<p>^^^ So, if your child now officially has sophomore or higher status, you can email Bama Dining and just give your child’s name, CWID, and class status, and request a meal plan that is less than the Silver plan, if that is desired. You don’t need to go into details that your child’s higher status is because of AP, Dual, or whatever credits. </p>
<p>According to Bama Dining (I called this morning)…</p>
<p>Meal Plans will be active as of Aug 8th.</p>
<p>This was a correction to some previously given info. Some thought that meal plans wouldn’t be used until classes start. </p>
<p>Keep in mind that if you bought a limited number of meal plans (like Bronze), you may run out of meals if you start using your plan on Aug 8th.</p>
<p>How do the OOS students do as far as the silver plan is considered. My DS will not be home until Christmas since they shortened the fall break. So, he will be eating on campus on weekends as well as weekdays.</p>
<p>I think Silver Plan is more than enough for any student.</p>
<p>The truth is that many kids venture off campus over the weekend, so meal plans often don’t get used much then. The Strip is within walking distance and kids hang out there a LOT.</p>
<p>Plus, the student has $300 per semester of Dining Dollars. That’s equivalent to more than 30 additional meals. </p>
<p>I think it’s cheaper in the long run to just pay for a few more meals outright (either at retail venues or in the dining hall), then to pay for the next level of meal plan. </p>
<p>The difference between Bama Gold and Bama Silver is about $300. If my kid runs out of meals (which has never happened…LOL), it would be cheaper for me to just buy a few meals than pay $300 more per semester. </p>
<p>And, even if I ended up spending an additional $300, at least then my kid would have more choices - dining hall, retail dining, or off-campus dining.</p>
<p>The dining hours should be on the website. Burke is open on Saturday morning. </p>
<p>Most students sleep in on weekends which is why most venues are closed on Sat and Sun mornings. Not cost efficient when no one shows up! LOL </p>
<p>If your child is an early-riser, he’ll probably just eat in his dorm on those days. Not much fun to eat alone in a dining hall. </p>
<p>This isn’t unusual. If you visit most campuses on a weekend morning, campuses can look abandoned because the students don’t drag themselves out of bed until about lunch time unless they’re going to a job.</p>
<p>And, again, many kids don’t eat on campus on weekends. With The Strip so close by, many kids eat there.</p>
<p>m2ck - thanks for confirming what we were thinking about meals. S figured that with $ and kitchenette he won’t starve. What a better way of getting out and exploring the community. I only hope he finds somewhere to have turkey on Thanksgiving and people to share it with as he won’t be home until Christmas.</p>
<p>Since the Bama/Auburn game is in town that weekend, a lot of kids will be in town.</p>
<p>maybe I’ll drop a note to Jami about possibly having some kind of honors T-giving dinner for the many students who will be in Ttown alone that weekend.</p>
<p>Wow m2ck - one more reason you’re the best. What a great idea. Even if they help them act as place the kids can coordinate groups and/or provide them with ideas of what is available to them.</p>
<p>Guess I should add, this is more my concern, S wouldn’t even take both grandma’s offers to fly him home or up to NY. He’s not missing the Auburn game (he went with B for that sole purpose).</p>
<p>While we’re on the subject of food - I saw that you can order birthday cakes through dining services. Anyone ever done this? I considered shipping a cake from Dd’s favorite bakery, but if Bama dining services makes a good cake that might be a safer option. </p>
<p>D must have cake on her first birthday away from home!</p>
<p>i was wondering about the cake also, my d’s birthday is in sept and this will be the first time i am not with her on her birthday (sob). anyhow, i saw the cake thing and i have been keeping my eye out for birthday gift packs to send. would be interested to know how the cake is, if it is worth it, etc.</p>
<p>john441: D’s birthday is in September also! I just saw the cake thing today when I was on Bama Dining (inspired by this thread.) My mom can’t fathom why we won’t see her on her birthday…</p>
<p>She’s not a big cake girl though; any good florists in Tuscaloosa that anyone would recommend?</p>
<p>You can also order a birthday cake from Publix. One of my friends who lives in PA did that last year for her son in October. He just went by and picked it up.</p>
<p>I’ve ordered cakes long-distance from Publix, they came through with a beautiful 50th anniversary cake for my parents… easy peasy - I did it online!
DSs birthday is the first day of Christmas break - I get my boy and he gets cake!</p>
<p>I know that lakeside serves some of the same cakes that are available to be ordered. Also, if your child joins FATE (Future Alumni for Tradition and Excellence), I think they still get a free birthday cake compliments of Alabama CU. My birthday is in late December and I’m not a big fan of cake (unless it’s angel food or cheesecake ), so I’m not that familiar with ordering cakes in AL, though I do remember some friends going to Wal-Mart for a birthday cake (the Northport one does photo cakes, the Tuscaloosa one doesn’t, IIRC).</p>
<p>socal2bama, when I visited Alabama, my mom and I stopped by to visit Dean Sharpe. He talked about how he and his wife invite many honors kids who are unable to go home for Thanksgiving (mainly OOSers) to his house for a big Thanksgiving dinner. I remember thinking what an insanely generous, and unusual, offer it was.</p>
<p>For flowers: try Bama Blossoms (you may want to plan delivery when D is available at dorm or plan with a roommate…) just so the flowers are deliverable. </p>
<p>Bid day presents: The Trunk which can be found at heybama.com, if you preorder a bid day package they deliver it that day. Also last year La Shea had bid day packages 205-462-3136!</p>
), so I’m not that familiar with ordering cakes in AL, though I do remember some friends going to Wal-Mart for a birthday cake (the Northport one does photo cakes, the Tuscaloosa one doesn’t, IIRC).</p>