Official 2015 Quick Service Meal Substitutions *Post Here*

[ksromack]

For what it's worth, I was assured by a CM that I would be able to preorder at BOG with soup substitutions without issue so long as I make sure to specify when paying that I am using a QS credit only and swapped out items. I'll still feel better if someone reports doing this successfully before I do, but I'm planning on doing this at the end of September.

Our lunch ADR at BOG is for Oct 1 and I already placed my online order. Hubby wants the drink, entree, and dessert but I ordered the entree, soup, and cupcake. I haven't done the online ordering before as our last visit was the first week BOG was opened. How is it handled if we pre-ordered? I am unsure.

Just wanted to say that I had no problem subbing our drunks for a cupcake and a french onion soup at BOG yesterday during lunch. I was a little concerned after reading that some people were having issues and had every intention of going to guest relations if they refused to follow their own policy, however they acted as if it was no problem. I went to a kiosk and wasn't sure how to order it so I asked one of the cms, although I approached it not as a question of can I, but just how, and he said just to order my 2 meals, but to not order the drinks and then to take it to him (the receipt it spits out.) I did this and he had another cm (Jeanette, who was very nice) radio to the kitchen that I subbed a soup and cupcake for my drinks and we had no problem.

I hope Jeanette is working when we are there, lol!

 

[danjulia]

I'll be very interested to hear more once F&W opens.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

If the CM was saying that converting a QS credit into 3 snack credits that could be used in separate transactions could be done in the gift shop, I would agree that she would almost have to be mistaken. But the CM said it has to be done at the front desk. I know some people have gone to the front desk of their resort and had their DDP credits altered/fixed when they'd been charged incorrectly, so it seems plausible. I'm skeptical but optimistic at the moment.

I understand that the drink stations at BOG are self-serve at least for now, so everyone in the restaurant has access to fountain drinks whether they paid for them or not; however, BOG is not requiring non-DDP customers to pay for drinks, so forcing those on the DDP to "pay" for a drink with their QS credit would be unfair in my opinion and definitely against Disney's new published policy that the non-alcoholic beverage "may be substituted for any item that is an eligible snack at the location".

She did indeed first do one transaction that converted 4 CS meals into 12 snack credits. Then, she rang up all the snacks and did the payment with my magic band. It took 2 transactions.

This has actually been a policy for a while now I believe.

The kiosks haven't been set up to do this, so she told me that the front desk can do the conversion if someone wants to (if, like me, they have leftover CS credits or know they won't use them all. My DD and I couldn't possibly eat two full meals a day plus a snack, which we used mostly for cold drinks, as it was hot & humid and the portions were quite large).

I have a friend who trains front desk staff. She says they have NO way to do this conversion in the current system.

 

[spartankid34]

I think the CM had no idea what she was talking about. Yes, when they convert the QS into 3 snacks, the first have to do the conversion and then ring it up that way. I highly doubt there will be anyway to make the conversion and have it show up as more snacks on your account.

However, even if you could, you would be losing money if you paid for the plan. There just aren't that many snacks out there that will add up to the $18-19 value of a QS credit, so maybe Disney will start doing this just because they will be the ones to make money!!

As to BoG not allowing the drink, I think I have an answer to that one. Remember, the drink stations? You know as well as I do there would be many, many people to trade their drink allotment for a soup and still help themselves to the drink station. That's a losing proposition for BoG, so I bet they will never allow you to exchange the drink.

That makes perfect sense, of course. People would cheat and find a way to get the drink anyway!

When we ate lunch there last week there was a cast member walking around checking receipts. I am almost positive she was checking for fountain beverages because we ordered a bottled beverage as well and she clearly told us it would arrive with our meal, it seemed that she was checking just the drink part of the order!

 

[spartankid34]

Back from Disney and we were able to substitute at all places we tried:
Epcot:
At Electric Umbrella, Sunshine Seasons we substituted the desert for a drink
At Sommerfest we substituted the desert for a (lareg) Brezel
Magic Kingdom:
We substituted desert for drink at Pinnocchio and if I remeber correct, at Columbioa Harbour House
At Animal Kingdom Lodges Mara we substituted desert for drink, for a side of fries and also once for Gummi Candy.

At TS Rainforest Cafe I substituted Desert for a nice little salad.

So frustrating that they are not consistent with this. I was told no substitutions every time at the Mara.

 

[happymommy]

I have a friend who trains front desk staff. She says they have NO way to do this conversion in the current system.

The cast member at the gift shop did it. She told me the front desk does it too, but she may be incorrect. A guest can always ask at the gift shop, since that's where I had it done Saturday. She had to do the conversion in one separate transaction before even starting to ring me up, so it did take a few minutes.

 

[karrit2000]

The cast member at the gift shop did it. She told me the front desk does it too, but she may be incorrect. A guest can always ask at the gift shop, since that's where I had it done Saturday. She had to do the conversion in one separate transaction before even starting to ring me up, so it did take a few minutes.

The other poster is referring to your saying people can go to the front desk to have QS credits converted to snack credits and then not use then all in one transaction. Since you did not do this yourself you have no proof that it can actually be done. Did you actually have any unused snack credits left from the conversion the CM did for you in the shop or did you use them all when you made your purchases?

 

[happymommy]

I used them all, but I could have just used some.
I'm sure things can change, and don't see what the big deal is.
If you buy the dining plan, I'd do so planning on using it as is.
We just had leftovers.
I don't appreciate the criticism; I'm just letting folks know how they handled it.

 

[BigMommaMouse]

I used them all, but I could have just used some.
I'm sure things can change, and don't see what the big deal is.
If you buy the dining plan, I'd do so planning on using it as is.
We just had leftovers.
I don't appreciate the criticism; I'm just letting folks know how they handled it.

I'am glad you posted what happened to you. For years on the boards there have been reports the CM were mis-informed (yours or theirs). I think it's great the CM at Pop was so helpful.
And the best way for anyone else to report on it, is to be on the DDP, be there then ask the front desk for themselves.
I don't really understand the grilling your getting.
However, thank you. I wouldn't have thought of it and plan to ask when I am there in October.

 

[karrit2000]

I used them all, but I could have just used some.
I'm sure things can change, and don't see what the big deal is.
If you buy the dining plan, I'd do so planning on using it as is.
We just had leftovers.
I don't appreciate the criticism; I'm just letting folks know how they handled it.

From your report they did not handle your transaction any different then the confirmed way things have been done for anyone else on the DDP. The CM you dealt with did exactly what they are trained to do. The problem lies in the incorrect information she told you regarding what can be done at the front desk and your repeated advice to people attending the future F&W Festival that they will be able to do a front desk conversion of their QS credits to snack credits that don't have to be used in one transaction.

 

[happymommy]

Who knows what will happen during next F&W festival? No one.
Stop the bashing.
I did what I did.
I'm done here.
Have a day.

 

[spartankid34]

Whatever, I am done with this thread.

So sorry you're dealing with this...

Come on all...this thread is meant to help others understand where substitutions were allowed, and what others have substituted for. No need for the back and forth..

 

[Kelly014]

Who knows what will happen during next F&W festival? No one.
Stop the bashing.
I did what I did.
I'm done here.
Have a day.

For what it's worth I don't see you as spreading misinformation about F&W, just sharing your experience and a potential use for credits based on what a CM told you. Ignore the ones making a big deal out of it, I appreciate the information personally!

 

[ELSA711]

Has anyone been able to convert dessert at Columbia Harbor House to soup? or would it just be fries, couscous, broccoli or coleslaw?

 

[baerchenland]

So frustrating that they are not consistent with this. I was told no substitutions every time at the Mara.

When I asked one lady, she said, she did not think so but would ask her boss who said "sure". And later she asked her college "did you know..." and the other woman said, yes she did ;-) And her trainer should have told her, and the woman told me, her trainer had even yelled at her when she had done a substitution once. So, it all depends on who youa sk and if you get "the rwong" answer, it pays to let them ask a superior...

 

[spartankid34]

When I asked one lady, she said, she did not think so but would ask her boss who said "sure". And later she asked her college "did you know..." and the other woman said, yes she did ;-) And her trainer should have told her, and the woman told me, her trainer had even yelled at her when she had done a substitution once. So, it all depends on who youa sk and if you get "the rwong" answer, it pays to let them ask a superior...

Good to know, it wasn't a huge issue to us on the substitutions, but did make me hesitate when asking at other places!

 

[lmtravis]

Has anybody tried the 1 QS to 3 snack conversion at Kamal's in AK? I would love samosas, hummus, and falafels!

 

[bjackowski]

i have to brush up on all of this for our trip.

 

[boufa]

Wdw is the largest single site employer in the USA. It is not surprising that the message doest always get out consistently. It's a lot of work to get that many people on even close to the same page. I'm actually impressed at how many are on the program.

I think it is important that guest services is nicely informed of locations that are behind on learning the new polices. That way those managers and those employees can be brought up to speed. They say in retail that complaints are a gift, because they teach us where to focus our efforts to get better.

 

[lmtravis]

Today I switched one qs for an order of falafels, humus, and samosas at kamal's in animal kingdom. It was delicious.