Question - Handling Dining plan with a picky eater?

[kidangel]

Ok, it's time to make our ADR with our free dining credits! (I know, a little late, but the freakin' park hours aren't out for Oct yet!)

There are five of us - myself, DH, DD15, DD13 and DD8. None of us are "adventurous" eaters, but since we have FREE dining, we do want to stray from our norm, just a little bit.

The problem is the 13 y.o. She is picky beyond belief - this is the child that indulged in a single chicken finger and a tablespoon of mac and cheese at the Crystal Palace a few years back. She likes her food plain, unadorned, unspiced, and preferably not touching any other food. (just the thought of a nice stir fry gives her nightmares)

But she loves burgers, grilled cheese, and plain old chicken breast (and I do mean plain)

Will they let her order off the kids' menu in most sit-down restaurants? And will they let us pay cash for it, instead of using a sit-down credit that we could "bank" for a nice breakfast buffet? I'm not upset about her eating habits - learned long ago it was best not to fight it - but I abhor the thought of using those valuable sit-down credits on something like a grilled cheese sandwich. I'm not talking about the buffets - I know we'll have to pay adult price regardless of what she eats (even if it's just a chicken finger)

I'm already hoping that when we go Disney is still not differentiating between child and adult credits, as we plan to pay cash for the little one to order off the kids' menu and bank her credits.

So here would be the scenario:

Whispering Canyon

Myself, DH and DD15 - use a sit down credit and eat ourselves stupid
DD13 - have her order off the kids' menu if allowed, or order a bowl of soup or something and pay cash
DD8 - order off the kids' menu and pay cash

Total credits used - 3

Does that make sense? Thoughts?

Thanks

Shelley

 

[prncess674]

No one is going to force you to use a TS credit. Just tell the waitperson that you will be paying cash for X items and you will be using a TS credits for Y items.

 

[NYMomof4]

I have a DS12 that is the same! He may not eat anything on the adult menu because he is so picky so I'm thinking that he may end up just getting a side dish that I pay for or dessert with us and a CS meal beforehand. Have your DD check out the menus at allearsnet.com before you go and that may help. The thing is that even without the dining plan we would still have the same picky eater so his credits are going to be used by the rest of us.

 

[DiszyDean]

I think anyone can order off of the kids menu....However, in a non-buffet resteraunt, if you chose to not use a dining credit, they will charge you adult prices for the child meal for anyone 10 years and older...At least that is how I understand it to work...