Help please!!!! saving dining credits?

[tanmar]

I'm booked in at Narcoosee's and definitely don't want to be using 2 credits for my 4 yr old. I am hoping that my husband and I can each order (using 4 credits) and we will have plenty of food to share and feed him as well.

Has anyone heard of a problem doing this there?

 

[deltabayou]

We just returned from WDW last night. There were several times we used 3 table service meals to feed our family of 5 (me, dh, 10 yr dd, 8 yr dd, and 3 yr ds). The only time we were charged for 5 meals was at the family style dinner at Liberty Tree Tavern. On the last day of our trip we had 8 TS meals left, so we went to the Brown Derby (which requires 2 credits per person) in order to use them up.

 

[Tigger714]

We just returned from WDW last night. There were several times we used 3 table service meals to feed our family of 5 (me, dh, 10 yr dd, 8 yr dd, and 3 yr ds). The only time we were charged for 5 meals was at the family style dinner at Liberty Tree Tavern. On the last day of our trip we had 8 TS meals left, so we went to the Brown Derby (which requires 2 credits per person) in order to use them up.

We found the same to be true. Just be certain that if you order 5 drinks and three meals you request that the two drinks be on a seperate tab. Otherwise you could run into an issue there. (We did and it did take a while to get it straightened out!)

 

[CF'er]

I was just told by my TA that there are "child" credits and "adult" credits so we won't be able to pay OOP for the kids and use their TS credits for the adults later. Is this true? Has anyone done this or had any experience with this? I don't mind paying OOP if I need to but I'd hate to pay for the adults if I don't have to. We have more TS ADR's than credits so we will have to pay. Trying to figure out who and what is the hard part.

An answer to my question would make this easier.

Thanks.
kalen

 

[HayGan]

There is no such thing as adult and child credits right now. Credits can be used for any member of your party. If you wanted to use all credits for adult meals you can do that and pay out of pocket for the children's meals. This may change in the future but that is the way the system is set at the current time.

 

[Wendaeh]

This is a quote from the Mousesavers website:

"Disney’s Magic Your Way Package Plus Dining can be a great value at $35 per night per adult or junior (ages 10-17), $10 per night for children (ages 3-9) -- IF you plan and use the options carefully. Click on the link above to see what's included in the Dining Plan.

Here are some helpful tips for making the most of the Dining Plan:

All of the meal credits for everyone in your party are "pooled." Each individual doesn't have to use his or her own credits. For instance, if you have a family of 4 and stay for 5 nights, you'll have a "pool" of 20 table service credits to use. Credits are not designated as "adult" or "child" credits -- they are all the same. Therefore, if there are kids in your party, you can easily use their credits for adult meals and pay cash for the kids' meals. At meals, just tell your server what you're doing.

You can use your dining plan to pay for a guest's dinner, so if Grandma and Grandpa are traveling with you, you can use your credits to pay for some of their meals!

You can use the meal credits whenever you want during the vacation. If you want to eat two table service meals one day and three counter service meals the next day, no problem.

The list of participating restaurants changes frequently, so be sure to ask if the restaurant participates, especially when you check in for a table service meal.

For many people the plan provides far too much food in each sitting. You may want to consider sharing the counter-service meals. For instance, a family of four might try ordering two adult counter-service meals and sharing the food, possibly supplementing the meal by purchasing a few a la carte items (like extra side orders or drinks). If this works for you, you may be able to stretch your counter-service meals to cover two meals a day!

You can use table service meal credits at a counter-service restaurant. You'll lose some value, but gain flexibility.

If you don't want the drink that is included with your meal, take a bottle of water to go.

Fresh fruit can be used as a dessert, so if you don't want dessert when eating a counter-service meal, take a banana or apple to go and use it as a snack later in the day!

Any leftover snacks or counter-service meals can be used to pack a lunch for the trip home. Your resort's food court has packable food.
Thanks to Heather G and Small World Vacations for suggestions."

 

[Frantasmic]

In my short time posting here (3 months) and my longer time lurking before that (5 months), I do not remember anyone reporting being able to convert TS credits to CS credits, despite what Mary reports.

Just my observation.

 

[kimmbagley]

In my short time posting here (3 months) and my longer time lurking before that (5 months), I do not remember anyone reporting being able to convert TS credits to CS credits, despite what Mary reports.

Just my observation.

Just did it on 11/11. DH and both DD were in bed with a stomach bug and couldn't make Hoop Dee Doo (I still went with the rest of our group). After a few phone calls and because of the circumstances, they credited back 6 TS to the card. When trying to redeem them as CS we did have to explain what had happened, but it was no problem at all.

 

[Wendaeh]

Mary posted a trip report from the Food and Wine Festival using the dining plan:

"One afternoon we returned to the hotel in the afternoon and wanted a couple of soft drinks. We had used up our snack credits but had a bunch of counter-service credits left. I grabbed two soft drinks and two Mickey rice krispy treats (which we carried home in our luggage) and asked the Gasparilla Grill cashier if we could use counter-service credits for them. Each counter-service credit normally entitles you to an entree, side dish, dessert and soft drink, so I figured we would just skip the entree and side dish. No problem. In fact, she only charged me one counter-service credit, which was really pretty fair since the snacks I selected would have cost around $10.

Similarly, I've been told you can use table-service credits for counter-service meals. In general it seems that a "downgrade" is fine. As long as the dollar value is the same or less, most Cast Members are willing to be a bit flexible about how your credits are used. You just can't "upgrade" -- for instance, you can't use a counter-service credit at a table-service restaurant, or a snack credit for a counter-service meal."

This is why we bought the plan -- it's flexibility.

19 days!!!!
Wendy

 

[LoriZH]

Quick question, can you pay for kids at buffets and only use the dining credits for adults in the party?

 

[Sophierella]

I just got off the phone with a CM on the 407-WDW-DINE line. I specifically asked how the credits work. I was told you may NOT use a child credit for an adult meal and that the credits are NOT pooled. She told me that the restaurant would swipe EACH card for EACH member of the party (unless you want to pay cash).

When I booked this package, I was told the credits were pooled. And I was told you only needed to use one card while paying the bill.

Why is it you never get the same answer twice? I just want to know what the exact rules are so we can use this plan to suit our needs best.

Last year we had the "Silver Plan" and all the credits (called wishes at the time) were pooled together. So I'm wondering if some CMs still have these rules in their heads?

Anyone figured this out yet? Have you paid with one card, or have you paid with individual cards from all party memebers? Thank you!!!!!!!!

 

[deltabayou]

She told me that the restaurant would swipe EACH card for EACH member of the party (unless you want to pay cash).

When I booked this package, I was told the credits were pooled. And I was told you only needed to use one card while paying the bill.

Has anyone figured this out yet? Have you paid with one card, or have you paid with individual cards from all party memebers? Thank you!!!!!!!!

We just returned from Disney (11/5-11/11). Several times we ordered 2 adult TS meals and paid cash for the children's meals. Each time, we told the waiter upfront that we were ordering 2 adult TS meals from the dining plan and paying cash for the children's meals. We never had any problem. The waiter would take only my dh's "Key to the World" card and his VISA (for the kids' meals). Our waiters made some pretty hefty tips from us. The dining plan included the tip and the meals that were paid for in cash also included a tip on the receipt. Most of the tips for our meals were in excess of $20.

Kathleen

 

[Sophierella]

Thanks deltabayou!

It's always good to hear first-hand how things work. I just wish the people working there knew how it worked

Anyone else have the same experience?

Thanks again!

 

[kimmbagley]

Quick question, can you pay for kids at buffets and only use the dining credits for adults in the party?

I was told absolutely not at buffets, regular TS is ok.

 

[kimmbagley]

I just got off the phone with a CM on the 407-WDW-DINE line. I specifically asked how the credits work. I was told you may NOT use a child credit for an adult meal and that the credits are NOT pooled. She told me that the restaurant would swipe EACH card for EACH member of the party (unless you want to pay cash).

When I booked this package, I was told the credits were pooled. And I was told you only needed to use one card while paying the bill.

Why is it you never get the same answer twice? I just want to know what the exact rules are so we can use this plan to suit our needs best.

Last year we had the "Silver Plan" and all the credits (called wishes at the time) were pooled together. So I'm wondering if some CMs still have these rules in their heads?

Anyone figured this out yet? Have you paid with one card, or have you paid with individual cards from all party memebers? Thank you!!!!!!!!

We were just there as a GG. We had 2 families, and each time they just took 1 card from each family. All credits were pooled and each family also got their own separate checks for beer or any extras. Because we were a party of 8 though, there was an automatic 18% gratuity on those separate checks. We also ordered adult CS for DD age 9 with no questions.

 

[LPZ_Stitch!]

We were just there 11/6 - 11/11 and the credits were pooled; all they ever took was my room key.

There are three of us (me, DW, and DS9) and we used three (or six, for the Hoop-de-doo) credits for each TS meal (Hoop-de-doo, Boma, Hollywood & Vine, and Biergarten).

We often shared CS meals, as we didn't want to be overly full when going to an all-you-can-eat buffet!

To be fair, we ordered child meals with DS's credits and adult meals with ours; except at Pizza Planet where there aren't any kids' meals.

 

[kutchyone]

A little different spin on the DDP. Can you use credits for people not on the card. Example, Grandma who lives in Orlando and is not staying with you decides to have dinner with you and the husband. Will they allow you to use 3 TS credits?

 

[HayGan]

I was told absolutely not at buffets, regular TS is ok.

They can't make you use a credit for a meal. That is one rule I don't ever see changing. People often dine with people who aren't in their room or on the same plan.

 

[SB in KY]

Kutchyone:

My mom and sister joined us for a couple of days last week on our stay and we used 2 extra TS credits at one meal for them and the same at CS (actually I guess that was really just 1 CS since my mom and I shared a meal....but the principle is the same)....they could not care less how many meals you order and who shares with whom.... now we did not get into any child/adult issues since both of my DD's are teens so had adult credits...I did overhear a family at another table at Boma's that had a 5 or 6 year old and did not want to use a credit for him to eat on....the waiter politely explained that since it was a buffet he had to charge for everyone at the table, but if they wanted to save the dining credit they could pay seperately for his meal. The mom kept complaining it was a waste because the kid would not eat anything they had there....so the waiter sent a chef out to the table to walk the child through the buffet and help him find things he liked and then sent an entire tray of some kind of sandwiches to the table for him!! The kid made 3 or 4 trips to the buffet and someone at the table did in the entire tray of sandwiches and then she still whined about having to use a TS credit for the kid when the check came!!

 

[huskies90]

I just got off the phone with a CM on the 407-WDW-DINE line. I specifically asked how the credits work. I was told you may NOT use a child credit for an adult meal

When I called they told me the same thing

Why is it you never get the same answer twice? I just want to know what the exact rules are so we can use this plan to suit our needs best.

I have been asking the same question for 2 months. I guess I will find out for myself soon enough.