How Are Table Credits Pooled?

[jzmom]

I know when they first started the dining plan they pooled the children and adult table credits. Do they still do that? I was under the assumption that they changed the way the did it. If they still do it the old way I would love to know because than I would pay out of pocket for DD when we go to CRT and free up two TS credits.
Thanks for any help!

 

[3princesses4us]

Oh boy, I hope you have flame retardant clothing on!
For the record, I agree with you and yes, as of now, they are still pooled. But you won't believe the debate that this will start now. Watch and see...

 

[Bronte]

We have two groups going to disney in May ... one with five the other with two ... there are no children in either group ... all are over the age of 10
What if the group made up of two adults pays for their meal plan ... planning to pool all their credits for use at only two sit down resterants for the entire group of seven (one we be using seven credits for and the other one we will use five, splitting meals because of the huge severing sizes.)
Is this allowed or will we be doing something illegal ?????????

 

[thelionqueen]

We have two groups going to disney in May ... one with five the other with two ... there are no children in either group ... all are over the age of 10
What if the group made up of two adults pays for their meal plan ... planning to pool all their credits for use at only two sit down resterants for the entire group of seven (one we be using seven credits for and the other one we will use five, splitting meals because of the huge severing sizes.)
Is this allowed or will we be doing something illegal ?????????

Technically, yes you can do this. However, I hope you're ready to get flamed! People on these boards have very strong opinions about "taking advantage" of the plan.

The plan was meant to be used for the people it is bought for, however, it is up to the individuals to decide how to use their credits.

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

Flame retardant suit on:

Personally the first case of pooling children with adults and therefore paying less but using the credits for adults= probably not allowed and not exactly "fair" to Disney.

The 2nd case of actually paying for the adults but using them for others= not really seeing how that is ripping off Disney? I thought someone even said in the past that you could use your TS meals for like a guest that came in the middle of you trip or met up with you later or something-- that as long as it was adult meal purchased used for adult (and not child meal purchased used for adult) that it really didn't matter- it just meant less meals for YOU and really why would Disney care if the food goes in my adult mouth or my friend's/sister's/etc. adult mouth? Except ofcourse just hoping you wouldn't use them all so they'd make more profit?

(except I don't know about the using of 5 meal credits for 7 people...)

 

[Bronte]

Well ... here is the long and short of it ... we already have ADR's but I started looking at the menus/prices and began thinking that the plan might work but not for all of us all the time ...
Party of five staying 11 days/10 nights, Party of two staying 7days/6nights (this would be the group buying the plan ... REMEMBER no children under 10 in either group.)
We all want to eat at Cape May ... we are all adults ... no problem we will use 7 credits. We would also love to eat at the Coral Reef ... have you seen the meal sizes ... with my parents (both well over 60) and my daughters (ages 10 & 13) I really thought the seven of us could all eat on five credits (five app., five dinners and five deserts sounds like enough to me ... essetially the girls would split a meal and my parents would split one too.) I realize that we would have a seprate bill for drinks which is fine because all the adults will want wine or beer anyways.
Please let me know what you think ...
I do not like "going around the system" but would the dinning plan really be good for us ... we are not big eaters but we do have to eat and the two places we want to go are very expensive?
Thanks,
Bronte

 

[patsal]

We would also love to eat at the Coral Reef ... have you seen the meal sizes ... Bronte

We've never notices large portions at Coral Reef. We eat there at least once per extended vacation, but have never felt like the portions were remotely generous

 

[Bronte]

thanks for the info patsal ... I was just going off the coral reef menue (we have never eaten there before but we did do LeCellier in Dec. and my girls definitly split a meal there and we all had way "too much.")
So you think my party (ages 10, 13, 35, 36, 38, 65 and 68) should all use one credit each because the serving sizes (app., dinner and desert) are small?
Thanks again,
Bronte

 

[jzmom]

Thanks for the info. I think I will keep things as is since we are leaving Monday. We are on vacation so things are susposed to be expensive!

 

[Wenlitz]

When we were there in July our Nephew (who is in his late 20's) joined us for the day. We had purchased the dinning plan and used one of our sit down meals for him. We then purchased a meal at a sit down meal later to make up for the one we used for our nephew. I assume others do this as well. I didnt feel like we were cheating Disney by doing this. Everyone on the dinning plan was an adult. Hope this helps.

 

[pedro2112]

Flame retardant suit on:

Personally the first case of pooling children with adults and therefore paying less but using the credits for adults= probably not allowed and not exactly "fair" to Disney.

Not a flame, but just wanted to point out that it is not only allowed by Disney, but guests are encouraged by Disney management to use the plan this way. So obviously it is 'fair' to disney to use the plan in the manner in which it was intended.

As far as using credits for people that are not on the plan, I can't recall a single poster reporting that this was disallowed. It's not in the plan documents, and there are arguments on boths sides regarding whether this would be proper. On the one hand, those guests didn't pay for the plan, so why allow them the benefits of the plan.. on the other hand, the TS credits used by them won't be used by others.. so the other meals will have to be OOP.

 

[patsal]

thanks for the info patsal ... I was just going off the coral reef menue (we have never eaten there before but we did do LeCellier in Dec. and my girls definitly split a meal there and we all had way "too much.")
So you think my party (ages 10, 13, 35, 36, 38, 65 and 68) should all use one credit each because the serving sizes (app., dinner and desert) are small?
Thanks again,
Bronte

Yes, Le Cellier has generous portions, but Coral Reef has the sized portions that are traditionally expected with high end dining. If you order say lobster ravioli for an appitizer you will get one ravioli--yes it is larger than a traditional ravioli but not so large as to fill you up before your main course comes. A salad is for ceratian single serve. Your entree will not be piled high and hanging off the plate--presentation is just as important as the food. Coral Reef is one of our favorite restaurants and a really awe inspiring atmosphere, but it has often been considered here on the Dis not a great value for your dining $$. Many complain of the high price and small portions. hope this helps!

 

[aubeone]

If I am meeting other people at Disney who are not on the Dining Plan can we eat at the same table? My sister and her daughter live in the area. If they join us for the day can my family eat on the dining plan and I pay out of pocket for the others? If so, what steps would I need to take with the server?

 

[cshaffer21]

We just were at Disney the beginning of January. DD9 was encouraged by our server to choose something off of the adult menu at a couple of table serves since she didn't like anything from the kids menu. Also most of her appetizers and desserts were from the adult menu. We also used a TS credit to pay for sister n law's meal at Boma. and just paid OOP for another of our meals later. We had no problem with that.

Actually none of the servers ever mentioned what credits we would be using. They just took the card and told us how many credits we had left. IT wasn't distinguished which was adult or child.

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

Not a flame, but just wanted to point out that it is not only allowed by Disney, but guests are encouraged by Disney management to use the plan this way. So obviously it is 'fair' to disney to use the plan in the manner in which it was intended.

maybe you misunderstood me- but I don't think that the meal plan was intended to pay for children- then use their TS credits for ADULTS to eat instead.... on a child's TS that was paid for at child rate. I really have a hard time believing that Disney intended for you to pay a child rate for your child's TS meals- then go ahead and pay for them at the meals and use their TS's for adults to eat instead of the child- on those child TS meals you paid for. If they intended for you to pay less for a child yet use the meal for an adult (higher priced) meal-- then why would they charge less for the child's meals on the dining plan? I'm confused.....

Is that what you meant? Or did you misunderstand my post because I hadn't clarified? I was responding in the "first case" where the person said they wanted to pay for DD out of pocket and use their DD's TS meals for adults.

 

[MCazer]

For clarification, we are 2 adults, 2 children on the plan.

My question is: at a TS restaurant, do children get to order an appetizer, then a meal off the children's menu, and then a dessert?

I am very new to this! Thanks!

 

[3princesses4us]

Yes, and if there are no children's appetizers per se, they can order an adult sized appetizer! There is almost always a separate children's entree menu and dessert section though.

 

[shelleyz]

So is it wrong if for counter service meals I get my kids a hot dog meal thats not on the child menu., or a chicken tender meal thats also not on the child menu. The children will be eating the food but they dont like some of the food thats for children only. What are your opinions on that?

 

[pedro2112]

maybe you misunderstood me- but I don't think that the meal plan was intended to pay for children- then use their TS credits for ADULTS to eat instead.

Your children don't have any credits. Disney set up the program (and announced in their literature) that all credits are pooled (not assigned individually) and that (again, according to disney)anyone in your party can use any of the credits at any time (as long as their are credits left. [/QUOTE]

I really have a hard time believing that Disney intended for you to pay a child rate for your child's TS meals- then go ahead and pay for them at the meals and use their TS's for adults to eat instead of the child- on those child TS meals you paid for. If they intended for you to pay less for a child yet use the meal for an adult (higher priced) meal-- then why would they charge less for the child's meals on the dining plan? I'm confused.....

You are mistaking two seperate issues. Yes, Disney did anticipate that people would pay for their kids out of pocket and use the extra TS credits for more sit down meals. They set up their plan so that this is possible (it would be unbelieveably easy for disney to distinguish between an adult and child credit if they so choose). In fact, Disney management instructs their front Desk CMs at the resorts to inform the guests of this. Remember, you are still paying for the kids plan..ten bucks a day. In addition, you still have to pay out of pocket for the kids meal and for the additional kids meal used at the additional TS restaurant. Disney is ensuring that you will be spending that addititional meal at an onsite restaurant, and not going to the competition. Disney obviously feels that this way is much better than not allowing it.

The second issue, regarding how much it cost for a child's meal, is irrelevant to the dining plan. Disney restaurants have always (for the most part) had children's menus. If a child is going to use a TS or CS credit, then they must choose from the children's menu. You aren't paying anything out of pocket in that scenario.

I understand where your logic is coming from, as that is the same thoughts I had when I first heard about this ability (which came after I got back from WDW on the dining plan). However, it is clear that Disney's dining plan does allow this and that this type of activity is encouraged by Disney. I can only assume that they feel, in the long run, they will make more money this way.

 

[pedro2112]

So is it wrong if for counter service meals I get my kids a hot dog meal thats not on the child menu., or a chicken tender meal thats also not on the child menu. The children will be eating the food but they dont like some of the food thats for children only. What are your opinions on that?

Are you asking what people's opinions are on breaking rules? The plan clearly states that all children ages 3-9 must order from the children's menu when they use a dining credit.

If, on the other hand, you are asking people's opinions as to whether you can get away with it, then the answer is probably yes. Most posters that have come back have stated that they were able to get their kids regular adult meals. Mostly they were successful at CS restaurants.