10-year old on Dining Plan

[angiedora]

We went last year with my daughter who is 11 and eats like a bird. She only weighs 75 pounds and is 5'1". Her and I usually shared at the TS restaurants. We had enough extra table services to go to a character breakfast. We are now going again over Spring Break and plan to do the same thing. Of course it doesn't work if you go to a Buffet, but I think it is still worth the money. By the time you figure that drinks, tax and gratuity are already included.

This is exactly what we plan to do.

 

[maslex]

So if I'm reading this posts right, you can "pass off" an 11yr old or 10yr old as a "child" if they don't eat that much?

We're going in July and have two boys (10 & 11) Nephew will also be going with us, he's 11.

DS11--He's starting to eat more adult foods and would probably eat both adult and kids meals (he's 5'' and about 120 lbs)

DS10--Doesn't really eat anything adult, it's typical kids foods (pb&j, chicken nuggets, pizza, mac/cheese, etc) (he's about 4'9" and about 90 lbs)

DN11--Doesn't eat squat (eats more like a child and then very little) Sometimes will surprise everyone and eat a bit more, but basically nothing. (he's about 4'7" and about 65 lbs--yep he's a little one)

So I'm wondering if I'm reading the posts right, would I be able to buy the DP using 3 adults and 2 child? I really don't want to be confused anymore. It seems like the more I read all these posts, the more I confused I get. (I guess it's the way everyone is using the DP to fit their needs) But now, I'm just running in circles. Do they need proof of age for the kids when ordering the DP?

 

[HACAM]

Like the OP said, the DDP is not for everyone. It is wonderful for us though! We have an 11 year who is a picky eater, and would prefer the kids menu items, but we also have a 9 year old who likes to eat like an adult, so we order the kids meal for the 11 year and the adult meal for the 9year old...problem solved for us!

But it just doesn't work for everyone.

 

[ZekeKelso]

Good luck!

Remember, it's a trip to Disney. Even if not perfect, it's going to be great!

 

[BWVPam]

We do pay the adult price for our 11 year old, regardless of how much she eats. We just share meals at certain restaurants, which give us extra Table Service credits to use towards a breakfast or a TS lunch. HOpe that makes sense.

 

[CampbellScot]

avoid the buffets and share meals everywhere else... You'll rack up unused credits and can plan for a couple 2 credit TS meals!

 

[LBelle]

So if I'm reading this posts right, you can "pass off" an 11yr old or 10yr old as a "child" if they don't eat that much?

We're going in July and have two boys (10 & 11) Nephew will also be going with us, he's 11.

DS11--He's starting to eat more adult foods and would probably eat both adult and kids meals (he's 5'' and about 120 lbs)

DS10--Doesn't really eat anything adult, it's typical kids foods (pb&j, chicken nuggets, pizza, mac/cheese, etc) (he's about 4'9" and about 90 lbs)

DN11--Doesn't eat squat (eats more like a child and then very little) Sometimes will surprise everyone and eat a bit more, but basically nothing. (he's about 4'7" and about 65 lbs--yep he's a little one)

So I'm wondering if I'm reading the posts right, would I be able to buy the DP using 3 adults and 2 child? I really don't want to be confused anymore. It seems like the more I read all these posts, the more I confused I get. (I guess it's the way everyone is using the DP to fit their needs) But now, I'm just running in circles. Do they need proof of age for the kids when ordering the DP?

Nope. Bottom line is this: any child over age 9 is considered an Adult at Disney.....tickets and dining plan. You also cannot use child credits towards adult meals. Our son is a BIG eater and when we went down when he was 9 we booked him and paid for him as a 10 year old. Therefore, over the 10nts., we had 30 ADULT TS credits. If I remember correctly it only cost us about $70 more in total. This way he could eat how much and whatever he wanted from the full menu....not the kids menus. This past Sept. he WAS 10, so it made no difference. Only thing we did then was book a few more TS ADRs as we knew from the previous year that it was ALOT of food and that we could, at times, share 2 appetizers, 2 entrees and 2 desserts between the 3 of us!!! Obviously this doesn't work for buffets....we only booked 2 breakfast buffets in total....sort of like freebies from the saved TS credits we had from sharing certain meals.

Edited to add: when he was 9 and we paid for him as a 10 year old, it was Free Dining. The price differential at any other time would be quite signifigant!!!! Only thing it changed for us was his park ticket price.

 

[Andy B]

I'm offended to find you here Lisa!

I admit that I cheated this year, because DD does not eat at all. I paid for her as a child even though she was 10. Even so, I ended up only using one credit for cs and splitting my meal with her because the ddp has so much food. We had several credit we didn't use.

When I go again in October I will add her as an adult because we are still going to be saving money just being on the plan. I wish they hadn't changed the age of the ddp to 9, I think it should be 12.

I thought the DDP age lined up with adult ticket age for the parks