Adult credits to order kids menu meals? Traveling with 13 year olds ...

We'reGoingToDisney

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Joined
Feb 18, 2019
I am trying to figure out if we will stick with a "free" dining plan package that we've booked, or change to a package where we got a room discount + park ticket discount. We are staying at a deluxe, so it was the standard DDP that was included. It's myself, DH, and our twins DD and DS who will be 13 when we travel. I say "free" in quotes because it is about $854 more expensive for 6 nights with the DDP than for the room discount, so we're effectively getting the DDP for $142/day = $35/person/day. We would spend at least that much on food, wouldn't we? So on the one hand it seems like a bit of a no-brainer. But on the other hand, I'm not sure we'd eat exactly the split between TS and QS credits that we'd be given on the plan. I suspect if we didn't have the plan, we'd do a lot fewer TS meals.

What I'm trying to wrap my head around is if we do go to a TS restaurant, and our kids want to order a kids' entree (say because those sound more appealing than any of the adult entrees), how does that work? Because they have adult credits, is that going to be ok? Would they then also be entitled to a drink (like a soft drink or milkshake) that is not the included milk or water comes with the kids meal? Or will I need to force them to order off the adult menu? I'm sure in some cases they will prefer the adult menu, but on some of the menus I've looked at, the kids meals are pretty good - e.g. I don't remember which restaurant I saw that, but there was salmon on the adult menu which was overly "fancy" for my DD's tastes (too many sauces, spices, etc) but a really simple grilled salmon and vegetables on the kids menu that she'd probably go for. Portion size isn't a huge concern, at least in the case of DD who is a small eater. It's more the choice.

I'd love to hear from anyone who's already "been there, done that"! Thanks!!
 
When we were deciding on a DDP, I had a 10 year old that wouldn't touch a thing on any of the adult menus. I made several phone calls and was told that when on the DDP, Adult tickets had to order off the adult menu and kids had to order off the kids menu. The Deluxe dining plan offered more flexibility because kids and adult credits were "pooled". That was the info that helped us decide NOT to use a dining plan - I didn't want my kiddo forced to eat food he wouldn't want.

Paying cash out of pocket, they dont' really care. There were times I ordered off the kids menu for myself, or just had an appetizer for a meal.
 
@siren0119 Thanks for that reply. I saw in your Aug 2019 PTR, you are going with the DDP on that trip? What pushed you into that for this trip? I am kind of worried that we will fall into ordering food we don't really want. Plus, to me, the DDP actually sounds like it's going to be a bit of a hassle - checking before you order exactly what is and isn't included. I know some people say it takes the worry away, just order what you want from the menu, etc. But you need to order the right categories of food from the right type of restaurants, and that sounds like it adds worry to me! The only scenario where I see it benefitting us is for those character buffets, where it's a fixed price, and my 13 year olds will be charged as adults.
 
It takes the worry away for us as far as ordering. Really, 95% of what is offered is included. There are very few things you can't have. Table service restaurants-entree, dessert, and drink. Any buffet situation-buffet and drink. Quick service-entree and drink. Any snack stand-look for purple DDP symbol to show any snack items. Any cast members will help you if you have any questions. As far as adult kids eating kid food, most places will accommodate by bringing an adult portion of kid food. I would have a hard time passing up $35 a day for food per person, it's took easy to spend way more than that at a buffet.
 


@KayaWildfire It's nice to know that they might accommodate the kids by bringing an adult portion of kid food. When I told DH that I was concerned that the kids might not like any of the adult choices, he scoffed - he figures at this age, it's only appropriate that they order from the adult menu, so he doesn't see it as a problem at all. And I do think a kids meal portion isn't going to cut it for DS, who is a lot hungrier than his sister! I think we've pretty much settled that we're going to take the dining plan, and we'll book some buffets that we wouldn't have otherwise booked.

Oh, and I'm embarrassed to say, but my math was wrong! I somehow missed the taxes when adding up the room-only stays to compare to the package deal. And didn't notice for the last 2 weeks while I've been mulling over which one to keep. So the math is now even more in favour of the dining plan - only $545 for the 6 nights of dining = $22/person/day!
 
If it works out to $22 per person per day then go for it and call it a win! Especially if all other options gave you no better options in terms of saving more money. It's kind of fun to figure out the best choice that works for you. ::yes::
 
I am trying to figure out if we will stick with a "free" dining plan package that we've booked, or change to a package where we got a room discount + park ticket discount. We are staying at a deluxe, so it was the standard DDP that was included. It's myself, DH, and our twins DD and DS who will be 13 when we travel. I say "free" in quotes because it is about $854 more expensive for 6 nights with the DDP than for the room discount, so we're effectively getting the DDP for $142/day = $35/person/day. We would spend at least that much on food, wouldn't we? So on the one hand it seems like a bit of a no-brainer. But on the other hand, I'm not sure we'd eat exactly the split between TS and QS credits that we'd be given on the plan. I suspect if we didn't have the plan, we'd do a lot fewer TS meals.

What I'm trying to wrap my head around is if we do go to a TS restaurant, and our kids want to order a kids' entree (say because those sound more appealing than any of the adult entrees), how does that work? Because they have adult credits, is that going to be ok? Would they then also be entitled to a drink (like a soft drink or milkshake) that is not the included milk or water comes with the kids meal? Or will I need to force them to order off the adult menu? I'm sure in some cases they will prefer the adult menu, but on some of the menus I've looked at, the kids meals are pretty good - e.g. I don't remember which restaurant I saw that, but there was salmon on the adult menu which was overly "fancy" for my DD's tastes (too many sauces, spices, etc) but a really simple grilled salmon and vegetables on the kids menu that she'd probably go for. Portion size isn't a huge concern, at least in the case of DD who is a small eater. It's more the choice.

I'd love to hear from anyone who's already "been there, done that"! Thanks!!

I start from the other side. I book the meals we want, and look at the CS meals we are probably going to choose. I do not book to the plan, but choose based on what we will use. So for your family, think about what the tweens will likely order at not only the restaurants, but for snacks and CS meals. And look at your choices as well. That add up. Can you all eat for an average of $142 dollars a day? If you stop trying to break it down to individual choices on any given day, and look at your whole itinerary, you can make a decision based on the projected entire cost of your actual dining vs trying to fit your dining and snack choices to a plan.

Nothing is free, so I toss that out. My family could not eat for under $200 per day so I would take the plan. The snacks alone add up, as would the CS meals. I would add in a few buffet so the family all has choices, although I will say that when it comes to meals, disney chefs will cater to individuals, so if the kids will eat a meal, but do not want the sauces etc, that fine.
 


@siren0119 Thanks for that reply. I saw in your Aug 2019 PTR, you are going with the DDP on that trip? What pushed you into that for this trip? I am kind of worried that we will fall into ordering food we don't really want. Plus, to me, the DDP actually sounds like it's going to be a bit of a hassle - checking before you order exactly what is and isn't included. I know some people say it takes the worry away, just order what you want from the menu, etc. But you need to order the right categories of food from the right type of restaurants, and that sounds like it adds worry to me! The only scenario where I see it benefitting us is for those character buffets, where it's a fixed price, and my 13 year olds will be charged as adults.

We only went with the DDP for half of our trip - and really the only thing that enticed us was that it was under the Free dining promotion. I saw it as a chance to use the DDP for the Character buffets (where ordering restrictions really wouldn't apply) for 4 days worth of our trip, and then just go back to the way we normally eat (and not need to do the expensive character meals) during the second half. I can't see us using the dining plan EVER for a full trip (way too much food for us!). I'm also EXTREMELY cost conscious and no amount of "all inclusiveness" that comes with the dining plan could get my mind off of the actual cost vs what we would spend out of pocket for the way we usually eat.
 

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