Child vs. Adult Dining ?

[jeeperwy]

When I had our trip booked for last year I booked the dining plan, because my 2 DS would be 3 and 9, and I KNEW that the 9 year old could eat $10 a day!!! Long story short, we had to cancel that trip and are now planning our trip for this year, well, 9yo will be 10 when we go, so he jumps from $10.99 to $37.99. He is a big kid and definately eats his fare share but will he eat $38 worth each day? We are looking to stay 7 nights, so dining will cost us $875. Do you think we will eat $125 a day?

By the way, trip will consist of me, my mom, DS9 (then 10) and DS3 (then 4). We are not opposed to eating CS (since DH isn't going!!!! ). We will do a couple of character meals, but not everyday (unless we go with the dining plan!!! ).

What would you do?????

Thanks,
Kari

 

[ptrbryant]

DS9 will turn 10 just couple of months before our May trip...he's a super-picky eater as well. I talked to a CM last night, who was trying to encourage me to go with the Dining Plan. I explained that, given how DS9 eats, it would actually end up costing us more than if we went with my current dining budget. Since we're renting DVC points, all DPs have to be set-up through Guest Services through the DVC owner. Anyway, the CM said to pass on word to Guest Services that our son will have recently turned 10, is a picky eater, etc. and they may let him go with the $10.99 rate. I was really surprised and said that wouldn't that allow all 10 year olds an out from the adult payment? She kept insisting it wouldn't hurt to try.
I haven't done anything about it yet, but it's tempting when you have a CM encouraging you to do so.

Karla B.

 

[dismom9761]

I thought they had to pay adult price if they are 9 yrs old.Am I wrong???I hope so!!!

 

[WDWNicole]

Since we're renting DVC points, all DPs have to be set-up through Guest Services through the DVC owner.
Karla B.

As far as I've heard, you can book your own dining plan through DVC member services even if you are renting points. It doesn't have to be done by the owner. I haven't called yet myself, but I've heard it's been done.

 

[nbodyhome]

Don't give in to the CM - they get a commission, and can be dismissed if they don't keep a certain quota. If you think the dining plan is right for you, get it. If not, don't.

The main thing is - do you plan to eat one table service, one counter service, and a snack every day? If you normally eat two counter service, and a snack or two, maybe you'd normally hit closer to $20.00 per day pp. The kids can still get kids meals at many counter service locations, I often do and I'm almost 40 (I don't want to waste half a meal by throwing it out). So the kids may be still closer to $10 or $12 a day.

I don't encourage guests to get something that they wouldn't normally do (except with the free dining plan last year!). The dining plan wouldn't be a value for me, it's too much food - unless I was going for a weekend only, and wanted to have a few high dollar meals. Even then, I'd probably be bringing food back to the room, for lunch (negating the counter service). I live close by, so anything else can be brought home. Most people don't have that luxury.

Denise

 

[nluvwithmickey]

Although we do love the DDP, I too, am on the fence about taking it for our 2007 trip. My dd will be 10 then and is such a picky eater....

I will have to do some serious math to see if it will still be worth it to go along with the plan.

 

[jeeperwy]

I think that I will look at the menus from the places that I think we will eat at and try to determine what each person will eat, and then figure out which is a better deal for us at the time.

Thanks for your help!!!
Kari

 

[NMW]

One of our sons will turn 10 1 month before our trip. We are still going with the DP though. When we were there last month, he ate adult CS every day anyway. Also, there were some adult choices that I know he would have liked at many of the TS restaurants we ate at.

 

[patsal]

Decide where you think you will be eating, and that should give you a rough idea of what you will be spending. We had three adults and one child in December so the total cost was $115. Most of our dinners were about $155 in cluding tax and tip. That gave us CS and snack with no other worries. Usually three CS meals came to $55.00 with tax--we split them and stretched them out because of the quantity of food. IMHO it was worth it. In July DD will be considered an adult and though the plan will cost $152 per day I figure we will save at minimum $50.00 per day and we will be able to afford the character dining that we were going to give up on. We did not all always order everything we were entitled to--I do not force feed my children. They loved the flexibility of the snacks as well since I have always set limits to one every other day or every third day, etc. I also liked that I could let the children go with other family members and they could take care of their own meal/snack when it was time to eat.

 

[jeeperwy]

Am I correct in that he would have to order off the adult menu at TS places? (With or Without the dining plan) If this is so, I'll probably go ahead and get it, after I looked at the prices.

Thanks!
Kari

 

[MomofKatie]

Am I correct in that he would have to order off the adult menu at TS places? (With or Without the dining plan) If this is so, I'll probably go ahead and get it, after I looked at the prices.

Thanks!
Kari

I don't think 10 year olds HAVE to order from the adult menu- but they have to pay the adult price for buffets, etc.

If you opt for the DDP, Disney will get their $38 per day for your 10 year old- my guess is they would be more than happy to "accomodate" him by letting him order the less expensive kids' meals!!

 

[lkohawaii]

Not to hijack your thread....but how strict are the TS resturants about children eating off the Child's menu if you have the dining plan? I'm a few TS credits short so if my kids have to eat off the kid's menu I'm thinking of just paying it out of pocket.

 

[MomofKatie]

Not to hijack your thread....but how strict are the TS resturants about children eating off the Child's menu if you have the dining plan? I'm a few TS credits short so if my kids have to eat off the kid's menu I'm thinking of just paying it out of pocket.

At the TS restaurants, if you have under 10 year olds on the DDP, they are required to order from the kids' menu. If there are no kids' appetizers or desserts on the kids' menu, they might be able to order from the adult menu for those items, but it is up to the discretion of each restaurant whether they will allow this or not. As far as the entrees- I have heard of a very few exceptions made for dietary concerns, but for the average kid, they will be limited to the kids' menu.

If you are short a few TS credits, I'd order OOP for the kids' meals, or share- with an appy, entree, and dessert per person, you really do get a LOT of food.

 

[lkohawaii]

Thanks Momokatie...I'll do that. I think I have only 2 TS meals that are not character...so I'll just pay oop for those meals.