Should I list my 8 year old as being 10 so...

[DisneyMom&Fan]

Then why don't you just pay OOP for him? If he won't eat what Disney is giving him (you) for free, then the logical answer is for you to pay for what he WILL eat. Not to try to get more/better stuff for him for free.

Nope, not gonna do that. Not when I already had my package with dining for a 10 year old already booked and was paying for the entire dining plan. I see the free dining - which I *think* I already mentioned that I didn't know about when I made my ressies - as a bonus that we just lucked out with. Why on earth would I go back and change him to 9 (he'll be 9 1/2 when we go) when I was already planning to pay Disney extra for his park tickets? Do you see the gray area here? Some people just see black & white -- others can see shades of gray...

 

[DaisyD]

I would do it. Especially with the poor kids choices now. You are paying for the higher priced ticket so you aren't getting away with anything. As far as him being in the computer forever as 2 years older that is just bull. I can talk to 3 different CMs and everyone of them has DD in the computer at a different age! It is no big deal to tell them his real age two years from now. They will just put it in the computer. They had DD as 4 last year and 10 this year. She is 8 and has never been on the DDP. Half the time CRO doesn't know what they are doing. I say go for it. Maybe if Disney provided food REASONABLE kids ate then they wouldn't have this problem.

 

[pamouselover]

I dont think anyone is trying to ripe off Disney! Come on now, they do this deal to fill rooms that would be vacant. They know what they are doing offering this deal. They are not losing anything. They are gaining filled rooms, which means more then anything to them.

When we want to Disney in 2005 on the free ddp, my DS was 12 and DD was 8. DS ate many times under the childs section instead of the adult menu.
DS also sometime eat the child meal a couple of times and DD ate his adult meal. We were honest and told the CM's, they were always fine with it.
Please dont be harsh, they are going to pay the extra in the ticket price.
I was going to say no, because of DS and our experience.
But since you say your child will not eat much from the kids selction,I would call Disney and explain to them.

 

[Amyg]

We were in the same boat last year, our first WDW trip! My son was 9 1/2 and a big eater and prefers "adult" type foods as well. We were there 8 days and most of our meals were shared because I am a small eater. True, we had to agree on what we ate but it worked out fine. We did have three buffet dinners too so we would not have to share all the time. And there were a couple of times where the kids menu happened to have something he did not mind eating (I don't recall what or where it was) for lunch.

BTW - I totally agree that the kids menu is more for ages up to 5-6. They definitely need better selections such as smaller portions from the adult menu! My son stopped eating mac & cheese around 6-7 and never cared for chicken fingers, and there's only so many times he can stand eating hamburgers and hotdogs!

Hello Disney are you listening?!

 

[Allison]

People have a lot of ways to justify things...Disney doesn't care, Disney knows it happens,....

I don't see it as a difficult thing-you tell the correct ages of your kids. That is black and white.

There is so much food on the dining plan with appetizers and desserts, I would assume there would be enough to share if a child is still hungry. There are also plenty of buffets and family style meals.

OP-You asked if you should do it or not. Surely, you didn't expect everyone to say you should. So, you need to be prepared that people will disagree with you and post their thoughts. That's ok-I certainly don't expect everyone to see things the way I do. People are different.

You have had responses both ways. Now, you just need to decide what you are going to do and move on. Have a great time either way.

 

[pamouselover]

They are I did,I did a survey a couple of weeks ago for them about what my children would eat and not eat at Disney World!

 

[MBELSANTI]

Yep, flame me too! I called and spoke to CM and asked if I could pay for adult tickets and get adult plan for DS, and she said that would be totally fine!

And as far as him being in Disney's system as an older age for future, I don't think that is possible as I was at WDW in 2004 not to mention cruise in 2006 and they didn't have any of our information in their system.

 

[bluwater]

I don't see why Disney doesn't allow you to do this. I guess they don't, but they should. Not every kid wants mac-n-cheese. The older they get, the more they seem to bounce between kids menu items and adult items. Thankfully, kids are being introduced to more sophisticated items and are liking it! Hooray for parents! Boo Disney for not supporting this with a flex option.


In any case with the Free Dining:

Disney Gets:
Rack rate room booking (kids vs. adults do not matter in rooming cost/usage)
Park Tickets (you already said you would pay for a 10+ ticket)
So, that covers Disney's desired expense cost.

You get:
A child who can eat enough to be satisfied! It IS NOT about the amount of food, it is about the choices. My DD9 wants calamari and buffalo mozzarella!

What difference would it make if you walked in with a 10 yr old or an 8 yr old, as long as you reciprocate the dining vs. ticket price issue? It makes no sense. You should be able to do what you are asking. Disney would be fortunate to be able to create a premium dining plan for kids under 10. Hello, Disney Marketing?

MBELSANTI, I'm very happy you were able to do this. If it is possible, I would consider the dining option. I have found that Disney keeps records on guests. We've once booked a Disney Resort stay, but cancelled it in favor of an off-site deal. I then, later, booked an on-site stay and Disney still had our old info stored...kids names, ages, my phone numbers, etc. It caused some confusion because they put ALL of our names on the room, although my DS19 is in college and was NOT planning to come with us. His name wound up on our room for a trip I booked 4 years later! Big Brother is watching! LOL

 

[Allison]

Yep, flame me too! I called and spoke to CM and asked if I could pay for adult tickets and get adult plan for DS, and she said that would be totally fine!

And as far as him being in Disney's system as an older age for future, I don't think that is possible as I was at WDW in 2004 not to mention cruise in 2006 and they didn't have any of our information in their system.

I wonder how that works in their system. I called last week and they recited the ages of all 3 of my kids. It seems to be hit and miss. Of course, they also said my last trip was June 2006 and it wasn't.

 

[brymolmom]

I just don't see how people can rationalize it (except POSSIBLY for the pp who had already actually paid for her child's upgrade (assuming, of course, that they really did this without thinking for a moment it would end up free)). PP's who say that paying the adult ticket price makes it 'legal' - that's like 30 extra dollars for HUNDREDS of dollars difference in meals (figure difference in children's vs. adults TS meal (with app and dessert) is likely, I'm guessing, at least $25 times number of nights, not to mention CS which isn't as large a difference).

A serious question here...would you all still feel the same way if everyone getting free dining would do this (ie: no 'kids' at all coming during free dining, only parents and all 10 and over kids)? I'm serious, is it okay if every single family does it? Or is it only okay if some do it? If so, where is the line drawn?

And I just don't think parents can rationalize it by saying their kids would enjoy nothing on the kids menus...Have you seen the nicer buffets? Meats and pork and fish and potatoes and....at non-buffet TS places: Speghetti and meatballs and grilled chicken, rice and veggies. And CS with sweet and sour chicken, turkey leg and potatoes, chicken garden salad, chicken soup, grilled chicken and cheese quesadilla, plus the usual hot dog, mac n cheese, and chicken strips...honestly here - your kids like NONE of these things? I just don't want people thinking that those with younger kids or kids who 'like these things' are the ones who should be doing it. No kids like the same thing day after day (and I'm planning a lot around that so that I can hit the places with the most variation to avoid that for my kids) - so it's not that the kids menu 'works' for some and not for others...its that some of us just accept what we have been given for free and work within that (even if that means extra snack credits used or paying OOP OR just dealing with fewer choices)

I do not mean to make anyone feel guilty (only your priest or your mother should be able to do that ), and I don't think that those who will do it will feel any guilt anyway.

If you're on the fence and really mean it when you say 'i would pay extra for my child to have more options' - then why not leave them as a child, pay for a couple meals OOP and consider the snacks and buffet meals, etc. a nice bonus that you're getting for free.

 

[bluwater]

PP's who say that paying the adult ticket price makes it 'legal' - that's like 30 extra dollars for HUNDREDS of dollars difference in meals (figure difference in children's vs. adults TS meal (with app and dessert) is likely, I'm guessing, at least $25 times number of nights, not to mention CS which isn't as large a difference).

What more is Disney getting from a true "adult"?

Honestly, the one difference I can see if thay they charge for the extra adult in the room. Other than that, it doesn't matter to Disney. The've been covered.

If I'm willing to pay for a 9 yr old to have an adult ticket in exchange for adult dining choices, that should be an option.

Here's the problem...as far as I can see....Disney is concerend about having a family of 4 or 5 (parents and 3 or 4 kids) all eating on the adult dining plan, even if they do pay for all adult tickets.

The food is so bad anyway.....they're still making a killing. At my last meal in Italy (last week), my DD9's kids menu spaghetti plate was larger than my $24 pasta dish. Seriously! She had more food - and it was ONLY pasta!

 

[zaxmom]

They did not have our info in there either. And evidently, Disney does allow for this to happen. I am pretty sure they are pleased when it happens October - July when free dining is not an option. Especially when the kids are so close to the age break. What difference does it make to them if I gave birth in September or May? They offered a special and I took it. They got us to come for a vist that we were not planning and even staying on site, which I have never chosen to do before. When did a 10 year old become an adult anyway?

If I am going to spend my vacation at Disney World with the kids, I am not going to eat at a buffet every night or order what I know my son will like so that I can share with him. Just like everyone else who actually bothers with these boards, I want ALL of my family to have an enjoyable vacation, maybe even learn a little and try new things. And, being in the restaurant biz, we like to dine!

As for paying out of pocket and adding things on to supplement his chilled chicken and goldfish, that is just plain inconvenient.

There really should be a junior plan. I'm pretty sure we all can realize that the tastes and eating habits of a 9 year old boy and a three year old girl are going to be a little different. Oops...there is the grey area.

 

[bell.of.the.ball]

that he can get the adult dining plan? I realize that his park tickets would be a little more.

We're planning on going during the free dining and my 8 year old is just not going to eat a lot of things on the kids menu. My kids are used to eating more adult fare. I realize that he may not eat entire adult size meals but I like the idea of him having more choices of what I would consider real food even if he only eats half of what he's given.

Honestly and I know I will get flamed for this but If you are willing to pay the adult price of admission for your kid, go for it. Many people make their kids younger when buying park admissions. and i know people who have made their 18 year old into a 17year old to save money in a hotel. Disney knows people do this. Thats why everything cost so much.

 

[zaxmom]

They did not have our info in there either. And evidently, Disney does allow for this to happen. I am pretty sure they are pleased when it happens October - July when free dining is not an option. Especially when the kids are so close to the age break. What difference does it make to them if I gave birth in September or May? They offered a special and I took it. They got us to come for a vist that we were not planning and even staying on site, which I have never chosen to do before. When did a 10 year old become an adult anyway?

If I am going to spend my vacation at Disney World with the kids, I am not going to eat at a buffet every night or order what I know my son will like so that I can share with him. Just like everyone else who actually bothers with these boards, I want ALL of my family to have an enjoyable vacation, maybe even learn a little and try new things. And, being in the restaurant biz, we like to dine!

As for paying out of pocket and adding things on to supplement his chilled chicken and goldfish, that is just plain inconvenient.

There really should be a junior plan. I'm pretty sure we all can realize that the tastes and eating habits of a 9 year old boy and a three year old girl are going to be a little different. Oops...there is the grey area.

 

[mary174]

You can't get the adult dining plan with a child's park ticket. Unless you are able to go during free dining, or your nine y/o really won't eat anything on the child's menu; you are really better off using the child's dining plan and supplimenting it as needed. For a better deal for your child without paying OOP try buffets such as Chef Mickey's, Bomas, and 1900 Park Faire. Also family dining places such as Ohanas, Liberty Tree Tavern, and Garden Grill. Where everyone is served together with all you can eat fare.

Adult Dining Plan: 38.99
Child's Dining Plan: 11.99
OOP addition to child's dining plan: cost of item.
Average Counter Service Main Item: $6.00 use kid's drink and sides.
Average Table Service Main Item: Varies too much, see menus.
Buffets: 1 Child or Adult credit depending on what you are classified as.
Ticket savings Adult Price - Child's Price.

 

[bell.of.the.ball]

Ouch! I'm not doing it because it's a better deal. I'm doing it because my son won't each what's on the children's menu. Plus, free dining was never a "deal breaker" for me. I made my reservation (and changed his age) months ago without even knowing about free dining - this is our first trip to WDW. We are going anyway and I would pay whatever I needed to for a 10 year old. Please don't ruin our vacation (and my fun of planning one with all you Disers) with a guilt trip.

And by the way. You can tell the CM to change the age back to the correct one in the future. It has been done. I know that for a fact. It was a error.

 

[disney1990]

At the risk of being flamed here....

My DS is 7, he won't be 8 til October. We are going Sept 8-16. He's extremely tall for his age (and skinny too), so he tends to be very hungry. Last year we did free dining, he was constantly in my food. Especially at counter meals. 4 teeny chicken nuggets don't do it for him.

When I made my reservation yesterday I spoke politely to the CM. His age is 7 in the system, but I asked if it were possible for me to upgrade his age to 10 in order to get the "adult" dining package. She did it for me without a question. I think the ticket difference is approximately $30. To me it is worth it to spend a week not being worried about my son getting enough to eat at counter meals.

If he's aged up forever, it really won't matter. It's only for a couple of years and without an excellent promotion, I would be staying off property.

It may not seem like a big deal now, but when the computer says your child is 18 and you have to "pay" for him to be in your room -- YOU WON'T BE HAPPY. The current rates are $10 to $25 plus tax per night. Something to seriously think about.

 

[brymolmom]

I, too, like my children to learn on vacations. I just choose to begin with the most basic of life lessons....honesty.

 

[rnmomx2]

Okay, at the risk of more flames, I did the same thing. We are going on a Disney cruise for 4 nights then to WDW for 3 nights, booked separately. My dd who will be a couple of months away from 10 when we go, hates the stuff on kids menus now and will be able to order anything she wants on the Disney cruise (goodness knows we are paying enough for it!) Then I'm supposed to tell her she can only have mac and cheese and chicken fingers while we are at WDW? I am paying for the upgraded park tickets, so what difference does it make? We planned this trip with these dates the beginning of this year and didn't have a clue about the DDP at all, much less free dining. If I was trying to get a 10 year olds dining package without paying a 10 year olds ticket price, I understand the problem, but I am paying the increased cost, so I don't have a problem with it. Okay, flame away, I can take it!

 

[Katiebell]

(Should I list my 8 year old as being 10 so) that he can get the adult dining plan? I realize that his park tickets would be a little more.

We're planning on going during the free dining and my 8 year old is just not going to eat a lot of things on the kids menu. My kids are used to eating more adult fare. I realize that he may not eat entire adult size meals but I like the idea of him having more choices of what I would consider real food even if he only eats half of what he's given.

The original poster asked this question, "Should I?" If she had absolutely no concern that it might not be allowed or might not be ethical, she wouldn't have asked it.

I'm not gonna flame anybody. But it really is a personal ethics question, and opens up a lot of gray areas. Should I tell Disney my 3 year old is only 2 so I don't have to pay for a park ticket or the dining plan on our package? Should I tell my small 10 year old to say he is 9 so we can pay the kid's price? Should I list my 6 year old as an adult, share our meals with her, then have extra TS credits to have some signature meals? Should I list my 4 year old on my sister's room reservation so I don't have to buy the dining plan for her since she hardly eats anything anyway?

The dining plan is being offered free for a certain time period, and Disney obviously didn't plan on families getting the adult plan for every child in their party -- otherwise, they would just give the adult plan to everyone, regardless of age. However, if a CM is suggesting or allowing you to change your child's age in the computer in order to get the adult plan for free, then it really muddies the waters. You can certainly opt to do that if you are paying OOP for the plan, but then you are not only paying the $30 difference for the week's ticket, you would also be paying $28 per day extra for the adult DDP. This is where it starts to get shaky. And some CM's last year were encouraging people to pay OOP for their kids' TS meals and bank those credits for additional meals later, since there was no differentiation between adult and child credits. This was blatantly against the rules, and so costly for Disney that they actually changed their entire computer system to stop it from happening. Now pretty much the same thing is happening with CS credits. It is possible to do, and evidently a lot of CM's are allowing it to happen, but it's clearly against the rules for the plan.

So...right now, "aging" your child to get the adult plan for them for free is possible to do. Sounds like some of the CM's are allowing or even suggesting it. So, Disney will probably:

~change the system to make it impossible (as with the TS credits),
~start policing and punishing CM's who allow it or suggest it (as they are starting to do with CS credits),
~stop offering free dining if it is costing the company too much money,
~or keep looking the other way, not "allowing" it, but doing nothing to stop it.