Heads up for plan fudgers in 2007

[heartsy77]

I wrote to Disney on that--kids meals are intended for the under 10 crowd and it is printed on the menus that they are "for our guests under 10 please." I asked because sometimes my 11 yo likes the stuff from a children's menu. The reply I was given from Disney Dining was that my 11 yo could order off the children's menu but that an adult credit would be used. I found that when she did, she kind of mixed and matched the meal--the app from the children's menu, an adult entree, kids dessert--or another combination. If she chose a children's entree we found that the portion was doubled. If you are saving adult credits that you paid an adult price for there is no transgression. You shouldn't have a problem with that. If you just want to order an entree for your 10yo and skip the dessert and app. you shouldn't have an issue paying for that oop.

BTW I used to live in Endicott, both of my children were born in Vestal. It is a beautiful area to raise a young family.

That so cool we live about 1/2 hour away from their, in Newark Valley I just use Binghatom because I know nobody has any idea where Newark Valley is!

 

[TinkerbellMama]

No, it means that your maximum at any meal would be 4 adults. You can't get 5 adult meals at a TS location if your card says A04 (4 adults). One person can still go and order the food, but what you are allowed to order will be based on the entitlements printed on your card.

Does that mean when we (on DDP) dine with my parents (not on DDP...they are locals with APs and do not stay onsite), they can't eat??? Sorry, Mom, Dad...you'll have to go hungry since you're not on the DDP! Or sit at another table!

 

[Sammie]

When WDW turned the child's meal to crap, they made it all a lot worse for themselves. ANd now they are turning the screws on people who are just trying to get their kids a decent meal.

I think all the restrictions are going to make for A LOT of unhappy children across WDW.

Actually based on marketing from Disney not reviews here on the DIS, the DDP and the child's meals are very widely liked.

As others have said the DDP is not a fit all for everyone. Some will find it it too much food, others will find that their 9 and under prefers adult meals, some will find their older child does not want to eat that much food either.

Each family will have to decide what works for them and plan accordingly. No one is forcing the DDP on anyone and everyone can still visit without it.

 

[Sammie]

Does that mean when we (on DDP) dine with my parents (not on DDP...they are locals with APs and do not stay onsite), they can't eat??? Sorry, Mom, Dad...you'll have to go hungry since you're not on the DDP! Or sit at another table!

Since they will be paying OOP or you will for them, you should have no problem, since you will not be trying to use your DDP to feed them.

 

[jodifla]

No need to be unhappy. If the dinning plan doesn't work out for people then they shouldn't get it. The DDP definitely isn't a one size fits all plan. People can still continue to pay out of pocket for meals just as they have in the past.

I do think that for a majority of families the "crap" that is on the children's menus is fine. I don't see much of a difference in the type or quality of food on the children's menus than I see at most other sit down or counter service places outside of Disney world. We can discuss the appropriateness of what passes for kids menus at most places all day long but it doesn't change that fact that there must be some type of demand out there if that many places offer the same type of fare. There is a reason that chicken nuggets are on many places kids menus. It because kids want them.

For the record, you may be unfamiliar with my arguments, but I think the new kids menu that took all the chicken fingers and grilled cheese off the menus was one of the stupidest things WDW ever did.

It looks like they've adjusted the TS meals to have lots of good choices, but the kids counter service meals are more atrocious and expensive than ever, which is going to be a problem for the folks on DDP. Many of those don't frequent the boards, and will be surprised to see the VERY LIMITED CS menus, which as poster after poster has said, really bored their kids.

Since I don't do the DDP, this won't affect my family. But it will wreck the vacations of unsuspecting DDPers.

 

[jodifla]

Actually based on marketing from Disney not reviews here on the DIS, the DDP and the child's meals are very widely liked.

As others have said the DDP is not a fit all for everyone. Some will find it it too much food, others will find that their 9 and under prefers adult meals, some will find their older child does not want to eat that much food either.

Each family will have to decide what works for them and plan accordingly. No one is forcing the DDP on anyone and everyone can still visit without it.

If the new menus were that well liked, they wouldn't have gone through the major adjustment less than a month after they were implemented.

And I've spoken with mangers of a couple of the restaurants...and frankly, the meals they rolled out first weren't all that well liked, according to their own admissions.

 

[bicker]

Does that mean when we (on DDP) dine with my parents (not on DDP...they are locals with APs and do not stay onsite), they can't eat??? Sorry, Mom, Dad...you'll have to go hungry since you're not on the DDP! Or sit at another table!

Hehe... no they just need to pay for their meals in cash. That's all.

 

[DCDisney]

It looks like they've adjusted the TS meals to have lots of good choices, but the kids counter service meals are more atrocious and expensive than ever, which is going to be a problem for the folks on DDP. Many of those don't frequent the boards, and will be surprised to see the VERY LIMITED CS menus, which as poster after poster has said, really bored their kids.

When they changed the menus again things improved somewhat but a number of other restaurants have also switched to these menus including Le Cellier and Coral Reef which for us still means lots of repition for the kids. The CS have been very limited the past few years so we were used to that but now with the same sugar free jello for dessert everywhere and no more cute desserts included at TS it just won't be the same for my kids. We have had a few non-planner friends go recently and they were shocked by how the kids got nearly the same foods at all TS and CS they went to. It's hard to imagine where these wonderful reviews are coming from......perhaps on a tasting basis people like the kids foods? Or people not eating so many TS meals?

Yvonne

 

[Nancyg56]

That so cool we live about 1/2 hour away from their, in Newark Valley I just use Binghatom because I know nobody has any idea where Newark Valley is!

Ot for sure, but until recently my DS and his wife owned their home in Butternuts and my DS worked in Sydney. No one knew where they lived umless they mentioned Binghamton or Oneonta.

 

[DisOrBust]

I agree whole heartly with Jodi. The talbe service menu when were there 11/23-12/3 was god aweful. Its getting better now but the CS still is bad. My friend at work goes in a month with her 4 and 8yo boys. I gave her a some of Debs CS menu and she was dumbfounded how kid unfrindly they are. I can here the conversations now, "here son eat your sugar free jello while I eat this big old chocolate cake. " "Enjoy your cold "grilled marked" chicken while I bite on down this double cheese burger". Yes most parents give up their food for their kids but they shouldn't have too. To buy them their own adult meal OOP is an extra expense that many people will not be planning on. If its for the health sake of our children then why do the adults get to eat the bacon double cheese with fries and a chocolate cake? Anyone care to guess the calorie/Fat/Trans fat contents of one of those prepackaged goodies??? Sorry its all about cost containment.

 

[Allison]

I thought this thread was about the changes for dining plan credits not the kids menu. There are plenty of other threads to discuss that on.

 

[jodifla]

I thought this thread was about the changes for dining plan credits not the kids menu. There are plenty of other threads to discuss that on.

My point is that the issues are linked. The children's menus have nothing many kids will eat on them. Under the old DDP, parents could often sub more edible adult food. Now, they are SOL.

 

[honeymo78]

And as people have said before - if you and your kids don't like the kids food available don't get the DDP. The new menus have been around long enough for people to cancel DDP for trips this year if the menu doesn't suit them. Relying on the ability to use kids credits for adult food is misguided at best. People aren't SOL, they just shouldn't get DDP and feed the kids whatever they please. If DDP doesn't fit/save you money don't blame Disney because you bought it anyway.

If there is a huge drop off in DDP use then Disney will look for the cause. Someone posted earlier that DDP isn't for everyone not was it intended as such - these moves perhaps will align actual usage with expected usage.

 

[themudd4]

My point is that the issues are linked. The children's menus have nothing many kids will eat on them. Under the old DDP, parents could often sub more edible adult food. Now, they are SOL.

Just because your children do not like the items on a menu...don't walk away. many offer PB&J and spagattii for the "pickiest" of eaters. Alot of times it may not be on the menu...so you have to ask.

 

[jodifla]

And as people have said before - if you and your kids don't like the kids food available don't get the DDP. The new menus have been around long enough for people to cancel DDP for trips this year if the menu doesn't suit them. Relying on the ability to use kids credits for adult food is misguided at best. People aren't SOL, they just shouldn't get DDP and feed the kids whatever they please. If DDP doesn't fit/save you money don't blame Disney because you bought it anyway.

If there is a huge drop off in DDP use then Disney will look for the cause. Someone posted earlier that DDP isn't for everyone not was it intended as such - these moves perhaps will align actual usage with expected usage.

The argument is a bit academic to me...I never get the DDP. IMO it's poisoning the Disney dining experience.

But lots of folks do, based on past menus and plan options, and a lot are going to be surprised when they show up and there's nothing for their kids to eat. And then they ARE SOL.

 

[rolshuk]

We're going for 14 days too and I don't want my DD looking like a hot dog by the end of it!

Lots of buffets for us I think!

I totally agree...I couldnt eat this all the time so why should she....I would happily pay a small supplement for her to have something more "grown up".
We too will be eating at more buffets and family style places to avoid this.

 

[DisneyKidds]

We won't have any trouble feeding our kids at TS on the plan. Between the buffets we do frequently and a few TS places we frequent that actually have decent kids meals we'll be fine. I wonder how CS meals are going to shake out. I suppose we were evil CS plan fudgers in the past. I have to admit I liked in the past not having to worry about whether a particular CS place "kids offering". We always found them something they could eat. But now you can't go to a place like Pizzafari and get your kids pizza. That just seems odd.....but we'll work within the parameters of the program. I suppose for CS we'll look to places like Casey's and Toy Story Pizza Planet that don't seem to have seperate kids offerings.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Here is the link I am reading from. If anyone has other information please do post it. I honestly believe this keeps some people awake at night however I personally think the concern is hilarious. What would happen to disney without the honor police.

Yeah, hee hee, it's a regular riot. If you read the original post in this thread, and if not the multiple pages of discussion then at least the post directly above yours, you will see that DISNEY has begun enforcing the 'Adult credit for Adult Table Service Meal, Child credit for Child Table Service Meal' PUBLISHED restriction of the Disney Dining Plan.

Does ANYONE know if i can have a table service for lunch...
and Dinner.....and then skip the next day for a t.s.......

Meaning....is the big thing not swapping adult and kids meals....

Or will they not let u use more than 1 ts a day per person...
thanks

Oh, sure. Each participant can use their own credits however they see fit. You could conceivably use six Table Service credits one day (breakfast at CRT, lunch at the Brown Derby, dinner at California Grill), and spread your Counter Service and Out of Pocket meals through the rest of your vacation.

When WDW turned the child's meal to crap, they made it all a lot worse for themselves. ANd now they are turning the screws on people who are just trying to get their kids a decent meal.

I think all the restrictions are going to make for A LOT of unhappy children across WDW.

Two observations: the first, not directed solely at this post, but in response to several in this thread - this thread isn't about the menu choices or changes; it's about Disney's enforcement of the "Adult credit for Adult meal, Child credit for Child meal" condition of the Disney Dining Plan; and second, as has been stated several times here and in other threads: The DDP is not for everyone. Pay out of pocket for your meals and you can order anything on the menu for yourself, your children, your guests... Opt for the Dining Plan and expect to have to comply with the Plan's rules.

I thought this thread was about the changes for dining plan credits not the kids menu. There are plenty of other threads to discuss that on.

My point is that the issues are linked.

However, the point of THIS THREAD is that effective 1/1/07, Disney has instituted programming changes designed to prevent Guests from using Child credits for Adult meals.

But lots of folks do, based on past menus and plan options,

What's that disclaimer used by investment firms? Something like "Past performance is no guarantee of future results"?

 

[Sammie]

The argument is a bit academic to me...I never get the DDP. IMO it's poisoning the Disney dining experience.

But lots of folks do, based on past menus and plan options, and a lot are going to be surprised when they show up and there's nothing for their kids to eat. And then they ARE SOL.

And I think those folks will do just fine, not everyone thinks there is nothing to eat at Disney World. And you know when you start using profanity to make your point, even in code, you lost my respect for your point of view.

I think this continous discussion of "menu change, DDP is ruining the world" has been beat to death and Allison's point was can we please not rehash it on "every" dining thread but at least confine it to the ones specifically pertaining to menu changes.

 

[phlufster]

It is interesting how people are getting so worked up over getting what they paid for...
If you payed for 2 adults and 2 children DDP, then why are you so shocked that Disney wants to hold you to that??

The change that has been implemented is that you can only use the maximum amounts listed on your card. If you want to use less, that is your perogative, but you can not, in one sitting, use more than listed. If you want to order a appetizer as an adult and then hand it off to your child, no problem, as long as you order what you are allowed per the DDP. I know as a server, that I don't care who eats what food, I just make sure that each person gets what they are entitled and often suggest that people share appetizers and desserts. This is not to boost my check average, but because I understand that the dining plan is comfusing sometimes and I want to make sure that everyone gets what they paid for.
As far as childrens meals, if you ask nicely, many restaurants are more than accomidating for different food requests. The restaurant I work at has pizza and beefy mac for kids. They also have a salmon, steak and grilled chicken option as well. Those are served with broccoli and rice, which, if you ask, can be subbed out for fries. All you have to do at most places is explain what your child will eat and they will see if they can accomidate.