Will just turn 10 - Dining Plan for child/adult???

[QTMichele]

My DD will turn 10 just before our Disney trip next year. We'll have the dining plan; however, she will prefer to order off the children's menu (picky eater - ugh!). I'm an honest person, but it seems so silly to me to pay $30 more for her just to eat chicken fingers. Is it possible to keep her as a "child" or do I bite the bullet and just pay the extra money?

Please no flames! I'm not trying to "beat the system," but am curious if there are alternatives. TIA!

 

[aubriee]

A ten y/o must buy an adult DDP and an adult park ticket. If you don't then yes you are trying to beat the system. Disney doesn't have another alternative. The only way to get your kid a kid's DDP is to lie about their age, in which case you would also be lying and purchasing them a child's park ticket when you should be buying them an adult park ticket. I agree Disney should have a junior price for those kids that are preteen and don't eat much, however they do not.

 

[Janet Hill]

This happened to us with our son. However, when I added the dining plan to our dvc reservation, and they asked me for the kids ages, I replied 7 and 9. It didn't even occur to me that my son would be 10 the week before we arrived. Tickets weren't a problem because he a had a child's AP, that we got 6 months previous. Yes he's a picky eater too.

The next time we went and he did have the adult plan, he still ordered off the kid's menu, but I just asked them to sort of supersize it to an adult meal size and they did it with no problem.

 

[karliebug]

Or, you can pay OOP for when he gets a kids meal and save those credits to try a dinner show like HDDR or Luau. They will also give him a bigger portion of the kids meal for his adult credit.

 

[maggiew]

Is there any way you can go just before she turns 10? That's the only way to get the kids dining plan legitimately.

Otherwise I recommend not getting the dining plan. The dining plan isn't for everyone and in your circumstances I think that's true. We have never done the dining plan because there is no way my girls would eat enough to make the adult plan worth it. We still eat TS where we want and when we want, but share or sometimes one DD will only order an appetizer, etc. This is how we eat out when at home and do the same at Disney.

The other option is to get her the adult dining plan, but then choose mostly buffets so she can eat kids food if she wants or whatever is on the adult "side" of the buffet.

Maggie

 

[kaytieeldr]

Is there any way you can go just before she turns 10? That's the only way to get the kids dining plan legitimately.

Otherwise I recommend not getting the dining plan. The dining plan isn't for everyone

I second this. Many times, the Dining Plan does NOT make (financial) sense.

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

I agree with Maggiew. If you don't think you will get the appropriate value by paying the adult price for your 10 year old, you have three options (or maybe more, but I can only think of three right now):

Go before your child turns ten.

Don't pay for the dining plan and just buy meals OOP - you will likely save money if your 10 year old buys kid's meals, but you still have to pay the adult price for character meals and buffets.

Pay OOP for her meals (CS and TS from a menu, not buffets), and use the credits for signature meals and shows that require two credits.

If you list her as 9 and she is 10, you are trying to beat the system (not you specifically OP, just "you" in general). No way around it - Disney charges by age, not by appetite, height, or willingness to ride the rollercoasters.

I totally feel your pain - we just went last month before DD10 had her birthday this month. Next year, we will be paying $30 for her to eat with Pooh and friends. She does have a good appetite and is an adventurous eater, at least. When DD6 is 10, I'll be paying $30 for grilled cheese and a handful of grapes - she's a light, picky eater. That's just the way it goes.


Edited to add: I thought of a fourth option - go during free dining!

 

[QTMichele]

Thanks so much for the great replies. Something I forgot about was the park tickets. I'm not willing to lie about her age to get the child price so we'll be buying the adult version.

We'd love to go during free dining, but... we'll be staying at my uncle's DVC villa. I'm assuming the free dining does not include owners, but PLEASE correct me if I'm wrong!!!

BTW, what does OOP stand for? TIA!

 

[zoemurr]

OOP = "Out of Pocket"

HTH (hope that helps)

 

[paladin]

Thanks so much for the great replies. Something I forgot about was the park tickets. I'm not willing to lie about her age to get the child price so we'll be buying the adult version.

We'd love to go during free dining, but... we'll be staying at my uncle's DVC villa. I'm assuming the free dining does not include owners, but PLEASE correct me if I'm wrong!!!

Yes, you are correct - free dining is not included for DVC if staying on points.

 

[DVCBELLE]

I think Disney should let people pick the kids plan or the adult plan. I don't understand why they don't. Its not like you can order the adult meals if you are on the children's plan. This is really something they should consider since many 12 year olds eat very little and some 8 year olds eat more.

 

[kaytieeldr]

But where do you make the cut? And what about the people who will lie no matter what ("Of course my daughter is only eleven - she's just prematurely gray and wrinkled")?

Disney age cuts coincide - ten and above is an adult for park admission (most likely because by that age, most Guests are tall enough to ride ALL attractions), so ten and above is an adult for all dining purposes.

When the dining cut age was twelve, it's likely they had many, many (,many) complaints like, "Well, since my eleven-year-old is a child when it comes to dining, I should only have to pay the child price for him to get into the parks!"

 

[sk!mom]

She's an adult so pay for an adult. I do understand your problem- it's one of the reasons that we haven't ever done the dining plan.

 

[DVCBELLE]

But where do you make the cut? And what about the people who will lie no matter what ("Of course my daughter is only eleven - she's just prematurely gray and wrinkled")?

Disney age cuts coincide - ten and above is an adult for park admission (most likely because by that age, most Guests are tall enough to ride ALL attractions), so ten and above is an adult for all dining purposes.

When the dining cut age was twelve, it's likely they had many, many (,many) complaints like, "Well, since my eleven-year-old is a child when it comes to dining, I should only have to pay the child price for him to get into the parks!"

I don't think you have to make a cut since they control the portions and you only get a kids portion that way. What does Disney care if someone chooses to eat a children's portion? If someone wants to eat the children's portion why not let them choose and pay for that option? I don't think most adults would choose that b/c most would want the wide array of choices offered on the adult meal plans - after all the children's menus are limited and the food options aren't nearly as spectacular.

When walking in and ordering can't anyone order a children's portion?

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

I don't think you have to make a cut since they control the portions and you only get a kids portion that way. What does Disney care if someone chooses to eat a children's portion? If someone wants to eat the children's portion why not let them choose and pay for that option? I don't think most adults would choose that b/c most would want the wide array of choices offered on the adult meal plans - after all the children's menus are limited and the food options aren't nearly as spectacular.

When walking in and ordering can't anyone order a children's portion?

I have ordered a kid's counter service meal - when it is so hot, I don't want a big meal. I do agree that you get what you pay for, but almost every sit down restaurant we go to at home has an age limit on kid's meal (although it is usually 10 and under or 12 and under).

I agree with a higher price at the buffets - most 12 year olds will eat way more than most 8 year olds. If yours doesn't (general "you" once again), then maybe an all you can eat place isn't the best choice. I'm not sure how to differentiate for all you can eat except based on age. But for a menu restaurant, you should pay for what you order. The dining plan tries to be one size fits all, but for many families, it is not cost effective. If your ten year old will eat a filet at Le Cellier, you'll probably get your money's worth. If she only wants chicken tenders or mac and cheese, out of pocket might be the way to go. Most restaurants will allow older kids to order off the kids menu (I hear Jiko is especially accommodating), but with the DDP, you are still paying for an adult.

OP, you can check out menus and prices at allears.net. You might be able to get an idea if the DDP is the best value for you. If you plan to eat a lot of character meals, you'll probably get your money's worth since you'll have to pay the adult price for your DD no matter what she eats. If your TS credits will be spent at restaurants where you order off a menu, you'll have to weigh the extra cost for your DD vs. the benefit for the rest of the family and see where you come out. We did the DDP once - it is a TON of food!

 

[QTMichele]

OOP = "Out of Pocket"

HTH (hope that helps)

Yes it does! Thanks.

I think Disney should let people pick the kids plan or the adult plan. I don't understand why they don't. Its not like you can order the adult meals if you are on the children's plan. This is really something they should consider since many 12 year olds eat very little and some 8 year olds eat more.

I think this is a great point. Disney could easily do this, or offer a surcharge for those who want the kids' plan. Most restaurants allow adults to order from the children's menu, and some charge a few dollars more to do so. Nothing wrong with that, IMHO.

Thanks again, everyone!

 

[QTMichele]

OP, you can check out menus and prices at allears.net. You might be able to get an idea if the DDP is the best value for you. If you plan to eat a lot of character meals, you'll probably get your money's worth since you'll have to pay the adult price for your DD no matter what she eats. If your TS credits will be spent at restaurants where you order off a menu, you'll have to weigh the extra cost for your DD vs. the benefit for the rest of the family and see where you come out. We did the DDP once - it is a TON of food!

We've had the DDP in the past - it was a ton of food! (We went in 2007 when they included appetizers and gratuity in the plan!) We loved it - it made everything so much easier - no thinking about where to go or if we were going over budget. Will definitely do again.

 

[momto2inKC]

Or, you can pay OOP for when he gets a kids meal and save those credits to try a dinner show like HDDR or Luau. They will also give him a bigger portion of the kids meal for his adult credit.

In our experience this has not been the case. We've been 3 times since my son became an adult in disneys eyes and when ordering off the kids menu he's never received a larger portion. Just wanted to point that out so no one would count on it being a definite thing they do.
I also wanted to point out to the original poster that Disney already has your info in the computer from your previous trips so fudging a birthdate would probably not work.

 

[tasha99]

In that situation, I would either forgo the dining plan, or pay for the kid meals out of pocket and do a lot of signature dining.

 

[kaytieeldr]

In our experience this has not been the case. We've been 3 times since my son became an adult in disneys eyes and when ordering off the kids menu he's never received a larger portion. Just wanted to point that out so no one would count on it being a definite thing they do.

Another poster in this thread said that she asks that her "adult" child's kid-meal be supersized. Maybe that's something to consider.