2020 BoG- moved from 2020 dxdp thrread

[brockash]

HI there! We're back from a split stay, DDP for the first part and DXDP for the second. We've had the dining plan in the past and DS4 really enjoyed adult entrees more than the kids, he would eat salmon every meal if he could. So our plan was to just order family style and share, knowing DH and I would likely end up eating his kid's meal. Here's a quick report on our experience.

Quick Service:
Geyser Point: Yes! This really is a QS credit! Excellent for adults and DS4 really liked the finger food Kids Meal. I think this was the only Kids Meal he ate the entire meal himself.

Be Our Guest (breakfast): We pre-ordered. The family in front of us (2 adults + 2 kids), pre-orded 4 kids meals, but were only able to use the 2 on their plan. I wouldn't plan on using extra kids credits at BoG. Other QS where you mobile order and don't cash-out with a Cast Member will let you, but it seems BoG will not. When we "paid" the Cast Member insisted on two separate orders. The Kids Meal first and then adults. Messed up our substitution (which we've always ordered) but the excellent servers in the dining room made up for it. DS4 ate everyone's fruit cup and that's it. Thankfully Dad is happy to clear his plate for him.

D-Luxe Burger: We mobile ordered two kids meals and two floats (snack credits!) The burger or chicken sandwich kids meal (with double fries) are definitely a nice lunch for an adult. DS4 had a few bites and a few sips. We bring along nutritious snacks we know he'll love because he really doesn't eat much at restaurants.

Polite Pig: The kids meal here looked sparse compared to the excellent adult meals, that's why we had two kids credits to use at D-Luxe. The half chicken meal is plenty to share, especially if you substitute the coleslaw (meh) for a full side. Well worth the $4 out of pocket. And DS4 was able to eat the salmon he always asks for

Docking Bay 7: It's great that the Kids Meals are mostly smaller versions of the adults! We thought this was an excellent use of the adult AND child credits.

On the regular DDP, we did all character dining/packages for our table service so the kids credits were straight forward. The nights we had Deluxe DP were a little more complicated.

Table Service (all deluxe credits):
'Ohana: straightforward use of our credits, just wanted to mention that this was the only restaurant that offered DS4 a specialty drink. He LOVED his virgin fruity concoction. I'd be interested in other restaurants that offer kids fun drinks. I'll be sure to ask every time during our next trip.

Raglan Road: Though the Deluxe plan includes an appetizer for adults (and kids), RR doesn't include an app for kids meals. Our server made that clear. Kids meal here sounded great (chicken. mashed potatoes and broccoli). It was cold and bland. Zero seasoning. No one at the table liked it. We were surprised because all of the adult items were delicious. We'd definitely use adult credits here in the future but not children's.

Jiko and Sanaa: Both were excellent meals including the kid's selections. Sanaa adult meals on the DXDP are extra generous, more than enough to share. The kid's menu at both restaurants had the easy, kid-friendly items you expect and also more adventurous items (shrimp, butter chicken etc.).

Morimoto Asia (lunch): DS4 wasn't interested in anything, so we ordered two adult meals and shared some with him. Our server seemed a little confused that were wanted to do this and asked twice..."two adults, one child credit?" No. Two adults. This was an excellent, filling meal. We could have easily shared. I wish we would have ordered the kids meal here instead of Raglan Road, there's always next time to try that

Child QS to Snack:
We used all our snack credits for straight snack credits However in line at the Festival of the Arts booth in France (name?), the guest in front of me wanted to use a child's QS credit for ONE snack and was told that the booth did not participate in that exchange. edit: It sounded like "we do not exchange child's credits"...perhaps they would exchange an adult credit for 3 snacks? Now I'm curious!

We have a trip coming up in May. Another split stay with DDP and DXDP. I'd like to look at our reservations and whether it would be better to age up our DS4 for dining plan purposes. IMO, the table service meals (non-buffet) just weren't worth it. Even Sanaa and Jiko, it would have been better to just order an extra adult meal, value wise. I know this was long, I thought it might help someone to know about our experience. I've learned so much from all of you!

Thank you so much for the feedback. I'm hoping BOG gets their act together before our trip comes up. There is absolutely no reason or logic behind not allowing a guest to use whatever credits they want. It goes completely against Disney's own advertisement of how and what you can do/use the plan. If I have the QS credits, it should not matter who's eating it. This is one that I will def. take to a manager and then guests services if need be. I'm totally fine with them "closing the loophole" and you have to order what you paid for credit-wise, but they have no right (according to disney's own dining plan policy) to tell me who has to eat what credits. If I wanted I could use all my QS credits (child and adult) at my first QS meal or I could just use 1 child, or 1 adult etc., so they have no leg to stand on requiring anything different. In all my trips, I have yet to go to guest services for any kind of complaint, but this will be the issue that gets me to waste my time if it becomes an issue while I'm there. Pretty aggravating though.

 

[brockash]

@mattpeto Sorry I keep tagging you, but want to make sure you're up-to-date on what's happening at BoG since you specifically asked and are hoping to use all kid's credits there. Be sure to scroll up and read BarlowFamily's trip report at post #49.

Also, @mattpeto, know that just because you may get a CM or possibly an entire restaurant that wants to go against Disney's own policy; I'm 99.9% confident that you will get refunded any credits you unnecessarily were "made" to use at BOG when taken to guest services. It's absolutely ridiculous. If they don't allow me to order the kid meals I want, then I will just order the 1 kids meal and not order anything for myself. So ignorant.

 

[sharonabe]

They don't tell anyone who has to eat what credit. They do, legitimately, tell guests who has to order from which credit. This has been one of the written conditions since day one.

The only change necessary would be to offer child meals at all locations. The options to exchange one Table Service credit for one Quick Service credit, or one meal credit for three/any snack credits, have never, ever been official policy.

But brockash's argument is still valid. If I have 4 child QS credits left, I should be able to get 4 kid's meals at one time, no matter where I am, as long as they have a kid's menu. BoG does have a kid's menu, and technically, I should be able to get as many kid's meals as I want as long as I have the kid's credits to do so.

 

[BarlowFamily]

Thank you so much for the feedback. I'm hoping BOG gets their act together before our trip comes up. There is absolutely no reason or logic behind not allowing a guest to use whatever credits they want. It goes completely against Disney's own advertisement of how and what you can do/use the plan. If I have the QS credits, it should not matter who's eating it. This is one that I will def. take to a manager and then guests services if need be. I'm totally fine with them "closing the loophole" and you have to order what you paid for credit-wise, but they have no right (according to disney's own dining plan policy) to tell me who has to eat what credits. If I wanted I could use all my QS credits (child and adult) at my first QS meal or I could just use 1 child, or 1 adult etc., so they have no leg to stand on requiring anything different. In all my trips, I have yet to go to guest services for any kind of complaint, but this will be the issue that gets me to waste my time if it becomes an issue while I'm there. Pretty aggravating though.

You are so right! For all they know, Dad doesn't eat breakfast (there are folks like that!) and DS loads up at the first meal of the day (there are kids like that! just not mine). We'll be back in May, and I will definitely try your method. BoG is one place I don't mind eating a kids meal (to save an adult credit), so DS can have salmon at Polite Pig later in the week. I'm not sure when your trip is, but I'd love to hear how it goes.

 

[brockash]

You are so right! For all they know, Dad doesn't eat breakfast (there are folks like that!) and DS loads up at the first meal of the day (there are kids like that! just not mine). We'll be back in May, and I will definitely try your method. BoG is one place I don't mind eating a kids meal (to save an adult credit), so DS can have salmon at Polite Pig later in the week. I'm not sure when your trip is, but I'd love to hear how it goes.

We'll be going in Sept. with dining plan. Also going in April, but not with dining plan (will be doing breakfast at BOG,) however I'll try to keep an ear out while I'm there. Like I said though, even if they tell you you can't; 99.9% positive if you take it to guest services later you'll be refunded. Not that it should have to be a hassle though. Hopefully someone with some common sense fixes the issue there soon.

 

[sharonabe]

Hopefully someone with some common sense fixes the issue there soon.

Let's just hope they don't "fix it" by making it the true prix fix it should have been from the beginning and make everyone order a meal. Just like the QS ADRs at Pizzafari and Restaurantasaurus, this would then be the work around they need to make your age matter. To be honest, I'm surprised they haven't done it already.

 

[mattpeto]

@mattpeto Sorry I keep tagging you, but want to make sure you're up-to-date on what's happening at BoG since you specifically asked and are hoping to use all kid's credits there. Be sure to scroll up and read BarlowFamily's trip report at post #49.

Also, @mattpeto, know that just because you may get a CM or possibly an entire restaurant that wants to go against Disney's own policy; I'm 99.9% confident that you will get refunded any credits you unnecessarily were "made" to use at BOG when taken to guest services. It's absolutely ridiculous. If they don't allow me to order the kid meals I want, then I will just order the 1 kids meal and not order anything for myself. So ignorant.

Thank you so much for thinking of me!

I ultimately thought using the child credits were too risky and bailed all together on BoG. It sounds like I made the right decision! We did Trattoria al Forno instead and I’m so glad we did! I know it’s not QSM credits but it was amazing food and overall an awesome experience.

i think BoG is a simply a waste for breakfast. I know entrees are 30/adult but they don’t even appeal to me that much.

 

[brockash]

Let's just hope they don't "fix it" by making it the true prix fix it should have been from the beginning and make everyone order a meal. Just like the QS ADRs at Pizzafari and Restaurantasaurus, this would then be the work around they need to make your age matter. To be honest, I'm surprised they haven't done it already.

I mean that part is up to Disney. If they do I'm sure they'll still have plenty of ppl. go running to it (just like paid parties/events etc.) We definitely wouldn't be a part of it, but to each their own. We used to like the BOG dinner a lot, but there's no way I'll spend 2 credits on it, so now we don't eat there for dinner, but there's plenty of others who do. If doing a prix fix meal is what they choose to do, so be it (we won't participate just as we don't at Pizzafarri as we don't see the value - we will however try it at Restaurtsorus as it appeals more to us,) but then you know what you're walking into and you plan accordingly. What they're doing right now is taking advantage and inaccurately telling ppl. they can't do something that per Disney's own policy they can. That's very different.

 

[Jess.stw]

But brockash's argument is still valid. If I have 4 child QS credits left, I should be able to get 4 kid's meals at one time, no matter where I am, as long as they have a kid's menu. BoG does have a kid's menu, and technically, I should be able to get as many kid's meals as I want as long as I have the kid's credits to do so.

I had read that breakfast is considered Pre Fixe at BOG, is that why they are trying to enforce it this way? Or is it no longer Pre Fixe? I was wondering about splitting an adult meal between two adults and that same issue kept popping up, so I just wondered! Perhaps (as was stated above) they are moving back to that? Has anyone tried splitting an adult meal credit there recently?

 

[kaytieeldr]

BOG breakfast entree pricing is uniform, but not prix fixe. You can order just a cup of coffee (milk, soda, etc.) and/or a cupcake, for whatever the menu price is

 

[brockash]

I had read that breakfast is considered Pre Fixe at BOG, is that why they are trying to enforce it this way? Or is it no longer Pre Fixe? I was wondering about splitting an adult meal between two adults and that same issue kept popping up, so I just wondered! Perhaps (as was stated above) they are moving back to that? Has anyone tried splitting an adult meal credit there recently?

It has never nor is it now prix fix at BOG breakfast or lunch. It is a regular counter service except that you can make reservations and order ahead of time. Not everyone has to order something just because they're with others who are etc....just like any other counter service place. You can order 1 meal to split between you 2 if you'd like. They're not "going back" to anything...they never have been a table service restaurant at breakfast or lunch, nor a character meal in which each person must pay to just enter etc. It is a regular counter service place at breakfast and lunch. What they do in the future may change, but whoever led you to believe it was ever anything other than a counter service location for breakfast/lunch was wrong.

 

[NYCMOMMA]

We are traveling for our first trip next month with DH and our 1yo and 3yo on dxdp. Can i preorder 4 child credits at BOG for breakfast and use the dining plan for it?

 

[sharonabe]

We are traveling for our first trip next month with DH and our 1yo and 3yo on dxdp. Can i preorder 4 child credits at BOG for breakfast and use the dining plan for it?

Reports back have said BoG will not let you do this, but if you read through the thread, you'll see that most of us here think they don't have a leg to stand on to enforce it. If you push back, you should be able to do it or get guest services to fix it afterwards.

 

[NYCMOMMA]

Reports back have said BoG will not let you do this, but if you read through the thread, you'll see that most of us here think they don't have a leg to stand on to enforce it. If you push back, you should be able to do it or get guest services to fix it afterwards.

Thanks for the reply. If i end up having to get guest services to fix it, should i just pay out of pocket for the additional child meals and then ask guest services to deduct the dining child credits and refund me? Newbie here, just want to make sure i go with the right planning.

 

[brockash]

We are traveling for our first trip next month with DH and our 1yo and 3yo on dxdp. Can i preorder 4 child credits at BOG for breakfast and use the dining plan for it?

This is what I plan on doing. I'm going to preorder to lessen the chance of a hassle, but if they still try to say I can't, I'll first request a manager and if still no I'll probably just forgo eating a meal there myself and just order for the kid I have with me, but if I'm hungry and want to eat and they won't ley me do a kids meal for me; I'll pay via credit, as it seems easier for guest relations to add a credit, than refund a specific amount etc., but really I think you'll be good either way. I just try to find the path with the least amount of hassle.

 

[sharonabe]

Thanks for the reply. If i end up having to get guest services to fix it, should i just pay out of pocket for the additional child meals and then ask guest services to deduct the dining child credits and refund me? Newbie here, just want to make sure i go with the right planning.

but if I'm hungry and want to eat and they won't ley me do a kids meal for me; I'll pay via credit, as it seems easier for guest relations to add a credit, than refund a specific amount etc., but really I think you'll be good either way. I just try to find the path with the least amount of hassle.

You'll probably have to pay OOP (charge to your room). There have been reports from several different places that they can't use an adult credit for a kid's meal anymore. They've changed the way the registers work for all dining plans. Always worth a try, but be prepared.

 

[vinotinto]

What if you have really hungry kids and they want two meals each? You can’t pay for both using credits?

I suspect the issue is when they see that you are ordering only kids meals and no adult meals and you have adults in the group. While not a prix fixe, the menu does say that the kids menu is for children 3-9. They don’t *have* to enforce it, but BoG has always been one to go very much by the book. Back in that very brief period of time when they were allowing certain substitutions (swap a side for the drink), BoG stopped allowing it much sooner than other places. I do wonder if they are more easy going if you order adult and kids meals.

 

[starry_solo]

Why not just order them separately?

 

[SL6827]

I don't know of any counter service at Disney where I have not been able to order a kids meal if I wanted to. There must be a lot of adults doing this at BOG for breakfast and I think I have even done it with lunch. They must not have been making the numbers with breakfast as a result of this and they are now trying to compensate. Can you buy four kids meals with cash? I bet this will lead to a fix price menu at some point in the future.

 

[brockash]

You'll probably have to pay OOP (charge to your room). There have been reports from several different places that they can't use an adult credit for a kid's meal anymore. They've changed the way the registers work for all dining plans. Always worth a try, but be prepared.

Oh no, I understand, I meant I'll pay for an adult meal with an adult credit, but again I think either way won't make a difference in the end...just feel it'd be faster to be credited back an adult credit, then refunded actual money. Really, if it comes down to it, unless I'm starving I will most likely just not order anything at all for myself if the scenario plays out where they won't let me use the credits I paid fod as I like and as they advertise.