Kids meals- no side or no dessert now?

maxsmom · Jul 24, 2016

So I'm confused about sit down meals now that I'm here. In the past the kids picked their main food and a side. They also got a drink and dessert. But we have not been offered that at all now for 2 meals. Sci-fi she picked popcorn chicken and fries. That is also she got w/ her meal besides the cup of ice water (not bottled). She also ordered a milkshake. We were charged the cost of the kids meal and the cost of the milkshake. So roughly $15. The other got a burger and fries and a shake. Same deal just burger instead of nuggets. Now I realize the milkshake is basically dessert. However, we paid separate for them. We didn't even get a drink. Nor were we offered one. Our server just brought the ice water w/ the shake w/out asking for another drink. Then at Tony's she ordered speghetti which l get doesn't usually come w/a side. It did come w/ a meetball she didn't want but the server brought for someone at the table since it was included. Here she did get a drink included but no offer of dessert. So the speghetti and meetball and a drink. So do I need to speak up more and ask what is included. It seems if you aren't on the dining plan you may or may not get what you are supposed to. Last yr our kids got milkshakes and they counted them as their drinks at sci fi. I just thought that's what they were doing this yr since he didn't offer them anoher drink. Boy was I wrong. Thanks for your help b/c I'm feeling frustrated. Oh and I forgot to mention these aren't Mickey check meals either. Thanks

baler31 · Jul 24, 2016

The kids spaghetti at Tony's either has salad and apple slices or pick a dessert. The first is Mickey check. Sci Fi used to offer the milkshakes as the children's dessert but I have not seen that in awhile. However, the meal should have included a beverage and dessert. I think the choices are ice cream sundae or fruit now.

Happyinwonerland · Jul 24, 2016

each menu should state exactly what the meal comes with

chloelovesdisney · Jul 24, 2016

I was looking at some menus on allearsnet last night and noticed the children's meals didn't mention a dessert, so maybe they have removed them as part of the meal in some restaurants. :confused3

alex9179 · Jul 24, 2016

It sounds like the servers aren't going out of there way to inform the guests of what's included. You may need to start the meal by verifying the inclusions/substitutions so that you don't get frustrated. I would have included the items she wanted while ordering, i.e. "she'd like popcorn chicken with a Sprite and fruit for dessert, as well as a shake".

Kid meal desserts at Sci-Fi are apples, fruit, or a sundae. Being charged for a shake wasn't a mistake but your server could have gone over that with you.

Sounds like Tony's requires you to specifically order which dessert the kid wants, too. Maybe they just assume you don't want it if it isn't ordered? I think they should at least offer, but I wouldn't count on it going forward.

Baklava · Jul 24, 2016

alex9179 said:
Sounds like Tony's requires you to specifically order which dessert the kid wants, too. Maybe they just assume you don't want it if it isn't ordered? I think they should at least offer, but I wouldn't count on it going forward.

I think a lot of servers avoid offering kids dessert if their parent doesn't mention it. It's often seen as a helpful move so that you're not left arguing with your child about a dessert that's included but you don't want them to have.

alex9179 · Jul 24, 2016

Baklava said:
I think a lot of servers avoid offering kids dessert if their parent doesn't mention it. It's often seen as a helpful move so that you're not left arguing with your child about a dessert that's included but you don't want them to have.

I can see that. It would be helpful for them to at least point to the selections available and discreetly inquire if the guest would like to choose one for the kids. If only because the whole WDW experience can be exhausting and cause serious brain fog in the parents :laughing:

sharonabe · Jul 24, 2016

It sounds like you're paying OOP. The menu for Sci Fi online says they get milk, juice, or water and a dessert. Milk shakes are not listed on the kid's dessert menu. The menu at Tony's says it includes the same drink choices, with no mention of dessert.

I would look closely at what the menu says and ask questions for clarification. No matter what was done in the past, it looks like both the places you mention assumed you didn't want the drink since you ordered ice water.

phi2012 · Jul 24, 2016

On Disney's own website it states that kids get a dessert with the spaghetti at Tonys, so not sure why you didn't get one. Also on allears it does mention the dessert options, and doesn't list a price next to them so that would lead me to believe that the desserts should still be included in the main meal price. I would go and speak to someone, at either the restaurant or guest relations, as if you are paying for something you should be getting it, and they should be able to confirm to you what you should be getting, whether on the ddp or not. I too would be upset if I had paid for a kids meal and wasn't getting what was included. Good luck, and hopefully other restaurants will be better.

stenmarks · Jul 24, 2016

I would not expect the waiter to offer dessert to a child...in fact, I'd be a little irritated if my child was offered dessert. We usually start our meal by stating whether we are on the dining plan and confirming what comes with each person's meal (because honestly I can't remember from one trip to the next).

I checked the Sci-Fi menu on the WDW website and milkshakes are not listed as a beverage or dessert choice for children, so I think that was correct. Sounds like it was a mixup at Tony's, hopefully you have better luck at your next meal!

wilkeliza · Jul 24, 2016

It is a double edge sword it seems. A good waiter will usually ask if you want to order dessert after you've had your entree for a bit but at the same time with kids involved if dessert isn't mentioned once during the meal or odering they may not offer. They don't
want to step on parents toes and all. The soda at Sci Fi may have been the same way. It wasn't offered because it wasn't ordered thus they brought waters.

I wonder if the waiter/waitress may have said anything else? Or something along those lines and if you said No then they assumed the kids weren't getting their dessert included or not.

lucybalue · Jul 24, 2016

I noticed that we were never asked what desserts we wanted for kids meals, HOWEVER on the bill the meal was a couple $$ less than what was advertised on the menu.

Lsdolphin · Jul 24, 2016

Why don't you just ask your server

maxiesmom · Jul 24, 2016

Most places don't consider a milkshake dessert. You need to ask before you order. They may allow it, but it is not guaranteed.

maxsmom · Jul 25, 2016

As far as the sci fi goes I was expecting to pay for the milkshake. I didn't order water they just brought it. The kids said they weren't asked what they wanted to drink. They were just brought a cup of ice water. They were both sitting in the front together. I just thought when they didn't ask for their drinks or their dessert maybe they were counting the milkshake as included b/c that has happened many times while eating there. Yes we are paying opp. I just need to ask more. Usually by that point we are hot and hungry and lots of brain fog and trying to figure out what a couple of kids want and keeping straight what's different. I guess it is just too much this yr. In the past it was always drink, entre, side & dessert w/ exceptions at signature dining. Oh and we were not charged less for not getting what was missing. In fact at Tony's he brought the meatball w/ her spaghetti even though she didn't want it since we were paying for it he thought someone would want it. He was correct. I also get about not asking the kids for dessert but they need to make sure the parents are aware of what's included and what isn't. Yesterday we ate at LeCelier and I knew they got the meal listed and a drink and the dessert wasn't included. They were very helpful and that is what we expected from last yr. Today we didn't eat any table service meals.

AtlantaDisneyDreamer · Jul 25, 2016

We ate at Sci Fi with two children a couple of weeks ago and my kids both had drinks and desserts with their kids meals. We were on the dining plan. I have found that the dining plan can be a bit complicated so I make sure I study the updated plans every time we go. That way I do not have to rely on someone else to explain to me what I get with my purchase.

I noticed that, at every restaurant where we had kids meals on the dining plan, the child's meal was listed as a complete cost, with drink and dessert. For example, the kids meal would be listed as $12 on the menu. However, when they rang it up, the bill said something like "Kids meal: $10.25. Kids dessert: $1.75." They rang up the dessert separately most every time.

Is it possible that they deducted a couple of dollars from the price and you did not notice the difference on the bill?

I started wondering whether, when we pay OOP, if we had the option of turning down dessert and paying a couple of dollars less. Anyone know? I would not want to do this when on the dining plan, but paying OOP it would be interesting to know if that were an option. On the other hand, the kids desserts at all of the table service meals were quite nice. The fruit at Sci Fi was beautiful.

Lisa F · Jul 25, 2016

I have found more and more that dessert is not mentioned by the wait staff (not just at disney but everywhere) when I have my kiddo with me unless I mention it first. Even at places where the kid meal includes dessert (which is rare in my resort town). I think wait staff has learned the hard way not to offer dessert unless the parents take the lead.

That said, I am not sure dessert is included with every disney kid meal. With CS sometimes it is just grapes, which is not really what I would think of as "dessert" - in some places you can sub a cookie but to me 20 calories worth of grapes is just part of the meal, not really what I'd call "dessert" which to me is a special treat. At BoG I was asking if dessert was included in kids meals since all they have are the $5 cupcakes and was told by those with experience on the boards that no, it is NOT included... so there are definitely places that do not include dessert with a kid's meal. You just have to read the menus. I'm pretty sure a drink IS included everywhere though. If at Sci Fi you said that the kids wanted shakes for their beverages it could be that the waiter assumed you meant instead of and not in addition to... but ice water is always welcome with ice cream.

KateP85 · Jul 25, 2016

I used to be a server at WDW, and I think the kids menus can sometimes be confusing.

On the menu, you typically have a box at the top with about 3 options in; those meals are usually listed as appetizer/entree/dessert, or sometimes entree/side/dessert. Something like "grilled chicken with rice and green beans, and apple slices for dessert." These are sometimes Mickey Check meals, but not always. These meals are considered full meals, and are charged at a certain price - let's say $10. They are rung into the computer by the server EITHER as that full meal, OR they can be rung in separately, and the price of the separate items will total $10.

Below that box, there will be a list of a couple of appetizers, a few entrees, and a couple of desserts. These should all be priced individually, with the appetizers and desserts somewhere between $2-$4. The entrees are usually about $7. It will sometimes say above the list that a kids meal includes a drink, an entree and dessert for a set price, say $8. This means the drink, entree and dessert will add up to $8 when rung in together. However if a guest just orders an entree, the server will just ring up the entree and charge $7. If no dessert is ordered, most servers won't offer.

Does that make sense?

I can't imagine a milkshake being included as a dessert, especially if it's not listed as one on the kids menu.

maxsmom · Jul 26, 2016

That makes perfect sense and we were most definitely charged the full price at both Sci-fi and Tony's. I am going to be much more aware of what they are ordering and what we are being charged. We ate at T-Rex today and it was clear what they got. Our server pointed out what was included and what they got to pick from. Thank you for your info b/c that's exactly what I thought it should be. I just didn't know it would be cheaper w/ out the dessert (not talking about the Mickey check meals).

KateP85 · Jul 26, 2016

maxsmom said:
That makes perfect sense and we were most definitely charged the full price at both Sci-fi and Tony's. I am going to be much more aware of what they are ordering and what we are being charged. We ate at T-Rex today and it was clear what they got. Our server pointed out what was included and what they got to pick from. Thank you for your info b/c that's exactly what I thought it should be. I just didn't know it would be cheaper w/ out the dessert (not talking about the Mickey check meals).

Yeah I used to clarify what was included with the kids menu, but with some servers I think you need to ask or they won't offer the information. Also look at your check versus the prices on the menu at the end - if you've been charged more than you thought you should have been, ask if there was dessert included that wasn't offered.

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