Ordering off the Children's Menu-revisited

[disnut1149]

Hi
I'm an adult and have ordered from the children's menu, but paid OOP. No problem!!

[budafam]

I have a very picky DH and he has ordered off the children's menu with no issues. They might charge "more" than the children's price because the portion is a bit bigger (meant for an adult) but it was the same type of food offered on the children's menu.

[mericletwins]

Originally Posted by budafam

I have a very picky DH and he has ordered off the children's menu with no issues. They might charge "more" than the children's price because the portion is a bit bigger (meant for an adult) but it was the same type of food offered on the children's menu.

Our reasoning for ordering off the children's menu wouldn't be pickiness, but rather portion size. My kids are pretty good eaters. They will eat, fish, lamb, veal, venison, shellfish, etc along with the standard pork, chicken and beef. Some days we will snack through Epcot and then they won't be hungry enough for an adult sized meal when we get to the restaurant, so on those days, a child's portion would definitely work out better for us.

[frannn]

We eat out every Saturday. DD10 always orders a kid's meal and most of it ends up wrapped up or thrown out. It would be in our best interests to pay for a few kid's meals OOP and use the leftover credits for a couple extra TS meals. She usually goes for the pizza, nuggets, etc, so at least I know she'll eat!

[robinb]

Originally Posted by mericletwins

Our reasoning for ordering off the children's menu wouldn't be pickiness, but rather portion size. My kids are pretty good eaters. They will eat, fish, lamb, veal, venison, shellfish, etc along with the standard pork, chicken and beef. Some days we will snack through Epcot and then they won't be hungry enough for an adult sized meal when we get to the restaurant, so on those days, a child's portion would definitely work out better for us.

Just be aware that the kids meals are not all that exciting. They are, for the most part, plain kid food.

Originally Posted by frannn

We eat out every Saturday. DD10 always orders a kid's meal and most of it ends up wrapped up or thrown out. It would be in our best interests to pay for a few kid's meals OOP and use the leftover credits for a couple extra TS meals. She usually goes for the pizza, nuggets, etc, so at least I know she'll eat!

That's exactly what we did when my DD was 10 and we were on the DDP.

[Jenn]

I have 2 girls, 15 and 11 We often order just a salad or appetizer and also share entrees. Occasionally they will order a kids meal. The only time we were refused was at Maya Grill at Coronado Springs. My daughter wanted one chicken taco, which was an option on the kids menu. They would not do it, nor could they do one taco a la carte. Her only option was a $25 steak taco entree (3 tacos, beans, rice) with the steak subbed out for chicken. Very frustrating.

[mericletwins]

Originally Posted by robinb

Just be aware that the kids meals are not all that exciting. They are, for the most part, plain kid food.

That is fine. Sometimes that is all they want. I just want to know if they will have that option.

[JimmyV]

Originally Posted by nkereina

Because the outside world doesn't view children 10 and older as adults...

Actually, the outside world does. I average about 120 or so restaurant meals a year and I can't tell you the last time I went to a place that considered a children's menu to be designed for 14 year olds. Or 12 year olds. That doesn't mean that older children can't order from them (although, sometimes that is the case assuming that the restaurant even has such a menu. Most "real world" restaurants that are at the level of WDW Signature restaurants don't have children's menus). Most children's menus say something like: "Four our guests X and younger" with X usually being well below the age of 12.

Originally Posted by nkereina

and the outside world doesn't have adult and child table service credits.

The OP states that the DDP is not bieng used, so credits are not an issue.
The poster to whom you were responding was simply making the point that restaurants in the outside world never blink if all one orders is an appetizer. There may be some eye rolling away from the table as the server calculates his/her gratuity in their head. But nowhere is it disallowed to simply order apps unless one goes to a Prix Fixe establishment with a set menu of courses. And since the practice of only ordering apps is allowed everywhere esle, it would certainly be allowed at WDW.

If one is traveling with a children between the ages of 13-14 who are good eaters and who are not on the DDP, then I would submit that salads, appetizers, desserts and lighter fare entrees off the main menu is a far better strategy then toying with the children's menus, most of which are repetitive and not really of any interest to a 14 year old who has a broad palate.

[erinclemmer]

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.

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

I think what the person meant was "oop" out of pocket, meaning they paid for the "adult" children to buy kids meals and saved the "adult" kids dining plan credits using them elsewhere so they did not "pay" for adult credits and use them on kids meals therefore sacrificing the value of the credit in Disney's favor. We've personally never done the dining plan, but I would say theirs was a smart move for the value of the $. And, if you are allotted a counter service and table service per day for your visit then at some point they were able to use those extra credits during there say whenever and where they wanted.

[disnut8]

Originally Posted by nkereina

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

But the OP is NOT on the Dining Plan. One of the questions was if someone could just simply order an appetizer and not a full blown meal. I was pointing out anyone can do that at any establishment in any restaurant in the real world and Disney is no different.

Disney dining plan totally separate but that has nothing to do with this thread.