DDP Kids Counter Service Question

[Crazy Mother of Two]

Help!!

I just heard something that I cannot decide if it's true or not - so I am hoping someone here can help!

I just got back from picking up my travel documents and I was told that although at TS meals kids MUST order off the kids menu ...but the kids can order anything on a counter service menu. So I guess they mean that the cs credits are still the 'old' way like pooled together with adult credits. The ts credits are seperated (2 adults/ 2 children ts credits).

Anyone know if there is any truth to this? Have you done this and it has worked for you? Or tried and it didn't work? Where?

Please let me know! Thanx!

 

[septbaby]

CS credits are still pooled. You are expected to order kids meals and if you have a package of 2A and 2C, don't expect to order 3A meals at at seating.

 

[septbaby]

CS credits are still pooled. If you have a package of 2A and 2C, don't expect to order 3A meals at one seating. We had 2A 1C and never ordered more than 2 meals at once, never needed more, whether it was adult and child or 2 adult.

 

[DisneyLover75]

When I was there in November, my daughter (4) had to eat from the children's selections, even at CS. At least, that was the case at the food court in the resort.

That was ok with me, but it was irritating that they didn't have Cheeseburger as a children's menu option.

 

[WeLuvTink!]

We just got back on the free dining package with 2 adults and 2 kids. The room keys say 2A 2C on them, indicating the number of adults and children. We never tried to get 3 adult counter service meals at one time, as we felt the castmember or computer would "catch us". However, we often would get 2 adult CS breakfasts and maybe a snack and all share. Then we'd get 2 adult CS lunches and share those. Never had a problem with this and we still had PLENTY of food. Combine that with all the snacks and we were uncomfortably full all day long.

Now before the naysayers complain and say this wasn't right, I have to ask you just how many mac&cheese or chicken nugget meals is a kid supposed to eat anyway? The child menu choices at CS are pretty miserable and the same everywhere you go. We shared and enjoyed a variety of meals this way.

Hope this helps someone.

 

[septbaby]

We just got back on the free dining package with 2 adults and 2 kids. The room keys say 2A 2C on them, indicating the number of adults and children. We never tried to get 3 adult counter service meals at one time, as we felt the castmember or computer would "catch us". However, we often would get 2 adult CS breakfasts and maybe a snack and all share. Then we'd get 2 adult CS lunches and share those. Never had a problem with this and we still had PLENTY of food. Combine that with all the snacks and we were uncomfortably full all day long.

Now before the naysayers complain and say this wasn't right, I have to ask you just how many mac&cheese or chicken nugget meals is a kid supposed to eat anyway? The child menu choices at CS are pretty miserable and the same everywhere you go. We shared and enjoyed a variety of meals this way.

Hope this helps someone.

No naysayer here! Our little one was excited to see the Uncrustables and got that a couple of times as well as M&C once. Otherwise he's a pizza kid. The adult breakfast platters are great and it was still work for the two of us to finish one (we didn't).

 

[Crazy Mother of Two]

We just got back on the free dining package with 2 adults and 2 kids. The room keys say 2A 2C on them, indicating the number of adults and children. We never tried to get 3 adult counter service meals at one time, as we felt the castmember or computer would "catch us". However, we often would get 2 adult CS breakfasts and maybe a snack and all share. Then we'd get 2 adult CS lunches and share those. Never had a problem with this and we still had PLENTY of food. Combine that with all the snacks and we were uncomfortably full all day long.

Now before the naysayers complain and say this wasn't right, I have to ask you just how many mac&cheese or chicken nugget meals is a kid supposed to eat anyway? The child menu choices at CS are pretty miserable and the same everywhere you go. We shared and enjoyed a variety of meals this way.

Hope this helps someone.

The way I understood it was that it is an accepted policy - if desired.
Some kids Love the food off the kids menus - but my kids really don't eat much of the food they offer the kids. (Although my ds is really looking forward to having mac & cheese at WDW!!! just not every night ) And, generally, the CS adult meals are around the same price as the CS kids meals - so I wasn't thinking of it as a way to steal from the mouse! I am sorry it came across like that.
Please forgive me! I love these boards and they have helped me tremendously! I posted to get opinions and ... boy did I got opinions!

 

[septbaby]

the CS adult meals are around the same price as the CS kids meals - !

Not nearly the case...kids meals are under $5

Adult Breakfast Platter - eggs, bacon, sausage, potatoes, toast $7.09

For Guests 9 and under Breakfast Platter $3.59

Kid's Picks, for guests 9 and under $3.99

 

[DisneyWisher]

We just got back on the free dining package with 2 adults and 2 kids. The room keys say 2A 2C on them, indicating the number of adults and children. We never tried to get 3 adult counter service meals at one time, as we felt the castmember or computer would "catch us". However, we often would get 2 adult CS breakfasts and maybe a snack and all share. Then we'd get 2 adult CS lunches and share those. Never had a problem with this and we still had PLENTY of food. Combine that with all the snacks and we were uncomfortably full all day long.

Now before the naysayers complain and say this wasn't right, I have to ask you just how many mac&cheese or chicken nugget meals is a kid supposed to eat anyway? The child menu choices at CS are pretty miserable and the same everywhere you go. We shared and enjoyed a variety of meals this way.

Hope this helps someone.

We were behind a 9 yr old boy who didn't want anything from the kids menu, he wanted a hamburger at Cosmic Rays, his mom came over and asked if he could order one or did he have to order from the kids menu, CM said "of course he can have a hamburger". She said they only had to order Childrens items at TS restaurants and at CS restaurants it didn't matter.

 

[Crazy Mother of Two]

We were behind a 9 yr old boy who didn't want anything from the kids menu, he wanted a hamburger at Cosmic Rays, his mom came over and asked if he could order one or did he have to order from the kids menu, CM said "of course he can have a hamburger". She said they only had to order Childrens items at TS restaurants and at CS restaurants it didn't matter.

Thank you soooo much for your post! This is the info that I got!

 

[septbaby]

I think I've read this at Cosmic Ray's as well, however I've also read reports of families not being able to order more than their share of adult meals at CS.
Keep in mind that the official DDP guide says they must order off the kids menu. I just hate to have you get frustrated or so disappointed on your vacation if you get denied, just no fun in that.

One thing to keep in your back pocket is there are restaurants in each park that don't have a kids menu so they get to order whatever. A lot of those places serve pizza. Toy Story Pizza planet in MGM is one and lots of people like that CS anyway. Pizza is on a lot of TS menus but not CS for kids. You can find that list in Pumbba's Sticky at the top of the DDP plan page. It the everything you wanted to know 6-10-2007 post. I had this list with me but oddly enough we never used it. My nephew wanted ice cream for breakfast when we were at MGM and given that it was our last day, he got it. We ate a good lunch back at the resort.

You know we did have an issue that I forgot about. On our arrival afternoon we went to the CBR food court and I tried to order my nephew a veggie burger, I explained that we were a vegetarian family)so chicken fingers wouldn't cut it) and she wouldn't do it. My mom ordered that and I ordered the Pizza combo meal from the next station. I ate the side salad of the combo and nephew ate my pizza. I would never eat an Uncrustable, but a couple of times our little one was excited and delighted to get one. If they are happy and eating it makes our time that much better! So while we think the kids menus are pretty yuck, Disney does know kids and they may love some of that stuff.

Pretty much I'd say don't stress, esp if one of your kids want a kids meal there will be plenty of food to share from the adult meals.

Heck I wish I was back on the plan right now, CS or TS!

 

[noahdove]

I am trying to decide on getting the DDP for our August trip. I am confused at the "table service" Am I correct in thinking, that I need to make reservations for table service and that it will come off our plan that way? Also, may I order breakfast and use the plan at the resort? This is making me nervous, as I don't want to buy the plan and not use it all..Any help will be GREATLY appreciated.
Thank you and have a great weekend 332 days and counting

 

[septbaby]

Hi noahdove!

We just used the plan for the first time and it was AWESOME!!!

Think of Table Service(TS) meals as anything with a waiter/waitress, even buffets. Counter or Quick service(CS) would be anything else.

Meals at resort food courts will use counter service credits. There are also counter service (kind of like fast food) places in the parks.

I highly recommend you make reservations for your table service meals as they only have so many slots and it can be very difficult to just show up. Also we thought of many of our meals as part of the experience and events unto themselves (fine dining at Narcoossee's, character, ethnic, etc.)

We had a 5 night trip and made 6TS reservations. One meal was worth 2TS credits so we would have needed 7TS credits. During our trip we canceled one of the TS meals so we could relax at the resort. That meant we still had a need for 6TS credits, one over our buget. We paid cash for our breakfast meal at Chef Mickey's, our least expensive TS meal. I found the CS meals could go a lonog way, including breakfast at the resort. We did a lot of sharing of CS meals. Snacks are probably the most fun part of the plan, just ask my Mom! She had Dole Whips, popcorn, bottled drinks, fruit bars you name it and never pulled cash out of her wallet! You also get dessert with the CS meal so that's like another snack right there (Mickey bars, yum).

Probably the nicest thing about the plan is you generally can order what you want, forget about price! There can be some restrictions at certain places, but generally 90-100% of the menus are fine on the DDP.

If the numbers work for your family, I say go for it with the plan. It was so much fun and plenty of food!

 

[Disneyof3]

When we went to CR the CM said it doesn't matter the CS credits are pooled together, so my DS got to order a hamburger with fries and drink with cake. When we went to Backlot Express in DMGM they wouldn't allow us to and the CM said the credits are as is the kids must order off the kids menu. So I think it depends on the particular CM you get. Some will and some won't let you. Go with the flow and if you get it then it is a BONUS, just don't expect it at every CS.

Hope this helps.