Who decides what to offer for a snack or CS credit?

[kathyg]

It seems that many of the places around Disney differ widely in what you can get for a snack credit or a counter service credit. My question is who decides? The individual restaurants or the Ultimate Credit Guru? And who oversees this?

Just curious.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Differ widely in what way?

The Snack credit can be used for most individual snack items under $4, except things that could be considered a meal food like a slice of pizza or a hot dog (if those items are even available for less than $4 anywhere, I'm just using these as examples).

The Counter Service credits are also pretty well-defined: An entree or combo (if such item is available where the diner chooses to eat), a non-alcholic beverage, and a dessert item. Yes, some places limit the dessert selection (baklava at Tangeriene Cafe, "Tier 1" desserts at Pepper Market, cookie or muffin-top at Earl of Sandwich). But pretty much, the DDP offerings don't differ all that much.

 

[Lewisc]

The DDP brochure lists 8 items that are included as snacks. In addition any item that has the snack logo on the menu board is also included as a snack.

Many of us have observed that most snack type items that are less then $4 are included as snacks but that's an observation not a rule.

Disney run establishments seem to observe the $4 policy. A few posters observed prices being increased above $4, or in some cases decreased so the included list complies with the unofficial $4 rule. Some of the non-Disney run establishments stick more to official list. Those places don't see the need to increase the price of bakery items that they don't want to include. A non-Disney bakery doesn't want to give away an item for whatever Disney is paying them. Would you rather they just not include it or would you rather they increase the price to comply with a $4 "non-rule".

 

[kathyg]

Well, for example, Main Street Bakery offers a savory and sweet and a drink for breakfast where Boardwalk Bakery offers only one item and two drinks. I think that BC Marketplace is also sweet, savory and one drink.

As for snacks, one resort will have only a quart of milk for a snack credit while another would have a 1/2 gallon for the same credit.

Also, the bakery in France offers none of its items for a snack credit.

Why the discrepancies?

 

[Lewisc]

I thought I answered your question?

The brochure lists the items that must be included as a snack. Individual establishments are free in to include additional items. The DDP logo is used on the menu to indicate which items are included.

The French bakery in EPCOT isn't interested in giving out pastries for whatever Disney is paying them and isn't interested in "screwing" customers by increasing the price above $4 just to satisfy a phantom Internet rule.

The brochure says a single serving size of packaged milk is included as a snack. Many locations, particularly in the resorts, are more generous.

Well, for example, Main Street Bakery offers a savory and sweet and a drink for breakfast where Boardwalk Bakery offers only one item and two drinks. I think that BC Marketplace is also sweet, savory and one drink.

As for snacks, one resort will have only a quart of milk for a snack credit while another would have a 1/2 gallon for the same credit.

Also, the bakery in France offers none of its items for a snack credit.

Why the discrepancies?

 

[kathyg]

Dear Lewisc,

I suppose if you answered my question I wouldn't be posting again.

I'm not looking for a debate, just a clarification. Who is in charge of designating what is or what is not a snack.. You say the "individual establishements are free to include items"...So my question is "who regulates this?"

As far as the French Bakery...you say "they are not interested in giving out pastries..."....Once again, does anyone regulate this? Are they part of the DDP or not???

And , you didn't even address my CS concerns.

I think if Disney is going to offer the DDP, it should be less nebulous than it is...Why should someone have to guess what is being offered at various places? There should just be a more definitive, across the board, clear cut, black and white listing of what is included as a snack and what is included in a CS meal.

Once again, who is in charge?????

 

[Shannone1]

Well, for example, Main Street Bakery offers a savory and sweet and a drink for breakfast where Boardwalk Bakery offers only one item and two drinks. I think that BC Marketplace is also sweet, savory and one drink.

As for snacks, one resort will have only a quart of milk for a snack credit while another would have a 1/2 gallon for the same credit.

Also, the bakery in France offers none of its items for a snack credit.

Why the discrepancies?

I have wondered that too. Most CS places are easy to figure out, but it's not so easy at other places. For example at the Trading Posts at Fort Wilderness it depends on the CM. One night we were told we could get anything under $4 including a box of donuts, big bag of pretzels and a large bag of cheddar mickey crackers. The very next day a different CM told us it had to be a small, individual size snack...didn't matter if it cost $2.99 or $3.99...we were not allowed to get them. Yet next door at WL you could get anything in the store under $4. I think there needs to be more consistancy on the CM's part.

 

[Lewisc]

Some of the food locations aren't owned by Disney. The French bakery is one of them.

Disney lists 8 items which are included as a snack. Disney owned locations tend to use the $4 policy that's quoted in the internet. There is nothing to regulate, as long as the establishment includes the items listed in the brochure no rules are violated. I don't know, or care, if the decision (at non-Disney owned restaurants), is made by the manager or by whatever corporation owns that location. Disney owned location seem to use the $4 rule, excepting items like pizza and kids meals which aren't really snack items.


It's not nebulous, 8 specific items are covered. Many locations chose to include additiional items which are indicated with the DDP logo on the menu. Most guests are happy to find additional items are included.

A CS meal includes a combo, drink and (not for breakfast) a dessert. I guess it's up to the manager of the location to interpret what's included.

Dear Lewisc,

I suppose if you answered my question I wouldn't be posting again.

I'm not looking for a debate, just a clarification. Who is in charge of designating what is or what is not a snack.. You say the "individual establishements are free to include items"...So my question is "who regulates this?"

As far as the French Bakery...you say "they are not interested in giving out pastries..."....Once again, does anyone regulate this? Are they part of the DDP or not???

And , you didn't even address my CS concerns.

I think if Disney is going to offer the DDP, it should be less nebulous than it is...Why should someone have to guess what is being offered at various places? There should just be a more definitive, across the board, clear cut, black and white listing of what is included as a snack and what is included in a CS meal.

Once again, who is in charge?????

 

[BCV23]

Kathy, I agree with you that it varies widely. I have no idea who decides but it does seem inconsistent especially with QS meals.

BCMarketplace offers two drinks with its breakfast croissant. For lunch or dinner, sandwich or salad with chips. Dessert choices are extremely limited there: Mickey bar, chocolate chip cookie or Rice Crispie Treat as I recall. Drink as well. Other QS places we tried allowed many more things for dessert.

AS for the snacks in the brochure isn't the wording still " "Some examples are....". I do think there is more consistency about snacks these days than last May when the snack choices were broadened so much.

 

[bicker]

It seems that many of the places around Disney differ widely in what you can get for a snack credit or a counter service credit. My question is who decides? The individual restaurants or the Ultimate Credit Guru? And who oversees this?

The restaurant's individual management almost surely has the final say. For snack credits, there are some imposed includes. Beyond that, each Disney-owned venue has a list, which they maintain, and change as they see fit -- I'm not sure if they're required to get approval for changes to that list but I doubt it. For CS, there are some implicit inclusions, but operationally the restaurant still apparently has final say. In both cases, CMs appear to have discretion to go beyond under certain circumstances, if they see fit. I would be surprised if there was much oversight whatsoever beyond the restaurant level, for either planned inclusions or operational inclusions.

So the message, I believe, is for folks to stop looking for definitive answers, because that search is bound to end in disappointment. Read the reviews. If you believe the folks who gush about how great the Dining Plan is, how generous it is, then buy it. Otherwise don't. As with anything, the service will change over time, so expect that. Base your decision on the latest reviews you can find, or based on your own personal experience "last time", but still recognizing that it may not be as good "this time" as it was "last time."

 

[bicker]

The Snack credit can be used for most individual snack items under $4, except things that could be considered a meal food like a slice of pizza or a hot dog (if those items are even available for less than $4 anywhere, I'm just using these as examples).

It is that "except" part that is most important. It's basically anything under $4 except the things that they don't want to include. In addition to what you mentioned, souvenir food (food items people typically take home as souvenirs) is also often excluded. There are probably other exclusions, and they can come up with more. Except for the list of included items, and things with DDP labels on them that day, anything might be excluded.

 

[bicker]

I'm not looking for a debate, just a clarification. Who is in charge of designating what is or what is not a snack.. You say the "individual establishements are free to include items"...So my question is "who regulates this?"

Just to clarify my earlier point: It is almost surely the manager of the restaurant that regulates this.

I think if Disney is going to offer the DDP, it should be less nebulous than it is...

I disagree. I think the Dining Plan should be whatever it needs to be to be a win-win proposition.

However, to be fair, if a guest is unsatisfied by fact that the Dining Plan doesn't have explicit specifications, that is a valid reason to not purchase the Dining Plan entirely. The decision to purchase or not purchase the Dining Plan need not be based solely on "typical value", but can also be based on these kinds of contextual issues.

Why should someone have to guess what is being offered at various places?

You never have to guess. You can always ask the cashier, and know.

 

[eliza61]

So the message, I believe, is for folks to stop looking for definitive answers, because that search is bound to end in disappointment. Read the reviews. If you believe the folks who gush about how great the Dining Plan is, how generous it is, then buy it. Otherwise don't. As with anything, the service will change over time, so expect that. Base your decision on the latest reviews you can find, or based on your own personal experience "last time", but still recognizing that it may not be as good "this time" as it was "last time."

Well done Bicker. It has always been this simple for me. If you think you can eat well with the DDP then go for it. If not don't. There are no written in stone answers. Now we will have months of debate about the plan not including tips anymore. Once again it seems simple to me, if you don't think it's a good deal anymore without the tips, don't buy it.

 

[eliza61]

.

Why the discrepancies?

Why not? It's not a discrepancy, it's different choices. I've never found it to be all that difficult. I see some thing on the menu, I ask is it included in the DDP. No worries.
I like that different resturants can add things and have a little flexibility. I'm probably veering off topic here sorry.

 

[kathyg]

Thank you for all of your responses. My originial question was posed, in part, because I wanted to understand, beforehand, if the DDP was indeed the way we should go. It just makes planning more difficult when there are no clear cut guidelines on which to base a decision. For TS meals, the guidelines are clear. For CS meals they are somewhat clear. As for snacks, well, that's another story.

The information you have provided me, though, is much appreciated. At least I now know that it is the individual establishments who set the guidelines.

Thanks again.

 

[BCV23]

Why not? It's not a discrepancy, it's different choices. I've never found it to be all that difficult. I see some thing on the menu, I ask is it included in the DDP. No worries.
I like that different resturants can add things and have a little flexibility. I'm probably veering off topic here sorry.

I think it is unfortunate that there are so many discrepancies. It slows everyone down if you need to find a CM and ask what's included at any given QS.

At food courts there is often no one to ask except the CM at the cash register or the CMs manning the counter. So if you want a sandwich from the cooler and are left wondering what it included with it, you need to stand in a line to find out and then go back and gather.

And even within a particular spot, you can get different answers. At BCMarketplace, the person who took my sandwich order on a trip a year or so ago told me anything under $4 could be a dessert. So I collected fruit salads as ours. Got to the register and was told no....piece of fresh fruit, cookie, rice crispie treat or Mickey bar.

At Mara, instead of chips, I was able to get carrot and celery sticks. For dessert choices included fruit salad, Zebra domes, candy bar, carrot cake. etc..

At park counters, if it isn't clear what's included, a family has to confer, hold up the line etc. once they find out from the CM who takes the order. I'm not sure how often that is a problem although I have seen complaints. The couple of times we've used QS in a park, it's been clear what is included.

Good luck in your decision, Kathy.

 

[kathyg]

All in all, I must agree with you BCV23....It's not a perfect system and I still think that this plan should be black and white across the board. It seems strange to me that Disney would let this happen when they seem to control everything else to the extreme.

It may be a little thing, but I would cetainly like to know exactly what I'm getting for the money I shell out. But that's just me.

If Disney would just say..."anything under $4.00 is a snack", or, "a cs inlcudes two items or a combo plus a drink", regardless of whether it's breakfast or lunch, t would be so much easier to plan and know exactly what I was getting for my money.

I don't understand why Disney leaves it up to the individual restaurants to decide. It can't be a matter of money, because some places give you so much more than others.

Oh well...I know I'm beating a dead horse. Just my opinion.