French Bakery on DDP

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The French Bakery in Epcot was suppose to be on the DDP with any snacks under $4 suitable for snack coupon. When we went in Sept 06, we were waited on a pretty terrible CM and we couldnt even get a large soda on the DDP. I did write to guesst services when i got back and explained my experience and they called and confirmed I was correct that the DDP applied there. She said they would correct the problem
So, my question is for our trip that starts Monday...how successful have others been in using the DDP there? What have you been able to get?

Nothing like holding up a line while one tries to unsuccesfully educate someone about the DDP
 
We also were told snack credit gets you a regular size drink. Though we didn't use it, I have read on these boards, that for a CS you can get a sandwich type of thing, sweet pastry, and a drink.

Because of the lousy value, I chose not to use my credits there.
 
This is one thing that I find very annoying about the dining plan. They say snacks are generally anything under $4 except pizza slices, etc. They say a this restaurant is on the plan for snacks and then none of the items are available for DDP snacks except a soda. How would anyone know that without wasting time going there, ordering and being disappointed (unless they religiously read the DISboards)? I also read on another thread that Yakatori House restricts what meals can be ordered for counterservice credits. What happened to no exclusions? We will be using the DDP for the first time this year and I am really concerned about running into these exclusions. Are there more I should know about? When people complain about DDP participants taking too long ordering I'm sure this is one of the reasons why- no consistency among restaurants on the plan.
 


The French Bakery in Epcot was suppose to be on the DDP with any snacks under $4 suitable for snack coupon.

Briar_Rose said:
They say snacks are generally anything under $4 except pizza slices, etc.

I'm definitely not in the "Disney can do no wrong" camp but to be fair, AFAIK Disney does not officially state that anything (or mostly anything) under $4 can be bought with a snack credit. What Disney does state is that anything marked with the DDP symbol can be bought as a snack, and DISers have figured out that most things under $4 are indeed eligible. But most isn't all, of course.

I'd humbly recommend that the list of exclusions in the FAQ be updated to show that pastries at Boulangerie are not available on the DDP or alternatively maybe there should be a sticky thread for things under $4 that are confirmed NOT to be available as snacks on the DDP (hopefully to be a much shorter thread than the one that shows snacks on the plan).
 
Unless I misunderstood the guest relations lady, she told me if it(the place) is in the dining pamphlet and showing that meal available, then it is available..period.
She told me that the French Place was indeed on the snack plan and that any snack there including large drinks if under $4 was on the snack plan. She also told me if that were to happen again, to go to guest relations and they would immediately correct the situation.
She did say that places in DTD may be exempt or have their own rules, but anything on the main Disney properties was not(assuming it is in the pamplet they give you)

I am surprised this still seems to be an issue. Maybe a call is in order.
 
I think that is a good suggestion. So is everything that is included in the plan clearly marked on the menu boards in all the counterservice and snack places? I got the impression that that was not the case. Even so it is a pain not to know ahead of time and just wander around looking for things that are included that your family will eat. Too bad the menus on the DIS or allears don't list what is included/not included in the plan.
 


Unless I misunderstood the guest relations lady, she told me if it(the place) is in the dining pamphlet and showing that meal available, then it is available..period.
She told me that the French Place was indeed on the snack plan and that any snack there including large drinks if under $4 was on the snack plan. She also told me if that were to happen again, to go to guest relations and they would immediately correct the situation.
She did say that places in DTD may be exempt or have their own rules, but anything on the main Disney properties was not(assuming it is in the pamplet they give you)

I am surprised this still seems to be an issue. Maybe a call is in order.

The issue is that it is not a Disney owned restaurant and they kind of fly buy their own rules. Nothing on the sign is marked with DDP except medium beverages so that is all they are required to provide--even though WDW as a whole has loosened the restrictions from popcorn, beverage, fruit or ice cream novelty the contract that they signed is most likely worded that way--the brochure still is--so they feel it is ok to do that.
 
This is one thing that I find very annoying about the dining plan. They say snacks are generally anything under $4 except pizza slices, etc. They say a this restaurant is on the plan for snacks and then none of the items are available for DDP snacks except a soda. How would anyone know that without wasting time going there, ordering and being disappointed (unless they religiously read the DISboards)? I also read on another thread that Yakatori House restricts what meals can be ordered for counterservice credits. What happened to no exclusions? We will be using the DDP for the first time this year and I am really concerned about running into these exclusions. Are there more I should know about? When people complain about DDP participants taking too long ordering I'm sure this is one of the reasons why- no consistency among restaurants on the plan.

All CS have the snacks listed with a DDP symbol on it so you will know what you can and cannot have at that location. Again, the non-disney owned CS's have put their own restrictions upon the food available--WDW may not realize it and hope that they all follow the same structure, but they don't. What I know from experience--yakatori house limits the entrees you may purchase withthe CS credit, Tangerine Cafe limits your dessert choice to Baklava, France will not let you get anything exept a medium beverage with your snack credit, and China only lets you have the almond cookies for dessert. There may be mroe these are jsut my experiences. The inconsistency plays a big role int he lines, I believe. Some places let you do one thing while another allows something different (medium soda rather than large, a side with an entree that isn't a combo, etc.) Plan on what you know you are entitled to and if you are given extras be grateful--what I mean by that is if you are to get a beverage, entree and dessert be grateful that you were given chips with that even though your plan doesn't really include that. If you choose a combo of course your "side" is included, but with entree only like a salad you should not expect it. Every place is different as individuals interpret things differently, read your brochure so you dont' have any confusion with what you should be getting in case that becomes an issue, but I doubt you'll encounter that.
 
I went ahead and emailed guest relations. maybe we will find out the truth. Tho, I thought I had last time I was back. I guess you may be right, they are making their own rules.
I admit i was very embarrased when i tried to buy some pastries and 2 large drinks with my snack coupons. I really backed the line up and had a hard time even getting the girl and I to understand each other. I walked out with nothing. That was my first(and only) time in that place. There were no good signs to even hint it may not be accepted.
 
I think that is a good suggestion. So is everything that is included in the plan clearly marked on the menu boards in all the counterservice and snack places? I got the impression that that was not the case. Even so it is a pain not to know ahead of time and just wander around looking for things that are included that your family will eat. Too bad the menus on the DIS or allears don't list what is included/not included in the plan.

Nothing should be excluded on CS--again you may find that in non-WDW owned restaurants only--and everything that is considered a snack should be marked with a DDP symbol on the menu board at the location.
 
I also went in September 06 and here is what the Disney Dining plan brochure that I received at that check-in says...Look for this symbol (snack symbol) at Quick Service, cart and select merhandise locations for eligible snack options on the Disney Dining plan. Some examples of eligible snack options include: Medium Fountain Snack Drink is one of the examples. I read the entire brochure NO WHERE in it does it say anything about $4. It does have Boulangierie Patisserie listed as both serving snack options and quick service. If they offer sodas, they are listed correctly on the brochure as offering a snack, although a very limited selection. Many DDP places allow several items up to $4. However, some snacks that are less than $4 items are excluded. The brochure is clear that not all options will be eligible for a snack credit on the plan. Look for the symbol. Frankly,while the pastries at Boulangierie are to die for, I have always found the CMs there to be quite unwelcoming and sometimes very aloof. I quit stopping by there several trips ago!
 
I reread it and you are correct about the drink size. I guess every other place spoiled us, not to mention we were told(by CM's, not just the Disboard) that it was any snack under $4.00 was acceptable.

I agree the CM's at the French bakery really lacked friendiness and helpfulness, and I am not just saying that because of my initial problem
 
I reread it and you are correct about the drink size. I guess every other place spoiled us, not to mention we were told(by CM's, not just the Disboard) that it was any snack under $4.00 was acceptable.

I agree the CM's at the French bakery really lacked friendiness and helpfulness, and I am not just saying that because of my initial problem

The places with limitations seem to be non-Disney owned. That's just my observation.

And about the CMs there--I, too, was not impressed with their helpfulness. But having spent six months during college studying French (I have a French minor), they are very French. We North Americans expect lots of smiles and such; in France, that's not how it is until you become a regular at an establishment and get to know the servers. It's just a cultural difference, I think. The French CMs are really out of place in WDW because that's an overload of smiling and friendly CMs. In France, they'd be fairly typical.
 
and that attitude does seem to be fairly typical. Growing up Italian/Polish (big, loud, boisterous families!!) DH's family is a mystery to me still after 27 yrs. I could really relate to the culture difference in "My Big, Fat Greek Wedding"!!!
 
This is one thing that I find very annoying about the dining plan. They say snacks are generally anything under $4 except pizza slices, etc.
As others have pointed out, that is actually not what they say. This is what Disney says a snack is:
2007 Dining Plan Brochure said:
  • Frozen Ice-Cream Novelty, Popsicle or Fruit Bar
  • Popcorn Scoop (single serving box)
  • Single Piece of Whole Fruit
  • Single serving Bag of Snacks
  • 20 oz. Bottle of Coke®, Diet Coke®, Sprite® or 20 oz. Dasani® Water
  • Medium Fountain Soft Drink
  • 12 oz Coffee, Hot Chocolate, or Hot Tea
  • Single serving Prepackaged Milk or Juice
Look for this symbol at Quick Service, Cart, and select merchandise locations for eligible snack options on the Disney Dining
Plan.
So if it isn't on that list, and doesn't have a symbol indicating it is available for a Dining Plan snack credit, don't count on it being offered to you for a snack credit.

What happened to no exclusions?
Disney never promised "no exclusions." Indeed, the FAQ lists a st of exclusions. The list is remarkably short, but again, Disney never said "no exclusions."

We will be using the DDP for the first time this year and I am really concerned about running into these exclusions. Are there more I should know about?
As mentioned above, there is a list of them in the Dining Plan FAQ: http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=16079998

I'd humbly recommend that the list of exclusions in the FAQ be updated to show that pastries at Boulangerie are not available on the DDP
Done.

or alternatively maybe there should be a sticky thread for things under $4 that are confirmed NOT to be available as snacks on the DDP (hopefully to be a much shorter thread than the one that shows snacks on the plan).
The existing **Confirmed Snacks included in Dining Plan/add yours here** thread does a good job at listing what is included -- assume that if it isn't listed there it isn't included. Perhaps Joyce might consider having a second list at the bottom, as you suggest. You should PM her, just in case she doesn't see your message.

Unless I misunderstood the guest relations lady, she told me if it(the place) is in the dining pamphlet and showing that meal available, then it is available..period.
Yes, but not everything at every venue is available for Dining Plan credits.

She also told me if that were to happen again, to go to guest relations and they would immediately correct the situation.
She's mistaken. It's a shame but sometimes the guest services folks don't know what they're talking about.

She did say that places in DTD may be exempt or have their own rules, but anything on the main Disney properties was not(assuming it is in the pamplet they give you)
Yes, she definitely doesn't know what she's talking about. There is no distinction between DTD and "main Disney properties". The only relevant distinction is between Disney-owned (including Cap'n Jack's at DTD) and non-Disney-owned (including Boulangerie at Epcot's World Showcase).

Plan on what you know you are entitled to and if you are given extras be grateful--what I mean by that is if you are to get a beverage, entree and dessert be grateful that you were given chips with that even though your plan doesn't really include that.
You've really hit the nail on the head. A lot of the confusion stems from people assuming that if they get something more than they're promised somewhere, that they're entitled to it everywhere, or alternatively that if someone got something more than they were promised, that everyone is entitled to that. In reality, the approach you suggest is best: Go in knowing what you've purchased, expect what you were explicitly promised, and then be delighted whenever you get some extra pixie dust. pixiedust:
 
I'm just thankful Disney expanded the snack options. Before 5/06 the snack options were VERY limited to drinks, ice cream & chips.
 

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