food for 2 year old--how strict on "plate sharing" are they?

[cab0ad]

I have a 2 year old DD. We have booked mostly buffets, family style dining for our dinners (making sure there's enough for her AND her attention span can't handle long dinners!) My question: how strict are they about their "share from an adult plate" rule? At a buffet can't we make her a small plate of her own or do they really expect us to make her physically eat off of our plates? We aren't the type to take more than she eats (which isn't much at all) but she is finicky about actually having her "own plate" in front of her rather than giving her a fork and putting our plate inbetween us.

Also, on the "family style dinners" will she be able to have a small plate there too? In my opinion since they claim to bring "all you can eat" there's no point in not giving her her own plate. Didn't know how strict they were. She'll eat the food on the adult menu fine, not picky or finicky about having junk. Any experience on the following restraunts?

Our ressies:
Hollywood and Vine (yes we're chancing it after the reviews)
Chef Mickeys
1900 Park
Crystal Palace

Akershus (is this one family style or portion controlled on a plate per person?)
Chip and Dale's garden grill
Liberty tree tavern

[danielle782001]

You do not have to worry about this at all....Children under 3 eat for free...At buffets and family-style meals she will be allowed to have her own plate and even a drink if you do not bring her cup...You do not have to eat off the same plate ever...She can always have her own...It looks like from your list you will not have to share AT ALL...You can make her a plate with waht she likes and you can have your own plate with what you like...No worries here...

We have been with children under three a few times and Disney server are great at just giving the child what they need/want...They get a plate no matter what...Have fun!

[NorweJenNY]

From what I've read, I assume you're able to get a spare plate for dd during all your meals... smart of you to do buffets and family style meals with her. It will also give you good (unlimited) options for an age that can be picky about what foods she may feel like at any given time.

When our boys were 2 or younger, we weren't on the DDP, but we were always allowed to take extra plates for them at buffets we went to (Hollywood & Vine, as well as Crystal Palace, specifically). I assume you would be able to too.

I tended to like H&V. Uncrowded (late breakfast), decent food, fantastic character interaction! We even were able to try some lunch buffet items, even though we only paid for breakfast. A must-do for little ones who like Little Einsteins and JoJo & Goliath!

I haven't been to Akershus in a while, but I understand it to be part buffet (lighter than other places), along with a portion-controlled main entree & dessert.

[WantToGoNow]

My dd was not quite 3 on our last trip. Even at TS restaurants that were not buffet/family style, I asked for an empty plate for her - then we each "donated" a portion of what we had ordered for her to eat. We ordered drinks for her at each restaurant as well and only had to pay once - at Coral Reef. I believe a couple of places - Sci Fi, Whispering Canyon, Coral Reef also brought her out a dessert when she showed displeasure that bubby had something sweet that she did not.

[TDC Nala]

You can share anything you want anywhere with a child under 3. At buffets they eat free. Only a couple of times have I seen any reports where the parents were denied a separate plate for the child. These seemed to be issues with the individual servers and not the hard and fast policies of the restaurants themselves. If the server denies you an extra plate for a 2 year old, and you really want the plate, ask to see a manager.

[DCDisney]

The only place you will have any possible issue would be Akershus. If it's for breakfast no problem. If it's for lunch or dinner all she'll get is the buffet stuff nothing from the menu and if you do want to order her the pasta, pizza, or hot dog they charge you the full expensive child's price not just the child's meal price at other menu places of like 7.50. Some places will charge ofr her drink and the otehrs won't.

[CEC's Mom]

We have eaten twice at Akershus with two 2 year olds and were always aloud to order them a child's meal off the menu at no charge. We were very surprised about it, but it was nice!

[CEC's Mom]

We have eaten twice at Akershus with two 2 year olds and were always aloud to order them a child's meal off the menu at no charge. We were very surprised about it, but it was nice!

[n2mm]

We have eaten twice at Akershus with two 2 year olds and were always aloud to order them a child's meal off the menu at no charge. We were very surprised about it, but it was nice!

Thanks, I'm hoping it's not a probem. We are on the DDP and don't have credits for the 2 yo. She can't eat the standard food and will most likely have to have something prepared, so will be interested to see how it's handled. I guess we could buy her a meal elsewhere and bring it in? I was told by the CM for dining that they would take care of her food issues (latose intolerant).