Ageing up a 9 year old for adult dining plan

[WestYorkshireUK]

Booked everything with Virgin and my youngest child will be 6 weeks off turning 10 when we go back next year.

Last year me and Dh had to swap out our cupcake desserts for his cookie/grapes because his older brother was classed as an adult on the dining plan and he got cupcakes.

I asked about ageing up my 9 year old but Virgin told me they can't as his age has to match his passport for the flight.

I told them I only wanted to upgrade his park ticket to an adult's, pay the extra £20 and then he would get free adult dining. But I was told they cannot do it.

Virgin contacted their "concierge" service and got back to me to say it couldn't be done. I know that if I had booked direct with Disney I can up his age and just buy 4 adult park tickets.

Has anyone managed to successfully change this? I know about the loophole with the adult/child dining plan credits but I just wanted it to be above board.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[2Tiggies]

If you have a flight inclusive booking they can't do it. I tried years ago and it's because the biographical details need to match the passport for the flight. The only way around it is booking flights separately.

 

[WestYorkshireUK]

Thanks, I wish I had known before I booked but the flight prices dropped considerably so we booked the whole package.

 

[2Tiggies]

It may still work out cheaper to just buy the dessert your younger child wants. I used to upgrade my daughter before she turned 10, but we had so many desserts that sat around in our room fridge and ended up in the trash because one between us was more than enough. If you made savings by booking a package, chances are that you are still coming out better by just paying for the extras you want, when you want them

 

[chmurf]

I know about the loophole with the adult/child dining plan credits but I just wanted it to be above board.

it's no longer a loophole since the last changes in dining plan policy last May

so if you have QSDP no need to upgrade you're welcome to order an adult meal for your DS.

if you have DDP or above, then it's different. But as long as you have flight inclusive, you cant upgrade your DS to adult.

 

[WestYorkshireUK]

Thanks, I am trying to keep up to date with all the reports on the new rules for dining plan.

I just can't get my head round paying $41.99 for an adult QSDP and yet $16.03 for a child and somehow order from the adult menu despite paying just $16.

 

[scoobydooby]

I think for quick service most children probably order off the children's menu anyway. The adult portions are enormous. We are here now and my DD is 13 and her and me mainly have the kids QS options. I find its all just too much food really. At TS meals we order adults but have been leaving a lot of food.

 

[tinkerpea]

We've aged up our 3 kids on 4 trips now. As we like to use their credits and have them share,
This is why until they was officially 10 this yr, I've always booked flights seperate.
I did get told last time that it wasn't possible to age them up, even though I'd done it before,
To the point where even a manager said no. I just called back a wk later and said I noticed they had my twins ages wrong, and of course they changed that very quickly, this was always with free dining I would not have aged them up if I had to pay for it.
Luckily with qs at least you can now get adult meals officially, instead of child ones.

 

[WestYorkshireUK]

Thank you to everyone for replying, I appreciate it.

We are on the QSDP as that works better for us so we shall look forward to a big fat cupcaked up 9 year old