Disney dinning with 10/11 year old

[HappyGrape]

How do you plan your dinning with this age group? QS is easy as they have the option to order from kids menu and it won't be questioned at all and paying oop for kids menu item is also option if on dinning plan

They eat a lot less than adults. I thought for 9 year old buffets are the way to go, but some cost 47 usd for 10 year old + 20% tip, it's 56 usd to feed a child. Mine isn't very big eater, even for child.

At TS restaurants, can you ask for kids meal and pay oop and keep a TS credit if on DDP? What restaurants allowed this and what insisted on using TS and ordering adult items. Obviously not possible at buffets or family style locations but places as Be our Guest, Coral Reef or California Grill?

Any tips or info on how you plan your dinning with this age group would be helpful

 

[Hopefully]

The DDP is probably not the best idea for this age group

 

[kmv]

I agree that the DDP is not the way to go with this age group. My DD just turned 12 and we are headed there in June. We will not use a dining plan this year as there will be TS that she will be ordering kid's menu things.

 

[Nancyg56]

I think you need to do a lot more math with this age group. If you are thinking about the DDP, you woudl need to calculate how you would use the extra credits if the 10 YO orders off of the kids menu, and that is possible in Disney restaurants. At the buffet/AYCTE meals, adult credit woudl be used.

I think that Without lookign at any of your choices, but based on just your info posted, I would avoid teh DDP, and I would book TS restaurants based on the meals the kids would choose. I woudl avoid any TS where the 10 YO would be obliged to pay full price unless you really wanted that meal.

 

[bumbershoot]

If you were taking my kid at that age you would want the dining plan (assuming it works for the adults, too). Because since he was 8 he has eaten more than us.

But since your 10/11 year olds don't eat like that, there's no point to pay dining plan prices for them.

Figure out the total of the plan cost, and figure out if you can feed the family for less without using the dining plan.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Why not just put the money you would use for the dining plan on a Disney gift card and use that to pay for all your meals? Then any money left over you can use to buy souvenirs or snacks.

 

[TwoMisfits]

Avoid all buffets and AYCTE places...your child will be charged that $56 and you'll be annoyed...

Better places to plan, if you want TS, is to steer to ones with good app options or good shareable options or just smaller/cheaper options...Via Napoli, Jungle Navigation, The Plaza, Yak and Yeti, etc...

 

[soniam]

We never get the dining plan. DS11 isn't a big eater and is picky, so the kids menu is usually the best route for him. Buffets and dining packages are a bit of a hit. Most of the buffets we do are character ones, so I view those as entertainment. Breakfast buffets help a bit, since they are cheaper. Buffets can be a good deal for 9 year olds, because they are still priced as kids but can eat anything on the buffet, even the adult items. I really don't get my moneys worth at buffets, because I don't eat that much either. I try to ignore the cost for DS some and decide where DH and I want to eat, as long as DS can get something. One nice thing is that since DS is fine eating off the kids menu, some of them have steak, which is a good value. He loves steak. BOG is one, and I think Skipper Canteen too.