DDP - Child Credits v. Adult Credits. Are they still grouped together?

[Mint Addiction]

Someone told me that Disney can now differentiate between child credits and adult credits.

Is there anyone who just returned from WDW who can confirm or deny this? Did you see it broken out in your bill?

Just wondering if this is correct.

Also, my son who is 9 turns 10 two days into our five day trip. The TA booked him as a 9yo for all 5 days and thats what I paid. Will they charge me extra if he decides to eat an "adult meal" instead of a "kids meal"?

 

[bicker]

At any one specific meal, Disney has always had a way: There is a notation on your room key that specifies precisely what you purchased in terms of the Dining Plan. Most of the random enforcement of the rule against using child credits for adult meals can be attributed to that notation.

So far, I haven't read any reports that indicate that anything has changed with regard to enforcement of this rule. It seems that Disney is still relying on the integrity of its guests to voluntarily comply.

If you're concerned about your young child wanting regular meals, you can ask your TA to switch your child over to the regular (10 years old and older) Dining Plan.

 

[Mint Addiction]

Is the notation on the room key new? Is that a change from the past?

 

[carone0318]

Someone told me that Disney can now differentiate between child credits and adult credits.

Is there anyone who just returned from WDW who can confirm or deny this? Did you see it broken out in your bill?

Just wondering if this is correct.

Also, my son who is 9 turns 10 two days into our five day trip. The TA booked him as a 9yo for all 5 days and thats what I paid. Will they charge me extra if he decides to eat an "adult meal" instead of a "kids meal"?

It is my understanding that your child is seen by Disney as the age that they are when they check in, you should not have to upgrade him to adult. He shouldn't be penalized just because it's his birthday, but going forward (future trips) he should be considered an adult.

 

[bicker]

The notation on the room key has always been there. It isn't always consulted by CMs when applying the Dining Plan, but it has been there since the Dining Plan was introduced in 2005.

Regarding the 9-turning-10 issue -- carone is correct: You will not be required to purchase the regular Dining Plan for your child, but rather will be allowed to purchase the Dining Plan for young children. I'm sorry if my earlier message wasn't clear in that regard. My point was that it will likely be your choice whether to go with the age 3-9 Dining Plan or "upgrade" your son to the regular age 10-and-older Dining Plan -- a choice you'll make depending on whether you want your child to be eating child meals all week or adult meals all week.

 

[The Sweetness]

I think what we are trying to say, is that if your *adult/ child* is going to order adult meals, they need an adult DDP. If they will be content with childrens selections and portions (as well as sharing from your plates, possibly) then the childs DDp will be great As far as ordering an adults meal with a childs credit, no way. It just wouldnt be fair

 

[jeepgirl30]

Just returned and had excellent service and no issues at all using DP. For our TS meals we did buffet or all you can eat so no problems with how credits were allocated.

For CS meals, 2 times I got my DD a regular combo instead of the childs. Both times I told the CM directly it was for a child. Both times they smiled and said no problem. I would have gladly paid OOP because DD was not eating during TS meals because she was too excited with the characters! The childrens meals are uncrustables or chicken tenders. No where offered a hot dog or cheeseburger as the kids meal. I would have also been willing to give her my meal and gotten the kids for myself but the CMs said no it was not a problem since we had 2 credits per night for CS meals (DD and I did a solo trip).

At Chef Mickey's our server was incredible. I asked for water and she asked if i wanted bottled. I said no because DD wanted chocolate milk and I had a feeling she would want reg after that so I'd use my drink for her. She said no, its all included and brought me 2 bottles of water and said to drink one here and do whatever I pleased with the other, giving me a wink.

One CS meal DD was not present, she was taking a nap in the room and I ran to the food court. This was one of the ones I mentioned above and I still did tell them it was for a child. She did not have to be present.

We had no problems finding places to use the snack options. We found the servers and CMs very helpful and nice regarding the plan. No negative feelings at all.

 

[HopperFan]

I think it will always depend on the CM and how they follow the rules. Some CS places gave me a large drink with my CS credit, but several told me that the DDP only gives regular size. I was also in line several times where people were told that if they ordered adult CS meals for a child they would lose their adult credits off their plan......they could not use child credits for them. And that would be the correct thing to do.

At TS Buffets it doesn't matter, they can eat what they want. But menu restaurants they should be given the child's menu or you pay OOP for adult item. But if you are on DDP you get so much food with appetizer and all you can supplement their kids meal well with your extra food.

Since any one key in the room can buy all the food, they do have notations on them as to what you purchased. Mine clearly states "Disney Dining Plan A02" which means 2 Adults. I saw others that included "C" and a number on theirs.

 

[Mint Addiction]

I appreciate all the input to help me get an answer to my question. We are leaving in a few weeks and I am glad that I know what I should expect...

 

[Julieh22]

I just returned and had NO problems with the dining plan or credits.

We ate at Narcoossee's, Yachtsman, Le Cellier, Bomas, Cape May Cafe, Big River Grille, and Crystal Palace.

The staff were very friendly and made suggestions and ect. about how to use the dining plan (the 2 signature restaurants servers recommended saving my sons credits for later use and paying oop for the $6 mac n' cheese).

 

[DisneyElf]

Usually the Child credits vs. Adult DDP's don't involve me personally - since usually it's just my sister and I at WDW. This past Sept. we voluntered to take our neice - age 6 with us (Her mother was due to have a baby just around our trip - but little sister was born 2 days - before my neice left for Florida).

We were on the free dining plan - and booked a lot of character meals for her - (we did 6 of them). Otherwise we used the CS & TS as needed.

Disney needs to expand their children's menu - I'm sorry - even a six year old can't live on chicken fingers, mac & cheese or PBJ for 10 days . Once in a while it's okay - but it's pretty hard to tell a kid that her only choices for lunch were Mac & Cheese or Beans & Franks - when all she wanted was a cheeseburger for lunch. So yes - we ordered a cheeseburger for her - since that is what she wanted - and the person had no problem giving her an "adult CS" - vs. the childrens. We always offered her the child's menu first - then suggested something else.

I don't see why Disney can't have a junior cheeseburger/hamburger etc. on the menus .

FYI -- the best TS with options for kids is Concourse Steakhouse - she had a junior filet there (they had about 10 options for kids dinners) - that she loved - decorated her cookie desert - but never got around to eating it.

 

[Mint Addiction]

I agree, my 9 turning 10 year old DS will get very tired of the limited menu for every meal. If I understand you correctly, if he can't find something on the kids menu they will occasionally let you order a small item from the adults?

 

[chrisb71]

We also just returned (10/2) and had free dining. First, there were two adults and two kids in our room (two separate families). All of our dining credits were bunched together. Since we stayed three nights, we had 12 each of TS, CS and snack. One day we requested a printout of how many credits we had left, and no where on the sheet did it list "adult" vs. "child" credits. More than once did we order a CS cheeseburger meal (technically an adult meal) for our two girls and they split it. Never once did a CM ask us if the CS meal we ordered was for a child or an adult. (I agree with the other posts that a kid can only eat so much mac 'n cheese, pizza or PB&J.)

If you are smart about how you order your CS meals, your kids can share "adult sized" meals and your CS credits will last longer. As far as TS, the only TS credits we used were for buffets and family style. So, we had no issue of ordering a childs meal.

 

[skater]

Just FYI, you will not lose "adult" credits if you order adult meals for your child at CS restaurants. I'll leave the ethics debate to others, but at most CS the CM's do not make an issue of it and at some they encouraged us to order whatever our 8 yr old wanted. I did have some CM's tell me we would lose adult credits, but it just wasn't true.

 

[carone0318]

I agree, my 9 turning 10 year old DS will get very tired of the limited menu for every meal. If I understand you correctly, if he can't find something on the kids menu they will occasionally let you order a small item from the adults?

We were on the DDP when we were down there in August. Our dd was (9). She had absolutely no problem finding something to eat at TS locations. She had the steak at Le Cellier, pasta at Mama Melrose's, she had the mahi at Coral Reef, she had I think shrimp at Teppanyaki. She didn't eat the "traditional" kids' food at the TS locations. As for CS, that is where the food is limited. We ate at Sunshine Seasons food court a lot, because they offered different foods that were more appealing to my kids.

Just be sure to look at the menus to see what places offere what and go from there.

 

[Cmbar]

Just to let you all know, there is a post and it is now posted on Allears.net that Disney has been implementing a new "Childs Menu". This offers limited and healthier choices for the kids. There are no substitutions and this same menu is used at all the "Disney Restaurants", according to CM's. NOW THIS HAS NOT BEEN CONFIRMED as this has only been reported at PrimeTime and Tony Town Square. I think this is a "developing story" and just started within the last week or so, so we will see where it ends up.

Here is the link to Allears http://www.allearsnet.com/din/dining.htm

I know for me, I am doing some changes to my plans to do more buffets. The CS are already very limited for the kids and then to strap them with a limited, IDENTICAL menu at every TS (non buffet) Would just be cruel.

 

[Mint Addiction]

Thanks for the response, I like knowing what we might expect when we go in a few weeks. Also thanks for the tip on "Sunshine Seasons". I checked out the menu and it is very diverse with lots of selections for a CS restaurant. Thats probably where we'll eat lunch.

 

[Ms_Maggs]

Day 8 on DDP and there is absolutely no differentiation on the card between child and adult meals. The CMs have encouraged a variety of things: in Mexico I was told to pay for kids meals to save Table credits for more expensive restaurants. Today at the Garden Grill character lunch, I used my 3 year old son's card to pay for 6 meals (4 adults and 2 kids). At Pizzafari, I ordered 8 meals on my card (2 Adults and 2 kids in our room) and used it to pay for 8 adult meals because my kids wanted pizza and I was treating my relatives who had run out of credits. It really seems like no one cares.

If you request a print out for your room, you'll see no adult vs kids meals.

As someone else said in this thread, there's no way a child can survive on chicken nuggets and french fries for 10 days and you can only get variety by ordering different meals.

The kids were served kids meals automatically in 3 places so far: Teppanyaki in Japan, Coral Reef, Mexico, but those were also places where healthy food was served.

Now for the bad news...they messed up my credits for the 1st 3 days. Coral Reef charged an entire family's meal to my card. Mexico charged me credits twice AND billed my room for the full price of the meal, and the food court at Pop couldn't get the computer working and charged me twice when they went back to charge me. You really need to get detailed printouts every couple of days and keep tabs on them!!

Ate at: Boma, Ohana (dinner and character breakfast), Garden Grill character lunch, Crystal Palace character breakfast, Mexico/San Angel Inn, Japan/Teppanyaki, Hollywood and Vine dinner, Pizzafari, Pop Century food court, Cosmic Ray's, Pecos Bill's. Still to go: Planet Hollywood and Sci Fi Diner.

If you have any ?s, feel free to ask!