7 yr old eats like a horse

[homemaker]

We are upgrading our free dining to the deluxe plan. We have a 7 yr old that eats all the time and is always hungry. I know he has to order from the kids menu, but if he is still hungry can we get him a second meal? Will they allow us to buy the extra meal when we order the rest or will we have to go back up?

[WantToGoNow]

Yes, they will let you buy whatever you need.

[dipity]

This might be a little bit of a stretch, but have you considered changing his age to 10 on your reservation? Then he can eat whatever he wants.

I'm under the impression from other posts that Disney is OK with this and it's not considered cheating. You end up paying more for park tickets and the dining plan for a 10 year old.

It may be worth a call.

[tonilea]

I just called about upgrading my five year old to an adult for the dining plan. He has pretty grown up tastes. The CM said it would be no problem at all.

[clanmcculloch]

Most people find that the DxDDP is too much food overall. You might find that YOU will want the smaller kid meals which would then allow him an adult meal, or he'll eat part of your meal. If you're eating at buffets then he can eat all he wants.

If you were just getting the regular DDP, I would recommend upgrading him to an adult, especially during free dining. With the cost of upgrading to the DxDDP, I'd say do a combination of buffets, sharing part of your meal with him and swapping meals with him. It's a lot of extra money to upgrade him to an adult on the DxDDP and you'll likely have more than enough food keeping the kids' meals.

ETA: Don't forget that at TS restaurants, with the DxDDP you'll get an appetizer. You can always give him your appetizer. Again, the adult DxDDP is a LOT of food.

[TDC Nala]

You can buy whatever you like but you will not be able to use more dining credits in one transaction than you have people on the dining plan. If all of you are at a TS and you each order a meal, you will not be able to use an extra credit to order a second meal for him.

[Mickey country]

Deluxe dining is a tremendous amount of food. If you are upgrading for his benefit, he still has to order kid meals. I would just up him to 10 on your reservation and keep the free dining plan. That way you will only have to pay the park ticket price difference. If he is still hungry you will have snack credits to fill the void!

[WantToGoNow]

You can buy whatever you like but you will not be able to use more dining credits in one transaction than you have people on the dining plan.


The bolded part is the key. You can't buy more than what's on your card in one transaction - you can have more than one transaction at the same CS restaurant. The TS meals are generally larger and would probably be enough food.

[LisaInNc]

There is a lot of food on the DDP there should be plenty on the table to satisfy everyone but Disney will let you buy anything extra. They rarely refuse money :lmao:

[squirrel]

Deluxe dining is a tremendous amount of food. If you are upgrading for his benefit, he still has to order kid meals. I would just up him to 10 on your reservation and keep the free dining plan. That way you will only have to pay the park ticket price difference. If he is still hungry you will have snack credits to fill the void!

This is the best plan, unless you want the DxDP. I found the DDP to be enough, I can't imagine eating with the DxDP. I also found that I didn't eat as much as I thought I would as it was so warm and humid in September. Uping your son to 10 is allowed by Disney, even during Free Dining.

[baybear14]

I just upgraded my 9 year old to 10. We are going in NOv and have a Free DDP pin, so the cost to change for 7 night stay was only $37. Totally worth it. He will be MUCH happier ordering off the adult menu.

[parith1114]

I knew I saw this discussed somewhere. Thanks so much for the info. I upgraded my two kids not because they have huge appetites, but because we enjoy sharing our CS meals so we can have extra ones for breakfast. Disney was great and the upgrade cost me less that $75 for 10 days.

[Stitch's Greatest Fa]

I have to say we are always disappointed with the kids menu, why oh why do they think all kids want is mac n cheese and nuggets? My little girl is only 8 months old so obviously will be sharing off our plates but even at this tender age she eats "grown up" food, never kiddie type stuff, this could be a prob for us too as she gets a little older.

[kamanda]

For those that upgraded, if I go on Free dining, do you know how they determine how much to charge if I want to upgrade my 6 year old to an adult plan?

I'm staying at a Value resort if that is a factor.

[ReneeA]

For those that upgraded, if I go on Free dining, do you know how they determine how much to charge if I want to upgrade my 6 year old to an adult plan?

I'm staying at a Value resort if that is a factor.

You purchase adult theme park tickets for him instead of childrens...then you get the adult meal plan for him automatically (they'll change his age in the system). It's about $30 difference in price.

I plan to do this with my 7 year old next year during free dining as last time we went, I ended up eating many children's meals while he ate my fish, steak and pasta dishes. That or he would polish off his kid's meal in about 2.5 minutes flat and then spend the rest of the meal looking at my dinner longingly while declaring how tasty my fish looked.;)

[SuzieN]

Buffets are a MUST for my under 10's (just 1 of them now!)! Crystal Palace, Tusker House, and the Biergarten are some of our favorites!!! Good luck!:thumbsup2

[hrh_disney_queen]

For those that upgraded, if I go on Free dining, do you know how they determine how much to charge if I want to upgrade my 6 year old to an adult plan?

I'm staying at a Value resort if that is a factor.

They charge the difference between the adult and children's park tickets-that's all. We only bought one day tix because we already have some, so my DS9's upgrade cost $12-for the length of our stay. It will be more if you have multiple day park tickets.

[Liliyana]

I have to say we are always disappointed with the kids menu, why oh why do they think all kids want is mac n cheese and nuggets? My little girl is only 8 months old so obviously will be sharing off our plates but even at this tender age she eats "grown up" food, never kiddie type stuff, this could be a prob for us too as she gets a little older.

I felt the same way - and then, a few months ago, my little girl (she will be 2 next month) finally got hit with The Pickiness :headache: She went from a gourmet to a chicken-nuggets-and-mac-'n-cheese fiend. I am sad.