GASP! On check in I was advised by a CM to...

[mlwear]

More dining experiences = more tips = more time onsite = happier families = happier WDW = more income for WDW = more return trips for families

It all ends up working out in the end

That's what I'm trying to figure out. Disney would close that loophole if there wasn't some profit in it for them. I can't quite figure it out yet...Last year we paid for DP, we didn't use any child TS for adults, but we still ended up with CS credits unused. Just brainstorming here and maybe someone will come up with something, perhaps if a lot of CS aren't used and a lot of OOP meals are paid that is something. AND I wonder how much extra the typical family spends at a TS for wine, cocktails, etc...I know we usually add at least $25 to our bill +tip (do many of you spend more?). If familys go to more TS, then there are more "additonal" bills: OOP child's meal and cocktails. Anyone good enough with math to figure out how much extra a family spends if they pay OOP for child credits for one more TS and "extras" for that one TS? Also, have to remember that Disney is making a profit from DP when it isn't "free"... Somehow there is a way that Disney isn't losing money (or a not much) with this loophole, the more thought I give it.

 

[Cmbar]

This is so funny. I honestly tried to follow the "correct" thing to do and we never paid out of pocket for our kids, but we did do the share a meal thing and use our kids "counter service" credit to buy a regular meal versus a kids meal and had them split it. Then we were able to use more counter service for some breakfast. But we did this only after standing in the food court of Carribean beach and asking how it worked and TWO counter attendants said there is no difference between the credits and to just order what we wanted. Also, when I would tell a waitress at the sit down restraunts we were on the plan, I was amazed at how they would tell you all the extras you would get. We had a smoothie and a drink everynight.

But the ultimate had to be when we were stuck in Disney for an extra night because of a snow storm at home and we had to stay an extra night. We went to dinner at 1900 Park Fare with my sister's family who were staying the extra night originally and had three credit left for TS. She, her husband and her 8 year old son. We were going to pay for our meals (buffet) and she could use her credits for their meal. We told the waitress that we would have to pay out of pocket for 2 adults and 2 children (my family) and the rest on the DP. She came back smiled and said have a magical day. And she had taken three adult meals off the tab instead of 2 adults and one child. Now at this place the meals are expensive, but I did not question the girl, or try and get her in trouble and we went along and had a magical day!

 

[Pedler]

So WDW is limiting our "creativity"?

Why is it ok to pay for child's TS meal OOP (or buy him an adult meal) & use his credit later for Mom or Dad...but, he can't order from adult menu using the plan & the same Adult meal we could utilize @ a later meal .

Either way WDW is still out an adult meal for child purchase amount. Is there an inherent difference I'm missing here?

Is it WDW's intent to churn more revenue by having parents pay OOP for child's meal(s) & increase overall dining revenue - diabolicial!

No flames intended...just bizarre IMO.

It may be bizarre but it is true.

Along the lines of bizarre we are going to Busch Gardens Williamsburg this year and they consider 3 and up adults as far as ticket pricing goes. It makes the Disney cut off age look generous.

 

[Pedler]

That's what I'm trying to figure out. Disney would close that loophole if there wasn't some profit in it for them. I can't quite figure it out yet...Last year we paid for DP, we didn't use any child TS for adults, but we still ended up with CS credits unused. Just brainstorming here and maybe someone will come up with something, perhaps if a lot of CS aren't used and a lot of OOP meals are paid that is something. AND I wonder how much extra the typical family spends at a TS for wine, cocktails, etc...I know we usually add at least $25 to our bill +tip (do many of you spend more?). If familys go to more TS, then there are more "additonal" bills: OOP child's meal and cocktails. Anyone good enough with math to figure out how much extra a family spends if they pay OOP for child credits for one more TS and "extras" for that one TS? Also, have to remember that Disney is making a profit from DP when it isn't "free"... Somehow there is a way that Disney isn't losing money (or a not much) with this loophole, the more thought I give it.

I think you need to expand your thinking beyond the dinning revenues / cost. By selling the rooms at rack rate, requiring ticket purchase (except DVC) and requiring the plan for everyone for length of stay along with the other changes such as the Magical Express and revised ticket pricing they have increased occupancy and per capita spending. I don't think its a coincidence that Universal has been mailing free one days admission to some Florida residents in the hope that they will come and may bring along a friend that pays. The mouse has a giant vacumn cleaner turned up to full throttle and is sucking up as much money spent in central florida as possible.

 

[HalfDozen]

Another perk for Disney - more people staying onsite. Empty rooms = no money = profit "losses" for them.

We used to only stay offsite - vacation rentals, whatever. They're filling their empty rooms (I think FW is the only open place for the first week of October now for our party), charging rack rates, and still - as you said - adding tips, OOP money, more time onsite, etc.

I think they're realizing that since people only get one CS and one TS, that they're in need of at least another meal, too. It would have been very easy to do two CS and one TS per person per day. But instead they put a snack on there, which virtually guarantees that families have to pay OOP for at least one meal per day. And by doing things like charging two credits for certain TS meals, they're again, guaranteeing that you have to pay OOP for another meal. (And I don't agree with some of the "two credit" meals at all, when you compare them to other restaurants on the plan that are one credit - ie. CRT dinner VS. Le Cellier or WPC). Not that it's my place to question it, but still.

And that said, as someone else mentioned on another thread, when you pay for your meals, most families are trying to save as much money as possible. So, we don't order appetizers, we don't order dessert, we spend less time in the restaurants, and we don't try the more expensive places. This is like free advertising for them, in a way (or maybe not "free" but still - good promotion for them). They get to fill the rooms during hurricane season that otherwise may have been left unattended, at rack rate at that. Plus they are practically making us eat at their finest restaurants, so that we acquire a taste for them and want to return in the future, even if we are paying OOP. And if we happen to order the dessert and get a taste for the Chocolate Wave or Maple Creme Brulee, well then we're going to associate those tastes and flavors with the whole experience.

Our first trip, we ate nothing but counter service, except one CRT breakfast. Now we look most forward to the meals at WDW - it's what keeps bringing us back. So, I think whatever they are doing, is working in their favor.

 

[HalfDozen]

I think you need to expand your thinking beyond the dinning revenues / cost. By selling the rooms at rack rate, requiring ticket purchase (except DVC) and requiring the plan for everyone for length of stay along with the other changes such as the Magical Express and revised ticket pricing they have increased occupancy and per capita spending. I don't think its a coincidence that Universal has been mailing free one days admission to some Florida residents in the hope that they will come and may bring along a friend that pays. The mouse has a giant vacumn cleaner turned up to full throttle and is sucking up as much money spent in central florida as possible.

We were posting at the same time, but this had me

It's true - it's all about the bottom line, even for a super fabulous place like WDW. I guarantee a whole boardroom of cost/benefit analysis folks figured out how this would actually MAKE money for WDW.

 

[Lewisc]

Why Disney allows credits, paid at the child rate, to be used to purchase adult meals under any circumstances is what's bizarre and/or surprising.

Although not enforced the plan brochure requires all guest, or no guests, use MYW Dining credits at signature restaurants, dinner shows and character meals. In other words no paying out of pocket for just the kids meals. I would say Disney anticipated guests using "child" credits by adults to cover those circumstances where kids skipped meals. They shared the parents meal, ate a CS meal and skipped dinner or were in a kids club.

I'd say Disney chose this flexibility as opposed to having to have an upcharge for parents using "child" credits for adult meals or having some type of refund option for unused "child" credits. I'm sure the rule is designed to reduce the number of adult meals ordered with "child" credits.

So WDW is limiting our "creativity"?

Why is it ok to pay for child's TS meal OOP (or buy him an adult meal) & use his credit later for Mom or Dad...but, he can't order from adult menu using the plan & the same Adult meal we could utilize @ a later meal .

Either way WDW is still out an adult meal for child purchase amount. Is there an inherent difference I'm missing here?

Is it WDW's intent to churn more revenue by having parents pay OOP for child's meal(s) & increase overall dining revenue - diabolicial!

No flames intended...just bizarre IMO.

 

[mlwear]

I think you need to expand your thinking beyond the dinning revenues / cost. By selling the rooms at rack rate, requiring ticket purchase (except DVC) and requiring the plan for everyone for length of stay along with the other changes such as the Magical Express and revised ticket pricing they have increased occupancy and per capita spending. I don't think its a coincidence that Universal has been mailing free one days admission to some Florida residents in the hope that they will come and may bring along a friend that pays. The mouse has a giant vacumn cleaner turned up to full throttle and is sucking up as much money spent in central florida as possible.

Yep, right on the money, so to speak. They defintely got at least $1500 extra from us with this clever plan. We were planning 5 nights, then off site for 3 to do other things in the area, then free dining came out starting on our fifth night! Hold everything! Now we need 2 ressies! Stay 4 nights at Poly, then stay other 4 at AKL and "commute" from Disney to our other FL plans It won't cost that much more, even pay reg. rate and we are getting FREE DINING! Then, heck we don't need to visit MIL so much, she can just stay at Disney with us for two nights, what's that? we have to pay for 4 nights extra adult and buy a matching ticket for her... well, she gets FREE DINING! Sure, we'll have time to spend in the parks and spend money then, as well.
Don't get me wrong, I am SO excited that we get to stay on-site longer. I never dreamed that we would get to do 8 nights at Disney. But, Pedler is exactly right Disney is getting the money that we would have spent in other Orlando locations.
Not that I'm going to do it (no need for us, we'll have MIL's extra credits and DP is too much food IMO anyway), but I'm really not worrying about Disney taking a hit on people using the child credits for adults. Disney execs. know what is going on, it is probably working to their advantage in some way or they would put an end to it. It would be so easy for them to stop it.

 

[LoriZH]

Okay so say you paid for the child oop, that's about 10 bucks for dinner, but you've already paid for their plan for the day so Disney is making out if you use it for an adult meal or rather it's a wash. It is what it is, Disney is not a bunch of dummies. The only restriction I was told was that a child dining has to order off the children's menu, never said not to pay oop. I find it rather silly that people are firing off or ready to fire off letters to Guest Services to get CM's in trouble I've had rude CM's and nice CM's the latter are the only ones I write letters about.

To the OP, I don't think it would be very nice of you to write a letter against a very nice CM who passed along some information to you regarding their policies on the Dining Plan. If you had a problem or a question, why didn't you ask if they could confirm this with a Manager right then and there?

 

[GoodFairies]

Here is what I think is funny...the CM knows you had to have paid full price for your room to get the dining plan and that you had to purchase tickets and dining plan for each person in that room -- and the CM tells you to feel free to spend MORE money like it's some kind of deal. It sounds like a deal but the end result is more money for Disney, because you purchased the credits but now you are purchasing additional meals.

The biggest shock to me of all is, for a family that would do this...what are they using all their credits on? Signature meals? Because I can't fathom anyone saving credits to get more food than you already get with this plan. That's crazy.

 

[bicker]

It amazes me that you assume that its an exploitation and beyond resonable boundaries because it's not what you believe to be true!!!

It amazes me that you assume because a CM said it it is true.

 

[melomouse]

....
The biggest shock to me of all is, for a family that would do this...what are they using all their credits on? Signature meals? Because I can't fathom anyone saving credits to get more food than you already get with this plan. That's crazy.

Exactly what I was trying to get at in my "Jiminy" thread I posted this morning!!!

 

[HalfDozen]

To the person who asked "what are you spending your credits on" - just an example here. (Not our plans, necessarily, but just wanted to show how it can go quickly).

Say, you're a family of 4 - two adults, two kids - staying for 5 nights, 6 days.
You start the week with:
20 TS credits
20 CS credits
20 snack credits

You check in early on Saturday, and hit the parks. For lunch you have CS. That's 4 off that list, leaving 16.
Dinner, you want to start the vacation off with your family's favorite HDD dinner show, so that's 8 credits from your TS bank - leaving 12.

Sunday, you use your snack credits for some pastries at the MS Bakery - Spending 4, that leaves 16. For lunch, you decide to hit a resort pool and eat at their CS cafeteria type place. That's 4 more CS - leaving 12. Dinner is at Wolfgang Puck Cafe, and you opt to pay OOP for the kids. That uses 2 more TS credits, leaving 10.

Monday you visit Animal Kingdom. You eat at Tusker House for breakfast and use another 4 CS credits (because the portions are small for breakfast and the kids insist on having Mickey Waffles). Then, later that afternoon the kids are hungry but it's hot. So you just get two rib/chicken combos from Flame Tree and share - 2 more CS credits gone. 6 CS credits left. Dinner is at Ohana, and you pay (just pretend here) 2 adult credits and OOP for the kids again. That leaves 8 TS.

Tuesday morning you have to do Chef Mickey's for breakfast. Another 2 TS credits, leaving 6TS. You're stuffed from breakfast and grab "snacks" for lunch - leaving 12 snacks. Dinner everyone is hungry once again, but you've used your TS for the day at Chef Mickey's, so you decide to go with a CS place. Cosmic Ray's - again, you share to conserve and the combos are big, so you use 2 adult credits and have 4 CS left.

Wednesday you get Kona Cafe early in the morning, since it's you last day and you cannot survive if you go home without having Tonga Toast in your diet one time, and pay for the kids OOP. 2 TS down. Lunch is Tangierine Cafe, where you can share - so you have 2 CS credits left. Dinner is Le Cellier - you pay adults with 2 TS Credits, and kids OOP, leaving 2 TS credits.

Thursday is your day to return home, but your flight is the last one out. You have to meet the ME bus by 6, so you know an early dinner is in order. You get counter service for breakfast - using the last two credits - at the ABC Commissary. You are starving from only having half of a mickey waffle for breakfast, and you all decide to eat Mama Melrose's at 11:00. You pay OOP for the kids. Your TS are gone.

Bear in mind there are still some snack credits and I assume you would have gotten some Mickey Bars or smoothies or goodness knows what else in the week.

oOo oOo oOo oOo oOo oOo oOo oOo oOo oOo oOo oOo

OR - try this scenario - using just the table service credits "ethically" and having just one signature dinner:

Saturday - check in early, CS for lunch (16 CS left)
Have your first Mickey Bar on Main Street USA X4 (16 Snack Credits left)
HDD for dinner X 8 credits (12 TS left)

Sunday - Bakery for breakfast (4 pastries/snacks - 12 left)
CS at Resort pool for lunch (12 CS left)
Kids want ice cream by the pool X4 snack credits (12 left)
Dinner at WPC X 4 credits (8TS left)

Monday - Early Entry, Tusker House breakfast X4 CS (4 CS left)
Flame Tree BBQ for lunch X 4 CS (4 CS left)
Hot day, at AK no less, you get smoothies while watching the jungle parade X4 (8 Snack credits left)
Dinner at Ohana X 4 TS credits (4TS left)

Tuesday - Chef Mickey's for breakfast X4 (0 TS left)
Snacks for lunch X4 (4 Snacks left)
Cosmic Ray's dinner X4 CS (0 CS left)
Dole Whip Floats on Main Street during SpectroMagic Parade X4 SCs (0 left)

Wednesday - you are out of all your credits and you have to pay OOP for all your meals. Even if you've skipped the HDD and did a regular 1 credit meal, you have 4 credits on this day for your entire day. If you shared a bigger lunch at CS places, you might have 2 of these to share, too. You are out of snacks as well, so you eat granola bars in the hotel room for breakfast.

Thursday, you take the last flight out, but you spend all day in the park. Again, by now you are certainly out of meals and you have to pay OOP for breakfast and lunch, and perhaps dinner at the airport.


Now - of course, it can be done, and I'm sure lots of people budget their TS and CS credits so that they have enough for the whole trip. This is just one scenario where you aren't necessarily eating signature meals but would still run out of meal options before your last day at the park.

 

[DisneyKidds]

Me thinks the MYW Dining Credits have become the new "Refillable Mugs" .

I have no idea if all the possibilities and related rules are spelled out regarding use of whatever credits you have, and I suspect that some things may be stated but are interpreted by CM's in ways that are to the benefit of the guests. Who's to say what's wrong or right? (I know, I know Bicker....you have the answer) I do have to say that if a CM encouraged me to use the plan in a particular way, and the dining establishment permitted it, I'd assume it was ok and I'd probably do it. Disney is making out ok on the plan (obvious, as they continue to offer it and give it away for "free"), and even CM's seem to take liberties to make it all the more magical for the paying guests.

I'll tell you, we are considering adding the dining plan for our next trip and we like to eat at Brown Derby. If they allow me to pay OOP for the kids meals you can bet your bippy I'll do it as it would be rediculous to use 2 TS credits (even child ones) for mac-n-cheese or a hot dog. There would seem to be inequities on both sides that could be addressed, but probably won't be.

 

[tinkerbeth]

After reading through all these ddp credit threads, it amazes me that the Walt Disney Corporation has not emailed some of the people on the disboards and asked them to be the new CEO since they seem to know SO much more about how Disney should be run than anyone else!

Honestly, I don't understand why people CARE so much what other people do, especially people who are told by employees of WDW how to use these credits. Do they really think they understand the economical workings of the Disney Corporation better than the people who designed this plan?? Do they really think that all these things weren't thought of before they launched the plan?

Sometimes I wish I was an innocent tourist who hadn't spent so much time on these boards listening to every single rule/loophole/moral issue be picked to death, so that when a cm told me something, I would believe it and not hear echoes of all the DisWardens who think it might be wrong.

End of diatribe.

Beth

 

[ReallyFunMom]

Although not enforced the plan brochure requires all guest, or no guests, use MYW Dining credits at signature restaurants, dinner shows and character meals.

QUOTE]

Yep, when Disney cares about it, they specify it. I understood it to be for dinner shows and CRT that you were either all in or all OOP as far as DDP. I have no problem using 8 credits for HDD. (Originally thought we might be too low on credits by last night but now think they charge you at checkin so we won't be able to overspend our TS credits.) Is the rule technically for all 2 TS dining? Can you link me to where it says that? I had planned on California Grill and ordering wine and kids meals OOP but using DDE. I don't want to rely on something not being enforced. The rules clearly say you can pay OOP in addition to using DP but if there is an exception for 2 credit TS, it might be worth changing plans.

ps Why does it look different when I try to use "quote"?

 

[paulh]

we have a 10 year old and are on the free ddp and clased as an adult.We will order oop if he wants to eat of the childs menu and we will use the credit somewhere else i se nought wrong with that or what the op says
Paulh

 

[HalfDozen]

ps Why does it look different when I try to use "quote"?

You probably backspaced or deleted some text from that quote and inadvertantly removed the coding from the second "Quote" word.

It needs to show {QUOTE}.......................{/QUOTE} (except use [ ]s instead of {}s)

 

[paulh]

ps Why does it look different when I try to use "quote"?

You are deleting a bracket too much so dosent regester as a quote
Paulh

 

[keishashadow]

We followed the plan to a "T" when it 1st came out.

the dp throws so much food at you, I have no intention of "saving" my DS's credits to use for yet another TS meal...but, probably should.

I just think some provision/accommodation needs to be made for older children who have more sophisticated palates. How about a $ credit towards an OOP adult meal?

He & I (by default) get stuck eating the dreaded chicken fingers & fries ad nauseum.

BTW, called again today... I was told by DVC MS & WDW Dining & Travel that we cannot purchase the adult plan for our DS either curiouser & curiouser.

I agree with you that it is bizarre; I was just explaining the difference. I would feel pretty bad having paid for a child and then try and buy an adult meal for that child...but that's just me. I wouldnt attempt it since it does say on the card how many adults and children are on the plan.

Even with this generous loophole of pooling all the credits, some feel it isn't enough and try even harder to get even more out of Disney.