Why the fuss on "sharing"?

[DisneyKidds]

Just avoid the word and I suspect you'll be just fine, unless Disney makes major changes to the plan and restaurant operations.

Allow me to illustrate............as Happy Couple arrives at Le Cellier for a dinner ADR.

"Welcome to Le Cellier, my name is Beavertail, and I'm from Saskatuan. Here are some pretzel breads. May I take your order?"

Happy husband says....."I'll have the cheddar cheese soup and the mushroom filet, please. Medium rare. I'll have an iced tea."

"What can I get for you ma'am?"

Happy wife says....."Oh, I'm not hungry, I'll just have some water, with lemon please."

Now, unless Disney starts imposing a minimum of one entree per person, I can't see how they could possibly take two TS credits. Heck, they wouldn't even know if the person not eating is even on the plan. I sincerely doubt the server is going to lord over Happy Couple to see who consumes what portion of the soup and the filet. Asking all these questions of CM's on the phone is only going to lead to confusion.

[punkin]

The fuss is that some people on this board feel morally superior and just because they don't want to share (hey different people have different appetites) they feel that those who share are trying to "get one over on Disney" and are therefore reprehensible "cheaters."

[princessjv]

The fuss is that some people on this board feel morally superior and just because they don't want to share (hey different people have different appetites) they feel that those who share are trying to "get one over on Disney" and are therefore reprehensible "cheaters."
Agreed! Hey, I am trying to eat less, therefore sharing some meals is what works for me, at WDW and home at my local mom & pop eatery! What is the biggy? :confused3

[DisneyKidds]

Oh, I understand the number of meal police that exist on these kinds of boards, but I don't see where there is a problem with Disney, the folks who matter. Until such time that Disney requires that a minumum of one entree per person be ordered I can't see how there could be a problem.

As for the moral issues, they shouldn't exist either. Each TS credit is good for a table service meal, consisting of an appetizer, entree, dessert, and non alcoholic beverage. If that is all you order, then only one TS credit should be deducted. Who eats the food should be of no consequence, unless there is a minimum per person. Just as a hypothetical, what if Happy Husband and Happy Wife want to eat at different restaurants? After all, the credits are per person, not per party. Happy Wife should be able to sit and watch Happy Husband eat his steak at Le Cellier, just as Happy Husband should be able to sit and watch Happy Wife eat her Cobb Salad at Brown Derby......again, unless a minimum per person is required, which it isn't at this time. If one or the other has a few bites of the other persons meal in the process, nobody obtained more than the appetizer, entree and dessert they were entitled to for each TS credit. I think people are making this a bigger issue than it really is right now.

I could see a bigger problem with the DDP and the adult vs kids credits, but this sharing thing is silly. If people ask about sharing a TS credit the answer is bound to be confusing. If people ask if they are allowed to eat some of their spouse's meal the answer would likely be simpler.

[kvogel11202]

If you are on the plan and you genuinely cannot (or do not want ) your own meal and two adults share their meal that's not a big deal. I think the biggest issue is the using kids credits to feed adults. That's fraud. But to share a meal- not biggie in my book. Of course if your doing it because your cheap - that's wrong as well.

[Lewisc]

The issue came up because some CMs told some DISBOARD members that sharing will no longer be permitted. There have been few, if any, actual reports of this rumored policy being implemented.

This has nothing to do with anyone being a meal policeman or being "morally superior", just people commenting on a speculated change in policy.

I personally doubt Disney will do anything to restrict sharing, that isn't also being done for cash customers. They could add a sharing charge, increase the number of restaurants that serve all you care to eat or even have a minimum order requirement.

Disney is certainly entitled to limit sharing, actually to just debit credits for all those dining as is done at a buffet. They can certainly make a case for doing that. But I doubt they'd do that. Disney might have a problem with the (few?) posters who go so far as to refuse to purchase any drinks. One DISBOARD member said he didn't see any problem with just sharing soda. I suspect many (most?) people sharing will be paying OOP for drinks and some extra appetizers or entrées.

[DisneyKidds]

Agreed......the adult vs child credit thing is the problem, not the sharing issue, and the moral meal police have a point there. Eventually Disney will likely do something to address that situation. Afterall, if someone could pay OOP for some $6.99 kids meals at sit down restaurants and then use the TS credits that came with the kids package to eat adult meals at a Signature restaurant.....that is gaming the system. So long as the game is afoot, people will play. Not how the plan was likely intended to be used, but I don't want to get into any debates about that. But having a bite off someone elses' plate because you aren't hungry enough to eat a meal of your own.........shouldn't be a problem with that.

[RachelEllen]

I don't think this is a moral issue, at all. And I also doubt people are sharing in order to 'get one over' on Disney. But I also don't think it's disingenuous to act as though sharing doesn't affect the restaurant's bottom line.

Food is just a small part of the cost of operating a restaurant. When two people go into a restaurant and pay for one meal, they are still using the majority of resources for two, while only paying for one. They may use more water glasses, eat more bread, take more of the waitstaff's time. And, most importantly, they are taking the place of two people who might have come to the restaurant and both ordered meals. The lost 'opportunity cost.'

On the other hand, things beyond food are a large part of the restaurant experience. The ambiance, getting to share people's company....If it weren't of value to people to be at the restaurant, you would just take the food to go.

This is same whether or not the dining plan is being used. As people have mentioned, sharing in restaurants wasn't invented just to maximize the plan. However, there are some key differences. I think the most important is that the dining plan is utilized by many people. If a lot of people share, it's going to show up on the radar. Second, if you share, you have saved a credit. You have an incentive to repeat the behavior and share again, so that it doesn't go to waste.

Again, I don't think people sharing are doing anything wrong. If it is allowed, it's even a behavior that could said to be 'encourged' by the fact that it works so well. However, /if/ Disney does have a policy against sharing and /if/ it is enforced, it won't neccesarily have anything to do with child vs adult credits or treating others or anything else. It may not be lost because of what other people did to maximize the plan in the past. It may just be because sharing costs Disney more than not sharing.

Right now, you can't go into a restaurant and order dinner and dessert and ask to come back for your appatizer. If you go and eat, you have used your credit. Similarly, Disney could say, if two people eat, they have used their credits. It doesn't matter if they both don't get a full appatizer, dinner, and dessert each.

As for enforcement. It would be the same as at a buffet. If you went to a buffet with your spouse and said you wouldn't be eating, you would be trusted not to be eating. Sure, they may not catch you. But if the rule were to exist, then I'm sure most people would follow it.

[melomouse]

Why would anyone go to a restaurant to watch someone else eat and order lemon water when they could be touring the parks or relaxing at a resort???

[calypso*a*go-go]

But to share a meal- not biggie in my book. Of course if your doing it because your cheap - that's wrong as well.

Hey, watch it -- we're all cheap or we wouldn't be so hot and bothered over the free DDP to start with! :teeth:

[aristocat]

To have one person order a complete meal while their spouse just sits there with a free lemon water and watches comes across looking very cheap. I would find it awkward and somewhat embarassing.

[disney2d2]

I'll make it clear for the non-sharers...

I am cheap. I will split 4 TS credits into 3 restaurant visits. The second person will either order an appetizer or just a drink on two of those visits. That's it.

And before you forget, I am giving a lot of money to Disney to get the dining plan, including perhaps North America's most expensive theme park tickets, rack rate for a hotel room and $38 a day for the dining plan / person.

So, if that is screwing over Disney, so be it.
I am not a share holder and I don't care if a big corporation with a $63 Billion market cap loses a few dollars because of me.

[punkin]

I'll make it clear for the non-sharers...

I am cheap. I will split 4 TS credits into 3 restaurant visits. The second person will either order an appetizer or just a drink on two of those visits. That's it.


I too am cheap.

I think we should try posting some of these discussions on the budget board and see the reactions we get.

[spaceacewannabe]

The issue came up because some CMs told some DISBOARD members that sharing will no longer be permitted. There have been few, if any, actual reports of this rumored policy being implemented.

This has nothing to do with anyone being a meal policeman or being "morally superior", just people commenting on a speculated change in policy.

I personally doubt Disney will do anything to restrict sharing, that isn't also being done for cash customers. They could add a sharing charge, increase the number of restaurants that serve all you care to eat or even have a minimum order requirement.

Disney is certainly entitled to limit sharing, actually to just debit credits for all those dining as is done at a buffet. They can certainly make a case for doing that. But I doubt they'd do that. Disney might have a problem with the (few?) posters who go so far as to refuse to purchase any drinks. One DISBOARD member said he didn't see any problem with just sharing soda. I suspect many (most?) people sharing will be paying OOP for drinks and some extra appetizers or entrées.

:thumbsup2 Well said. Regarding the drinks...I don't know that you could share the drink, at least not a soda, as those are often refilled (at TS, not CS) and thus would be the beverage-equivalent of a buffet ;)

I really think what people objected to was sharing with children with the specific purpose of using their credits for adult meals. Actually, if they made it clear in the computer children's entitlements vs. adult entitlements, I would think it would actually make sharing EASIER (if Disney is indeed okay with sharing...and they certainly were when we did it pre-dining plan). If it showed how many child's meals and how many adult meals had been used/were available, the server wouldn't need to wonder WHY you were sharing if there were children in your party...as it is now (as of the new brochure), servers seem to be expected to enforce the child vs. adult thing (without any help from technology), so I think that's where the sharing problem occurs.
Did that make sense? Sorry if it was a little too stream of consciousness ;)

[BethR]

I think we should try posting some of these discussions on the budget board and see the reactions we get.

Oh I think that these discussions are SOOOO much better over HERE! :teeth:

[DisneycrazedX6]

Outside of being in Disney....I want to know what family of say "6" actually orders 6 app's, 6 entrees and 6 desserts????? I think it only makes sense that people are going to share some things. My family of 6 is going to get 4 of everything plus 2 extra OOP drinks and share.....we will still leave the restaurant feeling sick from too much food!!!!

Now with the two credits I saved we will frequent another restaurant and now spend $ to buy two more meals for our family. So I actually gave Disney more money than if I used all 6 credits at the first restaurant.

So....where's the harm in that I ask??????

[laceemouse]

To have one person order a complete meal while their spouse just sits there with a free lemon water and watches comes across looking very cheap. I would find it awkward and somewhat embarassing.
Sounds strange to me too. I think it would be better if they shared a CS meal twice a day (no biggy at all to me) and then each got their own TS meal for lunch/dinner. Honestly, if they shared EVERY meal they would end their vacation with a whole bunch of unused meal credits. What is the point of that?? As long as Disney makes each person in the room buy the plan for every day of their trip how much sharing would you need to do?? I don't get the whole adult meal for a child credit thing at all. Why would Disney not earmark it somehow to prevent this :confused3 ??? It never would have crossed my mind to even try this!!!

[laceemouse]

Outside of being in Disney....I want to know what family of say "6" actually orders 6 app's, 6 entrees and 6 desserts????? I think it only makes sense that people are going to share some things. My family of 6 is going to get 4 of everything plus 2 extra OOP drinks and share.....we will still leave the restaurant feeling sick from too much food!!!!

Now with the two credits I saved we will frequent another restaurant and now spend $ to buy two more meals for our family. So I actually gave Disney more money than if I used all 6 credits at the first restaurant.

So....where's the harm in that I ask??????
Exactly why I haven't really determined that the meal plan is even WORTH it for the six of us, three of our kids being "adults." I just can't fathom spending 201$/day for the meal plan and then paying for MORE food OOP!!! That is just way more than we have EVER spent on food at WDW, and we DO generally eat at least one TS meal per day!!! We generally all share ONE appetizer when we eat out, and if we DO get dessert it is one to share also!!

[Sammie]

Cheaters,
Gluttons,

Meal Police
Morality Cops

Isn't name calling the same regardless of which side you are on. :confused3

[melomouse]

Which DIS'er Are You????????



Cheaters,
pirate: pirate: pirate: pirate:

Gluttons,
:drinking1 :drinking1 :drinking1 :drinking1 :drinking1 :drinking1 :drinking1popcorn:: popcorn:: popcorn:: popcorn::


Meal Police

:moped::moped::moped:

Morality Cops
::cop: ::cop: ::cop: ::cop: ::cop:

[aka-mad4themouse]

I too am cheap.

I think we should try posting some of these discussions on the budget board and see the reactions we get.
You're welcome to come and visit us anytime. But we prefer to think of ourselves as "frugal" and not "cheap". :)

[Keokagal]

Which DIS'er Are You????????



Cheaters,
pirate: pirate: pirate: pirate:

Gluttons,
:drinking1 :drinking1 :drinking1 :drinking1 :drinking1 :drinking1 :drinking1popcorn:: popcorn:: popcorn:: popcorn::


Meal Police

:moped::moped::moped:

Morality Cops
::cop: ::cop: ::cop: ::cop: ::cop:

LOL :goodvibes All this drama over food. WE ARE A FAT COUNTRY! Slow down and share a meal.

[LSchrow]

just submitting a scenerio:

family of 4 ~ Grandma, parents, 13yo all on free dining.

Granny has digestive problems that limits her food intake, dad eats little (sure likes his coronas, but, alas, they're not included on plan :drinking1 ), mom's on the neverending diet ;) , & the kidlet, of course, "eats like a bird". :rolleyes:

so, is there anything wrong with ordering ONE adult TS for all 3 adults to share, 3 free waters, & a corona for dad (hey, they're making money on that corona, right?)?
or is sharing only "fair" when it's 2 ppl?


just curious........

:stir: popcorn:: :stir:

[Lewisc]

That decision comes up every time the family eats in a buffet restaurant. I don't think anyone is suggesting a family of 6 will be required to order 6 app's, 6 entrees and 6 desserts. The only question is if Disney will allow you to order 4 meals and pay for extra drinks or will Disney deduct 6 credits and tell you the plan is priced assuming that many guests will be sharing and that they never intended that every TS credit will be fully utilized.

I don't think Disney will implement that policy, too many complaints. I think it's more likely they will just change some restaurants to buffet or all you care to eat.




Outside of being in Disney....I want to know what family of say "6" actually orders 6 app's, 6 entrees and 6 desserts????? I think it only makes sense that people are going to share some things. My family of 6 is going to get 4 of everything plus 2 extra OOP drinks and share.....we will still leave the restaurant feeling sick from too much food!!!!

Now with the two credits I saved we will frequent another restaurant and now spend $ to buy two more meals for our family. So I actually gave Disney more money than if I used all 6 credits at the first restaurant.

So....where's the harm in that I ask??????

[DisneyKidds]

To have one person order a complete meal while their spouse just sits there with a free lemon water and watches comes across looking very cheap. I would find it awkward and somewhat embarassing.
To each his own I suppose, and I would suspect that one wouldn't just sit there and stare at the other person. That said, perhaps there is a day that someone just isn't hungry, or perhaps there is a day you had a big lunch. Maybe people are eating light a couple of nights in anticipation of a big meal at a signature restaurant. Perhaps there are a million other reasons that a couple might want to enjoy one another's company in a nice restaurant while they both pick off the same plate of food. At some places an appetizer, entree and dessert is a lot of food, especially for light eaters, dieters, or those who just aren't very hungry for whatever reason. If that is what works for somebody, who cares what someone else thinks? Ordering food you don't want or need just to make a comfortable appearance for someone else doesn't seem to make much sense, unless it is required by the policies of the plan or the restaurant. If that were the case you do what you have to if you want the plan or to eat at a particular location. But without the requirement, where is the harm in two people only ordering one meal if that is what suits there needs?

I agree that someone who sits and doesn't order a meal is occupying potentially valuable space, using ice, creating dishes, consuming bread, etc., etc., etc. That is why some establishments in places around the country (not at Disney) do require a minmum of one entree per person. That's reasonable. However, Disney doesn't have that requirement. Until such time as they do I can't see how they would prevent a couple sharing a meal.

[magicmouse2]

;) I couldnt share my meal. I REALLY begrudge anyone sampling my food. Its Mine all MINE and DH is worse even at home!!!!!! and then if the kids are taking ages to eat their meal we start on their plates!!! ;)
I dont mind people sharing, I just cant understand how ? I dont think Disney TS portions are big enough to share ! I eat more at home and I am only a cople of pounds overweight ;)

[angelmom]

We are going in spring and I am not sure about the dining plan. It's me, my dh, dd 7 and ds 10. None of us are big eaters and my dh and I often share meals at Disney. My children usually get their own child meal (don't like to share) but never finish their food. So I don't think it will be worth it for him to get adult meals. Could he use the kids menu for an adult meal credit? could I get 2 adult and 1 child meal plans and then get an extra beverage? We always share meals and if we are paying for a credit I don't understand why we couldn't still share and get an extra beverage?

[camlace]

To have one person order a complete meal while their spouse just sits there with a free lemon water and watches comes across looking very cheap. I would find it awkward and somewhat embarassing.


Not sure how/why it is embarassing to join your spouse for a meal, but not eat??? My husband and I have been to dinner before where one of us does not eat for a variety of reasons. I don't mind sitting and eating by myself at a restaurant but I also don't mind the company if my spouse wants to join me and not eat. Also, not sure how it makes me "cheap"...if I'm not hungry or its not a place I enjoy the food why would I order something and let it go to waste? When we do go out and only one of us eats we tip our usual 20+/-% on the bill then a little extra since we understand that we were a "party of 2" using up restaurant resources even though one of us didn't order anything.

[MEM]

I had thought the issue of "no sharing" was more due to people inviting friends or grandparents to join them (who were not part of the dining plan) and then treating them to fancy meals by stretching their TS credits to cover the group. This is not the same as giving TS credits to their guests. I could see how people could abuse that because you cannot expect the server to ask each time, are you all on the dining plan?

DH and I already know that we will have too much food for the five "adults" in our group and expect to do things like ask for the desserts "to go".

[wdwobsessed]

I got a little confused with thie thread.

Why would anyone on the "side" of shaing be called a glutton?

I would think it would be the opposite.

Call them a "light weight" ... not a glutton.

"Hey light weight! Whassamatta with yous? You can't eat a whole meal? Whimp!"

Tounge in cheek.

:teeth:

WDWO

[FOV]

When we do go out and only one of us eats we tip our usual 20+/-% on the bill then a little extra since we understand that we were a "party of 2" using up restaurant resources even though one of us didn't order anything.
I think it's great that you understand the waitress is losing potential income on your table and you give her a larger tip.

Now, are you allowed to eat the bread (or prezel sticks) if you only order a water? Separate thread? :rotfl:

[LSUDis]

Oh I think that these discussions are SOOOO much better over HERE! :teeth:


Beth, you are TOO funny! I like my nice, quiet (relatively) Budget Board, too.