10 year olds still ordering kid's menus - dining plan help needed

[jultomzach]

I have found lots of threads where DIS members have been told by Disney Dining that it is okay to "upgrade" a dining plan from a child to adult plan. Has anybody called about "downgrading" a 10 year old to a child's plan. We are going with 10 year olds that are not big eaters and all will still be ordering from the child's menu. I would be throwing a lot of food out if we ordered adult meals. We are at DVD and already have our park tickets - so those aren't issues. Understandably, the owner is reluctant but just wondering if anybody every directly asked Disney CMs?

 

[cam&phoebsmom]

My understanding is that you cannot go down from adult to child for the dining plan.

If you think your kids won't eat that much I would skip the dining plan and just pay OOP. That way they can easily split meals or get appetizers if you are going to sit down restaurants and can avoid the higher cost and food waste.

We have the dining plan this time and it may be our last b/c I think when our son is a disney "adult" I don't thnk it will be worth it. And quite honestly the menu items for kids is very weak at many restaurants (which is why on this upcoming trip we have mostly buffets planned so he can eat what he wants).

 

[3pletprincesses]

They will not downgrade as far as I know. they will let you get something from the kids menu with the adult meal credit but will not downgrade to kids meal plan.

 

[squirrel]

If you are paying for the DDP then it's probably cheaper to just pay out of pocket for food.

If you like the feel of the all inclusive with the meals pre-paid, then purchase some Disney Gift Cards and use them instead.

 

[Cafeen]

If they child is 10 or over, they must buy an adult plan. While Disney does allow guests to increase the age of their child, they do not allow you to decrease that age.

If the "adults" would normally prefer the kids' meals, there are 2 options (well, 3, but the third isn't the best option):
#1 - Get the dining plan and pay OOP for any kids' meals ordered. Stock up the extra credits for more TS meals for those ordering adult meals.
#2 - Pay OOP for all
#3 - Suck it up and use adult credits for kids' meals.

#s 1 and 2 would likely be the best options, depending on your desires for the upcoming trip. If you want to do more TS meals, then #1 may work out better, if not, then #2 is likely the best choice. #3, obviously, isn't really a very good choice and if there are quite a few kids' meals ordered, there's a good chance of losing money here.

However, do note that if you end up doing a lot of buffets, family style, other fixed price meals, then these "adults" would be charged the full adult cost no matter what they eat. So if you're planning many of those, the DDP may still work out better. If that's the case, it'll be best to "do the math".

 

[clanmcculloch]

Then NEVER allow you to downgrade the dining plan. Here are a couple options in addition to what you've already been told.

Most Disney owned restaurants will prepare an adult portion of kids meals if you're using DDP credits.

Your kids can split a meal since they're smaller eaters and then you can use the unused credits for additional meals or signature restaurants.

 

[LilGMom]

You won't be able to pay for a child DDP plan if your child is ten years old or older. You may be able to order him/her meals off of the child's menu while using an adult DDP credit for it, just ask the CM. What might be the route to take would be to pay OOP for the ten yr. olds while at TS meals and then use their unused TS credit for yourself for a second TS meal that day, or a different day.

 

[mom2rtk]

Most Disney owned restaurants will prepare an adult portion of kids meals if you're using DDP credits.

Yes, and they will put it on an adult plate so they don't feel like one of the little kids.