Dining Plan: I have to vent.

[tfiga]

It seems that everyday there is a new post about how certain people are using child dining plan credits to purchase adult meals and then paying oop for the child meals and it is driving me crazy. To those of you that are doing this, please consider the following:
1. Disney is not going to lose money on this plan, therefore they will continue to raise the price of the dining package (to cover the additional expense) for everyone including those of us who use it properly.
2. This is stealing. Hopefully those of you who do this, have children young enough that they do not understand how their role models (parents, etc.) are manipulating the system and in the long run are penalizing those of us that follow the rules.
3. The dining plan provides enough food to feed your family, why cheat?

I know I will probably get slammed for this post but the dining plan allows my family and I to have a nicer vacation then we could afford to do otherwise. Additionally, children see more than we think and is this the image we want our children to see? Right is right...................

 

[Lewisc]

Only one problem with your post, there is no such thing as a child dining plan credit. Disney has chosen to divide the plan into three parts: CS, TS and snack.

Nothing like inventing a rule so you can attack people for violating a rule that only exists in your mind.

If Disney is losing money than can raise the price or restrict some of the more expensive menu items.

If too many guests are using the "loophole" of allocating TS credits to meals that will be ordered and consumed by adults Disney can change the plan to differentiate adult and child credits or take other measures to limit or discourage the practice BUT

currently guests are using the plan exactly how Disney has set it up.

IT IS NOT STEALING but people who call it stealing aren't taking the time, or aren't capable of, reading the MYW Dining brochure where Disney lists the rules.

It seems that everyday there is a new post about how certain people are using child dining plan credits to purchase adult meals and then paying oop for the child meals and it is driving me crazy. To those of you that are doing this, please consider the following:
1. Disney is not going to lose money on this plan, therefore they will continue to raise the price of the dining package (to cover the additional expense) for everyone including those of us who use it properly.
2. This is stealing. Hopefully those of you who do this, have children young enough that they do not understand how their role models (parents, etc.) are manipulating the system and in the long run are penalizing those of us that follow the rules.
3. The dining plan provides enough food to feed your family, why cheat?

I know I will probably get slammed for this post but the dining plan allows my family and I to have a nicer vacation then we could afford to do otherwise. Additionally, children see more than we think and is this the image we want our children to see? Right is right...................

 

[awatt]

Correct me if I am wrong,but it costs less for a child on the dining plan?

If that's the case, you have paid less for a credit, then you exchange it for a more expensive option. I don't really care what the brochure says. Common sense tells me that's getting over.

 

[disneyfreak2]

I have actually talked with a CM about the dining plan b/c I wasn't sure if my child would eat everything there at dinner time and she told me to pay OOP for it and save the credit.

 

[Lewisc]

Correct me if I am wrong,but it costs less for a child on the dining plan?

If that's the case, you have paid less for a credit, then you exchange it for a more expensive option. I don't really care what the brochure says. Common sense tells me that's getting over.

You're wrong, you're not exchanging it for a more expensive option because there is no such thing as a more expensive option. Disney has a TS credit. There is no such thing as an adult TS credit and a child TS credit. Disney charges children a lower price for park admission but, subject to height restrictions, they get to ride the same attractions as adults.

Common sense does tell me this is a "loophole" that Disney has designed in the program and that Disney may decide to close it if too many guests take advantage of it.

You said you don't care what the brochure says then what you're saying is you don't care what the rule is.

 

[hugsquared]

We just got back last week, and flame away, but on 2 seperate occasions I ordered my 9 yo food off the "adult" menu because the childs menu was so limited there was nothing she wanted. For the most part she pretty much stuck to what she was supposed to have, but in one instance she wanted a BBQ pork sandwich and on the other she decided one night she wanted steak. I would have gladly paid the difference if these credits had indeed been deemed "child" and "adult" but they weren't, and I didn't. On another front, I can't have anything with a large amount of sugar in it, so many of the desserts I lost out on or got fruit. So in essence, they gained the money off me that I in turned used on DD. JMHO and not one I'm going to debate or defend.

 

[Lewisc]

There is no such thing as an adult TS and a child TS but children are required to order off the children's menu.

You weren't using the "loophole" but were "stealing". It's not a matter of what she was supposed to have but a matter of what you paid for. A buffet would have allowed your child to eat what she wanted without having to steal.

We just got back last week, and flame away, but on 2 seperate occasions I ordered my 9 yo food off the "adult" menu because the childs menu was so limited there was nothing she wanted. For the most part she pretty much stuck to what she was supposed to have, but in one instance she wanted a BBQ pork sandwich and on the other she decided one night she wanted steak. I would have gladly paid the difference if these credits had indeed been deemed "child" and "adult" but they weren't, and I didn't. On another front, I can't have anything with a large amount of sugar in it, so many of the desserts I lost out on or got fruit. So in essence, they gained the money off me that I in turned used on DD. JMHO and not one I'm going to debate or defend.

 

[awatt]

You're wrong, you're not exchanging it for a more expensive option because there is no such thing as a more expensive option. Disney has a TS credit. There is no such thing as an adult TS credit and a child TS credit. Disney charges children a lower price for park admission but, subject to height restrictions, they get to ride the same attractions as adults.

Common sense does tell me this is a "loophole" that Disney has designed in the program and that Disney may decide to close it if too many guests take advantage of it.

You said you don't care what the brochure says then what you're saying is you don't care what the rule is.

Do you really think paying $15 a day(or whatever the amount is) for the childs dining plan and using it for surf and turf is an fair or even exchange?

Even if technically a brochure or rule allows this loophole, common sense tells me this is not the intended use of the dining plan.

Unfortunately when too many people try to get over, the plan will change for all. Then the whining will begin. And those who try to get over will whine the loudest I'm sure.

 

[dawnball]

Correct me if I am wrong,but it costs less for a child on the dining plan?

If that's the case, you have paid less for a credit, then you exchange it for a more expensive option. I don't really care what the brochure says. Common sense tells me that's getting over.

Eh, it's no more stealing than it's stealing to use a credit at Le Cellier (we averaged $43pp for lunch) instead of Whispering Canyon (we averaged $20pp for lunch). Creating fictional children purely for the dining plan is dishonest, and I personally would have problems planning to pay out of pocket for all of my child's meals so that I could have more TS meals, however; Disney provides no way to track adult or child credits. It isn't reasonable for them to expect people to track the credits of a party of 6, spread across two rooms (and 6 room keys) to worry about things like "Susie slept through dinner on Tuesday, now we have an extra child TS credit that we can't ever use without paying out of pocket for everyone else!"

Really, if you were to buy a child an appetizer, entree and dessert it would cost you upwards of $15 (I assumed a WCC child's skillet, fountain drink and dessert, at lunch). The difference between child/adult credits is only $28. The remaining $13 is well within the spread between TS locations. My guess is that Disney actually makes more money off that scheme.

 

[Lewisc]

OP made up new plan terms (child dining credits) and said guests who didn't follow his new rules are stealing.

That's not your point.

If DISNEY thought it was a problem they'd change the rules. This is the way meal plans have been done for years.

I wouldn't be surprised if the internet results in more guests using the loophole which may result in a change of rules.

I don't have young kids so I don't have discounted meal credit to put to use BUT I don't approve of the OP accusing guests of stealing because they don't follow the rules that he made up.

Do you really think paying $15 a day(or whatever the amount is) for the childs dining plan and using it for surf and turf is an fair or even exchange?

Even if technically a brochure or rule allows this loophole, common sense tells me this is not the intended use of the dining plan.

Unfortunately when too many people try to get over, the plan will change for all. Then the whining will begin. And those who try to get over will whine the loudest I'm sure.

 

[HulaHoop]

There is a $10/night cost for the child dining plan and a $35/night cost for the adult dining plan. However, any child over 9 pays the $35/night - not what we usually consider "adult". Maybe this unusual definition of "adult" is causing some confusion? For example, if you had the package with free dining you may not even be aware that there are two different plans.

 

[diznyfanatic]

I must be one fry short of a Happy Meal to get involved in this debate, BUT...

My recent experience with simply finding a CM who could explain the plan to me, what it includes, what it doesn't include, and how to use it so I could make an informed decision on purchasing it tells me that even Disney's own employees don't have a handle on how it is "supposed" to work.

Additionally, I was quoted two different prices by three different CM's and had I not pursued it, would have been charged the higher 2006 rates even though my stay is entirely in 2005.

I also think that the whole "every person in the room is on the Dining Plan or no one in the room can be on the Dining Plan" rule is a major contributer to why folks are trying to find ways of making this major expense work for them.

What if you have a party of three in one room and two wanted dining and the other didn't? You'd still have to buy the third person a Dining Plan or the other two couldn't purchase it.

Finally, when I did find an amzing CM who obviously knew her stuff, SHE told me how to use the plan to it's fullest extent like it was a no brainer.

For the record, I will be using the plan precisely "how it's intended" but I really don't care how other people need to utilize the plan to make it work for them or their families as it's a pretty penny to purchase no matter how you slice it.

 

[awatt]

I don't use the dining plan. It's not for us.

But I think there are alot of people on tighter budgets who benefit from the plan, and this is a good thing. And unfortunately, when changes come, because of the loophole or whatever you wish to call it, those people will be negatively impacted. Seems a shame to me that some will ruin it for others.Maybe that's what the OP is trying to convey here.

And I strongly believe changes are coming. Check out the slipper dessert threads. Too much of a good thing and it gets withdrawn.

 

[lucky_bunni]

This is obviously a problem Disney has overlooked and created for themselves. I don't know why people get so worked up over these things though, called each of thieves and such. It is just silly. The problem will almost certainly correct itself or perhaps they aren't losing enough money through the loophole to ever bother changing it. I say if you aren't a major shareholder, why do you really care so much?

 

[jann1033]

You're wrong, you're not exchanging it for a more expensive option because there is no such thing as a more expensive option. Disney has a TS credit. There is no such thing as an adult TS credit and a child TS credit. Disney charges children a lower price for park admission but, subject to height restrictions, they get to ride the same attractions as adults.

Common sense does tell me this is a "loophole" that Disney has designed in the program and that Disney may decide to close it if too many guests take advantage of it.

You said you don't care what the brochure says then what you're saying is you don't care what the rule is.

so then when it says children have to order off the child's menu if available you dont' see that as saying disney intends for children to use their "credit' as a child?

Experience over 100 selected Walt Disney World® restaurants including our legendary Disney Character Dining. For each night on your package, you enjoy:
1 table-service meal including appetizer, entree, dessert (excluding breakfast), and nonalcoholic beverage and gratuity charge
1 counter-service meal including entree, dessert (excluding breakfast) and nonalcoholic beverage at select counter-service locations
1 snack, such as a frozen ice cream bar, box of popcorn, 20 oz bottle of Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite, Dasani water or a medium fountain soft drink at select snack cart locations
As an added benefit, you may exchange 2 table-service meals for either 1 Signature Dining Experience at one of our finest restaurants, such as the acclaimed California Grill or for 1 Disney Dinner Show, such as Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue.
Children ages 3-9 must order from the Children's Menu if available.

 

[jann1033]

It seems that everyday there is a new post about how certain people are using child dining plan credits to purchase adult meals and then paying oop for the child meals and it is driving me crazy. To those of you that are doing this, please consider the following:
1. Disney is not going to lose money on this plan, therefore they will continue to raise the price of the dining package (to cover the additional expense) for everyone including those of us who use it properly.
2. This is stealing. Hopefully those of you who do this, have children young enough that they do not understand how their role models (parents, etc.) are manipulating the system and in the long run are penalizing those of us that follow the rules.
3. The dining plan provides enough food to feed your family, why cheat?

I know I will probably get slammed for this post but the dining plan allows my family and I to have a nicer vacation then we could afford to do otherwise. Additionally, children see more than we think and is this the image we want our children to see? Right is right...................

op i have to agree, this is why so many programs get the boot so it does affect others..some just seem to want to find every way to beat any program they can...

i don't know if i would really call it "stealing" since disney didn't actually write out "you may not use a credit purchased for a child to buy an adult meal"( course they also do not say "your 11 yr can not crawl in on his knees to look shorter and get a kid's pass" so someone will probably try that and complain disney had the nerve to not sell them it) though it is obviously implied ( maybe some have comprehension problems since they claim to be able to read).when they say the child, who was charged roughly a third of an adult price, has to order from a child's menu what else could that possibly mean, a child purchased and therefore gets a credit for a child's meal. it definitly is trying to beat the system and that just messes it up for everyone...

the joke is..hello !so far this has been free for most and still they try to abuse it. if you don't want to use it as is , don't get it. you don't have to search for and use every loophole you can find.

 

[tfiga]

Ok, stealing was probably a bit harsh, but the fact of the matter is that my family takes one week of vacation every year to disney world. We scrimp and save to have a nice vacation. The dining plan allows us to have a nicer and more affordable vacation then we could have without it. When people use the supposed "loophole" disney will make up their losses by raising the price for everyone. I do not think this is fair for the rest of us who use the dining plan as intended. Why should I have to pay more?

 

[Lewisc]

Stealing wasn't a bit harsh, it's completely inaccurate.

If it's a problem Disney will change the rules. AFAIK dining credits were always pooled even under prior plans.

I think a bigger issue is the number of guests who chose the most expensive items in the most expensive restaurants. You can also make a case Canada didn't expect their restaurant to be filled with MYW Dining guests ordering surf and turf and CRT didn't expect all the guests to be ordering the slipper dessert.

You can also make a case that Disney "intended" guest to be eating as they did before the plan.

A guest who uses a credit for an adult, that was paid for at the reduced price for a child, for HDD is getting a $25 value for a total cost of $10. I'm assuming the extra credit come from the loophole. An adult eating at Le Cellier can $75 worth of food for a credit that cost $35 but the TS portion cost $25.

It's not just the child/adult issue. Too many more restrictions or price increases and I'll go back to just paying as I go. I prefer skipping dessert and getting something later in the day.

Ok, stealing was probably a bit harsh, but the fact of the matter is that my family takes one week of vacation every year to disney world. We scrimp and save to have a nice vacation. The dining plan allows us to have a nicer and more affordable vacation then we could have without it. When people use the supposed "loophole" disney will make up their losses by raising the price for everyone. I do not think this is fair for the rest of us who use the dining plan as intended. Why should I have to pay more?

 

[unixadm]

Why do people read more into the plan than there is, and try to force everyone into THEIR interpretation of the plan?

We got back a little over a week ago, and loved the plan. I did pay out of pocket for some of our kids meals (and used the DDE 20% discount on that). Calling me a thief is way over the line.

I talked to each CM BEFORE we ordered, told them what I wanted to do, and they were fine with it. Several even suggested ways to maximize the plan even more, told us we could include extras, etc.

DISNEY chose to NOT differentiate between Adult and Child credits...GET A CLUE...THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A CHILD CREDIT.

There isn't a set of credits for me, a separate set of credits for my wife, and separate for my kids. We started with 28 Credits, and they weren't split out by person. If Disney wanted, they COULD set it up that way....but until they do, it is a grouping of credits that can be used in "ANY ORDER, IN ANY AMOUNT, THROUGHOUT YOUR PACKAGE STAY UNTIL YOUR TOTAL IS DEPLETED" (Their wording!!!!!)

READ THE DOCUMENT.....don't read more into it and criticize those who want to maximize the value. HEY, Disney is getting PLENTY of money from us....please don't try to tell me they are going to go broke if I maximize THEIR plan using THEIR terms!

 

[Frantasmic]

I can see both sides of the issue. A family of 5 with two children under age 9 who goes and uses the Dining Plan "as intended" for 5 days spends roughly $125 a day for the plan and gets 3 adult TS and 2 children TS (the dining plan debate never seems to come up when talking about CS where the moral implications of sharing a meal and ripping off Disney by not using a child's CS never seem to come up).

If this family paid for each of their under 9 children's meals and pooled the credits for signature dining, extra TS meals, or Hoop De Doo, or whatever, they would spend an average of $10 per kid at each TS or a total of $100 extra dollars (2 x $10 x 5 days) or nearly 3 single adult days/credits worth of food if they had to purchase it separately, all so the adults can either go to 2-3 extra meals or do signature dining for the whole family.

I don't think Disney is really losing much money on that proposition, if any at all.