Can we use DS's credits like this?

[100acreHiker]

Question about using TS credits for our kiddos: We have two boys, 9 and 6. My 9 year old turns 10 during our trip. We aged him up to 10 so that he can order off the adult menu, which he often prefers. I understand the TS credits are all grouped together. I'm curious if we go to a buffet like 1900 PF or to Ohana if I can use our child credits for both of our sons in those instances, as my older son will still be 9, even though they're meant to be allocated for our 6 year old. At other TS restaurants where we order off the menu, he'd use his adult credits. I was thinking I would just tell our waiter/CM to use two child credits for the the boys and two adults for us parents. Is this allowed or will they question us?

Thanks!

 

[elaine amj]

No expert but I doubt it. I remember being told that the waitstaff can see the people on your hotel reservation. e.g. they can tell you have 3 adults and 1 child.

We preferred to order adult CS meals (CS credits are pooled with no distinction between adult and child credits) but were warned that the CMs would likely not allow us to order 4 adult CS meals at a time since we had 2 adults, 2 kids on our reservation. We simply ordered 2 adult CS meals at a time or else DH and I would split up and order separately.

 

[sharonabe]

You will not be able to use two child credits at one time in the way you have suggested. I'm not sure what your intention is. If you're wanting more adult TS credits to do more TS meals, then you could pay OOP for him for a child's meal where he wants one and save his credits. However, you won't have extra child credits and would have to pay for your other child OOP to eat anywhere extra.

 

[6disneykids]

I'm not sure that you will be able to do what you want to do at buffets. I think even though they are pooled together for TS meals I think even the Magic Bands show the numbers of adults and kids on your plans. Buffets are considered TS.

 

[mom2of2]

Buffets are a pretty good reason why aging up isn't always the way to go

 

[100acreHiker]

We aged him up because he does turn 10 that week, and we have free dining. We only have one buffet planned for the week, and I had hoped if we used the child TS credits for both boys, we'd have one extra adult TS to use at another meal. I suppose it can't hurt to ask, right? If they say no, that's ok, but I will probably ask just in case we get lucky.

 

[kaytieeldr]

You will have three "adults" and one child on your dining plan.
Therefore you can only use three adult credits and maximum one child credit at each table service location.
It can hurt to ask, because you can be putting the CM in an awkward position.
Ending up with an 'extra' adult credit leaves you short a child credit.
Having a child be an adult when it's convenient for you but a child at other times, also for you convenience, isn't the intent or expectation of being able to do that. He's not going to suddenly prefer to eat only from the child section at the buffet, right?

We aged him up to 10 so that he can order off the adult menu, which he often prefers.

 

[aaarcher86]

We aged him up because he does turn 10 that week, and we have free dining. We only have one buffet planned for the week, and I had hoped if we used the child TS credits for both boys, we'd have one extra adult TS to use at another meal. I suppose it can't hurt to ask, right? If they say no, that's ok, but I will probably ask just in case we get lucky.

You'd have one adult credit extra but no child credits. It wouldn't even out. I don't really understand what it gains if you end up having to pay OOP anyway?

They won't take 2 credits from one child at one sitting.

 

[sharonabe]

OP, perhaps if you explained your reasoning a bit more.

IF they allow you to do what you want, you'll have ONE adult TS credit. That means you'll have to pay OOP for TWO adults and ONE child at that extra TS. How does that help you?

 

[100acreHiker]

It was not my intention to try to have it both ways--I just made a tally/spreadsheet to keep track of our credits, and it occurred to me that because he's still nine for the first 5 days of our trip, maybe it was ok to use a child credit for just that meal. Just asking! Never had the dining plan before! I did realize we'd be short one child credit, but I figured we could pay out of pocket for another meal. Again, having never had the dining plan before, I was unsure how meals like buffets "worked" since it's not quite the same as ordering a specific entree at other TS restaurants. If DS orders an adult entree at a restaurant, of course it's an adult credit, since it's on the adult menu, but I wasn't sure with buffets, since I assume all the food is available to everyone, yes? (never did one before), and that they charge based on age, or is there a section of the buffet that is only for the kids? My friend who ate at Boma said her kids ate and tried many different things, so I assumed that kids have access to all the foods, but are charged less because they eat smaller portions (which my son does).

I read all the time here about people who age their very young kids up to use the TS credits for the adults in their party, and it always struck me as odd. We aged DS up because he turns 10 half way through and asked him if he would prefer to eat mostly adult food or mostly kid food. Again, I was curious how the buffet credits worked (purely aged based or otherwise) and if it mattered how we used our credits in that instance. I apologize if my question angered anyone.

 

[Allison]

As others have said, you can't do that. You can only use one child credit at a time at table service meals because your credits are divided as 3 adults and one child.

 

[100acreHiker]

As others have said, you can't do that. You can only use one child credit at a time at table service meals because your credits are divided as 3 adults and one child.

Thank you-- this is really all I needed to know. It wasn't clear to me if the credits at Ts meals are predetermined and automatically deducted or if they deduct the credits that you ask them to use.

 

[elaine amj]

Thank you-- this is really all I needed to know. It wasn't clear to me if the credits at Ts meals are predetermined and automatically deducted or if they deduct the credits that you ask them to use.

What some people do is split meals to save TS credits. That's what I did (as you can see in my signature). This means at a non-buffet TS restaurant, I might order only 2 adult meals and 1 child meal and the 4 of us would share the food (I always tip as if all 4 of us ordered). If I do this over several meals, I can save enough credits to do a 2 credit dinner or an extra TS dinner.

Some people also choose to pay OOP for some meals to save credits. e.g. at Sci Fi lunch I might choose to pay for DH and I OOP and pay for the 2 kids with 2 kids TS credits. This means I would save 2 adult TS credits for a more expensive meal somewhere else.

But I've never heard of what you suggested working.