Enough Food?

[PiperGirlInWondrland]

I agree that the delux dining would be the way to go. I have two teenage boys (16 & 19) and we loved the delux!

 

[Colleen27]

My 11yo grew into his teenage boy appetite early, so I know where you're coming from (can't imagine feeding 5 of him, though!!). The basic dining plan was fine back when it included appetizers because he'd have my or my mom's appetizer plus his kids' meal, but I'm not sure it would have been enough in its current form if he were still a child. The adult menus/portions are plenty, though. So I would say the 8yo is the only one you might need to be concerned about. As previous posters have suggested, buffets and family style meals are a great way of managing that, and there is always the option of paying to upgrade him to an adult on the plan so he'd have the same choices/portions as his siblings.

We upgrade to deluxe now, but not because of too little food on the basic dining plan. We upgrade because of the type of food - basically we don't do counter service at all any more and we like quite a few signature dinners, so the basic plan just isn't a good fit.

 

[TillyMarigold]

... and there is always the option of paying to upgrade him to an adult on the plan so he'd have the same choices/portions as his siblings.

Are you sure? The last time I checked, the only way to get an adult plan for a child was to lie about the child's age and also pay for an adult ticket. I suppose that may have changed in the last week or so, I have to admit I haven't read the FAQ this week.

 

[Colleen27]

I said at one point to DH that the DDP may not be worth it anymore when the kids are over 9 because children that age currently cost $40 a day on the DDP. Our kids will only be 3 and 5 next summer when we go so a few more years until we reach that point. Anyway, DH's reply to me was, "Do you really think a 10-year-old boy or a teenage boy can't easily eat OVER $40 worth of food in one day?" This cracked me up, and this thread reminded me of it! After DH said that to me and I laughed, I turned to him and said that maybe we will need the deluxe plan by then, and the two boys will be eating most of the meal and snack credits!

We started using the deluxe plan the last year DS11 was a child, and we needed it. I usually can't polish off an appetizer, entree, and dessert, but he was more than happy to eat my appetizer and sometimes finish the uneaten remains of my entree in addition to his kids' meal. On the basic plan, we'd have either had to upgrade him to an adult or paid for a lot of OOP appetizers and extra snacks. I have ABSOLUTELY no doubt that he can not only eat the $40 worth of food that the basic dining plan offers, but that we'll come out ahead on that kid even paying for the adult deluxe plan for him! He's worse than a bottomless pit - he's a bottomless pit with expensive, adult tastes. I was so happy to have a kid who didn't stick to kid food all the time, but I wasn't looking ahead to having a preteen/teenager with a taste for sushi, lobster, and filet!

 

[tricia]

Are you sure? The last time I checked, the only way to get an adult plan for a child was to lie about the child's age and also pay for an adult ticket. I suppose that may have changed in the last week or so, I have to admit I haven't read the FAQ this week.

Lots of people have been doing in on free dining tho. And it seems that some CMs are actually recommending it. Of the people that I have heard doing it they told the CM why, and it only cost them about $37 for the upgraded ticket, as FD is free.

 

[summermac]

I was freakishly worried it wouldn't be enough food for us. Well guess what - we left 5 CS and 4 snacks behind. It was enough food. Even for teenage boys! And if it's not, grab an extra QS oop here & there.

 

[Colleen27]

Are you sure? The last time I checked, the only way to get an adult plan for a child was to lie about the child's age and also pay for an adult ticket. I suppose that may have changed in the last week or so, I have to admit I haven't read the FAQ this week.

Yes, you have to pay the ticket difference as well as the dining plan difference, and list the child as 10 on the reservation. I'm not sure I'd feel right about doing it during free dining, but given how up-front CMs have been about the option I don't think it feels like lying exactly either.

 

[wdwluver]

not sure if someone suggested this but have you thought of upgrading to teh deluxe dining plan? 3 TS meals a day, with appetizers, entrees, and dessert. If that's not enough food... you should invest in a grocery store