DxDDP with kids under 5yo

[3pletprincesses]

dh and I are taking our almost 5yo triplets to Disney this May. I did the DDP last fall for our mommy and me trip and had lots of fun but the entire trip was about the girls and nothing special for mommy. I was determined to do DxDDP this coming trip as it's our anniversary and would like to do something for them and us. I had everything planned at decent times that would work for us. Now Dh is getting cold feet.

For the families with young kids that have done DxDDP, was it worth it? Is it too much food for the kids? We would be doing early breakfast which will be caracters meals, snacks during the day and signatures at night. For us to go Deluxe instead of DDP it will only cost an extra $500 +tips for 5 nights but we would avoid CS as the girls really dreaded that part last fall as they don't eat anything with bread or breaded or cakes for that matter. I guess they don't like the yeast taste.

I really need feedback from DISers that have done DxDDP with kids around 5yo. time is not a factor as we have park tickets for 10 days and I'm going back with the girls in August

 

[Faldred]

I think you'll be just fine. We did DxDP with a 3-year-old and 2-year-old twins -- granted, we only had to pay for one and they did some meal splitting, but just the cost of the breakfast buffets and the snacks will easily cover a child's nightly DxDP cost -- even if they don't eat all of their dinner, you're still likely to be well ahead on them.

 

[momtoejanda]

I love the DxDP and wouldnt do it any other way at this point.

With kids we have done the DxDP when the kids were almost 6,3,3 then again at 7,4,4 and again at 8,5,5.

We do a lot of character meals, my kids would kill me if I made them go back to the room and rest so that is my way of spending an hour resting in the middle of the day. Not to mention they are big breakfast eaters. I feel that if we did CS it would feel rushed, we would have to wait in line etc...

We never use the snacks and end up bringing lollipops home but it keeps my kids well fed and entertained. I have never heard one complain about being hungry at any point during the trip. I count the dining plan as entertainment. This will be our first trip doing some of the signature meals because they are getting older but I expect that it will be great!

Yay for the triplets!!! everyone things my kids are triplets because my oldest is a small girl and my twins are big boys. I bet you get stopped all the time!

 

[smiths02]

I would not want to eat dinner for 5 nights in Signature restaurants with three tired 5 year olds (I taught pre-k ).

Have you considered making 1 special signature for you and DH and having the DDs go to childcare? Then doing more child related 2 TS meals (CRT, HDDR, Mickey's BBQ) and doing just 1 signature dining experience with everyone?

I would be worried that you do your first night at Signature Dining and then you realize that your DDs can't really handle it (and I am not saying anything about your or your DDs...children who are normally angels at fancy restaurants are not the same as children who have been wandering around Disney all day). Then what do you do to use up the credits?

 

[3pletprincesses]

Actually, I just looked at my reservations and we only have 2 signatures were the girls should be going.

May 1
Cinderella's Royal Table
Yachtsman Steakhouse

May 2
The Crystal Palace
Citricos

May 3
Cape May Café
Mama Melrose F!

May 4
Le Cellier Steakhouse
Narcoossee's (no kiddos anniversary dinner for us)

May 5
Tusker House Restaurant
Sanaa

May 6
'Ohana
Akershus

Does that look ok? I know we have to pay oop probably for one meal for Dh and I

 

[deannanb]

It was not too much food for my 5 year old.
Breakfast was a character meal, lunch was a sit down or QS, and dinner was a TS
we did HDDR and SOA and Cali Grill, Biergarten, and the Wave (twice)

While I'm sure you want to do something nice for your anniversary - I would suggest one of the shows or the family - or an early Cali Grill - don't worry about the fireworks - unless you know your kids can stay up that late and have dinner later. OR like someone suggested, have the kids go to a club and have an adult night out.

any leftover snack credits were used for suckers or rice krispie treats to take home!

 

[PEANUT1]

I think you will be fine..we have done it. We are planning on 3 signatures for our next trip..(JIKO, Cali Grille, and Narcossees). I would try to do your signature dinners early so as to not have hungry kids and cranky kids

 

[juliebean]

I think it looks great! We are doing the deluxe for a couple of days next week, and taking our daughters (son will be w/band those days) to a lot of the same places. I'd stick with it, unless you are feel like you can give up some in exchange for CS and not affect the experience you are wanting. Otherwise, you'll just end up spending it OOP anyway. We were going to do the regular and just pay for CRT OOP and it wasn't more than the upgrade for us, but it was close enough to make us go with the DLX.

I agree about CS too, too many are bad, the good ones are the exception. I don't think the TS are perfect kid's meals - but they are better.

And hey, they don't stay little forever, even at 8 our daughter is not crazy about going to CRT and Ashkersus, but she's tolerating it for her 5 yo sister. So, if you don't do it now, they may grow out of it fairly soon. Not to mention - I cannot imagine we will want to pay for the deluxe in a few years when we have 5 disney adults.

I would appeal to whatever your husband values, whether that is appetizers, not chasing down a table at CS, family memories - whatever. Mine just goes with what I want - so easy, lol. Carpe Diem!

 

[3pletprincesses]

Thank you for putting my mind at ease. Buying DxDDp instead of DDP was a no brainer when Dh decided to add a dinner for us and a CRT meal for the girls but he sure made me wonder last night when he questionned me about the amount of food. I know at some meals, the girls won't eat everything and worse comes I guess 2 could share one meal and worse come, we will have a few extra credits for CS in between meals for them. Dh and I really only eat twice a day at home so no big deal there.

 

[aripantaloon]

We've done the DxDDP the last 2 times and we plan on getting it again next year. It just made things so much easier in terms of what to choose on the menu and where to eat. We had several character meals (at least 4, if not 5) and all of our dinners were TS, with most being signature restaurants taking 2 credits. Since we weren't eating at say, Mama Melrose-type places every night, it did not seem like too much food. We did have about 20 snack credits left over, but we just went to a Main Street candy store and bought some things for our DD to give to her friends.

It was sometimes hard to find some variety for the girls since they were not adventurous at all, so they ate a lot of pizza, buttered pasta, or chicken nuggets. Hopefully, this time, they will explore more foods.

 

[3pletprincesses]

Glad that I was right to begin with. It always made sense but Dh sure made me rethink and question my decision

 

[Wendy5055]

I think you will be just fine. I love the DlxDP too...especially when I don't have to worry over every penny when DD9 wants a snack.

Only thing I see is that you have Citricos as a meal with the kids and Narcoossees as anniversary. It is none of my business why, but I would definately switch them around.

Narcoossees just seems a little more "kid friendly" and Citricos is definately more "upscale"...just my take on it.

My dd (now 9) has enjoyed both at age 7.

Have an amazing trip!!!!

 

[Wendy5055]

Also...if you do character breakfast buffets it cuts down on the time spent waiting in line inside the parks! My dd9 whos first time at WDW was when she was turning 5 enjoyed the character meals much more than meeting characters in the parks.

Now she is ready for anything!

 

[kalliyan1]

We enjoy the dxdp. We book all the character meals so we can get autographs and pictures in the a/c instead of standing in line outside. Makes for much happier kiddos!!!!!