Leftover Counter Service Credits?

[MamaKate]

I know they used to let you turn in a counter service credit for a few snack credits. Do they still let you do this?

We will be on the Quick Service dining plan in October and I know we will have a few credits left over since we won't even arrive until Midnight on check-in day and have to leave by 4:30am on check-out. Plus we have 2 sit down meals thrown in there so we are bound to have about 4 left over counter service meals.

If they let you switch, how does it work and where do they allow you do do this.

Thanks

 

[sharonabe]

Are you paying for the QSDP or did you get it free? If you're paying, I think I'd try to drop it and just pay OOP. It's difficult to get full value with the QSDP unless you use all the entitlements as they are intended.

 

[MamaKate]

Are you paying for the QSDP or did you get it free? If you're paying, I think I'd try to drop it and just pay OOP. It's difficult to get full value with the QSDP unless you use all the entitlements as they are intended.

No, I'm buying it. I calculated it and we would break even, even if we used some of the credits for snacks. The main reason I wanted to get the plan is because I like to have the majority of our meals/snacks prepaid. That way I don't have to worry about it while on vacation.

I'm sure we'll be able to use them up, but I just didn't want to over stuff ourselves and I'd rather just bring some snacks home with us.

 

[Paradise18]

I was told last August that the only place where there was a chance to convert a CS credit to snacks would be at the food court at the resort. I asked the question at the gift shop at POR the day before we left. Given that we wouldn't have been able to transport most of what we could get for a snack credit with us in our luggage we didn't bother, so I can't say for sure it would have worked, but that is what I was told.

 

[disneygirl15]

Unfortunately most requests to trade CS for snack credits are being denied since a Jan 1/12 policy change. http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2892122

 

[brockash]

We go every Sept. (during free dining,) and we've always been able to do this. We've only ever tried at our resort, but we've never had a problem. Last Sept., every time I would get something at the Contempo Cafe, the cashier would ask me if I wanted to use a CS or snack credits, and wach time they would tell me that I could get 3 snacks for 1 CS credit. We've also done it at the food courts at ASMo, and Pop.

Years ago, I remember seeing ppl. do this in the parks at certain locations (Cosmic Rays for sure,) however I either haven't noticed or ppl. haven't been asking in the recent years.

 

[2Tiggies]

I was told last August that the only place where there was a chance to convert a CS credit to snacks would be at the food court at the resort. I asked the question at the gift shop at POR the day before we left. Given that we wouldn't have been able to transport most of what we could get for a snack credit with us in our luggage we didn't bother, so I can't say for sure it would have worked, but that is what I was told.

This corresponds exactly with what we were told last year. I went to our front desk to ask and the CM said only in the food court and gave the reason that (I think she referred to the system upgrade from early last year) in order to exchange meals for snacks, the location's register system has to be programmed to process both meals and snacks. In other words, the place would need to sell CS meals as well as snack items in order for them to ring the trade through.

On our last evening there, we were at DTD and made a late night stop at Goofys to buy some things to take home. When we went to pay we were delayed at the register by someone in front of us who wanted to use CS credits for snacks and the long suffering CM had one heck of a time trying to explain to this lady that as Goofy's does not serve CS meals, the register is unable to ring a CS credit through in order to 'trade' them up as snacks. This corresponds with what was explained to me at POFQ and it makes perfect sense if you think about it.

 

[disneygirl15]

We have never had a problem trading CS credits for snacks at the Pop Century Food Court until this past February. I spoke to several people including counter personnel, a manager and 2 concierges at the front desk and got the same "no" from everyone. We did find out that you can get a Continental Breakfast for 1 CS which allows you to choose 1 drink, 1 pastry and 1 whole fruit but you can't substitute other snack items in this combo. Another option is to get desserts and drinks at a place which offers CS meals (like the bakery in France) and tell them you don't want the entree.

 

[2Tiggies]

We have never had a problem trading CS credits for snacks at the Pop Century Food Court until this past February. I spoke to several people including counter personnel, a manager and 2 concierges at the front desk and got the same "no" from everyone. We did find out that you can get a Continental Breakfast for 1 CS which allows you to choose 1 drink, 1 pastry and 1 whole fruit but you can't substitute other snack items in this combo. Another option is to get desserts and drinks at a place which offers CS meals (like the bakery in France) and tell them you don't want the entree.

This just drives home a reminder to us all that although concessions may be made to the extent that we take it as general permission, everything outwith the guidelines of the redemption of entitlements as per the brochure is a bonus.

OP, what I would suggest seeing as you know already that you are more likely than not to have excess credits at the end of your stay, is not to leave it until right at the end of your trip to find out where you can to the 'trade'

Getting value for your money is one thing, but personally, spending precious vacation time running around to try get a some snacks for unused meals ..... I would seriously have to weigh up whether it's worth it. In all likelihood, you will probably find at least one place that is willing to do this for you, but try get your information as early in your trip as possible.

 

[sunsetbeachgal]

OP,

If your calculation showed break-even at best, I would just pay out of pocket. The convenience is nice, but QSDP ties you to entree, dessert, beverage when you may in fact want other things...

 

[persimmondeb]

Our last trip we did CS and had a bunch of sit-downs as well. I thought we were going to have a lot of extra credits, but we only had two, which we took to E of S, and got stuff to go for a picnic meal on the road. One of the things that we found useful, is that when feeling snacky we would go to a CS and get a meal (chicken nuggets, for example) and share it as a snack. We did a lot of that kind of grazing, and it's a good excuse to sit down in AC for twenty minutes or so.

 

[MamaKate]

Thank you everyone for the replies and input. It looks like their policy may have changed a bit.

I've decided to forgo the Dining Plan and just pay OOP. I wanted to have a more relaxed trip and not be tied down too much to meals and that's why I was going with the QSDP, but I don't want to have leftover credits and I don't want to be stuffed so.....OOP it is .

 

[DisneyRookie2007]

Thank you everyone for the replies and input. It looks like their policy may have changed a bit.

I've decided to forgo the Dining Plan and just pay OOP. I wanted to have a more relaxed trip and not be tied down too much to meals and that's why I was going with the QSDP, but I don't want to have leftover credits and I don't want to be stuffed so.....OOP it is .

Why not just purchase a gift card and use that for all your dining purchases. That way you still get the benefit of not carrying around cash.

 

[MamaKate]

Why not just purchase a gift card and use that for all your dining purchases. That way you still get the benefit of not carrying around cash.

Oh I'll definitely be getting a gift card so I can have most of the meals prepaid, but I'll have to hind that gift card from myself until the trip. We live close to Disneyland and go ever other week and I'm afraid I'll get tempted to use it .

 

[Geordietyke]

I'm glad I read this thread, we are going for 16 days with DDP (2ad/2ch) and we'll be out of the parks around 4-5 days (Seaworld/IOA/BG/US etc) so will have spare CS meals for those days x 4 people.

We are hoping to use our snack credits on the booths at the F&WF so can effectively use our 'unused' CS credits to get 2 meals and share between us as a snack. 2 burger/nugget meals etc will more than keep us going until lunch/dinner