Any experiences - child portion of adult entree using DDP?

[shortster]

Any DISers have experience ordering a kid-size portion of an adult entree and still using a child's TS credit? Would restaurants even consider doing something like that?

If you've tried it somewhere - did you get a yes/no/reluctant yes-we'll-do-it-this-one-time-but-its-not-our-policy?

I've seen several discussions about older kids ordering an adult portion of a kids menu item, but nothing in reverse.

I have a 9yo who is an adventurous eater, and at home she sometimes likes to eat from the kids menu and sometimes likes to eat from the adult menu. Paying for her to be a Disney adult on the meal plan would be waaaaay too much food over the course of our trip. Just trying to see if there are any other options aside from paying OOP for some meals/apps for her.

 

[DisBuckMan]

Doubtful, since most of the adult choices are higher food cost items than the child's menu.

Won't hurt to ask, but I would be surprised if allowed.

 

[Colleen27]

I've never heard of this happening. The kids meals are mostly mass-produced crap - cheaper ingredients, little prep time, easy to produce in quantity. It would be a significant increase in Disney's cost and labor to produce kid-sized versions of adult entrees. When we first started going, many restaurants had a signature dish or two that was available on the kids menu as well as the adults. Over the years, those options were eliminated and the kids menus standardized to the point where it almost doesn't matter what kind of cuisine the restaurant serves, the kids will get the same handful of choices.

 

[danielocha30]

you can’t get adults food on a kids meal credit even if is a small version of it, an adult credit can be use to order a kids menu food on adult size, but Kids credits is for kids menu food only.

 

[purple figment]

It is extremely unlikely that this would be allowed. There might be a miniscule chance at a Disney owned restaurant, but not at the third party venues which are reimbursed by Disney according to the rules of the dining plan and there's no way they would be reimbursed for an adult entree using a child's credit.

Alternatively, you could order an adult entree and share it with your daughter.

 

[peg2001]

Alternatively, you could order an adult entree and share it with your daughter.

This is exactly what I would suggest. Unless you are both big eaters, it will still be plenty of food. Or, add a kids meal and split that as well.

 

[sharonabe]

Alternatively, you could order an adult entree and share it with your daughter.

But then what do they do with their kid credits?

 

[purple figment]

But then what do they do with their kid credits?

As Peg2001 mentioned they could also order a child's meal and share it. Or maybe an adult in their party would prefer the child's meal. Use it at a different restaurant where the adults are willing to pay out of pocket. See if it can be used at a counter service restaurant or in trade for snacks.

 

[shortster]

When we first started going, many restaurants had a signature dish or two that was available on the kids menu as well as the adults.

That would be AMAZING. Too bad that's not happening anymore! I did notice a few restaurants had some interesting options for kids, (BOG, Tiffins, Skipper Canteen, etc) but were lacking the sauces or sides the adult entrees would normally have.

The state of kids menus in the US (overall) is a disgrace, but that's a whole 'nother topic!

 

[shortster]

Doubtful, since most of the adult choices are higher food cost items than the child's menu. Won't hurt to ask, but I would be surprised if allowed.

you can’t get adults food on a kids meal credit even if is a small version of it, an adult credit can be use to order a kids menu food on adult size, but Kids credits is for kids menu food only.

It is extremely unlikely that this would be allowed. There might be a miniscule chance at a Disney owned restaurant, but not at the third party venues which are reimbursed by Disney

Thanks everyone for the feedback. If we're feeling adventurous, we may ask (politely) and see what they say. I'll report back if we do!

She's not expecting to order from the adult menu right now, we've already told her that she's a "kid" when it comes to the Dining Plan. So we'll be prepared to pay OOP if there's something she's just dying to taste.

I'm sure she'll be sharing bites of our meals too!

 

[_auroraborealis_]

The problem is that when Disney put anything good on kid menus people complain that it isn't breaded, pressed and fried, or made with glo-cheez.

 

[piccolopat]

In many cases, the dining plan isn't cost effective and puts restrictions on you like this. We always preferred to order what we wanted instead of trying to maximize the value of the dining plan. Sometimes we weren't that hungry and the dining plan would mean a lot of wasted food. Our DD was also very adventurous growing up and this helped us to indulge her and support her appreciation for good food. Would you consider not doing the dining plan?

 

[dr&momto2boys]

But then what do they do with their kid credits?

Save it and use it for a counter service credit which could be used for an adult CS meal if desired since there is no differentiation.

 

[shortster]

Would you consider not doing the dining plan?

We did have a big back-and-forth about the dining plan, for many of the reasons you mentioned! So after we nailed down where we wanted to eat, I did a very nerdy spreadsheet that listed each meal and the entree we'd most likely order, drinks, tip, etc and ran the numbers. We like a beer/cocktail/glass of wine with our meals, so that helps - we'd be ordering those drinks anyway. We're staying near Epcot so we plan on hitting the F&G booths hard with our snack credits - again, we'd do that anyway just because a lot of them look yummy! We'd buy the mugs regardless. Etc. When we calculated everything together...I *think* we will save with the dining plan. Of course I won't really know until we get back and I check the receipts against my assumptions!

 

[sharonabe]

I did notice a few restaurants had some interesting options for kids, (BOG, Tiffins, Skipper Canteen, etc) but were lacking the sauces or sides the adult entrees would normally have.

Asking for a sauce or side would probably go a lot further than asking for a full-blown adult entrée/meal.

 

[escapeartist]

If you go to buffet the kids can eat whatever they want

 

[Pumbaa_]

You can always age your child up and get her thebadukt plan.

 

[Shanti]

Asking for a sauce or side would probably go a lot further than asking for a full-blown adult entrée/meal.

"She'd like hollandaise sauce with those chicken nuggets, please."

You can always age your child up and get her the adult plan.

Which would make the dining plan no longer cost effective for them...

 

[Pumbaa_]

But the child would be able to order what they want.

Choices choices

 

[Colleen27]

You can always age your child up and get her thebadukt plan.

Or go with one of the plans that doesn't separate credits... That has been part of the DxDDP appeal for us for years, though we also up-aged two of our three kids when they were 9 rather than worry that some rogue server somewhere would try to limit them to the kids' menu.

"She'd like hollandaise sauce with those chicken nuggets, please."

It isn't that far-fetched! Not for chicken nuggets but... California Grill happily gave DD-then-6 a side of the sauce that was on the adult steak to go with her kids' meal steak, even though the kids' steak comes plain, and at Kona we asked for and got a little cup of the sauce that came with my scallops to add to her plain grilled fish from the kids' menu. That's probably the best you can do as far as getting some of the adult flavors with a child's credit.