OOP kids meal for 11 year old "adult" on dining plan

[slcmkh]

How will the wait staff at table service restaurants respond if I ask for a kids menu for our 11 year old and pay out of pocket for this, while the rest of us use dining plan credits?

Doesn't make sense to me to waste an adult TS credit when it's all he can do to finish a kids meal. I don't mind using his "adult" TS credits at buffets and character dining, but it would be nice to save his TS credits when we eat at actual table service meals and let his hungry older brothers use the credits at another time, or use them for signature dining.

 

[Marseeya]

There shouldn't be a problem with it. We plan on doing that with our 10 yo DD. Like you, we've paid for the adult credits for her, but she definitely won't eat off the adult menu, so we can't see wasting those adult credits on kids' meals.

 

[PrincessTrisha]

I was offered kids menu for my 11 yr old god daughter at Planet Hollywood, Le Cellier and at CRT dinner (non character).

However, at 50's prime time diner I was asked specifically if there was anyone 9 or under in my party at check in (not if a kids menu was needed/wanted) and at Alfredo's they did not ask if we wanted a kids menu.

And at buffets we used adult credits and I paid OOP for Ohana's breakfast and she was charged as an adult there as well.

 

[DebIreland]

The problem I see is that a lot of restaurants (if not all ???) are only offering the kids menu to children 9 and under now Another poster told me this is another thread and she's right - the menus at allearsnet are now listing the kids meals for children 9 and under. It was older last year. My 11yo ate off the child's menu at every meal we did. We didn't have the Dining Plan but that's besides the point.

So now whether us parents do the Dining Plan are not, it seems to me, bottom line is it's very expensive to feed a child aged 10 or over at Disney. We're hoping (and praying and begging (the bank manager ) and screaming ) to get to WDW in October/November of this year - if we have to put it off til next year my 2nd son will have turned 10 so I'll then have a 10 year old and a 12 year old being charged adult prices for every meal. Oh I'm totally digressing here but my baby will also have turned 3 in March '07 so I'm gonna get my skates on and start saving to get there this year.

So dining plan or not, those of us with kids aged 10 and up are gonna pay a lot to feed our kids this year at WDW.

 

[pedro2112]

There shouldn't be a problem with it. We plan on doing that with our 10 yo DD. Like you, we've paid for the adult credits for her, but she definitely won't eat off the adult menu, so we can't see wasting those adult credits on kids' meals.

There is no such thing as an "adult" credit, just credits. You can use them anyway you want, so what the OP wants to do is exactly what the plan envisions.

 

[pirateofthecarolinas]

In Dec., my DS11 was always allowed to order from the child's menu. We paid OOP for our 3 children a lot.

 

[Marseeya]

There is no such thing as an "adult" credit, just credits. You can use them anyway you want, so what the OP wants to do is exactly what the plan envisions.

It is an "adult credit" in my mind, because I paid the full adult price for it. Last year, we paid for a "child credit" and I didn't pay out of pocket for her meals and use the credits for adult price because I didn't feel it was right.

It's a matter of personal ethics. I'm not going to get into the whole child credit debate because I don't care what other people do with their credits. It just doesn't sit right with me.

 

[pedro2112]

It is an "adult credit" in my mind

Perhaps in your mind, but not in Disney's. The OP is asking a question about what is allowable under the plan. It is important that the OP receives the correct information about how the plan works. Giving the OP false information because you don't like the way Disney set up their plan is not helpful to the OP. That's all I was trying to say.

 

[maggiew]

There are some places where an appetizer from the adult menu may be a good substitute for a kids meal, that way you can share a TS adult credit. I plan to do this a couple times with my DD10. At alfredos, we are going to do the pizza appetizer (dinner plate size) and then the chicken parmesan dinner and share this. We did this last time when we had the Vacation Kingdom lunch vouchers (no longer available.) That way you only use one TS credit and don't have to pay OOP for anything. We also plan on doing this at Nine dragons. I plan to get some dim sum and then the honey sesame chicken (probably) and share this.

Of course, this only works if you think the two of you can share an appetizer, entree and dessert and feel full.

Maggie

 

[goofy4tink]

There are some places where an appetizer from the adult menu may be a good substitute for a kids meal, that way you can share a TS adult credit. I plan to do this a couple times with my DD10. At alfredos, we are going to do the pizza appetizer (dinner plate size) and then the chicken parmesan dinner and share this. We did this last time when we had the Vacation Kingdom lunch vouchers (no longer available.) That way you only use one TS credit and don't have to pay OOP for anything. We also plan on doing this at Nine dragons. I plan to get some dim sum and then the honey sesame chicken (probably) and share this.

Of course, this only works if you think the two of you can share an appetizer, entree and dessert and feel full.

Maggie

I hadn't thought of that...thanks. My dd will be 13 when we go this fall. I'm planning on buying the DDP but there are going to be times when she just isn't going to be eating off the adult menu. Yes, at character meals, buffets...that kind of thing she'll be using the 'adult' credit. But she will still be eating off the kids section. We are not getting our monies worth on her, that's for sure. So, there will be times, like at WCC that she will be ordering off the menu and we will be paying OOP.

I think the issue here is whether or not a child over the age of 10 is going to be allowed to order off the children's menu...not about credits being adult or children's credits. I would love my dd to be able to order off the childrens menu...that's what she likes to eat at WDW...little pizza, hot dogs, mac and cheese. But, she may just be too old to be able to 'get away' with that on this trip. I guess it all depends on the server you wind up with.

 

[maggiew]

In regards to whether your older child can order off of the kids meal, I think it may vary by restaurant, server, etc. You need to play it by ear.

On our last trip when our DD turned 12 and thus an adult in Disney's eyes (this was before the change to kids 9 and under), we just skipped the buffets and ate at places where we could share. Although, when we went to California Grill, they handed my DD12 both an adult menu and a kid menu. She ordered the fish and chips from the kids menu. At Sci Fi, she ordered the corn dog with no problem. But those were the only places where we tried for her to order from the kids menu. The other places, as I said, we had gone there specifically with a plan to share.

Here is where we shared:
WCC - we got the roast chicken with mashed potatoes. It was at least a half chicken but seemed like more! We both ate it and had some left.
Teppanyaki - we got the steak/chicken combo meal. They gave us each a plate with the sides and only split up the meat between our plates. They even brought her out a kids ice cream when they brought out my DD10 her kids meal ice cream
Alfredos (as mentioned in previous post) - we shared the pizza appetizer and chicken parmesan with pasta
Beaches and cream - I shared steak sandwich with DD10 and DH shared a double cheeseburger with DD13 plus we got the fudge mud slide dessert!
Mama Melrose - shared a flatbread appetizer (its really just a pizza) and the chicken parmesan with pasta
Rainforest Cafe - she got a chicken strips appetizer and we shared some entree (I think the steak and chicken combo)

Maggie

 

[aviva5675]

I also plan to do this a few times next November, for DD14. We will be on the dining plan and she is considered an adult, so theres not issue of kids vs adult meals. We plan to eat at 2 signature restaurants (CG and Citricos), and the plan is for her to eat our appetizers and a dessert as her meal, and use TS for the 2 adult dinners. Ive shown her menus and she seems fine with it. That saves 2 TS for another meal somewhere. If we want to try another appetizer we will pay OOP.

 

[Lewisc]

It is an "adult credit" in my mind, because I paid the full adult price for it. Last year, we paid for a "child credit" and I didn't pay out of pocket for her meals and use the credits for adult price because I didn't feel it was right.

It's a matter of personal ethics. I'm not going to get into the whole child credit debate because I don't care what other people do with their credits. It just doesn't sit right with me.

There is no such thing as an adult or child credit. There really isn't a debate, Disney is clear. I can't see how following a rule you invent makes you more ethical than a guest who follows the rule that Disney made.

The children's menu is specifically limited to guests under age 10. There is certainly an ethical question about older guests attempting to order reduced price meals that are clearly indicated for younger customers.

The reduced pricing for kids meals isn't really a function of a reduced quantity of food but rather a way of encouraging famlies with young kids to eat in the restaurant.

You think it's somehow unethical to break a rule that doesn't exist but it's not ethical to purchase a reduced price meal your child is too old to purchase?

 

[zachnlucy]

According to the 12/05 menu from allearsnet, WCC still lists the ages for the children's menu as follows:

Each of the Following Selections are portion-sized for our little pioneers 11 and under

 

[slcmkh]

I'm the OP for this thread. I didn't mean for it to go so long or to stir up some debate. The debate has brought another question, however.

Am I to understand that with the dining plan there is no delineation of child vs. adult credits when the credits are applied on the room key; that there is merely a total of all the credits, adult and child, applied as one group of credits without identifying that the credits purchased at the child rate are to be used for child's menu items?

It sure seems that if that's the case it would open the doors for the use of child credits for adult meals. I'm not trying to make an ethical judgement here one way or another -- just wondering.

Talk about getting the most for your dining plan dollars. I'm surprised that Disney would allow such a loophole, what with their typically shrewd business practices. (To paraphrase the author of the Unofficial Guide to Disneyworld, Disney has become quite expert at separating people from their money. Allowing adult meals to be purchased at a kid's meal price doesn't seem to follow that credo.)

 

[pedro2112]

It sure seems that if that's the case it would open the doors for the use of child credits for adult meals.

It can't open doors for the use of child credits for adult meals as there is no such thing as a child credit. You were correct in your post in that all credits are pooled with no distinction between adult and child. A credit is a credit and Disney allows you to use them anyway you want.

Talk about getting the most for your dining plan dollars. I'm surprised that Disney would allow such a loophole, what with their typically shrewd business practices. (To paraphrase the author of the Unofficial Guide to Disneyworld, Disney has become quite expert at separating people from their money. Allowing adult meals to be purchased at a kid's meal price doesn't seem to follow that credo.)

They make a lot of money on the dining plan. You have to stay on property, buy a package and pay rack rates for the rooms. by forcing you to buy the dining plan for every night of your stay, you stay on property longer and eat all your meals on property. Buy stretching your credits (paying for some members of family out of pocket), you are actually paying more as you are still paying the daily fee for the kids, plus you are paying for two meals out of pocket for each of the TS credits not used by the child. In addition, you are spending an extra meal at a TS restaurant. I also believe that a lot of people use these "extra" credits for a signature meal or a dinner show, both of which are by no means equal to double the value of a nice single TS credit restaurant.

 

[slcmkh]

So effectively then a credit is a credit, one just pays less for the child on the plan. No differentiation between the two as far as what they apply to the pool of credits. Makes sense to me now why 10 years old and up don't get the child price.

Your explanation was helpful. Thanks.

 

[Texas Pooh]

Just returned from the World, where we used the dining plan. We have one of those ten year olds who would rather eat off the child's menu. We also have a younger child, so we had a mixture of credits.

Bottom line: it varies completely by restaurant and server. In several restaurants, we were informed of the "new" rule: everyone at the table must use credits; can't do the selective OOP thing. In those cases, DS10 ordered off the childs menu and we used credits for everyone. To me, it was more important that she get what she want to eat than worry if it was a good use of points. In one case, where it was a relatively inexpensive table service meal and we were told the rule, we just went ahead and paid OOP for everyone, knowing that we had two TS meals planned the next day and it made sense for "everyone" to save their credits for the next day.

Even with my daughter eating off the childs' menu in two restaurants, we still came out way ahead on the plan, comparing what we would have spent with what we did spend. I enjoyed knowing that there wasn't a big bill coming at the end of the trip, we tried restaurants we would not have done otherwise, and we would do the plan again in a minute.

 

[beattyfamily]

Just returned from the World, where we used the dining plan. We have one of those ten year olds who would rather eat off the child's menu. We also have a younger child, so we had a mixture of credits.

Bottom line: it varies completely by restaurant and server. In several restaurants, we were informed of the "new" rule: everyone at the table must use credits; can't do the selective OOP thing. In those cases, DS10 ordered off the childs menu and we used credits for everyone. To me, it was more important that she get what she want to eat than worry if it was a good use of points. In one case, where it was a relatively inexpensive table service meal and we were told the rule, we just went ahead and paid OOP for everyone, knowing that we had two TS meals planned the next day and it made sense for "everyone" to save their credits for the next day.

Even with my daughter eating off the childs' menu in two restaurants, we still came out way ahead on the plan, comparing what we would have spent with what we did spend. I enjoyed knowing that there wasn't a big bill coming at the end of the trip, we tried restaurants we would not have done otherwise, and we would do the plan again in a minute.

Do you happen to remember which restaurants said everyone at the table must use credits??

 

[Texas Pooh]

Definately at the character meals - which were also the places where they definately wanted to know the kids' ages - but as to the others, I didn't keep track because it wasn't something we were concerned with.