Just had a live online chat with Disney castmember

[mickeystoontown]

While looking around the Disney World website, a live online chat box came up. I decided to pose a few questions to the castmember.

I asked if my 11 year old son could order from the kids' menu and they said absolutely.

I told the castmember that we were on the basic dining plan and I asked if we could order an appetizer instead of a dessert. She said that it was certainly possible and to just ask the server at the restaurant.

I wonder if Disney is now tinkering with the 2008 Dining Plan or if I just got a castmember who didn't know her facts.

 

[Tricia1972]

I would guess that you got a CM who doesn't know her facts.

It's true your 11 year old can order off of the children's menu. They'll be charged an adult credit for the $7.00 meal, but you can do it. Some people have paid OOP for their 'adult; children ordering off of the child's menu, and saved the adult credit for a signature experience.

If one Dis'er had any success with substituting an appetizer for a dessert, I am quite positive that the boards would have exploded with the news. I haven't seen any news like that. I have actually seen post after post of the exact opposite. No substitutions allowed.

 

[mickeystoontown]

I was thinking the same thing.

I will probably just let him order off the adult menu but still use the table service credit 'cause we wouldn't use it elsewhere. He'll only do this at one..maybe two...restaurants. Even factoring that in, the dining plan still comes out a better deal for us.

We won't be going to WDW until the last week of May through the first full week of June so I was wondering if maybe, just maybe, they were thinking about the appetizer/dessert substitution.

 

[jjohnson]

It could happen
They suddenly changed the available snack options mid-year.

 

[Brian Noble]

The ground could open up and swallow the Magic Kingdom whole, too. But, it's not very likely.

 

[TDC Nala]

I told the castmember that we were on the basic dining plan and I asked if we could order an appetizer instead of a dessert. She said that it was certainly possible and to just ask the server at the restaurant.

Of course you can always ask. According to everything we've heard here since the beginning of 2008, it's most likely that the answer will be "no."

 

[DISNEYRIFFIC]

We were there in Jan and one of our waitress' told us that so many people were complaining that they heard Disney was to do a review of the plan before the summer peak hit.

Not getting to excited, who know how much she really knows anyhow.

 

[mickey2000]

 

[laurabelle]

While looking around the Disney World website, a live online chat box came up. I decided to pose a few questions to the castmember.

I asked if my 11 year old son could order from the kids' menu and they said absolutely.

I told the castmember that we were on the basic dining plan and I asked if we could order an appetizer instead of a dessert. She said that it was certainly possible and to just ask the server at the restaurant.

I wonder if Disney is now tinkering with the 2008 Dining Plan or if I just got a castmember who didn't know her facts.

Question 1.) Yes, in our experience on the DDP our picky 11 yr old ordered off the kids menu. BTW-We always paid OOP for her meal and any extras using the DDE discount.

Question 2.) Well she's a good salesperson! She didn't say yay or nay and left you feeling like it was possible...

 

[jjohnson]

The ground could open up and swallow the Magic Kingdom whole, too. But, it's not very likely.

 

[MomsOf2boys]

I was thinking the same thing.

I will probably just let him order off the adult menu but still use the table service credit 'cause we wouldn't use it elsewhere. He'll only do this at one..maybe two...restaurants. Even factoring that in, the dining plan still comes out a better deal for us.

We won't be going to WDW until the last week of May through the first full week of June so I was wondering if maybe, just maybe, they were thinking about the appetizer/dessert substitution.

My 11 year old is a very picky eater as well but has looked at many of the menus and figures that he will eat some appetizers such as cheese/fruit plates or something with shrimp or fried cheese... and if he orders a meal with no sauces on them such as steak and mashed potatoes and the desert he will be fine. His older brother will be more than happy to take that steak off his hands.

 

[momof2disprincesses]

Our dd12 is a picky eater too and much prefers "kids" meals to adult meals but can usually eat more than the average kids meal quantity, so in the past, we've asked for things like chicken strips or mac & cheese off the kid's menu but asked for an "adult" size portion of it. That has worked well for us when she hasn't found anything she likes on the adult menu.

In fact, we just did this at Coral Reef on her 12th birthday (2-15-08). They gave her an adult size portion of mac & cheese and charged us for the kid's meal. For that trip, we were not on the ddp but paid oop. In fact, it was SO big, dd15 ate some of it too.

 

[MomsOf2boys]

Our dd12 is a picky eater too and much prefers "kids" meals to adult meals but can usually eat more than the average kids meal quantity, so in the past, we've asked for things like chicken strips or mac & cheese off the kid's menu but asked for an "adult" size portion of it. That has worked well for us when she hasn't found anything she likes on the adult menu.

In fact, we just did this at Coral Reef on her 12th birthday (2-15-08). They gave her an adult size portion of mac & cheese and charged us for the kid's meal. For that trip, we were not on the ddp but paid oop. In fact, it was SO big, dd15 ate some of it too.

That is very good to know.

 

[Uncleromulus]

I guess this sort of thing is what irritates some folks--one DDP or menu change is "possible" at Restaurant A with server B. But absolutely impossible at Restaurant B with server A.
No consistancy in what a CM might tell you, or in what they can/can't do for you.....
All you can do is ask and hope.

 

[DISNEYRIFFIC]

Our dd12 is a picky eater too and much prefers "kids" meals to adult meals but can usually eat more than the average kids meal quantity, so in the past, we've asked for things like chicken strips or mac & cheese off the kid's menu but asked for an "adult" size portion of it. That has worked well for us when she hasn't found anything she likes on the adult menu.

In fact, we just did this at Coral Reef on her 12th birthday (2-15-08). They gave her an adult size portion of mac & cheese and charged us for the kid's meal. For that trip, we were not on the ddp but paid oop. In fact, it was SO big, dd15 ate some of it too.

Congrats on the DVC membership. I had to write... I saw you were from Appleton, and we also are from WI - with family in Appleton.

I love that you have gone 13 times and are on your 14th - I now have someone to reference when people give me a hard time about going again.

I think a lot of the portions are too big - I sometimes feel like I am wasting food on the DDP.

 

[bluslag]

I of course would like the DDP to change back to being more customer friendly. By that I mean allowing apps or desserts, or including tips. What I would not appreciate if WDW looks it over before summer and does some adjustments when my vacation will already be done. I think our family is one of WDW worlds customers that plays by the rules and does not take unfair advantage of anything that is offered. We leave in a week and have the DDP ordered and are using it to have most of our expenses already paid up front. We are going with friends who have a son that is our sons age and this is their senior year and we want them to enjoy as much as possible. We have picked wonderful restaurants and the DDP lets them order without having to watch prices. We hope to try new CS meals and have been reading about new and interesting places to try. We all went last year so we don't need to rush and see anything because we been there. As much as we don't like the changes to the DDP we have decided to go ahead with it this year. I wish WDW world had a better way for its customers to respond to them.

 

[sjlupin]

Our dd12 is a picky eater too and much prefers "kids" meals to adult meals but can usually eat more than the average kids meal quantity, so in the past, we've asked for things like chicken strips or mac & cheese off the kid's menu but asked for an "adult" size portion of it. That has worked well for us when she hasn't found anything she likes on the adult menu.

In fact, we just did this at Coral Reef on her 12th birthday (2-15-08). They gave her an adult size portion of mac & cheese and charged us for the kid's meal. For that trip, we were not on the ddp but paid oop. In fact, it was SO big, dd15 ate some of it too.

This is GREAT to know ... I'm so glad you shared it. My DS13 is very picky, but has a hearty appetite (teenage boy sized appetite)! I never thought to ask for a larger portion of a kids entree. It would be worth paying an adult credit to me.