Changes to MYW Dining?

[clombardi]

Perhaps others will try to confirm this.

We just used our last dining credits on July 14th. Throughout our stay, we were able to use any one of the cards at the CS and TS resaurants. They were all linking to our room, so they didn't care which card we handed them. It would be crazy and a waste of CMs time to have to take credits off each card in the party.

 

[Anewman]

AAARGH! Now I am not sure what to do about this fall- DH, DD7, and I are going during the Free Dining period. DD has a pretty sophisticated palate, so we planned on just sharing 2 adult dinners for all of our non-buffet meals. Now, I will have to change our plans if the credit pooling rule has been changed. We weren't going to "cheat" the system by paying OOP for DDs meals, we just weren't going to order kids' meals at all.

My dilemma- we have a AR at Kona Cafe for DH and I while DD is on the Pirate cruise. If we can't pool credits, we won't be able to keep the AR. Should I call and cancel, or wait until we get there to find out what the policy is at that time?

It seems like we went from all 3 of us enjoying our dinners and a couple of b'fasts, to wasting kids' meals on a child who won't enjoy them, and having to cancel some dinners.

Do not worry about it until Trip reports start confirming.

Same "CM said child credits can NOT be used for adult meals" posts have been around since the plan started. Some of the CMs on the phone have never even been to WDW, and have never used the plan themselves. Wait till some that have post some real info.

 

[05ChristmasSurprise]

So what if a cast member suggested that someone do it - does that make it right ? It is not "Disney" who suggested it, but just another person in their employ who is either not too honest or was never explained how the credits work in the first place.

Just speaking from a legal point of view, as an employee of Disney, they are a legal agent of Disney and thus Disney is liable.

Proving it is another story.

 

[05ChristmasSurprise]

well, holsum is spelled wholesome.

 

[05ChristmasSurprise]

Just don't fill up your ASM mug at the Poly while you are taking a swim and booked at POR.

 

[BESUNNYSIDEUP]

And Besunnyside up, I wish I could CHILL OUT, cause its freakin hot here today

[/QUOTE]

It is hot here today too. I think it going to our heads.
I will be at WDW next week and it is suppose to be 95 and sunny. Where are my fan mister thingys? I have to make sure they get packed!

 

[05ChristmasSurprise]

Ok so now Im confused. Is it not the same plan? Just that some people paid for it(because they werent going at the right time) and some got it for free(since they are going at the right time)??

Technically, yes - it's the same plan. However, the original post that I quoted was stating something along the lines of "if you are paying $10 and using it for a $35 credit it's not fair". I was stating that this discussion was rooted in the free dining plan - in which no one pays for anything (although, we all agree that we've had to pay *something* by buying a one day ticket and rack rate rooms).

 

[RichNKatHolly]

WOW, is this matter really significant enough for all this name calling, rudeness, judgments, etc.?

I say hey, if a CM lets you do it, that's fine. I consider it kindness, not fraud. People committing fraud go to jail, people ordering an adult meal with their kid's unused credit go to bed happy. I don't think there is anything to feel guilty about here. I really don't think there are many people out there doing these crazy calculations to get an extra TS meal or 2.

 

[ksjayhawkfan]

Technically, yes - it's the same plan. However, the original post that I quoted was stating something along the lines of "if you are paying $10 and using it for a $35 credit it's not fair". I was stating that this discussion was rooted in the free dining plan - in which no one pays for anything (although, we all agree that we've had to pay *something* by buying a one day ticket and rack rate rooms).

Ok gotcha...I was a bit lost

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

First off, I didn't read the whole thread.

I can absolutely see where they might start requiring kids to use kids credits and adults to use adult credits because when the plan was introduced that was what I thought they meant! I can also see them requiring every member of the party to swipe their cards individually, even though that will be a HUGE pain! What if the CM swipes my card twice but misses swiping DS? Then we lose an adult credit! But I digress...

I absolutely CAN NOT see them telling anybody that they CAN'T pay out of pocket. This plan only covers 2 meals per day. If DH and I want to use our credits for lunch but we used DS credit at breakfast and want to pay for his lunch they can't tell us no! Well, maybe they could. But that couldn't possibly work very well. If each card must be swiped individually I don't see how they could REQUIRE you to use a certain form of payment (plan or cash).

I have planned our meals so that they are either 100% dining plan or 100% out of pocket. I also planned to use adult credits for DH and myself, and kid credits for DS because I have suspected for a long time that the rules would change. I HAD planned to share some CS meals with DS to make those credits go farther, but if we end up with a bunch of leftover child credits then that isn't very helpful. We'll just all order our own meal each time. By the end of the week there won't be any credits left at all, and we'll be paying out of pocket the last day or so. No big deal.

 

[Lewisc]

I suspect the free dining program will be dramatically increasing the percentage of guests who will be using MYW Dining to pay for meals. Internet websites have been telling guests to use their kids as a license to print money. Helpful CMs have been suggesting guests pay cash for inexpensive kids meals.

The plan says the terms are subject to change. The brochure always said children are required to order off the children's menu. People paying cash for kids meals did nothing wrong. Disney isn't doing anything wrong if they decide to close this loophole. I don't really see what the debate is about. Parents who used this loophole aren't criminals, excluding the few who made up kids. Disney isn't a villain if the rumor is true and this loophole is closed.

If the only reason you booked MYW Dining was because you were planning to use this "loophole" then contact Disney and see if they'll waive any applicable cancellation penalties.

 

[freakylick]

That is all so true, it is the Disney way. Ask one CM get answer A, ask another CM get answer Z.

So if a CM said it, it must be true...right?

I am still laughing at how many different stories guests got from CM's on the new ADR policy.

I find it interesting that a lot of people seem to think that because a CM told them something, then that was the intent of the policy. A CM may tell you his/her interpretation (at which point the company does have some liability b/c the CM is in the employ of the company), but in no way can your average CM convey the purpose/intent of the use of the plan...that is something determined a little higher up than your average CM...and as we all probably know by now, things don't always get from the higher-ups to the guest-level CM's.

I do realize that if a CM suggests it, it's hard not to take it up. Though I wonder how many CM's actually suggest it versus the number of CM's that say it's okay to do in response to a question.

 

[Bird-Mom]

So play along with me here...

My little cousin (age 10, so she counts as an adult) is joining us in our room on the weekend parts of our trip (she lives in Orlando). We added her to our reservation and bought a ticket for her. We explained when we made the reservation that she would not be in the room all the nights; we were told that we could split into 3 reservations-which would have cost us more and introduced the possibility of moving rooms twice-or just make one reservation. Of course we did one reservation because it was easier. We were planning on using her dining credits that she will not use or else they would go to waste. No problem according to the CM who booked us and whoever she talked to when she was checking about how to do this weird reservation in the easiest way possible. Won't it look strange if we go to pay for a meal with her card and she isn't there?

FTR, until Disney comes out with a formal change, I'm not worrying too much. If I believed every rumor out there, well,

 

[freakylick]

Won't it look strange if we go to pay for a meal with her card and she isn't there?

They won't know whose card it is. If you give them a card that says "Your Little Cousins Name Here", how do they know that your little cousin isn't there (unless your wearing name tags )? All that they would know is that the card is for an adult with her name.

 

[RichNKatHolly]

I suspect the free dining program will be dramatically increasing the percentage of guests who will be using MYW Dining to pay for meals. Internet websites have been telling guests to use their kids as a license to print money. Helpful CMs have been suggesting guests pay cash for inexpensive kids meals.

The plan says the terms are subject to change. The brochure always said children are required to order off the children's menu. People paying cash for kids meals did nothing wrong. Disney isn't doing anything wrong if they decide to close this loophole. I don't really see what the debate is about. Parents who used this loophole aren't criminals, excluding the few who made up kids. Disney isn't a villain if the rumor is true and this loophole is closed.

If the only reason you booked MYW Dining was because you were planning to use this "loophole" then contact Disney and see if they'll waive any applicable cancellation penalties.

Thank you!!!

Mountains from molehills!

 

[Bird-Mom]

They won't know whose card it is. If you give them a card that says "Your Little Cousins Name Here", how do they know that your little cousin isn't there (unless your wearing name tags )? All that they would know is that the card is for an adult with her name.

Thanks, I was thinking that they would know because it will be me, dh and our 3 year old and one year old dds when my cousin isn't there. I guess I can not give my card. I have a hard time thinking of her as an adult since she is only 10 and a tiny little thing!

And we will pass on the name tags.

 

[keishashadow]

I suspect the free dining program will be dramatically increasing the percentage of guests who will be using MYW Dining to pay for meals. Internet websites have been telling guests to use their kids as a license to print money. Helpful CMs have been suggesting guests pay cash for inexpensive kids meals.

The plan says the terms are subject to change. The brochure always said children are required to order off the children's menu. People paying cash for kids meals did nothing wrong. Disney isn't doing anything wrong if they decide to close this loophole. I don't really see what the debate is about. Parents who used this loophole aren't criminals, excluding the few who made up kids. Disney isn't a villain if the rumor is true and this loophole is closed.

If the only reason you booked MYW Dining was because you were planning to use this "loophole" then contact Disney and see if they'll waive any applicable cancellation penalties.

I'd love to be the fly on the wall for that phone call to MYW Dining "...I'd like to cancel my booking, because I was planning on abusing the system via the loophole and you closed it."

Oh please, it's the old everyone's else doing it, so why don't I? How far do you go to save a few bucks, where does it stop? Can't believe posters are acting sanctimonious over this issue (pro & con). Bottom line is WDW can enforce their rules, despite whatever an individual CM tells you. The servers are only trying to increase their tips, can't blame them - larger bill, larger automatic tip. Don't forget, they appreciate any additional tip you care to leave for great service.

We were among the first to use the plan in February. Call us naive but, it never occured to me to have my DS order using an Adult Credit. At times I did eat his Child's meal & he my Adult without a problem. After informing our server @ the Yaughtsman that we were on the MYW plan, we were reminded (in a patronizing tone) that my DS must order from the child's menu.

All the credits were listed on each of our resort cards (hopefully, along with the unused balance of our 7 day MYW tickets that we want to use this Dec.) One card/person did it all, including the bioscan @ the gate.

Please, don't think you're being cheated because WDW has decided to enforce the original intent of the plan. Ever wonder if it's in response to the gloating on these boards and other sites? The plan's design is truly a wonderful opportunity, even @ retail price.

Chill out and enjoy the magic.

 

[freakylick]

Well put Keishashadow!

And it does make you wonder if Disney exec's read these websites/forums.

 

[arieliwish]

Haven't read all this thread, but I'm actually a bit relieved if this rumour is true. Have purchased the dining plan for me, DH, DD aged 10 (adult credits) and DS aged 7. DD is small for her age and eats very little. However she is developing more adult tastes and likes to eat from the adult menu - as long as its not too fancy! There are occassions when she does prefer chicken strips or pizza from the kids menu.

I was worried that if our meal credits were pooled, our server would think we were abusing the system and using a child credit for an adult meal. I don't mind paying out of pocket for a kids meal for her every now and again, and DH and I can use her ADULT credits at a signature restaurant.

 

[FeeFeeWhite]

I have a 10DS. Will he have adult credits? He loves the adult entrees and this would really suit us fine. Also my DD will only eat kid stuff anyway and we always need the kids menu items. I think with our structure we will just be using the meals as they are. Does this sound correct?