Witnessed much waste of food during free dining

[AuntieM03]

It's interesting to hear that the leftovers go to feed animals. I am hoping they aren't cracking down too hard on sharing. My friend and I were planning on sharing a few meals and then using the extra credits for breakfast our last day and at CRT. I guess if there is too much fuss we will pay OOP for breakfast at Crystal Palace, but we really didn't want the extra food.

 

[Tiger926]

I'm coming in late to this thread, but I read most of it, and I am still confused as to why everyone thinks that they have to order all food available to them while on the DP? We only order what we can consume, nothing more. No one is forcing anyone to order all of the food that is available to them - this is a personal choice, and one that does indeed adds to waste as the OP described, if one isn't planning on consuming but one bite of the food that has been brought to the table.

Tiger

 

[NEVERENOUGHWDW]

There would be a DIS if all minded their own business - information can be shared without minding what others are doing - gossip about something is not "just information". I come here for ideas and info. It is nobody's business, though, what my family does or doesn't do while at WDW unless I want to make it their business. It is just creepy to think there are those out there who will watch every move we make while dining with our family at WDW!!!!

Please lighten up.....i will be the first to admit I have noticed and even commented about the gorging the U.S. does period. I am amazed at the feedbags people put on period....not only at WDW.
I'm sure there will be flames for that but I know I am not the only one that feels that way.

 

[RACHELSMOM1]

Please lighten up.....i will be the first to admit I have noticed and even commented about the gorging the U.S. does period. I am amazed at the feedbags people put on period....not only at WDW.
I'm sure there will be flames for that but I know I am not the only one that feels that way.

Lighten up, okay, whatever. I did not mean to offend you personally, but I still feel it is nobody's business what I and my family does or doesn't do at WDW or anywhere else. I was responding to a poster who said that if we all minded our own business there would be no DIS. No, I am not defensive, but I do feel it is nobody's business what I do. I also will not argue with you or anyone else on the boards, but I will express my opinions.

 

[TANYABETH]

In most places, the kids don't really get a big appetizer. At Kona, the kids had a choice of soup, salad, or veggies with ranch dip. At ESPN Club, I don't remember what the choices were, but both my kids had veggies with ranch. At Grand Floridian, the choices were soup or fruit salad. And I don't think the kids entree portions that I've seen were unreasonable either - one hot dog, or a small bowl of mac & cheese, or a smallish piece of salmon. Perfect for DD6, but DS9 usually shared a little of my food on top of eating his kids' meal. Where it gets a little crazy, IMO, is with the "10 year old is an adult" policy that gives older kids adult portions of everything.

Oh, I do not have children and I also don't stare at people who have children while they are trying to dine so I really don't know what the children's portions are like, lol. I was just going by what the person who started the thread said. I believe she said that Liberty Tree gave them full size fried cheese appetizers and huge burgers, but I guess that does not mean that all the restaurants are the same.

 

[melomouse]

I've been following this thread with interest.

We waste too much in this country, it's true. But of all the things we waste, I certainly wouldn't be checking out someone else's plate in a restaurant making a judgement about it on vacation! Sorta like me being off on a rant about everyone I pass on the road driving a gas-guzzling SUV!!! MYOB.

 

[Aristomommy]

We will be on the DDP in Nov. and it will be our first (and probably last) time doing so. Usually we skip appetizers because the portions are huge but I love trying desserts and would order 2 different ones to share. The DDP will give us a chance to try different appetizers that we wouldn't normally even try. Now there are 3 adults and 2 kids in our party, so potentially we could have 3 huge adult appetizers at each meal. I can't imagine eating that much AND our main courses AND desserts. I wish they could make a smaller version of each, sorta like a three course meal. So between us 3 adults and 2 kids, I'm afraid there will be food left over at most meals.
While at home we encourage the kids to only take as much food as they can eat or get seconds if they are still hungry, but I never make them finish a plate of food if they are full. I don't think this is a healthy practice. But at a restaurant we don't control the portions and it is acceptable to leave food if the portions are too big and we are full.

 

[Colleen27]

Oh, I do not have children and I also don't stare at people who have children while they are trying to dine so I really don't know what the children's portions are like, lol. I was just going by what the person who started the thread said. I believe she said that Liberty Tree gave them full size fried cheese appetizers and huge burgers, but I guess that does not mean that all the restaurants are the same.

Yeah, I know all about children's portion sizes first hand, because my DS9 eats his and then shares my adult meal! It actually works out really well, because he couldn't eat a 3 course adult meal, but part of my appetizer, his kids' meal and a few bites of my entree, and the kids' dessert is perfect for him. And he finishes what I'd otherwise leave behind.

The meals the OP described were all adult meals. The fried cheese isn't on the kids' menu, neither is the apple dessert. But during free dining, some people opted to upgrade their children to adults to have more dining credits, and that is sure to lead to waaaay too much food. I'm sure some did it with the idea of sharing some meals and using the extra credits for more meals or signature meals but more posters have been reporting back that certain restaurants aren't allowing DDP guests to share, so perhaps some of the waste is the result of another "loophole" in the plan slowly being closed.

 

[jjohnson]

A bit OT but what happens when they return? Will Disney adjust they ages again?

 

[mickeymousemom]

Sorry...but my opinion is also to "lighten up". The OP made a simple "observance". An OBSERVANCE. So what. I don't want to hear that most people here don't notice what is going on around them when they are out in public. I highly doubt that the OP was just rudely staring and watching every move the other diners made. The fact that certain people are getting "creeped out" by this is asinine. JMHO, though.
It's no one's business what any of us do, unless we are hurting or damaging someone or something, but yet we go on vacation and take pics of other people's bad dress habits and post them in the WTH? thread. The rest of us go and laugh, then tell ourselves we'll go to WDW and look for the same sort of funny stuff. I love that thread and see nothing wrong with it. My point here is that the OP has been blasted a few times for "watching" others eat. So what? Like I said, it was a simple "observance". We all "observe" from time to time. I would never believe that any of us NEVER do it.

It STILL absolutely totally AMAZES me that a person can start a simple thread, mean absolutely NO harm and before you know it someone has turned it around and made it into something bigger than it should be.

This thread has nothing to do with World Hunger. It has to do with the fact that people order food, then waste it. We buy the DP for the prepaid convenience, as a PP stated they did. I don't want to gain 20 lbs on my trip so yes, unless they agreed to bring me a smaller portion, I'll waste my food.

The OP can watch me waste food as much as he/she wants. Doesn't bother me a bit. I can assure you that at some point in the day I have noticed and "observed" someone else doing something I didn't agree with...as a matter of fact, we were at Old Country Buffet the other day and as I was walking back to my table, I just happened to notice(yes..."just happened to") a very large lady who could hardly fit in her seat. In front of her she had a huge plate of corn chips with a huge bowl of nacho cheese and a couple pieces of fried chicken. I told Dh how sad I thought it was that she was eating unhealthy and how she probably needs some support to help her out a bit. She never knew I noticed her....again, it was an observation.

JMHO. Thank you.

 

[ExtinctDino]

A bit OT but what happens when they return? Will Disney adjust they ages again?

The DDP is part of a package so "upgrading" kids' ages means paying more for their park tickets, right? You could still come out ahead I suppose if your under-10 kids eat a whole lot of food.

 

[asmit4]

People upgrade their kids during free dining. For instance- your child is 9yo, she gets free dining but only the "child free dining" which for many is lacking in options.

So, the parents could potentially buy a pkg that includes 1 ticket per person, so they buy 1 base entrance ADULT ticket for the child. THEN, when they get to the park, they upgrade all the TRUE adults tickets to be 7 nights and they buy their daughter ANOTHER ticket for 6 nights.

The cost of the 1 ticket is probably around $70, the cost for a child ticket is probably around 50? not sure

So the child gets to eat as an adult for like $20 bucks total for the week, the cost of that 1 day base adult ticket vs. the child base ticket I'm fairly sure that's how it works, or how people "work" the system.

If the child doesn't truly eat her "40 bucks worth" it doesn't matter, b/c the parents aren't technically paying OOP $40 bucks a day during free dining.

 

[disneyjunkie]

Sorry...but my opinion is also to "lighten up". The OP made a simple "observance". An OBSERVANCE. So what. I don't want to hear that most people here don't notice what is going on around them when they are out in public. I highly doubt that the OP was just rudely staring and watching every move the other diners made. The fact that certain people are getting "creeped out" by this is asinine. JMHO, though.
It's no one's business what any of us do, unless we are hurting or damaging someone or something, but yet we go on vacation and take pics of other people's bad dress habits and post them in the WTH? thread. The rest of us go and laugh, then tell ourselves we'll go to WDW and look for the same sort of funny stuff. I love that thread and see nothing wrong with it. My point here is that the OP has been blasted a few times for "watching" others eat. So what? Like I said, it was a simple "observance". We all "observe" from time to time. I would never believe that any of us NEVER do it.

Of course we all observe what's going on around us. Do we take detailed notes about what we see?(# of people, ages, what everyone orders...) Do we start threads about it? Or do we just shrug it off?

As for the WITH thread?

I wonder how funny it would be to see a thread titled Kid Pets. Hey DISers come share your pictures of kids on leashes.

How about a thread titled Super Babies? Come post your pictures of huge kids riding in strollers.

How about an Odd Looking Family thread?

I bet (at least I hope) most DISers wouldn't find any of those threads funny. The mods would lock and/or delete the thread ASAP.

It's "funny" until you're the one made fun of. It's funny until you're the family being observed and "talked" about on a message board.

So yes, we all make observations and may even comment on them at the time. But to take pictures of strangers and post them on a message board for no other reason to make fun of the subjects??.

 

[jjohnson]

I always thought Disney kept track of everyone's age. I'm thinking years from now when Disney computer thinks they are an adult (18+) but are still 17; or if someone returns the following year without the FD. Do they change it back to 9? KWIM? Mine are all over 10 so this doesn't apply to me. Just curious.

 

[OKW Mom]

A server in my restaurant got fired for doing this.

Did I understand you were told a server was fired for boxing up desserts?

I have read many different comments about different restaurants on the DDP, from their refusing to box the dessert to having it boxed in the kitchen.

We did not waste any food on our two trips. Our servers even offered to box the extra food (and it was used for breakfast the next day).

When we had desserts from counter services and we were full we would give them to adjacent diners. They saw they were wrapped from the factory and were happy to share. People can be friendly.

Sometimes my husband and I would split a counter service meal around 11 and then another around 2, spreading the eating out through the day.

Some meals my husband and I shared an appetizer and boxed one for a future lunch in the villa. We had accumulated enough food to have a lunch of Ribs, Chicken Tenders and Corn muffins.

America does have problems with food. This is a polarizing subject. Since we are watching many of our dietary choices carefully it took alot of discussion. Luckily being in an atmosphere where exercise rooms and walking was available it was possible to start the good habit of WALKING more than usual.

 

[Colleen27]

I always thought Disney kept track of everyone's age. I'm thinking years from now when Disney computer thinks they are an adult (18+) but are still 17; or if someone returns the following year without the FD. Do they change it back to 9? KWIM? Mine are all over 10 so this doesn't apply to me. Just curious.

They do keep track, and I don't know how difficult it might be to correct the age if needed for a future trip. I don't imagine too many people have run into that issue yet, since free dining has only been around a few years. I can imagine it becoming quite the hot topic somewhere down the line, though!

 

[mickeymousemom]

Of course we all observe what's going on around us. Do we take detailed notes about what we see?(# of people, ages, what everyone orders...) Do we start threads about it? Or do we just shrug it off?

As for the WITH thread?

I wonder how funny it would be to see a thread titled Kid Pets. Hey DISers come share your pictures of kids on leashes.

How about a thread titled Super Babies? Come post your pictures of huge kids riding in strollers.

How about an Odd Looking Family thread?

I bet (at least I hope) most DISers wouldn't find any of those threads funny. The mods would lock and/or delete the thread ASAP.

It's "funny" until you're the one made fun of. It's funny until you're the family being observed and "talked" about on a message board.

So yes, we all make observations and may even comment on them at the time. But to take pictures of strangers and post them on a message board for no other reason to make fun of the subjects??.

First of all, I don't think the OP needed to take detailed notes about what she saw. I can sit here now and tell you about the family we sat next to at 1900 Park Fare for breakfast a year ago last February. Again, it was an observation.


I happen to love the WTH? thread...as do lots of decent people who have no intention of being mean. I don't make fun of the women in high heels. I sure as heck don't get how they do it, but I don't waste time standing and pointing and making a big deal out of it. I didn't laugh at the extremely tall man whose pic is over there(and personally don't get that pic)....BUT there are some strange things over there and I, personally, would hope that If I were doing somethng as strange as wearing a BRA with a bathing suit that someone would tell me about it. As for the "odd" family....well...my family would certainly fit that description.... ...and we're the first to admit it.

 

[Traveliz]

Did I understand you were told a server was fired for boxing up desserts?

I have read many different comments about different restaurants on the DDP, from their refusing to box the dessert to having it boxed in the kitchen.

We did not waste any food on our two trips. Our servers even offered to box the extra food (and it was used for breakfast the next day).

When we had desserts from counter services and we were full we would give them to adjacent diners. They saw they were wrapped from the factory and were happy to share. People can be friendly.

Sometimes my husband and I would split a counter service meal around 11 and then another around 2, spreading the eating out through the day.

Some meals my husband and I shared an appetizer and boxed one for a future lunch in the villa. We had accumulated enough food to have a lunch of Ribs, Chicken Tenders and Corn muffins.

America does have problems with food. This is a polarizing subject. Since we are watching many of our dietary choices carefully it took alot of discussion. Luckily being in an atmosphere where exercise rooms and walking was available it was possible to start the good habit of WALKING more than usual.

I think the server was fired for "forcing" food on people who did not want to really order it.

They do keep track, and I don't know how difficult it might be to correct the age if needed for a future trip. I don't imagine too many people have run into that issue yet, since free dining has only been around a few years. I can imagine it becoming quite the hot topic somewhere down the line, though!

They keep track sort of and its not an issue - we have been many times (they tell me 32 every time I call and I have been at least 4 times since that!) and rarely is the information the same from time to time. It's not an issue at all to tell them the age as you go along.

Liz

 

[Amyg]

That makes me cringe to think of all the food wasted. Parents really need to teach their kids better. They SHOULD have been able to order partial orders because that is what we did when we went last summer.

I am a small eater and my son was only 9 so we shared a lot of our meals. It's that old addage: "Take what you want, but eat what you take." We also teach out son about the importance of eating healthy and not stuffing yourself till you feel like falling asleep! LOL!

Well there should be less waste beginning next year since Disney is removing appy's from the standard plan.

 

[JustGot2BMe]

According to what our waiter at The Coral Reef told us all the food was seperated and sent to a pig farm. So Nothing went to waste............and for everyone who says the food was too much and the apps were so large when we were there in Sept we got shrimp cocktail for apps and there were 4-5 shrimp each time and I never experiance a huge app or a huge meal lots of food due to I am not used to an app, a meal and a dessert usually 2 out of 3 but not all 3.