10-12 year olds on Dining Plan

[3princesses+aprince]

I have a 10 year old stepson, and no, i don't think he'll eat as much as he's going to get, but I also looked over the children's menus and don't think that would be enough for him, he'd be drooling over our plates! I also have 3 daughters who will be on the children's ddp and 11 dollars a day for a 3-9 yr old child to eat is awesome.
Plus we are planning a couple of character meals, they alone add up for our family of 6, so the ddp is definatley worth it for us.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

Our DS10 doesn't eat enough to justify buying the DDP. We have the DDE card and on our Dec. and Feb. trips we did better with the card than we would have on the DDP.

I have read many times on these boards that a good rule of thumb for dining (paying cash) is $50 per person, per day. We don't spend that much.

DS still orders from the kid's menu at TS places that aren't buffets, and he doesn't finish all of the food except MAYBE at breakfast. We'll have free dining in August, so I think we will pay cash for some of his meals when he orders from the kid's menu, and save his credits for buffets or signature meals. The buffet prices just kill me - there is no way a chicken strip, a scoop of mac & cheese and a handful of grapes should cost almost $30! DH loves buffets, but he agrees they aren't worth it when we have to pay the adult price for DS.

 

[LizinSTL]

I am shocked by the daily price difference between a child and adult on the plan. I can understand an adult paying that price, but not a child over 9. I'll have a 10 and 12 year old when we go, but can't imagine they will eat enough to get our money's worth. Is it still worth doing the dining plan?

I think it depends on a lot of different factors. If you are doing fixed price/ character meals/ buffets, then it's probably worth the price without question. You'll break even, at least, for the day. If you are doing an a la carte restaurant and your 10 year old chooses a kid's meal, then no, probably not. You'd be better off paying OOP for it and using that adult TS credit for a later signature meal or another TS meal, etc.

Look at the menus, plan your TS meals and decide if it's worth it. For our family, it would be- we'd do 5/7 fixed price meals so our 10 year old "adult" child would be paying adult prices anyway.

 

[MBELSANTI]

I am doing the Dining Plan for the first time and only because son is still considered a child. I just cannot justify doing it next year when he is 10 years old. I agree with the other posters that suggested Dinsey have a junior rate for DD. Perhaps $16-$20 per day instead of the $38 and of course smaller portions of the adult meals or larger portion of the child's meal. I really can't see my son eating enough to make it worth it until he is at least 14 . It would also make things easier on us single parents that struggle to save for these vacations.

 

[bicker]

Unfortunately, if Disney did ever decide to have a junior rate, it would be closer to $30-$32 than $16-$20.

 

[carone0318]

We are getting the DDP when we go in June, our 2 kids are dd (10) and ds (6). Dd will be ordering off the adult and ds will order off the children's but I am expecting them to share their meals. Dd will not be able to eat all of the food, but ds will sure help her finish it and I am expecting times when dd would like chicken fingers and ds might want steak or something.

Maybe I am delusional, but I am hoping for the best!

 

[n2mm]

We've been buying my grandson the ddp since he was 11 and he does well. While some feel the adult price is too much to pay, I feel the kids meals will not be suitable for 10-12 year olds. Actually while we were there 2 weeks ago I was eyeing the kids meals at the table next to us (I was hungry) and was thinking, that is enough for our 2 year old grand daughter, but no way enough for a 10 year old. Most 10-12 year olds will be happy they are on the adult plan especially with the choices of CS. My grandson loves a good burger and you can not get one with the kids plan. I think the plan is worth it at any age. A typical CS meal of burger, fries, drink and desert (not necessary) runs from $12-14, throw in a $4 snack and your dinner needs to be around $20 (which includes tax and tip) to just break even. If you look at most menus, by the time you add tax, tip and a drink, you only need to spend about $12 for an entree to break even. That is not even counting the appetizer and desert. My personal rule is to break even. As for our GS11, he does quite well now and on his last trip in October at age 12, he has gotten the ddp now to a science now. He enjoys filet minon and switches the fancy sides for good old french fries. He enjoys shrimp as his appetizer (or a salad) and loves choosing from the adult menu for deserts. He is one happy camper on the adult DDP and if he's happy, I'm happy.

 

[CRCrazy]

I've done the DDP plan twice now, once with our whole family of five during free dining, and once paid for during December 2005 for Mousefest with my 9 year old daughter.

The first time - we had 2 adults, 2 teens (17 and 15) and my 9 year old - during the first free dining time (Sept. 2005). I was happy with the DDP, and we did very well on the plan, but it was very frustrating for my husband and oldest daughter. They had a tough time with the concept - if you're hungry for a snack - just order a CS meal and split it!! They kept just buying OOP an order of fries at lunch, for example. I wound up with lots of extra CS meals! At the time, snack credits were only good for a few things - bottled water/soda, ice cream treats, sm. popcorn, etc. My 9 year old is a budding foodie - she loves real food - so at the TS meals, I really focussed on choosing places that offered kids real food. On the rare occasion when there was not a kid steak/fish offered, she usually swapped plates with my 15 year old, who was craving mac and cheese.

The second time - the DDP, even paid for, worked like a dream, and saved us a fortune. My adult plan gave me WAY too much food - so my daughter and I would split the kids' CS credit for breakfast on a kids' platter. I used my refillable mug for coffee, while she used the drink to buy a milk. At lunchtime, we'd split the adult CS credit in the parks - for example, at MGM, we ate at Studio Catering - split a Chicken Caesar wrap sandwich (which was HUGE), a side of tabouleh salad, and a fruit tart for dessert - along with a large drink (either Diet Coke, iced tea or lemonade - depending on her mood). At the time, the kid's menus were MUCH nicer than now, so we chose our table services based on these - (Concourse Steakhouse, Le Cellier, Spoodles, etc). Of course - even then, she'd tell me what to order - FOR HER!!!! At Spoodles - she ordered the cheese flatbread appetizer and the kid's steak, and I ordered the garlic shrimp and the Portuguese Seafood Stew. We ended up bringing the entire flatbread back to the room for breakfast the next day - she ate 1/2 my shrimp, all of her potatoes, 1 bite of her steak (I ate some too!), and at least 1/2, if not more, of my Stew. The only reason I ordered it is because she insisted - that's right - a 9 year old that loves mussels and fennel!

When it came time for dessert - she'd been eyeing the adult display - and our waitress told her she could order any dessert she wanted - it didn't have to be a kid's dessert! Happy girl!!!

So - at the time - sure, it was worth the money.

Since then, DH and I went back for a long weekend anniversary trip without the kids. With him - it was definitely NOT worth it for the plan. We took an AP discount on the room, but I decided not to buy the DDE yet, since it wouldn't be worth the $60 - we wouldn't have saved that much. We ended up doing only 1 sit down at Teppanyaki, and the rest was CS.

My youngest and I may be going back at Mousefest again - even though she's 10 - it would be worth the plan for her - she does love her sit down meals!! So - gotta go with the flow - every trip and situation is different.

 

[magsmom]

We returned yesterday with DD 10 as an adult. For us, and her, it was definitely worth the extra money. We did a combination of 1 and 2 credit restaurants. At the 2 credit restaruants, we were allowed to share and she was allowed to order on or off plan paying OOP.

We loved the flexibility and she loved ordering as an adult. She is very adventureous, however, she loved trying sushi and moroccan food. So for us it was worth it.

That's not to say if Disney offered junior status we would not take them up on it.

 

[FBandA]

Are you able to share meals. I know when we went in 2005 with dinning plan it was to much food for me. We are doing the dinning plan this year DS11 still eats from the kids menu. Can he and I share a meal at a Table Service. I know we will Not be able to at the Hoop Dee Doo and Chef Mickey, but what about Le Cellier Steakhouse or Whispering Canyon you get two pork chops I can never eat both of them, could we share there?

 

[bicker]

From the Dining Plan FAQ:

Can I share meals?
Yes, you can share the meals amongst the guests at your table, with the exception of fixed price meals, such as buffets or other all-you-can-eat options.

Can I share meals with guests not on the Dining Plan?
No. The Dining Plan cannot be shared with guests who aren't registered as part of your reservation.

It should be noted that portion sizes are becoming a lot more reasonable (smaller). In particular, my wife noted that at 50s Prime Time Cafe, for example, she once ordered the pork chops and received two pork chops, but now the entree comes with just one pork chop.

At Whispering Canyon, you cannot share the Skillet.

 

[n2mm]

From the Dining Plan FAQ:
It should be noted that portion sizes are becoming a lot more reasonable (smaller). In particular, my wife noted that at 50s Prime Time Cafe, for example, she once ordered the pork chops and received two pork chops, but now the entree comes with just one pork chop.

At Whispering Canyon, you cannot share the Skillet.

I second that comment. I continually read threads about folks sharing and keep wondering where are they eating that the portions are that large. We visit WDW every 3 months for 1-2 weeks each and always eat on property. There are very few meals I've seen that are sharable. The only one that comes to mind to me would be the CS at Harbor House (Chicken and Fish meal--I can't eat 3 strips of chicken and 2 strips of fish and fries). But when it comes to TS, most meals are small to normal size portions. While the portion sizes use to be much larger in the past, over the last year the sizes are smaller and smaller. We use to not be able to finish our meals and now it's not a problem. I think some folks who do not visit regularly may be in for a shock when they see their plate. (BTW: we ate at the 50s Prime Time 2 weeks ago and I got the fried chicken and there were 2 pieces (I think there use to be more). However I only ate one and took the other back to the resort for a snack later.)

 

[NMW]

I second that comment. I continually read threads about folks sharing and keep wondering where are they eating that the portions are that large. We visit WDW every 3 months for 1-2 weeks each and always eat on property. There are very few meals I've seen that are sharable. The only one that comes to mind to me would be the CS at Harbor House (Chicken and Fish meal--I can't eat 3 strips of chicken and 2 strips of fish and fries). But when it comes to TS, most meals are small to normal size portions. While the portion sizes use to be much larger in the past, over the last year the sizes are smaller and smaller. We use to not be able to finish our meals and now it's not a problem. I think some folks who do not visit regularly may be in for a shock when they see their plate. (BTW: we ate at the 50s Prime Time 2 weeks ago and I got the fried chicken and there were 2 pieces (I think there use to be more). However I only ate one and took the other back to the resort for a snack later.)

I agree that portion sizes have gone way down!!! I too wonder what people are talking about when they say they can't finish an app, entree and dessert. I am by no means I huge eater, but I easily finished all three at numerous restaurants in Oct-Flying Fish, Rose and Crown, Le celliar, Kona. I don't think the meals at ANY of these restaurants would be enough to share. The appetizers have gone way, way down in size. They are really only sized for 1 person. I think people who havn't been to WDW in a few years and think they'll be able to share TS meals are going to be in for a shock when they see the portion size. Kids may not be a problem, but two adults? I just can't see it.

 

[Michigan]

The new kids menus for 9 and under STINK We had counter service in MK one night and I could get a hamburger but the kids meal was a salad with chicken in it with grapes and carrots. How stupid is that My 9 year old is so happy that she will be 10 the next time and doesn't have to eat the crap on the kids menu

 

[GCM13]

Can you substitute fries or soda with a kids meal? It's good to offer healthy foods, but it is vacation after all.

How are the portion sizes of the kids meals? Have they stayed the same or gotten smaller since they started offering the complete meals (meal, drink, dessert)? My 10 and 12 year olds still typically order from the kids menu at restaurants because that is enough food for them. Are Disney's kids portions smaller so that we will have to order from the adult menu? BTW, I know they are supposed to order off the adult menu if they're over 9, but we've never had a problem with them ordering from the kids menu in the past.

 

[Rustysmom]

My DS is 11 and a very picky eater, but I'm glad he likes steak and shrimp so he'll always find something to eat. I figure that if he doesn't like something, he can eat some of his sister's pizza or chicken fingers (she'll be 4), and she'll eat some of ours and we'll all share that way.

I think he'll be happy to get the adult dessets though. LOL

 

[Mom of 3]

My boys are 3, 7 and 10. I know the 7 and 10 year old could eat adult portions, especially the 10 year old as he eats more than me or his dad. Also, my kids like adult food and would not be happy with kids meals.

Last year when we went the 10 year old had the adult dining plan and LOVED it. But then again my kids are the ones that fight over broccoli, asparagus, and grilled fish.

 

[n2mm]

Can you substitute fries or soda with a kids meal? It's good to offer healthy foods, but it is vacation after all.

How are the portion sizes of the kids meals? Have they stayed the same or gotten smaller since they started offering the complete meals (meal, drink, dessert)? My 10 and 12 year olds still typically order from the kids menu at restaurants because that is enough food for them. Are Disney's kids portions smaller so that we will have to order from the adult menu? BTW, I know they are supposed to order off the adult menu if they're over 9, but we've never had a problem with them ordering from the kids menu in the past.

While there 3 weeks ago, I thought, wow the kids CS meals often are enough for my 2 year old grand daughter. It would be enough for her. But to think a 9 year old is suppose to be satisfied with the portion size is a little scarey. If my child was 9 I certainly would be paying the adult price or be prepared to buy side items.

 

[Michigan]

Can you substitute fries or soda with a kids meal? It's good to offer healthy foods, but it is vacation after all.

How are the portion sizes of the kids meals? Have they stayed the same or gotten smaller since they started offering the complete meals (meal, drink, dessert)? My 10 and 12 year olds still typically order from the kids menu at restaurants because that is enough food for them. Are Disney's kids portions smaller so that we will have to order from the adult menu? BTW, I know they are supposed to order off the adult menu if they're over 9, but we've never had a problem with them ordering from the kids menu in the past.

No, I'm telling you the new kids meals really stink. At the counter service meals the dessert choice for kids is sugar free jello and that's it. At sit down it's a very small ice cream.

If you aren't on the meal plan and your kids don't eat a lot I would have them split an adult meal that way there is always the burger and fries choice.

 

[jocktheglide]

maybe a teen eating as much as adult, but not kids between 9 to 12 or so unless your child has some kind of pitutiary problem the body release too much HGH and the child keeps eating to grow which results in gigantism andrea the giant had that problem as a kid at 9 years old he was 6'6" already weighing about 300lbs and could eat up a whole buffet...anyways yeah I agree with OP about a 9 year old charged an adult on the DDP.