Can anyone confirm weather CS credits are seperated now or still pooled?

[OneBadApple]

If you go to a any CS place, they have a childrens menu that offers PB&J uncrustables, QUesadilla, chicken fingers & fries, etc. You have to order from the children's menu for your child. If you order from the adult menu, they'll subtract an adult CS credit. The only exception is is pizza places that serve "individual" size pizzas. Those aren't listed on the children's menu, but you can order one and use a child's CS credit or an adult credit.

So if I'm reading this correctly, if we go to Pinocchio Village Haus or Pizzafari, we (me, dh, dd11, and ds9) can each order the individual pizza, using 3A and 1C credits, even though there is a child's menu at each of those locations.

 

[JimMIA]

I think there is understandably a lot of confusion about this. Here's what I understand, based on our trip in May and other postings here:

TS credits are separate. You will get a receipt at the end of the meal showing kids and adults credit balances, and the computer will not allow you to order more adult meals (or kids meals) than you have participants in that category on the plan.

CS credits are not accounted for separately. However, the CS CM will not risk their job by letting you order more adult CS meals than you show adults on your card. I am not sure whether that enforcement is strictly up to the CM or if there is a computer limitation as well, but I have heard pretty consistent reports of the CMs enforcing this restriction.

Like anything else Disney, you'll hear anecdotal reports all over the place, but the majority of the reports I've heard indicate the A/C distinction IS being enforced at the CS venues.

 

[Elbow642]

OK, but what about this...I go up and order two adult counter service on Tuesday, on Wednesday I order two adult meals and two kids meals, on Thursday, I order one adult meal and one child's meal. I am using the credits for some kids meals and some adult meals.

What if the last day I have three counter service credits left, are they going to tell me that they are only available for kids meals because I had already ordered my quota of adults meals? I just don't see that happening. Does the computer system keep track like that? If it doesn't I can't see how the CM's would know to tell you that you couldn't order an adult meal when technically you have already ordered your quota of adult meals.

 

[skater]

OK, but what about this...I go up and order two adult counter service on Tuesday, on Wednesday I order two adult meals and two kids meals, on Thursday, I order one adult meal and one child's meal. I am using the credits for some kids meals and some adult meals.

What if the last day I have three counter service credits left, are they going to tell me that they are only available for kids meals because I had already ordered my quota of adults meals? I just don't see that happening. Does the computer system keep track like that? If it doesn't I can't see how the CM's would know to tell you that you couldn't order an adult meal when technically you have already ordered your quota of adult meals.

I also don't see how they could do that - especially if its not listed separately on our receipts. Our parents are going and sometimes our kids will be split between them and us - I don't see how any of us will keep track of it if its not listed separately. To further complicate it, our 5 yr old is on my parents' room reservation . They are already totally confused about the dining plan - if its a big secret saved for the end of your credit use, that would be a little scary . Even if we are very careful about always ordering the under 10 yr olds child meals, it will still get confusing because sometimes we will order all of us meals and sometimes we will share. I'm getting a little nervous.

 

[klj27]

When we were there in July my husband went to the food court and got fouir meals. (2 adult and 2 kid). They were really busy and the cashier just wrung it in as 4 pizza meals because that was the easiest thing for him to do at the moment. He wouldn't have done that if they keep track in anyway of the adult vs child counter service credits. Because of the way it was wrung in we used more adult counter service meals than we should have received for our stay but it did not mess up our balance at all.

 

[JimMIA]

What if the last day I have three counter service credits left, are they going to tell me that they are only available for kids meals because I had already ordered my quota of adults meals?

No, I don't think so. As I understand it, they do not track adult and child CS credits separately like they do TS.

HOWEVER...you might be told you can't order three adult CS meals because you only have 2 adults shown on your card. That's where the enforcement is. Your card says how many people in each category are participating in DDP, and the CMs are not supposed to order meals in excess of that.

According to postings here by CMs, they have been threatened with termination if they violate the terms of DDP, or allow guests to use credits improperly.

 

[Elbow642]

Right, I just don't see how the computer would know. I can totally see ordering three adult meals and getting called on it, obviously the key card says right there that there are only two adults on the plan. Where it gets iffy is when you just order two meals at a time.

My plan is to order two adult meals and one kids meal at certain counter service locations, because I know that there is more than enough food for the four of us. My gosh, just look at one of our favorite places, Tusker House in AK. There is absolutely know way that we can each eat one of those meals, we have tried. Two plates with a half of a chicken each is more than enough for all of us! Especially when we have a ADR for a large dinner in a few hours. On the other hand, at places like Pizza Planet, we will each use a credit and get a meal as they are not that big.

This is exactly what happened with my friend two weeks ago. Her family shared a lot of meals. She had five counter credits left on the last day and went to the food court. The CM said that she should get five pizza meals to take home and that is what she did. If the computer could tell a difference, she would not have been able to do that, as those credits were technically child credits because she had used all of her "supposed" adult credits.

 

[srgibbs]

So what I'm reading is if you have 2 Adults and 2 Children you cannot order more than 2 Adult meals at one time? This makes sense to me but since the 4 of us share so much there is no way I can keep track of what we have unless it is on the reciept. Sounds like CS is still pooled all together while TS is seperated? We use some cs for breakfast so unless we can see what we have we cannot keep track but don't want to be told on the last day or 2 all we have is child credits left. Sounds to me like we don't need to worry with that and the kids will get their own meal at TS just to keep things easy.

 

[thunderbird1]

If the CS credits haven't changed from last year, I really wouldn't worry too much about it. As long as you remember that the separation of A/C CS credits only really matters when you place your order (ie, don't try to order more of either meal than is stated on your card), you'll be fine. Of course, it wouldn't be right to set out to "beat the system," but it's also not necessary to agonize over tracking every single credit to make absolutely certain you don't accidentally get an extra adult meal. Just go, relax, have fun, try to stay within the plan, and don't get all bogged down in the details to the point that it impacts your vacation.

 

[queenof3]

We just came back on Aug 14th and no the CS are not separate. In fact, our children have a dietarty restriction and especially at our hotel food court, they ended up with adult meals because what they made them was not on the kids menu. We never had any problems in the end. We did eat at pizza planet and there is no kids menu! definitely enough to share on one meal for kids though! There were many times too, that we would use the cards separately as we had to wait longer for the allergy-free meal, never had any problems!

 

[thunderbird1]

So what I'm reading is if you have 2 Adults and 2 Children you cannot order more than 2 Adult meals at one time? This makes sense to me but since the 4 of us share so much there is no way I can keep track of what we have unless it is on the reciept. Sounds like CS is still pooled all together while TS is seperated? We use some cs for breakfast so unless we can see what we have we cannot keep track but don't want to be told on the last day or 2 all we have is child credits left. Sounds to me like we don't need to worry with that and the kids will get their own meal at TS just to keep things easy

If you're all going to eat every meal together, it really is easiest to just each use a TS credit at each meal. Is it a lot of food? Sure, but it's too complicated for my simple mind to figure out when to share, when not to share, and when to use the extra credits. You might be able to save a few dollars by sharing or paying OOP for certain meals at various restaurants, but I'm on vacation--I don't want to have to work that hard. Besides, I always worry about looking like I'm trying to work the system even if I'm not.

If you're really worried about CS credits but still like to share the adult meals at lunch, I'd just order children's meals for breakfast. 2 kids' CS meals in the am, 2 adult CS meals for lunch, and everyone uses a TS credit for dinner--easy peasy lemon squeezy!

 

[eeyoresnr]

ok..not to make this any more confusing than it already is how does it work if you do your CS at Cosmic Ray's Starlight Cafe in MK? they have 3 different sides with 3 different menus. if we all want something from a different window do they have a problem letting you do one credit at a time when your card says 2 adults and 1 child?

 

[bgbodnar]

I've been planning on sharing with DS7 a lot because quite frankly, a lot of the kids CS menu's suck! If there is something good that he wants, fine, but there are so many places that have awful kids menu's. Like no pizza at pizza places, only mac and cheese and uncrustables at other's, ugh. That just won't work. I just looked back over menus for most of the CS places and honestly, I think I'll wind up with tons of children's CS credits left and having to pay OOP for adult meals for him. No way will he eat pnut butter while we have pizza!

So can anyone confirm whether or not they have seperated the CS credits? I've heard conflicting reports. WE leave on 8/28! Thanks!

If your son doesn't like the kids menu, you might want to call and change his age from 7 to 10, that way he'll be able to eat adult meals, CS and TS, that is what we did for my grandson. It wasn't that much more money.

 

[JimMIA]

ok..not to make this any more confusing than it already is how does it work if you do your CS at Cosmic Ray's Starlight Cafe in MK? they have 3 different sides with 3 different menus. if we all want something from a different window do they have a problem letting you do one credit at a time when your card says 2 adults and 1 child?

I'm glad to see that someone finally "gets it!"

The TS credits are seperated...period.

The CS credits are together, but the enforcement is not in the accounting for the credits, but at the point of ordering. I'm not going to go any further down that path because it would violate this board's posting policies, but if you follow eeyoresnr's logic, you'll be fine.

 

[thunderbird1]

ok..not to make this any more confusing than it already is how does it work if you do your CS at Cosmic Ray's Starlight Cafe in MK? they have 3 different sides with 3 different menus. if we all want something from a different window do they have a problem letting you do one credit at a time when your card says 2 adults and 1 child?

It's never a problem to use less than the total number listed on your card. It's only when you try to use more than the total number listed on your card that it causes a problem. At Cosmic Ray's, you are free to split up and order one adult meal from one window, another adult meal from another window, and the children's meal from a third window. Or whatever combination of those will work for you--those meals at Cosmic Ray's are definitely big enough to share!

Here are a few other examples of what will work, and what won't, using my 2 adult, 2 child family model from last year.

Dh sleeps in while I take the kids to the parks for am EMH. When he wakes up, he goes to our resort food court and gets breakfast using 1 (adult) CS credit. Not a problem.

After 2 hours of attractions, the kids are starving so I stop to get a late breakfast for them using 2 (kids) CS credits. Not a problem.

We meet up with dh for lunch at CHH. The kids would rather have chicken strips than mac and cheese, but chicken strips are only on the adult menu. We try to order 3 (adult) meals to share. No can do--we've exceeded the maximum 2 adults on our cards. I will have to eat the (kids') mac and cheese and give my (adult) chicken strips to the kids.

We stop at Pecos Bill's for dinner, but I'm not very hungry. We try to order one adult meal and 3 kids' CS meals. No can do--we've exceeded the maximum 2 children on our cards. I either have to order an adult CS meal, share with everyone else, pay OOP for the extra kids' meal, or just steal dh's peanut butter mousse brownie.

HTH!

 

[eeyoresnr]

I'm glad to see that someone finally "gets it!"

The TS credits are seperated...period.

The CS credits are together, but the enforcement is not in the accounting for the credits, but at the point of ordering. I'm not going to go any further down that path because it would violate this board's posting policies, but if you follow eeyoresnr's logic, you'll be fine.

Thanks JimMIA
I guess it's not as complicated as we are all making it out to be

 

[skater]

Thanks JimMIA
I guess it's not as complicated as we are all making it out to be

It usually isn't.

 

[frannn]

With meals planned Pizza Planet and Main Street Bakery, I'm thrilled to know that I don't have to be a nudge to all the CM cashiers, asking "are you sure you counted one as a kid's meal?" I feel much less neurotic now, and can focus my OCD towards some other worthy Disney cause!

 

[christinadei]

With meals planned Pizza Planet and Main Street Bakery, I'm thrilled to know that I don't have to be a nudge to all the CM cashiers, asking "are you sure you counted one as a kid's meal?" I feel much less neurotic now, and can focus my OCD towards some other worthy Disney cause!

ITA, this is what I was worried about. Thanks everyone!

 

[kaysmommie]

We just came back on Aug 14th and no the CS are not separate. In fact, our children have a dietarty restriction and especially at our hotel food court, they ended up with adult meals because what they made them was not on the kids menu. We never had any problems in the end. We did eat at pizza planet and there is no kids menu! definitely enough to share on one meal for kids though! There were many times too, that we would use the cards separately as we had to wait longer for the allergy-free meal, never had any problems!

I agree at Pizza Planet even thoug hthey can have their own adult size pizza meal. We let the kids share because it is just too much food. Some of the adult CS are enough to share with the kids at alot of places. I don't worry about it too much and just try to go to places where my kids will like the kids meals. Though we haved used a few leftover credits for breakfast on occasion. I also don't mind letting them have my adult CS sometimes and eating their Child CS because sometimes I'm not that hungry especailly in the heat at Disney. We like the DDP and opted to pay for it this trip since we are going in October. It is alot of food though and you can easily share and still be full. I'm glad they haven't sperated the credits for CS because it just adds to the confusion of the CM's IMO.