breakeven or worth the DDP if your have a 10 year old?

[3kidz4dis]

We did Dining Plan last visit and thought it was worth it with 3 kids under the age of 10, but now that was have a 10 year old (who only really orders kids meals still) is it worth it? It seems like it still may be worth it because the 2 other kids will eat more than $9.99 a day but my 10 year old will not eat $38.00 a days worth of food. Also, when we go out to eat right now, we always order 2 kids meals to split between our 3 kids and will still end up with leftover food. Anyone with a 10 year old with the same decision?

[tnmomof4]

I have an 11 year old DS. I feel it is worth it. Last year was our first experience of having a 10 year old and being on the DDP. He didn't finish his entrees at Disney, but he loved eating off the adult menu. It was something he looked forward to last year. This year my other DS will be 10, and he can't wait. I feel it is worth if for both of them.

We are already looking at the menus of all the places we are eating and picking out what they want to eat.

Honestly, the kid's meals at Disney don't really fill them up anymore. I would have to say in my own opinion that Disney kid's meals are less food than most restaurants kid's meals that we eat out at.

There are a lot more choices for them now too. They were getting tired of eating chicken for every meal. So they love it, and I feel it is worth it.

[Tinker*Shell*Bell]

A thought:
Do not use the 10yo credit every time. Buffet's yes, table service...not always. Sometimes order the adult meal but only 1 kids meal, other times get 2 kids meals and split between the three.
Make a plan that leaves enough adult and child credits left at the end to do breakfast the last morning.

We did this 2 years ago and it saved on leftover food and wasted credits. We squeezed in Chef Mickey (Our 8th TS with only 7 nights worth of credits.)

Just an idea.
:) Sheli

[disneymomjcs]

We went in Dec 07 and used the Dining Plan. Our daughter turned 10 and we bit the bullet and still did the dining plan. It was a waste of money for us.:confused:

She never finishes her meal. Her buffet plate for 28 - 30 looked like this.

One chicken finger, mashed potatoes, carrot sticks roll and butter. Not worth for us. We won't use it again until she is older. We even ordered off the kids menu in some restaurants. Disney made lots on us we paid for her as an adult and she ate as a child. Even at breakfast one pancake, bacon and a donut. She dosen't even finish.

I wrote to Disney many times in the past that there should be a tier in the middle of child 3 - 10 and adult the rest of your life. 10 is not an adult for food or anything else.:mad:

I let my daughter eat and don't push her to get "our monies worth" we're trying to teach good eating habits.:cutie:

So until she is about 16 we will do many more counter services and eat elsewhere. Unless free dining is available. I won't waste my money.

[3kidz4dis]

A thought:
Do not use the 10yo credit every time. Buffet's yes, table service...not always. Sometimes order the adult meal but only 1 kids meal, other times get 2 kids meals and split between the three.
Make a plan that leaves enough adult and child credits left at the end to do breakfast the last morning.

We did this 2 years ago and it saved on leftover food and wasted credits. We squeezed in Chef Mickey (Our 8th TS with only 7 nights worth of credits.)

Just an idea.
:) Sheli

Very clever...I like that Idea. Now, is there a certain time of the day that those credits would expire since it is the day of check out? (I thought I remembered that you had until midnight of the last day to use them). So if that is true, then couldn't we use any leftover credits for lunch too?

[DisneyMomx7]

My 10 year old dd would live on chicken nuggets if we let her! What we do is use her adult credits for buffets and pay out of pocket for any meals she orders off the children's menu at non-buffet ts restaurants. We then use the extra credits for either a 2ts meal, or an extra character breakfast.

[momx2]

I have a 10 year old DD this time also. We debated about it. When Chef Mickey's went to $30:scared1: that's when we booked it. We did it mainly because my kids love the character buffets. So we have alot of them scheduled. At some places like Narcoosees she will order off of the children's menu because she doesn't like the adult menu and we will save the credits and pay oop for those meals for her.

[3kidz4dis]

My 10 year old dd would live on chicken nuggets if we let her! What we do is use her adult credits for buffets and pay out of pocket for any meals she orders off the children's menu at non-buffet ts restaurants. We then use the extra credits for either a 2ts meal, or an extra character breakfast.

I am thinking that the waiter/waitress will not have a problem with 1 child not ordering anything? Also, is it allowed to maybe pay cash for a childrens meal for the 1 child and the rest of the 4 meals (2 adult/2 children) using their credits? Do they ask the 10 year old how old they are and insist they order an adult meal?

[Aliceacc]

One of our 3 kids will be 10 when we go.

I did the math. For us, the DDP is still a bargain. Not a steal, but a bargain.

[madamy]

A thought:
Do not use the 10yo credit every time. Buffet's yes, table service...not always. Sometimes order the adult meal but only 1 kids meal, other times get 2 kids meals and split between the three.
Make a plan that leaves enough adult and child credits left at the end to do breakfast the last morning.

We did this 2 years ago and it saved on leftover food and wasted credits. We squeezed in Chef Mickey (Our 8th TS with only 7 nights worth of credits.)

Just an idea.
:) Sheli

I was wondering if that was allowed. I have a 12 year old that is picky(hamburgers, chicken nuggets, pizza, etc.) and a very small eater. I was hoping to pay oop for kids meals and save the dining credits for buffets and 2 credit meals. My husband and I still like to eat nice meals we don't want to use the Adult credits for kids meals.

[bluejasmine]

My DD will be 12 in Nov and she barely finishes a kids meal most times but then my stepson 7 will eat an adult meal and want more so it really depends on the child IMHO. I would pool the credits to go to a 2 credit place once or twice and POOP for kids meals the rest of the time. I believe that would be the most bang for your buck! Let us know how it turns out! :thumbsup2

[madamy]

My DD will be 12 in Nov and she barely finishes a kids meal most times but then my stepson 7 will eat an adult meal and want more so it really depends on the child IMHO. I would pool the credits to go to a 2 credit place once or twice and POOP for kids meals the rest of the time. I believe that would be the most bang for your buck! Let us know how it turns out! :thumbsup2

Hopefully they will let us, that is the plan. I would think Disney would be fine with it, we will spend more money that way! We did the dining plan along time ago, It was called some thing different, didn't work on a credit system and couldn't be used for counter service or snacks, and was excepted everywhere except Victoria and Albert's. It was way too much food and we spent a lot of time eating. I think one TS, CS, and snack will be perfect. We just need to bring some muffins or purchase a light breakfast.

[Tinker*Shell*Bell]

Very clever...I like that Idea. Now, is there a certain time of the day that those credits would expire since it is the day of check out? (I thought I remembered that you had until midnight of the last day to use them). So if that is true, then couldn't we use any leftover credits for lunch too?

You can use your credits until midnight of the day you check out. if you have to be out of your room by 11am on your last day you still have 13 hours left to use up your credits.

:) Sheli