Shouldn't I just pay cash for kids TS?

[wonderlandaddict]

Here is another question: I have daughters that are 21, 17, 12, & 11, so of course they are all considered adults. The problem is the 17 yr old only eats a few items which is usually only on the kid's menu. Do you think they will let her order off the kids menu, I expect to be charged the adult credit. If this wasn't free dining I would be very upsest to be paying $39 per day for her! I am going to try VERY hard not to think of all of the food she could be getting!

 

[pedro2112]

It's like the silly mug thing all over again.

No, there is a significant difference. Using a Mug from an old trip (but not too old) on your new trip is against the rules posted by disney. The fact that people do it and get away with it is because Disney doesn't enforce this rule. On the other hand, using your TS credits any way you want is specifically allowed in the rules of the dining plan. Disney doesnt "do anything" about this because it is part of the rules. There is nothing to do about it.

Yes, they can change the rule. Some argue (as I have myself) that when people take advantage of certain situations too much, disney is forced to change their rules and everyone suffers (such as the buses to and from DTD and the parks). However, in this case, even if disney changes the rules and breaks down between adult and child credits, the only people that will "suffer" are those that want to use the credits obtained through the children for more expensive meals. In other words, the only people that would be affected are those people that others are claiming are doing something wrong. Who cares?

 

[formernyer]

Here is another question: I have daughters that are 21, 17, 12, & 11, so of course they are all considered adults. The problem is the 17 yr old only eats a few items which is usually only on the kid's menu. Do you think they will let her order off the kids menu, I expect to be charged the adult credit. If this wasn't free dining I would be very upsest to be paying $39 per day for her! I am going to try VERY hard not to think of all of the food she could be getting!

Yes, she can order off of the children's menu. You might ask that they bring her a larger portion since you are paying for an adult (and yes, as far as the restaurant is concerned she is a paying adult since Disney is still remitting the adult meal rate to the restaurant even though they gave it to you free).

You might be able to find some adult appetizers that she will enjoy. Some of the restaurants serve very basic appetizers, or salads that you can add chicken or steak to.

 

[MommyPoppins]

We were planning on going in Dec. but now have changed to Sept. My parents were going to come and stay for 3 nights in Dec. We were going to change resorts and stay at Pop since we could put one of the kids with them and stay there.(cheaper for them) So now that we are going in Sept. they are thinking about going in Sept. Only with the dining plan we are not switching resorts, but staying at POR the whole time, SO since it would cost them more to stay at POR I thought we could even it out by paying for their meals with our dining plan. Is that allowed? For instance can we go to Teppanyaki and use 6 TS credits. There will be 4 adults, 1 teen, and 3 kids(dining plan ages). If we order 5 adults meals(for the adults) and 1 kids meal would we be cheating the system? My mom and I would share our food with 2 of the kids and the other 2 would share the kids meal. DH and I plan on sharing meals with the kids a lot(too much food) and saving TS credits to use with my parents. Will Disney allow it? Is it cheating? TIA

 

[ngtotd_dtrt]

If your folks don't have park-passes, why not just make a POR ressie for them which includes the dining plan? At check-in, they'll try to put your rooms close to each other and may be connecting.

If your folks already have the park-passes, then I would pay for their meals using the credits and share or pay OOP for the kids. But you might have to choose restaurants more conducive to this, and I would think at Teppanyaki, it might be more difficult to do this. Not that you couldn't do it, and Tep. might be great with it...just that cooking for a group, and the chef dividing it based on what was ordered might be more cumbersome or awkward than another sit-down like San Angel or Le Cellier, etc. JMO

Have a great time!

 

[MommyPoppins]

If your folks don't have park-passes, why not just make a POR ressie for them which includes the dining plan? At check-in, they'll try to put your rooms close to each other and may be connecting.

If your folks already have the park-passes, then I would pay for their meals using the credits and share or pay OOP for the kids. But you might have to choose restaurants more conducive to this, and I would think at Teppanyaki, it might be more difficult to do this. Not that you couldn't do it, and Tep. might be great with it...just that cooking for a group, and the chef dividing it based on what was ordered might be more cumbersome or awkward than another sit-down like San Angel or Le Cellier, etc. JMO

Have a great time!

They don't have park passes, but are only going for 3 nights and getting the Fl Res. 3 day play pass and a room at the fl res rate. MUCH cheaper than doing the full price tickets and room to get the dining, plus don't you have to go for 5 or more nights?

 

[La2kw]

I dont usually get involved in these debates, but here goes....

I am very surprised that there are so many people who really care what others choose to do with their dining credits! In all honesty, my 6 year old is a poor eater, and I would rather see my husband or myself enjoy the full meal rather than see the food go to waste. Even if there is a children's meal offering, if I want to pay OOP for the kids meal, and use the credit towards an adult meal, I certainly will do so until Disney tells me otherwise. They would'nt allow people to do it, if they were losing money on the deal. In fact, they just made a few grand off me since I was not planning on going to Disney until I heard about the free dining plan!

Why are you surprised? If you read the original post, the op is asking for advice. If someone asks for advice, they are going to get it. It's not like someone who thinks what you are doing is wrong decided to start this post. You may not agree with some of the responses, but there's no need to make it seem like people are butting into your business when they are just responding to the original question.

 

[La2kw]

No, there is a significant difference. Using a Mug from an old trip (but not too old) on your new trip is against the rules posted by disney. The fact that people do it and get away with it is because Disney doesn't enforce this rule. On the other hand, using your TS credits any way you want is specifically allowed in the rules of the dining plan. Disney doesnt "do anything" about this because it is part of the rules. There is nothing to do about

Don't the dining plan rules say that children 3-9 must order from the children's menu?

 

[ngtotd_dtrt]

They don't have park passes, but are only going for 3 nights and getting the Fl Res. 3 day play pass and a room at the fl res rate. MUCH cheaper than doing the full price tickets and room to get the dining, plus don't you have to go for 5 or more nights?

oh (Fl.resident discount).

btw, I don't think it's a 5-day minimum on the DP. Last Fall it was a 3-day minimum, but haven't read the rules for this Fall.

You might price the Fl.-discount vs. regular rate, then see if the difference is worth the food price. Even using your bank of TS credits on your folks will cause some OOP outlay, as you spend some cash on the kids, plus run out of credits later in the week. The OOP-expense may be close to the same amount as the 3-day 'full-price v. discount' difference. If so, get them the package and pay the difference for them, and everyone eat until green.

If not, then it'll still be a fun challange picking and choosing when/where/what to eat.

If you run the numbers and don't mind posting them (and your decision), I'd be curious.

 

[hollyb]

Honest question. Where can I find out about this. I was under the impression that it was only for dinners. I was just told we can use it for snacks and water and counter service. I am so confused!!!!

 

[ngtotd_dtrt]

Honest question. Where can I find out about this. I was under the impression that it was only for dinners. I was just told we can use it for snacks and water and counter service. I am so confused!!!!

I posted some basic dining-plan info for another poster yesterday on this thread
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=12174799#post12174799

(did that link work? )

Hope it helps. If it's still confusing, ask away and it'll get answered, I'm sure.

 

[aterriq]

Now if you'll excuse me, I've got to go eat a big meal to 'stretch-out' for our trip..have to take full advantage of the plan even if it kills me!!

That's the best advice I have heard in regards to the dining plan. What's your strategy. don't normally have appetizers and desserts with a meal, so need all the help I can get to ensure I eat all i can.

 

[ReallyFunMom]

oh (Fl.resident discount).



You might price the Fl.-discount vs. regular rate, then see if the difference is worth the food price.

Yeah, FL resident rate and DDE are much easier. I just wasn't sure you could count on a FL rate if the free dining filled the hotels sufficiently. So, I'm trying this free dining thing for a short stay as a FL resident, probably doesn't get the same bang for your buck as longer stays for non-residents. Anyway, think I've read all angles now, thanks everyone. We should let this thread die out now, at least IMHO.

 

[hollyb]

YES!!! The post worked thank you!! I am no longer in the dark.

 

[pedro2112]

Don't the dining plan rules say that children 3-9 must order from the children's menu?

Correct, if you are going to use a TS or CS credit for a child, then they must order from the Children's menu if they are between the ages of 3-9. However, that isn't the issue we were discussing. The issue was whether it is against the rules to use your TS credits by anyone in the party at any time up until midnight of the day of checkout, which is exactly what the plan allows.

 

[GinaGrumpyDwarf]

I agree...who cares what you do with your credits. Eat well, have fun, life is too short!

 

[La2kw]

Correct, if you are going to use a TS or CS credit for a child, then they must order from the Children's menu if they are between the ages of 3-9. However, that isn't the issue we were discussing. The issue was whether it is against the rules to use your TS credits by anyone in the party at any time up until midnight of the day of checkout, which is exactly what the plan allows.

Let's call it what it is. Basically the question is whether or not to get more than what you are paying for- whether or not to use child meal credits for an adult meal. Child meal credits only cost $10.99, adult meal credits cost $37.99. That's a $27 difference. If you pay $10.99 for the child's dining plan, the child must order from the children's menu, if one is available. It's stated very clearly in the rules. Disney doesn't differentiate between the credits- yet. But IMO the intent is there, pay for a child's dining plan, get child meal credits. If it didn't matter, then why aren't adults charged $10.99?

 

[La2kw]

I agree...who cares what you do with your credits. Eat well, have fun, life is too short!

The OP asked, the questions are being answered, so I guess a lot of people care.

 

[Pedler]

Let's call it what it is. Basically the question is whether or not to get more than what you are paying for- whether or not to use child meal credits for an adult meal. Child meal credits only cost $10.99, adult meal credits cost $37.99. That's a $27 difference. If you pay $10.99 for the child's dining plan, the child must order from the children's menu, if one is available. It's stated very clearly in the rules. Disney doesn't differentiate between the credits- yet. But IMO the intent is there, pay for a child's dining plan, get child meal credits. If it didn't matter, then why aren't adults charged $10.99?

In the same thought process what should happen when a 10 year old on the plan orders off the childrens meal? That person is considered and adult on the plan and pays the adult rate of $37.99 but only orders food that the plan would charge $10.99 for. In that case Disney clearly wins out. In the same line of thinking what about the persons that leave with unused credits?

It has been discussed many times over here and it has been determined that Disney not only allows the use of the plan in this manner but encourages it via CM's. The only people who think it isn't OK are those that can't conceive of why Disney would let someone use a credit that cost $10.99 to get an adult TS meal. If they would take the time to think of the plan in the larger terms of keeping people on site and getting more of thier entire vacation budget they would realize that the goals of the dinning plan are much broader than food. Between the Magical Express, new ticket pricing and the current version of the dinning plan Disney is capturing a larger share of the Disney vistors vacation dollars, increasing the amount they spend and Disney and reducing the amount spent at other Orlando attractions. In essence they are sucking up more and more of the money that would have otherwise been spent at other Orlando attractions, hotels and restaurants. For Disney if all it takes is providing free transportation and the ocasional adult meal for 10.99 to sell more hotel rooms and keep people on site it is a great deal for the mouse.

Of course the folks that don't think it is proper to do this have yet to answer any of the overall benefits that using the dinning plan in this manner brings to Disney.

 

[pedro2112]

Let's call it what it is. Basically the question is whether or not to get more than what you are paying for- whether or not to use child meal credits for an adult meal..

My fault. I thought we were discussing Disneys Magic Your Way plus Dining plan in which there is no such thing as "child" meal credits, only credits that the plan documents clearly state you can use any way you want. I didn't realize you were talking about another plan that has child credits. I don't have any comment on that plan as I am not familiar with it.

Sorry for the confusion.