kids will have an extra table credit

[waitingfordisney]

I'm hoping you guys can give me some ideas on how to handle this.

My husband and I will be dining with others at a restaurant that counts as two table-service meals. My mom will babysit our children during that meal. That leaves each child with an extra table-service meal. We'd like to take them to an early dinner (ours is late), but what I'm wondering is this--

Will we be allowed to make a ADR for 2 adults/2 kids at a table-service restaurant and then just let the kids order? (Perhaps my husband and I would order drinks.) I don't know if that is fair to the restaurant...but I don't know how else to make use of the kids' table credits.

I'd appreciate your thoughts. Thanks!

 

[bicker]

Yes, you can do as you suggest. I agree with your feeling about the fairness to the restaurant (really, to the server) so I would give the server an additional gratuity to make up for the fact that s/he's serving a larger table but only serving grossly inexpensive meals to half of the table.

 

[Belle1962]

Can Grandma take the kids to a special meal (one of the character meals in a hotel)? And you just pay OOP for her?

 

[waitingfordisney]

Ahh, thank you! I would definitely feel better about it if I tipped generously--great idea!

Belle1962, under normal circumstances I would, but a detail that I left out is that my mom has polio. I'd prefer to have her plan her day as she wished, including her own early dinner (we're with a large group), and then just meet my already-fed kids at the hotel to relax (and my husband and I will leave from there). She's a lifesaver, and I want to make things as stress-free for her as possible. (Although spending several hours in the hotel with my wired children might not exactly be stress-free!)

Thank you both!

 

[gigi1313]

where are you staying? perhaps another way to use those two child credits would be to order one child's roomservice meal (breakfast?) one morning... it could be a fun treat for the kids!

 

[waitingfordisney]

Ooh, that's another good idea. However, we're staying at All-Star Music, so there's no room service. Would've been nice, though...

Thanks again!

 

[antkim]

OK..I know this is not really maximizing the plan BUT you could just use the table service credit for a counter service meal at your resort. It would be very convenient for you plus you will not have to leave an extra tip for the server. If you look at the dinner menu for Intermissions you can see that a chicken nugget dinner is $3.99 including drink...1 scoop ice cream cone is $2.69...adding this up each meal will be around $7 SO YOU ARE STILL SAVING MONEY ON DDP!!

Quick, easy and simple...it will give you more time to get ready for your special dinner as well!

 

[waitingfordisney]

You guys are full of great ideas! Thanks, I didn't even know that one could use a Table Credit at a Counter restaurant (not that Disney would mind saving the money, right?). That might really work out--we could just take the kids back to the hotel, sit with them while they eat, then take them to the rooms.

Thanks again!

 

[gigi1313]

the only time i recall wdw allowing TS credits being used for CS was during Free Dining when ADRs were hard to come by, so they offered a swap... otherwise i do not believe that the two types of credits can be intermingled...

 

[antkim]

I think it is still ok to do. I know my girlfriend did it once and it also is listed on Mary's site...

"You can use table service meal credits at a quick service restaurant. Likewise you can use quick service credits for snacks (but be prepared for the cashier to think you're nuts). You'll lose some value, but gain flexibility"

I checked there before I posted this because I know that she always updates her information is something changes. I am not sure though....anyone have recent experience???

 

[kaytieeldr]

'Trading down' credits is not possible according to the policies of the Disney Dining Plan.

Actual trading down is at the discretion of the resort or restaurant manager. The OP is more likely to get a positive response at her Value resort, simply because there is no dining alternative there.

I have to admit, I'm curious - are the parents simply not going to eat "that" meal at all? I mean, say they take the kids for dinner at, oh, Kona Cafe. Are the parents just plain not going to eat dinner at all that evening?

 

[gigi1313]

i believe the parents are doing signature dining sans kids that evening...

 

[jcemom]

If you're dining at a 2 TS restaurant that night, won't that leave the kids with 2 TS credits each?

If they're kids credits, ie under age 10, we just let them go. Personally, I would feel uncomfortable sitting at a restaurant watching my kids eat and ordering nothing myself, lol, but that's just me. If you want to do it I don't see a problem with it. I would just plan to tip extra as another poster suggested.

 

[twoeeyy]

could you use the kids credits to order a pizza? or do you have to use 2 adult credits

 

[itchin2go]

We have this same issue, as we're doing several nights out without the little one, plus a lunch while she's doing Alice in Wonderland Tea Party. My plan was to use the credits at times when we're planning on paying OOP. For instance, if we planned to do an OOP breakfast, we'll use one of her child credits for HER breakfast and pay for the adults OOP. Not an economical choice if you're not already planning an OOP meal, but if you are, it's a thought.

Also, I understand that you can ask for kids' meals to go when you're dining without them. I believe I saw this on a thread about a sick or tired child not joining the parents. Assuming you have a place to heat it up, they could have the meal for lunch or a snack the next day.

My other plan, as others have said, is to trade down. We had no trouble doing this last year. I can't see why anyone would have a problem with it, as it's not making the plan any more costly for Disney.

As another poster said, just letting the credits go is not a big deal either. The major cost in the DDP is in the adults' credits. If you're kid already had an $8 meal earlier, plus a $4 snack...

I don't know the perfect answer, but thanks for bringing this up because it is a problem others (myself included) are facing.

 

[Cindy's Mom]

Last year DH and I did YSH for dinner and the kids went to the Cubs Den, so we were in the same situation.

I asked the manager at Roakin Fork and she let me use the kids 2 TS for 2 CS and DH and I split OOP a bacon double cheeseburger for lunch. Not an eye was batted.

 

[kaytieeldr]

believe the parents are doing signature dining sans kids that evening....

Nah, I don't think they're talking about the same evening. They said something about Grandma staying with the kids in the room that night.

 

[antkim]

Nah, I don't think they're talking about the same evening. They said something about Grandma staying with the kids in the room that night.

They are going out for dinner at a signature restaurant while grandma babysits HOWEVER they were considering taking the kids to dinner prior to going out and not eating. They want the kids fed before Grandma takes over.

I still think that using the TS for CS right at the resort is the easiest and most convenient option!
JMO

 

[kaytieeldr]

Ah, thanks for pointing that out, antkim! I didn't realize they were talking about the same night!

 

[antkim]

Ah, thanks for pointing that out, antkim! I didn't realize they were talking about the same night!

LOL! I hope I did not come across wrong...I was just trying to clarify what the OP intentions were. I know it has become a bit confusing!!