Dining plan with older kids

[Adistar]

Ok my question is about the dining plan and kids. Our kids are now 9&2 but will be 10&2 at the time of travel. My oldest is a very small and picky either, and when I price out the dining plan for a 9 yr old vs a 10 yr old there is about a 200 dollar difference. Does this mean at 10 yrs old he would get to choose from the adult menu?

I ask because I would rather him be on the kids plan, I know he will not eat adult entrees and he really doesnt eat a whole ton, and I think it will be silly for us to pay an extra 200 for what he won't eat.

I don't want to be dishonest, but I also don't want to waste money. Do they do any age checks? He will have literally just turned 10 before we travel, so its not like its a huge age difference. I just can't justify spending an extra 200 for him to eat off the kids menu anyways.

Thanks!!

 

[TDC Nala]

He's 10, you'll have to put him on the adult plan. He could order off the children's menus if he wants, but you'll have to buy the adult plan.

Consider paying cash for his meals and using the extra adult credits for the other adults in your party. Then you can book extra meals and you'll only have to pay for kids' meals.

 

[Simba's Girl]

I thought the same thing about my now 10 year old (turned 10 2 months ago) when she was 9 and was told she could order off the kid's menu.

But in the course of 3 months or so her eating has improved incredibly. I think she's beginning her growth spurt.

I think at this age you really never know, besides think of all the energy he'll be using at WDW. I'm not sure I would count him out just yet.

 

[ancestry]

From my experience with my own children the dining plan is a pretty good value with children from ages 6-9 but is not such a good value once the younger child turns ten and has to pay adult prices. Most restaurants where we live offer a children's menu through age 12. I really wish Disney would do the same with the dining plan. If we go to Disney when my youngest two are 10-11-12 we probably will not do the dining plan during those years. Of course this does vary from child to child depending on their eating habits and personal preferences.

 

[chocolateMinnie]

We had this problem this year too both in February when we paid oop for buffets price wise but also in October on ddp.

We found that DS liked the fact he could choose an adult's dessert but either ordered kid's mains at adult cost or had the steaks etc. cooked plain without sauces and garnishes.

The double negative was that we were in effect paying adult cost for a kid's entree and adult dessert for him and then our DD wanted an adult's dessert too like her big brother and we were then paying oop for her dessert also.

 

[madelyn]

First time we were on the dining plan in the summer of 2008 my son turned 10 the day after we checked in so they allowed us to purchase the child plan for him and use it throughout our stay. We used the plan again in the fall of 2009 but we were on free dining. He was able to order off the child's menu at the Grand Floridian Cafe and Le Cellier (we paid out of pocket) and we saved his adult credits for us to use at another meal. When we dined at Akershus and 1900 Park Fare we had to use adult dining credits for him. They did allow him to order the kids pizza at Akershus and gave him a larger portion. We will not be purchasing the dining plan until our older son has a bigger appetite since it would be a waste.

 

[TDC Nala]

If your child turns 10 after you check in they are considered a child for the full trip. If they turn 10 before you check in, they're adults.