Upgrade the Dining Plan for Child

[JanaD]

Has anyone tried to upgrade their child to an adult on the dining plan? We are DVC members and our 8 year old is a more adventurous eater than what Disney offers. We head to OKW soon for Spring Break!

 

[vicki_c]

You can do that pretty easily with DVC because you don't have to purchase any tickets to add the dining plan. If you were on a regular cash reservation, you would have to also purchase the child an adult ticket to upgrade to the adult DDP, but with DVC reservations, you don't have to buy any ticket.

 

[Dean]

Has anyone tried to upgrade their child to an adult on the dining plan? We are DVC members and our 8 year old is a more adventurous eater than what Disney offers. We head to OKW soon for Spring Break!

I'm not sure that's possible unless you lie about the age. I'm not sure I would anyway because you'll get better value with the child plan and there are ways to satisfy most in this situation. Many of the nicer locations have some pretty good kids meals and often they'll create one for you if they can reasonably make it work. The CS is really the issue in this situation and depending on how everyone eats, it may be possible to share meals in a way that satisfies everyone and keeps you on the correct side of the rules. Plus the DDP can be a lot of food, better to waste kids credits than adult credits. Also better to pay OOP for an occasional entree as well.

 

[Maryland_Mommy]

I pick mostly of buffets for dinner. The kids can eat whatever they want and you still pay the child's price. I love Boma's, O'hana's, Chef Mickey's, and Cape May Clam Bake. Also, the kids don't get cranky because they are served right away.

 

[koleta@mickey]

I have done this with both of my children before they were ten. I have done it on three separate trips. If your kids are like mine they love the food on the adults menu and not just pizza or chicken nuggets. Disney does not mind if you make them older for the dining plan. If you are DVC and have APs then its really easy. Just tell them you want to pay for an adult dining plan for the child. They will gladly take the money!

I most recently did it this Feb before my youngest turned 10.

 

[Dean]

I have done this with both of my children before they were ten. I have done it on three separate trips. If your kids are like mine they love the food on the adults menu and not just pizza or chicken nuggets. Disney does not mind if you make them older for the dining plan. If you are DVC and have APs then its really easy. Just tell them you want to pay for an adult dining plan for the child. They will gladly take the money!

I most recently did it this Feb before my youngest turned 10.

They definitely mind if you try to get the DDP for a 2 y/o but I can see how this is different. Still it doesn't make sense to me to do so for most situations given the price differences involved.

 

[koleta@mickey]

you really think i meant a 2 year old....come on....

No one has to pay for food for a two year old as they can eat off of the adults plate! Be serious....I am talking about 7,8,9 year olds who like adult food....it is no problem and can be done, and is done often!

p.s. I will spend whatever amount of money I would like on my trips and maybe the original poster will as well....it is worth it to me to have my kids eat what they like on vacation, so "worth it" depends on your definition

 

[Brian Noble]

You have to list the child's age as 10 on the reservation. That may give rise to other questions later on---such as when you buy tickets or APs---because Disney's CRM (Customer Relations Management) system keeps track of such things.

I don't find the DDP to be much of a savings for the way we typically eat, and the "savings" for adults on the Plan tends to be lower than the savings for kids. You might be better off just paying as you go.

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

You have to list the child's age as 10 on the reservation. That may give rise to other questions later on---such as when you buy tickets or APs---because Disney's CRM (Customer Relations Management) system keeps track of such things.

I don't find the DDP to be much of a savings for the way we typically eat, and the "savings" for adults on the Plan tends to be lower than the savings for kids. You might be better off just paying as you go.

CMs happily change kids ages all the time for dining plan purposes. They will even let you upgrade your 5 year old to a 10 year old during free dining. The ticket cost difference is about $25.

 

[Princess Roo]

you really think i meant a 2 year old....come on....

I think Dean was just trying to share info that he does have. I was going to say the same thing...when we brought my 2yo we were told we could not purchase the child's plan for him unless we also wanted to buy him a ticket. He had a big enough appetite that eating from our plates (especially with me pregnant - LOL!) was not an option so we paid for his food separately.

 

[JanaD]

I called Member Services to try and upgrade, and she told me I couldn't. Should I wait and try at check-in or call back and hope for someone else?

 

[koleta@mickey]

I would call back and get someone else. Like I said I have done this several times in the past....

Most recently for my 9 year old in February. I called right before our trip 1 wk before and added the dining plan for 4 adults even though he was only 9. No problem, we have APs, so it was no issue.

I have done it before we had DVC as well, but i had to pay extra for him as an adult on the room package (grand floridian) as an adult.

I have never had an issue doing it and have done it 3-4 times.

 

[Brian Noble]

CMs happily change kids ages all the time for dining plan purposes.

I didn't say they wouldn't. But, I did say that the CRM system keeps track of ages, and when you later want to buy them a child's ticket or AP, expect a question. You can probably dispel that question, but it might or might not be asked.

 

[Dean]

you really think i meant a 2 year old....come on....

No one has to pay for food for a two year old as they can eat off of the adults plate! Be serious....I am talking about 7,8,9 year olds who like adult food....it is no problem and can be done, and is done often!

p.s. I will spend whatever amount of money I would like on my trips and maybe the original poster will as well....it is worth it to me to have my kids eat what they like on vacation, so "worth it" depends on your definition

I realize what you were asking and I was comparing to the other, similar situation that gets asked more often, that of getting the DDP for a 2 y/o. The only way to get something that's outside the ages is for someone to lie about the ages of the child in question. As I also pointed out, the situation is a little different for kids paying the adult price compared to 2 y/o getting the DDP as 3-9 because in that situation it's often done to scam the system out of additional credits, not to feed the child in question. As to value, I was pointing out that it's generally cheaper to pay the kids price and supplement OOP for the other options if necessary. If you want to waste your money, that's up to you.

 

[koleta@mickey]

I realize what you were asking and I was comparing to the other, similar situation that gets asked more often, that of getting the DDP for a 2 y/o. The only way to get something that's outside the ages is for someone to lie about the ages of the child in question. As I also pointed out, the situation is a little different for kids paying the adult price compared to 2 y/o getting the DDP as 3-9 because in that situation it's often done to scam the system out of additional credits, not to feed the child in question. As to value, I was pointing out that it's generally cheaper to pay the kids price and supplement OOP for the other options if necessary. If you want to waste your money, that's up to you.

You say you are comparing the similar situation of a 2 year old, then you revert back to generalizations "The only way to get something thats outside the ages is for someone to lie about the ages of the child in question" I do not understand why you insist folks like me lie...never, ever, would I do that...I stated that I pay extra...when i call and make DP reservations I clearly state that I would like to pay extra for the child to upgrade to the adult plan. I am honest and pay OOP.

Then you have to go and get nasty again saying, "If you want to waste your money, thats up to you". I have the money to "waste" and to my family and myself it is not a waste. If my 9 year old does not want pizza, chicken nuggets, or ice cream for dessert, I don't make him eat that. He has many more choices when we pay for the adult dining plan. If we pay for the adult plan and are at a meal where he really does not want something off of the adult menu, then they have been very nice to give him adult portions of a childs menu item.

Most of the items on the childs menu, my kids never liked before they turned 10, and them having options is not a "waste" to me. My kids eat the food, so I am not certain where the "waste" even is in situations like these (7-9) year olds upgrading to the adult plan.

I was simply trying to answer the question that I believe the poster asked, speaking from personal experience and paying up front for it, never being dishonest.

I apologize if you don't appreciate the options that those of us have as long as we are willing to pay for it.

 

[Dean]

You say you are comparing the similar situation of a 2 year old, then you revert back to generalizations "The only way to get something thats outside the ages is for someone to lie about the ages of the child in question" I do not understand why you insist folks like me lie...never, ever, would I do that...I stated that I pay extra...when i call and make DP reservations I clearly state that I would like to pay extra for the child to upgrade to the adult plan. I am honest and pay OOP.

Then you have to go and get nasty again saying, "If you want to waste your money, thats up to you". I have the money to "waste" and to my family and myself it is not a waste. If my 9 year old does not want pizza, chicken nuggets, or ice cream for dessert, I don't make him eat that. He has many more choices when we pay for the adult dining plan. If we pay for the adult plan and are at a meal where he really does not want something off of the adult menu, then they have been very nice to give him adult portions of a childs menu item.

Most of the items on the childs menu, my kids never liked before they turned 10, and them having options is not a "waste" to me. My kids eat the food, so I am not certain where the "waste" even is in situations like these (7-9) year olds upgrading to the adult plan.

I was simply trying to answer the question that I believe the poster asked, speaking from personal experience and paying up front for it, never being dishonest.

I apologize if you don't appreciate the options that those of us have as long as we are willing to pay for it.

Someone has to lie about the age of the child, either the member or the CM, to get the system to give a result different than that intended. Maybe Disney has told the CM's it's OK for that age, can't say, they certainly are NOT OK with the situation of getting the DDP for a 2 y/o saying they're 3. As for my negative comment, it was simply in response to yours. The reality is that for almost every situation, your approach will cost you more than if you got the plan as intended and then ordered what you and your child wanted but it does vary with the restaurant choice to a degree. The restaurants will work with you, esp the more upscale ones, CS are the issues to a degree but can be worked around for most as well.

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

I didn't say they wouldn't. But, I did say that the CRM system keeps track of ages, and when you later want to buy them a child's ticket or AP, expect a question. You can probably dispel that question, but it might or might not be asked.

I'm sure it does. I've also heard cases where 2 years after a trip someone's 6 year old is still listed as 4 in the system...

Dean: I have heard cases where people have gotten the dining plan for their 2 year olds (not knowing if the CM was aware of the child's actual age or not)...but why would that be such an issue? I seriously considered it because my 2 year old eats more than my 6 year old. The credits can only be used for a kids meal so I don't get where you would think people would do this to "cheat the system" and get extra credits. Maybe if they have a secret craving for uncrustables?

 

[cheezNE1]

I pick mostly of buffets for dinner. The kids can eat whatever they want and you still pay the child's price. I love Boma's, O'hana's, Chef Mickey's, and Cape May Clam Bake. Also, the kids don't get cranky because they are served right away.

Exactly... +1

 

[TagsMissy]

Has anyone tried to upgrade their child to an adult on the dining plan? We are DVC members and our 8 year old is a more adventurous eater than what Disney offers. We head to OKW soon for Spring Break!

yes we did it with no problem when we took our niece. she wanted to eat salads, and real food... not just a burger or hottog or nuggets... we actually asked at the resort after we found we were having issues in finding her food she liked and it was a painless process; the manager swapped the plan and 5-10 minutes later we were on our way and our niece happily was eating the foods she wanted a half hour later at dinner.

 

[bumbershoot]

Maybe Disney has told the CM's it's OK for that age, can't say, they certainly are NOT OK with the situation of getting the DDP for a 2 y/o saying they're 3.

WHY would they be unhappy about someone paying for a kid's dining plan when otherwise they would not be getting paid for that kid's dining plan?

Maybe if they have a secret craving for uncrustables?

1, ew!
2, and with that craving they didn't want to go to Costco and buy a case for the price of 2 or 3 Disney uncrustables, LOL....