Switching kid to "Disney adult" for DP?

[mchelle77]

My daughter is just shy of 9 years old and I have her in our package/itinerary as such. Am I reading correctly that some people are increasing their kids' ages to be able to get adult meals, and the cost to do so is less than $25? (We have a pin code for free dining). Is there anything wrong with doing this? I feel like there's a lot of talk of people doing this and that it's fairly common, but I feel kind of scummy doing so.

Would all credits then be classified as adult credits? Last time we went we got FD as well, but she was 4 and it wasn't really anything I'd even consider. Now I'd love some more info, if anyone can supply some?

 

[eangel12]

Why would it be scummy? If you were paying out of pocket listing her as an adult would cost you more $$. Just call and put her at 10--the only catch is if she wants a "kid meal" and is listed as an adult. When we went they were very adamant that ONLY 10 and below could order off the kid's menu.

 

[lauradis]

only kids under 10 policy is very lax and if she want kids meal just tell them you will pay out of pocket for that meal.

 

[robinb]

Why would it be scummy? If you were paying out of pocket listing her as an adult would cost you more $$. Just call and put her at 10--the only catch is if she wants a "kid meal" and is listed as an adult. When we went they were very adamant that ONLY 10 and below could order off the kid's menu.

Only non-Disney restaurants make a fuss over kids 10 and over eating off the kids menu and not all of them even care.

OP, yes you can upgrade your DD to a "Disney Adult" for the cost of the difference between a child's pass and an adult pass. I personally think it is "working the system" but as long as Disney allows it so it's not "scummy" or "cheating".

 

[mchelle77]

I personally think it is "working the system" but as long as Disney allows it so it's not "scummy" or "cheating".

I guess this is what I was thinking. Maybe "scummy" was the wrong choice of words. But yes, seems like I'm almost taking advantage, which I guess is absurd to worry about when I'm paying THAT much for this vacation, huh?

 

[TDC Nala]

If you are on a package reservation, you will have to purchase adult tickets for the child if you up her age to 10. In addition to the difference between the child and adult dining plan, unless you have free dining.

Disney generally allows this because the parents are willing to pay more, but do be aware that you have to actually register the child as 10 years old. Haven't seen any real repercussions from that presented on the boards yet. I have seen that guests in the UK are often not permitted to change their child's age or use a different age than that confirmed by the child's passport.

 

[robinb]

If you are on a package reservation, you will have to purchase adult tickets for the child if you up her age to 10. In addition to the difference between the child and adult dining plan, unless you have free dining.

Disney generally allows this because the parents are willing to pay more, but do be aware that you have to actually register the child as 10 years old. Haven't seen any real repercussions from that presented on the boards yet. I have seen that guests in the UK are often not permitted to change their child's age or use a different age than that confirmed by the child's passport.

Hmmm ... it sounds like Disney is cracking down on upgrading children to Disney Adults when they can prove the child's age through their passport.

 

[TDC Nala]

Yes but that is when the UK guests are booking through Disney in the UK. For them, there might be difficulty in having the child listed as one age for the resort and another age for any flights booked as part of the package.

There hasn't been any such prohibition when booking through the US site or calling the US number. Once in awhile you might get a CM who says you can't do it, but most of the time it's allowed in the US.

 

[mchelle77]

OK, so here's another question that's related ... say I up her to being "10" and that allows us to have a total of 21 adult TS credits between the three of us for the 7 nights. We currently have reservations booked that put us at owing 27 credits - we were going to pay for CRT OOP. Wouldn't we then have to pay for her as an "adult"? We would be paying cash, but our rez is reserved with our DDP and not prepaid with a CC. Should I call and pre-pay it to prevent that from being an issue?

 

[aaarcher86]

OK, so here's another question that's related ... say I up her to being "10" and that allows us to have a total of 21 adult TS credits between the three of us for the 7 nights. We currently have reservations booked that put us at owing 27 credits - we were going to pay for CRT OOP. Wouldn't we then have to pay for her as an "adult"? We would be paying cash, but our rez is reserved with our DDP and not prepaid with a CC. Should I call and pre-pay it to prevent that from being an issue?

No, if you're paying cash you would pay by her age. Just wait until you get to the podium and pay based off her age. They don't take the credits in advance.

 

[jimmysmom74]

I just called last week and changed my 6 y/o to a 10y/o. I asked all these questions to two different CMs. I was worried I was somehow doing something wrong. I gave full disclosure that he is 6 y/o and he wants to eat adult TS dinners. With free dining, the cost was the difference in MYW ticket, about $20. My 6 y/o likes kid food sometimes, but prefers adult food esp. at dinner. He will eat a filet or shrimp for example. I was told by both CMs that:
1. you can order kid meals or adult meals. In fact anyone can, even real adults. You will get charged an adult credit though. Or OPP, that's fine. This maximizing your credits, it is not shady, it is smart. Adults do it if one orders the surf and turf and the other orders chicken. Same thing.
2. Disney is totally fine with changing to Disney adult. They do it all the time. One exception, if you have airfare with your reservation. It will change across the board and screw up TTS info.
3. The server will know he is 6 y/o he doesn't look 10 y/o. This is no problem they will understand that he is using adult credits.

This was a big relief to us, we planned to just OPP our dinners for him, and waste TS credits cause I know he will not want the child choices. But at lunch we will use his CS credits to order kid food sometimes. Told them this exact situation, they both said no problem. Thanks to Disers for letting me in on this. Saving me a lot of $$$.

 

[JoyW]

I changed my kids ages from 6 and 8 to 10 with no problems. I called and spoke with two cast members and was told it was absolutely fine (we have free dining this trip as well.) My travel agent called to actually make the change and also had no problems. I was very clear about their actual ages. The $40 extra I have to pay for our trip will be worth it, because I will get to eat my own meals and desserts without having to supplement theirs. Honestly, I would have paid it just to keep my own desserts.

 

[mchelle77]

OK, you've all convinced me to go ahead and just do it. Thanks for the input, everyone!

 

[Amanda999]

Hi - just an fyi about ADRs and dining credits v. paying oop.

They DO 'charge,' or deduct, the dining credits in advance now (at least sometimes). We had an ADR for Saturday Aug. 31 for Mickey's Backyard BBQ for me and DS. It is 2 table service credits per person. We were on FD PIN (not that it matters for this story).

Anyway, they deducted 4 TS dining credits about 1.5 days before the time of the BBQ. I only learned this at lunch the day before (I wondered by the 'remaining credits' on my (table service) lunch receipt was off by 4).

I went to the resort concierge, and he said they now pull credits a day or so early for some meals. He said if I wanted to pay cash, I can go to the podium at the meal and get the dining credits credited/reversed and pay oop. I left it as it was (turns out we had credits to spare), but I guess I wouldn't have wanted to explain that while they pulled 4 adult TS credits - as he was listed as 10 years old (and no 'disney child' on our plan at all) - why I wanted to pay cash for him as a 9 year old. That said, there was another mom there who had her (very tall) 9 year old DD's birth certificate with her. I would have felt more comfortable with that.