why is the childs age for dinning plan so low 9?

[Pooh Girl 71]

Kids (11 and under) were able to get the children's pricing at Disney buffets until the DDP came out a couple of years ago. That's when the age was lowered.

 

[Merriwind]

Would I like WDW to raise their children's dining threshold? Sure. DD is nine this year. It's not a problem with sit-down restaurants, nor do I expect it to be. There she often orders an adult appetizer or shares with us or enjoys some of the chicken/potato/veggie type kids meals. She's moved beyond chicken fingers and mac & cheese (for the most part).

It's the buffets that will be the killers next year. We're getting our fill of WDW buffets this year. It's painful enough for me to pay the adult prices to eat basically one plate of food. (I'm 5'1", 105# and just not a big eater.) To also pay full price for DD, who right now is 4'7" 68# and a decent eater, but doesn't put down anything near adult size portions? That would send me over the edge!

I agree that the DDP required WDW to standardize admission and dining age categories. The choice was basically either raise adult admission price to 12 or drop kid dining threshold to 9. (Or I suppose they could have compromised on some middle ground.) Lowering the age limit for kid dining won. It's too bad, but obviously WDW thinks it's working.

Off to more buffets until January!

 

[kaytieeldr]

As someone stated many many restaurants have kids ages 12 and under and seem to do just fine. I dont see many adults asking to order off the kids menu when I dine out however I'm sure some would ask

Disney is one of the only places I personally have seen that considers a 9 year old an adult for eating purposes

But how many of those restaurants also offer over a hundred rides, attractions, shows, parades, etc?

 

[amykathleen2005]

And friendly characters??