Free DDR Upgrade and Tickets

[3PrinceMom]

I apologize if this has been asked....but I can't find the answer anywhere.

My children (15, 8 and 6) and I are traveling late August with the free dining plan. My 8 year old has outgrown the children's menu and I would like to upgrade him to the adult ticket. (not a large price difference.) This would have been a non-issue had I done this before the tickets increased. Now with the increase I understand that it will be a change to the package and all of the tickets in the package will increase.

Now, My question is after the first use of the tickets in the parks, can I then upgrade my 8 year old to the adult ticket and just pay the difference on his?

Thanks!!!

 

[3PrinceMom]

oops....title should be DDP

 

[smitch425]

I apologize if this has been asked....but I can't find the answer anywhere.

My children (15, 8 and 6) and I are traveling late August with the free dining plan. My 8 year old has outgrown the children's menu and I would like to upgrade him to the adult ticket. (not a large price difference.) This would have been a non-issue had I done this before the tickets increased. Now with the increase I understand that it will be a change to the package and all of the tickets in the package will increase.

Now, My question is after the first use of the tickets in the parks, can I then upgrade my 8 year old to the adult ticket and just pay the difference on his?

Thanks!!!

Since the dining plan is based off of the number of nights in your hotel room, I think your son would have to be upgraded to an adult before check-in. I would call and ask if you upgraded him what the cost would be. If they say you will have to pay new prices for all of your tickets you might be better off just paying for him to eat OOP when necessary. Like maybe get a kids meal but add an extra side or something.

 

[purple figment]

My 8 year old has outgrown the children's menu and I would like to upgrade him to the adult ticket. Now with the increase I understand that it will be a change to the package and all of the tickets in the package will increase.

Now, My question is after the first use of the tickets in the parks, can I then upgrade my 8 year old to the adult ticket and just pay the difference on his?

It sounds like you want to upgrade your 8 year old to the adult dining plan after you arrive at DW, but this won't work because any changes to the dining plan have to be made no later that 3 days before your arrival.

 

[vicki_c]

I agree - this will have to be done prior to arrival since you can't alter dining plans less than 3 days out from your trip.

I'm surprised that you would have to pay more for all the tickets to change him from child to adult - are you sure of that?

 

[shawnh199]

Since the dining plan is based off of the number of nights in your hotel room, I think your son would have to be upgraded to an adult before check-in. I would call and ask if you upgraded him what the cost would be. If they say you will have to pay new prices for all of your tickets you might be better off just paying for him to eat OOP when necessary. Like maybe get a kids meal but add an extra side or something.

I agree - maybe order an extra side or appetizer. You will have to upgrade not just the cost of the dining plan per day, but also upgrade from a child to adult ticket. It might be cheaper just to order something extra OOP or grab an extra snack somewhere.

 

[smiths02]

See what the price differential is...if it is a lot...don’t bother

If you have regular DDP...find places without kids menus for counter service (or with large servings like wolfgang puck express). For table service, try some buffets or family style or AYCE (Ohana, Cape May, Askerhus, Tusker House, Boma, 1900 Park Fare, etc, etc).

 

[TDC Nala]

They're on free dining. So the only thing they will have to pay is the difference between the child and adult ticket.

The child must be registered as 10 years old and you can't do that after you arrive. If you make any changes to your package you have to do it no later than 72 hours before arrival. You will not be able to upgrade the child's ticket at the park and have that result in an upgrade to the dining plan. Your dining plan is in place before you arrive and you won't be able to change it afterward. If you have the child's ticket for this child when you arrive, you might as well leave it a child's ticket.

 

[squirrel]

Everyone is also assuming you are staying in at least a moderate resort.

If you are staying at a value resort it will even cost more as you will need to pay the difference between the QSDP and the DDP ($11).

I haven't run any numbers, but now that the value resorts get the QSDP (some of us were still on bounce back offers last year) I would think it's still cheaper to supplement his food with a few extras.

At CS, you can use a snack credit or oop a side item.
At TS, you can pay for an appetizer.

 

[aubriee]

Since the dining plan is based off of the number of nights in your hotel room, I think your son would have to be upgraded to an adult before check-in. I would call and ask if you upgraded him what the cost would be. If they say you will have to pay new prices for all of your tickets you might be better off just paying for him to eat OOP when necessary. Like maybe get a kids meal but add an extra side or something.

True. When the waiter asks if you are on the DDP, they ask to see your room key. Unless you upgrade that child to an adult prior to check in, that room key would say 3A 2C and the waiter would only let you order three adult meals and 2 kids meals. It wouldn't matter what park ticket he had. The dining credits are on the room key and are based on what age he was when he checked in.

 

[judaloo]

This brings up a valid point. My 9 year old son would really prefer other things as well. Since Disney stipulates "junior" for resort, why not do this with dining as well? We are scrambling to go in Oct because he will turn 10 in November, and we feel that we will no longer choose the dining plan. It seems like they could offer smaller portions from the adult menu and not charge $45.00 per day for a 10 year old. Truth be told..I'd rather have the option of splitting an adult meal between my kids. Then they'd actually have a good shot at a variety of vegetables. Carrot sticks and apples with every meal gets pretty old. Or lose the desserts and give us another choice. We don't eat dessert at home..give my 3 year old a side of broccoli any day and he'd be happy! Again, I realize the buffets are good choices, and we do frequent them; however, it's nice to have good sit down menu options for them as well.

 

[squirrel]

This brings up a valid point. My 9 year old son would really prefer other things as well. Since Disney stipulates "junior" for resort, why not do this with dining as well? We are scrambling to go in Oct because he will turn 10 in November, and we feel that we will no longer choose the dining plan. It seems like they could offer smaller portions from the adult menu and not charge $45.00 per day for a 10 year old. Truth be told..I'd rather have the option of splitting an adult meal between my kids. Then they'd actually have a good shot at a variety of vegetables. Carrot sticks and apples with every meal gets pretty old. Or lose the desserts and give us another choice. We don't eat dessert at home..give my 3 year old a side of broccoli any day and he'd be happy! Again, I realize the buffets are good choices, and we do frequent them; however, it's nice to have good sit down menu options for them as well.

It's too much work. All the restaurants would now have to come up with other options for juniors. What ages will they include? Someone will still be unhappy about this (my 8 yr old prefers the kids meals, why do I have to purchase junior meals?, My 10 yr old has already been on the adult plan and now you made a junior meal, that's not going to go over well with him/her). If they did do that the cost would be almost the same as an adult meal.

Maybe the DDP isn't for your family. Pay oop and your kids can share an adult meal.

 

[GMU MOM]

Did you try pricing out your package with the new rates?
We are also going late August with the free dining and I just priced our same exact package with upgrading our youngest to adult and it's still the same difference as before ($25). I also haven't called to do the upgrade so I was checking if there is a price increase or not.

 

[judaloo]

It's too much work. All the restaurants would now have to come up with other options for juniors. What ages will they include? Someone will still be unhappy about this (my 8 yr old prefers the kids meals, why do I have to purchase junior meals?, My 10 yr old has already been on the adult plan and now you made a junior meal, that's not going to go over well with him/her). If they did do that the cost would be almost the same as an adult meal.

Maybe the DDP isn't for your family. Pay oop and your kids can share an adult meal.

Maybe that could be the answer...allow us to trade in two kids meals for one adult? Sometimes they definitely prefer chicken nuggets and fries (beginning of the week), but then later want some variety. I agree, you can't please everyone. Just saying with the ticket price increases it seems like some more options on DDP would help folks justify the cost..as I know I could feed him for less than $45 a day (my husband and I..no way!) Perhaps allowing one in your party, in this case a junior, to opt out of the ddp. I could pay oop for just him all week. I do think eventually it will force our family of 5 to choose to stay off property and eat elsewhere for at least one meal a day