Urgent Question re. Potential DDP Issue at WCC this evening.

[Eander3]

We are at WDW now and are on the DDP. DW, DD 5 and DD 2 (youngest not on plan). It has been a great trip thus far, and nothing will take away from that, but..... We went to WCC for dinner tonight and got the all you can eat skillet for all of us. The waiter did not ask what our dd2 wanted for dinner, and there was no mention of any charges for our 2 yo. We did not order anything for her, but she did eat approx. 1/4 of an ear of corn, and a few bites of chicken. The bill later comes, and they charged us for her. Admittedly, I did not closely review the bill at first, and just handed my card to the server. Our Receipt then comes back showing they deducted 2 adult TS credits, and 2 Child TS credits. When I asked our server about this, he said that anyone who eats gets charged. This didn't seem right, so we asked to speak to the manager. The manager confirmed this, so I then asked to pay for our 2 yo out of pocket, instead of burning up another kids ts credit. They said no problem, gave us 1 kid's credit back, then came back with a bill for $10.11 for her. At that point, the kids were crabby and tired (and so was I) so we just paid the bill.
I know that buffets don't charge for those under 3, and I know that WCC is not a buffet restraunt, but this seems like one of those gray areas, a reather expensive gray area. I don't mind paying for our 2 yo, but if we would have known that up front, we would have ordered something she actually would have eaten! Anyone else have any similar issue like this?
We are definitely not going to let $10 ruin a trip, but we were just cuirous.
Thanks

[borgthe]

That is totally wrong. A child under 3 can eat off the adult's plate for no charge. They messed up!

[tloft]

it may have been simpler if you had paid with the credit but the front desk at your resort should be able to straighten it out quickly. They know that your daughter is registered as a 2 year old and should not be charged. If you have a minute go and explain the situation to them and they should take care of it no problem - but I wouldn't take time out of my Disney schedule over $10.

On my first of three DDP trips we were charged TS credits at a CS restaurant. I didn't notice until later. The front desk at Animal Kingdom took care of it no problem. I have subsequently had some kind of credit deducting error on each trip and simply take it to the front desk to solve rather than waste time in the restaurant since it was so simple the first time.

[hddanis]

Go to your resort conceirge and explain what happened. They should be able to refund the money to you. You shouldn't have been charged.

[caracap]

Your hotel concierge will probably give you 1 credit back on your card with no problem. I do think it will be more of a problem if you ask for the cash back, though. Anyways, you shouldn't have been charged.

[hddanis]

Your hotel concierge will probably give you 1 credit back on your card with no problem. I do think it will be more of a problem if you ask for the cash back, though. Anyways, you shouldn't have been charged.

They didn't use the credit, they paid OOP for it. They should still have the recipt and if they do, the conceirge should be able to refund the money for it.

[caracap]

They didn't use the credit, they paid OOP for it. They should still have the recipt and if they do, the conceirge should be able to refund the money for it.

That's why I said it might be harder to get the cash back. Even though they paid for it OOP, they can give a credit back to the card a lot easier than giving back cash. Although, I am just speaking from a previous experience. The same exact thing happened to us, and we were not given the cash back that we paid, just given 1 kids TS credit instead. I guess it depends on manangement in the hotel tonight.

[hddanis]

That's why I said it might be harder to get the cash back. Even though they paid for it OOP, they can give a credit back to the card a lot easier than giving back cash. Although, I am just speaking from a previous experience. The same exact thing happened to us, and we were not given the cash back that we paid, just given 1 kids TS credit instead. I guess it depends on manangement in the hotel tonight.

I'm not trying to argue, but, if they don't even have the dining plan for their child, why should they be given a credit back? They only have the dining plan for the 2 adults (at least that's what I'm reading) 1 child's TS credit isn't going to do them any good if they don't have to pay for the 2 yr old anyway. A 2 yr old shouldn't be charged if it's eating off the parents plates, TS or buffet. They were charged and paid OOP for it. Therefore, they should get the cash (or room charge or however they paid for it) back for it. If they had used a credit, they should get the credit.

Again, not trying to argue, just not understanding.

[septbaby]

They didn't use the credit, they paid OOP for it. They should still have the recipt and if they do, the conceirge should be able to refund the money for it.

The cash they paid and a CS credit cost about the same on the std dining plan. So if the OP is willing to take a credit back that's fine.

[kaytieeldr]

But then what's the OP going to DO with that child credit? Even if Concierge were to apply it - it would have to be a TS credit, since they paid for a child Table Service meal.

And that would simply leave them $10.11 short, with a TS credit they can't use unless they all sit and watch the five year old eat somewhere.

[TLSnell1981]

If you have the time....get your $10 back..yes it's only $10, but it would be nice to have it resolved once and for all......especially if the issue comes up again! You will also do a service for others in this situation. Dis can inform the manager of it's policy on 2 year olds eating off their parents plate.

[Cree629]

OP has an older child who is on DDP, so if they get 1TS meal credited back, they can use the extra credit for that older child, or to buy a child's meal for their 2yo at another restaurant if they want.

We just returned from a week there with a 2yo. NEVER did we have to pay for her at a buffet or family style meal. I can't believe the restaurant manager doesn't know the policy!!

[Tink415]

I would just let it go and next time ask the server ahead of time what the charge will be for a 2 year old.

Going back 5 years or so, and paying cash for meals not using a dining plan, we were charged quite a few times for food for our under 3 year old at buffet or all you can eat type places. What I can recall, WCC and Ohana there was a charge (and I *thinmk* it was less than regular child price), and Chef Mickey's and Crystal Palace there was no extra charge. I can't remember the other buffets but we ate at all of them at some point. We probably had 6 or so trips when our youngest was under 3 and we were charged someplace everytime. The first time it happened I was surprised, but then it kind of made sense since she wasn't eating off a plate we paid for seperately.

[dvcnewgirl]

Under 3 should not be charged. You need to get your $$ back.

[carmiedog]

If you have the time....get your $10 back..yes it's only $10, but it would be nice to have it resolved once and for all......especially if the issue comes up again! You will also do a service for other in this situation. Dis can inform the manager of it's policy on 2 year olds eating off their parents plate.

:thumbsup2 agree. It's only $10, but it would hopefully result in the restaurant being educated in the under 3 policy and help prevent problems for future diners. Your chance to be a good samaritan. :goodvibes

[Merilyn]

I am glad I read this post. We are going in May with 2 two year olds. I certainly don't want to pay for them when I am not suppose to. I will check the paper work everytime! Thanks for the information
Merilyn

[Blessedx3]

It is only $10 and no it won't ruin your vacation but it is Your $10 and you should get it back. We have never been charged at any TS for our little guys that are under 3 and we have been going 2-3 times a year since they were born.

[KristenHoneymooner]

Wouldn't the manager of an individual restaurant be permitted the discretion to decide whether to charge for the child? :confused3 If they talked to the manager and the manager said they charge for 2-year-olds, then isn't that the end of the story?

Don't get me wrong -- I think it was ridiculous that you were charged and hope you are refunded -- I'm just wondering if head honchos can overrule decisions made by individual restaurant managers..

[tndisneyfan]

Wouldn't the manager of an individual restaurant be permitted the discretion to decide whether to charge for the child? :confused3 If they talked to the manager and the manager said they charge for 2-year-olds, then isn't that the end of the story?

Don't get me wrong -- I think it was ridiculous that you were charged and hope you are refunded -- I'm just wondering if head honchos can overrule decisions made by individual restaurant managers..

Isn't it a WDW policy that children under 3 eat free at buffets and AYCE places? I'm not sure the manager can overrule company policies, or at least he/she shouldn't be able to.

[TLSnell1981]

Isn't it a WDW policy that children under 3 eat free at buffets and AYCE places? I'm not sure the manager can overrule company policies, or at least he/she shouldn't be able to.

I don't think they can take away from company policy. If they wanted to comp someone for a specific reason....I'm sure they have the power to do so. Obviously, the manager must have been misinformed. (imagine that....a Disney employee that doesn't have all the facts....especially when it comes to dining)

[KristenHoneymooner]

I don't think they can take away from company policy. If the wanted to comp someone for a specific reason....I'm sure they have the power to do so. Obviously, the manager must have been misinformed. (imagine that....a Disney employee that doesn't have all the facts....especially when it comes to dining)

Are you sure that under 3 being "free" at Disney restaurants is a company policy, though? I was curious about this thread, so I checked everywhere that I could think of on Disney's website and couldn't find anything saying that. It does say that the dining plan can only be purchased for ages 3 and up but it didn't then say that under 3 don't have to pay for food.

[antkim]

YES this is a company policy as is under 3 do not need a park pass. If a child (under 3) is sharing food or at a buffet/or family style restaurant they are free. IF parent chooses to order that child a "kids meal" (off of a menu)then parent would have to pay for that meal when given the bill.

[annie1995]

That is totally wrong. A child under 3 can eat off the adult's plate for no charge. They messed up!

Yup, they definately messed up. When we ate there this last September, my DS who was 14 months and not on the DP ate free from the skillet too. I was told under 3 eats off others plates. I'd definately say something at your hotel front desk, they should be able to fix it for you:goodvibes

[Tink415]

Who knows what the policy is really? Its not like you can find such a policy on the Disney web site or any travel documents you receive from Disney - at least I never have. Again, I can say I have been charged for under 3 meals, paying cash, at all you can eat places in the past, I remember Ohana and WCC in particular. I didn't complain or appeal the charge to anyone. I sure would complain about a TS credit being used for a 2 yr old when they aren't on the plan. I bet if you had brought the issue to concierge attention at your hotel the credit would have been returned and nothing charged for what your child ate. Just a guess :rolleyes1 ;) To clarify, I was charged for my under 3 year old eating the Skillet and the Ohana feast - not a seperate childs meal! I just asked for a plate for her and was charged.

[TLSnell1981]

Who knows what the policy is really? Its not like you can find such a policy on the Disney web site or any travel documents you receive from Disney - at least I never have. Again, I can say I have been charged for under 3 meals, paying cash, at all you can eat places in the past, I remember Ohana and WCC in particular. I didn't complain or appeal the charge to anyone. I sure would complain about a TS credit being used for a 2 yr old when they aren't on the plan. I bet if you had brought the issue to concierge attention at your hotel the credit would have been returned and nothing charged for what your child ate. Just a guess :rolleyes1 ;)

If you order a separate meal for a child under 3...yes, you will be charged. If they are sharing off a parents plate.....they shouldn't be charged.

[fairestoneofall]

I agree that you do not have to pay for a child under 3 unless he/she orders a kid's meal. We were told this at every restaurant on our 2006 trip when DS was two. We were never charged for his food. And he ate freely from buffets or off of our plates. In fact, every TS server we had told us this.

The only time I paid for him was when I specifically bought a meal for him at Cosmic Ray's.

[fumipappa]

We went to CP and Garden grill, buffet and family style, with 3kids (8, 6, and 2). At both place (actually all other Table service restaurant including CRT, Sci-fi), the server told us BEFORE starting the meal, my 2yrs old DD won't be charged and asked us what she wanted to eat.They also served her drink, dessert as free. So, yes, it is REALLY STRANGE one restaurant IN WDW property charged 2yrs old and DID NOT told guests under 3 would not be charged....

[mom2alix]

It actually is stated on the 2008 DDP brochure

"The Disney Dining Plan is unavailable for Guests under the age of 3, but they may share from an adult plate at no charge or purchase a meal from the menu."

[TLSnell1981]

It actually is stated on the 2008 DDP brochure

"The Disney Dining Plan is unavailable for Guests under the age of 3, but they may share from an adult plate at no charge or purchase a meal from the menu."
I knew I saw it in print somewhere....just couldn't remeber where!

[mickeysgirl17]

They messed up on your bill. Any child under 3 is free with the dining plan at all restaurants because they share with the adult. You don't pay for the child at all so I would try to complain and get the money back. Last year, I went to WDW with my DD who was just under 3 and she didn't pay for anything anywhere!

Try to fix it so WCC won't keep doing this to people. The manager should have known at least that this was wrong!

[dandave]

Try to fix it so WCC won't keep doing this to people. The manager should have known at least that this was wrong!

I completely agree. This is just me, but I would have pulled out my cell right there at the table and called Guest Services- with a smile of course! Short of that, I would have insisted that the Manager sign my receipt with the 2 year old's meal circled and initialed prior to paying. Then, I would have been reimbursed by my resort concierge desk, followed by a letter of complaint to WDW detailing the occurence with a copy of that receipt.
Talk about bleeding a tourist...:mad:

[i3utterfli82]

I had a similar situation in Oct. when the server wanted to charge my 2 year old breakfast. I said she was two and he mentioned it said if she ate more than a plateful her was going to charge her.

[hammie59]

I don't get this. They even state on their website in the dining area that kids under 3 can eat from the adults plate for free. You would think that would be a known standard across the board and there should be no confusion on their part. It's practically screaming incompetence.

[mkycrzy1971]

We ate at WCC in May...I ordered the skillet and my 2 year old ate from it, they brought him an extra plate and never mentioned charging us...they even brought him a drink without charging us...I am with everyone else...go to your resort and get your money back...if they try to give you any c*@p I would ask them to see a Disney Dining brochure and point out the area where it states a child under 3 is allowed to eat from an adult plate without charge...what can they say???

OP...I am very interested to know how this turns out...please keep us posted.

[kaytieeldr]

...if they try to give you [a hard time] I would ask them to see a Disney Dining brochure and point out the area where it states a child under 3 is allowed to eat from an adult plate without charge...what can they say??? It doesn't even have to be a Dining Plan brochure. Disney's general policy is, children under three eat free at buffets or if they eat from the parents' (or other diners') plates. I bet the OP only ordered the skillet for two adults and one child - so I'd be pretty peeved if the restaurant went against general company policy this.

[dandave]

This really bothered me, so I wanted to get one of the various possible responses from WDW. We all know how that goes.:rolleyes:
Also, deep down, I honestly just kind of wanted to tattle-tale on the Whispering Canyon ... :stir:

My email to WDW:
Hi! I am taking my niece to Walt Diney World on Sunday, Feb.3 to
celebrate her first birthday. We have reservations at'Ohanas, Garden
Grill, Crystal Palace, Tusker House, and many other family style/buffet
restaurants. Will my 1 year old niece be charged for dining at these
places? I have read online that a 2 year old guest at the Whispering
Canyon Cafe was charged this week, because she ate from the AUCE
skillet.
Thank you in advance!
Me



Their response:
Dear Angela,

Thank you for contacting the Walt Disney World Resort.

Children under the age of 3 are not charged for meals unless an item is
ordered for the child. 1 and 2 year olds are welcome to eat from their
parents plate with charge.

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!

Sincerely,

Them

WDW Online Communications

PLEASE NOTE: All information is subject to change without notice and
should be confirmed just prior to your visit.


So children under 3 are not charged for eating off their parents plate, they are welcome to eat from their parents plate with charge. :confused3
Thank God that's all cleared up! :lmao:

[Eander3]

Sorry, we have been away from the computer for a few days. Thanks for the support. Just to follow up, we didn't end up requesting our $$$ back, because it looks like I accidentally misplaced our receipt! Oh well, like we said, not going to let $10 spoil our vacation, but my DW and I feel vindicated that we weren't wrong....I think we just had a fairly clueless server, who didn't know what to do. Also, I forgot to mention this in my OP, but we are wondering if he was off base on the drinks policy too. At every restaurant we ate at this week, we got diet cokes, then asked for coffee to have with dessert. When we asked for the coffee at WCC, the same server told us he would have to charge us for the coffee. Again, not sure if that is how the plan goes or not, but at the seven other places we went we were never charged. :confused: :confused: :confused: :confused: :headache:

[kaytieeldr]

How does, "he wasn't not right" sound? The drink thing is less definitive than the under-three-eats-free issue.
The DDP Table Service credit allows - as you know - one entree, one dessert, and one non-alcoholic beverage per participant. Technically, this should be the same beverage throughout your meal. Now, obviously, restaurants can allow you to switch - but if WCC didn't, they were simply following the DDP rules to the letter (except, yeah, charging your two-year-old!)

[dandave]

I can understand being charged for the coffee, since it was a second beverage. I order water w/lemon and coffee at every meal. Water is free, so the coffee is my allowed beverage. DH and my boys order soda/tea, and sometimes a coffee w/dessert.
Sometimes they are charged for the coffee, sometimes not. This is true both on and off the DDP. If they are not charged extra for the coffee, then our server gets an extra special tip reflecting the nicety. They would have been drinking a covered beverage either way, but allowing them to have multiple choices is definitely the sign of a generous server and should always be considered a gift rather than a given, IMHO.

[Gillian]

We have been charged for coffee at regular restuarants, but at buffets and family style where it's one price it's been included.

At WCC they have to enter everything you get into the computer. So it makes sense that they'd charge you. At a buffet or true family style, there's only one computer entry per person. The server could get you 10 different drinks and it wouldn't change anything.

[WantToGoNow]

My 2 year 11 month old daughter shared the skillet with me and we did not pay a penny for her meal. I even offered to pay for her drink and they said not to worry about it. Then when ds5 (at the time) had ice cream for dessert, they brought her a bowl as well -- free of charge.

[Momto2PrncChrmgs]

Glad to read all the posts! Only 82 days until our trip with our 19 month old (who is very big for his age). We have ADR at WCC, OHana and others, and I'll DEFINATELY be looking closely at ALL receipts now. Thanks for the heads up!

[Gymbomom]

My biggest gripe would be that Disney will not let you purchase the dining plan for someone under 3...but then you will get charged at every -all you can eat/buffet places. Makes no sense.