DxDDP, ? About splitting meals and kids meals

[CourtneyKaro]

Hi everyone!!
We are going for the first time as a family of 4 (last time was 10yrs ago and we were a family of 3 and my daughter was only 4, now we DS 8 and DD 14) I have two questions, we have the deluxe plan, does my son have to order off the kids menu? He loves steak and lobster and we have a few restaurants planned where that is what we intend to eat, can he order his own meal or do I have to order him a kids meal and just share mine? Or can I pay some sort of upgrade for him to be able to order an adult meal at those places?
Taking that a step further, my daughter is a competitive swimmer who won’t be exercising as much during our vacation and so will be watching her caloric intake (her choice not mine!) and my husband doesn’t eat much due to meds he is on. When we go to some of the places where we intend to order steaks can they share a meal? (Specifically thinking: Narcosee, Le Cellier,) or because we are on the dining plan they have to each order a meal?

 

[sanapp]

They can share meals as long as it isn’t a buffet. He may be able to order from the adult menu, but no guarantees. The only way to guarantee it would be to upgrade him to an adult, but I believe his ticket would have to be upgraded too.

 

[Pumbaa_]

On DxDP there are only meal entitlements, there are no child or adult credits

The literature indicates children must order off the child’s menu. However, I have only seen one post where that was enforced. Your son should be able to order what he wants

Sharing is fine everywhere but buffets, aycte and BoG new prix fixe menu, everyone is required to pay
Via Napoli also restricts sharing

 

[DazzleT]

On the deluxe plan, how would they know his age? I don’t think I would be able to identify 8 versus 10 all that reliably and as a waiter, my tip would be a lot bigger if the kid got the steak. I would expect most waiters wouldn’t want to deal with enforcing a rule that financially hurts them when the kid is close enough. If you showed up with a 3 year old and ordered a steak, that might get some looks.

 

[sanapp]

I think the issue is usually with the non Disney owned locations.

 

[GillianP1301]

On the deluxe plan, how would they know his age? I don’t think I would be able to identify 8 versus 10 all that reliably and as a waiter, my tip would be a lot bigger if the kid got the steak. I would expect most waiters wouldn’t want to deal with enforcing a rule that financially hurts them when the kid is close enough. If you showed up with a 3 year old and ordered a steak, that might get some looks.

My experience with a child under 10 and the deluxe dining plan is that not only will most servers not "want to deal with enforcing the rule" they actually go out of their way to encourage you to order from the adult menu for your children for the reason stated, it increases the total value of your meal which increases their tip.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Worst case, your children could order for each other and trade plates.

 

[CourtneyKaro]

Worst case, your children could order for each other and trade plates.

I would agree except that looking at the kids menus there isn’t anything on (most) of them that she would be happy with, she has the most developed pallet of the whole family lmao!