has this happened to you?

[bcsmom]

We just got back, & I bought the DDP for myself, DH, DD '11', & DS '8'. The problem was this, DH & I shared a lot of meals so we had some extra credits. Also, my DD had a few extra adult credits left over. We always used the child credit for my DS '8', when we sat down to eat so he did not have any extra. Well on our last day we had 3 extra credits. I did the math, & it definitely was adult credits. Well when we went to eat at WCC, I told the waiter that we had 3 credits left & it was for the adults. He kind of looking at me like I was trying to pull something over. Well he said I have to call & verify this, & if that is what you have it will be fine. Well I did not have a problem with this, but I did not like feeling like a criminal. I was actually thinking about never buying the DDP again, if sharing & saving credits was going to be such a big deal. Does any waiter ever do this to you?

 

[k5thbeatle]

Yet another reason why DDP is bad!

 

[Amyg]

I would have not mentioned the 3 TS meals were adult but simply just say that I would pay OOP for the child, most of the CM's have had no problem with that. We did one OOP at Crystal Palace for my son-9 and they said fine.

 

[tinkwannabe2]

We had no problems with servers questioning anything at any meal... no matter if we wanted to use two credits or six!

 

[bicker]

Until they implement a way of forcing guests to comply with the restriction against using child meal entitlements for adult meals, there is going to be suspicion and animosity whenever a party with children tries to pay OOP for the child. It's a shame, but that's the way it is, and will be, until the information systems themselves are changed, so that servers no longer need to worry about this aspect of the program.

 

[DebIreland]

I don't understand how the waiter knew you had shared some credits. Just because you had an odd number of credits left (3 for 4 people) doesn't automatically mean you had shared meals - for example, on our trip I'm taking DD to H&V, DH and the boys might just get counter service while I use one TS credit at H&V (dd is 2) - therefore our TS credits would be out of synch and we'd have an odd number. You don't all have to be together to use the credits so DH could use 3 per day and I might hypothetically use 1 per day. How did he know that you shared? Sorry, I'm interested in this. We have the same combination as you - 3 adult + 1 child. We'll be ordering off the child's menu for DS9 each time we eat but DH, DS12 and I might share 2 entrees between the 3 of us once or twice, depending on our appetites and again. I don't want to be viewed suspiciously!!

 

[bicker]

That's really the point: The server didn't know. Without doing time-consuming investigation, there is no way to know, and so the servers cannot help but be suspicious. The only way to avoid that suspicion, until Disney changes the information systems, is to never pay OOP for children. It's not fair to the folks who are planning on complying with the rules.

 

[BluOrchid2]

It sounds rather like the supermarket cashier who begrudges each and every coupon that crosses her register, as if the money is coming out of her own pocket!! Servers should NOT be questioning or making judgements upon the guests of WDW!!! If there are credits on the card to cover the meals purchased, it should be processed without any eyebrows being raised. I'm quite sure that when Disney implemented this system, (how long HAS the dining plan been available?) they were perfectly aware of all the various ways to utilize the credits there are. If they had a problem with it, I'm quite positive they would have made any appropriate changes to the DDP by now.

 

[bicker]

It sounds rather like the supermarket cashier who begrudges each and every coupon that crosses her register, as if the money is coming out of her own pocket!!

Hehe... I suppose it does, a little, except that we found out a few months back that some of this concern is being prompted by company audits at the restaurants.

Servers should NOT be questioning ... the guests of WDW!!!

Unfortunately, for now at least, that's their job. Hopefully, Disney will craft a different way, soon. Until then, so guests are not disappointed by their experience, it is better for them to know that this questioning and suspicion occurs, so they can be prepared for it, so it doesn't adversely affect their vacation.

 

[DebIreland]

That's really the point: The server didn't know. Without doing time-consuming investigation, there is no way to know, and so the servers cannot help but be suspicious.

I know what you're saying Bicker but I disagree that he couldn't help but be suspicious. He had no reason at all to be suspicious because it doesn't matter to him how many credits have been used up to the point the customer walks in the door of 'his' restaurant. He can certainly advise and question credit use for the meal that *he* serves if he believes there's something fishy going on. It clearly states on the Disney Dining Plan brochure that you can "Use your meals and snacks in any order and in any amount throughout your package stay." So like I say, I think he was out of line.

 

[bicker]

We can agree to disagree about that.

 

[Pedler]

If they had a problem with it, I'm quite positive they would have made any appropriate changes to the DDP by now.

This has been discussed quite a bit in the past so I won't rehash it all here but suffice it to say that even something that would seem simple like this can take well over a year to implement. Taking into acount the number of disparate platforms, communications protocols, data conversion and testing / implementation issues it can be a long process. This isn't one monolithic system but instead a multitude of platforms including whatever central database systems they have, hotel reservation systems, Full service restuarant systems, counter server Point of Sale systems, general Point of sale systems at places that sell snack products and hand held systems at the carts to name a few. All would need to be reprogrammed. There may still be other systems that need changing and depending upon the availability of programs for each platform and creating a test environment ect, ect... It can take a long time. The rumor is that they are working on changing the system but these things can take a long time.

 

[agnes!]

...there is going to be suspicion and animosity whenever a party with children tries to pay OOP for the child. It's a shame, but that's the way it is, and will be, until the information systems themselves are changed, so that servers no longer need to worry about this aspect of the program.

Why is it considered to be bad form if paying out of pocket(OOP) for a child's meal when using the DDP? We've never been able to get the DDP as we have APs (& the DDE), so if this issue has been hashed/re-hashed/sliced-&-diced before?...sorry about asking again. I just really want to know.

agnes!

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

We just got back, & I bought the DDP for myself, DH, DD '11', & DS '8'. The problem was this, DH & I shared a lot of meals so we had some extra credits. Also, my DD had a few extra adult credits left over. We always used the child credit for my DS '8', when we sat down to eat so he did not have any extra. Well on our last day we had 3 extra credits. I did the math, & it definitely was adult credits. Well when we went to eat at WCC, I told the waiter that we had 3 credits left & it was for the adults. He kind of looking at me like I was trying to pull something over. Well he said I have to call & verify this, & if that is what you have it will be fine. Well I did not have a problem with this, but I did not like feeling like a criminal. I was actually thinking about never buying the DDP again, if sharing & saving credits was going to be such a big deal. Does any waiter ever do this to you?

There really wasn't any need for what your waiter did. You either have 3 credits left or you don't and he'll find that out as soon as he puts your card in when you pay.

 

[melomouse]

Why is it considered to be bad form if paying out of pocket(OOP) for a child's meal when using the DDP? We've never been able to get the DDP as we have APs (& the DDE), so if this issue has been hashed/re-hashed/sliced-&-diced before?...sorry about asking again. I just really want to know.

agnes!

Bcsmom - I think it's a really pixiedust douser to be treated or looked at that way by a server. I am sorry it happened to you, but I thank you for sharing your experience as we leave in 3 days for our FDP and it's helpful for me to hear.


Agnes, at the great risk of the click of the lock closing as I type, the official Disney rules of Dining Plan implementation, as stated by some CM's at Central Dining, is VERY VERY different from what actually occurs in the experiences of returning DIS-er's who have posted here. So different that I almost had a panic attack after I hung up and PM'd several trustworthy and knowledgeable individuals here. PM me if you like.!!!!

 

[bicker]

This has been discussed quite a bit in the past so I won't rehash it all here but suffice it to say that even something that would seem simple like this can take well over a year to implement.

I encountered an interesting data-point for this today. With the software product my company provides, a software enhancement which was proposed in December of 2005, was implemented in March of 2006, and went through System Test in August of 2006, won't be put into production until October or November of 2006.

 

[bicker]

Why is it considered to be bad form if paying out of pocket(OOP) for a child's meal when using the DDP?

I wouldn't think anyone would say it is "bad form". Rather, think of it the other way: If you were going to violate the rules, how would you do it? (I'll leave it at that, since further discussion along those lines probably violates forum rules.) The problem we face is that the restaurants have no quick and easy way to tell the difference with regard to a guest's intent in paying OOP for child meals -- the folks being honest look no different than those violating the rule. Hopefully that'll change sometime soon, and there will be a way to tell the difference.

Your best bet is to discuss this with Disney Dining directly. This isn't an appropriate forum for discussing it beyond restating the rules, since doing so violates forum rules.

 

[bartleby1]

Maybe I'm really dense or just very naive, but I'm not following this either! If I were to pay OOP for my child for, let's say, lunch and chose to save their credit for their next breakfast, why is this a problem? I suppose I'm missing something but I though that was the purpose of the plan - that I could use the credits whenever I wanted to?

I hate to be a thread stealer, I'm just not "getting" this. Can someone please PM me with the answer if this topic is not appropriate?

 

[Mom of 3]

When I went to the WCC last week I checked over te receipt they give you and found that the waiter charged my meal twice, therefore adding an extra $25 to the bill. When I questioned him about it he said not to worry about it that I was charged the correct amount of TS credits (3 adult and 1 child). I was charged the correct amount of TS credits but felt maybe the waiter was trying to get one over on the system because wouldn't this make their tip more.

 

[bicker]

If I were to pay OOP for my child for, let's say, lunch and chose to save their credit for their next breakfast, why is this a problem?

There is no problem with that. The problem would be if you used those credits for an adult meal. That violates the rules of the Dining Plan, as outlined in the Dining Plan brochure.

Q. Can adults use child meal entitlements?

A. Sorry, meal entitlements can not be shared between adults and children
age 3-9.

This whole issue comes up solely because there is no way for restaurants to quickly and easily tell the difference between saving a child's credits for use by the child later from saving a child's credits for use by an adult.