Lets just think logically here

[Lewisc]

Assume a family of 4 uses 2 TS credits and shares. They deliberately order the larger portions in order to have enough to drink. Assume they either share the sodas, and hope the CM doesn't say anything, or two family members just drink water. They do this twice.

Logically Disney is getting the exact same revenue as if the family just used 4 credits for one meal but the staffing and restaurant utilization is doubled. Disney just lost one restaurant seating.

MYW Dining guests are already getting a discount, TS meals probably cost more than twice the $20-$25 guests are paying for a TS credit.

Logically I could understand if Disney imposed some sharing restrictions on MYW customers. The plan allows guests to order appetizers and desserts. It doesn't require that they order them.

 

[Sammie]

Assume a family of 4 uses 2 TS credits and shares. They deliberately order the larger portions in order to have enough to drink. Assume they either share the sodas, and hope the CM doesn't say anything, or two family members just drink water. They do this twice.

Logically Disney is getting the exact same revenue as if the family just used 4 credits for one meal but the staffing and restaurant utilization is doubled. Disney just lost one restaurant seating.

MYW Dining guests are already getting a discount, TS meals probably cost more than twice the $20-$25 guests are paying for a TS credit.

Logically I could understand if Disney imposed some sharing restrictions on MYW customers. The plan allows guests to order appetizers and desserts. It doesn't require that they order them.

Exactly. Like I said in a previous thread, it's basically economics and marketing and none us know the true market plan for Disney and this.

But believe me they do and they have some idea of how much revenue they have to have to allow this plan to work for them. Many forget that. It is about them making money.

 

[Amyg]

We just returned from WDW and we were on the dining plan. Me and son (9) shared most meals (CS & TS) on one buffet we OOP his meal. The CM's were all fine with it, no problems with sharing etc., they even gave us an extra plate when they knew we were sharing dinner. At Cali Grill, we shared and they just divided the entree and we each got our own plate of food!

I wouldn't worry about that, after all, they aren't going to throw you out or scream at you, it Disney!

 

[Wazzo]

We just returned from WDW and we were on the dining plan. Me and son (9) shared most meals (CS & TS) on one buffet we OOP his meal. The CM's were all fine with it, no problems with sharing etc., they even gave us an extra plate when they knew we were sharing dinner. At Cali Grill, we shared and they just divided the entree and we each got our own plate of food!

I wouldn't worry about that, after all, they aren't going to throw you out or scream at you, it Disney!

Okay, so let's get this straight... you were on the DDP, and you had NO problems sharing?? That is great news!

 

[Amyg]

Okay, so let's get this straight... you were on the DDP, and you had NO problems sharing?? That is great news!

That is correct, me & DS shared at Cali Grill, Les Chefs de France and 50's Prime Time, we did not share the other dinners because they were buffets. I just hate wasting food and there's just no way either of us could eat more than what we shared on this trip. We also share almost all our CS meals so we ended up with 4 extra's at the end of our trip. Simply inform them when you're ordering that you're on the dining plan and you're sharing a meal with whomever and they are very nice about it.

 

[Wazzo]

That is correct, me & DS shared at Cali Grill, Les Chefs de France and 50's Prime Time, we did not share the other dinners because they were buffets. I just hate wasting food and there's just no way either of us could eat more than what we shared on this trip. We also share almost all our CS meals so we ended up with 4 extra's at the end of our trip. Simply inform them when you're ordering that you're on the dining plan and you're sharing a meal with whomever and they are very nice about it.

Thanks Amyg! It's nice to hear a first hand account for once!

 

[Sammie]

Thanks Amyg! It's nice to hear a first hand account for once!

That would be an adult sharing an adult meal with their child. There would be no reason for them to have a problem with that.

What people keep asking about is 5 adults trying to eat with 3 meals, that is not the same thing.

 

[Wazzo]

A lot of discussion has gone on about sharing with kids too, so I'm glad to hear the word "sharing" isn't a bad one no matter who is sharing!

 

[Sammie]

A lot of discussion has gone on about sharing with kids too, so I'm glad to hear the word "sharing" isn't a bad one no matter who is sharing!

I truly can not imagine they would care if a parent shares with their child. I just see no reason that would be a problem. But who knows, I guess as stated it will be up to each restaurant to determine what is acceptable and what is not.

 

[MissMagnolia]

I am very glad to hear that sharing was allowed. Nine-year-olds are considered a child, correct?

 

[bicker]

Discounted rates for young children apply to childen 3-9.

Most of the time sharing is being allowed. Just be prepared for the occasional time when it won't be, and you'll be fine. I agree that once they separate adult and child credits, the whole issue of sharing will go away.

 

[bstnsprts]

This is becoming a more significant concern, now, with rumors that Chefs de France won't participate in the Dining Plan in 2007. I'm still waiting for some confirmation or (hopefully) repudiation about that. However, if it does come to pass, we can probably "thank" the folks who have been "working the system".

So how exactly does someone "working the system" cause Chefs de France to drop out of DDP. I order two adult meals on DDP and pay OOP for DD and alcohol. They are making a higher profit margin on my OOP than what Disney is crediting them per DDP credit. Could that be why their dropping out? Disney does not give them enough per credit to make it worth while? Here's what were giving you, take it or leave it, try to survive without DDP.

 

[bstnsprts]

ok my take on the situation.

They do not want adults using child entitlements (credits) to purchase adult meals. I said this all along and I think it has been proven with the addition to the brochure.

As to sharing I really don't think they have a problem of sharing within a family. For one reason they allow nonDDP guests to do that, so why should they limit DDP guests.

However I don't think they want the plan's entitlements transferred (shared) to others not on the plan. I understand this due to marketing. If you have someone dining with you that is not on your plan, they can pay OOP.

At this time since the entitlements are not seperated on the cards, (coming) I think they are trying to control these issues with some measures at the restuarants that are clouding the situation.

Just as soon as the credits (entitlements) are seperated, I think it will all fall into place.

At this time you will have what is printed in their brochures and what is procedural at the restuarant. Problem is you can train a CM in procedures and hope they follow it, but not necessarily. Especially at Disney.

As long as you use the adult entitlements to purchase adult meals, child to purchase child, what you order and share once it gets to the table is no concern to them.

My take on it.

Sammie I'll even call you the voice of reason with one exception. All the arguments about DDP could or will be solved by the seperation of credits. That being said, all the confusion and arguments are the results of the flawed DDP that the "people who know more than us" instituted and now are trying to give a quick fix. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that if the credits were pooled together people would use them this way. If they underestimated the percentage, then they need to get out of Fantasy Land and into the real world. As for the quick fix, they have now complicated DDP even more by putting one thing in a brochure and still providing guests with pooled credits. This seems to be a panic move on their part. Maybe some heads are on the line? There would be no confusion if the brochure was changed along with the introduction of seperate credits, not before. Paying OOP, sharing, would be non issues. To many people want to blame those who maximized their dollar, just like Disney tries to do, and not those who instituted the plan with flaws and loop holes.

 

[Natalya]

If people keep posting about how to share so they can maximize the value of the dining plan then Disney is going to tighten their belts by stopping sharing of food, eliminating the dining plan altogether, or raising food prices.

Disney execs read this forum and change the rules accordingly. Those that complain about it are only giving them more info about how to close the loopholes.

 

[Tidus]

It drives me nuts when people say that you don't have to order all that food. Nobody is making you do that. While that is true, if I am paying almost $40 per day, per person, I would like to enjoy an app., entree and dessert, however, I could never consume the whole thing. Sure, I could eat a few bites of each and throw the rest away, but isn't it better to just share w/ my adult 10 year old. I agree that the topic of sharing has gone overboard. I hope they do separate A and C credits so that people stop accusing others of being criminals. I think most people are sharing because it is a lot of food, not to rip off Disney. If I get 1 extra TS out of the deal, then so what. I have a feeling by day 4, we will be sick of eating so much food anyway! I personally will not be paying OOP for anyone. I considered it, but I have a feeling if I did that, we would never even use all of the credits. It would be a good thing if you were going to a Signature Dinner though.

 

[akalittleeva]

I truly can not imagine they would care if a parent shares with their child. I just see no reason that would be a problem. But who knows, I guess as stated it will be up to each restaurant to determine what is acceptable and what is not.

The problem I see with that is the child credit is not being used at that time and since the credits are pooled, WDW doesn't know if that unused child credit will be used appropriately during the visit, or if the guests will continue to share all adult meals using both child/adult credits. I'm not saying it happened in this case - I'm very pleased to hear they are still allowing adult/ child sharing, and it can be done legitimately, but Disney has no way of knowing. My vote is to split the credits to make things a whole lot easier!

 

[akalittleeva]

It drives me nuts when people say that you don't have to order all that food. Nobody is making you do that. While that is true, if I am paying almost $40 per day, per person, I would like to enjoy an app., entree and dessert, however, I could never consume the whole thing. Sure, I could eat a few bites of each and throw the rest away, but isn't it better to just share w/ my adult 10 year old. I agree that the topic of sharing has gone overboard. I hope they do separate A and C credits so that people stop accusing others of being criminals. I think most people are sharing because it is a lot of food, not to rip off Disney. If I get 1 extra TS out of the deal, then so what. I have a feeling by day 4, we will be sick of eating so much food anyway! I personally will not be paying OOP for anyone. I considered it, but I have a feeling if I did that, we would never even use all of the credits. It would be a good thing if you were going to a Signature Dinner though.

I agree!

 

[mickeyfan2]

Now i will be the first to admit that i am not a disney vet by any means. But common sence tells me that some of these "sharing worries" may be a bit over the top. If my family goes to a table service resturant and we all order with the ddp. dh, me, dd13, ds9, dd7, and dd2. Now that would be 3a/2c TS credits, with my 2yr old not being on the plan. If my ds9 lets his ds2 eat some of his food and my dd13 lets her db9 eat some of her food where is the problem in that. I mean really i cant imagine that the cm will be going around to each table to be sure that no one is eating off of each others plates! If i get an appitizer that i don't really care for but my dd7 likes it no one is gonna tell me that i cant let her eat it! If i dont finish my food and my ds9 is still hungry he is more than welcome to have mine! I think that we are all given more than enough food on the ddp. And i don't see a need to try and squeeze and count every crumb. If i start out with 6 cs credits the rules say that i can use them any way i want until they are all gone. If i want to order two cs meals at the same place, on the same day at the same time i can. How would the cm know if i was not just a really big eater or if i was trying to share with my child are they gonna follow me to my table to watch me? This is not an attempt to break the rules. I plan on using exactly what i paid for. If we go to a cs place that had poor kid choices than no one can tell me that my son can't have 1/2 my burger. Please someone chime in if you see where i am coming from. Or set me straight if i am way off base.

This is 100% fine. It gets nuts when people spend so much time with maximizing what they eat with what they paid - only buy most expensive entree (even if a less expensive one is your favorite), get the app and dessert even if you are stuffed, using child credits to get an adult TS, saying your 2 year old is really 3 so that you get his/her credits to treat your off-site neice with...... you get the idea.

 

[mickeyfan2]

Disney execs read this forum and change the rules accordingly. Those that complain about it are only giving them more info about how to close the loopholes.

No those that brag about how they bend the rules are the ones that give away to much info about the loopholes.

 

[LizinSTL]

The problem I see with that is the child credit is not being used at that time and since the credits are pooled, WDW doesn't know if that unused child credit will be used appropriately during the visit, or if the guests will continue to share all adult meals using both child/adult credits. I'm not saying it happened in this case - I'm very pleased to hear they are still allowing adult/ child sharing, and it can be done legitimately, but Disney has no way of knowing. My vote is to split the credits to make things a whole lot easier!

Since Disney Dining plan requires you to pay oop or to share with your under 3 year olds, I think that the whole discussion on sharing/paying OOP/etc is ridiculous. DISNEY tells you that's what you have to do if your child is under 3. It doesn't magically change when your child turns 3 years old!