DDP Question RE: Teenage Boys on Their Own

[gretchenohar@hotmail]

I really thought I knew the dining plan rules... Now, I'm not so sure. We've always traveled with 2 young children and have always eaten together as a family. This year my sister & her 2 teenage boys (age 17 & 18) will be joining us. We're all on the DxDDP. She & her boys are in one room; & my husband & I plus 2 grandchildren are in another, but our reservations & dining plan are linked under my name. We have a 40% off PIN Code - so I don't think it's possible to un-link them without losing a substantial amount of money.
Here's my question - since the older boys will be off by themselves most of the day - will they be able to use all of our collective credits?? I have a feeling I know the answer to this question & it's giving me a sinking feeling in my stomach.... If I understand this right, all adult credits are pooled - so they could conceivably use everyone's credits just by strolling thru the parks & stopping to eat here & there - picking up some hamburgers & fries, right?
I've made all our ADR's - usually only 2/per day, figuring we could get by on snacks to fill in... Quite a few of our meals are 2 TS credits (CRT, Narcossee's, Yachtsman) - but most are 1 TS credit. We do have a few credits left over - becase I figured the older boys would probably get hungry and grab a CS meal here & there. There are enough credits for them to get at least 1 -2 CS meal per day - especially since they won't be joining us for some of the Character Meals.
If they go hog wild - like young boys have a tendency to do - could they use up all our credits? I'm getting pretty nervous about this... I've tried to explain the difference between TS, CS, Snacks - etc - but they look at me like I'm from Mars, and I'm afraid they'll inadvertantly "drain our credits dry" on CS & snacks before we've finished our vacation...
Any thoughts or suggestions?
Thanks,
Gretchen

[Esteri]

At 17 & 18 I think they'd be responsible enough to be respectful of everyone's needs - provided those needs are clearly communicated. Let them know what they have allocated each day. You might even write it down, with a couple of suggestions. And if they're not responsible enough - then they probably shouldn't be turned loose on their own.

You'll likely have to show them the difference between TS and CS once you get there. Go to a couple of restaurants - this is CS, and.... this is TS. I can see where it might be confusing just from a description if you haven't been there before.

Then make sure they understand consequences. You'll be getting a receipt with the number of meals left every time you get a meal - so you'll be able to see what they're doing. Screw up - and you're traveling with the little kids tomorrow.

[plutolovr]

I think that by virtue of them being in a different room than you that their credits will only be for their room. Even though they are linked with you it does not mean that you will all be linked as far as dining goes.

[gretchenohar@hotmail]

Whew! I feel better now. Thanks to you both!
Gretchen

[cnorth]

17 and 18 seems old enough to be able to figure it out. Plus, if you are on the DxDDP, there is no difference between CS and TS. Just let them know how many they can use a day, and let them figure it out. If they can walk into a TS and have $ for a tip, they can go for it!

[serene56]

I too thought that each room would have their own credits-

I have 4 rooms linked and do not want all those credits under one room.
--
but if my thinking is wrong--at 17-18 years old cant those kids be told they can only spend one CS credit and one snack credit each when they are off on their own--(cant see two teen boys sitting in a plaace at a sit down dinner alone

[gretchenohar@hotmail]

Thanks for your replies.
I wasn't worried about them eating at TS restaurants while they were touring - I was afraid they'd go to a CS, order a hamburger & fries and simply blow the whole plan out of whack when they got hungry again a couple hours later & ordered another hamburger, etc... What a waste! Yikes!!
I did plan to "let" them use a CS each day - I was just afraid they'd get used to whipping out their KTTW card & start buying something like fries & a Coke, thinking it was good for a snack credit - only to find out later that it was a CS -- or something like that. I could envision them eating thru all our/their TS credits without realizing it.
You are all absolutely right that they should be able to behave responsibly at their ages. They're good kids - but sometimes pretty clueless when it comes to money management - and I can imagine it being so much worse when there's no cash involved - just a piece of plastic! (I remember my first experience with credit cards and how I learned the hard way to appreciate how fast all my "little" purchases added up.)
Anyway, thanks to all your advice, I'm going to take them around to the various eating places at our resort (we're staying at the Poly) and point out exactly what each TS, CS, and SC pays for. You were so right about showing them, rather than just trying to explain it to them. We've been to WDW with our grandchildren twice in the last 2 years - this will be our third trip - and I'm STILL learning the little nuances of our packages.
Despite reading these & other Disney boards thoroughly - I didn't even begin to understand the on-site transportation system till last year - about half way thru our trip. That was certainly an "Aha! moment! Really didn't "get" the fastpass/touring plans till after our first trip, either. I think it's something you have to experience before you can really understand...
And thanks to all of you, I'm still learning!
Thanks!
Gretchen

[DannysMom]

You mentioned that you have DxDP, which comes w/ a ton of snack credits. The credits should be broken down by room, so unless their parents are also huge eaters, they may have waaaay more snack credits than they can easily use. All those snacks could be just what you need with teenage boys. Make sure to point out the menu items that count as a snack credit & how it is displayed on the menus.

For example, when they know that they have a dinner or lunch reservation at XX time, but that is still 2 hrs away & they are hungry NOW, they could get a Coke & fries at many CS locations for 2 snack credits. You get the idea.

[gretchenohar@hotmail]

You're absolutely right, DannysMom. I'm so grateful to everyone who took the time to offer insight, solutions, etc...
What would I do without these boards? (I'd waste a whole lot of time and money, that's what!)
Muchas Gracias,
Gretchen

[Pumbaa_]

Ask them to keep the receipts that show what was used and the balance. Turn them in to you/Mom each day so you can keep an eye on it daily rather then be surprised at the end of the trip

You can also go to the front desk and ask to get a printout of what was used and remaining credits.

Have fun!

[gretchenohar@hotmail]

Great idea, Pumbaa!
Now, if I can just force myself to LOOK at the receipts!
You know how it is when you get back from the parks, have to get the little ones bathed & in bed... After that, I just want a nice stiff drink!!!
However, I will take your advice & keep the boys in line. They really are good kids - and they better not screw up - or they better !!!

[TDC Nala]

If the rooms have two different reservation numbers, they are separate reservations even though they are "linked" (the linking doesn't do anything but maybe get you rooms near each other) and the teenagers will not have access to any dining credits on your reservation, nor will you have access to credits on theirs.

[gretchenohar@hotmail]

Thanks - I wasn't aware of that TDC Nala.
I just assumed that since I made the reservations with my credit card that they would be considered 1 reservation. We do have 2 separate reservation numbers, tho - so it looks like we're ok.
Gretchen

[clkelley]

Originally Posted by gretchenohar@hotmail

Thanks - I wasn't aware of that TDC Nala.
I just assumed that since I made the reservations with my credit card that they would be considered 1 reservation. We do have 2 separate reservation numbers, tho - so it looks like we're ok.
Gretchen

That is correct. As a matter of fact, on the times you are dining together at table service, each "room" will need to show their resort ID and tell the server "3 TS off of this card" "2 TS of of this card". Don't just give the server 1 card as it will mess everything up later in the week.

[gretchenohar@hotmail]

Now there's something else I didn't know, clkelly.
Thanks for the head's up!
Gretchen