A few more dining plan questions

[slcmkh]

Without question as Disney set up the plan this way and has instructed it's CMs to advise guests to use it this way. Now will you please stop telling people who come on here asking for information that they are abusing the system when they use it in an allowable way in a manner encouraged by Disney management. Yes, if YOU created a dining plan then YOU would have different rules. But this is Disney's plan and this is they way they want it.

I guess what I was trying to say with all that, Pedro, is can you show us in writing a verification that "Without question as Disney set up the plan this way and has instructed it's CMs to advise guests to use it this way"?

 

[DebIreland]

Without question as Disney set up the plan this way and has instructed it's CMs to advise guests to use it this way. Now will you please stop telling people who come on here asking for information that they are abusing the system when they use it in an allowable way in a manner encouraged by Disney management. Yes, if YOU created a dining plan then YOU would have different rules. But this is Disney's plan and this is they way they want it.

Are you serious?

Look, this is obviously a glitch in the system. Common sense dictates that. If you want to take advantage of that glitch, that's your decision but to state that it's the way Disney wants the plan to work and that they encourage it is ludicrous.

If Disney really didn't care how people used their credits then why would they insist that parents of children aged 10 and up pay 38 dollars? Why do they insist that children whose parents paid 12 dollars a day order from the child’s menu? I'll tell you why - because they want the plan to be used properly i.e. they want children (by Disney's definition at least) to pays a child’s rate and adults to pay an adult’s rate.

If they truly intended the DP to work as you suggest i.e. for parents to use their kids' 12 dollar credits to order 3 course adult meals for themselves then they would do this for all parents and charge 38 for the parent(s) and a set price for under 18s in their party and say 'have a blast, eat up and then use your under 18 credits to eat more'. But they don't do that. Or are you suggesting that Disney have a special bond with parents of children under 10 to the point where they go out of their way to give them a very special perk by letting them eat on the cheap whilst asking parents of 10+ year olds pay through the nose for the privilege? Nah! I don't think Disney would consiously and intentionally be so unfair to parents of children 10 and up. It's a glitch in the system, nothing more.

 

[mickman1962]

Pedro, I can't speak for anyone else, but I'll tell you why I care so much.

When I vacation with my family I, like most people, spend thousands of dollars happily so as to enjoy a good time with my family. On my upcoming trip, rather lengthy, we will be spending not hundreds, but thousands just on food. I have never done the dining plan before and I have studied these threads for hours as I have made the decision whether or not to go with the dining plan. Your apparent knowledge of the way the plan works is greatly appreciated, but I don't see anything in writing to confirm what you have said: that using most or all of a party's pooled credits for adult meals by paying OOP for the kids meals is allowed and encouraged by Disney and by Disney CMs.

Much of what I see on this website is useful, but I also see much of hearsay and differing opinions and experiences. I have seen people say that they had no problem with OOP for kids, and others say that the restaurant wouldn't allow this, that everyone had to order on the dining plan. And again, I see nothing in writing anywhere from official Disney that indicates that it is encouraged to use all pooled credits for adult meals, paying OOP for kids meals.

This brings me to the two concerns (read: why I care):

1) I fear that if I join in with those who use the plan this way, and that if enough people do the same, that Disney will see it for what it is (getting up to about $50 dollars worth of food per day for $10) and either modify the program dramatically, potentially making it a more expensive and less favorable plan for everyone, or abandon it altogether. It may sound overly altruistic, but I don't want to be a part of those who may affect the program negatively for others.

2) I fear that if I decide to go with the Dining Plan based on the opinions rendered here, based on various experiences and possibly hearsay or even bad information from CMs (imagine that), that I could be making a costly mistake if the information gleaned here turns out to be incorrect. Specifically, if I decide that the plan will work for my family of 6, including several tweeners (adult aged children who don't eat much) and one child-aged child, based on the information in this forum, and the information turns out to be wrong, I could be out hundreds of dollars in food costs because of a bad decision. That's not my idea of maximizing the enjoyment of my vacation.

So my opinion on this issue is based on what appears to be the way the plan should work when I see what is available in writing about the plan, versus what is said in this forum but I can't find in writing, versus what the CMs may say about the plan which I probably shouldn't entirely trust, versus what people here have experienced with the plan (past performance is no guarantee of future results.)

So, what is the right thing to do based on what I see about the plan in writing and what seems to be intended by the plan: that one pays $10 per day for kids on the plan and the kids eat kids meals using credits based on that cost?

What is the right thing to do with respect to future guests as a group, thinking about the continued viability of the plan, if it is used more and more widely by good consumers (I don't mean that in a derogatory way) who are adept at maximizing the benefit of the plan by paying OOP for kids and using all credits for the adults in the party?

And, just as important, what is the best thing for me to do regarding my own family's needs and financial interests? What if I make a decision based on calculated and anticipated costs -- planning on being one of those good consumers -- and then I find out in the midst of my vacation that the decision was based on faulty or outdated information and that the decision was therefore not the best decision for my family's needs, and I wind up paying much more in food costs than I had anticipated?

I apologize for being long-winded and I hope I haven't come across as confrontational here. Just explaning my side of the coin.

Good thread.

Thank you.

 

[mickman1962]

Are you serious?

Look, this is obviously a glitch in the system. Common sense dictates that. If you want to take advantage of that glitch, that's your decision but to state that it's the way Disney wants the plan to work and that they encourage it is ludicrous.

If Disney really didn't care how people used their credits then why would they insist that parents of children aged 10 and up pay 38 dollars? Why do they insist that children whose parents paid 12 dollars a day order from the child’s menu? I'll tell you why - because they want the plan to be used properly i.e. they want children (by Disney's definition at least) to pays a child’s rate and adults to pay an adult’s rate.

If they truly intended the DP to work as you suggest i.e. for parents to use their kids' 12 dollar credits to order 3 course adult meals for themselves then they would do this for all parents and charge 38 for the parent(s) and a set price for under 18s in their party and say 'have a blast, eat up and then use your under 18 credits to eat more'. But they don't do that. Or are you suggesting that Disney have a special bond with parents of children under 10 to the point where they go out of their way to give them a very special perk by letting them eat on the cheap whilst asking parents of 10+ year olds pay through the nose for the privilege? Nah! I don't think Disney would consiously and intentionally be so unfair to parents of children 10 and up. It's a glitch in the system, nothing more.

Thank you

 

[mickman1962]

1 adult plan =$35
5 kids plan =$50
6 oop kids meals = $60
total $145

6 adult plans =$210
6 kids plans =$60
total = $270

Now I see why it only takes a 27% score to pass a New York state math exam (see another post of mine). People can't do basic addtition/multiplication. Oh yeah it works out in your favor, so your math must be right. I apologize to all who "use the plan the way Disney wants it to be used" and will now save almost 50% of my food costs on my upcoming trip because Disney wants me to pay the childs price and eat an adult portion. Who knows maybe I'll get a free upgrade to concierge for being such a valued customer.

 

[DebIreland]

As an aside here, for everyone who is trying to decide whether to do the Dining Plan or not, Disney prices for 2006 have increased and are:
38 per adult and 12 per child (2005 prices were 35 ad and 10 child).

 

[torinsmom]

I wonder why it doesn't just say on the card how many adults and how many children plans are there? Seems like that would be any easy way to stop people from "using" the system. They could fix it fairly easily. I think Disney is just overlooking this, because its not that high a percentage of people who are doing it. I wouldn't do it, but if you do, thats your decision to deal with as you will.

I do wish they'd come up with a "teen" price for 10-17 year olds, maybe $23.99? Obviously, most kids that age do not eat like most adults. Ticket prices I can understand, since most kids my son's age can ride all the rides adults ride. Isn't the dining plan fairly new? Who knows what will happen in the future.

Marsha

 

[DebIreland]

I don't have any children, but it seems to me that, as you have alluded, the real unethical act is being committed by Disney. Charging a 10 year old as an adult is completely laughable and in no way justifiable.

I agree that this is wrong. A 10 year old is not an adult and should not be charged as such. However, at least now it doesn't seem as unfair as it did last year because all menus that I've looked at on Allearsnet now state that the child's menu is for children 9 and under so, in other words, whether you get the DP or not, you're gonna be charged adult prices for 10 year olds. This doesn't make it right but it evens it out a bit. I too wish they had a junior rate of maybe 20 dollars for 10 to 14 year olds (or thereabouts).

However, I'm positive that most people would have no problem keeping children's credits just for children if Disney took your advice and created a third category.

You have a lot of faith in mankind! and that's a good way to be. However, lots of people have posted here that they've used their child's credits for adult meals and they have no pre-teens - their children are all under 9 so I doubt the practice of using child credits for adult meals is confined to those who (rightly) feel upset about paying 38 for their 10 year old.

 

[mickman1962]

As an aside here, for everyone who is trying to decide whether to do the Dining Plan or not, Disney prices for 2006 have increased and are:
38 per adult and 12 per child (2005 prices were 35 ad and 10 child).

Gee, I wonder why they would charge two different prices if there is no difference between the two .

 

[DebIreland]

Gee, I wonder why they would charge two different prices if there is no difference between the two .

I know, I guess they just hate us parents of 10+ year olds.

 

[mickman1962]

I know, I guess they just hate us parents of 10+ year olds.

Just like how they make a family with 4 kids have to get two rooms to stay on-site. I just book a room for four and bring an inflatable bed so we can actually sleep six in a room.

 

[Mermaid4me]

I wonder why it doesn't just say on the card how many adults and how many children plans are there? Seems like that would be any easy way to stop people from "using" the system. They could fix it fairly easily. I think Disney is just overlooking this, because its not that high a percentage of people who are doing it. I wouldn't do it, but if you do, thats your decision to deal with as you will.

I do wish they'd come up with a "teen" price for 10-17 year olds, maybe $23.99? Obviously, most kids that age do not eat like most adults. Ticket prices I can understand, since most kids my son's age can ride all the rides adults ride. Isn't the dining plan fairly new? Who knows what will happen in the future.

Marsha

I so agree! My son will be turning 10 right before we go. I of course paid for him as an adult for tickets and DDP. With that being said, he is small for his age and eats next to nothing. I too wish there was a "junior age" for the DDP. Park tickets I agree with but not the DDP. Anyways I was speaking to a CM at guest services and we were discussing this. She told me to have my
DS10, DS8 and DS3 either share there 2 meals (CS or TS) or pay for DS10 OOP for a child's meal in the case of a buffet. I said to her and I quote "this is okay to do?" and she said "Absolutely!" Just wish there was a "junior" category.


Mermaid4me

ASMO Apr 2006
CR 2005
ASMO 1999
Offsite 1986
CR 1979

 

[slcmkh]

Still waiting for Pedro to show is in writing a verification that "without question Disney set up the plan this way (so parents of children under 10 can use all pooled credits for adult meals even though child credits are 1/3 the cost) and has instructed it's CMs to advise guests to use it this way."

 

[copper68]

Just like how they make a family with 4 kids have to get two rooms to stay on-site. I just book a room for four and bring an inflatable bed so we can actually sleep six in a room.

Mickman, at first I thought you were a self righteous windbag. But now I know you are. I didn't really have an opinion either way on this whole issue, because we don't even use the dining plan. But as I read over the issue, I realized that right is right. Adults shouldn't be using their kids' credits.

But then you go and write a post like this, which displays hypocrisy.

If it's not ok to use a child credit for an adult (which I agree with), then how do you justify putting 6 people in a room for 4? Aside from fire code violations, it is a direct violation of Disney policy.

While I realize nobody is perfect, myself included, I can't believe that you even wrote that post after you went on and on about how immoral everyone else is for even considering using a child credit for an adult meal (which again I do not agree with).

Well this is an opinion board as you said earlier, and that's my opinion.

 

[skiwee1]

Okay I apologize, I am new to the boards. I was under the imprssion that it was a place where I could come and ask a question and someone who might have more knowledge than me could lend me some insight. I had no idea by asking a question I was opening myself up for judging, lectures on morality and plan old lecturing. .

Well welcome to the DIS! LOL~

 

[mickman1962]

Mickman, at first I thought you were a self righteous windbag. But now I know you are. I didn't really have an opinion either way on this whole issue, because we don't even use the dining plan. But as I read over the issue, I realized that right is right. Adults shouldn't be using their kids' credits.

But then you go and write a post like this, which displays hypocrisy.

If it's not ok to use a child credit for an adult (which I agree with), then how do you justify putting 6 people in a room for 4? Aside from fire code violations, it is a direct violation of Disney policy.

While I realize nobody is perfect, myself included, I can't believe that you even wrote that post after you went on and on about how immoral everyone else is for even considering using a child credit for an adult meal (which again I do not agree with).

Well this is an opinion board as you said earlier, and that's my opinion.

The winking smiley was meant to imply I was joking. Just merely pointing out another way that even though you can get away with it, doesn't make it right.

 

[copper68]

If you were joking, then I apologize and re-tract my previous post.

 

[mickman1962]

If you were joking, then I apologize and re-tract my previous post.

That's fine after all you were right about the windbag part.

 

[jonkatony]

Mickman Disney want you to bring your inflatable beds, infact they designed the room layouts with this in mind

 

[ryty44]

Are you serious?

Look, this is obviously a glitch in the system. Common sense dictates that. If you want to take advantage of that glitch, that's your decision but to state that it's the way Disney wants the plan to work and that they encourage it is ludicrous.

If Disney really didn't care how people used their credits then why would they insist that parents of children aged 10 and up pay 38 dollars? Why do they insist that children whose parents paid 12 dollars a day order from the child’s menu? I'll tell you why - because they want the plan to be used properly i.e. they want children (by Disney's definition at least) to pays a child’s rate and adults to pay an adult’s rate.

If they truly intended the DP to work as you suggest i.e. for parents to use their kids' 12 dollar credits to order 3 course adult meals for themselves then they would do this for all parents and charge 38 for the parent(s) and a set price for under 18s in their party and say 'have a blast, eat up and then use your under 18 credits to eat more'. But they don't do that. Or are you suggesting that Disney have a special bond with parents of children under 10 to the point where they go out of their way to give them a very special perk by letting them eat on the cheap whilst asking parents of 10+ year olds pay through the nose for the privilege? Nah! I don't think Disney would consiously and intentionally be so unfair to parents of children 10 and up. It's a glitch in the system, nothing more.

I just think that people who think Disney has an obvious glitch in the system and don't see it and/or doesn't fix it really under estimate Disney!!! The folks at Disney are smarter than you give them credit for. This year when they raised the prices they could have easily "fixed" the system. Or when the went from food vouchers to this system they could have ensured the "proper" use. And when I say proper I am referring to your rules not Disney's. I have now called several times and asked CM's if it was ok to use the pooled credits anyway. They said YES! Just so you know you can also use a TS as a CS meal as well, which in that case Disney ,makes out. This happen often b/c often ADR aren't made far enough in advance or kids are hungry when they are hungry. In addition as I stated to a pp, to eat at Cinderella Royal Table for example, it would cost 2 credits---to eat at Le Cellier for example would cost oop more than the Cinderella meal, yet that is 1 credit. Do you think Disney is taking advantage of people wanting a charachter meal. For people paying out of pocket CRT would be cheaper than dining at Le Cellier, yet paying with credits cost more---just the way it works. So what, if thats the way Disney wants it to work , then thats the way it is.

In addition, in order to get the dining plan you have to buy a package, ensuring you are paying so much $$---that's what Disney wants, you need not be a marketing genius to see that. That's what they are after, the would like to ensure you eat your meals on property, not off. And if Disney had a glitch in the system all they would have to do is make the CM's enforce the way you think it should be done (again--not their way)---if it is inappropriate use them in the pooled manner why do they allow the CM's to tell us about it, and also allow the CM's to deduct credits like this? And why doesn't is say anywhere , must be used in such and such a manner. All they would need to do is say credits are non transferrable, but they don't. Or instead of having each key access all credit, they would only be able to access that person's credits. Perhaps your system and Disney's are different. I think you give Disney too little credit and I beleive them to be marketing genius'. They did not build an enterprise by ignoring glitches and allowing people to take advantage. Do you really think that Disney wouldn't fix a glitch?? I think that it absurd!