Sharing TS appetizer with child as their meal??

[Bibbidi]

I'm just inquiring, not trying to do anything unethical, but since I will never be able to eat an appetizer, dinner and dessert at every TS we do, could I give one of my girls my appetizer, as her meal, without using a TS for her? I guess this is just basic sharing of a meal. My kids are really small eaters so I can't see using a TS for each of their meals (and wasting all the food they don't eat) if I could just share mine with them.

 

[BethR]

I asked the last CM that I spoke to about this and he said "No!" No sharing! You would have to order a meal for your little one.

Kind of crazy IMO...

 

[indigoxtreme]

So far the only places that you cannot share are buffets and all you can eat meals. This would include the skillet at Whispoering Canyon. We have gone 2 times on the plan the latest was Feb and my DH and I shared many times at CS and at TS as long as they were regular order restaurants. In Sept we also shared 1 adult meal and 1 childs meal, between me and MIL and DGD.

 

[Bibbidi]

What about the OOP then for my girls? If my husband and I both use a TS, can we pay OOP for them for their meals? I want to be able to book dining onto my room once the packages are out, but if Disney is getting stricter with the dining policy it might be better for me to just plan on OOP. I like the idea of having all our meals paid for up front though.

Just another question because I didn't entirely understand your answer--can two adults share one TS meal or 2 kids share one kids TS meal? Or just no sharing anymore, period?

 

[BethR]

Bibbidi, I would take nothing that I say as gospel, but I can only tell you what the CM told me a few days ago. And unfortunately it seems to go along with what I am reading on this board.

It sounds like Disney is not allowing anyone to "share" meals. Each person at the table must use a credit for their meal. I kept asking and reasking the question in different ways and I just kept being told "No Sharing," "No saving credits for future meals."

I know that it doesn't make sense and is hard to understand. But it is what I am reading here too.

 

[beth_cam]

The anymore is the problem....we often shared 2 adults 2 kids eating on 1 adult and 1 kid meal. However it seems more and more people are getting no for an answer - on the phone or by email. The servers do seem to be making more specifics (varying by restaurant and even by server) about the rules too. So dont know for sure what will happen for you. However if the point is to keep from waste you could always state to the server when ordering "my daughter is just going to eat off my plate tonight neither of us is real hungry" of "I think DH and I will split and the kids will split tonight" and if they say it isnt allowed order a separate meal. Even if you are trying to bank credits wherever you can be prepared that it may come up that you cant. That way if you manage it everything works out fine but your vacation or vacation enjoyment is hinging on being able to. Who knows when or if they will really put down a real in writing NO SHARING or NO POOLING CREDITS or whatever rule that may throw a wrench in your plans.

 

[aubriee]

About a week or so ago I called to change a couple of ADRs for our Sept trip. The CM was the one who asked me if I undertood how the dining plan worked because I had too many TS ADRs. I told her I did and that I was paying OOP for the two dinner shows, then was sharing a couple of meals. Without hesitation she said paying OOP for the dinner shows would not be a problem, but Disney was no longer allowing meals to be shared. I asked her since when, as we were there this past May on the dining plan, and had no problem sharing. At that time she said they had just gotten the memo a few days before that sharing of meals would not be allowed. I made sure she understood that I was talking about adults sharing adult credits at sit down meals (not buffets or character meals), but she insisted that Disney would no longer allow sharing of TS meals for any reason. She tried to talk me into cancelling two of my ADRs, but I refused deciding to wait and see. Our trip is not until the last week in Sept so we have plenty of time to see how things pan out.

The same day I read on here of another person who was told the same thing by a CM. I meant to PM her to ask if she remembered the CM's name, just to check if maybe it was just this CM telling folks this, but I forgot. Anyway the CM's name was something Clair (Anna Clair, Clair Marie, or something like that).

 

[Bibbidi]

Thanks for all the replies. Sounds like I should just make my plans with the idea that everyone will always be using a TS, no sharing and no OOP at the same meal. That way I can arrange my ADRs along those lines and if sharing happens to be allowed when we go then I will look at it as a bonus.

 

[luv2playallday]

Well I just had gastric bypass, so when I go I will share if I want too, and if they try to stop I am not going to be a happy camper! In fact I can just not order, and not eat for all I care, I can eat the leftovers later. The 2 mealsey bites I can eat would not be worth a credit! My original plan was to order an adult meal then share it with one of my kids who likes steak etc. I'm not going to worry about it. I'm going to be on vacation, and it will all work out in the long run!

 

[BethR]

About a week or so ago I called to change a couple of ADRs for our Sept trip. The CM was the one who asked me if I undertood how the dining plan worked because I had too many TS ADRs. I told her I did and that I was paying OOP for the two dinner shows, then was sharing a couple of meals. Without hesitation she said paying OOP for the dinner shows would not be a problem, but Disney was no longer allowing meals to be shared. I asked her since when, as we were there this past May on the dining plan, and had no problem sharing. At that time she said they had just gotten the memo a few days before that sharing of meals would not be allowed. I made sure she understood that I was talking about adults sharing adult credits at sit down meals (not buffets or character meals), but she insisted that Disney would no longer allow sharing of TS meals for any reason. She tried to talk me into cancelling two of my ADRs, but I refused deciding to wait and see. Our trip is not until the last week in Sept so we have plenty of time to see how things pan out.

Aubriee - sounds exactly like the conversation that I had with "Regis" on Friday night. No sharing - period. Personally, it irritates me. But what can I do? The food is free (at least ours will be.) But if we were paying for the plan, I would be REALLY upset!

 

[disneymom06]

I have the DDP for free in August but I think that Disney would be hurting themselves if they did not allow people to share. People have learned to share because it is TOO much food. We are a family of 6 and there is NO WAY that we could ever eat 6 appetizers before the entree and desserts are usually shared because no one is really that hungry. Without the plan, the children would NEVER get an appetizer or the freedom to choose whichever entree they desired. Dessert would be on certain days only, and probably shared. People pay for the plan (or receive it is a promotion), looking to max out the dollar value per person, (no one wants to pay $38 and then purchase less than $38 worth of food). If people are forced to waste food that would be a negative and IMO would result in less paid bookings of the DDP. Whether you pay or are receiving the DDP as a promotion, EVERYONE looks at the monetary value to see if they have acheived OVER the $38 per person. That is the reason for paying upfront and committing to that much per person. It is a waste of food just to order food items for the sake of the plan,and if Disney charged each diner a TS meal just for a headcount that too would be a PR nightmare for both Disney and the CM waitstaff.

 

[CamColt]

It sounds like Disney is not allowing anyone to "share" meals. Each person at the table must use a credit for their meal. I kept asking and reasking the question in different ways and I just kept being told "No Sharing," "No saving credits for future meals."

I know that it doesn't make sense and is hard to understand. But it is what I am reading here too.

What I dont get here is no saving for future meals. What about the 2 credit meals?

What do you think of this scenario? A family of 4 goes to all the same restaurants during a trip except 1 night Grandma (on another package) is taking the kids to Sci Fi, while the parents go to Ca Grill, needing 2 credits(kids will still use their credits at Sci Fi). What I was planning on doing was the day before when we dine at ESPN, paying for mine and DH's meals OOP to save the extra credits (our adult credits if they are pooled )for the 2 credit meal. So they are saying this cannot be done and we will need to pay for all of our meals at ESPN out OOP and then be left with 2 extra TS meals (the kids) at the end of the trip?

If thats true, then I can see how the abuse of the system is hurting those who try to follow the rules.

 

[BethR]

What I dont get here is no saving for future meals. What about the 2 credit meals?

I asked the same thing. I asked "What if I am trying to save meals to cover our 2 credit PP HDDR?" And all he said was that if we are on the dining plan everyone at the table must use a credit. He said "I don't know how they are going to do it, but the will take a credit for everyone on the plan who is sitting at the table."

What do you think of this scenario? A family of 4 goes to all the same restaurants during a trip except 1 night Grandma (on another package) is taking the kids to Sci Fi, while the parents go to Ca Grill, needing 2 credits(kids will still use their credits at Sci Fi). What I was planning on doing was the day before when we dine at ESPN, paying for mine and DH's meals OOP to save the extra credits (our adult credits if they are pooled )for the 2 credit meal. So they are saying this cannot be done and we will need to pay for all of our meals at ESPN out OOP and then be left with 2 extra TS meals (the kids) at the end of the trip?

I have no idea. But if you and DH are eating ALONE, then there should be no problem - pay OOP. But if you are eating with OTHER people who are on the DDP with you, then from what the tell me everyone has to use a DDP credit.

Personally, I do think that it is crazy and wonder how this will all play out. I have a feeling that there will be a huge difference between what Disney is TRYING to do and how it will actually be implemented.

I don't know if Disney thought this whole thing out. They are just making an attempt to stop people from using Child's credits for Adult's.

 

[Lewisc]

I think Disney is trying to reduce "child" credits being used for adult meals. I think they're also trying to reduce guests using the dining plan to treat people not on the plan. They may also be trying go back to the original concept, the dining plan is trying to include a cruise dining experience. You get to eat, you don't get to share your meals with others and you don't get something extra later in your trip if you skip an appetizer.

I guess Disney want an entire family to pay OOP for a meal if they're saving credits.

We've all seen the spreadsheets showing guests how to get over $100 worth of food for a $38 credit. I doubt this is the way the plan was intended to work from Disney's side of it.

I asked the same thing. I asked "What if I am trying to save meals to cover our 2 credit PP HDDR?" And all he said was that if we are on the dining plan everyone at the table must use a credit. He said "I don't know how they are going to do it, but the will take a credit for everyone on the plan who is sitting at the table."



I have no idea. But if you and DH are eating ALONE, then there should be no problem - pay OOP. But if you are eating with OTHER people who are on the DDP with you, then from what the tell me everyone has to use a DDP credit.

Personally, I do think that it is crazy and wonder how this will all play out. I have a feeling that there will be a huge difference between what Disney is TRYING to do and how it will actually be implemented.

I don't know if Disney thought this whole thing out. They are just making an attempt to stop people from using Child's credits for Adult's.

 

[CamColt]

I have no idea. But if you and DH are eating ALONE, then there should be no problem - pay OOP. But if you are eating with OTHER people who are on the DDP with you, then from what the tell me everyone has to use a DDP credit.

Personally, I do think that it is crazy and wonder how this will all play out. I have a feeling that there will be a huge difference between what Disney is TRYING to do and how it will actually be implemented.

I don't know if Disney thought this whole thing out. They are just making an attempt to stop people from using Child's credits for Adult's.

I agree! it sounds like someone made changes without thinking of all the possibilities.

We will be eating alone at CG (hence the need to save 1 extra credit each), but we will all be eating at ESPN.

I guess I can't complain since it is free, LOL, but it seems silly to have to pay for a meal for each my kids and then be left with 2 extra table service credits at the end.

 

[Brian Noble]

There are a couple of simple implementations I wouldn't be surprised to see that would help curb some of the more extreme uses of the plan, but can still accomodate most guests appropriately.

1: If the party size is the same as or less than the number of guests on the card, everyone in the party pays with the plan, or everyone in the party pays OOP, charging a number of credits equal to the # of meals ordered.

2: A modest, but non-trivial plate splitting charge. This is not that unusual---many quality restaurants do this, and Blue Bayou at Disneyland does, now too. Something on the order of $5. The reasoning behind this is: it takes additional effort to plate one entree twice, and most of these places (including, I believe, Blue Bayou) will plate each of the 1/2 entrees with its own set of side items. This would always be charged as a cash cost (like an alcoholic drink), unless the guest specifically asks to have a credit deducted for it.

3: Everyone at the table is either ordering a meal, or paying a split plate charge.

This wouldn't be *that* much of a hardship for people using the plan in the way that Disney most likely expected---if they want an extra TS meal (or, say, a signature meal) they can choose to pay for their least expensive meal out of pocket, for not much more money than just banking enough kids meals to cover it. People on the plan could still treat their guests who join them for a meal. People who are very light eaters would pay only slightly more than they do now, but it would reflect the additional service load. And, the plan can still be used almost as flexibly as it is now.

No matter what happens, it seems that *someone* at WDW has decided that the plan's currently flexibility is being used to its fullest extent by enough people that they want to put a stop to it somehow. The alternative to reducing that flexibility will be to increase the price of the plan across the board. Based on all the heat coming from folks at CRO about no sharing, no splitting bills, etc., it sure looks to me as though one or the other is inevitable.

 

[Lewisc]

Another option is go back to a dollar based program. Your $38 meal plan gives you a meal credit worth around $50 (a 25% discount).

The plan was originally set up assming some credits would go unused and some guests would skip appetizers for some meals. NOT that guests would pay OOP for meals so they could use all their credits at the most expensive restaurants to treat friends and family not on the plan. Disney could simply decide to GIVE UP THE GAME and go back to a dollar based plan.

No matter what happens, it seems that *someone* at WDW has decided that the plan's currently flexibility is being used to its fullest extent by enough people that they want to put a stop to it somehow. The alternative to reducing that flexibility will be to increase the price of the plan across the board. Based on all the heat coming from folks at CRO about no sharing, no splitting bills, etc., it sure looks to me as though one or the other is inevitable.

 

[jayhjay]

I agree that the 2 credit issue seems to be a key problem with the no sharing. For example, if we are going to 1 sig restaurant, we need 3 extra credits (one for DD and 2 for DH and I). According to what we are hearing on this post, the only way to do that is for all of us to pay OOP in the same TS meal so that we save them for later.

But it would be nicer to have only one adult order an OOP entree at two different meals. Then the two adults could share and appy and dessert and each get an entree. That would still save two adult credits. But I think we'd save money and get more from the plan that all paying OOP at once. I wonder if this will hurt signature restaurant interest. I am not going until Nov so I guess there is time to see how this all plays out.

 

[Sammie]

I agree that the 2 credit issue seems to be a key problem with the no sharing. For example, if we are going to 1 sig restaurant, we need 3 extra credits (one for DD and 2 for DH and I). According to what we are hearing on this post, the only way to do that is for all of us to pay OOP in the same TS meal so that we save them for later.

But it would be nicer to have only one adult order an OOP entree at two different meals. Then the two adults could share and appy and dessert and each get an entree. That would still save two adult credits. But I think we'd save money and get more from the plan that all paying OOP at once. I wonder if this will hurt signature restaurant interest. I am not going until Nov so I guess there is time to see how this all plays out.

Do kids only use one credit at Signature Restaurants?

 

[Lewisc]

Do kids only use one credit at Signature Restaurants?

Kids also need 2 credits. Re-read the post, the person needs 3 extra credits, one for the kid, one for the DH and the third extra credit was for the poster.

Paying out of pocket for the kid, assuming it's still allowed, may make more sense than using 2 credits.