I am in the dark about sharing

[schoen]

I have been reading some of these threads recently, because I will be purchasing the dining plan for my upcoming trip. I am not understanding why people are so up in arms about sharing. I share food with my mom all the time when we go out. I love to go out, and I just can't justify eating all that food, but if it is front of me, I'll eat it. That is why I often try to share when I go out. Sadly my husband is not willing to share with me, so this won't be an issue for me in WDW. I am just curious why people are so passionate about this.
I also wait tables, and I am not going to lie-I get a little annoyed when people share (even though I do it all the time), but just from a monetary perspective. I usually get a better tip if people aren't sharing. At the same time, I imagine if I dealt with the volume of tables that the restaurants at WDW did I probably wouldn't mind at all. I just don't see it as a problem though- I am there as a server to provide my customers with what they want. Of course I would rather that everyone that comes in get a steak, app, dessert, and several drinks, but that is an unrealistic wish.
So I guess my question is, why do people care if other are sharing. I am truely confused by this. I am not trying to . I am just looking to clear up an issue that is a little foggy to me.

 

[frayedend]

Other than the reasons you mentioned, like tips, or maybe taking up a place at a table that would have otherwise been open to a paying customer, there is no reason. I think for some reason a lot of people on these boards think that sharing is stealing in some way. That doesn't make any sense (unless sharing with a child and then using the child credit later for an adult credit, I know, yada yada yada).

If you use one TS (non buffet, I know, yada yada yada) and share it then they gave you 1 meal for 1 credit. That about sums it all up in my opinion.

 

[JimMIA]

So I guess my question is, why do people care if other are sharing.

I think there are a variety of reasons why you see "No, you can't do that" posts on sharing.

1. Some people are honestly outraged by a few (and I think it is a few) who are blatantly, intentionally trying to cheat.
2. Others know that if a benefit or promotion is "worked" it will soon go away or increase in price.
3. Often, we see people explaining plans that we know are not going to work, and someone will step in -- not because they're mad, but because they don't want the poster and their family to be disappointed or embarrassed on their vacation.
4. And certainly not least, Disney has done such an abysmal job of communicating the plan specifics that a lot of people are completely confused about what's allowable and what's not.

I also think some people are so sensitive that when someone says, "Hey, wait a minute...you may have a problem doing that," they do a quantum leap in logic and think the other poster is accusing them of cheating...when they're not at all.

You'll also see people on all sides of every aspect of the topic (and there are a number of different types of sharing) whose emotion outweighs their manners, and that makes for bumpy threads sometimes. I mean, let's face it, some people just like to fight. Those threads generate a lot of sniping, which is really just froth, not concern about the underlying topic. That can sometimes make a thread or topic seem more important than it truly is.

 

[anneofgreengables]

I don't think it's sharing food in general as much as it is using a child's credit to get an adult's meal, which is not allowed.

As far as sharing in general, my DH and I share meals, especially now that we are only about 5 pounds to go towards our ideal weight! (I now can fit into last year's shorts again! ) We won't "diet" at WDW, after all, we're on vacation, but I don't want to go overboard either and eat way more than what we're accustomed to. Then my shorts won't fit again by the end of the trip. So we may share our CS meals--I don't have tons of TS ADRs, just the right number.

 

[bicker]

That's exactly it. Sharing is great. If my wife and I find something we could agree on, and the servers allow it, we'll be sharing. The problem is that some folks are sharing for the purpose of saving TS credits so they can use child meal entitlements for adult meals, which is strictly prohibited, or for folks who aren't on the Dining Plan, which is implicitly prohibited. As a result, indications are that Disney has been contemplating making the Dining Plan more difficult for ALL of us to use. The selfishness of a few results in inconvenience for many. And some folks have already been subject to restrictions that apparently stem from attempts to enforce the rules as best as they can under current circumstances. It's really a shame because the dining plan is already a great deal, without trying to stretch it beyond what it was intended for.

 

[The Sweetness]

That's exactly it. Sharing is great. If my wife and I find something we could agree on, and the servers allow it, we'll be sharing.

for folks who aren't on the Dining Plan, which is implicitly prohibited.

So no more *random acts of kindness* w/ leftover credits, then? Or treating my girlfriend to dinner w/ out the bill getting tricky?

 

[JimMIA]

So no more *random acts of kindness* w/ leftover credits, then? Or treating my girlfriend to dinner w/ out the bill getting tricky?

That's correct.

 

[crisi]

So no more *random acts of kindness* w/ leftover credits, then? Or treating my girlfriend to dinner w/ out the bill getting tricky?

That's pretty much it. Those "random acts of kindness" is what kills Disney's ability to make money on a $40 a day dining plan. They loose money two ways:

1) They depend on some "breakage" in the dining plan - credits that go unused. The plan is not actually priced for you to use all your credits. (You are free to take advantage of every credit you have to use on yourself - but Disney counts on not everyone doing that).

2) The person you "gift" your credits to is not spending money.

So Disney either needs to stop the random acts of kindness or cost the plan to allow no breakage and transferability of credits. That would be a much more expensive plan.

 

[The Sweetness]

Well that is truly crappy The good news is, I have more than one back up plan in mind to distract my dearest girlfriend, who may visit us from Tampa for dinner more than once during our 9 days next year. I was hoping to have it be as simple as using credits for the entire table, and making up for extra used credits with cash later in the week but I can get the kids and DH to get d g/f away from the table while I settle the bills. Really doesnt seem fair, but those are the breaks. I realize that we are truly lucky to be having a vaca at all, let alone one close enough to entice her to join us for a couple of dinners. If only I could afford a second room, and convince her to take a week and a half off from work

 

[Amy&Dan]

Post deleted, I finally found my answer.