Using your CS Credits ??

[Katiebell]

Katiebell, maybe you know the answer to the question I've been trying to find out...what does Mama Melrose offer ....allearsnet says that they have a choice of an app, entree, and dessert...and it might vary between restaurants what the entree is (they meniton is could be a hamburger, hotdog, etc)..I'm wondering what is is that Mama Melrose has for their kids' pick entree choices...do you know? Thanks for the great info...

Wow, this one turned out to be quite a scavenger hunt! Most of the major sites that have WDW menus -- DIS, Intercot, AllEars -- haven't updated the Mama Melrose one since last fall. Evidently, they were part of a pilot test for a new standardized kids' menu that included a weird entree called "Just Dip It" that...well, it wasn't exactly a hit Anyway, I finally found a kids' menu for Mama Melrose that was updated in March 2007! On "Luxury Guide to WDW" of all places Don't know if it's accurate, but here it is:

Grilled Fish of the Day
served with Whole-Grain Pilaf, Veggies, and Yogurt Parfait $7.49
Grilled Chicken Strips
with Macaroni topped with Marinara Sauce and Mozzarella served with Veggies and Fruit Salad $7.49
Kid's Picks
Choice of 1 Appetizer, 1 Entree, and 1 Dessert
Appetizers
Vegetarian Minestrone Soup
Garden Salad
Entrées
Cheese Pizza
Pepperoni Pizza
Spaghetti or Penne Pasta
topped with Tomato Sauce or Four-Cheese Sauce
Soft Drinks Available Upon Request
Desserts
Fruit Salad
Ice Cream Sundae

HI Katiebell, Thank you for looking those up! That was a big help. Actually, we are going to almost all of the TS you mentioned! I made ADR for:
Wolfgang Puck
Mama Melrose
Le Cellier
Concourse Steakhouse
Spoodles
Alfredo's
Tonys

I checked out those menus and not too bad. ALthough DS doesn't eat any fish and is mostly a burger, hotdog kind of kid. Do you know of any CS that does serve Burgers to kids? Thanks for your help!

Ah, the elusive CS kids' meal burger...almost extinct. But, they have been spotted on the menu at Tangierine (in Epcot), Food Quest (in Disney Quest, which requires admission), and Hurricane Hannah's (BC). Other than that, there are a few TS restaurants that offer them.

 

[MBELSANTI]

Ah, the elusive CS kids' meal burger...almost extinct. But, they have been spotted on the menu at Tangierine (in Epcot), Food Quest (in Disney Quest, which requires admission), and Hurricane Hannah's (BC). Other than that, there are a few TS restaurants that offer them.

LOL! Yea it looks that way to me too. Thanks again for your help! By the way, we are going to Mama Melrose's and those kid's choices aren't too bad. Regular pizze is better than "Pita Pizza - Made with diced chicken and mozzarella cheese" YUK!

 

[weluvslinkydog]

Wow, this one turned out to be quite a scavenger hunt! Most of the major sites that have WDW menus -- DIS, Intercot, AllEars -- haven't updated the Mama Melrose one since last fall. Evidently, they were part of a pilot test for a new standardized kids' menu that included a weird entree called "Just Dip It" that...well, it wasn't exactly a hit Anyway, I finally found a kids' menu for Mama Melrose that was updated in March 2007! On "Luxury Guide to WDW" of all places Don't know if it's accurate, but here it is:

Grilled Fish of the Day
served with Whole-Grain Pilaf, Veggies, and Yogurt Parfait $7.49
Grilled Chicken Strips
with Macaroni topped with Marinara Sauce and Mozzarella served with Veggies and Fruit Salad $7.49
Kid's Picks
Choice of 1 Appetizer, 1 Entree, and 1 Dessert
Appetizers
Vegetarian Minestrone Soup
Garden Salad
Entrées
Cheese Pizza
Pepperoni Pizza
Spaghetti or Penne Pasta
topped with Tomato Sauce or Four-Cheese Sauce
Soft Drinks Available Upon Request
Desserts
Fruit Salad
Ice Cream Sundae



Ah, the elusive CS kids' meal burger...almost extinct. But, they have been spotted on the menu at Tangierine (in Epcot), Food Quest (in Disney Quest, which requires admission), and Hurricane Hannah's (BC). Other than that, there are a few TS restaurants that offer them.

Katiebell, you are a wealth of info!! Thanks so much for digging far enough to find that for us!! Looks nice, too--I know at least DS5 will love the grilled fish!! thanks again!

 

[Sammie]

I have not heard any comments about the CS credits. I think for the time being they are happy with the TS being seperated and will monitor the CS systems and go from there. If there is major abuse and it is costing them money, then yes changes will eventually be made.

If the abuse is minor they will leave it as is.

 

[Nancyg56]

I have a quick question. I thought that if you went to a CS that did not have a children's menu, you simply ordered for your child off the menu, and the credit was deducted as though it was a child credit, and I realize that although the credits are not pooled if keeping track, an adult would not need to be used.

 

[Sammie]

I have a quick question. I thought that if you went to a CS that did not have a children's menu, you simply ordered for your child off the menu, and the credit was deducted as though it was a child credit, and I realize that although the credits are not pooled if keeping track, an adult would not need to be used.

If they do not have child's menu, you order and they will ask you child or adult and charge you accordingly.

 

[FogliaFamily]

If all the CS credits are "pooled" why would they ask if it's for an adult or child? On the receipt isn't it just indicated how many remain, that's what showed up in August, 2006, ex: "15CS remain" (or something like that). I understand the splitting of the TS and the receipt saying A10 remain C15 remain, or something to that effect. If the CS credits were separate then I would think there would be a breakdown on your receipt, no? I can understand the limiting the meals to the number listed on the cards, this would be one way they could monitor it to some extent.

 

[NMW]

Unless they seperate the CS credits into adult/child, I doubt they would even ask you if the meal was for an adult or a child at a place that only served adult meals. What would it matter?

 

[FogliaFamily]

Even at CS where they serve both adult and child meals, why would they ask if they are not separated. The only thing I can see is not being able to order more than alloted according to your card, Wouldn't you think?

 

[Katiebell]

Unless they seperate the CS credits into adult/child, I doubt they would even ask you if the meal was for an adult or a child at a place that only served adult meals. What would it matter?

It shouldn't matter at all -- until Disney separates adult and child CS meals, like they separated adult and child TS meals. If they separate the CS meals instead of pooling them for the whole party, you would need to specify, or that CS restaurant that has no kids' meals might deduct all adult credits from your total. I'm assuming it will be well known if and when Disney starts separating those CS credits -- it should be obvious at the bottom of people's receipts, and I'm sure it will be reported here

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

We just got back from WDW and it was our first time on the dining plan.

I specifically asked at Cosmic Rays if they differentiate between adult and child CS and they lady at the register said no. The reason I had asked was because we all wanted things from 3 different bays = 3 separate trips to get food. DS6 wanted a hamburger from Bay 2 and they do not have a kids burger so I bought him an adult burger.

 

[2Monkeys]

On the official DDP brochure, it says that even for CS that you must order off the child's menu if available. It doesn't sound like they keep track though....I am so confused!

Another questions: If you use CS credit at Casey's, can you get a hot dog, fries, & a drink for one credit?

 

[kimberh]

Just to clarify my earlier point, I'm not planning on using child CS credits for adults. I don't think the child meals will have enough food for my 9 year old, much less for my husband or I! I would buy the adult dining plan for my 9 year old, but to do this I would have to pay a higher ticket price for him as well - doesn't seem quite fair, but okay, the rules are the rules. I'm really not trying to "scam" anything, just saying if it's already paid for, why do they care who eats what?

All that aside, I'm really playing Devil's advocate here, because I have "done my homework" and our plans are to eat at Toy Story Pizza Planet (which does not have a kids' meal - all pizza), CBR food court (chicken nugget bucket I hear is really cute), Sunshine Seasons at Epcot (lots of variety), Restaurantaurus at AK, and we'll probably do a breakfast CS one day. (Due to our flights, we'll only actually have enough time for 5 CS, even though we're staying 6 nights.) For TS, I've planned mostly buffet or family style, which I'm sure will be way too much food but easier to please 5 different people!

I know we're going to have so much food, especially since the snack credits have been expanded to include so much more (at least since I went in Nov 2005), but it does hurt to lose those 4 CS. I'm just neurotic, I guess

Instead of losing some CS credits, why can't you order some sandwiches or quick service breakfasts before you head over to the park one day. The CS doesn't have to be used for lunch. You can use them at the Bakerys. I just read a post where the Main street bakery will give you two of some items, a drink and fruit, I think for a CS for breakfast.

 

[Dis Ohana]

I read something on another post that made me laugh though. The person wrote that the way they use the DDP is they use their CS at breakfast, use one TS at lunch - split it between two people, and use one TS at dinner - split between two people. Now that seems to me like it's really "playing" the system - but it's apparently within the rules!

We have the DDP for 4 of us; me and DH, DS (14) and DD (10). DD eats next to nothing, we would not benefit from having her on the plan. I remember reading a while back that there was no problem splitting a TS or CS since all were adults. My plan was to split my TS meals with DD and use the extra for a nice signature meal. If I'm wrong about this I'll most likely cancel the DDP since it would probably be cheaper for us to pay all meals OOP. I read the plan over and I don't see any reference to this. Is it bending rules or considered in poor taste to split meals like this?

 

[Katiebell]

We have the DDP for 4 of us; me and DH, DS (14) and DD (10). DD eats next to nothing, we would not benefit from having her on the plan. I remember reading a while back that there was no problem splitting a TS or CS since all were adults. My plan was to split my TS meals with DD and use the extra for a nice signature meal. If I'm wrong about this I'll most likely cancel the DDP since it would probably be cheaper for us to pay all meals OOP. I read the plan over and I don't see any reference to this. Is it bending rules or considered in poor taste to split meals like this?

That's a big question right now. There are a whole lot of threads on this and some very differing opinions...you might want to read:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1376421

A couple of threads are merged there. At this point I would say you can always ask if you can share, but I wouldn't count on being allowed to. A few of us have gotten email answers from Disney that specifically say no sharing is allowed. Most people still report they were able to share with no problems, but a few are now reporting they were told no. The problem doesn't seem to be so much people on the same party sharing amongst themselves at the table, but more trying to order fewer meals than the total number of your party and splitting them (ie: 1 TS meal for 2 adults, or 3 TS meals for 4 adults, etc.)

Another thing you might try is to order 3 TS meals using credits on your plan, and order something smaller for your daughter as her meal, paying OOP. Then each person at the table has their own meal, just one person paid OOP and didn't use a credit. The email I received from Disney said that was OK (you can read it in the other thread). You would need to be very specific with the server, though, and check your receipt carefully. I know they will ring up a separate ticket if you order alcoholic drinks or items not on the plan, or for people in your group who are not on the plan, so maybe they could put her separate meal on a ticket like that. There should automatically be 18% tip added to it, so check to make sure you aren't double tipping.

 

[disneywith4boys]

We'll be going with 2 adults and 4 children. I expect there will be several times we will be paying OOP for some CS, esp columbia harbor house(tuna sandwiches for the kids) and Pecos(hamburgers). This will leave us with several unused childrens CS. Can we use them for breakfasts at our hotel-WL?

 

[kimberh]

We'll be going with 2 adults and 4 children. I expect there will be several times we will be paying OOP for some CS, esp columbia harbor house(tuna sandwiches for the kids) and Pecos(hamburgers). This will leave us with several unused childrens CS. Can we use them for breakfasts at our hotel-WL?

We did at Roaring Forks. We even finisned some up in to go boxes for the trip home. We had 12 snacks left...went shopping in the General Store. I gave some as gifts when we returned home.

 

[englishrose47]

I think at a non buffet or family style it would be ok to share and infact many report doing that. I have read that at buffets they may say no or charge a plate fee!! Anyway try going to mostly non buffets and you should be okayAlso if not do doggy bags for next day could save credits that way!!Before you cancel reaally checkyou'd be better off with eating where you want. I bet even with the picky eater DDP woud still be better!

 

[sam'smominco]

Well, this is news to me. My Dad is planning on joining us for part of our trip and will not be on the DDP. However, because we wanted more TS meals than what we get on the DDP, he agreed to pay for about three more. I didn't want to do that b/c then I knew we would have a ton of CS credits left (since we would be eating at 2 TS restaurants on one day for a few of our days). So in exchange of him paying for the extra TS meals OOP, I told him that we would just give him some of our CS credits. I understand Disney wanting to crack down, but at the same time, by doing this we are actually going to be spending MORE money OOP at Disney since we will be doing three additional TS restaurants over our stay (probably spending about $100 at each one).

So can I go through the line and order food for my family of four and then go back up in a bit and get my Dad's food? Who is to say that we wouldn't be hungry for more? Also, my youngest son just turned one and won't be on the DDP. So technically, we have four in our party yet only three people on the DDP. Who is to say that my one-year-old wouldn't want something off the adult menu? And why would it matter if we wanted to use one our credits to buy it -- since we paid for that credit in the first place?!?!

 

[bicker]

I think the issue is that Disney is selling the Dining Plan intending for it to be used a certain way. There is a measure of flexibility built into it, but Disney has made it clear, from their actions, that they don't want guests using the Dining Plan certain ways. The more people violate their intentions, the more Disney has been driven to impose annoying and eventually costly enforcement mechanisms to the plan, making it less convenient and less valueable for guests.