Ordering off the Children's Menu-revisited - The DIS Discussion Forums

mericletwins · 01-08-2013, 01:38 PM

I searched through old threads and read quite a lot about this, but there isn't really much that is recent. We are planning on going in August with our then 14DD, 14DS and our 13DS. I know that they are adults in Disney eyes and for the most part they are pretty adventurous eaters, however there will be times that they just won't be hungry enough to eat an adult meal. We will not be using the DDP, so credits are not an issue. Does anyone have any recent experience with someone that is older ordering off the children's menu?

If it is going to be a huge hassle we could have them split meals, but then we have to go through the hassle of having them agree on a meal. Is it possible to just order an appetizer in a TS restaurant? Is that frowned upon? The restaurants I'm particularly interested in are the Flying Fish, Yachtsman, Narcoossees and Artist Point, but I haven't made ADRs yet, so that may not be where we end up.

lililoo12 · 01-08-2013, 02:48 PM

a lot of times I eat like a bird and just order an appetizer as my dinner. It is not frowned upon. ordering off the kids menu TS is though if they are not 9 and under. splitting meals also isnt an issue unless of course it is like a skillet you have to be charged for two just like a buffet

BEASLYBOO · 01-08-2013, 04:27 PM

If you are paying out of pocket and not doing buffets, it should not be an issue! We eat at a great many TS restaurants, Raglands, Le Cellier, Via Napoli, BOG, Chefs,...... and all allowed our picky 11-12 young ladies to order from the kids menu at the kids price. The only resistance we faced at Thanksgiving came from Marrakesh, and I told the waiter it shouldn't matter we weren't on the DDP and if it was a problem we would all eat elsewhere, and he said OK! With 5 adult dinners and a bottle of wine, and 2 kid dinners he knew where is bread was buttered!

MariMouse · 01-08-2013, 06:41 PM

We were just there in December and we did not have a problem at all! All the waiters were fine with it. I have two teenager girls who are very picky, light eaters. We had the Dining Plan but paid out-of-pocket for kids meals at some TS meals and then used the extra credits for meals that needed 2 TS credits. It actually worked very well for us.

ttintagel · 01-09-2013, 08:54 AM

There are no guarantees, but as long as you're paying OOP most restaurants will accommodate you.

stargazertechie · 01-09-2013, 09:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ttintagel

There are no guarantees, but as long as you're paying OOP most restaurants will accommodate you.

I don't see why a restaurant would frown upon using an adult TS or CS credit for a child's meal- that's more money in Disney's pocket.

The other way around though (Using a child's TS or CS credit for an adult meal) doesn't fly

ttintagel · 01-09-2013, 09:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stargazertechie

I don't see why a restaurant would frown upon using an adult TS or CS credit for a child's meal- that's more money in Disney's pocket.

Because it makes their bookkeeping harder. When you're feeding thousands of people a day, those little bits of extra work add up.

MinnieGirl33 · 01-09-2013, 10:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mericletwins

. We are planning on going in August with our then 14DD, 14DS and our 13DS. I know that they are adults in Disney eyes and for the most part they are pretty adventurous eaters, however there will be times that they just won't be hungry enough to eat an adult meal.

This is a concept I just can't wrap my brain around... OK, maybe for a girl but teenage boys not being hungry enough???

As long as you are paying out of pocket you can absolutely order an appy as your entree. Sometimes all we do is order drinks & a few appys. Never been an issue.

kiddisney · 01-09-2013, 11:52 AM

it shouldn't be a problem - i'm here now & have ordered off the appy menu for lunch & dinner (more appealing) and have also ordered off the kids menu - and if they said they wouldn't let me - then i wouldn't order anything - and let everyone else eat - and go o/s & get a snack - and they wouldn't get any tip from my meal - so it's in their best interest in letting you order - if you weren't going to get anything anyway

SleepyatDVC · 01-09-2013, 01:35 PM

I have an DD11 and DD14. DH wants to try Todd English's Blue Zoo this trip. Looking at the menus, it didn't look like the kids will like anything off the adult menu.

DD14 has gotten very adventurous but she still wants to know exactly WHAT she is ordering and eating. Heck, I won't even know what I'm ordering even with the description. Lol. Hate to order a $40+ entree that she won't touch. DD11, alas, is still a pasta and chicken strips without any sauce kind of girl. Sigh.

In any case, the Blue Zoo's children's menu offers a lot for both of them to choose from that isn't just nuggets and pasta. Anyone with first hand experience of having older kids order from the kiddie menu there?

TIA!

robinb · 01-09-2013, 01:41 PM

We ate at Jiko in December and asked for a kids menu for my 13-year old DD. They had no problem giving one to her. She ended up ordering a special vegetarian item from the adult menu.

If your kids are actually hungry but not adventurous, I have heard that many places will make an adult portion of kids meals.

baler31 · 01-09-2013, 03:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SleepyatDVC

I have an DD11 and DD14. DH wants to try Todd English's Blue Zoo this trip. Looking at the menus, it didn't look like the kids will like anything off the adult menu.

DD14 has gotten very adventurous but she still wants to know exactly WHAT she is ordering and eating. Heck, I won't even know what I'm ordering even with the description. Lol. Hate to order a $40+ entree that she won't touch. DD11, alas, is still a pasta and chicken strips without any sauce kind of girl. Sigh.

In any case, the Blue Zoo's children's menu offers a lot for both of them to choose from that isn't just nuggets and pasta. Anyone with first hand experience of having older kids order from the kiddie menu there?

TIA!

I have been with friends where the older children ordered from the children's menu and don't recall them even questioning it.

My kids actually like various kinds of fish and they always try something new there and just get them to grill it without a lot of the sauces etc.

disnut8 · 01-09-2013, 06:23 PM

Disney is no different from the outside world. Just went to trivia last night and ordered an appetizer of clams. Husband ordered the appetizer of sausage bits. Not a blink of an eye.

Why would Disney be any different?

nkereina · 01-09-2013, 06:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by disnut8

Disney is no different from the outside world. Just went to trivia last night and ordered an appetizer of clams. Husband ordered the appetizer of sausage bits. Not a blink of an eye.

Why would Disney be any different?

Because the outside world doesn't view children 10 and older as adults, and the outside world doesn't have adult and child table service credits. OP's question is a pretty common one

jakenjess · 01-09-2013, 07:35 PM

We've had one restaurant at Disney refuse to let our over-10 YO order off the children's menu, and that was Tutto Italia. This was a couple years ago, so maybe they've changed their policy since then. Have never had a problem anywhere else.

01-08-2013, 01:38 PM	#1
mericletwins DIS Veteran Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: EXTREME Southern NJ Posts: 973	Ordering off the Children's Menu-revisited I searched through old threads and read quite a lot about this, but there isn't really much that is recent. We are planning on going in August with our then 14DD, 14DS and our 13DS. I know that they are adults in Disney eyes and for the most part they are pretty adventurous eaters, however there will be times that they just won't be hungry enough to eat an adult meal. We will not be using the DDP, so credits are not an issue. Does anyone have any recent experience with someone that is older ordering off the children's menu? If it is going to be a huge hassle we could have them split meals, but then we have to go through the hassle of having them agree on a meal. Is it possible to just order an appetizer in a TS restaurant? Is that frowned upon? The restaurants I'm particularly interested in are the Flying Fish, Yachtsman, Narcoossees and Artist Point, but I haven't made ADRs yet, so that may not be where we end up. __________________ Lisa & Craig, Bailey & Jake 5/20/99 Tyler 7/24/00 On deck: BC CL August 21-29 BWI 9/12 POP 6/12 BLT & BCV 4/12 POR 4/11 BCV & THV 1/10 CBR 6/10 POP 8/09 CR-MK view 3/09 POR 6/08 BC/Poly Conc./GF conc. 1/08 BCV 4/07 CBR 6/06 BCV 4/06 OKW 10/04 OKW Thanksgiving 03 CBR 3/00 Off-site March '93, March '88, HS Sr Trip Spring '87

01-08-2013, 04:27 PM	#3
BEASLYBOO It's part of the charm They go through some serious mayo there Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Wellington, Florida Posts: 4,378	If you are paying out of pocket and not doing buffets, it should not be an issue! We eat at a great many TS restaurants, Raglands, Le Cellier, Via Napoli, BOG, Chefs,...... and all allowed our picky 11-12 young ladies to order from the kids menu at the kids price. The only resistance we faced at Thanksgiving came from Marrakesh, and I told the waiter it shouldn't matter we weren't on the DDP and if it was a problem we would all eat elsewhere, and he said OK! With 5 adult dinners and a bottle of wine, and 2 kid dinners he knew where is bread was buttered! __________________ June 17-20th, 2013- SSR-2bd Thanksgiving 2013- Kidani-2bd February 15th -18th, 2014 - OKW-GV

01-08-2013, 06:41 PM	#4
MariMouse Earning My Ears Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 56	No Problems We were just there in December and we did not have a problem at all! All the waiters were fine with it. I have two teenager girls who are very picky, light eaters. We had the Dining Plan but paid out-of-pocket for kids meals at some TS meals and then used the extra credits for meals that needed 2 TS credits. It actually worked very well for us. __________________ DD DM DD 16 DD 13 Having a positive attitude won't solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort.

01-09-2013, 08:54 AM	#5
ttintagel DIS Veteran Join Date: Nov 2011 Posts: 2,129	There are no guarantees, but as long as you're paying OOP most restaurants will accommodate you. __________________ Last visited Walt Disney World 11/27/12 - 12/03/12

01-09-2013, 11:52 AM	#9
kiddisney DIS Veteran Join Date: Sep 1999 Location: new jersey Posts: 890	it shouldn't be a problem - i'm here now & have ordered off the appy menu for lunch & dinner (more appealing) and have also ordered off the kids menu - and if they said they wouldn't let me - then i wouldn't order anything - and let everyone else eat - and go o/s & get a snack - and they wouldn't get any tip from my meal - so it's in their best interest in letting you order - if you weren't going to get anything anyway __________________ a dream is a wish your heart makes wdw: '83,'85-'86,'88-'89,'91-'93,'95,'97-'99,'02-'03, '05-'06, '08 -'13 (25 visits & counting) dl: '82,'87,'95 dcl: '98,'99,'00,'02,'03,'04 ... '11,'12,'13,'14 (dbl dip gives us platinum)

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01-08-2013, 02:48 PM	#2
lililoo12 Mouseketeer Join Date: Dec 2012 Posts: 334	a lot of times I eat like a bird and just order an appetizer as my dinner. It is not frowned upon. ordering off the kids menu TS is though if they are not 9 and under. splitting meals also isnt an issue unless of course it is like a skillet you have to be charged for two just like a buffet

01-09-2013, 01:35 PM	#10
SleepyatDVC The Untagged ... and I wasn't wearing any pants!!!! Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Too far from WDW Posts: 2,267	I have an DD11 and DD14. DH wants to try Todd English's Blue Zoo this trip. Looking at the menus, it didn't look like the kids will like anything off the adult menu. DD14 has gotten very adventurous but she still wants to know exactly WHAT she is ordering and eating. Heck, I won't even know what I'm ordering even with the description. Lol. Hate to order a $40+ entree that she won't touch. DD11, alas, is still a pasta and chicken strips without any sauce kind of girl. Sigh. In any case, the Blue Zoo's children's menu offers a lot for both of them to choose from that isn't just nuggets and pasta. Anyone with first hand experience of having older kids order from the kiddie menu there? TIA! __________________ "A bargain is something that you don't need, at a price you can't resist!!" Sep 1999 Marriott Cypress Harbor---May 2000 Liki Tiki---Nov 2001 BC---Nov/Dec 2001 OKW---March 2002 VWL---Sep 2002 BWV & BCV---Dec 2002 CR---Mar 2003 St. Thomas ---Jun 2003 VWL---October 2003 Marriott Grand Vista & HAL Cruise & Miami ---Jan 2004 OKW GV---Jun 2004 CCL Victory Canada ---Apr/May 2005 BWV & Marriott Cypress Harbor---Oct 2005 BWV---Feb 2006 OKW---Apr 2006 Miami ---August 2006 BWV---Feb 2007 VWL --Apr 2007 NCL Dawn 11 night S Caribbean Cruise --- Aug 2007 BWV/AKV --- Oct 2007 NCL Crown Bermuda --- Apr 2008 BWV/AKV --- Aug 2008 BWV/Marriott Cypress Harbor --- Feb 2009 Miami --- Apr 2009 NCL Pearl ---Aug 2009 CSR, BLT & DCL Magic --- Feb 2010 BWV --- July 2011 AKV ---June/July 2012 Italy/Turkey/Greece Celebrity Equinox --- Feb 2013 BWV

01-09-2013, 01:41 PM	#11
robinb DIS Veteran Join Date: Aug 1999 Location: Madison, WI Posts: 28,267	We ate at Jiko in December and asked for a kids menu for my 13-year old DD. They had no problem giving one to her. She ended up ordering a special vegetarian item from the adult menu. If your kids are actually hungry but not adventurous, I have heard that many places will make an adult portion of kids meals. __________________ DVC Member since 1997 Walt Disney World 2013 * Disneyland Paris 2012 * Disneyland 2011 * Hong Kong Disneyland 2007 * Tokyo Disneyland 2007

01-09-2013, 06:23 PM	#13
disnut8 DIS Veteran Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Brasleton, GA Posts: 13,625	Disney is no different from the outside world. Just went to trivia last night and ordered an appetizer of clams. Husband ordered the appetizer of sausage bits. Not a blink of an eye. Why would Disney be any different?

01-09-2013, 07:35 PM	#15
jakenjess DIS Veteran Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 1,986	We've had one restaurant at Disney refuse to let our over-10 YO order off the children's menu, and that was Tutto Italia. This was a couple years ago, so maybe they've changed their policy since then. Have never had a problem anywhere else. __________________

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