Children's Menu, 10 YO's and the DDP

[tomzpc]

If I'm to understand correctly a child who is 9 years old or younger must order from the children's menu if there is one at that particular restaurant, when using the dining plan.

Is a 10 YO able to order from the children's menu if they prefer to, when paying cash?

If so, considering the cost difference in the dining plan for an adult and a child ($47.99/night/adult, $12.99/night/child) and the fact that my 10 YO may very well prefer the children's menu in most cases, I'm wondering if we might be better off without the DDP for 2 adults and 2 kids, 10 and 7.

Hmm.....thoughts?

 

[TDC Nala]

The response to this is usually "yes" although every once in awhile you will see someone say their child was not permitted to order from the child's menu if they were age 10 or over.

Since you have to get DDP for everyone in your party, you may want to consider not getting it. Reasons for still getting DDP might be if you prefer a lot of buffets or family style all you can eat restaurants (even the picky kid will have to pay the adult price to eat at those) or if you want to pay cash for meals off the child's menu for the 10 year old (where you are permitted to) and have other family members use the adult credits. (You could also use her adult credits to buy her children's meals, or maybe ask about an adult portion of something from the children's menu - which won't be the best course if she just doesn't eat much)

 

[tomzpc]

The response to this is usually "yes" although every once in awhile you will see someone say their child was not permitted to order from the child's menu if they were age 10 or over.

Since you have to get DDP for everyone in your party, you may want to consider not getting it. Reasons for still getting DDP might be if you prefer a lot of buffets or family style all you can eat restaurants (even the picky kid will have to pay the adult price to eat at those) or if you want to pay cash for meals off the child's menu for the 10 year old (where you are permitted to) and have other family members use the adult credits. (You could also use her adult credits to buy her children's meals, or maybe ask about an adult portion of something from the children's menu - which won't be the best course if she just doesn't eat much)

Thank you for that excellent answer Something else to ponder.

 

[disneyobessed]

We are dealing with the same issue.. my 10 year old will eat off kids menu.. . I wish there was a choice where you could pay for anyone up to 18 as a child and they just HAVE to order off a childs menu.

 

[havoc315]

We are dealing with the same issue.. my 10 year old will eat off kids menu.. . I wish there was a choice where you could pay for anyone up to 18 as a child and they just HAVE to order off a childs menu.

Seems quite often, advise is given to book a 9-year-old as a 10-year-old, if the children's menu isn't enough for them.

Not that I am encouraging dishonesty... But they don't check birth certificates... For a family with a 10-year-old who is a small eater, is there anything to stop you from listing their age as 9, and getting the children's meal plan?

 

[TDC Nala]

Yes, it's against Disney policy to book your 10 year old as a 9 year old. 10 year olds are also expected to purchase adult park tickets.

If you up your child's age to buy them an adult dining plan, you are not costing Disney anything - in fact you are paying extra (including the park ticket as you now have to buy an adult ticket if you're on a package). That's why they allow it. If you adjust downward, Disney loses.

 

[havoc315]

Yes, it's against Disney policy to book your 10 year old as a 9 year old. 10 year olds are also expected to purchase adult park tickets.

If you up your child's age to buy them an adult dining plan, you are not costing Disney anything - in fact you are paying extra (including the park ticket as you now have to buy an adult ticket if you're on a package). That's why they allow it. If you adjust downward, Disney loses.

I'm sure that is Disney's thinking, though not entirely true. If you up their age during "free dining" -- then for the slightly higher price of the adult park ticket, they are getting free adult dining instead of free kids dining.

Now, without condoning this behavior though, it would seem there would be nothing to really stop someone from booking a 10-year-old as a 9-year-old. If they were darn sure that their child would only be ordering from the child's menu.

Truthfully --- I think the parents should have the option. You are paying for the food. Thus, if my 10-year-old has a small appetite and is happy with child's meals through the trip, then why not be able to purchase the child's plan? Why shouldn't I be allowed to purchase the child's plan for a 2 1/2 year-old? (Of course, the buffets complicate this analysis, so I'll close my mouth now).

 

[disneyobessed]

I think they have their ages on the computer because we go every if not every other year... Plus my other son is 9. ITs awful because he is handicapped with cerebral palsy and there are rides he cant go on and their is food HE CANT eat because of him needing easier things to chew..and I have to pay for him as an adult when he does moslty child things.. What are you going to do though..!? Just keep going back! lol

 

[tomzpc]

We are dealing with the same issue.. my 10 year old will eat off kids menu.. . I wish there was a choice where you could pay for anyone up to 18 as a child and they just HAVE to order off a childs menu.

That would be a wonderful solution. I'm sure it will never be implemented however. ::sigh::

Our reservation is booked and I went with the DP. If I thought about this ahead of time I should have skipped the DP and we could have added it later.

 

[DCDisney]

When we had a 10 year old and 8 year old we didn't do the DDP and only did 1 buffet meal where we had to pay adult prices. Even now that my kids are older we've never been turned down when asking to pay for a a kids meal for one of them. On the DDP we have been turned down from them being able to order kids food even though we paid for adult food though we were able to get them plain adult sized pasta. It was much better being off plan that one year. The next year with 11 and 9 being on plan was GREAT because the 9 year old really needed a bit more food than the kids meals provide so they would usually share 1 adult meal and 1 kids meal. For QS they would just share an adult meal and we used up the kid TS credits on breakfasts because the kids breakfast was nice with a few mickey waffles and 2 drinks.

 

[TDC Nala]

Why shouldn't I be allowed to purchase the child's plan for a 2 1/2 year-old?

You can, if you book the child as 3 years old. Of course you then have to buy the kid a ticket if you're on a package. And if Disney gives the option to age your kids "down" to save money, when does it stop, somebody will come in and claim they should be able to register their 13 year old as 9 because they dont' eat much. They have the age limits they have for a reason.

 

[havoc315]

You can, if you book the child as 3 years old. Of course you then have to buy the kid a ticket if you're on a package. And if Disney gives the option to age your kids "down" to save money, when does it stop, somebody will come in and claim they should be able to register their 13 year old as 9 because they dont' eat much. They have the age limits they have for a reason.

Except for the admitted problem of the buffets, what would be wrong with registering the 13 year old for the kids plan, if he really doesn't each much?
You are paying for the food. So if a 7 year old wants a huge steak... They can pay the higher price. And if the 14 year old wants just a couple chicken nuggets, they can choose the kids plan. If not for the buffets, there would be no reason to make it age dependent. There are plenty of adults who buy happy meals for themselves.

 

[TDC Nala]

Except for the admitted problem of the buffets, what would be wrong with registering the 13 year old for the kids plan, if he really doesn't each much?

I am sure Disney wouldn't mind that if you didn't also end up buying the 13 year old a child's park ticket, which Disney won't allow you to do. Unless and until they separate the DDP from package reservations with a ticket purchase, it's going to stay the way it is.

On the other hand it's kind of hard for Disney to verify the claim that said 13 year old doesn't eat much. Maybe he really eats like a horse and his parents just want to pay less for him and do a lot of buffets. Unless they separate the buffets and all you can eats from the program, no go. Now it gets complicated.

There's also an option called "paying out of pocket" which allows anyone of any age to order whatever they want at a la carte restaurants. But when you start with a prepaid dining plan there is only so much regimentation that can be done to it. If you extend the child's plan to anyone regardless of age, you have to exempt buffets and all you can eat restaurants, because if you don't you are going to have whole grand gatherings eating Homer Simpson amounts at the buffets on the child's plan. If the rules said "Over 9 can buy the children's plan as long as they don't eat at buffets or all you can eat restaurants" how many will go for that? Might save you some money but will knock out all the character meals.

 

[papadisney]

My DW and I were just discussing this very subject. We leave next week and have free dining. My DD is 9 but is celebrating a birthday while we are there. After reviewing some of the children's menus at the restaurants we have ADR's for and the counter service options, it looks like her choices are mostly the same...chicken nuggets, hot dog, pizza, mac and cheese, etc Is it possible to pay the difference for the adult ticket so she can order off the reguar menu? The ticket price difference appears to only be about $25.00

 

[TDC Nala]

My DW and I were just discussing this very subject. We leave next week and have free dining. My DD is 9 but is celebrating a birthday while we are there. After reviewing some of the children's menus at the restaurants we have ADR's for and the counter service options, it looks like her choices are mostly the same...chicken nuggets, hot dog, pizza, mac and cheese, etc Is it possible to pay the difference for the adult ticket so she can order off the reguar menu? The ticket price difference appears to only be about $25.00

Yes, if you call WDW and register her on your room reservation as 10 years old. Do it ASAP because you can't change your package later than 3 days before arrival.

 

[havoc315]

Yes, absolutely true. It can't legitimately work unless you separate out the buffets.

Of course, if I was redesigning the meal plan myself, I probably would create a non-buffet option.

 

[TDC Nala]

When you get started creating a non-buffet option, small eaters option, all-signature option, I like appetizers but not dessert option, etc, you might as well scrap the dining plans and have everyone pay as they go for exactly what they want, or have a program where you can prepay your entire meal budget and just use the prepaid amount until it's gone (you can also do that with gift cards). That would take away the possibility of getting a discount by using your prepaid plan judiciously though; it would just be a strict prepayment program.

 

[tomzpc]

Another problem for us with the Dining Plan is that my wife and I enjoy appetizers and usually skip dessert. So now I need to sit down and calculate how much all of our ADRs would cost assuming appetizers, entrees and NA beverages without the meal plan to decide if it even makes sense.