10 Year Old Jethro & Food

[TinkKel]

My 10 yo is 5'2" and is often mistaken for being older than my 14 yo son....whenever I go to a restaurant that has special prices for 12 & younger, I always get "the look" from the restaurant personnel. You know, the "yeah, right, he's 10 because you are too cheap to pay the full price" look.

Anyway, I notice a lot of the resort menus (like 'Ohana) has reduced prices for 12 & under. I'm not sure if I'm ready for those looks all week, or if I should just give up and pay full price!

 

[YangYang]

My nephew just turned 13 and is 5'9". We have been going to WDW since he was a toddler. Until April, he was counted as a child. We have never gotten any looks or questions from anyone at a Disney restaurant.

 

[zippeedee]

I just paid full adult price for all meals for a 14 year old who is both small for his age and an incredibly picky eater. For my $20+ at Hollywood & Vine he got exactly 4 chicken nuggets, 2 pieces of watermelon and a dish of ice cream. If I were you I'd carry his birth certificate to make me feel like I had "proof" if I needed it and pay the child's price. Besides, they made enough off me last week to cover it!

 

[patsal]

My 12 year old DS is huge, last year when he was 11 the only place I got "that " look from was at Pizzafari at AK. I figured it was fast food and they didn't refuse to give me the kids price so I just continued my order, picked up my food and let it roll. I do carry a copy of each of the kids birthcertificates though in case I am questioned. I figure I follow all the rules, so if they want to question me no big deal I'll be able to prove his age.
Now that he is 12 I have booked far fewer buffets since I doubt he will eat enough to make it worth the $$.

 

[MrsPotts]

I have ALWAYS carried my two boys' birth certificates. Kansas has a wallet size one that is great to carry, it's even laminated. My 10 yr (just turned 10) is 5'3" and always gets looks from people who expect him to act like he is 12, he is an immature 10 at best. My 14 yr old is 6'3" and has always been questioned as well. Especially at ball games when the other team thinks he's too old to play! I too was very tall at an early age, 6' 1" in 6th grade, that is the pits when you are a girl. Normally, I just let it go, and figure the person making the look is just ignorant and lives in a very small world. (no pun intended) However, I can be a bit defensive if their look or comment hits me wrong and have been known to give complete strangers a lecture of not making assumptions about someone based on appearances. You know, the whole don't judge a book by it's cover thing?!

My advice is carry the birth certificate, let the looks/comments roll, but do stand up for yourself or son when necessary. Especially when it comes to getting a discount on something, you'll have to pay full price soon enough!! Just because these boys are tall/big doesn't mean they have to grown up before they need to!