Dining plan & paying OOP for kids?

[milmore104]

Hello,
I was wondering for all those who have recently come back and used the dining plan did you pay any OOP for your kids and save their credits for later use? My DD usually shares my meals or w/ DH. She doesn't eat much specially when it's hot. I was planning on sharing my meals w/ her or paying for a kids meal for her and saving her credits for later use. I know I can't share w/ buffet meals. Has anyone done this and had any problems? Thanks

 

[purplepixie]

We were there 8/36 - 9/3. We had the dining plan. Most of the meals we did were buffets. We did squeeze an extra sit down in by sharing with our daughters and paying OOP for an extra app or kids meal at the non-buffets. We just told them up front how we were doing it. I never asked to do it. We never had a problem with it.

 

[milmore104]

Thanks I know we will most likely have some credits left over that I would like to share w/ others. I hate to waste a whole meal when all she'll eat is one chicken nugget!

 

[cmj]

well, we did things a bit differently.
DD was somewhat picky, 9 and not sure what the policy would be when we went (August). Since we did 1 day ticket had her as an "adult" but was thinking of doing OOP if we did do buffet (and have her bc w/us to prove she was 9). Well, she wasn't feeling that great during our stay, usually was sleeping in DH lap during most of meal, maybe had 2 bites of my steak and didn't even share a meal, wasn't eating much of anything aside from a bowl of cereal in room in AM and an ice cream or two as snack in day. She was really out of it. Well, we had TS left over (did an extra lunch or two) and never had a question from server about our ordering (explained that she would probably be sharing but usually we never got there). Just go and have fun.

 

[Suzanne74]

I don't see how it would be a problem. Lots of adults share a sit down meal and use just one dining credit so I don't see how they could give a little kid grief. Personally, I wouldn't ask - sorta just tell them what you are doing prior to ordering. Say "my dd isn't that hungry so it will be just us two ordering tonight on the dining plan but could I have a plate just in case she decides to eat something of mine" You could also order something very small like a side of veggies, fruit or something and pay out of pocket.

HTH

 

[tortoni]

We recently returned from a trip using the free meal plan. My 10 and 12 year olds often wanted to order from the kids menu or not eat much so we let them share or paid out of pocket. We just told the CM ahead of time and it was no problem. We wound up with enough credits for Flying Fish on our last night.

 

[lacy1101]

We recently returned from a trip using the free meal plan. My 10 and 12 year olds often wanted to order from the kids menu or not eat much so we let them share or paid out of pocket. We just told the CM ahead of time and it was no problem. We wound up with enough credits for Flying Fish on our last night.

Tortoni - I have a 13-year-old and a 10-year-old. I was wondering if they might be able to order off the children's menu at a couple of places in order to free up TS credits for dinner one night at a signature restaurant. You didn't have any trouble doing this?

P.S. I'm actually glad my children are considered adults when it comes to dining at Disney as I don't have to get into the whole saving child credits for adult meals issue.

 

[momof2disprincesses]

Tortoni - I have a 13-year-old and a 10-year-old. I was wondering if they might be able to order off the children's menu at a couple of places in order to free up TS credits for dinner one night at a signature restaurant. You didn't have any trouble doing this?

P.S. I'm actually glad my children are considered adults when it comes to dining at Disney as I don't have to get into the whole saving child credits for adult meals issue.

My kids are 9 and 13. We just returned from 8 glorious nights at WL with the free dining plan. We shared almost all meals and never had an issue at all. Just tell the server what you're planning to do (example: we're on the dining plan, I'll be using 2 credits - I'll have 1 of this and 1 of that and I'll need an extra plate). We always tipped extra when we did this.

We also paid out of pocket a few times for DD9 and "banked" her credits for use later. We squeezed 10 TS meals out of 8 nights and were never overstuffed because we shared. It worked well for us.

Go, do what works best for your family and ENJOY!

 

[madge]

My kids are 9 and 13. We just returned from 8 glorious nights at WL with the free dining plan. We shared almost all meals and never had an issue at all. Just tell the server what you're planning to do (example: we're on the dining plan, I'll be using 2 credits - I'll have 1 of this and 1 of that and I'll need an extra plate). We always tipped extra when we did this.

We also paid out of pocket a few times for DD9 and "banked" her credits for use later. We squeezed 10 TS meals out of 8 nights and were never overstuffed because we shared. It worked well for us.

Go, do what works best for your family and ENJOY!

this is exactly what we plan to do in a couple of weeks. We have 3 buffets planned, and that leaves us 10 credits to spread out through the week. I have 3 kids, but at any given time, only 1 one them is hungry enough for their own meal, LOL

 

[lacy1101]

My kids are 9 and 13. We just returned from 8 glorious nights at WL with the free dining plan. We shared almost all meals and never had an issue at all. Just tell the server what you're planning to do (example: we're on the dining plan, I'll be using 2 credits - I'll have 1 of this and 1 of that and I'll need an extra plate). We always tipped extra when we did this.

We also paid out of pocket a few times for DD9 and "banked" her credits for use later. We squeezed 10 TS meals out of 8 nights and were never overstuffed because we shared. It worked well for us.

Go, do what works best for your family and ENJOY!

You did say that your "adult" children ordered from the children's menu a few times, right? I was hoping that we might be able to do that at CRT lunch and maybe 50s PT lunch and just pay OOP for them. If they won't let them, I guess we'll just pay OOP for them off the adult menu - we have already planned to use those credits for our dinner at Narcoossee's one night!

 

[rifamtrav]

Lacy101 you might have trouble at CRT lunch trying to order from the kid's menu - I think its now a preplated meal so its one price, but I could be wrong. We just got back and my 10yr old twin DDs were always offered a kid's menu although they almost never ordered from it. Every time they asked us their ages and I always said 10 (they're small for their age and just turned 10). The only place they did order from the kids menu was at Cali Grill, they shared a chicken dish and we paid oop. They charged us the price on the kids menu ($7.99).
My original plan was to pay for them at Boma at the kids' rate, (we booked our trip before the new ages for dining) and save their credits for later, but when they made all the restaurant age cut off at 9 we just used credits for them. In any case, there is so much food that at any nonbuffet meal 3 credits will be more than enough for 4 of you, in some cases 2 will be plenty!

 

[momof2disprincesses]

You did say that your "adult" children ordered from the children's menu a few times, right? I was hoping that we might be able to do that at CRT lunch and maybe 50s PT lunch and just pay OOP for them. If they won't let them, I guess we'll just pay OOP for them off the adult menu - we have already planned to use those credits for our dinner at Narcoossee's one night!

Actually we never tried ordering a kid's meal for DD13. Every time, she and I shared (we have very similar tastes). We either got 2 adult meals and DD13 and I shared and DD9 and DH shared OR we got 2 adult meals between DH, myself and DD13 and paid out of pocket for DD9 for a kid's meal. DD9 is my picky eater and won't eat most things off the adult menu, but when we knew there was something she'd like (she loved the broasted chicken at WCC), then DH and her shared.

I really like that allearsnet.com has the menus. We pretty much knew what we were going to order even before we left home, so I knew which places DH and DD9 could share and which places we'd have to pay out of pocket for her because she would ONLY eat a kid's meal.

We found most servers to be very accommodating and helpful!

 

[milmore104]

Thanks to everyone! I feel a little better knowing I shouldn't have a problem. Thanks!

 

[WeluvDisney2]

Are the dining credits designated as "adult" and "child"? I thought the childs' credits were only good for childs' meals?? Help! I think I am confused.

 

[BBGirl]

Are the dining credits designated as "adult" and "child"? I thought the childs' credits were only good for childs' meals?? Help! I think I am confused.

Credits are credits they don't designate a "adult" or "child". The only stipulation is that if using the dining plan to pay for a child the child must order from the childerns menu.
HTH

 

[Heather Smith]

We payed oop for our kids and used the meals for the grandparents who were traveling with us. At Le Cellier we used just two credits by the adults sharing. We shared the appetizers and main course and ordered extra sides, because the creamed spinach and asparagus there are wonderful. When we shared meals we definately tipped extra.

 

[fishinChip]

Help! What is OOP? Can't figure this one out. THANKS!!!

 

[DreaminDisney]

Help! What is OOP? Can't figure this one out. THANKS!!!

My guess is 'out of pocket'

 

[moopdog]

Sorry to need to have this s-p-e-l-l-e-d out for me! If my DD13 wants to order off of the kids menu at LeCellier or Mama Melrose... can she? I know she'd rather eat the kiddie food and also it's only $5. or so for the meal so it's a win for all of us... but will they allow it? I know on a buffet she pays adult price.

 

[honeymo78]

Yes moopdog, she can order off the kids menu. I'm not sure if they charge you more than $5 if an adult eats the kid meal but either way it will still be cheap. Just tell your server that you would like to pay cash/credit card etc for your DD's meal and that you'd like to use your dining credits for the other meals.