10 year old classed as adult?

[DLPDreams]

We are looking to book in 2015 when my DD1 will be 10 years old. I have read that she will require adult tickets due to her age. Not much of an issue as there doesn't appear to be much price difference but it appears she will also need the adult DDP.

She is a really good eater but I am unsure she will want to eat off an adult menu when using TS (depends on restaurant). Would it be OK for her to choose off the child's menu if she wanted to do you think? I can see it causing possible issues with my DD2 as she may well want to pick something off the adult menu when everyone else is - so much easier if they were both the same! If I am honest, I would much rather have a child's DP for DD1 as I think at 10 years old, it's a bit of a waste having more. If we get the DP free it isn't so much of an issue I guess.

If we don't get free DP and we pay as we go, would my 10 year old still be able to choose off the child's menu and us just pay for that. Or will she have to choose off the adults menu due to her age? Hope that makes sense.

Will DD being 10 cause any more anomalies like this that I haven't come across yet?

 

[wilma-bride]

In most places, she shouldn't have a problem ordering off the kids' menu. Don't forget too that restaurants are a lot more accommodating than here in the UK - if she wants something plain, no sauce etc. they will be able to do that for her. I have to say that I find the kids' menus very uninspiring in most Disney restaurants. My DS wouldn't have ordered off them when he was 7 or 8 - in fact, on our first visit when he was 5, he wasn't that enamoured with them then and they have been dumbed down a lot since.

If you're on the dining plan and you have a child who is 9 or under but is likely to want to order off the adult menu, you can always use your older DD's credit for your younger child. They don't really mind how you use the credits as long as you use the correct number - i.e. no more child/adult credits per meal than the number in your party.

If yo0u are paying out of pocket then, technically, you should be able to order whatever it is your DD wants to eat. I have only read of one restaurant (believe it was La Hacienda de San Angel) where somebody had difficulty ordering a child's meal for an adult.

 

[wayneg]

Every child is different but my Son would not have been happy eating from the childrens menus aged 10, they have very limited choice (Pizza, Chicken nuggets or pasta) some are better but most don't have a great choice. I would say my Son would have grown out of children menus aged around 6 or 7.

If paying out of pocket you can have anything.

 

[crabbie1]

My DD was 10 the last time we went. We booked a lot of buffets so she could pick what she wanted. If on the free DDP then she can order either. When we paid oop if she had a childs meal they only charged us that but on the ddp they charged the adult fare apart from tusker house where the guy booking in winked and said she is 9 is she not! Lol.

 

[DLPDreams]

Thanks for the replies .

That puts my mind at rest. She is a good eater, as I said so perhaps she would like more adventurous meals - she tries things at home/when we eat out in the UK at buffets etc. It is so far out, who knows! I have looked at sample menus and some things seem so rich and ott in their descriptions. I guess my main concern is portion sizes being huge for her and stuff being covered in sauce she might not like, but we can cross that bridge when we come to it. I know she won't be happy with chicken nuggets or burger every night but might want them one night or so.

I can't see many restaurants refusing to let a child order a child's meal, if paying for it. Especially if clearly, she is just at the age cut off.

But, I think we'll keep hoping for the free DP anyway .

 

[Elise79]

Honestly, the kids meals are really poor. My. DD is 5 and she couldn't eat them for 2 weeks let alone a 10 year old.

We eat on and off site so she gets better food and more choice. Even the healthier kids meals aren't good - a dry grilled chicken breast with mash for example.

However the adult menu they will adapt for you- leave off sauces, switch sides ect.

If your not booking flight inclusive package I would upgrade the youngest so they are both adults if you get free dining.

 

[ChipnDaleRule]

My DS was the pickiest eater going and we have never been refused any requests. Every server has done as much as they could to help, one server even got him a new meal when he disliked the first. The best was surprisingly at the California Grill, Ron understood him straight away, made him feel really comfortable as he was a little nervous about not enjoying it. Happy kids = happy parents= big tips ;-)

 

[flortlebap]

The only good kids meals I remember were at coral reef, where my kids had salmon, mash and vegetables and really enjoyed it, and Fultons, where there was a nice garlic/shrimp pasta.

The more restauranty type places have a better choice IMO but as above, generally the kids options are very poor (particularly for QS). It's undoubtedly cheaper for WDW to have someone order from the kids menu instead of the adults menu so I would hope it wouldn't be a problem...

 

[DLPDreams]

Thanks for the added replies.

I will see how DD2 goes - she isn't the best eater (not the worst by far though), so it may be child's DP will suit her nearer the time. I guess I can take whats on offer at time of booking and upgrade her - subject to cost, later on.

I am guessing if you have a child's DP you can't pay extra to have an adult''s meal? I am sure not.... In DLRP meal vouchers have a 'face value' that you can trade in and pay the extra if you want to order something different.

 

[Elise79]

You can't pay extra - child credits have to be used for child meals. Credits don't have a face value.

If you get free DDP the extra cost will only be the difference between the ticket prices. You can then get adult meals or child meals as they fancy.

I think for 2015 I might upgrade DD to the adult plan - if we do free DDP again. At that point she will 7 - she enjoys eating steak and similar items. She won't eat a whole adult meal but I think she would appreciate the variety.

 

[manxkev]

Not 100% sure but do not think it is possible to upgrade a child on the free DDP to an adult meal service as it will be linked to hotel booking.
Somebody will be along soon to prove me wrong.

 

[tinkerpea]

Not 100% sure but do not think it is possible to upgrade a child on the free DDP to an adult meal service as it will be linked to hotel booking.
Somebody will be along soon to prove me wrong.

Actually you can, we have done it 5 times and are doing it again in July!
If they won't do it as the CM may not realise they can you just call back and change the kids ages.

 

[MinnieLovesMickey12]

If you get the free DDP I would upgrade both kids to age 10 for the reservation so that they can both have the choices of adult entrees.

There are a wide variety of choices on the adult menus and hardly nothing worth eating on the kids menus.

If the kid wants a burger they can get a burger. If they want nuggets or a Pizza they can get that, just they will get a big adult portion.

The kids choices just suck.

All of our kids are over age 10 so both times we used the dining plan we were all adults. But I looked at the child choices and they were horrible tiny portions little nasty crap. Nothing good like on the adult menu. Most of the time they do not even get a full real dessert just some crappy little bag of grapes or a dried up cookie.

 

[Elise79]

Not 100% sure but do not think it is possible to upgrade a child on the free DDP to an adult meal service as it will be linked to hotel booking. Somebody will be along soon to prove me wrong.

You can just book your children as 10 as long as you are not booking a flight inclusive package.

I wouldn't up the age of kids unless you had free dining though as it wouldn't be worth it.

 

[DLPDreams]

Interesting.

So, if I changed my DD2's age to 10 on our reservation, would it have a knock on effect on anything else? Presumably tickets may become an issue if I book direct with Disney - as there is a price difference there. If I book with a TA not so much an issue as I guess I can explain and just get the correct tickets. As you say though, if at some point I decide to book flight inclusive package, it could be an issue (which I don't think will happen).

I might just book her at her age and then as someone says ring back later and say I made a mistake and change her age if need be. I'd be happy to pay the extra from a child's DP to an adult's one if they'd let me - it seems the more honest thing to do I guess - but if all else fails I'll do the former.

I know my DD2 and while she's not the most adventurous eater in the world, if we are all tucking into nice looking food and she has something unappealing on her plate, she'll not be happy .

 

[Elise79]

If you change her age you will have to pay for an adult ticket for but the difference is so low it isn't really an issue. Tickets & dining have to match so it all has to 3-9 price or 10+. An under 10 using a 10+ ticket isn't a problem except they will have to provide their finger print on the turnstiles which IMO is no big deal.