DDP changes as of 1/1/07...seperate points for adults and children

[bicker]

Or should--since it directly contrasts this statement: ...

Like I said, that's just what some other Disney board's "experts" are telling their members... Thank goodness we're DIS members and can get the correct news from no less than two dining CMs.

Like others have said, in trying to prevent abuses by a few, they're making the DDP very cumbersome and difficult to use for many.

Absolutely. As with many things, the abuses of the few cause suffering of the many.

 

[Pedler]

... Like others have said, in trying to prevent abuses by a few, they're making the DDP very cumbersome and difficult to use for many.

I still don't see how any of the changes that have actually gone into effect have created any significant burden for people using the DDP legitimately. What am I missing?

 

[bicker]

I think the key word there, though, is "significant" (though some people tend to blow anything they don't like out of proportion to make it sound more critical than it really is ).

 

[susieq76]

I (though some people tend to blow anything they don't like out of proportion to make it sound more critical than it really is ).

Isn't that just so true?

I really don't see a problem. But we never used our child credits for anything but child credits and I never treated other people to dinner with my credits. If we have leftover- so be it. We still get our moneys worth.

Now only if they had a drinking plan...

 

[tubachick]

Wow, I guess I never thought of the credits like that!!!

DH and I usually use our TS meals at Yachtsmans, Ohana, and Brown Derby. Then end up paying for others like Fultons (not in the DDP).

then again, its just DH and I, no child credits to worry about.

 

[thunderbird1]

I still don't see how any of the changes that have actually gone into effect have created any significant burden for people using the DDP legitimately. What am I missing?

Since it's only day 4 of the "new rules," I don't know that many people have been affected by it. And I didn't mean to give the impression that I'm all up in arms over the changes--frankly, I didn't have many issues with the children's menus previously, and my oldest will be 10 next summer, an adult on the plan next time we go, so any changes probably won't affect me personally at all.

I'm just speculating, along with everyone else here, about how limiting guests to one meal per meal period could end up creating more problems that it solves. I'll say again, I don't believe the computers will be so sophisticated that if you buy a CS meal at the Electric Umbrella at 4:00 pm (or whenever the beginning of the dinner "meal period" is), you will then be prevented from buying a CS meal at Yakitori house at 8:00 pm. But if this is what is intended by "one meal per meal period," I think it's too extreme (and against the spirit of the DDP, which is use your credits whenever you want).

Especially since they are splitting the child and adult credits (again, not something I have a problem with). There appear to be quite a few people (or at least a few people who are quite vocal) with very strong feelings against the children's menus. If those people are willing to purchase adult meals for those children, why shouldn't they also be allowed to use their adult meal credits for those children? If they run out of adult credits early and end up with a bunch of unused child credits at the end of their trip, isn't that their problem? The reverse is true as well--if an adult is willing (or even wants to) eat a child's meal, I think they should be allowed to do so. (Mind you, I'm only talking about CS meals here--I'm not advocating that adults be allowed to order off the children's menu at TS restaurants.)

Of course, those who don't like the children's menus or want a child's meal for an adult can get around the problem by simply paying cash for the extra adult meals at every CS restaurant they visit. But this is where I think the "burdensome" part of the changes comes into play. It's much easier for guests to simply use their credits (adult and child) until they're exhausted, and then OOP for meals thereafter than it is for guests (and CM's) to have to do 2 separate charges every single meal to cover that extra adult (or child) meal. The end ($) result will be the same, but the convenience to the guests (and CM's), or lack thereof is very different.

(Climbing down off my soapbox.)

 

[rzeta94]

interested in topic

 

[Sammie]

My understanding from talking to friends that work at Disney, is they wanted to prevent adult's eating adult meals with child's credits, they fixed that.

They don't want, due to the package requirements, people to feed others not on the package with the meals.

Other than that, they truly do not care once you purchase the meals if junior eats the adult meal and mom has the kid's meal. They also don't care if you are on the plan for a week and you eat up all your meals in 3 days. As thunderbird said, that is the guest's problem.

 

[frannn]

DH, DD4, and I often split two adult CS meals for lunch, as all our TS meals were dinner buffets (except 1 or 2). We ended up having a few leftover CS and snack credits, which we used on sandwiches & snacks to take on the plane. I'm sure we'll run into the same issue again, and would like to know that we can use up whatever extra credits we have leftover on the last day. I would hate to see unused credits be unavailable because you can only get 1 snack, 1 CS, etc per day. DH think's kid's meals make a good late night "snack"! On another note, I'd love to be able to buy the dining plan for my family without having to buy tickets as well. Maybe if these new rules saves WDW $, they will offer the DP to AP holders.

 

[mom2taylorandemily]

DH, DD4, and I often split two adult CS meals for lunch, as all our TS meals were dinner buffets (except 1 or 2). We ended up having a few leftover CS and snack credits, which we used on sandwiches & snacks to take on the plane. I'm sure we'll run into the same issue again, and would like to know that we can use up whatever extra credits we have leftover on the last day. I would hate to see unused credits be unavailable because you can only get 1 snack, 1 CS, etc per day. DH think's kid's meals make a good late night "snack"! On another note, I'd love to be able to buy the dining plan for my family without having to buy tickets as well. Maybe if these new rules saves WDW $, they will offer the DP to AP holders.

We did the same, actually we left with 2 CS meals that we never even used. We had 2A 2C, DD will be an adult this next trip and I am sure we will leave with a few extra meals left this time.

 

[thunderbird1]

DH, DD4, and I often split two adult CS meals for lunch, as all our TS meals were dinner buffets (except 1 or 2). We ended up having a few leftover CS and snack credits, which we used on sandwiches & snacks to take on the plane. I'm sure we'll run into the same issue again, and would like to know that we can use up whatever extra credits we have leftover on the last day. I would hate to see unused credits be unavailable because you can only get 1 snack, 1 CS, etc per day. DH think's kid's meals make a good late night "snack"! On another note, I'd love to be able to buy the dining plan for my family without having to buy tickets as well. Maybe if these new rules saves WDW $, they will offer the DP to AP holders.

I like the idea of a late-night kids' meal snack. We often want a little something when we get back to the resort, but those CS meals (or even just the entrees) are too huge for me--a kids' meal would be just right. Come to think of it, I could go for one of those kids' meals right now.

You also reminded me of another common use of CS meal credits--stocking up for the trip home on your last day--that would be kiboshed by the "one meal per meal period" programming change. I imagine being told on your last day that you cannot use up your remaining credits would tick a lot of people off, too.

Which is why I'm coming to the conclusion that we don't need to worry too much about these changes for CS meals. Even in the unlikely event that the computers actually won't allow more than one "meal per meal period," there's got to be some kind of override button for the CM's. If we simply explain that the kids want to have the adult meal today (or vice versa) and, yes, we realize we're going to use up adult credits and have child credits left over (or that it's our last day and we're using up leftover credits to get dinner for the trip home), I bet they'll have some discretion to allow such legitimate uses of the plan. As long as we're not obviously trying to buy meals for a bunch of other people (like using a card that says 2A/2C to buy 8 chicken and rib combos at Cosmic Ray's), I think we'll be okay.

OT--Frannn, I love the sundress on the teenager in the photo on the right side of your signature (the Hawaiian surfer Mickey theme). My dd wore the same dress in her school picture last year. It looks like you also have the skirt? Or was there an adult sundress, too? Anyway, I always like to see others whose wardrobes prominently feature Disney gear.