Decided to bring a 9-year old cousin

[duffy]

So it was going to be just me, my husband and our 12-year old. Staying 5 nights at the Wilderness Lodge, (Feb. 1-5), then switching to the Dolphin for the next 3 nights. We booked the dining plan for the nights we're going to be at the Lodge.

Now we've decided to take my 9-year old neice. The additional cost isn't really that much more. Does it still make sense to get the dining plan?

I've already made reservations for Coral Reef, Les Chefs de France, Le Cellier, Kona Cafe, 50's Prime Time, California Grill and Biergarten, for 3 people. Adding a 4th should not be a problem, I was assured of that by a cast member on the phone-but I will still change the reservations to add a 4th person.

Another question is, when it was just my husband and I and our daughter, we still wanted to have fancy dinners and were just going to take her with us to the California Grill, but now that our daughter will have her cousin to keep her busy, I'm thinking it would be better to just "steal" the credits that we were going to use for her, get her and her cousin burgers, and use the credits ourselves?

Does anyone understand what I mean, and can give me advice?

 

[DVC Sadie]

duffy, since your neice is 9 she would be considered a child on the DP unless you upgrade her meals to an adult DP. The DP card would have 3 adults and one child credits on it so you would not be able to use her credit for an adult meal.

 

[twinspluscade]

The only possible issue I see is that the 9 year old will have to order from the children's menu. Depending on her tastes and how much she eats, she may not be thrilled to be eating a little dish of mac and cheese while everyone else has steaks, KWIM? However, if she likes traditional kid's fare--and doesn't eat a whole lot--she should be fine.

 

[duffy]

Thanks for the replies!!

I was actually referring to "stealing" my 12-year old's credits, not her 9-year old cousin's. When it was just 2 adults and a 12-year old, I was willing to use her adult credits and she could eat with us, but I think now that she'd be just as happy doing something fun with her cousin, and my husband and I can have a kid-free meal for that night!

 

[CoachBagFanatic]

Thanks for the replies!!

I was actually referring to "stealing" my 12-year old's credits, not her 9-year old cousin's. When it was just 2 adults and a 12-year old, I was willing to use her adult credits and she could eat with us, but I think now that she'd be just as happy doing something fun with her cousin, and my husband and I can have a kid-free meal for that night!

We did this in June with our DS11. We used his credits at the Yachtsmans Steakhouse and Cali Grill and just paid out of pocket for his meal as he eats very little anyway and always ordered the kids chicken fingers and fries.