Did your kids like the dining plan?

[DisneyArk]

We were at WDW last week and we enjoyed having the dining plan. But I was surprised at how much my sons who are 6 and 8 liked it. In the past we have not stopped to have sit down meals each day. We thought they would be bored and not want to sit still for a sit down dinner. But my sons behaved very well and tried a lot of new foods (appetizers and things from our plates).

On the 6th day of our trip we waited in line about 20 minutes at a counter service restaurant and DS8 said he really preferred sitting down and having a waiter (so he could color while he waited :lmao: ). Then DS6 said that he didn't like the chocolate mouse in the cup nearly as much as the chocolate mouse (moose) dessert at LeCellier.

I loved letting the boys order dessert at each meal (usually I'm too cheap to let them :) ). I was truly shocked at how much they liked having a TS meal each day! So what did your kids think about the DDP?

[kellyg403]

My kids loved it also. I am usually really conscience about what they are ordering and how big it is etc. During the dining plan I didn't say anything about anything. Eat three bites of dinner and wait for dessert...go for it. I knew for sure they were not in anyway starving! I have a great picture from the Garden Grill with all 6 of them leaning on each other, so glad to be sitting and looking so full! I sometimes need a break from all the stimuli of WDW, never dawned on me they did too.

Kelly

[sl_underwood]

Our kids enjoyed the dining plan, our older dd loved trying all the different foods and visiting restaurants that we might not have chosen with a more limited food budget. Our younger dd loved the character meals which we definitely would not have done since my hubby is unwilling to pay $20 for each person to eat breakfast.
Lora

[budbeerlady]

My DD loves it. She calls it "that all you can eat plan"! Otherwise she never gets an app and dessert with her meal for herself.

[Kewz1]

My kids (10 & 12) loved the DDP. They really liked getting their own meals/snacks with their room key. They can't wait for the next trip!

Kristen

[got2travel]

Glad to hear the kids are enjoying the plan. I've been trying to explain it to my 10yr old. We leave next week and every few days he comes and asks me to explain the plan again. I'm sure he will enjoy most meals. But in the past he's always gone with the kid's meals. Now that he is a Disney adult, he actually seems to be looking forward to trying new things.

[jenga1030]

My kids loved it! :thumbsup2 We go to Disney World once a year and are always on a budget. Food had never really been a priority for us. We just had CS wherever.

It is nice to have that sit down time each day. And it is something to look forward to while having fun at the parks. The kids love going to the different resorts and experiencing new things. And it is so nice to let them have what they want and have dessert without having to look at the price. :cool1:

And when they ask for a Mickey ice cream or a pastry, I just say sure, why not! It feels even more like a vacation now! The dining is an attraction all by itself. :teeth:

[Evil Queen]

So glad to hear it's going well for everyone's kids. This is a big concern of mine with DS10. I look at the menu's and think, "Gee, here's a disagreement heading my way. No, way he'll touch this stuff." But maybe he will. I tried to make the ADR's that MAY serve something he like, but I made them more for me and the other 2 adults in the group. I figure I am going to let him basically pick most CS meals, so we get to pick the "adult" places.

[headoflife]

My DS11 loved the plan last year, su much so that he has talked about it as one of his favorite things. He has asked when we can go back and do "that meal plan" again. He tried a ton of new thing and loved many of them. DD8 liked it, but less, as she is still generally into kid foods. Neither of them know we are going back in August!

[obithar]

Both of my kids loved it. DS5 was saying in the middle of the trip "I love this Dining Plan". They loved the TS meals, and being able to order a dessert and snack without us worrying about the price, as they are used to.

[WAHMto5]

All of our children also LOVED it and still talk about it! They loved the fact that they were able to order anything they wanted, PLUS an appitizer and dessert;) They also looked foward to their snack every day!

[Sweedee]

We have a 14yodd that would NEVER get her money's worth out of the DDP. In fact, when we go in Sept we will be paying for all her meals OOP. We just use the "extra" credits for another day's worth of TS meals, since they don't expire until midnight of your last park hopper day.

[Cookie Princess]

DS (10) loved the dining plan. He ordered what ever he wanted This year he will be able to order off the adult menu. I hope they have a lot of steak ready and waiting for his arrival!

[LAWalz23]

This will be our first trip on the DDP and neice and nephew both 8, are planning their snacks and meals already.

[disneycrazzzy]

We've utilized the DDP three times and the DDP is 'da bomb for our DS12 and DS9...and Mom and Dad too. They graduated from kid's meals to steaks and shrimp cocktail. We used to skimp on meals and do everything on the cheap. We never realized how a nice meal can be fun and relaxing after a long day at the park. We are hooked!

[daisyduck123]

My DD11 & DS8 love the Dining Plan....done it our last 2 trips.

They both love character meals for dinner so we usually do Chef Mickey's twice, 1900 Park Fare, Crystal Palace, & LTT during our trip. Then, for the rest of our "usually 8 night trips" we do non-character places that are fun for them, like WCC.

[kitn]

My kids loved all the snacks they loved the "free" ice cream.

[patsal]

Mine absolutely loved it--there was so much flexibility and I didn't have to base my meal decision on what the kids were picking--usually DS orders a steak and can't finish it so I end up with a salad and his leftovers on the DP he had complete control at at 14 I'm sure it made him feel pretty good! FOr once I got hot food that I wanted!
I loved that the kids didn't need to ask if they wanted a snack and they were very responsible about planning together and sharing as well--loved when they decided they wanted coke and popcorn so they worked it out together to get popcorn on one card and soda on another (I didn't tell them they could pool the credits for one transaction since I wanted them to feel independent and work it out).

[kaybird]

Our kids have loved DDP. Even when it wasn't available, we always did one TS a day, nice break from the parks, the restaurants are almost all attractions in themselves, and the sit down time means we rarely found the need to return to the room for a rest, resulting in more park time!

The now nearly all grown boys have a great culinary style, and enjoy helping to pick ADRs for each trip.

[disneymom06]

Our four children LOVE the plan (12, 11, 6,4 ). They know that they will get the all important DESSERT, which would have never occured if I looked at the price. The food is too much to eat but they do try new things and if we had a problem with choices on the adult menu, the items are the childrens menu could be given to the older children at adult portions. Everyone was happy, including Mom and Dad, who didn't have to worry about an enormous bill after each meal. The plan is a win win for us.

[lindakmonty]

DS5 loved the plan! The snacks were great. We all really liked the variety of food. You get to try things you wouldn't have if it were oop. Trying different desserts was probably our favorite part. DS5 and I just aren't very big eaters...but it was nice to try different things and not worry about eating it all. There is no way we could have!!! I'm still thinking of the desserts at Liberty Tree Tavern... Apple tart :) and at Ohana :)!!! Yummmmm It is nice trying new things. Enjoy your trip.

[GretchGraham]

DD6 liked that she got dessert everywhere, but DS10 LOVED the plan. One of his school assignments this year was to write about something exciting that had happened to him. His teacher sent us a copy and in it, he described a few of the expected things TOT, RnRC, etc. But what really surprised us is that he also wrote about his dining experiences. He said that first we ate the appetizers and they we ate the "fancy food". He is helping me plan our ADRs this year.

[Randy K]

Of Course they do. We normally order just a meal at Restaurants,no appetizers or deserts. So when I told my daughter that each of us can order an appetizer, Dinner and a Desert the look on her face was like I just told her that Santa Claus decided to bring all the presents in the world to just her this year. :lmao: :rotfl2:

[my4boys+1]

This is our first trip but I know my 13 yr son is excited about all the food that comes with the ddp

[melomouse]

Thanks for all the :thumbsup2 on kids and the DDP!!! Very good to know we have more happy campers!!!

[Disneynutbsv]

My daughter loves the dining plan. She likes the variety of the foods and not having to get the standard burgers/fries fare.

[Redwitch]

My DD is 18, but our first trip to the world several years ago included "wishes." I think it was a silver plan. :confused3 The wishes could be used for meals or merchandise. We were newbies and really did not know how to work it out.

Once you enjoy TS, it is hard to go back to a limited dining budget! We are now planning our third DDP trip in the Fall. She loves it! The rest of our family think we are nuts. They ask "Do you go on rides or just eat down there?" Our conversations are always about this dessert and that ADR and can we make from here to there in time for this or should we eat here and then do that.....

[MomofCKJ]

We are using it in December for our trip. Our kids will be 9, 7 and 4 and I know they will love it. They have inherited Mom's "love to eat out" gene!

It will be nice to let them get desserts and snacks and such without having to worry about the cost.

Allyson :)

[MinnieM3]

I'm pretty sure mine will! We always try to cut corners on the food... hardly any "bought" snacks, water to drink, and lots of CS. DS17 and DS6 are SO looking forward to being able to eat whatever they want this trip!

We watched WDW Unwrapped today on Food Network and when I told DS6 he could have a Mickey Ice Cream bar every day on our trip, he fake fainted! :)

I love being the good guy!

[kath1210]

We used the DDP last year during free dining. My DD11 loved it, and so did my DS14.

However, DD loved the TS restaurants, but DS loved getting pizza, burgers and philly cheesesteaks at CS places!

[LoveThatDarnMouse]

This August will be our first shot at the DDP and my kids are freakin out. As someone else mentioned, the all important "dessert" is the big ticket item, as my kids are never indulged in that unless it comes with the kids meal. DS10 and 13 will be adults and they won't know how to act with an appetizer AND a dessert! :woohoo: