Changes to MYW Dining?

[meatballsmom]

I don't think it's stupidity. I think it's more of an intent to rationalize the exploit. And again, all they need to do is rationalize it. They've already made the decision to do it before hand so there is no need to justify it. Is it any wonder then, they end up finding something to accomplish just that no matter how stupid it sounds claiming Disney's intent all along was to use Junior as a money tree paying $10 and getting $35 for it?

C'mon guys. Everyone, including a CM, exploits the system at one time or another. But it is an exploit, we aren't entitled to it and Disney can put a stop to it whenever they so choose.

Well said. I agree.

 

[maxaroni]

At the end of the day, do we know if this is starting to happen or true? I checked Touring Plans.com and no further word, there.

 

[unixadm]

I just spoke to a CM at Disney Vacation Reservations.

She told me the plan was staying exactly the same as it is now, and will be the same when I go in September......

but then she said that each room key would have that person's meals on it.

I said "So that means it HAS changed, since it used to be pooled all together, right?"

She said "Oh, it was never pooled together and always worked that way"

So it basically tells me that CM's really don't know the past, current or future terms of the packages they offer

 

[Tiffany]

We did the DDE card last time and it was a joke.
Because of the amount of tax and gratuity, we ended up not really saving much. We'd get the bill, which was a subtotal, and THEN they'd total it with the card and everything and it almost broke even.
Not to say we didn't save *anything* but we definitely ate at more expensive places than we would have assuming we'd be 'saving' so much with the DDE and it just didn't work out well for us.

You saved 20% of the total bill. Let's say your order came to $100. They take the 20% off of that so your new bill would be $80.00 for what you ordered plus tax let's say 6.5%. You tip what you want. Let's say you tip 20% your total bill will be $105.20 inc tax and 20% tip.

Without the DDE discount you would have had a bill of $100 plus 6.5% tax fora total of $106.50 plus 20% tip so you final total would be $126.50 inc tax and tip as compared to $105.20 inc tax and tip.

 

[Anewman]

Intent this.
Intent that.

It was allowed, period. Tax loopholes exist(and have always existed) once the IRS finds out how to shut them they do, but they dont go back and bill everyone that took advantage of such loopholes during the time they were available.

If it is still allowed, those that take advantage are not breaking any rules.

If it is blocked by disney, there is really nothing to complain about. Feel free to ask for a refund on the dining portion of your package and pay for food as you go. You also have the right to cancel your whole trip if you so desire, this is still America. If they do change the rules and it still allows certian loopholes such as sharing meals and inviting additional guests, those that take advantage of them are still just doing what is allowed.


Why is everyone arguing about a policy change that may or may NOT have occured?

 

[BESUNNYSIDEUP]

I just spoke to a CM at Disney Vacation Reservations.

She told me the plan was staying exactly the same as it is now, and will be the same when I go in September......

but then she said that each room key would have that person's meals on it.

I said "So that means it HAS changed, since it used to be pooled all together, right?"

She said "Oh, it was never pooled together and always worked that way"

So it basically tells me that CM's really don't know the past, current or future terms of the packages they offer

Unixadm, Thanks for the update!
If anyone else calls PLEASE put your input in. It does bother me that each CM will say something different everytime they are called.

 

[taximomfor4]

Its about time Disney got around to this. I'll probably be in the only one, but I think its the right thing to do....please excuse my while I put on my flame proof suit

No flaming here!


Beth

 

[purplepixie]

I spoke with someone yesterday. She was familiar with how the credits are now and had heard of a new policy to seperate to individual cards. She didn't have a date for when that would begin. Her words of advice: "Check with the resort when you get there."

That's what I figure only I'll be checking every where we eat also. It's a little frustrating to go and not have a set policy for this package. They need to get all the CM's trained to answer questions the same way. As for those who think it's wrong to do just because the CM's advise it I don't agree. The CM's represent Disney. I read the DIS boards to get suggestions and recommendations. As for policy I go to CRO/CM's. If I'm told something by one of them I hold Disney as a company responsible. I have burned before by wrong information. I document EVERYTHING now. When I walk in and am told something is different than what I was told when I make the reservation I pull out my paper and say "so and so told me on this date this information". Most of the time if it's wrong they correct me for next time but allow it for that visit. My point is that if I can't rely on what THEIR employees are telling me how am I supposed to know?

 

[MandM-Mom]

Its true each card did have credits, thats the way it always has been. Every card has the credits on it unless you opt not to have it on them example-Childs cards. It works just like your room charges. You still can have one card that pays the entire bill.

 

[InnerStrength]

Without opening up yet another debate on this, I have just a question, and again it is not to point any fingers to anyone here...

To those who feel it's okay to use a child TS credit for and adult TS meal:

Assuming you paid $9.99 per day for the dining plan for your child who is between the ages of 3-9 (so this credit is essentially a "child credit" as it was intended to be for your child), and you paid $34.99 per day for yourself - an adult, could you please explain to me why you feel you would be entitled to use the cheaper "child" TS credit for an adult, most likely more expensive, adult TS meal? Please just answer honestly without quoting any MYM dining brochures and such. I just wonder how someone can justify this practice.

I again called Guest Services at WDW and spoke to a gal named Brooklyn. She stated that it was perfectly fine to pay OOP for a child and save their $9.99 credit for another time (her example was if you wished to use it for an more expensive character meal rather than a $4.99 child plate at a cheaper establishment), however it was not prudent to try and utilize that "child" credit for an adult meal. She stated that if restaurants on the property are allowing such practice, eventually when an internal audit of that restaurant is done, the error will be found and that restaurant will be notified as to what the policy is. She also stated that WDW has the right to pull the MYM dining program at any time, yes, even it is pre-paid for and pre-booked (one would receive a refund for monies paid), if the program is being abused. I for one, who booked it a while ago and paid in full for it, would be pretty bummed if it was pulled due to any potential abuse of the system.

Now she said that there is still a "master card", which is the card with the person's name who made the original ressie on it, which has all the credits linked to it for convienence sake. The other cards in your party also have their individual credits on it in the event your party decides to split up so they can still purchase meals with them. You do have the option of not linking child credits to a card if you child is between the age of 3-9 in case it gets lost or whatever. She stated "rules" are changing all of the time but that was what she knew as of today (7/21). I know nothing that a CM says is the "law" at Disney, so I am just sharing what I was told. Take it anyway you please.

 

[NCombs]

Intent this.
Intent that.

It was allowed, period. Tax loopholes exist(and have always existed) once the IRS finds out how to shut them they do, but they dont go back and bill everyone that took advantage of such loopholes during the time they were available.

If it is still allowed, those that take advantage are not breaking any rules.

If it is blocked by disney, there is really nothing to complain about. Feel free to ask for a refund on the dining portion of your package and pay for food as you go. You also have the right to cancel your whole trip if you so desire, this is still America. If they do change the rules and it still allows certian loopholes such as sharing meals and inviting additional guests, those that take advantage of them are still just doing what is allowed.


Why is everyone arguing about a policy change that may or may NOT have occured?

There you go! That's it. If it worked a certain way in the past-- fine, if Disney decides they don't want it to work that way anymore and make it so it doesn't-- fine again. If you then don't like the new program, don't use it. Things change all the time.

Of course, we are putting the cart before the horse here since there has been no official announcement.

 

[maxaroni]

I again called Guest Services at WDW and spoke to a gal named Brooklyn.

None of this affects me as my ds12 is counted as an adult and we are paying as an adult. Ok. Now, my question to this, you called Guest Services, and others are callling Disney Dining....that's 2 separate entities?

In any case, I agree with what you are saying and if it hadn't been for the disboards, it wouldn't even occur to me to use a child TS credit for an adult TS meal. However, as I've said before, I'm not in that situation so it is a moot point, for us. What I find frustrating, is not that people do this because, IMO, most of us are good honest people and most are not trying to scam anyone. What is frustrating is that this seems to be yet another case of all different answers, depending on the CM, time, place and situation. I believe that the CM's should all have the 'particulars' to these programs/offers or whatever it is and it is how it is...period. I think that the CM's are just as much, if not more, at fault than the people actually doing this. Many are asking the CM's what to do and getting the answer of yes, they are pooled and yes, you can do this.

We weren't affected with this change (or clamping down on things) or the age of the child's meals so nothing different on our end....

 

[InnerStrength]

None of this affects me as my ds12 is counted as an adult and we are paying as an adult. Ok. Now, my question to this, you called Guest Services, and others are callling Disney Dining....that's 2 separate entities?



I really was not sure who exactly to call re: questions on the dining plan, so what I did (twice) was to call the 407-wdw-dine number which I though was Disney dining (for ADR's and such) and asked the CM if she/he were able to answer a few questions for me re: the MYW dining plan. I was told (twice) that I would have to speak with Guest Services for those questions and at that point I asked to be transferred to the proper department.



[/QUOTE=maxaroni]We weren't affected with this change (or clamping down on things) or the age of the child's meals so nothing different on our end....

While I do enjoy reading this thread and the opinions of all who responded, we as a family are not affected by any changes either, as our intention always was to use the adult ($34.99) credits for our 2 adults, and our childrens ($9.99) for our childrens meals. When we deplete the supply of paid for credits, we plan on just paying OOP for any additional meals.

If a CM laughs at me for trying to use a child (ie. $9.99) credit for my childs meal rather than paying OOP for her and saving that credit for an adult meal, I will tell her that it is not how I interpreted the plan, and ask to speak with the manager of that restaurant for clarification.

 

[MandM-Mom]

mis read other post sorry!

 

[Harmony]

Why is everyone arguing about a policy change that may or may NOT have occured?

Because many people here just like to argue or post things that cause controversy. Haven't you noticed that yet?

 

[lorli]

bump, I really want to get more information on this topic.

 

[tikkipoo]

Because many people here just like to argue or post things that cause controversy. Haven't you noticed that yet?

So true

 

[NewEnglandDisney]

Individual adult/child credits : a no-brainer, only people who are abusing the system are affected. Do you really think it's going to last when you pay $10/day for a child and use their credits for $60+ worth of food/day for adult meals?

Making all credits individual : probably not going to happen, because there are legitimate reasons for this. Disney has also sold the plan in different advertising as it being okay to treat others to meals on your plan - which should be fine as long as you aren't using child credits for adults.

Let's hope the people who have abused the system don't cause them to make it even more restrictive than it needs to be.

N.E.D.

 

[freakylick]

Because many people here just like to argue or post things that cause controversy. Haven't you noticed that yet?

Well if you we never posted things that may cause controversy, then we wouldn't have a board.

Heck, just about every Disney policy that comes out causes controversy...should we never post about new policies?!

Now back to what I was going to do...My buddy said that it he didn't mind if I used his employee discount where he works.

 

[mom2dea]

I just got off the phone with Disney and was told that I could NOT treat my family to a meal on our plan .

Just 2 weeks ago a Cm told me to make my 2 yr old 3years old so she could get the plan . I asked then What happens if she sleeps threw a meal can we use it for another adult or child in our party she said YES . Today i asked the same question and was told no . That those credits are for her and no one eles .

So honestly the whole damn thing is confussing and I wish Disney got it all stright . I honestly new nothig about the dinning plan till tlaking to the CM .