Changes in Kids Plan?

[kelma]

Last year when we went, you got a certain number of credits for sit down meals and a certain number for counterservice. Our family of 4 had 28 counter service meals. Since there was so much food and since the adult chicken tenders were much nicer than the kids chicken nuggets, we usually ordered 2 adult meals for breakfast and 2 adult meals for lunch and all 4 shared. The only time I had a problem was when I tried to order 3 adult meals at one time and was told I had to order 1 from the kids menu. It looks like this has now changed and we would receive 14 kids credits and 14 adult credits. Is this right? Anyone have any first hand experience trying what we did in the Fall?

TIA!

 

[Mom of 3]

From what I have read it is only the TS credits that are now individually listed as being either adult or child credits. CS credits for adults and children are pooled together but I guess that too could change at some point.

 

[MommyPoppins]

Heaven help you for asking that question HERE!

I'd erase your post before you get burned alive.

The flames that come with questions about sharing your childs credits are HOT HOT HOT!

Don't say I didn't warn ya.

 

[LizinSTL]

Last year when we went, you got a certain number of credits for sit down meals and a certain number for counterservice. Our family of 4 had 28 counter service meals. Since there was so much food and since the adult chicken tenders were much nicer than the kids chicken nuggets, we usually ordered 2 adult meals for breakfast and 2 adult meals for lunch and all 4 shared. The only time I had a problem was when I tried to order 3 adult meals at one time and was told I had to order 1 from the kids menu. It looks like this has now changed and we would receive 14 kids credits and 14 adult credits. Is this right? Anyone have any first hand experience trying what we did in the Fall?

TIA!

Well, you will still have 28 CS credits but the rules of the plan are pretty specific.... kid's should be ordering kid's meals, where available. I'd suggest that you plan to order kid's breakfast combos. They are pretty generous- share those and then share your adult lunches. It'll work out to be the same thing or pretty close!

 

[kelma]

Oh jeez, really? This is seriously something that upsets people ??? Well, I really just wanted some help, I had no clue this was a hot topic (some I know to avoid - too many in a room, reusing mugs, pool hopping etc ) - just didn't figure this for one of them especially considering how truly disgusting the nuggets in the kids meal are compared to the chicken fingers for the adults. Since I do my best to avoid the Disboard dramas (see above topics), I would happily erase this thread if I knew how Since I don't, I would be happy for a Mod to remove it if they feel it's needed, but I think I'll just stop reading just in case. I really like my Disboard memories to be happy ones

 

[nyyankeegirl]

I hear ya Kelma -- I don't understand how some topics create such controversy. I'm a mom & just want some answers!!

 

[tlivgstn]

My DD9 will not be impressed with the kids meals, either. It's too bad that an adult DDP can't be purchased for a child without having to pay extra on everything else. More variety is needed for the kids plan. We'll probably share and/or pay OOP for soup or a side for her.

 

[scrapperjill]

I totally agree...some threads/topics really get people going but for what??? Anywho...your right it's been awhile now since they have seperated the adult and kid TS credits. As of now the CS credits are still pooled....but like someone already noted that could change at any time.

I also agree that the childrens menues need a serious looking over and redo. Kids have taste buds also...and their food should be as appitizing as everyone elses. Disney also wouldn't have the issue of people trying to order off the adult menu for their kids...or have people try and age up their kids...if they offered some better choices.

 

[Colleen27]

My DD9 will not be impressed with the kids meals, either. It's too bad that an adult DDP can't be purchased for a child without having to pay extra on everything else. More variety is needed for the kids plan. We'll probably share and/or pay OOP for soup or a side for her.

I priced our trip (10 nights, 10 day tix, not during free dining) both ways, and found the difference with having DS9 listed as 10 rather than 9 was very small. I can't figure out the math at all because it should be a bigger difference by all the individual prices I've seen, but the quote I got from Disney was only $315 more with him as an adult than with him as a child. For that money, I'll happily book him as an adult and let him enjoy steak and shrimp and salmon along with DH & I.

 

[castleri]

Oh jeez, really? This is seriously something that upsets people ??? Well, I really just wanted some help, I had no clue this was a hot topic (some I know to avoid - too many in a room, reusing mugs, pool hopping etc ) - just didn't figure this for one of them especially considering how truly disgusting the nuggets in the kids meal are compared to the chicken fingers for the adults. Since I do my best to avoid the Disboard dramas (see above topics), I would happily erase this thread if I knew how Since I don't, I would be happy for a Mod to remove it if they feel it's needed, but I think I'll just stop reading just in case. I really like my Disboard memories to be happy ones

At the bottom of your first post is the edit button - you can go in and edit your post such as erasing it and saying something like - didn't mean to post such a "hot Question" or similar. You may also be able to change the title if you wish.



The subject of children's vs adult meals is interesting in that the children's meals are the same whether you pay OOP or with the DDP but everyone always seems to blame the DDP for the limited choices. Anyone can order their child an adult entree with cash if the choices are so poor. With the DDP the difference you would pay to upgrade a child to an adult plan ($28 a day) would more than pay for a few adult CS meals if you bought them OOP. The children"s TS choices seem to be pretty good so it would only be paying for the extra chicken fingers etc and using the DDP credit for a breakfast or something like that or even just using it for the drink and dessert to go with the hamburger or chicken fingers and not eating the nuggets. This way you don't have to upgrade the plan and it still works. A child's buffet is more than the price per day of the plan and they get the same food as an adult.

 

[NMW]

I priced our trip (10 nights, 10 day tix, not during free dining) both ways, and found the difference with having DS9 listed as 10 rather than 9 was very small. I can't figure out the math at all because it should be a bigger difference by all the individual prices I've seen, but the quote I got from Disney was only $315 more with him as an adult than with him as a child. For that money, I'll happily book him as an adult and let him enjoy steak and shrimp and salmon along with DH & I.

That's exactly what I'm doing with our middle son who will only be 9 when we go. For us the small price difference is worth not hearing him complain when his brother orders the filet for dinner and the double cheesburger for lunch and his choices are well, we all know what they are, and they are not good!

 

[estherhead]

Wait a minute, I'm new to the DDP & this thread has confused me. TS is divided in kids & adults. But CS is not? So my family of 4 just has a generic 28 CS that could potentially be used on all adult meals? That seems a bit crazy since you could get a half chicken and ribs ($14 value) as an adult vs. yucky chicken tenders ($3 value) as a kids meal! I have a 5&6 year old so they'll want the yucky tenders anyway but I'm just wondering if this is what you are saying.

Also, I read somewhere not to a CC # on the same card as your DDP meals so they wouldn't accidentally charge your CC instead of DDP. Should our family get all of our DDP's on one card? Or will they show up attached to our room no matter whose card we use?

I can really see my 6 year old (quite independant) insisting on paying for all her meals/snacks with her own card & she will hate it if only Daddy gets the DDP card.

Sigh. Good thing I have till September to read this board!

 

[Amy162]

I'm totally confused about the DDP... A coworker just got back from Disney last week, and said that she ended up paying for a lot of stuff because she didn't really know how the plan worked. She said that if she didn't get the dessert with the kids meal, they wouldn't let her use her credits for it, so she ended up paying for it??? And this was with BREAKFAST?? Doesn't make much sense to me. How can I figure out the best way to use the plan, so that I get the most out of it? It will be my DH and I, and my 4 yr old daughter. I will also have my 2 yr old with me, but figured she would share my meals.

Thanks for any help!!

 

[castleri]

I'm totally confused about the DDP... A coworker just got back from Disney last week, and said that she ended up paying for a lot of stuff because she didn't really know how the plan worked. She said that if she didn't get the dessert with the kids meal, they wouldn't let her use her credits for it, so she ended up paying for it??? And this was with BREAKFAST?? Doesn't make much sense to me. How can I figure out the best way to use the plan, so that I get the most out of it? It will be my DH and I, and my 4 yr old daughter. I will also have my 2 yr old with me, but figured she would share my meals.

Thanks for any help!!

It's the not understanding that can cause confusion. Don't know what happened with your co-worker but there is no dessert included in the breakfast CS or Ts option. Dessert is included with lunch and dinner. Most people find that paying OOP for breakfast or using snack credits to get a box of doughnuts at the gift shop and then getting some milk or juice makes it work okay. Others get a child's breakfast platter and share and then use an adult CS for lunch and share . You don't have to get the dessert but if it comes with the meal take it and given it to someone else or leave it on the table. The best thing to do is check out some of the menus here or on the allears site and try to figure out what everyone would like to eat. Also read the FAQ about the plan. The more you know before you try to use it the easier it is. They should give you a brochure at checkin that will tell you what is allowed and where the various credits can be used. It is really very simple and I can't imagine that your co-worker ran into that issue more than once - maybe with a not so knowledgeable CM. There are very few things that cannot be ordered on the DDP- you just need to understand what you get with each type of credit and then use them so that you are happy with what you can order. If you eat at buffets or all you can eat type places you will be able to fix a plate for the 2 yo. At the rest you can share from the other plates as you suggested.

Keep asking questions and reading the informational stuff that you can find here, allears and on the WDW site itself. Also be certain to make reservations for your table service meals or you will have even bigger problems especially with young children. We saw many people turned away last year who thought they would just walk up and get into a table service restaurant by standing in line.

 

[powellrj]

I'm totally confused about the DDP... A coworker just got back from Disney last week, and said that she ended up paying for a lot of stuff because she didn't really know how the plan worked. She said that if she didn't get the dessert with the kids meal, they wouldn't let her use her credits for it, so she ended up paying for it??? And this was with BREAKFAST?? Doesn't make much sense to me. How can I figure out the best way to use the plan, so that I get the most out of it? It will be my DH and I, and my 4 yr old daughter. I will also have my 2 yr old with me, but figured she would share my meals.

Thanks for any help!!

They give you a booklet when you check in that does a really good job of explaining the plan and how to use it.

The reason she didn't get dessert with breakfast is because breakfast CS doesn't come with a dessert. Only lunch and dinner comes with a dessert.

There is a thread at the top of the page that answers most of the questions about how the plan works.

Its really pretty easy to use. Its only when you try to change it that it gets complicated.

Your room key shows how many Adults and how many Children you have in your room, so thats why you couldn't get 3 Adult meals at the sametime. You can only get up to the number of people on each key at any given meal. Some people have been able to get more meals than on their room key at one time, but I wouldn't count on it and be prepared for a no from the cast member.

If your room key has 2 A and 2C listed, you can get up to that amount at ONE time. Thats not to say you can't get 2 A and 1 C meal or 1 A and 1 C meal, you can only get up to your room key amount on one ticket.

 

[Amy162]

Thanks for the info! I've heard the DDP is a great thing, I just want to get the most value from it!

Any recommendations on the best buffets to go to? We're probably going to try to do buffets as often as possible because my 4 y/o can be a picky eater, and they're easier with the 2 y/o too.

Amy

 

[Katiebell]

Wait a minute, I'm new to the DDP & this thread has confused me. TS is divided in kids & adults. But CS is not? So my family of 4 just has a generic 28 CS that could potentially be used on all adult meals? That seems a bit crazy since you could get a half chicken and ribs ($14 value) as an adult vs. yucky chicken tenders ($3 value) as a kids meal! I have a 5&6 year old so they'll want the yucky tenders anyway but I'm just wondering if this is what you are saying.

That, in a nutshell, is exactly why this is such a hot topic. People get upset about this because if a company (Disney) loses money when customers don't play by the rules, then they tend to enact restrictions and enforcements that affect even people who are being honest, and they raise prices across the board for everyone.

It's very, very simple. Disney does not want/did not ever intend for people to use kids' meal credits to purchase adult meals. The kids' plan is $11/day. Without a doubt, the choices aren't as nice, plentiful, or varied as the adult meals -- and that is why it costs $28 less per day. If a kid wants something more or different than what's on the kids' menu, then get his parents can get him his kids' meal with his own credit, and use a snack credit, buy something extra OOP, or share some of their own adult meal with him. It is crazy, as you pointed out to expect to pay $11 for a kid's plan for the whole day and get a $4 snack, a $8 TS meal, and a $10-$14 CS meal, too Whether or not it's possible, it is not ethical. And if people keep doing it, then Disney will either separate the CS credits as they did with the TS credits (which they should have done from the beginning), dramatically raise the cost of the children's plan, or if they lose enough money, just scrap the dining plan altogether.

Also, I read somewhere not to a CC # on the same card as your DDP meals so they wouldn't accidentally charge your CC instead of DDP. Should our family get all of our DDP's on one card? Or will they show up attached to our room no matter whose card we use?

I can really see my 6 year old (quite independant) insisting on paying for all her meals/snacks with her own card & she will hate it if only Daddy gets the DDP card.

Sigh. Good thing I have till September to read this board!

I assume your daughter doesn't pay for all her own restaurant meals at home So just don't even tell her it's an option at all -- let her think all the meals are on Dad's card, period. The credits are stored in Disney's main computer system, and the total credits available can be accessed from any of your room cards. The advice that has been given is to tell the hotel that you do not want room charging on your cards. That way, there is no way that the meal will get charged to your room (and your credit card) instead of being deducted as a dining plan credit. If you really want the option to charge to your room in case of emergency, then only put it on your card, and don't use your card to pay at the registers -- only use your husband's card to pay (the card without the room charging privileges).

 

[theresak]

My gf just went last year, and she LOVED the dining plan. It sold me on using it next year when we go again...

 

[Katiebell]

Thanks for the info! I've heard the DDP is a great thing, I just want to get the most value from it!

Any recommendations on the best buffets to go to? We're probably going to try to do buffets as often as possible because my 4 y/o can be a picky eater, and they're easier with the 2 y/o too.

Amy

It depends on what characters they like, and if they are boys or girls

Boma
1900 Park Fare (B - Mary Poppins and Alice; D - Cinderella and friends)
Chef Mickey's (B & D - Mickey, Chip and Dale, Goofy)
Crystal Palace (Winnie the Pooh and friends)
Hollywood & Vine (B & L - Little Einsteins and Jo Jo, D - no characters)
Cape May (B - Goofy, Pluto, Chip and Dale)
Donald's Breakfastosaurus (AK, B - Donald, Goofy, Mickey, Pluto)

Those are the typical characters at each meal, but not guarantees. Lots of choices, though!

Not buffets, but all you care to eat places your little ones might like:

Garden Grill (Epcot, L & D - Chip and Dale and friends)
Akershus (Epcot, princesses B, L, & D)
'Ohana (B - Lilo and Stitch)
Liberty Tree Tavern (D - Chip and Dale, Goofy, Pluto, Minnie)

 

[paulh]

if you have 2a and 2 c on keys you go to counter get 2 CS adult meals and husband behind you get 2 adult meals
Paulh