We just booked last week for the first week of Feb. This will be my first trip since I was 4 yo, and my children's first trip ever (they will be almost 10, 7, and almost 4 when we go).
We are currently booked at POR with 6 day tickets. As of now we are planning to pay OOP for meals. I think I'd prefer a RO discount, but we are booked in a preferred room at POR, and I worry we won't be able to apply a RO discount to a preferred. If stay, play, dine comes up, we'd probably opt for a meal plan, assuming we can't apply a RO discount to our room.
Complicating matters is that my son will turn 10 just a few days after our trip. However, all 3 kids are pretty adventurous eaters and will not enjoy endless kid meals. I saw it mentioned elsewhere, but am wondering if people think we might be able to upgrade my 10 yo to adult dining under stay, play, dine. Frankly, I wish I could do the same for my 7 yo as well. That's why we have been leaning toward just paying OOP.
I would love a spreadsheet to play with so we can lay out a few scenarios under stay, play, dine vs. RO. If anyone has any idea how they handle upgrading a child under 10 under stay, play, dine, that would be great. I had considered just upgrading him anyway, even if it cuts into our savings, but on another thread it was mentioned we might just be able to put him on an adult plan without extra charges under stay, play, dine. In that scenario though, what would preclude someone from asking all of their kids be put on an adult dining plan? As of now I'm thinking they would prefer to just split entrees, order off the appetizer menu, etc. in lieu of kid food like nuggets and pizza. They love sushi, steak, etc.
If you don't mind sending me the spreadsheet, I'd be tremendously grateful. As a first timer on relatively short notice, it is difficult to not get overwhelmed!
I have far too many questions. I've been reading here for a few weeks, and working on some books about Disney planning, but I have a long way to get up to speed 
