Hi Greta,
Welcome back to the Disney Parks Moms Panel! My family loves being on the
Disney Dining Plan, because it makes our vacation feel all-inclusive, with our meals, snacks, and even some specialty beverages included in each day's plans. Pre-paying for dining as part of our
Walt Disney World Resort vacation package helps me relax and enjoy the magic without thinking about the budget, and having so many snack and dining entitlements allows us to try new treats and savor our favorites – what could be more delicious?!
Our daughter just turned 10 and became a "Disney adult" when it comes to dining. She generally enjoys kid menu faves, but when it comes to a good steak, she is all about the adult meals! On her ninth birthday, we dined at her favorite restaurant,
Olivia's Café, where she wanted the Prime Rib meal. Our server told us that we could pay out of pocket for her entrée since she was still a "Disney child" and the Prime Rib is an adult entrée. We then paid two checks – one with Disney Dining Plan entitlements and one more for the out-of-pocket meal – and it was easy as bibbidi bobbidi boo.
Greta, you should have no trouble doing the same for your son. Just ask your server if it's possible for him to order a kids' meal and pay out-of-pocket while using Disney Dining Plan entitlements for the rest of your party. Sometimes we've been given the option of getting a "big kid" sized kids' meal, including larger portions. This works differently at different restaurants, so your best bet it to work with your server to see what options are available. In my experience, they are wonderful about making dining easy for families.
I hope your family has a wonderful time together at Walt Disney World! One of my favorite things to do when I know I’m going to have the Disney Dining Plan on an upcoming visit is to read the
Disney Parks Blog and keep a list of the treats and restaurants I want to try. The culinary team is truly outdoing themselves these days, and I hope you enjoy every bite!
Wishing you a magical vacation,
Robyn