2020 dining plan changes- game changer! DxDP - any plan changes or credit sharing issues?

[otterpop]

With these new changes, I wouldn’t be surprised if Disney soon differentiated between adult and child snack credits and snacks...using a child’s snack credit on an ice cream cookie sandwich (of which an adult could barely finish) would follow similar ideas discussed previously. Could you imagine the following scenario where Johnny’s eyes become wide open, the biggest smile appears on his face, and he starts dancing like he needs to take a tinkle, as his Dad get this ginormous ice cream sandwich and then his Dad says “Johnny, don’t get too excited, this one is yours”...as his Dad hands him an Oreo cookie-sized ice cream sandwich!

 

[Pumbaa_]

Wow, another new twist

the conversion of credits downwards was never documented nor advertised. A little ‘undocumented feature’ as my IT friends like to say.

with the child’s qs plan being only $26, exchanging 1 qs credit for 3 snacks would be a huge value. And put Disney right back behind the loophole they just got out of. Cashing out snacks for the kid qs credit and maxing out on snacks

with a single snack being comparable to the qs value was why I really thought they would do a 1-1.

thanks for the confirmation!

 

[kaytieeldr]

Classic bait and switch, nice.

No. This is not bait and switch. This is enforcement of a program's policies. Disney didn't advertise one thing but then not have it in stock when the customer arrived.

So really if Disney didnt like this loophole then their wait staff shouldn't be encouraging it. JS

CMs aren't encouraging taking advantage of the loophole. They were, sure, when it was advantageous to both the guest and the server. Now that credit use is being enforced by age category, they would need to have stopped.
Then

 

[kaytieeldr]

With these new changes, I wouldn’t be surprised if Disney soon differentiated between adult and child snack credits and snacks...using a child’s snack credit on an ice cream cookie sandwich (of which an adult could barely finish) would follow similar ideas discussed previously.

Unlikely for two reasons. First, they would have made the change at the same time. Second, there have never been separate "adult" snacks and "kid" snacks.

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

Wow, another new twist

the conversion of credits downwards was never documented nor advertised. A little ‘undocumented feature’ as my IT friends like to say.

with the child’s qs plan being only $26, exchanging 1 qs credit for 3 snacks would be a huge value. And put Disney right back behind the loophole they just got out of. Cashing out snacks for the kid qs credit and maxing out on snacks

with a single snack being comparable to the qs value was why I really thought they would do a 1-1.

thanks for the confirmation!

Wait - are you saying kids QS still convert 1:3 for snacks? As in that’s still officially an option?

 

[handyl03]

Wait - are you saying kids QS still convert 1:3 for snacks? As in that’s still officially an option?

I think it’s only adult meal credits that can be converted to 3 snacks. Child meal credits can now only be used for a child’s meal.

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

I think it’s only adult meal credits that can be converted to 3 snacks. Child meal credits can now only be used for a child’s meal.

Do we have confirmation of that? Look at the post I quoted from our mod who says “a new twist”. I’m not sure anybody has confirmed the 1:1 yet so perhaps they are saying it’s still 1:3.

EDIT: or I could be completely confused. I might be misreading the comment.

 

[Ashley689]

Does anyone know if sharing DxDP adult meals (if paid for with adult credits) with children is/will be allowed? I don't see why not, but before I start re-crunching numbers it would be nice to know. Also, buffets... We don't do those much but it looks like if we keep the plan it may be a better bet. Any chance they'll let us pay for kid buffets with adult credit? Or would I come out better not even bothering and paying for the 2 kids out of pocket?

We will have 3 Disney adults, 2 Disney kids & a Disney Freebie. We were originally going to use the "loophole", and would have ordered 3 adult meals, splittling the 3 apps, entrees & desserts between the 6 of us. If the numbers work, I plan to do the same, just paying for 3 adults - or maybe 2 adults & 1 kid.

 

[CaliAdventurer]

Realizing now how rampant it was to pay $40 for a kids Deluxe Plan and getting 3 adult squares, I’m hoping closing this loophole brings up the profit margin so we don’t have to see further compromises in quality. So many complain that DDP killed the restaurant quality and availability, maybe this helps that.

 

[quietly]

Do we have confirmation of that? Look at the post I quoted from our mod who says “a new twist”. I’m not sure anybody has confirmed the 1:1 yet so perhaps they are saying it’s still 1:3.

EDIT: or I could be completely confused. I might be misreading the comment.

You misread the mods original comment. The “new twist” was referring to the commenter who said that their 1 child QS credit could not be converted to ANY snacks. It had to remain a child’s meal.

 

[AJS84]

We had the QSDP for two weeks in September. My kids (6&4) mostly prefered to have kids meals because they got to choose two sides; usually fries, chips, grapes or apples slices in the food courts. Along with a decent size entree and a carton of apple juice I thought this was pretty good value (it's not like they're tiny portions) and they got some fruit every day too. But the kids menus are so limited they sometimes had adult meals just to be able to have something a bit different.

My problem with this will be that the kids menus are all so limited. If they improved the kids offerings to give more variety, or made it so kids can have smaller portions of adult entrees, this would be fine but it looks like they haven't made any changes there(?). I can see myself eating some kids meals when we go back just so my kids can use some adult credits to get something other chicken tenders or mac n cheese.

 

[n2mm]

I can confirm that today at the Mara an adult credit could still be converted to 3 snacks but a child’s credit can be used for nothing but a kids meal.
It is being very strictly enforced.

I also read this morning the same thing. Someone posted on disboards FB that it’s been confirmed (not sure how).

1 adult QS credit = 3 snacks
1 child QS credit = 0 snacks. (Option is no longer available)

 

[Nancyg56]

It isn't a change but an enforcement of the rule already in place. And I don't feel sorry for those who were bending the rules to suite themselves, and now are forced into following those rules. Disney asked nicely, and people wouldn't play nice. So now they are being forced into doing what is right.

We have always cautioned folks that this was a loophole that could be closed at any time and tobhave a backup plan JIC. I took advantage of the DxDDP loophole one year and found that individual restaurants made the decision regarding the use of an adult meal for a child. The CS credits never mattered to us, our kids liked kids options, and if they did nto one of us ordered a childrens meal. We never knew there was no distinction.

I figured it would only be a mattter of time for this "perk" to close when I read the plan one poster had to buy all adult meals on a holiday for a family party and leave the kids in the room.

qs kid's meals i would just use them at BOG breakfast or lunch. Since it is a preorder and you don't have to use a set number of meals/person.

AND, the dining plan details clearly state kids meal WHERE AVAILABLE - so if the family is at Casey's then child can order a regular meal. This goes for any QS that does not offer a kid's meal.

good luck OP and have fun!

It has been stated that there simply is no option for this at a restaurant like Casey's. The kids credit cannot be applied for an adult credit, so it is a matter of cannot, not will not.

Classic bait and switch, nice.

No. Bait and switch is to sell one product but provide a different one. Disney has never claimed you can use kids credits for adult meals, and has never told people to buy a childrens plan and then use it on adult meals. The verbiage in their brouchure has been specific in that regard. There was a loophole and guests used it, but we all knew that it was a loophole that could be closed whenever DIsney decided to get there IT team to do so.

 

[pooch]

I have a FDP trip (QS) booked for my 8 yo DGS and me in Sept. Based on this thread, my TA aged him up to 10 (she said this was allowed?) and he will now be a Disney adult. Cost me less than $20 and I won’t have to worry about kids versus adult meals. Seems an easy solution to the problem

 

[Nancyg56]

I have a FDP trip (QS) booked for my 8 yo DGS and me in Sept. Based on this thread, my TA aged him up to 10 (she said this was allowed?) and he will now be a Disney adult. Cost me less than $20 and I won’t have to worry about kids versus adult meals. Seems an easy solution to the problem

It can be if you have FD. I am not sure if it is that simple if you are buying the dining plan. You then need to pay the difference in the daily cost of the plan as well as the price difference in the ticket. It may be less expensive to simply pay OOP for meals.

 

[pooch]

I agree, would never pay for the plan (totally my preference and YMMV) but love having it! Disney trips do require planning, and math!!

 

[maxiesmom]

I have a FDP trip (QS) booked for my 8 yo DGS and me in Sept. Based on this thread, my TA aged him up to 10 (she said this was allowed?) and he will now be a Disney adult. Cost me less than $20 and I won’t have to worry about kids versus adult meals. Seems an easy solution to the problem

Again, allowed? No. Loophole? Maybe. You do realize that a 10 year old's pass is much more costly than a 8 year olds?

 

[Nancyg56]

Again, allowed? No. Loophole? Maybe. You do realize that a 10 year old's pass is much more costly than a 8 year olds?

Unless Disney begins asking for birth certificates there is no way to determine if a kid is 8, 9 or 10. I know they reportedly track ages but change the kids name to a nickname and that issue is solved. For me, the concern would not be the difference in ticket cost aging the kid up incurs (it is minimal) but paying the difference in dining plan costs. Unless you are recieving FD the difference in cost really adds up. Once again, planning food is a math exercise and IMO there really is no way around that. Dining plans, yay or nay, are not "no brainers" any longer.

 

[jf256]

In the UK you often get a free dining deal that is bigger than the US version. If it comes out again this year for 2021. Would people be better off putting all the kids down as adults for the dining plan? Currently the difference between an ultimate pass for adults and kids is £30 so tickets are not that more expensive.

Does anyone have any experience with Disney questioning kids who are clearly under 10 using an adults dining plan?

 

[Nancyg56]

In the UK you often get a free dining deal that is bigger than the US version. If it comes out again this year for 2021. Would people be better off putting all the kids down as adults for the dining plan? Currently the difference between an ultimate pass for adults and kids is £30 so tickets are not that more expensive.

Does anyone have any experience with Disney questioning kids who are clearly under 10 using an adults dining plan?

I do not see that happening because if you have people using adult credits to purchase adult meals, and there are no childrens credits on your band, there really should not be an issue. I think the issue was using children credits to pay for adult meals and no way for the system to designate the difference.

Of course there is no way to know for sure, but just as CM's do not really quiz kids who look older than two (how awkward is that?) I would doubt they woudl want to have that conversation if the meals are clearly not designated as kids.