HELP! I thought I had it - NOT! (Don't read if sharing discussion turns you off)

[irazabul]

Okay here it is. I do not want to use a child credit for an adult meal. However I want to maximize my enjoyment and personal values in using the Adult TS credits that I get...PROBLEM...see below.

Here is my itinerary. 5 Nights, 10 Adult TS credits, 5 Child TS credits.

12/2: Wolfgang Puck Dinner (1 Adult TS - shared, 1 Child TS)
12/3: CRT Lunch (4 Adult TS, 2 Child TS)
12/3: Tony's Town Sq. Dinner (1 Adult TS - shared, 1 Child TS)
12/4: H&V Character Lunch (2 Adult TS - shared, 1 Child TS)
12/5: Chefs De france Lunch (1 Adult TS - shared, 1 Child TS)
12/5: Teppanyaki Dinner (1 Adult TS - shared, 1 Child TS)
12/6: Raglan Road Dinner (1 Adult TS shared, 1 Child TS)

The obvious problem with the above, or almost any combination of sharing adult meals, is that when I get to 12/5, ALL the Child TS is used up. However, how do you explain to the CS/CM that I've already used up my Child TS - there is no way they can know that from what I've read so far (and believe me, I've READ and it makes me dizzy to be writing what I am writing). Unless we are able to tell the waiter that we are sharing 1 adult TS and paying OOP for the child, I am concluding that there is NO way to share adult meals with another adult if you have a child on the plan as well. PLEASE someone correct me or help me see if I am missing anything. I HAVE A BS IN ACCOUNTING, AN MBA IN FINANCE, AND A JD AND RIGHT NOW I AM FEELING VERY CONFUSED!!

And to those asking why am I worried about it -- My wife and I eat very little and I've grown up taught to either eat everything on your plate or dont order it at all -- I know we could just order one plate and say "please charge us 2 credits" but that does not feel good either.

 

[irazabul]

I know one answer is to pay OOP for the CRT and that way have enough credits for the rest, but that would mean that I would be "cheating" by using the child TS for adult meals for the last two meals, and that doesn't feel good either.

 

[JoiseyMom]

Well if you are so concerned, save your receipts from the previous dinners, and show the server, that you have used all your "child" credits. Also, if they do what ppl here say they are going to do, when you are there, the credits will be separated, and it will not matter, you can just pay OOP.

 

[Topper]

12/4: H&V Character Lunch (2 Adult TS - shared, 1 Child TS)

cannot share at a buffet......

 

[punkin]

12/4: H&V Character Lunch (2 Adult TS - shared, 1 Child TS)

cannot share at a buffet......

Yes, but he's counting 2 TSs so that should be OK.

 

[JimMIA]

This is not a DDP issue, really, but you have a couple of meals there where I'm not sure the restaurant themselves will let you share. I'm thinking of WP, Teppenyaki and Chefs de Paris.

We ate at Tepp on the DDP, but we weren't sharing, so I can't help with that one. I do know that everyone at our table had their own meal (there were two other families at our table, all on the DP). Didn't strike me as the kind of meal where they would allow sharing, no matter how you're paying.

Hopefully someone who's actually done it can tell you for all three places.

 

[wdwobsessed]

I would say to hold tight because things could change by December. I mean Disney can do a lot of tweaking in the next 4+ months!

I'm really starting to wish they would just seperate it out in the system already so these types of dillemas would go away.

I do think having your reciepts onhand is a great idea. That is what I would do if things remain the way they are now when you are there.

WDWO

 

[irazabul]

as usual, board always comes up with great suggestions.

I am shocked (and glad) at how many people are here. This is a great place for discussion. thanks to all.

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

It doesn't take 3 degrees to figure out if you're going to share the majority of your meals, or you are disinclined to order so much food, you might be better off not having the dining plan at all. Not a flame, just a thought... this way you and your spouse could actually order as little as you wished... without guilt and without unnecessary explanation on your part to the waitstaff... not to mention one less planning headache!


Good luck and enjoy your trip!

 

[irazabul]

no dining plan sounds good too. Sometimes one gets so into it that the obvious gets lost. thanks.

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

no dining plan sounds good too. Sometimes one gets so into it that the obvious gets lost. thanks.

On our second trip I calculated what we would likely order if we did not have the dining plan and weighed it against the cost of the dining plan. I discovered that even scrimping would cost us about as much as the plan does, but in our case on the DDP we are 3 adults (in reality, 1 mom and 2 kids) and sometimes we split 2 meals for 3 people in non-buffet restaurants. Usually not a big deal, and we draw straws to see who has to order water When we dined at CRT last year it was still one TS credit, so I have no experience where the signature restaurants are concerned.

But truly... it might be less stressful to just pay cash. The DDP isn't really designed to provide many small meals. In fact, I think it's designed to force guests to have to pay out of pocket for the some of the things they'd really rather have...

Good luck!

 

[JLS]

I honestly think that if the DDP is becoming so stressful that you would have to carry around every receipt and then sweat it when the bill arrives, possibly having to launch into a long explanation that neither the server nor the manager will want to deal with, then it is easier to pay cash. This is your vacation!! Not worth stressing over.

 

[salmoneous]

Why make it complicatd? Assuming there aren't changes to how the plan is run, why wouldn't you just use your 15 TC credits for the meals through Chefs and be done with it?

When used in a straightforward manner, the dinning plan is very simple. It's only when you try to ring every possible bit of value that it gets complicated.

 

[Pooh Girl 71]

This is not a DDP issue, really, but you have a couple of meals there where I'm not sure the restaurant themselves will let you share. I'm thinking of WP, Teppenyaki and Chefs de Paris.

We ate at Tepp on the DDP, but we weren't sharing, so I can't help with that one. I do know that everyone at our table had their own meal (there were two other families at our table, all on the DP). Didn't strike me as the kind of meal where they would allow sharing, no matter how you're paying.

Hopefully someone who's actually done it can tell you for all three places.

DD and I have shared at Teppanyaki every time we have ever gone. We get an entree, a side of scallops and dessert. We've never been given a problem.

 

[bicker]

When used in a straightforward manner, the dinning plan is very simple. It's only when you try to ring every possible bit of value that it gets complicated.

I was just discussing this with my wife on our afternoon walk. I was telling her about all the neat stuff you can get with snack credits, and she rolled her eyes at me and said that if the Dining Plan is really that much work, it isn't worth the bother.

The Dining Plan is a great bargain. I've posted this several times before... I spent a little time and took a guess at what we'd end up paying for meals, assuming we weren't getting the Dining Plan next year, and assuming that we'd never order either appetizers or dessert. It came to $902.50. The Dining Plan will cover every single meal we were going to eat out (we're having breakfast each morning in our villa), includes appetizers and desserts, and will only cost us $779.80. Can't beat that.

 

[Hannathy]

I'm also wondering that being on vacation do you and your wife really want to split every meal? Do you want to have to eat the same thing as each other everyday. Don't you ever like different things? I eat very little and plan on taking the desert with me most days, but when I am on vacation I don't want to have to look at a menu then compromise and negotiate over every meal. If enough people keep sharing on the plan I see the rest. putting a sharing charge onto the bill ( like many do already at other places).

 

[HillPete]

Personally, I don't think CRT is worth 2 credits, adult or child. I say pay OOP for that one and when you run out of credits, pay for what's left OOP. If you are really trying to get a lot of value out of the plan, then CRT is a total waste. Go to allearsnet.com and check out prices. See what you might order and see what will come out the best for you $$-wise.

We are going in January and will have 2A/1C in one room and 1A/1C in the other. I had planned to buy the DDP for the room with 3 people and have the kids share and DH and I share occasionally (paying OOP for the rest), but I just crunched the numbers and discovered that it's actually cheaper to buy the plan for all five of us!

YMMV, so let your fingers do the walking!

--H

 

[patsal]

I was just discussing this with my wife on our afternoon walk. I was telling her about all the neat stuff you can get with snack credits, and she rolled her eyes at me and said that if the Dining Plan is really that much work, it isn't worth the bother.

The Dining Plan is a great bargain. I've posted this several times before... I spent a little time and took a guess at what we'd end up paying for meals, assuming we weren't getting the Dining Plan next year, and assuming that we'd never order either appetizers or dessert. It came to $902.50. The Dining Plan will cover every single meal we were going to eat out (we're having breakfast each morning in our villa), includes appetizers and desserts, and will only cost us $779.80. Can't beat that.

It is exactly what we found as well, and as for the snacks it really wasn't any work either, especially with the expanded options--the only thing I paid for OOP were some pastries in France--nothing was signed (big surprise at Epcot) so I just paid and we used our snack credits later for smoothies at MGM. I plan my ADR's but very little else--if you just pay and do what you normally would do it is simple. Only when you try to work it will you get a big headache and hours of should I do this? or should I do this? As for pairing it with DVC honestly for a few days after we got back home I couldnt' figure out why I was so relaxed and not stressed at all--it was mcuh more crowded than usual, we didn't get to repeat as many rides as we usually do so that part wasn't stress free--it was that for the first time on vacation I didn't have to cook one meal! We go out a good percentage of the time but with two kids we try to cut a few meals out and eat them in the villa and I used to prepare big breakfasts so that the kids would be able to go a little longer in the parks. I always comprimised on what I was having after the kids ordered to try to stay within budget. This time no cooking, the kids had cereal for breakfast, CS for lunch and TS for dinner and I could have whatever I really wanted! This was the most relaxing DVC vacation I've ever had! Even with the desserts and snacks I only gained three pounds (we used the plan for 2 weeks followed by 2 days CL at AKL, and I have them off already. Hope DVC can add DDP in 2007 because I will be using it again if I can!

 

[bicker]

Hope DVC can add DDP in 2007 because I will be using it again if I can!

I just did, for February 2007.

 

[Lewisc]

Just curious if you went back and checked your numbers as a result of the restaurant changes.

Assume the changes in the brochure become final, although I doubt that will happen. If it's not too much work also assume you'll be unable to get an ADR at Le Cellier and at Coral Reef. You might be able to book it but many guests will get shut out.

The Dining Plan is a great bargain. I've posted this several times before... I spent a little time and took a guess at what we'd end up paying for meals, assuming we weren't getting the Dining Plan next year, and assuming that we'd never order either appetizers or dessert. It came to $902.50. The Dining Plan will cover every single meal we were going to eat out (we're having breakfast each morning in our villa), includes appetizers and desserts, and will only cost us $779.80. Can't beat that.