Counter Service restaurant...quick question

[njmomboys2]

Is it accurate that for your CS credits...there is no division between adult and child? Meaning that my child can order anything at a CS restaurant, even if there is a kids' menu selection? Or can he order anything off the entire menu.......I know the TS restaurants he needs to order off the kids menu but thought I read somewhere that the CS credits don't distinguish for CS credits..thanks!!!!

 

[TheDisneyClan]

CS credits are not divided, so yes you could order from the adult menu for your son. The sticky thing though is your key card indicates the number of adult and children there are in your party. If you all go up together to order food, the CM will most likely not let you do this. We were told by a CM at our hotel to have the adults split up when ordering thus making it impossible for the cast member to know who will be eating what meal.

Example: My DH will go to order first and get his and my DD selections from the adult menu while I find a place to sit with my kiddos. When he comes back I go and get mine. We have never been questioned on this.

I don't feel bad about skirting around the CS policy. I was told this trick by a manager CM and Disney's kid's selections IMO are really poor.

Hope this helps.

 

[2Monkeys]

Example: My DH will go to order first and get his and my DD selections from the adult menu while I find a place to sit with my kiddos. When he comes back I go and get mine. We have never been questioned on this.

I don't feel bad about skirting around the CS policy. I was told this trick by a manager CM and Disney's kid's selections IMO are really poor.

Put your flame suite on! This is a very hot topic, b/c according to the DDP policy, this is not allowed.

This is the quote from the FAQ: Guests ages 3-9 must order from a children’s menu where available. Guests should be prepared for anything with regard to the beverage portion of their meals: While typically any sized soft-drink is permitted, sometimes the beverage is limited to medium size (such as at Yakitori House). Also, while typically the beverage is limited to fountain drinks, sometimes some guests have been allowed specialty drinks and/or bottled water.

Good luck!

 

[The Sweetness]

I thought bottled water was included?

 

[TheDisneyClan]

Thank you for the heads up. I got my CS info straight from a manager CM during my last visit so I didn't think it was wrong and I know for a fact it works.

 

[handicap18]

While it may not be allowed, there really is now way for Disney to regulate it. DS on the last trip was not much of an eater so we just got extra meals for ourselves and he picked off our food. Granted he was only 3 1/2 at the time, but we were able to get extra meals for ourselves.

For breakfast a few times we did get the child's meal at the hotel and most CM's at the register had no problem getting milk for the cereal and milk for a drink. So everything is pretty much up in the air and up to the disgression of the CM you happen to run into.

Our next trip DS will be 5 and DD will be 3. DS still isn't much of an eater and I have no problems with DW and I getting extra CS meals if the kids don't eat as much.

 

[2Monkeys]

Thank you for the heads up. I got my CS info straight from a manager CM during my last visit so I didn't think it was wrong and I know for a fact it works.

Not a judgement on my part at all - I personally am glad to know that this does work.

 

[TheDisneyClan]

Not a judgement on my part at all - I personally am glad to know that this does work.

No offence taken!

 

[bicker]

The rules are quite clear:

In a nutshell, folks should be using the CS credits they get for their children 3-9 for child meals -- that's what they paid for, and that's what they should be planning to order with those credits.

The moderators have stated that the DIS does not promote ways to cheat Disney or get around the guidelines, and that posts advocating how to cheat the system will be deleted, so please review the messages you've posted in this thread and edit them if necessary.

 

[TheDisneyClan]

Take a breath.. Inhale.. Relax..

Not so nice to call someone a "cheater"...Especially when nobody is cheating. You might want to reread the thread. Not a single person advocating cheating the system. Rather the thread is about concerns over the lack of choices for children and what a Cast Member who is the manager of a WDW resort suggested and recommemded during our stay.

Not sure why that got under your skin, but have a Magical day anyway.

 

[bicker]

I'm sorry to disagree. This is advocating violating the rules: "CS credits are not divided, so yes you could order from the adult menu for your son." This is the bit that I find especially offensive: "I don't feel bad about skirting around the CS policy."

There are many other threads currently ongoing where folks can discuss their satisfaction level with the child meal options. There is no problem discussing those concerns but I see a problem with advocating and rationalizing violating the terms and conditions of the plan.

 

[gardendame]

Thought I would pass this along...
DD(9) and I just returned from our Mother/Daughter trip. Upon check in, the CM asked if we were familiar with how DDP worked. When I told him that we had just used the plan in November, he offered to explain some changes that had taken place. The TS credits were no longer pooled (thanks to the DIS, we pretty much knew that). He clearly stated "however, the CS credits are still pooled and are not seperated as to child/adult." I took the opportunity to specifically ask him "Does this mean that she doesn't have to order from the child's menu?" and he said "she is allowed to order from either menu, child or adult, at any of the counter service locations." He explained that the table service selections were seperated because of the large price difference between child vs. adult choices at the TS restaurants, but there was basically only a dollar or two difference at most counter services places.

I had already promised her Pizza Planet one day, so the issue never came up. However, at Electric Umbrella AND Pecos Bills, she selected items that were NOT on the children's menu, and no one batted an eye. Our key card was clearly marked "1 adult and 1 child". The CMs taking our orders looked at them, but said nothing.

Again, just thought I would pass along our experience based on direct questioning of castmembers. Don't flame me, please. I followed Disney's rules as the Disney employees explained them to me. The only rules we broke were those posted here on the DIS.

 

[TheDisneyClan]

Bicker,

Truly sorry you are offended. However, I wholeheartedly disagree with your characterization.

I did exactly what I was told from the manager at the WDW hotel we were staying with.

Guess we have to agree to disagree.

GardenDame,

I completely agree.

We were told the same thing by the manager at our WDW Hotel and it was great. Was explained to me the same way. As far as I am concerned not a single rule was broken or violated and informing others should not be offensive to anybody and I cannot believe doing so actually violates DIS rules. Probably just an innocent case of folks not actually knowing and confusing the TS policy with the more liberal CS policy.

 

[LizinSTL]

Bicker,

Truly sorry you are offended. However, I wholeheartedly disagree with your characterization.

I did exactly what I was told from the manager at the WDW hotel we were staying with.

Guess we have to agree to disagree.

GardenDame,

I completely agree.

We were told the same thing by the manager at our WDW Hotel and it was great. Was explained to me the same way. As far as I am concerned not a single rule was broken or violated and informing others should not be offensive to anybody and I cannot believe doing so actually violates DIS rules. Probably just an innocent case of folks not actually knowing and confusing the TS policy with the more liberal CS policy.

Let's be realistic though.... if you buy a child's meal plan, you are entitled to children's meals (whenever they are available). That's what Disney says in their brochure. Folks are seriously displeased with some of the kid's CS choices. My guess is you ran into some CMs that were trying to avoid your unhappiness in advance. You are right- there' s a loophole in terms of the CS meals. I also don't think Disney really cares that much about the cost of the CS meals (adult vs child) because, in the vast majority of guests- the CS meals are "free" to the guest anyway since the TS meal covers the daily cost of the plan.

There is, however, plenty of food on the plan. There are ways to use your "child" credits without deliberately getting all adult meals with your CS entitlements. Share with your family. Order all your meals and place them in the center of the table and share. Order kid's breakfasts and share those and then share adult lunches. Visit restaurants where the children's CS options are enjoyable to your kiddos. Visit restaurants where there are no children's CS menus available.

I think Bicker is trying to say that it's not the intent of the plan to have the 2 adults on the reservation go thru the line back to back in order to get 4 adult CS meals if their cards say 2A/2C....EVEN if a disney VP told you it's ok to do it. While, yes, you can do it....it's not the intent of the plan. That's all. The rules for TS and CS are the same for the DDP.... kids get kids meals when there is a kid's menu. BUT....there are no such things as children's CS credits at this time. There are only children's CS meals. If you order a meal for a child using the DDP, disney asks that you order them a kid's meal. It's an honor system. Do with that what you'd like.

 

[Katiebell]

Let's be realistic though.... if you buy a child's meal plan, you are entitled to children's meals (whenever they are available). That's what Disney says in their brochure. Folks are seriously displeased with some of the kid's CS choices. My guess is you ran into some CMs that were trying to avoid your unhappiness in advance. You are right- there' s a loophole in terms of the CS meals. I also don't think Disney really cares that much about the cost of the CS meals (adult vs child) because, in the vast majority of guests- the CS meals are "free" to the guest anyway since the TS meal covers the daily cost of the plan.

There is, however, plenty of food on the plan. There are ways to use your "child" credits without deliberately getting all adult meals with your CS entitlements. Share with your family. Order all your meals and place them in the center of the table and share. Order kid's breakfasts and share those and then share adult lunches. Visit restaurants where the children's CS options are enjoyable to your kiddos. Visit restaurants where there are no children's CS menus available.

I think Bicker is trying to say that it's not the intent of the plan to have the 2 adults on the reservation go thru the line back to back in order to get 4 adult CS meals if their cards say 2A/2C....EVEN if a disney VP told you it's ok to do it. While, yes, you can do it....it's not the intent of the plan. That's all. The rules for TS and CS are the same for the DDP.... kids get kids meals when there is a kid's menu. BUT....there are no such things as children's CS credits at this time. There are only children's CS meals. If you order a meal for a child using the DDP, disney asks that you order them a kid's meal. It's an honor system. Do with that what you'd like.

Very well said, Liz

For those who were advised by hotel managers or other CM's to do this...I do understand how you feel. If Disney employees are telling you this is fine to do, even suggesting it, then it seems like there shouldn't be a problem. However, people also reported that last year Disney CM's were telling them to pay OOP for their kids' TS meals and bank the TS credits to pay for extra adult meals or signature meals. That did become a problem, and Disney paid the money to change their computer system so it wasn't possible anymore.

I just posted on another thread that it seems like the adult/kid CS issue isn't a priority for Disney, or maybe they don't care about it too much because they haven't bothered to separate the CS credits like the TS credits. But this is why it's puzzling that they don't care: average value of a kids' CS meal is $4.50. Average value of an adult CS meal is $12.50. The kids' plan is $11.99/day. So, just one adult CS meal is more than the cost of the plan for the whole day, not even including the kids' TS meal and snack.

If you say you don't mind "skirting the policy", you were told the "trick" by a manager to "make it impossible for the CM to know" who is eating what meal (and this is NOT a flame I just went back to the second post in the thread and those are the phrases that were used by that poster)...then...you do know that this is not the intent of the plan. But if CM's and even hotel managers are advising people to do this...no wonder it's confusing.

 

[bicker]

Again, just thought I would pass along our experience based on direct questioning of castmembers. Don't flame me, please. I followed Disney's rules as the Disney employees explained them to me. The only rules we broke were those posted here on the DIS.

And printed in the brochure you received at check-in.

It is a shame that some of the CMs are so clueless about the program they're actually responsible for monitoring. I'm sure that such instances are anomalies. Most CMs are conscientious and unless cornered, won't provide patently incorrect information like that.

 

[dolly-dawne]

I too have thought about this alot as my DS does not eat anything in DW. We are paying for the plan in August --ME,DH,DS13,DS9,DS5. I will be ordering myself the food on the childs menu(since DS9 wont use them) and allowing my DH and older DS to have my adult credits-they eat alot. Snack credits will be used to feed my DS9. Could I order for myself from the adult menu- (which I would enjoy more) because no-one will be the wiser....YEP... but I feel that I am paying for childs credit, so this is what I should use the credit for regardless of how disney looks at it. It is just a matter of choice. Regardless of what a CM tells us to do...we all know right from wrong. If you pay for a child not an adult (the difference of about $30 per day) then you should use the childs credit for what it was intended. If dining is free I guess it doesnt really matter- does it?

 

[archcrb]

I think it's being a little bit hypocritical to call people cheaters when the purpose of these boards as I see it is to not cheat but find ways to benefit from others experiences. Remember, I've read before (and I'll try and find the thread) that Disney provides a great plan but also knows that not everyone is going to benefit from it. If you chose a lot of TS meals , yes you will come out ahead, but they also know that the majority of 10,11, & even 12 & 13 yr olds don't eat adult size portions and they are making quite a bit of money that way. Therefore I don't consider them cheating us, yes I wish they had a separate option for 9-11 yr olds but that's the way it is. If they are grouping the CS credits all together, do you really think they haven't thought of the fact that people might be purchasing regular CS meals and not chosing off the kids menu. Come on people this is Disney. They obviously don't think it happens all that much or they'd change the way they monitor credits. Also, Disney visitor's on the whole, I believe, aren't trying to put it to the mouse and cheat their way to a more affordable vacation, they may take advantage of a meal or two, but are they cheating if they depend on Dis to keep count of what meal was taken and make an honest mistake because their 11 yr old skipped a meal and you ate his burger.....PLease!!!!

 

[gardendame]

And printed in the brochure you received at check-in.

It is a shame that some of the CMs are so clueless about the program they're actually responsible for monitoring.

Bicker - I completely resent you insinuating that I was cheating. You need to direct your accusations at those who blatently abuse the system.

This wasn't my first trip to Disney, and it was not my first time using the dining plan! So, explain to me why in the world I would sit down and read a huge, fold out brochure on the dining plan especially after the castmember and I had a detailed discussion about the "changes" that had been made since our last visit??????? What in the world gives me (or you for that matter) the right to tell an upper-management Castmember that he is wrong??????? (Oh, excuse me DD, I know you're excited about going to Chef Mickey's tonight, but Mommie has to sit down and read the fine print on this high-glossy brochure because I don't think the people who work here know what they are talking about) Yea - right!

As I stated before, I followed the rules as they were explained to me! I knew how the dining plan worked and asked specific questions and did EXACTLY as I was told to do. No sneaking, no underhanded planning to cheat the system, everything above board. I am a rule follower

You owe me an apology.

 

[bicker]

Bicker - I completely resent you insinuating that I was cheating.

I insinuated nothing against you personally; I was just stating a fact, and criticizing the CM, not you.

This is a very simple issue. dolly-dawne said it very well:

Regardless of what a CM tells us to do...we all know right from wrong. If you pay for a child not an adult (the difference of about $30 per day) then you should use the childs credit for what it was intended.