Can kids order from the adult menus on the DxDP?

[CinderDuffy]

This is definitely an interesting conversation.

The kids are 9 and 6. The 9 year old could definitely pass for over 10 - she's tall and mature. The 6 year old might be a stretch. Can servers see the kids' ages when they scan bands? Could one of the parents scan a band and just tell them to deduct the credits from their total pool?

The kids are sophisticated eaters. Their parents own a French restaurant. They won't be happy with nuggets and fries, which is why they wanted the DxDP to begin with for all the signature restaurants.

They won’t scan the kids’ bands and they really won’t care about their ages.

It doesn’t work for the regular dining plan, but you will be fine on DxDP.

 

[sharonabe]

The kids are 9 and 6. The 9 year old could definitely pass for over 10 - she's tall and mature. The 6 year old might be a stretch. Can servers see the kids' ages when they scan bands?

It really has nothing to do with the kids' ages and whether they can pass for a 10 yr old. Two things make this possible on the DxDDP. One is the ability to use your credits for either TS or QS. There are still QS places that do NOT have a kid's menu, so the system doesn't really see adult and kid credits when you buy a QS meal; it just sees dining plan. Since DxDDP credits can be used for either, the TS systems apparently don't see them either. The system just sees them all as credits. They made the distinction for the regular plan, but AS OF RIGHT NOW, they haven't made that distinction with the DxDDP or the QSDP. We all know it can be done. Disney may never decide to change their own system, but they could also do it overnight and suddenly the ability to get adult meals with a kid credit will disappear because the system will block it.

The second thing that made this much more common was making the dining plans "shareable." Their used to be a line on the pdf that credits could NOT be used for anyone who was not on your plan. That no longer exists and you can easily "buy" someone else a meal with your credits. When people started realizing that they could use kids' credits to buy adult meals with the DxDDP and buy someone not on the plan a meal, those with larger parties started booking two rooms, putting most of the kids in one room with one adult and everyone eating high on the hog.

At some point, I think, Disney will discover they're losing money and not making it up elsewhere. The addition of alcohol next year could be the tipping point, but there will be no warning when or IF it comes.

 

[collegejunkie]

At some point, I think, Disney will discover they're losing money and not making it up elsewhere. The addition of alcohol next year could be the tipping point, but there will be no warning when or IF it comes.

This is a concern of ours as well, because this trip is in January. They may change things up and then they'll be caught with the new system. I agree with your other points for sure, but they are agonizing over whether or not to keep the plan if the kids will be stuck with the kids menu

 

[Aela]

This is a concern of ours as well, because this trip is in January. They may change things up and then they'll be caught with the new system. I agree with your other points for sure, but they are agonizing over whether or not to keep the plan if the kids will be stuck with the kids menu

I was thinking that too, however keep in mind that an “adult” meal is 10+, and alcohol is 21+, so I doubt that adding alcohol will be the deciding factor. If the breakdown was at drinking age I would say definitely. But it is at 10yo, so hopefully it won’t force a change.

Of course, it might be wishful thinking for our Jan 2nd trip

 

[sharonabe]

I was thinking that too, however keep in mind that an “adult” meal is 10+, and alcohol is 21+, so I doubt that adding alcohol will be the deciding factor. If the breakdown was at drinking age I would say definitely. But it is at 10yo, so hopefully it won’t force a change.

Of course, it might be wishful thinking for our Jan 2nd trip

True, but if the guest is only paying $40 for a child's DxDDP and using every credit for an adult who is over 21 and therefore can order an alcoholic drink, that's got to catch the attention of the bean counters at some point. Getting a kid an adult meal is one thing (and that's what the OP wants to do), but the number of people buying kid's DxDDP and using it to buy adult's a meal is growing, and will continue to grow with the addition of alcohol.

 

[TeresaWen]

We need to stop criticizing Disney's IT department. If they suddenly become bright enough to address this gaping hole, the party is over. I never realized how beneficial it could be. Need to find some kids to bring.

 

[Aela]

True, but if the guest is only paying $40 for a child's DxDDP and using every credit for an adult who is over 21 and therefore can order an alcoholic drink, that's got to catch the attention of the bean counters at some point. Getting a kid an adult meal is one thing (and that's what the OP wants to do), but the number of people buying kid's DxDDP and using it to buy adult's a meal is growing, and will continue to grow with the addition of alcohol.

Same thing with us, our daughter is nine years old, and a competitive swimmer. She doesn’t eat kids meals, they aren’t enough food. We get DxDP so she can eat an appropriate amount of food. If she was forced to eat a kids meal, we would just drop the plan and pay with cards.

 

[Lisa F]

This is definitely an interesting conversation.

The kids are 9 and 6. The 9 year old could definitely pass for over 10 - she's tall and mature. The 6 year old might be a stretch. Can servers see the kids' ages when they scan bands? Could one of the parents scan a band and just tell them to deduct the credits from their total pool?

The kids are sophisticated eaters. Their parents own a French restaurant. They won't be happy with nuggets and fries, which is why they wanted the DxDP to begin with for all the signature restaurants.

In my experience, except for some kind of age coded package (candlelight processional), my son was able to order off the adult menu. At CA Grill the server offered it. At Nacoossees I asked and it was allowed. I think servers are inclined because it jacks up the bill that their tip is based on. Downside: my son now wants filet mignon from CA Grill next time we go (and we are NOT doing DxDDP this time, lol). Oh well. Also he will be 10 in June and the party will end

 

[GreatLakes]

This is almost certainly a system thing they are working on fixing. While it works now I would expect an update to allow for segregation of adult and child credits on the DxDP in the not too distant future. It is a loophole that people are using and closing loopholes is a big part of system maintenance.