or any other combination). When a person pays for food (DDP or OOP) WDW cannot dictate what that person does with the food. :confused3

Buffets are the only TS meals I can see where a person is not allowed to eat someone else's food without paying for a meal:goodvibes

[glass slipper girl]

I would agree that the best way to ask the question would be something like "I plan to meet a friend for dinner. I will be on the plan and she will not, is that going to be a problem?" Even if my card says 2A, they can't know for sure that both adults at the table are the ones on the card. If DH and I went with my parents, each had separate rooms and we had the DDP and they didn't it is entirely possible that my DH and DF would go watch a game at ESPN and my DM and I would be in the parks (a situation that has happened to us!) or the guys could be on rides and the women shopping. Are the going to say b/c my card says 2A and there are 2A at the table that I must use 2 credits even if she is not on the plan?

Or saying "what happens if my husband gets hungry and I am really not that hungry. Can he use his credit to get a full meal and I just get a bowl of soup and a drink and pay out of pocket for my food and save the credit for later when I am hungry?" I do agree that when the question is about sharing CREDITS, that the answer is no...you can't share credits. But about sharing food, that may be a different story.

I'm curious how the OOP and sharing thing will end up working out. We aren't going untill January now so there is plenty of time to see what changes they make and change our package if it isn't going to work for us. It will be DH, myself and our 3 DSs (an infant, 4 and 6 year olds). We have more table service meals planned than credits including a family meal at Narcoosees and DH and I have a night at Yachtsman planned while the kids are in a kids club (and the baby is with Grandma and Grandpa). We had planned on sharing at 2 of our TS meals at places where we knew we'd have enough food in order to have the 2 extra adult credits for Yachtsman. We'd then pay OOP for ourselves at a meal where the kids use their extra credit. I planned on figuring out what meals would be the least expensive to pay OOP for but we had intended to use adult credits for us and kids credits for the boys so that there was no need to panic if they started separating them. If they enforce the no sharing and no OOP thing then we will probably cancel the family meal at Narcoosees and eat somewhere else so that we can get 2 meals out of those credits and then DH and I will dine at Yachtsman on credits. We'd be ordering 2 adult meals and our card will say 2A on it...but we'd be using our family's 4 credits for the day...2 adult and 2 child. That way we would just use credits for all 4 members of the family who eat solid food ( ;) ) at each table service meal. So in my case, I had planned to use it as intended but if they keep credits pooled and enforce no sharing and no OOP then we will end up with one meal where we use 2 kids credits in order to cover the extra "credit cost" of a signature meal.

[jonimce]

DS, 19 will not spend most of the days with us. So if he goes to a CS by himself, are you saying they will make him get three meals? Makes no sence. How will they know if we are with him or not? Same with TS's. He doesn't eat restaraunt meals. So if we go to a TS are they going to make the two of us order three meals? LOL :cheer2: :cheer2: :cheer2:

[DizGeek]

The whole thing makes no sense whatsoever. Why would 2 people go to a restaurant and order one meal?

[Lewisc]

DS, 19 will not spend most of the days with us. So if he goes to a CS by himself, are you saying they will make him get three meals? Makes no sence. How will they know if we are with him or not? Same with TS's. He doesn't eat restaraunt meals. So if we go to a TS are they going to make the two of us order three meals? LOL :cheer2: :cheer2: :cheer2:

No. The question or point is if your DS joins you for dinner will they make you use 3 credits or will you be allowed to use 2 credits and share your meal with your DS.

[bicker]

The whole thing makes no sense whatsoever. Why would 2 people go to a restaurant and order one meal?Yes, that's true. I think what it is is that a lot of people are trying to bend themselves out of shape just to squeeze even more value from the Dining Plan than it has already.

[Lisa_Belle]

The whole thing makes no sense whatsoever. Why would 2 people go to a restaurant and order one meal?

My DD4 and I do this quite frequently. Her favorite restaurant is Chili's and we go and split a cheese dip and fajitas. There is no way I can eat an entire order of fajitas. I would like to refrain from gaining weight as I get older and my metabolism slows down. Personally, the thought of someone gourging on an appetizer, entree with side dishes and dessert all to themselves makes me sick to my stomach. (And I probably would throw it all up if I did eat that much.) Different stroke for different folks.

[disney1990]

This is all so confusing. So if my DH and I eat at a restaurant with several of our friends that are NOT on the dining plan (but our card also has our 21 year old DD on it, but she's not with us), how are they going to deal with it. Our DD plans to eat with us for some meals and eat with her friends for some meals.

I guess it's just going to be a wait and see.

[punkin]

My DD4 and I do this quite frequently. Her favorite restaurant is Chili's and we go and split a cheese dip and fajitas. There is no way I can eat an entire order of fajitas. I would like to refrain from gaining weight as I get older and my metabolism slows down. Personally, the thought of someone gourging on an appetizer, entree with side dishes and dessert all to themselves makes me sick to my stomach. (And I probably would throw it all up if I did eat that much.) Different stroke for different folks.

Gee that's exactly how I feel. I have often ordered an appetizer and 2 entrees to feed 4 people. Sometimes we even get one desert to share. Many times, we will have enough left over to take home a doggie bag.

[XOoOoVEEoOoOX]

Gee that's exactly how I feel. I have often ordered an appetizer and 2 entrees to feed 4 people. Sometimes we even get one desert to share. Many times, we will have enough left over to take home a doggie bag.

In cases like these and families like this then the dining plan isnt practical, if 4 of you go out and split 2 meals w/o appetizers or desserts then you would be paying more for the dining plan per day than you would just paying OoP for the meal, I guess just sit down and calculate how much food your family can handle...if you really feel like it would be too much food then it probably would be because it is ALOT of food, just pay OoP and avoid the headache.

(not meaning to sound rant-y or flame-y just the way i see it)

[bicker]

You're hitting the nail on the head; don't apologize for it.

[punkin]

I don't think you sound flamy at all and I would never actually buy the dining plan. However, during free dining, I am essentially geting the food for $20 per day per 4 people (actually, for me it is a little bit more because I am paying for 1.5 rooms) so for $5 per day per person (3 of whom Disney considers Adults) it is worth it to me. However, I don't like to throw even free food away. I think that is an amazing waste.

Now, before you say that we don't have to order that much, we just have to pay for it, I disagree. Disney enticed me to stay onsite and not spend my money elsewhere by offering me 49 TS credits, 49 CS credits and 49 snack credits to use as I see fit. I relied on their representation when purchasing my package (which I can no longer cancel without penalty). I will therefore do my best to maximize the value of the enticement offered by Disney to the extent possible by sharing meals as I alwaays do at home. That is how I choose to use my credits.

[XOoOoVEEoOoOX]

I don't think you sound flamy at all and I would never actually buy the dining plan. However, during free dining, I am essentially geting the food for $20 per day per 4 people (actually, for me it is a little bit more because I am paying for 1.5 rooms) so for $5 per day per person (3 of whom Disney considers Adults) it is worth it to me. However, I don't like to throw even free food away. I think that is an amazing waste.

Now, before you say that we don't have to order that much, we just have to pay for it, I disagree. Disney enticed me to stay onsite and not spend my money elsewhere by offering me 49 TS credits, 49 CS credits and 49 snack credits to use as I see fit. I relied on their representation when purchasing my package (which I can no longer cancel without penalty). I will therefore do my best to maximize the value of the enticement offered by Disney to the extent possible by sharing meals as I alwaays do at home. That is how I choose to use my credits.

But would you then become angry/ upset if they told you EACH person had to order a meal? It would be more a waste of food to have to order it and have it thrown away b/c one is too full to eat it than it would be to just not order it in the first place. I understand what you are saying about free dining and all I just hope that people arent making plans based on this assumption and then getting angry when this doesnt happen, canceling ADRs is no fun and rather depressing.

[punkin]

But would you then become angry/ upset if they told you EACH person had to order a meal? It would be more a waste of food to have to order it and have it thrown away b/c one is too full to eat it than it would be to just not order it in the first place. I understand what you are saying about free dining and all I just hope that people arent making plans based on this assumption and then getting angry when this doesnt happen, canceling ADRs is no fun and rather depressing.

I agree and I have alternate plans in place. I really will not get angry. I may bluster a little and see if that will help.

I would then proceed to order as much as possible of the most expensive items (which is not my plan incidentally). I would then take everything back to my hotel in a doggie bag and request a refrigerator. My family will then eat all that food for breakfasts and snacks.

Heck maybe I'll bring a mircowave to heat it up in (joke people).

[XOoOoVEEoOoOX]

I agree and I have alternate plans in place. I really will not get angry. I may bluster a little and see if that will help.

I would then proceed to order as much as possible of the most expensive items (which is not my plan incidentally). I would then take everything back to my hotel in a doggie bag and request a refrigerator. My family will then eat all that food for breakfasts and snacks.

Heck maybe I'll bring a mircowave to heat it up in (joke people).

LOL...Good plan then.. :thumbsup2 I know in my case we would have no leftovers...my mothers boyfriend is a human vaccuum cleaner...no food ever gets thrown away when he is around LOL..

[Sammie]

This is all so confusing. So if my DH and I eat at a restaurant with several of our friends that are NOT on the dining plan (but our card also has our 21 year old DD on it, but she's not with us), how are they going to deal with it. Our DD plans to eat with us for some meals and eat with her friends for some meals.

I guess it's just going to be a wait and see.

You will use your plan to purchase your meals, your friends will pay out of pocket for theirs.

[Luv2Roam]

you: I'd like to know if two adults can share one table service credit
CM: No, unfortunately, a table service is per person and cannot be shared
you: We are planning to stay for four nights with the dining plan
you: and as I understand that between the two of us we will have 8 table service credits
you: and all I thought was that we can share once or twice and visit more than 4 restaurants...
CM: The reason that I asked was to make sure I understood your question. And to answer that, each of you has four. You do not have eight. The plan works in a per person basis, therefore you cannot use it to share it.
What the CM said makes sense to me. :confused3 I just don't think people want to hear that response. But the CM seems to have said you have 4 table service credits per person, for TS 4 meals. As they said the plan works on a per person basis.
This DDP and enforcing almost seems a predictable outcome. (Just MHO) If Disney gets too much grief or WDW restaurant participants feel short changed I can see the DDP going bye-bye, or what restaurants can, leaving the plan.
Just considering what happened to the AP Best Guest Rate. Everyone complaining and writing in. Poof! The plan was eliminated, which caused more complaints because it was ended. (Only judging by what was read on the Dis.)
I can see something else taking the DDP place in 2008, with further restrictions in 2007.
Nothing against anyone, and not finger pointing. I just have that feeling....

[disney2d2]

Well, we are two people. We don't each a lot at one time would like to eat at a table-service restaurant more than once a day. And as others have said, we cannot both order 2 full course meals (we usually order one entree and one appetizer at home) and we don't wanna carry food around with us (if we can't finish it).

That's why we would like to share one TS credit (at least a couple of times) during a four day stay... We are honest people, we don't lie about our kids ages (we don't have any, yet!) and we are not trying to cheat a system by circumventing any Disney policies.

So why is it not a good idea for us to share?

*** OR Should I make DW just sit at another table and sip some H2O while I eat my one credit? Because God forbin if I throw her French fry I'll be kicked off the resort...

[disney2d2]

You will use your plan to purchase your meals, your friends will pay out of pocket for theirs.
So you mean if the entire party pays with one card, the servers will check everyone else's IDs (disney keys whatever) to make sure that they are on DDP?

[Sammie]

So you mean if the entire party pays with one card, the servers will check everyone else's IDs (disney keys whatever) to make sure that they are on DDP?

If you are dining with someone that is not on the plan you simply tell the server, these 3 are on the DDP, these 3 are not. They pay OOP and you don't. I don't see the confusion. No different than asking for seperate checks.

[disney2d2]

If you are dining with someone that is not on the plan you simply tell the server, these 3 are on the DDP, these 3 are not. They pay OOP and you don't. I don't see the confusion. No different than asking for seperate checks.
That wasn't my question, my question was that if five people go into a restaurant having a card with 3 adults on DDP. Can't they just order 3 meals and share it among all five... or do they not allow that by:

Demanding that the other two order an entree too
Asking the other two to leave
Telling you that you can order three meals, but only three people can eat, the others would have to stare
Asking everyone to leave and tell them what cheap *******s they are

[JLS]

That's a good point by Disney2d2. If 2 adults wanted to share and were getting grief about it, why not just say that one of you is on the dining plan and one of you is not? Happens all the time anyway. I have met friends at WDW and eaten with them separate from the other people in my room. They certainly can't force non-DDP to order something, unless all of the restaurants instituted some variety of "per person minimum charge." I guess they could make a rule saying that there was either a $20 p/p minimum charge (just making up a number) or a use of a DDP credit. But until they do that, perhaps the "I'm not on the dining plan" excuse would work. I'm sure I will get flamed for this post because I am immoral and suggesting lying to a CM server.

[disney2d2]

Here's another chat session...

Chat Information - Thank you for contacting Disney. Please hold while we route your chat to a Disney Cast Member who will help you with your question.
Chat Information - All our online Disney Cast Members are currently assisting other Guests. Thank you for your patience. A Disney Cast Member will be with you shortly.
Chat Information - Welcome to Disney! My name is CM. How can I help you today?
you: hey
you: I am booking a 7 night stay with the meal plan
CM: Hello!
CM: Wonderful! How can I assist you with this?
you: I wanted that if it was possible for two adults to share a table service meal, but using just one credit
you: I meant to say "by using just one credit"
CM: No, I can see where you would be coming from on that but it is required that each person get their own meal on the dining plan.
you: Well, I was being hypothetical
you: we have 4 adults in our group
you: And not everyone eats a lot
you: so you are telling me between four of use, we cannot order 3 meals
CM: The nice thing with the Magic Your Way Package Plus Dining is that if you don't eat every it doesn't really matter because you're truly not "wasting" any money.
CM: I don't know exactly how to explain it to you. Basically you have to look at it as if the table service meal were attached to one person specifically. If that person eats they will be charged for the table service meal, if that person doesn't eat then they won't be charged.
you: Well, honestly it would be funny to see this policy being enforced
you: can't the fourth person just order a drink
you: It would be rude to ask him to leave
CM: I don't have an answer on that one, it is just the policies that they have given us.
CM: They won't ask him to leave, but it would be up to the restaurant as to how charges would be done, I can't answer that.
you: ok
you: well is their another level of support that deals with the dining services?
CM: Again, it would be completely up to the restaurants discretion at the time of dining.
you: ok I understand
you: thanks for your help...
you: and that's gay
CM: You are very welcome! Is there anything else that I can help you with today?

[wdwobsessed]

Jenn ... LOL ... I was thinking the same thing. NO ... this is not my hubby ... this is Bob ... he is my "friend" from Tampa visiting for the day. Say hello Bob.

:teeth:

TOO funny!

Maybe then they'd ask for ID then the jig would be up!

WDWO

[JLS]

wdwobsessed - if things get to the point on the dining plan that servers are having to ask people for IDs, I think a lot of people will be so turned off that they will no longer want the DDP at all. I honestly cannot imagine servers starting to ID people to eat in a restaurant!

[wdwobsessed]

The last CM conversation made perfect sense. If you are on DDP and you sit at the table and eat ... they have the right to charge you 1TS credit ... even if you do not order seperate food for yourself.

Not saying I agree with it.

WDWO

[disney2d2]

The last CM conversation made perfect sense. If you are on DDP and you sit at the table and eat ... they have the right to charge you 1TS credit ... even if you do not order seperate food for yourself.
Do you know if TS meals can be ordered to go...?

[JimMIA]

Do you know if TS meals can be ordered to go...?
You've GOT to be kidding!

[disney2d2]

You've GOT to be kidding!Why not? I can order to-go at Chili's, Benigan's or Ruby Tuesday... why not a restaurant in Disney World?

[wdwobsessed]

WHY would she be kidding??????

In all honesty when I told my husband about the new "non sharing" gossip going on he said

"You've got to be kidding!"

So who is kidding who here? LOL!!

I think if they change over to making people use a TS credit and not share then you will see more of this. I would not be beyond getting a nice sandwich packed up to go for later and maybe eating my app & dessert.

WDWO

[JimMIA]

Why not? I can order to-go at Chili's, Benigan's or Ruby Tuesday... why not a restaurant in Disney World?
No offense, but the TS restaurants at Disney are not Chili's.

[nacho1337]

An email

me

We are going to be on the dining plan. We are going to a signature dining. I was wondering if we
could share, meaning using 1 Adult credit for 2 Adult people, at another restaurant

please let me know

stephen

reply

Our Food & Beverage department advises that guests may share an entree at most of our dining
locations. The exceptions to this would be buffets, plated meals and Dinner Shows. Please
understand that the cost of entertainment is included in the price of Character Meals and Dinner
Shows. Please check with your server before ordering.

If you have questions or need further assistance, feel free to contact us. Please include your full
name, E-Mail address, and reservation number if applicable on all correspondence.

Thank you!

so who knows :confused3

[disney2d2]

No offense, but the TS restaurants at Disney are not Chili's.
Thanks for making that clear.

But they are both "table-service restaurants".

[cgbsilver@hotmail.co]

No sharing on the plan makes no sense to me. Consider the following example.

You are on the dinningplan and on your room key it says 2A. Let's say you find a friend that is not on the dinning plan. You go to a TS. Sit down with him. Just two people(the other person in your party is off somewhere else). So you order your drink, your appetizer, dessert and an entree. Your friend who is not on the dinning plan just orders a drink and you share your meal with him. Now the waiter comes and says you have to get two TS credit substracted because you shared. Then which rule applies here: 1) The no sharing rule. or 2) The non transfarable rule. The waiter would be using one TS for someone not on the plan if he applies the no sharing rule, but on the other hand if he applies the Non Transfarable rule, he would have to allow sharing> :confused3 :confused3 :confused3 :idea:

[cgbsilver@hotmail.co]

No offense, but the TS restaurants at Disney are not Chili's.

Some of them are below Chili's quality (Beaches and Cream, Sci Fi) and some are above (Le Cellier, Ohanas)

[Wazzo]

I personally have never had a problem sharing meals NOT on the DDP, and I don't see why it should really be a problem ON the DDP. That said, after reading about the "abuse to the system", I do see how Disney could bring in a no sharing policy... I plan to share, but I would understand if we can't, so my back up is to have one person use a DDP credit (1 TS or 2 TS at Sig.) and order a separate entree for the second person and pay OOP. I don't see how they can refuse to let the second person pay for a entree rather than using DDP credits. :confused3


PS - Has anyone come back yet with Free Dining reports about how they could NOT share?? :listen:

[susan4875]

Personally, I think it's a question of logistics. If DH and I share a meal at a TS meal, that frees us an extra TS credit for another meal. SO while DIsney planned for us to have one ADR, we now have two. If everyone does that, then it becomes a nightmare for anyone to be served in the World. Shortage of TS ADRs leads to crowded CS which leads to unhappy guests.

In practice, they may not take a hardline, but I'm sure they'll try and discourage it as much as possible when people ask.

I know a lot of people have a problem wasting food. Especially when it's free dining, why not just limit your ordering to reflect your eating habits?

[traviesojmt]

At this point, I would just prefer that Disney just assign the credits to each individual person and not continue to pool them together. We have no intention of cheating Disney. We actually have 14 TS meals planned with only 10 credits available. We are perfectly happy to pay OOP for the extra meals. Due to the fact that the majority of our meals are buffet or family style meals, sharing will not often even be an issue. But, if we are at Rose and Crown with my DD3 (who tends to eat a big breakfast, medium lunch and little to no dinner) why is it wrong to just let her eat off my plate? It seems unnecessary to order food that she will not eat. Since we have extra TS meals planned, why can't I just use her child credit on one of those? I completely agree that it would be wrong to save her credits so that I can use them for an adult later. If the credits were individualized, then sharing would not really be an issue in my opinion. The "saved" credit could then only be used for another child meal.
Now, if they refuse to let us share, it really won't be a huge deal for us. I guess we will order a meal that will barely be touched. Seems like a waste to me, but if that is the rules that must be followed, so be it.

[dreamalittledream]

Wouldn't sharing actually increase the overall income for the location? It could possibly increase the amount of "adult beverages" which are not on the plan and an additional entree. This done at 2 different meals would bring more money in than the DDP only used one time. Increasing the revenue from the extra entrees and drinks that were ordered. Markup on the beverages (adult or not) is where alot of the profit is in the business.

Not that I really care b/c I am NOT sharing with DH, he isn't fair when we share! :rotfl: so unless he gives me all the desert, I'll get my own thank you!

[Rowlf]

What the "CM" said contradicts what the brochure says. The brochure says that the credits of each type for your party are pooled. It also says adults can't use children's credits, which possibly contradicts the first page, but whatever.

It can't possibly be per-person. How would they ever know? We are planning on snagging some credits from other people in our party for a signature meal - if that doesn't work, we're screwed!

[HaleyB]

Wouldn't sharing actually increase the overall income for the location? It could possibly increase the amount of "adult beverages" which are not on the plan and an additional entree. This done at 2 different meals would bring more money in than the DDP only used one time. Increasing the revenue from the extra entrees and drinks that were ordered. Markup on the beverages (adult or not) is where alot of the profit is in the business.

Not that I really care b/c I am NOT sharing with DH, he isn't fair when we share! :rotfl: so unless he gives me all the desert, I'll get my own thank you!

That is a really good point.

When I first started looking at our ADR's I assumed we would be able to share (as we were last time on the plan) and booked 7 one credit and 2 two credit ADRS (11 total) for a 9 night stay.

Then I did the math. We would order a drink and either an entree or dessert oop at each meal so as to have enough credits to go that far (my DH is not good at spliting meals either)... yikes. We already buy those darn light up cubes every where we go, lol, this was going to drive our food budget way up.

Add to that the fact that we had tons of left over CS credits last year (25%)... so I am planning on useing our 9 TS credits (each) on 8 meals (one signature) and useing all our CS credits this year! It will save me a bundle. Sometimes less really is more :) No spliting meals needed, and we will spend less money in the end! True we will have fewer TS meals, but I think 8 is really enough of a good thing.

Of course I fall into the 'no intention of trying to squeeze extra value' out of the plan camp. I have looked at the numbers many times and even if half of us skip dessert and drink water we come out way ahead on the plan. Just an entree is often close to $25 with tax and tip (I figure $3 for the snack and $10 for the CS).

:teeth: Smile people, the DDP is a fantastic deal even with the new limitations (even better when it is free). Focus on the new snack choices and be happy!

[DaisyD]

Makes perfect sense to me. I'm surprised it wasn't brought on earlier due to all the wrangling of food credits! LOL!

[bertalander]

Yes, that's true. I think what it is is that a lot of people are trying to bend themselves out of shape just to squeeze even more value from the Dining Plan than it has already.

Look...

People often, gasp, split meals to save money when NOT on the dining plan. A table service is a LOT of food. If I feel like allowing my child to eat my salad and split a dessert with me so she can save her credit for CRT I'm a BAD person? No.

GEEEEEEESH!

There, I had my say...

back to my popcorn...

popcorn::

[dreamalittledream]

That is a really good point.

When I first started looking at our ADR's I assumed we would be able to share (as we were last time on the plan) and booked 7 one credit and 2 two credit ADRS (11 total) for a 9 night stay.

Then I did the math. We would order a drink and either an entree or dessert oop at each meal so as to have enough credits to go that far (my DH is not good at spliting meals either)... yikes. We already buy those darn light up cubes every where we go, lol, this was going to drive our food budget way up.

Add to that the fact that we had tons of left over CS credits last year (25%)... so I am planning on useing our 9 TS credits (each) on 8 meals (one signature) and useing all our CS credits this year! It will save me a bundle. Sometimes less really is more :) No spliting meals needed, and we will spend less money in the end! True we will have fewer TS meals, but I think 8 is really enough of a good thing.

Of course I fall into the 'no intention of trying to squeeze extra value' out of the plan camp. I have looked at the numbers many times and even if half of us skip dessert and drink water we come out way ahead on the plan. Just an entree is often close to $25 with tax and tip (I figure $3 for the snack and $10 for the CS).

:teeth: Smile people, the DDP is a fantastic deal even with the new limitations (even better when it is free). Focus on the new snack choices and be happy!


very nicely said. :thumbsup2

I am really thrilled about the DDP, we like to go to TS and character meals so it is a nice savings and having the meals paid for makes it more relaxing. That said, I have a few uneven situations, kids w/ DGP and such so I am glued to these threads with all the possibilities! :rotfl: and I know I should just go with the flow but it is like being a rubber necker on the highway. I gotta see what is going on!

[Sammie]

Look...

People often, gasp, split meals to save money when NOT on the dining plan. A table service is a LOT of food. If I feel like allowing my child to eat my salad and split a dessert with me so she can save her credit for CRT I'm a BAD person? No.

GEEEEEEESH!

There, I had my say...

back to my popcorn...

popcorn::

You are right, people do split meals to save money when NOT on the dining plan. And therefore if the requirements set forth by Disney to use the Dining Plan does not fit, they can go back to NOT having the dining plan.

It truly is very simple. Disney gets to make the rules and they also get to change them at anytime they wish as they need to. It is not about being a bad person really it is about them making the guidelines and the customer deciding if they want to participate.

The Dining plan brochure is a guideline and it states subject to change at anytime.

If the plan does not fit someone's eating habits, I would recommend not getting it and simply go back to what they were doing prior to the plan.

[Wazzo]

I just read another post from a DISer who just got back, was on the DDP, and had NO problem sharing... even at signature restaurants!!
:cheer2: ::yes:: :jumping1: party: :disrocks:

[DizGeek]

At first, I thought this thread was a joke....now I know it is. Why would anyone waste their time with silly hypothetical questions to Disney?

To the original poster....I think you and your 3 guests should go into 4 different restaurants everynight and order one meal. This way, each of you gets to eat wherever they want! :rotfl2:

[Sammie]

At first, I thought this thread was a joke....now I know it is. Why would anyone waste their time with silly hypothetical questions to Disney?

To the original poster....I think you and your 3 guests should go into 4 different restaurants everynight and order one meal. This way, each of you gets to eat wherever they want! :rotfl2:

Thank you, wouldn't you love to have the job of answering the silly hypothetical questions. :rolleyes:

[LisaDKG]

What I don't get is why people seem to think that "sharing" a TS meal is screwing over Disney. They are not eating 2 meals worth of food and may be adding on alcohol. Then because they have more credits they would go and do the same thing at another restaurant - and don't forget the light up ice cubes or an extra dessert oop when 2 people can't decide on one! And if they are saving up the credits to go to a signature meal it is my understanding that it's not a very cost effective way of using the credits anyway - Disney would be in the black again and who doesn't order wine at a signature??? Am I way off??? Please enlighten me if I have missed some major point??? (whoa that's a lot of punctuation...)

[LizinSTL]

You are right, people do split meals to save money when NOT on the dining plan. And therefore if the requirements set forth by Disney to use the Dining Plan does not fit, they can go back to NOT having the dining plan.

It truly is very simple. Disney gets to make the rules and they also get to change them at anytime they wish as they need to. It is not about being a bad person really it is about them making the guidelines and the customer deciding if they want to participate.

The Dining plan brochure is a guideline and it states subject to change at anytime.

If the plan does not fit someone's eating habits, I would recommend not getting it and simply go back to what they were doing prior to the plan.

You bet. But right now it is ALL speculation. I find it hard to believe that Disney will enforce this no sharing nonsense for more than a day or two. It's really ridiculous and completely out of the norm in terms of the industry standard. Charge a plate splitting fee but no sharing? What's next? Every guest needs his/her own bed??

[glass slipper girl]

I think what is upseting most people is the combination of one set of guidelines when they booked their trip then the changes with the inability to get a straight answer on what the new rules mean. From my understanding the brochure has been modified to say adults can't use children's credits. Fine. They gave a definite answer on that and I'm OK with it, won't try to argue. I don't think I've seen no sharing and no paying out of pocket for a member of your party who may not want a full meal in writing anywhere but in posts here. That isn't in the brochure, right? It doesn't say if 2A and 2C sit down at your table and your dining card says 2A/2C then they will take 4 credits (or 8 at a signature location) regarless of how you ask to pay. No one at Disney seems to be able to give a definite answer. That isn't the fault of the CMs on the phone or at the other end of a chat or email. IMHO, it's fault of upper level management not giving them CLEAR guidelines. I understand that asking to pay OOP for a child may make them suspicious because of recommendations on various planning sites and in guidebooks to "bank" the kids credits for adult use. I'd just like to hear some definites that make sense and are consistent. If no sharing was going to be a rule, it should be put in to the brochure. I understand the no sharing with those not on the plan but if 2 adults want to share a meal and pay OOP for an additional drink and appetizer, that shouldn't be an issue since you have always been able to do that no problem. If it becomes an issue, it should be put in writing. No one is arguing child/adult any longer since it is in writing.

[LSUDis]

I'm no math whiz.....really, I'm not, so all of you take it slowly with me...

Tell me where I'm going wrong....Billy Bob and I are married and go to WDW.

We stay, let's say, 5 nights, so we get 5 TS each= 10 total.

Monday--we go to Rose and Crown the first night...not too hungry-share--use 1 TS.

9 TS left

The next day, Billy Bob is starving, so we eat at Sci-Fi for bfst and share--use 1 (he likes odd bfsts.) We eat lunch at Sci-Fi & share--use 1. We eat at Beaches and Cream for dinner and share--use 1 TS

---6 TS left.

Wednesday--B.B. (we're friends by now) and I eat bfst at Grand Fl. Cafe and share again--use 1 TS; eat lunch at the '50s place and share--1 TS; eat dinner at Raglan Road and share (but drinks lots of Guiness, so who really knows whose dinners we paid for :banana: )--uses 1 TS

3 TS left

Thursday--B.B. has hangover, so we share bfst again at Grand Fl. Cafe--uses 1 TS; eat lunch at Tony's and share-use 1 TS; eat dinner at Sci-Fi (Billy Bob likes the sparkly lights) and share-use 1 TS

Now, no TS are left. We used 10. We did not eat any food that we did not pay for, right?

Disney got us to pay OOP for 10 drinks that we would have gotten "free" on the DP.

We tipped more b/c we ate at more places.

Disney washed fewer plates--had to cook less food.

We tried more restaurants than we normally would have, so will visit them in the future now that we are "hooked" on a few favorites.

We waste less food; everyone's happy; Disney makes the money from the DP and from the extra drinks/dessert that we ordered over the allowance of the meal plan.

Now, what's the commotion about? It's a win-win for everyone, right??? :confused3

Plus, while Billy Bob and I are sharing TS, we are not eating ANY of the counters except the last day, so Disney has charged us for, yet we did not eat, 7 counter meals.

[disney2d2]

Great post LSUDis. But you see to some higher level moral beings here, sharing is either cheating Disney out of its profits or simply ridiculous... I guess some people always order full course meals for both parties when visiting restaurants... we rarely ever do. Sharing is caring.

[akalittleeva]

LisaDKG - :thumbsup2

Glass Slipper Girl - :thumbsup2

LSUDis - :thumbsup2

[DizGeek]

What I don't get is why people seem to think that "sharing" a TS meal is screwing over Disney.


Lets say a party of 8 comes in and one person uses their credit while the rest have ice water.....is that fair to Disney or the wait staff or the other guests waiting?

[Rowlf]

LSUDis, I see your point, but if those tables had been taken up by people using two credits instead of one, Disney would be better off than in your scenario. Restaurants don't like people sharing because they want to maximize their per seat/per table revenue. Sharing goes against that.

[bertalander]

Lets say a party of 8 comes in and one person uses their credit while the rest have ice water.....is that fair to Disney or the wait staff or the other guests waiting?

So we've gone from a couple sharing a meal to a family of 8 descending on Le Celleir and splitting the biggest meal they can get out of the DDP to feed Ma, Pa and their 6 overgrown children. Pa gets the iced tea and everyone else has water?! :rotfl:

You are KILLING me here.


I'm not screwing Disney over by letting my child eat off of it and buying her a drink OOP. Her credit is still a child credit that will be used as a child credit at some later point in the trip.

Why is this SO hard to understand?!

How in the world do you feel that people are 'cheating' by sharing a huge amount of food?

You know I come to DIS looking for good up to date info. And recently find a 'mightier than thou' minority scolding perceived wrongs around every turn. Get to Disney and CHILL out already.

AURGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

I'm now motoring away from the insanity in this thread and hoping the moral police aren't in hot pursuit. :moped:

[glass slipper girl]

Lets say a party of 8 comes in and one person uses their credit while the rest have ice water.....is that fair to Disney or the wait staff or the other guests waiting?


And how often do you really think that is going to happen...8 people, one order? I think most of the time it's going to be something like 2A/2C ordering 1A/2C meals. My son's may be interested in eating the same thing but they will both finish a hotdog or 2 or 3 chicken strips. Even if they couldn't, they aren't big on sharing their food! :lol DH and I on the other hand aren't so teritorial. ;) And, BTW, we may not be the norm but if we do share an entree or if we go to a restaurant at home just for desert, we do tip a higher percentage to make up for the fact that they did serve 2 of us even if we only ordered 1 entree. When we have shared at Disney (which is only once or twice a trip because most of the time DH subscribes to the "If we get different things, we get to try both!" philosophy) we typically have 2 appetizers so we'd be paying out of pocket for a 2nd drink and app.

Also, if you want to apply that it isn't fair to the restaurant or wait staff because the profits and gratuities won't be maximized then the next step (just as far fetched as the example of 8 people 1 order :rolleyes: ) is to require guests to basically place their orders before being seated so the restaurant can seat those ordering the more expensive items sooner than those ordering chicken and water. That maximizes their proffits afterall. :rolleyes:

I'm not looking to pull one over on Disney either. I'd just like to see a straight answer in writing FROM DISNEY and not from a poster on a message board. For all the complaining people did about "interpreting the rules to suit your 'agenda'" it seems to be happening on both sides of the argument here! I would bet that my family is fairly normal for most of the families out there using the plan...we may want to share something 2 times on our 9 day trip. Kid credits used for kids, adult credits used for adults but for the majority of our meals we'll be ordering 4 meals and paying for them all with the dining plan. I don't think DH and I sharing 2 meals while on our trip staying at the GF for a week without planning to leave the property for any meals is going to hurt Disney's bottom line in any way. Yes, there are guests who may plan to share at every meal thus theoretically doubling the # of ADRs they make but I don't think that is most guests and more than likely, that couple would do the same thing without the dining plan so they would still have that many ADRs and take up a table while ordering one 3 course meal + extra drink and occasionally extra ap or desert.

I guess I just don't understand where the moral high horse comes in here. If we were still arguing child credits for adult use, OK, but Disney has now put that in writing. That ends that argument. Sharing meals, IMHO, is not "stealing from Disney" in any way shape or form. If they put it in writing then even if I don't see it as stealing, I won't share. I'll decided if the dining plan is still worth it for our family or not. I'll reserve the right to think it's silly but I will follow the rules. Fortunately for me, my trip isn't untill late January so I can wait to see what happens between now and then. If something changes on 1/1/07, I can still see what happens and can change my plans around if need be. My guess is they are going to be fairly strict as we lead up to free dining and during free dining and then things will ease back off again somewhat. Time will tell.

[disney2d2]

Lets say a party of 8 comes in and one person uses their credit while the rest have ice water.....is that fair to Disney or the wait staff or the other guests waiting?
Excuse me if I fail to see your logic, does this message board primarily exist to make sure that Disney's profits are at an optimal level? Or is the purpose to make sure people enjoy their Disney vacation and discuss ways to improve their experience, like for say by visiting more restaurants than the number of nights of stay.

Oh, and please don't be so ridiculous, 8-1??? I mean we are talking 2-1 or 5-3... but eight to one? You really think those you share are cheapsters... don't you?

[punkin]

Oh, and please don't be so ridiculous, 8-1??? I mean we are talking 2-1 or 5-3... but eight to one? You really think those you share are cheapsters... don't you?

I completely agree. I have 7 people going and we are plannning on sharing. We are planning to share 5 for 7. With the extra credits over the course of a week, we will do Boma breakfast (which is not a great use of credits but I don't care). I will get the most I can for my money while enjoying dining the way we usually do at home, i.e. sharing and trying new things; and I'm pretty sure Disney will make out OK financially as well.

[OurDogCisco]

Well, we are two people. We don't each a lot at one time would like to eat at a table-service restaurant more than once a day. And as others have said, we cannot both order 2 full course meals (we usually order one entree and one appetizer at home) and we don't wanna carry food around with us (if we can't finish it).

That's why we would like to share one TS credit (at least a couple of times) during a four day stay... We are honest people, we don't lie about our kids ages (we don't have any, yet!) and we are not trying to cheat a system by circumventing any Disney policies.

So why is it not a good idea for us to share?

*** OR Should I make DW just sit at another table and sip some H2O while I eat my one credit? Because God forbin if I throw her French fry I'll be kicked off the resort...

Just trying to understand your issue I have a question. When will you eat your extra table credit? Let's say you are going to be there 5 nights so you have 10 ts, 10 cs & 10 snack credits. So if you only use one ts credit, when do you eat the second one? Are you saving it to eat a 2 ts credit restaurant? Or do you eat at another ts restaurant that day in addition to your cs place? I just don't get it. If it is the latter to eat at another ts restaurant that day then you are sure spending a lot of time eating instead of visiting the parks?

[Lisa_Belle]

Personally, I think it's a question of logistics. If DH and I share a meal at a TS meal, that frees us an extra TS credit for another meal. SO while DIsney planned for us to have one ADR, we now have two. If everyone does that, then it becomes a nightmare for anyone to be served in the World. Shortage of TS ADRs leads to crowded CS which leads to unhappy guests.

In practice, they may not take a hardline, but I'm sure they'll try and discourage it as much as possible when people ask.

I know a lot of people have a problem wasting food. Especially when it's free dining, why not just limit your ordering to reflect your eating habits?

But look at it another way (logistically) ...

The purpose of the plan (in Disney's bottom line) is to entice people to stay on property and spend time (and most important MONEY) in the parks and on accommodations. Making multiple ADRs means people will spend even MORE time in the parks. If enough people decide that the plan does not meet their needs, they won't get the plan. Consequently, enough of those people may decide that if they aren't eating on property what would be the point of staying on property or buying tickets. Now you have thousands of people - and their money - staying off site and visiting Sea World, Universal, Busch Gardens and possibly a day or two at the beach. Disney does NOT want that. Even if a family spent just two days off site, they could easily take anywhere from $500 to $1,000 away from Disney - about a third of their money for a week's vacation.

And while Disney portions may be large, I don't think they are large enough to feed a family of 8. It seems that most of the "sharing" concerns involve small children.

[OurDogCisco]

I'm no math whiz.....really, I'm not, so all of you take it slowly with me...

Tell me where I'm going wrong....Billy Bob and I are married and go to WDW.

We stay, let's say, 5 nights, so we get 5 TS each= 10 total.

Monday--we go to Rose and Crown the first night...not too hungry-share--use 1 TS.

9 TS left

The next day, Billy Bob is starving, so we eat at Sci-Fi for bfst and share--use 1 (he likes odd bfsts.) We eat lunch at Sci-Fi & share--use 1. We eat at Beaches and Cream for dinner and share--use 1 TS

---6 TS left.

Wednesday--B.B. (we're friends by now) and I eat bfst at Grand Fl. Cafe and share again--use 1 TS; eat lunch at the '50s place and share--1 TS; eat dinner at Raglan Road and share (but drinks lots of Guiness, so who really knows whose dinners we paid for :banana: )--uses 1 TS

3 TS left

Thursday--B.B. has hangover, so we share bfst again at Grand Fl. Cafe--uses 1 TS; eat lunch at Tony's and share-use 1 TS; eat dinner at Sci-Fi (Billy Bob likes the sparkly lights) and share-use 1 TS

Now, no TS are left. We used 10. We did not eat any food that we did not pay for, right?

Disney got us to pay OOP for 10 drinks that we would have gotten "free" on the DP.

We tipped more b/c we ate at more places.

Disney washed fewer plates--had to cook less food.

We tried more restaurants than we normally would have, so will visit them in the future now that we are "hooked" on a few favorites.

We waste less food; everyone's happy; Disney makes the money from the DP and from the extra drinks/dessert that we ordered over the allowance of the meal plan.

Now, what's the commotion about? It's a win-win for everyone, right??? :confused3

Plus, while Billy Bob and I are sharing TS, we are not eating ANY of the counters except the last day, so Disney has charged us for, yet we did not eat, 7 counter meals.

I get now.... How you are sharing and why you aren't hungry when you get to the next meal. You see you are spending your time by walking from restaruant to restaurant waiting for your ADRs. Instead where I would be walking from ride to ride burning a lot of calories so that by time I got to my meal time I would be starving. Since you are sharing all your meals you are spending a lot of time eating. It makes perfect sense. Not sure why you want to spend time in a restaurant the whole vacation but different strokes for different people.

[Lisa_Belle]

Just trying to understand your issue I have a question. When will you eat your extra table credit? Let's say you are going to be there 5 nights so you have 10 ts, 10 cs & 10 snack credits. So if you only use one ts credit, when do you eat the second one? Are you saving it to eat a 2 ts credit restaurant? Or do you eat at another ts restaurant that day in addition to your cs place? I just don't get it. If it is the latter to eat at another ts restaurant that day then you are sure spending a lot of time eating instead of visiting the parks?

The credits are based on per night of your stay, not per day. So if you arrive early in the day, you could easily eat a couple of meals on that day. And if you leave later in a day, you could eat a couple of meals on that day as well. So, theoretically, for a six-night stay, two people could eat a TS meal each night and a character breakfast the morning they leave - making 14 meals, but they would only have 12 credits. Sharing a meals at Le Cellier and Prime Time would give them the 14 credits they need.

[LSUDis]

I get now.... How you are sharing and why you aren't hungry when you get to the next meal. You see you are spending your time by walking from restaruant to restaurant waiting for your ADRs. Instead where I would be walking from ride to ride burning a lot of calories so that by time I got to my meal time I would be starving. Since you are sharing all your meals you are spending a lot of time eating. It makes perfect sense. Not sure why you want to spend time in a restaurant the whole vacation but different strokes for different people.


How is sharing all of our meals spending a lot of time eating...we are eating half of the normal amt. of food! Less to eat=less time eating.

Who eats a lot of food in this heat, anyway?

This was a hypothetical, extreme case to show how sharing is not necessarily a bad thing for Disney. It is tongue-in-cheek..for the record, I don't even eat breakfast.


Plus, I don't even DO the Dining Plan :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

[OurDogCisco]

The credits are based on per night of your stay, not per day. So if you arrive early in the day, you could easily eat a couple of meals on that day. And if you leave later in a day, you could eat a couple of meals on that day as well. So, theoretically, for a six-night stay, two people could eat a TS meal each night and a character breakfast the morning they leave - making 14 meals, but they would only have 12 credits. Sharing a meals at Le Cellier and Prime Time would give them the 14 credits they need.

So what you are saying is that you are sharing because you don't want to pay out of pocket for one or two meals? Because it sounds like to me you wouldn't normally share your meals except on the first and last day because you'd be short some credits.

[OurDogCisco]

How is sharing all of our meals spending a lot of time eating...we are eating half of the normal amt. of food! Less to eat=less time eating.

Who eats a lot of food in this heat, anyway?

This was a hypothetical, extreme case to show how sharing is not necessarily a bad thing for Disney. It is tongue-in-cheek..for the record, I don't even eat breakfast.


Plus, I don't even DO the Dining Plan :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

I don't think it is the food that cost Disney money. That isn't the biggest expense of running a restaurant. So wasting food probably isn't at the top of Disney list on figuring out how to save it.

I guess, I'm not normal because when we go to Disney we are straving from meal to meal. I understand sharing with a child but another adult come on. The portions aren't that big. In fact on our last Disney trip I loss 4 lbs from all the walking. We ate 3 meals a day. We did breakfast in the room and counter service lunch and ts dinner everyday. We didn't snack much. We ordered entree for every adult. My kids didn't share because they don't like to eat the same things. My oldest ate everything on her plate but with my youngest it was a hit or miss.

[LSUDis]

If it is the latter to eat at another ts restaurant that day then you are sure spending a lot of time eating instead of visiting the parks?

You see you are spending your time by walking from restaruant to restaurant waiting for your ADRs. Instead where I would be walking from ride to ride burning a lot of calories


Since you are sharing all your meals you are spending a lot of time eating.

Not sure why you want to spend time in a restaurant the whole vacation


Yep, we're just big 'ole hogs wallowing in the feeding trough that is the Disney Dining Plan. :drinking1


Seriously, though, some people DO come to Disney to enjoy the scenery, people-watch, and, yes, try new foods. Disney actually encourages this--they even have a Food and Wine Festival. Not everyone can or does enjoy riding the rides; that is the beauty of Disney, there is something for everyone.

I took your replies as a bit mean-spirited to those who like to eat or are a little Pooh-y (which is not me, so it is NOT personal---okay, I DO like to eat, but I am not "Pooh-y).

If I read you wrong, then I apologize. I just didn't want this thread to become mean.

[OurDogCisco]

Yep, we're just big 'ole hogs wallowing in the feeding trough that is the Disney Dining Plan. :drinking1


Seriously, though, some people DO come to Disney to enjoy the scenery, people-watch, and, yes, try new foods. Disney actually encourages this--they even have a Food and Wine Festival. Not everyone can or does enjoy riding the rides; that is the beauty of Disney, there is something for everyone.

I took your replies as a bit mean-spirited to those who like to eat or are a little Pooh-y (which is not me, so it is NOT personal---okay, I DO like to eat, but I am not "Pooh-y).

If I read you wrong, then I apologize. I just didn't want this thread to become mean.

Trust me I'm not that thin and I love to eat and I could stand to lose 20 lbs. I think Disney is a great place to that. But I just find your sharing plan a little excessive and actually mean spirited too (everything is a 2 way street). And, I really don't believe you are saving Disney money by sharing your food at every restaurant. Actually, I think dining plans similar to the one you presented are causing the restaurants to lose money and then they will be out of business. I am not trying to side with Disney or you I'm just wondering why so many people are stressing over this dining plan?

GL with your dining plan.

[Sammie]

How is sharing all of our meals spending a lot of time eating...we are eating half of the normal amt. of food! Less to eat=less time eating.

Who eats a lot of food in this heat, anyway?

This was a hypothetical, extreme case to show how sharing is not necessarily a bad thing for Disney. It is tongue-in-cheek..for the record, I don't even eat breakfast.


Plus, I don't even DO the Dining Plan :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

The last comment I think sums it up very well everyone. Some just like to hypothetically argue the DDP and have no intention of using it.

Problem is all these hypothetical situations are being read by Disney and all of us that would like to purchase the DDP and gladly use it within the limitations set forth by Disney might not get to.

[scraptoons]

It's a cookie cutter corporate way of saying:

"You get what you get and you won't throw a fit" :rotfl2:

She didn't want to get her self in trouble so she kept beating around the bush by repeating the written rule.

I've stood nearby managers while watching them do the same when I worked retail.

They just stand there with a dumb smile on their face and repeat the policy like a broken record until you eventually give up.

[DizGeek]

Everyone has me wrong on this thread. I'm the one that said it was a joke.

[DCDisney]

Thursday--B.B. has hangover, so we share bfst again at Grand Fl. Cafe--uses 1 TS; eat lunch at Tony's and share-use 1 TS; eat dinner at Sci-Fi (Billy Bob likes the sparkly lights) and share-use 1 TS

Now, no TS are left. We used 10. We did not eat any food that we did not pay for, right?

Disney got us to pay OOP for 10 drinks that we would have gotten "free" on the DP.

We tipped more b/c we ate at more places.



Now, what's the commotion about? It's a win-win for everyone, right??? :confused3



But you have taken adrs/tables in 5 extra restaurants than you had credits for and the Jones family of 4 hasn't been able to use their TS credits at all or bought any of those fancy drinks they all love for 5 days. Since all the TS places are essentially booked all the time now any table not ordering up to average is lost revenue for the restuarant and the server. Though you may tip double when you share I would expect that most people do not. If the restaurant can fill the table with 4 paying customers vs 1 paying and 1 sharing I'm sure they'd prefer the 4.

Yvonne

[LSUDis]

If the restaurant can fill the table with 4 paying customers vs 1 paying and 1 sharing I'm sure they'd prefer the 4.

Wouldn't they really prefer to charge for those 10 counters and only have to provide 3?



The last comment I think sums it up very well everyone. Some just like to hypothetically argue the DDP and have no intention of using it.

Problem is all these hypothetical situations are being read by Disney and all of us that would like to purchase the DDP and gladly use it within the limitations set forth by Disney might not get to.


Is it wrong to look at what Disney offers and weigh all sides of the issue?

How many of us run various scenarios to see what will work best for us whether it's an AP, MYW tickets, which resort, DP or not?

That is how I came to the realization that the DP will not work for us.

Reaching that point required me to run hypothetical situations, so I just shared the thoughts that I considered while weighing my options. It is part of the planning process. Does anyone out there not run various options through their calculators?

I never said that I had no INTENTION of using the DP; I said that I "don't even do the Dining Plan." I have weighed the current situation and it does work for me since I have APs this year. So, I haven't "done" the DDP.

Remember, everyone, I said that it was tongue-in-cheek. Do you really believe that I or anyone would make and eat at 3 table service restaurants every day????

I was tossing out for discussion a scenario that had not been discussed before, I think, on a Disney Dining Discussion Board.

Can we not throw out topics for discussion, take a view, and explore the possibilities of that topic without "throwing a hissy" as my grandmother says.

Do we have to believe in a particular side of a topic to explore both sides of the topic? That is how we learn and understand both sides of an issue so that we can make a wise decision for ourselves
-or--
if the situation doesn't apply to us, aren't we still welcome to evaluate the topic and bring forth elements that may not been considered yet?? = (hypothetical situations)

This is not life or death....we are discussing the "Happiest Place on Earth," and we are too busy arguing and sniping at each other to carry on an honest give-and-take of thoughts/ideas about how to ENJOY A VACATION! :confused3

I'm leaving this discussion.

[JoiseyMom]

I don't think it is the food that cost Disney money. That isn't the biggest expense of running a restaurant. So wasting food probably isn't at the top of Disney list on figuring out how to save it.

I guess, I'm not normal because when we go to Disney we are straving from meal to meal. I understand sharing with a child but another adult come on. The portions aren't that big. In fact on our last Disney trip I loss 4 lbs from all the walking. We ate 3 meals a day. We did breakfast in the room and counter service lunch and ts dinner everyday. We didn't snack much. We ordered entree for every adult. My kids didn't share because they don't like to eat the same things. My oldest ate everything on her plate but with my youngest it was a hit or miss.


Umm...depending on the restaurant and what you order, yes the portions are big. DH and I are big eaters, we like our appetizers and will usually share dessert. We went to the Maya Grill, and ordered the same entree. OH MY GOSH! There was so much food, there was no way either one of us could finish it. We left enough over for a full meal. I would share that entree with DH next time, it would be plenty for the two of us.

SOme people like smaller portions and share everywhere, not just Disney, and there is nothing wrong with sharing meals. If DIsney, says no, then fine, people won't share. But there is nothing wrong with it.

[Meezers]

These threads are so stressing me out.

DM (65 yoa) and I (44 yoa) are paying for the dining plan in November.

We split meals all the time when we eat out. Neither one of us can eat an appetizer, entree and dessert. If we share then we usually split either an appetizer or dessert and the entree. We don't ask them to split it in the kitchen...just bring us an extra plate.

I can't imagine being told I can't share a meal with my Mom...it's not like I am using child credit for adult meal...blah...blah...blah...

Maybe I should just cancel the whole package deal....

[glass slipper girl]

But you have taken adrs/tables in 5 extra restaurants than you had credits for and the Jones family of 4 hasn't been able to use their TS credits at all or bought any of those fancy drinks they all love for 5 days. Since all the TS places are essentially booked all the time now any table not ordering up to average is lost revenue for the restuarant and the server.

This assumes that in the example given (where a couple stays for 5 nights, shares every meal and has 10 TS meals) that this couple would do things differently if they were NOT on the DDP. I would guess that they very well may plan to do just the same thing even if paying OOP in order to be able to enjoy "better" meals more often. If they would do that anyway, they aren't taking up any extra ADRs b/c of being on the DDP, they are taking them up b/c that is how they want to eat. Disney has never had a problem with sharing when paying OOP and has always been very accomodating down to splitting the entree and plating it seperately for you in the kitchen. So Disney has not had an issue with sharing...be it a lost revenue or a "taking up tables" issue thing in the past.

As for the Jones family being unable to use their TS credits b/c ADRs are all booked, I've thought that since doing the dining plan and having more people eating table service, that Disney ought to only be allowing ADRs for say 80% of a restaurant's estimated capacity for each hour to be booked as ADRs thus keeping SOMETHING open for walk ups. It may be a long wait, but a long wait is better than signs at the entrance to the parks saying all table service options are fully booked all day, don't even bother trying. People who book on the phone have CMs tell them to book their dining in advance, people who visit planning sites like the DIS know to do it but there are thousands of visitors who book online and then do nothing in the way of research and planning, or they borrow an older copy of a guidebook from a friend and have no idea that while you used to be able to walk up to lots of places, it's harder to do that now even during slower seasons. Keeping a certain percentage of tables available for walkups also benefits those who plan a last minute getaway and can't book ADRs months in advance b/c they had no clue they'd be visiting at that time.

Unfortunately, the only way to enforce the "per person, per day" rule fairly would be to say each day when you wake up, your card will have a new set of credits available. Use 'em or loose 'em. That rules out options for signature taking up 2 credits but at least it eliminates sharing/banking. If you plan 2 table service meals in a day (we often do "brunch" and dinner) then you have to decide where you want to spend your credit. That takes away a lot of the flexibility the plan was designed to provide and a lot of people won't be as interested in it with less flexibility.