Kids Cut off at age 9 !!! GRRRR!!!!!!

[MaryKatesMom]

You do not have to be 9 or under to order any child's meal at WDW. I do it all the time. I am a 66 year old pass holder and I find the adult meals are too much food for me. So I asked a cashier if I really had to be 9 to order a kids meal and she told me no, anyone can order it. So that is what I do just about every time I have a lunch at WDW.

This varies by restaurant.

We went to the California Grill after the remodel and the waiter informed us in no uncertain terms my DD was not allowed to order the small steak and mac and cheese. She's loved it for over 10 years and was very disappointed. The mac and cheese is home made and excellent. She was going to order that and the $26 appetizer so it wasn't about the money.

La Hacienda was the same way. We had 5 kids with us between 9-12 and the waiter gave us a hard time but the children's menu was much more kid friendly than the main menu.

I think Le Cellier casually mentioned it to us also but gave it to them with a smile.

 

[kangamangus]

This last time we definitely saved money by not using the dining plan. It was easier to order three meals and everyone shared, it was cheaper as well. The two character meals we did were expensive, but what isn't in disney

 

[pmaurer74]

If you are flexible, they have offered free dining in December the past few years.

 

[kittyab]

We have the same issue. Our dd is now 9 but will be 10 when we get there. I was told if she is 9 when I do my bookings & pay for the dining plan, she can still fall under the child costs.

 

[ekatiel]

Hold out and watch their offers around June, July, and August. Disney has been offering free dining during your stay times for the last 2-3 years. It may very well solve your problem. The dates themselves for the offer change a little each year, but it has been there.

^^^This. You may get lucky with free dining, which is an excellent value if you have a newly minted Disney "adult!"

Also, you could consider a split stay and only get the dining plan for part of your stay. We have a 10 year old, and are doing a split stay in March. We were able to add the dining plan on to the second portion of our stay, so we'll be there for 9 nights (six at grand Floridian and 3 at Pop), but only have the DP for the last three. During those last three nights, we are doing our most expensive meals-- the meals where being on the DP will save us money (Chef Mickey's Dinner, 'Ohana Dinner, and Whispering Canyon Dinner-- we like the skillet, which is pricey). The other six nights, we will be eating mostly counter service, with a few cheaper table service places thrown in.

 

[goofydisney2015]

Ok, I feel much better knowing all this - thanks so much !!
If by chance we get offered free dining, he could still order off the kids menu? Sorry to keep asking so many questions , just want to be sure .

 

[goofydisney2015]

We have the same issue. Our dd is now 9 but will be 10 when we get there. I was told if she is 9 when I do my bookings & pay for the dining plan, she can still fall under the child costs.

This would be awesome !!! We will definitely be booking before the end of May , still may not do DDP , but we are going to do at least one Character Meal and Candlelight Procession Package . Having him as Child ticket would save tons on this and park tickets!!!!

 

[tiggerdad]

Ok, I feel much better knowing all this - thanks so much !!
If by chance we get offered free dining, he could still order off the kids menu? Sorry to keep asking so many questions , just want to be sure .

Yes, the free dining offer does not, or it never did for us, affect the type of menu you get. It's the same rules as normal, just free.

Seriously, they usually announce this in June or July each year. Your week after Thanksgiving was included this year, so maybe you will get lucky with it again.

 

[MinnieGi]

Thanks everyone! I had though about not doing DP and go in NOV as planned. Can he still order off Kids Menu then? If so , that is the ticket , no DP !
Just thought since he was "adult" per Disney he couldn't order off Kids Menu regardless if we did the DP or not.

Yes he can order off the kids menu! We just did that on our Nov. trip for our just turned 10 yo. Heck, I sometimes ordered off the kids menu especially at cs places because I just don't eat that much at one time!!

I would go as planned in Nov. and just not do ddp. For us it is just too much food anyway and cheaper to pay oop anyway!

 

[GC&S]

I hated when our dd became a Disney adult. The dp is a great deal for kids. But not so much when they are 10. My dd doesn't eat much so paying for the DP for her wasn't worth it. She is now 12 and when we went over Thanksgiving, she ordered off the kids menu at every restaurant, including table service. No one even asked her age (and she looks older than 12 as she very tall).

 

[SirDuff]

We have the same issue. Our dd is now 9 but will be 10 when we get there. I was told if she is 9 when I do my bookings & pay for the dining plan, she can still fall under the child costs.

I'm almost certain that you were given wrong information. While it is true that children "don't age" at WDW, that only means that if they are nine when you start your stay, they stay nine for your whole stay. It is not based on the age they were at booking.

 

[Kimosabe]

This is a very tough issue. We made the mistake (?) of getting the deluxe dining plan when we went to WDW to celebrate a daughter's 10th birthday. She was not a big eater by any means, so in retrospect, it was a bad idea. As I recall, we were asked what age she would be while we were there, so it was either lie outright or face the music. We faced the music, but we also then took full advantage of her meal plan. That daughter loves steak. At California Grill, they offered her the option of substituting the steak from the kids menu ($13 if paying OOP...which we weren't, obviously). We thanked the server for giving us the option, but then said she would be having the filet ($47 OOP and theoretically the one we had paid for via the DDP). If we've paid for it, she's going to eat like a queen! This also allowed my wife and me (and little sister who was on the kids plan) to try a few bites of what she was getting, as there was no way she would even come close to eating it all herself.

I still see it as our mistake for going with the deluxe plan for sure, and probably for the dining plan at all. We have been back to the parks a few times since then, but haven't gone back to the dining plan. It's just way too much food for us.

I suppose they have to cut the age off somewhere, so it just becomes a choice for all of us, as crazy as it seems. Would still be great if they had something in the middle, especially for the meals that include unlimited alcohol like HDDR or the Luau. They're going to charge a ten year-old girl (who can't even drink alcohol...never mind whether someone older might choose to do so or not) the same price as a 30-year old man who practiced drinking throughout college. That's the piece I don't understand. I guess the solution is to avoid those meals or pay the piper, but that doesn't seem very "Disney" either.

I have commented on these threads before on this same topic and was basically ridiculed by a grandmother who seemed quite proud of the fact that her six-year old grandson could eat an entire large pizza. Wasn't quite sure how to respond to that. I guess we all need something to brag about.

 

[lllGurulll]

I did the DP one time and hated it. too much food and we didn't get any real value out of it. I can eat much more affordably going OOP. Drove me nuts feeling like I HAD to stop for food because I had credits to burn.

 

[kaytieeldr]

I think its ridiculous that kids under 12 are charged as adults. However, its the rules. We have three kids.... 10, 12 and 13.

This was one of the big factors involved when my mom decided to take her grandkids one at a time when they were 8. We missed last year (when my dd turned 8) because my sister passed away, so when she turned 9 my mom said it's now or never, as we wanted them to go before she turned 10 as my mom loves doing the dining plan, etc. and the jump in cost for ticket too. I don't agree with the age of 10, maybe 13 would have been a better age, but we aren't Disney. lol

This age break has become been in effect for a number of years. It coordinates the age when most people are tall enough to experience all the attractions with the menu pricing. Prior to that, guests would complain that the age break for dining was higher than the age break for tickets.

 

[kaytieeldr]

We have the same issue. Our dd is now 9 but will be 10 when we get there. I was told if she is 9 when I do my bookings & pay for the dining plan, she can still fall under the child costs.

Not true. Your child stays the same age they are on the first day of your visit - not the day you make your reservation.

 

[kittyab]

We were told by Disney if we pay for the dining plan before she turns 10 she can eat off the child's menu. Same with the park passes.

But really you don't have to show proof of age when go to Orlando.

 

[prudence64]

If you get free dining, go for it. Your 10 year old can order whatever they want but if not, it's cheaper to pay out of pocket in most cases.

Would be nice if you could get a dining plan for just the adults though.

 

[Love Tink]

We were told by Disney if we pay for the dining plan before she turns 10 she can eat off the child's menu. Same with the park passes.

But really you don't have to show proof of age when go to Orlando.

You weren't told anything "by Disney." You were maybe (and maybe not) given incorrect information by some travel agent or phone representative who either was wrong or wanted to make a sale.

When you arrange your trip, you are supposed to give the ages the children will be when they arrive for the visit. If you choose to lie, that's your business, but you shouldn't be offering your incorrect information as advice for others.

 

[Love Tink]

If you get free dining, go for it. Your 10 year old can order whatever they want but if not, it's cheaper to pay out of pocket in most cases.

Would be nice if you could get a dining plan for just the adults though.

I think that's good advice.

Unfortunately, the entire party has to be on the same package - and have the same dining plan (or lack of dining plan). I agree that it would be nice if different people could have different options. We've had free dining for our last four trips but I always worry a trip without free dining is lurking in our future, and now we're pretty addicted to the dining plan. Two of my boys are Disney adults now, and one of them eats almost nothing.

 

[kittyab]

You weren't told anything "by Disney." You were maybe (and maybe not) given incorrect information by some travel agent or phone representative who either was wrong or wanted to make a sale.

When you arrange your trip, you are supposed to give the ages the children will be when they arrive for the visit. If you choose to lie, that's your business, but you shouldn't be offering your incorrect information as advice for others.

I am not offering incorrect information. If you prepay for the dining plan while the child is still is 9, that is the cost. I was told this by DVC & a Disney agent.

Now I will agree 9 is a silly cut off, I don't think many 10 yr olds will eat like an adult.