Another 10 year old & DDP Question...

[momof2cutegirls]

Still going back & forth about whether or not the DDP will work best for our family. Loved it last time, but that was when both DD were under 10. We have one that will be 11 when we go in November & one that is still 9.

We are still deciding on ADRs but thinking we will eat at Ohana, Cape May & Tusker House for sure. Possibly Chef Mickey's as well. DD will have to pay adult prices at these places no matter what. So I'm thinking if we are heavy on the buffet/family-style meals, DDP will work.

We will be there 7 nights. The other 3-4 nights, she can order adult meals (& she can eat) & I figure DD9 can always help if she feels like the kid's meal is not enough for her.

Thoughts?

 

[chocolateMinnie]

This has happened in our house for the last few trips. DD is 10 now so will class as an adult for the first time. When paying oop it wasn't a huge issue as like you we had many buffet and family style meals. However, on ddp in 2009 and 2011 and dxdp in 2010 this is how we went.

Breakfast - still buffets/family style mainly. For counter service I am a coffee and not much else kind of Mum. I had either my refillable mug and a pastry or the kids waffle. DD who loves her breakfast had my full cooked.

Lunch - nobody in our house really eats lunch if we have had ts breakfast so this only applied on cs breakfast days. DD is a picky eater so often the kids meals were more appealing to her. On the days when she liked the look of the adults meal at cs she would have that and either me or her brother would have something like a burger or pizza off the kids meal.

Dinner - we did pay oop for her a few times. At places like Le Cellier she was more than happy with the kids steak. At places like Mama Melrose she and I ordered compatible foods and split with Mum still having the adult dessert and dd having the kids.

Snacks are the same everywhere.

Interestingly now we are four adults both DS and DD are thinking they will miss the kids choices in some places

 

[momof2cutegirls]

Bump! Would love more opinions on this please.

 

[4butlers]

I think your plan sounds good. Our DD was 10, turning 11 on our last trip in November. We had Free Dining, but upgraded to DxDP and were worried about her having to order off the adults' menus. She really surprised us and LOVED being considered and "adult". She made really good choices for her meals and loved being able to order "grownup" foods.
So, you never know, you might be pleasantly surprised. But your choices for family style and buffet meals sounds like a good plan. When are you going? You might luck out and get Free Dining also.

 

[momof2cutegirls]

I think your plan sounds good. Our DD was 10, turning 11 on our last trip in November. We had Free Dining, but upgraded to DxDP and were worried about her having to order off the adults' menus. She really surprised us and LOVED being considered and "adult". She made really good choices for her meals and loved being able to order "grownup" foods.
So, you never know, you might be pleasantly surprised. But your choices for family style and buffet meals sounds like a good plan. When are you going? You might luck out and get Free Dining also.

Thanks for your reply! We will be there Nov. 24-Dec. 1, but have rented DVC points so no free dining. I am leaning towards DDP also because of convenience as well. My husband would skimp on meals if we didn't have this last time...and I know he will do this again. I enjoy having one sit-down meal each day as much as anything else at WDW.

So far, we are thinking of Cape May & Ohana (our favs), Chefs de France and Sanaa for dinner, and then Tusker House for breakfast. Those are our for-sures. Still trying to decide on one or two more.

 

[LJD2143]

When on the Dining Plan a 10 year-old CAN order off the Kids Menu - although it's not a very economical use of an adult TS Credit.

Instead, when our DS was 10, he would find an item on the adult menu, and order it "kid-style" - i.e. without sauce, substitute a side item for fries, etc, etc...It surprisingly worked better than we thought it would.

However, all that said - our oldest is now 13 and we have twins that are 10. For the next couple of years, we have decided to forego the DDP and pay OOP instead. Until their appetites mature beyond mac-n-cheese and chicken nuggets, it's just not worth it.

 

[4butlers]

Thanks for your reply! We will be there Nov. 24-Dec. 1, but have rented DVC points so no free dining. I am leaning towards DDP also because of convenience as well. My husband would skimp on meals if we didn't have this last time...and I know he will do this again. I enjoy having one sit-down meal each day as much as anything else at WDW.

So far, we are thinking of Cape May & Ohana (our favs), Chefs de France and Sanaa for dinner, and then Tusker House for breakfast. Those are our for-sures. Still trying to decide on one or two more.

We also really liked the convenience of the DDP and the fact that we didn't have to skimp on anything. We loved being able to have a nice, relaxing meal and order anything we wanted.
We also went to Cape May, 'Ohana, Sanaa and Tusker House and loved them all. We also did Le Cellier for lunch, which we thought was a really great value on the DDP.
This next trip, we really want to try Boma, 1900 Park Fare and Raglan Road.
Have fun!!