Little Guy, Big Appetite

[notaclue]

This question is the reverse of what several people have asked. My DGS is only 8 but he's a big kid and eats more than most adults. Can we put him on the DDP as an adult (and pay the adult price) even tho he's only 8? Last year the child's meals just weren't enough food for him.

 

[TDC Nala]

The only way you can do that is list him on your reservation as age 10.

If you do that with a package reservation that includes tickets, you will then also have to purchase an adult (age 10 and up) park ticket for him.

 

[lallylass]

We have a bit of the same problem. DS7 eats adult entrees when we go out to eat and has for several years. I know that chicken fingers and mac and cheese are not going to cut it when the rest of us, including his sister, are able to choose anything that we want from the menu.

There needs to be a "Junior" category between adult and child for the dining plan and more choices than what they currently have. I know that some children do not have a varied palate, but others do.

Our solution will be to go to a few buffets (Crystal Palace, Akershus, and Donald's Safari breakfast I think are buffets), order appetizers/desserts that we can share with him and possibly supplement here or there with an extra appetizer that will be all his. We really shouldn't have to do that, but if it will make his meals more exciting, we will.

 

[PrincessTiffany]

We have a bit of the same problem. DS7 eats adult entrees when we go out to eat and has for several years. I know that chicken fingers and mac and cheese are not going to cut it when the rest of us, including his sister, are able to choose anything that we want from the menu.

There needs to be a "Junior" category between adult and child for the dining plan and more choices than what they currently have. I know that some children do not have a varied palate, but others do.

Our solution will be to go to a few buffets (Crystal Palace, Akershus, and Donald's Safari breakfast I think are buffets), order appetizers/desserts that we can share with him and possibly supplement here or there with an extra appetizer that will be all his. We really shouldn't have to do that, but if it will make his meals more exciting, we will.

I agree, they definitely need a junior category and price for the dining plan. My 12 year old still orders off of the children's menu and I'm having to pay for her as an adult on the plan. The DP still saves us money though, because we have three other children and I'm only paying the $10.00 per day for them.

I do think the best solution for the OP is to try to book mostly buffets so her son can "fill up."

 

[bunnysmum]

I was kind of wondering about this, too, not so much because my dd8 eats a lot in one sitting, but because some of the kids' choices aren't going to appeal to her when she sees what we are going to be eating!

I figured what I would do if and when that happens is to just order her a kids meal (since it's paid for on the dining plan) and then if she really wants something else, let her get it (a separate appetizer or entree) because at least by ordering the kids' meal, the drink and desert are paid for and we'd just be paying OOP for the extra appetizer or entree that she ordered.

Of course, if I can talk her into sharing an entree and then ordering appetizer or an extra side to help fill in, so much the better!

Good luck with whatever you decide to do!

 

[septbaby]

Keep him in the child plan, it is one of the really good deals Disney offers:

1. Book some buffets or All you care to eat meals, he can eat like an adult.

2. Share your TS meals with him.

3. Share your CS meals with him or use a snack credit to add an extra item.

4. Pay OOP for the few extra items you might need for him.

 

[snookiedoodles]

I have the same problem, My son is only seven and eats like he is 15!!! He is also thin as a rail

He also has a medical condition that really requires a low fat meal....good luck for Disney kids meals.

When I went last year, some restaurants were occomodating, others were not....mac and cheese or a pbj sandwich or deep fried chicken....great

What we are doing this time is I booked a lot of buffets. He can go right into the adult section and get some fish or turkey, some veggies. AND LOTS OF THEM!!!

Also Disney modified some of the table service meals to include a low fat option such as broiled fish. So we are going there. I should call ahead to confirm his menu though.

 

[MickeyMomOfThree]

I'd love to see the option to upgrade kids (without upgrading their tickets). My kids don't eat a lot, but they like adult choices. We have a great solution though. My DGpa likes very little, burgers, hot dogs, not too much. At some of the meals he will order what my 2 kids want and they will order what he wants. He will eat their 2 kids meals and they will share his adulkt meal. It won't happen at every meal, but enough to break up the chicken fingers and stuff.

It is nice when you see a place ofering a smaller portion of the adult meal, like 50s PT, which we are ging to. Our kids always ate what we ate and love a variety of foods. I wish Disney would allow it more.

Having said that, Disney portions are large, I never finish, so you can have them order the kids meal and suppliment with your meals. We did this often on our previous trips and it worked well.

 

[budbeerlady]

I would do alot of buffets. Most nights Dd almost licks her plate clean so we order an appetizer to help fill her up and she gets some of my food from my Ts.

 

[edamethyst]

We actually did that last year. My son was 9 at the time but we put him in as 10. There's just no way we could seat there eating steak, chicken parm, etc... and have him eating mac & cheese, pb & j or chicken fingers. It worked out way better to just have him able to get whatever he wanted.