Sammie said:
All of what they want to accomplish with the Plan is based on extensive marketing and so many times guests never look beyond their own personal use of the plan and not the big scheme.
I think this is the crux of the matter.
As a consumer, I can (and will) make the argument that if I
pay $37.99 per adult for dining, I can spend those credits any way I please. It makes no sense to me as a consumer to say that I may - at my discretion - use two TS credits for signature dining, but may not use them to treat my pal, Mr. Smith and his lovely wife, Conchita.
I know all about the marketing assumptions Disney made, but you know what...if you priced it wrong, that's your bad, not mine. Live with it for now, adjust later.
OTOH...
as an MBA business person, I know how these plans are developed and priced, and I appreciate that a
package plan is not the same as buying a six-pack of Sam Adams. There is an overall marketing stategy at work, and the product is specifically targeted, designed, and priced for certain people. It was never intended for everyone, and nobody except us here on the DIS ever assumed it would be. We like "one size fits all," but it doesn't occur much in the real world.
The tough business answer is: The Dining Plan is what it is. If the plan doesn't meet your needs, don't buy it. And trust me, you're buying it whether you're paying for it or getting it free! Ain't no such thing as a free lunch, much less a free character meal.
In any program like this, there are always mistakes made and "fine-tuning" to be done. The glitch with being able to use kids credits for adult meals (thereby almost quadrupling their value) shows that even marketing geniuses can make mistakes. Disney made one here, and they have found an easy, cheap interim way to fix it -- tell the CM's not to accept it.
The issue about treating someone not on the plan -- to me -- is one of those questions that is better left alone. It doesn't happen that often.
Also, once the lovely Conchita eats at Le Cellier, Mr. Smith most definitely
will be bringing her back. The Joneses taking the Smiths to Le Cellier is the best possible marketing of Disney Dining...and Mr. Jones is paying for it!
As far as sharing among participants of the same category -- I think that is another issue the geniuses did not anticipate. It's the natural result, not of anyone's desire for Chic Fil-A, but of their desire for CRT and other signature dining.
Disney's best approach to
this pressing problem (IMHO) would be the implementation of a simple and reasonable sharing charge. That's common restaurant practice and something anyone can understand. Then, it becomes the consumer's choice -- do I REALLY want to share that bad...or not?