Are the CS credits for kids and adults pooled or separate?

[frannn]

Last year, we were on free dining, and all credits, TS and CS, were pooled. We did almost all buffets for TS, so we didn't really need to keep track of kid vs adult, we just made sure they only deducted 3 credits each meal. For CS, we would usually only order 2 adult lunch meals for me, DH, and DD4 to share, so we had leftover credits at the end. I understand that the TS credits are separated, so we will have to keep an eye on that. Are the CS credits still pooled? How would this work at Pizza Planet? We went last year and ordered 2 meals to share, but if DD4 wants her own the next time we go, do they just deduct 3 credits, or do we have to specify 2 adults, 1 child? I'm thinking we'd use the leftover kid's CS (if she shares lunch with us again) for her breakfast. Do any of the park CS serve kid's breakfast? This may be moot if they don't offer free dining this year....

 

[thunderbird1]

People are reporting that TS credits are separate now, and CS either are already or will be within the next couple of weeks.

I've had the same thought--my dd will be 10 this summer, so she and her brother (who will be 4) will likely split (mostly adult credit) CS lunches. So we'll have extra CS credits, mostly child, and I'm thinking breakfast will be a good time to use them.

To add to your question, I know a popular use of CS credits is for the Main Street Bakery--2 items and a beverage for one credit. Can you do this in any of the other parks? For example, Kusafari Coffee Shop and Bakery in AK, Starring Rolls or Cup o' Joe To Go in MGM, anywhere in Epcot?

And, for those who have been recently (or are going soon), can you use those child CS credits for the "2 treats and a drink" special?

TIA!

 

[4greatboys]

When we used it in Oct they were still pooled. However I went this past week and a friend was using the DP for her family and she said they had been seperated.

 

[bicker]

The enforcement is perhaps inconsistent, but the rule is, at least, finally clear: Child credits cannot be used for adult meals.

 

[JimMIA]

Regardless of what happened in the past -- as thoroughly reported on this board, adult and child credits are now separate as of 1/1/07. Sure there will be glitches and inconsistencies, but those will be worked out as we go.

It's not a big deal for our family, but some families are going to have to pay a lot more attention to the credits than they did in the past.

The changes in accounting for credits are not really changes in the plan itself. DDP is what it was always presented to be. It remains an incredibly simple system if you use it as it was designed to be used,

 

[arielsleepingbeauty]

How do you know how much credit one meal is? I wanted to do character meals. Is that considered a TS?
How do you know how much credit something is? I know that sounds dumb. I am new at this DDP. Until today I didn't think i would ever need to know, but now I am considering it. I want to make the most of this experience. Thanks

 

[WDWBetsy]

How do you know how much credit one meal is? I wanted to do character meals. Is that considered a TS?
How do you know how much credit something is? I know that sounds dumb. I am new at this DDP. Until today I didn't think i would ever need to know, but now I am considering it. I want to make the most of this experience. Thanks

There's a great FAQ "sticky" at the top of this forum. Should answer many of your questions.

 

[arielsleepingbeauty]

thanks.

 

[Ellester]

We just got back yesterday (trip was from 1/13-1/21) and I can tell you that TS meals were separated but CS meals are still pooled.

 

[gabbysmom04]

I just got back on thurs. We used the dining plan for ourselves and 2 kids. They KTTWC had it as 2 adults and 2 kids for the plan. But the only thing that was not pooled was the TS. The CS and snacks were still the same. For TS you got 2 receipts 1 for adults and one for kids.

 

[Crazy4Disney72]

Regardless of what happened in the past -- as thoroughly reported on this board, adult and child credits are now separate as of 1/1/07. Sure there will be glitches and inconsistencies, but those will be worked out as we go.

It's not a big deal for our family, but some families are going to have to pay a lot more attention to the credits than they did in the past.

The changes in accounting for credits are not really changes in the plan itself. DDP is what it was always presented to be. It remains an incredibly simple system if you use it as it was designed to be used,

I have absolutely no problem getting what I paid for, kids meals for kids 9 and under, but unless every person in the party orders a meal all at the same time, every single meal, or you take notes with every DDP purchase, it can be a bit confusing how many of each category of counter service credits are left. For Disney purposes, we are 3 adults and 2 kids, but really 2 adults and 3 kids. Sometimes we shared meals, not because we were trying to 'save' credits, we actually left today with credits left over, but because we weren't hungry enough for all the food that three adult meals and two kids meals would provide!

I hope Disney does do with counter service what they have done with table service and officially separate the credits, it will make it much easier for the guests.

 

[arielsleepingbeauty]

We just got back yesterday (trip was from 1/13-1/21) and I can tell you that TS meals were separated but CS meals are still pooled.

Forgive me for being a DDP idiot. What do you mean by adults and kids CS credits being pooled? I have checked out the DDP FAQ aloready. I am going in May and want to get as much out of the DDP as possible.

 

[Ellester]

Forgive me for being a DDP idiot. What do you mean by adults and kids CS credits being pooled? I have checked out the DDP FAQ aloready. I am going in May and want to get as much out of the DDP as possible.

I agree that it is somewhat confusing. I can explain it for our situation: we had 3 adults and 2 children on the plan. We were there for 8 nights, so when we checked in we were given 24 adult Table Service credits, 16 children Table Service credits, 40 Counter Service credits, and 40 snack credits. There was no differentiation between the childrens and adults CS or snack credits. Our key cards said 3A/2C (3 adult/2 child). We never tried to order more than 3 adult counter service meals at once, so I don't know if that would be possible or not. When we ordered 3 adult meals and 2 children's meals at a counter service place, they deducted 5 credits from our remaining total.

Does that make more sense? If not, let me know and I'll try to explain it better. We didn't get to use the DDP quite as I wanted (due to illness while we were there) but I figured out yesterday that we still saved money even though we ended up with more breakfasts and less dinners than I had orginally planned.

 

[bicker]

The distinction, in essence, is a matter of "what can you get away with if you were inclined to break the rules". It is clear, in the Dining Plan brochure, that if you're two adults and two children, then half of your CS credits are to be used for child meals, since that's what you paid for.

 

[Crazy4Disney72]

The distinction, in essence, is a matter of "what can you get away with if you were inclined to break the rules". It is clear, in the Dining Plan brochure, that if you're two adults and two children, then half of your CS credits are to be used for child meals, since that's what you paid for.

Yes, that is clear, but even for honest folks, not trying to get away with anything, with there being no distinction in the credits on the receipts that the guests get, unless you are keeping a running tab of every counter service meal purchased for every member of the party, sometimes you really don't know how many of the remaining credits listed on the bottom of your latest receipt are adult and how many are child credits. Maybe some people do that, keep tallies written somewhere of what was used when, but that's a little too much like work to me. I did use the DDP spreadsheet when I was planning the trip, but as often happens when traveling with kids and an elderly grandparent, we didn't totally follow 'the plan' and ended up changing our dining plans almost every day, and we shared CS much more than I thought we would because we just weren't that hungry.

All I'm saying is that I can see how well-meaning people might inadvertently misuse their credits, either child credits for adult meals, or even adult credits for child meals, which I think I did yesterday. We had several credits left over yesterday before we left so we decided to get sandwiches to take the airport and once I was on the plane and mentally going back over what credits we used where, I figured out we used an adult credit for a child meal, and still had a couple adult credits left. I don't think Disney should have a problem with my using an adult credit for a child meal, but had they told me I was out of child credits, I would have gladly paid the $3.99 or whatever it was for the kids grilled cheese meal my DD 6 wanted.

 

[arielsleepingbeauty]

Thanks Ellester, that does clear it up. I have been to WDW many times, but this will be my first on the DDP. I am not sure what I am in for, but i wanted to know the in's and out's of the DDP to ge the most out of it. I don't mean to say that I am going to abuse it, but if i know exactly how it works and the combinations of how i can use it, then i will feel much better before i go. I don't want to come back and find out that i could have used it differently.

 

[gardendame]

The distinction, in essence, is a matter of "what can you get away with if you were inclined to break the rules". It is clear, in the Dining Plan brochure, that if you're two adults and two children, then half of your CS credits are to be used for child meals, since that's what you paid for.

Please, please stop assuming that everyone here at the Dis is trying to see what "you get away with if you were inclined to break the rules." Sometimes your well meaning advise comes across as accusing. Not one single person on this thread posted ways to go about cheating Disney out of anything with the DDP. I have only read innocent questions and helpful, LEGAL, suggestions.

 

[kaytieeldr]

I wouldn't worry about it - bicker's post wasn't an attack on or accusation toward anyone; it was a generic "you", meaning any person in general who might be looking to take advantage (in a negative way) of the DDP. Remember, LOTS of people read these posts, even if they don't write anything. This thread has what, eighteen posts? But it's been viewed by over seven HUNDRED people.

 

[Uncleromulus]

This is close to straying into "only WDW can answer" territory.
Honest confusion is one thing certainly--as are those "unique" approaches designed to bend the DDP rules.
We'll all know how Disney is handling things as more and more folks report back on what ACTUALLY happened with their CS/TS credits.

 

[bicker]

I wouldn't worry about it - bicker's post wasn't an attack on or accusation toward anyone; it was a generic "you", meaning any person in general who might be looking to take advantage (in a negative way) of the DDP. Remember, LOTS of people read these posts, even if they don't write anything. This thread has what, eighteen posts? But it's been viewed by over seven HUNDRED people.

Absolutely on-target.

Honest confusion is one thing certainly--as are those "unique" approaches designed to bend the DDP rules.

Yes, indeed, two completely separate things. I'll try to make that distinction clearer in my messages when appropriate.