Per the 2007 DP, there's no using children's meal entitlements for adult meals.

[Bete]

Now, I'll have to say there's no explanation of how Disney can keep track of this, but there's a page that prints last with FAQ and it specificallly states you can't use child meals for adult meals.

If there was any doubt in the past about the use of your points in this regard, there isn't doubt anymore.

 

[jjohnson]

Actually there is an additional page 5 added to the 2006 dining plan too stating the same.

 

[patsal]

Because they took the time to separate them on the charts on the 2007 brochure I think we may be seeing a separation of child and adult credits.

 

[JimMIA]

Because they took the time to separate them on the charts on the 2007 brochure I think we may be seeing a separation of child and adult credits.

I think so, starting 1/1/2007 at the latest. I sorta expect it to be done by Thanksgiving because that's heading into their busiest season, but we'll see.

From what I heard last night from someone at WDW (a guest, not CM), they are already doing some enforcement at the server level. As with all things Disney, I'd expect that to be pretty spotty.

 

[Julia M]

I don't see why enforcement would be so rough. Couldn't the program just be changed to have number of kids meals, and a number of adult?

Maybe that's too simplistic, or that reprogramming is too difficult, I don't know.

But it doesn't sound difficult. When you reach your maximum, it's done. You pay OPP.

It doesn't solve 2 adults sharing a meal (table service) to save credits, but it does take away from the adult/child credit scenario. And Disney could require everyone at a table service to buy a meal, if they wanted.

Julia

 

[JimMIA]

I don't see why enforcement would be so rough. Couldn't the program just be changed to have number of kids meals, and a number of adult?

Maybe that's too simplistic, or that reprogramming is too difficult, I don't know.

That's what they are supposedly doing, but it involves changing both the DDP accounting system and the POS system. The question seems to be not so much if, but when.

In the meantime, they appear to be doing sort of a "soft" transition with some enforcement at the server level. Whether that's intentional, or just their inability to get it done more efficiently, is anybody's guess.

It doesn't solve 2 adults sharing a meal (table service) to save credits

My understanding is that Disney doesn't care about that, as long as all of the people sharing are on the DDP. What they do object to - and have occasionally stopped -- is sharing with people who are not on the plan.

 

[Julia M]

My understanding is that Disney doesn't care about that, as long as all of the people sharing are on the DDP. What they do object to - and have occasionally stopped -- is sharing with people who are not on the plan.

I'm kind of glad to hear that........that's what we did during our December trip. Two of our kids were actually "adults" (ages 13 and 11). Sometimes they shared a meal, or we bought kids meals for them, to allow for dh and I doing a signature meal, and dh and dd to attend the luau. We just made sure we tipped extra appropriately.

I don't see why enforcement would be so rough. Couldn't the program just be changed to have number of kids meals, and a number of adult?

Maybe that's too simplistic, or that reprogramming is too difficult, I don't know.

That's what they are supposedly doing, but it involves changing both the DDP accounting system and the POS system. The question seems to be not so much if, but when.

Maybe it's because I live in an area with major computer companies (Silicon Valley), it just doesn't seem like it should be that hard. I'll have to ask my dh.....he programs satellites in space........how hard he thinks it would be.

Julia

 

[DiszyDean]

Personally, I think the seperation of child and adults credits would be a welcome addition to the dining plan. It would certainly end all controversy on the subject.

It really should not be that hard for Disney to do. Actually coding the credits seperately on the card is probably the easy part. The harder part will be coding the food at each resteraunt to be acceptable for either a child or adult credit. That is what will take some time.

Once concession that I think Disney should allow is if you have a child that would officially be considered a child on the Dining plan, if you wish to upgrade that childs credits to adult credits with an upcharge, you should be allowed to do that. Therefore, the people who do not like the child menu options would have more choices at an increased price of course.

 

[JimMIA]

Personally, I think the seperation of child and adults credits would be a welcome addition to the dining plan.

It could also add a lot more flexibility to the plan...a seldom-realized byproduct of the change, if Disney chose to do it.

Once they plug the A/C loophole, there would no longer be any need to limit child DDPs to kids 3-9. If someone had a 10 y/o (or 12) who is a very light eater, Disney could let them buy a child's plan. There'd be no reason not to -- all they could buy would be kid's meals. If a kid wanted to eat off kid's menus, let him do so!

It would certainly end all controversy on the subject.

Oh I'm quite sure Disney is not concerned about the controversy here. I'm sure they're amused by it, and it does do them some good to read it. We show them where the holes are in their system. We're a whole little herd of Beta testers for the Mouse!

And don't think they don't read the DIS. We got graphic proof of that yesterday on the DVC boards! One of our members posted architectural renderings of a new Contemporary DVC on Sunday afternoon, with a link to the architect's website.

I assume the architect opens in New York at 9:00 AM, and by 10:00 AM Monday morning the renderings were GONE from their website!

 

[nbodyhome]

Disney does keep up with many message boards - and they have for years.

I missed out on the artists rendering, I am hoping another website has it somewhere!

 

[JimMIA]

Disney does keep up with many message boards - and they have for years.

I missed out on the artists rendering, I am hoping another website has it somewhere!

Here's a link to the thread.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1187616

The pictures are on the first post, and if you browse around the DVC boards, you'll see that a couple of people have already created a signature logo using the Contemp pictures!

 

[Lewisc]

Unlikely. That would require the ability to have a different age for dining and for tickets in the computer system. Children's meal pricing isn't just because of smaller portions, it's also because a company is willing to charge less to encourage famlies. Back out the snack and there is a 4 to 1 price difference between the cost of the adult and child plan. The menu price difference for CS meals is closer to 2 to 1 and for character meals not much more than 2 to 1. Plus a 10 or 12 year old pays the adult price at dinner shows, character meals and buffets. If Disney did something like that the cost of the kids plan would probably at least double.

edited to say I can't see Disney even considering this approach unless they went to a three tier pricing for the character meals, for all guests not just dining plan customers. As long as the restaurants are packed Disney has no motivation to add a junior price for restaurants.

It could also add a lot more flexibility to the plan...a seldom-realized byproduct of the change, if Disney chose to do it.

Once they plug the A/C loophole, there would no longer be any need to limit child DDPs to kids 3-9. If someone had a 10 y/o (or 12) who is a very light eater, Disney could let them buy a child's plan. There'd be no reason not to -- all they could buy would be kid's meals. If a kid wanted to eat off kid's menus, let him do so!

 

[patsal]

Personally, I think the seperation of child and adults credits would be a welcome addition to the dining plan. It would certainly end all controversy on the subject.

It really should not be that hard for Disney to do. Actually coding the credits seperately on the card is probably the easy part. The harder part will be coding the food at each resteraunt to be acceptable for either a child or adult credit. That is what will take some time.

Once concession that I think Disney should allow is if you have a child that would officially be considered a child on the Dining plan, if you wish to upgrade that childs credits to adult credits with an upcharge, you should be allowed to do that. Therefore, the people who do not like the child menu options would have more choices at an increased price of course.

I agree it would take all the guesswork out of it for all the people who seem unsure of what is and isn't allowed and would close the gaps so that the plan is being used in accordance with the brochure. As far as adults sharing, I dont' think that is really a concern--honestly it gets more people into more restaurants and still gets additional OOP $$ for the extra drink or extra dessert or whatever.

 

[aristocat]

Once they plug the A/C loophole, there would no longer be any need to limit child DDPs to kids 3-9. If someone had a 10 y/o (or 12) who is a very light eater, Disney could let them buy a child's plan. There'd be no reason not to -- all they could buy would be kid's meals. If a kid wanted to eat off kid's menus, let him do so!

It’s a nice idea, but how would it work for buffets where ‘children’ are not limited to the ‘kid’s section’? With that in mind, I don’t see how Disney would allow parents to purchase the child plan for kids 10 years+.

 

[Sammie]

it has been my observation based on using the plan this week, that there is alot of flexibility, sharing among adults within your own plan is fine, the main problem everyone is talking about is using child entitlements to purchase adult meals.

But then I believe I said that all along didn't I.