DVC- Dining Plan credits?

[tgr1116]

I don't know if this has been answered, but I need to know if the QSP dining and snack credits HAVE to be attached to ALL the KTTK cards? The reason I ask is that I have two 2-bedroom lock-offs at OKW for my Girl Scout troop this June and would like the credits to be on the Leaders' cards only. I am concerned that some of my GS moms won't understand the way the plan actually works and we will end up with missing credits (especially if certain ones separate from the group ) Anyone had any luck with this request before?
I am trying to avoid separation at mealtimes! Afterall, this is a GS trip and I am hoping all will stay/dine together. I also want to avoid some taking advantage of credits not entitled to them (not on purpose mind you... by accident!::cop: )

thanks in advance for any replies or suggestions!

 

[Deb & Bill]

Each reservation will have all the credits for the villa on the KTTW. Not any way to split them out.

Why not just skip the dining plan and let them pay as they go?

 

[tgr1116]

We all voted to do the QSDP because we have 14 year olds who are hearty eaters and WILL ask for snacks throughout the day! I have done the math using the CS places we have eaten at in the past (our 2006 YES trip!) and we will come out ahead even at $29.99 per day per person!) I was hoping to restrict the usage of the credits to just the leaders of our troop so that all of the girls will stay together (some of the mom's my want to separate... the girls don't!) Maybe I will tell them that they have to be with me and my co-leader in order to use the dining plan!??? I am not trying to be a control freak... it's just that the girls want to stay together and we have activities planned that they will miss should the parent choose not to stay with the group. What 14 yo wouldn't want to stay with her friends as opposed to spending the day with mom

That being said... Just don't want the hassel of trying to "police" the use of the credits... ie "you already used you snack credits up for the end of the trip, so you have to pay out of pocket" or "I don't understand, we all had 2 CS credits per day...how can we be out of them on the 3rd day? Who ate off the DP 3 times today???" Get my drift?

Anyone have any suggestions, solutions, for the QSP to work for us?

 

[CarolA]

Well you aren't going to like this response.

But it's a GIRL SCOUT trip exactly HOW many mom's are you taking?

Trust me as a Girl Scout Leader this will be the least of your problems... I take only the REQUIRED adults. Everyone else stays home. IT's a Girl Scout trip not a family vacation.

Also, make sure you don't get charging on the credits.

Can they issue you "kids" type keys? Do those have the DDP credits on them?

 

[hellerjw]

I do believe you can remove charging privileges and still keep the dining plan credits on each room key. I think that is how we did it this past October but can't remember for certain.

Unfortunately I don't think there is anyway to restrict use or split up the dining credits like you want. Its an all or nothing thing.

I suspect Disney bets that a certain percentage of Dining Plan users will do 1 of 2 things:

1. Burn through their credits early and end up paying out of pocket for the rest.
2. Let credits go unused resulting in them paying more money for less food (A lot like stores bank on a certain percentage of gift cards never being redeemed)

I think its designed to be less than flexible with the dining credits for the reasons above.

 

[corky441]

Well - just to add my 2cents worth...

These are girl scouts - not brownies - they are 14 years old

I think this is the perfect opportunity to teach them responsibility for their own actions. If they eat their way thru all their credits in 2 days - oh well!!!
It's all about managing your own life. An WDW is the perfect place to start the lessons

 

[tgr1116]

Well you aren't going to like this response.

But it's a GIRL SCOUT trip exactly HOW many mom's are you taking?

Trust me as a Girl Scout Leader this will be the least of your problems... I take only the REQUIRED adults. Everyone else stays home. IT's a Girl Scout trip not a family vacation.

Also, make sure you don't get charging on the credits.

Can they issue you "kids" type keys? Do those have the DDP credits on them?

Unfortunealty, we are traveling out of state and some moms "need/want" to go. (8 14 yo and 6 moms) We went of a Mother/Daughter cruise last year to the Bahamas and had the time of our lives! Each M/D had their own cabin and charging etc and there was not an issure with meals on the cruise. The girls were stuck together like glue in the teen clubs. For the most part the MOMs hung out together too. But DW is a much larger place than a cruise ship, and they may venture off on their own...
No siblings/Dads on our trip, so not a family vacation. We have enjoyed our M/D trips and find it helps us stay connected to our new "teens". We all get along great, so no problems there. Just concerned about keeping the dining credits separate...

 

[tgr1116]

Well - just to add my 2cents worth...

These are girl scouts - not brownies - they are 14 years old

I think this is the perfect opportunity to teach them responsibility for their own actions. If they eat their way thru all their credits in 2 days - oh well!!!
It's all about managing your own life. An WDW is the perfect place to start the lessons

Very well said... but how do I tell WHO used up their credits in 2 days??? The rest of us will end up paying OOP too if they are all used up before the end of the trip. right? Just trying to avoid the "blame game" during our trip. I guess I will need to have a meeting about keeping receipts and track of meals etc. I just wish there was a way to put X amout of credits on each KTTK card... would make it so much easier when there are 8 people per room!

 

[Mommy2JulietJocelyn]

Are they in seperate rooms? I would think the credits for each room could be placed on those cards for the rooms - like M/D1 & M/D2 in this room have just their credits on their cards - then they can be responsible for their own credits they are 14y.o. & a grown up per M/D. I think you will give yourself a bigger headache by trying to keep count of all of the credits.

 

[tgr1116]

Are they in seperate rooms? I would think the credits for each room could be placed on those cards for the rooms - like M/D1 & M/D2 in this room have just their credits on their cards - then they can be responsible for their own credits they are 14y.o. & a grown up per M/D. I think you will give yourself a bigger headache by trying to keep count of all of the credits.

Two separate 2-bedroom lock offs at OKW! (7) people in each room...

Can't separate into M/D groups... All credits for 7 adult QSDP will show up on all 7 KTTK cards. How would I track whose KTTK card used a credit... do they each have a different number on them? maybe I can get a print out showing that info at the front desk each day? This sounds like a hassle, but they have their hearts set on the QSDP. Any other suggestion would be welcomed...

 

[bellazachmom]

Two separate 2-bedroom lock offs at OKW! (7) people in each room...

Can't separate into M/D groups... All credits for 7 adult QSDP will show up on all 7 KTTK cards. How would I track whose KTTK card used a credit... do they each have a different number on them? maybe I can get a print out showing that info at the front desk each day? This sounds like a hassle, but they have their hearts set on the QSDP. Any other suggestion would be welcomed...

You certainly CAN get a print out of all of the dinig credits used every day, and at which location -- front desk will do it for you, no problem. Also, when ever you use a credit you will get a receipt and it will show the number of remaining credits available on the account.

We do this every trip, just to make sure we know where we stand and to make sure that no errors have occured. It is certainly easier to fix a problem in the 24 hours after it happens then 4 days in to the trip when you realize that a server accidently charged another family's meal to your plan and you are out of credits -- yes, that happened to us! It was fixed, but it took a while and we ended up having to pay OOP and then get reimbursed by Disney.

 

[Chuck S]

If you are truly concerned, I really would not do the DDP, even the QS DDP. Sometimes it is worth spending a little more and each paying OOP for the peace of mind.

That, or simply PLAN on the credits getting messed up, and tell everyone to take enough extra cash to allow for at least one days worth of cash dining.

 

[tgr1116]

If you are truly concerned, I really would not do the DDP, even the QS DDP. Sometimes it is worth spending a little more and each paying OOP for the peace of mind.

That, or simply PLAN on the credits getting messed up, and tell everyone to take enough extra cash to allow for at least one days worth of cash dining.

Thanks everyone for you replies. I am not concerned that Disney will mess up my credits (or I am being too optimistic?). I AM concerned that one of the Moms will "overuse" her portion of the pool of credits and I will not be able to track it and tell them that THEY are responsible to pay out of pocket! I am just trying to be fair to the majority of others who will not abuse their credits if this should occur. I was hoping that there was a way for Disney to allocate a certain amount of credits per KTTK prevent this from happening. I am aware that most often the people sharing a room for (4) are from the same family. This is not our case, however. We will have 3 groups of unrelated in each 2-bdr. Anyway, I will hope for the best and make sure our entire group is educated on how the plan is SUPPOSED to work before we leave in June! Thanks for all the responses

 

[delmar411]

Very simple actually.

You hold all cards.

All tickets are removed from the cards at the front desk and issued paper tickets.

If the girls and moms want to eat, they get with the leaders and eat at scheduled mealtimes, they don't even have to know that their keycards have the meals on them.

Anything else should be OOP for the girls/moms.

For any EMH, they will all be together and you can show the CM their key cards to get on the ride.

 

[CarolA]

And how do they get in thier rooms??? They can only go back when the leader wants them too!

I used to approve all Girl Scout travel for my area. This trip would have failed my test LOL! (The cruise would have been a "have fun it's not a Girl Scout trip you get no insurance" trip. The girls CAN use thier funds for these trips but if you have to take all the moms it's not a Girl Scout trip, it's a family outing LOL!)

To the OP! Good Luck! The concerns you have over the moms not using the credits tell me that this is WHY you should NOT have taken all the moms! The thing to do RIGHT now is LAY DOWN THE LAW. If they use the credits they will PAY. (you can go to the front desk and find out which card used the credits. Keep a log of who got what card) Do they understand that ALL the Girl Scout rules apply to them at ALL times. (Drinking, smoking, not taking thier daughter off on her own etc??? It sounds like they view this as a personal trip not a Girl Scout trip)

 

[delmar411]

And how do they get in thier rooms??? They can only go back when the leader wants them too!

well yes, if they are supposed to be with the group at all times. Or give them a room key if someone needs to go back. Just make sure to collect it asap afterwards.

I used to approve all Girl Scout travel for my area. This trip would have failed my test LOL! (The cruise would have been a "have fun it's not a Girl Scout trip you get no insurance" trip. The girls CAN use thier funds for these trips but if you have to take all the moms it's not a Girl Scout trip, it's a family outing LOL!)

To the OP! Good Luck! The concerns you have over the moms not using the credits tell me that this is WHY you should NOT have taken all the moms! The thing to do RIGHT now is LAY DOWN THE LAW. If they use the credits they will PAY. (you can go to the front desk and find out which card used the credits. Keep a log of who got what card) Do they understand that ALL the Girl Scout rules apply to them at ALL times. (Drinking, smoking, not taking thier daughter off on her own etc??? It sounds like they view this as a personal trip not a Girl Scout trip)

I agree they are not thinking of this as a GS trip but more of a 'yay, let's go have a M/D WDW trip.'

 

[tgr1116]

And how do they get in thier rooms??? They can only go back when the leader wants them too!

I used to approve all Girl Scout travel for my area. This trip would have failed my test LOL! (The cruise would have been a "have fun it's not a Girl Scout trip you get no insurance" trip. The girls CAN use thier funds for these trips but if you have to take all the moms it's not a Girl Scout trip, it's a family outing LOL!)

To the OP! Good Luck! The concerns you have over the moms not using the credits tell me that this is WHY you should NOT have taken all the moms! The thing to do RIGHT now is LAY DOWN THE LAW. If they use the credits they will PAY. (you can go to the front desk and find out which card used the credits. Keep a log of who got what card) Do they understand that ALL the Girl Scout rules apply to them at ALL times. (Drinking, smoking, not taking thier daughter off on her own etc??? It sounds like they view this as a personal trip not a Girl Scout trip)

Everyone DOES understand that this is a GS trip! ONLY the girls' portion are paid from fundraising... the MOMS pay for their entire trip (including me and my coleader!!) ourselves!!! Thank you for your concerns, but I have it covered! All of our trips involve either an educational or service base (ie we are attending our 2nd YES program and during our cruise did a mission project for a group in Nassau) The moms are truly involved in other aspects of the troop, not just the trips. We have a very tight group...
The topic was how to keep the credits separte so everyone ends up using their allotted amount! It could be easy for a pair to "accidentally" use more than their 2 CS per day and 2 covered snacks per person. I was only trying to make sure this does not happen, not debate what is a GS trip and what isn't! Thanks for your concerns about keeping me "on track" but I think we are doing an OK job so far
By the way, each of the moms is a registered Girl Scout! Also, we could not go or do as much as a troop if not for the willingness of these moms to drive! At one point my troop was 16 girls (I think it is amazing that I still have 8 active girls who are going to be in HS at this point, with all the other activities they are involved in!) And kudos to all the moms who WANT to be involved in their daughters life... I see other troops struggling to get moms to show up at meetings, cookies sales, and as chaperones all the time. I usually have to decline offers!!! Yes, I probably could take these girls to WDW alone (with my coleader) but the thing is, I DON"T HAVE TOO!!! These moms actually Want to be with their daughters... not just to "have fun" but have bonding time too. They encourage their daughters to remain a part of a postitive organization and want to share it with them! I hate that my questions about the QSP has resulted in my having to defend our trip...

 

[tgr1116]

well yes, if they are supposed to be with the group at all times. Or give them a room key if someone needs to go back. Just make sure to collect it asap afterwards.



I agree they are not thinking of this as a GS trip but more of a 'yay, let's go have a M/D WDW trip.'

Never mind! I will not seek advice from this board again... too many people ready to judge without even knowing the particulars and assuming the worst of others! And all this speculation about the type of MOMS I have travelling with me...never once did I say anything about anyone considering this a personal vacation... smoking drinking etc... : Just an honest concern for keeping DP credits separate

 

[Chuck S]

But thats the problem people are seeing. The DDP credits are on the individuals room keys. So, if the girls, and parents, each have their own room keys, then there is no way that everyone doesn't have access to all the other meals for that room. If you are already anticipating that mistakes may be likely, then the only absolute solution is not to have the DDP. That is what others were pointing out. Otherwise, you and your group need to accept the possibly that someone may overuse the credits, even accidentally, and plan for what would happen in that event, by bringing a little extra cash.

It is not Disney's responsibility to monitor/limit the usage of the cards, only to tally that usage per room. The DDP was, truthfully, not designed for use by this type of group, or even to lend itself well to the way many DVCers travel, with guest arriving/departing throughout a longer reservation. The DDP was designed as part of travel package for Disney Travel Company, and they really cater more to the average family vacation agenda.

 

[jmrdavis99]

I think you earlier mentioned having them turn their receipts in...I would suggest having them give their receipts to you each day with their names written at the top. Here is why: when we were on the DP, my husband would often order an extra side at the counter service. The CM would almost always ask if we wanted to use that as a snack from the DP. What if they didn't ask & just took it from snack credits? If you have the receipt you would be able to easily tell this...

I know it would be a little bit of a pain. If you collected them at the end of each day & had the names at the top of the receipt, then you could just have a list with each name & type of meal (snack, CS), then tally mark each time one was used according to the receipts.

HTH!