Can we pay oop for 11 yr old's meal and use adult dining credit later?

[madelyn]

We will be travelling for 3 nights on free dining in Nov.Our party is 2 adults, 11 yr old, 8 yr old and 2 yr old. So far I think we are set on 1900 Park Fair, Akerhaus and possibly Chef Mickey's, Grand Floridian Cafe and/or Le Cellier. We have ADRs for all but the Cafe since it was an afterthought. I know that we have to use an adult TS credit for my son at buffets but he is a small eater so at Le Cellier or Grand Floridian Cafe can we order a kids' meal or smaller adult entree for him and save his adult dining credit for us to use at another TS meal? And if they do allow that, can you specify that you want to use the dining credit on the more expensive entree? Don't want to break any rules and I know that they won't allow you to use your dining credits on additional people not in your room and no sharing (3 table service entrees for a party of 5). Just trying to figure out the best use of our credits. My calculations are that we will have 9 TS adult credits and will use 6 on the buffets but that leaves 3 adult TS credits and I was trying to see if we could use them at 2 non-buffet table service places with less out of pocket for us.

 

[Bete]

I would ask for a separate check for the boy's meal which is OOP ;so, it doesn't get confused with the rest.

 

[TDC Nala]

You can pay OOP for anyone's meal you want. There'll automatically be a separate check for the cash meal. Just make sure you tell the server BEFORE you order that the child's meal will be paid with cash, so it can be rung up properly.

 

[MaryKatesMom]

Thank you for asking that question. I just went back to our reservation and realized both my kids will be getting adult dining (10 and 11). There is no way they will eat that much food and are happier with the kids meals.

This makes for much more interesting planning. We always do 2 TS meals a day since there are so many places we like to go. It wouldn't be vacation without a burger and onion rings from Sci-Fi but it isn't worth a TS credit but if we pay OOP for the most of the kid's meals and it is going to leave us with more TS credits than I realized.

 

[CampingBandit]

Good luck but I don't think they'll be allowed to order kids meals....

When we went last year and my 10 YO was on the DP, we were told she could not order a "kids" meal - she had to order from the adult menu - we tried, at each restaurant except the buffets, to see if they would allow exceptions and they would not...

The four of us were on the DP, my mother, travelling with us, was not. The first night we ordered a rather expensive entree (for my daughter) and my mom ordered a cheeseburger. When the food arrived, they traded - this was our attempt to save my mom some cash.... When the bills came, the waitress charged my mom for the more expensive entree. They don't let anything slip by....

 

[MaryKatesMom]

Good luck but I don't think they'll be allowed to order kids meals....

When we went last year and my 10 YO was on the DP, we were told she could not order a "kids" meal - she had to order from the adult menu - we tried, at each restaurant except the buffets, to see if they would allow exceptions and they would not...

The four of us were on the DP, my mother, travelling with us, was not. The first night we ordered a rather expensive entree (for my daughter) and my mom ordered a cheeseburger. When the food arrived, they traded - this was our attempt to save my mom some cash.... When the bills came, the waitress charged my mom for the more expensive entree. They don't let anything slip by....

The dining plan is very clear about not using the credits for other's which is what you were trying to do. They may be more vigilant about checking ages if not everyone is on the meal plan. I thought I read somewhere that the the children can order off the children's menu but used an adult credit.

I think we are going to upgade to the deluxe plan which will suite our needs better. We were on the DDP once years ago and didn't like it. Too much work and worry that we were getting the " most" for our money. Vacation should be about ordering what you want and where you want it, not wondering all over the property looking for the most expensive dinner.

 

[CampingBandit]

The dining plan is very clear about not using the credits for other's which is what you were trying to do. They may be more vigilant about checking ages if not everyone is on the meal plan. I thought I read somewhere that the the children can order off the children's menu but used an adult credit.

I think we are going to upgade to the deluxe plan which will suite our needs better. We were on the DDP once years ago and didn't like it. Too much work and worry that we were getting the " most" for our money. Vacation should be about ordering what you want and where you want it, not wondering all over the property looking for the most expensive dinner.

We tried to be sneaky and we got caught! Didn't try that again...LOL

We read that too (about paying adult but ordering from the kids) but when we asked about ordering for her from the kids menu we were told no. Now this was in March 08 so maybe that has changed?

 

[Calgary DISHeads]

We tried to be sneaky and we got caught! Didn't try that again...LOL

We read that too (about paying adult but ordering from the kids) but when we asked about ordering for her from the kids menu we were told no. Now this was in March 08 so maybe that has changed?

This is interesting... we have never had any issues with DD ordering off the kid's menu and she has been on the adult plan for the last two trips - we always leave the choice up to her as to which menu she wants to order from but if it's from the kids menu we always paid OOP. We have split a lot of meals also and used less credits. Probably less chance of it is this time as appys are no longer included. This time we planning to pay OOP for DD and maybe DS at Narcoosees as I'm fairly sure what they order will not be worth 2 TS.

 

[DISNEYNY]

My DD is 14 and orders off the kids menu all the time. We pay OOP for her and save the credits for another day. We just did this at Narcoossee's in August. Never had a problem with this.

 

[Princess Disney Mom]

Warning: We ate at the Brewery on the Boardwalk and used a TS for my husband and myself our daughter just wanted a soup bowl and the waiter said the soup bowl must be a TS. That Disney has mandated everyone must use a TS. This was not a buffet. I told him that was not right and if he did not let us just pay OOP for the soup will will not stay and eat. He checked with the manager then said they would bend the rules. Geez!

Make sure you clear it up front.

 

[TDC Nala]

Big River Grill is not a Disney restaurant. Non-Disney restaurants sometimes are more strict with the dining plan than Disney restaurants are. There's also been reports that Yak & Yeti won't allow dining plan guests to order an appetizer as an entree. Most Disney restaurants don't mind if you do that.

 

[madelyn]

Hmmmm....maybe we will just stick to buffets so I can be sure my son can get something he likes to eat. Right now we are planning to eat at the Princess dinner in Norway at Epcot. I didn't see any oadult entrees there that my 11 year old will probably like. We also have a 2 year old and an 8 year old. Is the food here served family style so we can get more of the children's options if wanted or is it pre-plated?

 

[tfoster]

hmmm. . .

I'm a little nervous about this. My oldest son is an adult by Disney standards, but we've already looked at the menus and think he'll want a couple of the kid's meals. For example, at Coral Reef, he'll definitely want the mac & cheese (which is only on the kid's menu). It never occured to me they wouldn't let him get it. Frankly, the idea of their forcing someone who is clearly not a "real" adult to order only from the adult menu seems downright awful and very unDisneylike.

 

[Donna3271]

I'm surprised they just won't give a kids meal. Its cheaper for them (if your child is considered an adult on the plan). We ate at the castle last trip, but the year before we ate in Norway with the Princesses. If I remember correctly, there was an appetizer buffet (which I fed my twins from - one at the time), and the dinner and dessert was plated. This Nov, we are skipping it. We need to try new things.

 

[honeymo78]

Both DH and I, on various trips in the last 2 years, most recently Dec 08, have ordered from the adult menu, sometimes using DDP, sometimes not. We have never had any problems (these were all disney owned). My latest experience was at the Turf Club at SSR. I was in the mood for pasta and got an adult sized portion of the kids pasta with meat sauce. I was charged an adult price for it, about $14, but it did seem that I could have gotten the smaller portion since the server specifically asked if I wanted an adult portion.

 

[miprender]

Hmmmm....maybe we will just stick to buffets so I can be sure my son can get something he likes to eat. Right now we are planning to eat at the Princess dinner in Norway at Epcot. I didn't see any oadult entrees there that my 11 year old will probably like. We also have a 2 year old and an 8 year old. Is the food here served family style so we can get more of the children's options if wanted or is it pre-plated?

They have a small salad buffet and then each person orders their own meal. My DD5 and DS3 had micky shaped ravioli and for our DD14mths they also brought him some pasta at n/c. I really love this place but DH is sick of eating here so this is not on our list for next April.