2 year old at a buffet?

[a*lil*bit*goofy]

well my 2 year old was welcome to have her own food at the buffets.
basically, i would bring her food on my plate and give her some on a bread plate. she was offered juice at a few places, and I was not charged. I was at others. I guess a bit of pixie dust that came my way. I seem to recall that she was welcome to have the juice at the buffet breakfasts with the rest of us, come to think of is, as that would be the same as 'eating from moms plate'. It was offered to her, not assumed by me.

 

[TwoRoos]

We have been with a child under 3 twice, and never were we treated like this! I gave her a plate @ buffets and was even given a drink for free.

This has been our exact experience as well. We have eaten probably 12 or so buffet meals with her and never been charged or even questioned. I can't believe the hassle that some of you have had with toddlers at buffets. It's absolutely insane that they would charge you because your toddler had a separate plate instead of eating directly off of yours. And to suggest that you hold the child on your own lap while eating...even crazier!

 

[lilybrooke14]

Wow. We took our DD at 2 1/2 in October, and had no trouble at all. She had her own plate at every buffet or family style meal (Tusker House, Boma, Akershus, Biergarten, Ohana). We were never charged for a drink at those locations, and frankly, no one even mentioned anything. At Ohana, they brought her own cup of ice cream with Mickey Mouse sprinkles. There were some restaurants where we ordered adult meals and she ate off of our plates (paid OOP for her drink), and others where we just ordered her a kids meal of her own. We were on the DDP, if that matters at all.

 

[summermac]

Wow. I think someone at Disney needs to make the rules clear.

Honestly I've never had an issue of using a placemat for my child to eat off of so I'm not that irritated but still, a clear rule would be nice.

 

[sweetiee]

The first time we took our DD, she was just past 2 YO. We went then mainly b/c we knew it would be free entry. Anywhere we ate buffet, we were not charged for her and we got a clean plate for her. She didn't eat much at that time anyway, but we were not charged. At all CS meals, we just got an extra paper plate to put some food on to share.
I think for health reasons, they would allow you to at least have a clean plate.

 

[geogirl0626]

I'm not sure what to do now after reading this. When I was there this past September, my baby was only 10 months, but I did make her a plate at our breakfast at Tusker House. She just had fruit, yogurt, and oatmeal. No one said anything to us and we didn't pay.

This Saturday, we'll be going to Crystal Palace. DD is 13 months now and is eating all table food so I was planning to just make her a small plate. I don't want to pay because she doesn't eat that much, so maybe I should just put it on my plate? I don't really understand the reasoning at a buffet because I could just as easily make a plate for her, but keep it in front of me so they'd think it was mine. If I put the plate in front of her, she'll just pick it up and drop it on the floor anyway!

I'm just confused as to why they'd make you pay for a child under 3 at a buffet even if they have their own plate. Most adults eat more than one plateful at buffets, so you could just keep your child's plate physically in front of you so no one would know the difference.

 

[Lexxie&Nicky]

I have never heard of such a thing. Each of my ADR's they asked if I wanted a high chair so I am guessing they know my DS will not be sitting in my lap.
They never said anything about having to pay for him to *use* a plate.
We are on the deluxe dining plan.

 

[RMulieri]

I have traveled with toddlers several times before and have never ever had a problem .A couple of times they charged us for a drink, which I would expect them to since they are under no obligation to provide one.But never a problem.

 

[crashbb]

Granted she is tall and skinny and looks older than her age.... this is her at the time ~ but I really thought they weren't supposed to question you if you say they are under three? I mean I would buy her a ticket if she turned three while we were there even though it isn't necessary.

Not sure why you would expect them not to question you about her age (general you, not specifically your child). There are posters here fairly regularly talking about "sneaking" their 3 year-old is as a 2 year-old - hence CMs are suspicious.

I agree that rudeness is uncalled for, but I have no issue with questioning.

 

[Halbleib1]

We have never been charged at any buffet or family style dinner for our son when he was 2. He even got his own special dairy free meal that the chef brought out personally as well as a free drink. At some table service restaurants that were not buffets they even gave him a free drink when we shared our meal with him. Which they also brought out on his own plate since he can not have dairy as well.

I would write a letter to Disney telling them your experience and see what happens.

We were always told that the only way we would be charged was if we ordered something specifically for him off from the menu. Which we have done in the past as well. We never ordered the whole kids meal though just an entree of mac and beef or a hot dog and fries. We were only ever charged counter service prices for these of around 5.00 which included his drink.

 

[JnC0508]

Terrible! They don't really eat that much so I think it's terrible to nickel and dime anyone.

 

[blessedby3]

My DD16mos wont even keep a plate in front of her. Just throws it off the table. She is in a high chair with a tray at home and I just put her food on that so she is not used to a plate. (Maybe I need to start giving her a plate at home to get her used to them!) We have used the sticky placemats from Walmart with her here when we go out. Im definately taking them with us on our trip. I love those things.

 

[Briar_Rose]

My 2 year old ate from her own plate for free and received a free drink at Crystal Palace, Chef Mickey's and Boma's. At CRT lunch, which we paid for out of pocket, they brought her her own meal (noodles I think) and the child's dessert and drink for free. Since this is also a restaurant with a set price/pre fixe menu. We were told this would be the case in making the reservations and by the waiter/waitresses. We were on the dining plan.

It is against health code to ask people to eat off the table or off of someone else's plate. Restaurant's are certainly allowed to charge for an extra plate but that is not Disney's policy on this. I would threaten reporting them to the Health Dept., if they had done this to me. It sounds like some waiter or restaurant manager has come up with their own bizarre interpretation of Disney's policy.

 

[msce2]

We will be at WDW from May 17th-23rd. DS will be turning 3 on May 26th. I just (incorrectly) assumed they would take our word for this. However it seems like I should be bringing his birth certificate and his own plate and utensils. I would not have him eat off the table, and I'm certainly not going to be eating with him on my lap (unless of course he falls asleep while I'm holding him). So I guess we will have him eat in the stroller? This is really silly though. You are only allowed a high chair or a booster seat if you are paying for the meal?

Thank you for bringing up this topic otherwise I would have been completely unprepared!

 

[Iott Family]

Granted she is tall and skinny and looks older than her age.... this is her at the time ~ but I really thought they weren't supposed to question you if you say they are under three? I mean I would buy her a ticket if she turned three while we were there even though it isn't necessary.

I just wanted to pipe in OT and say the pic of your toddler is adorable! Just like my toddlers she looks like she really enjoys playing. My little ones have black and blue shins 9 months out of the year. I think only when we are in a deep freeze do they actually look normal. Or maybe it is normal to be black and blue from the knees down and the other is the un-normal!!!!!!!

 

[dis-happy]

Okay, I'd be pretty mad if they said the toddler had to sit in my lap. Disney reservations REQUIRE you to count that child in your ADR number, even if you have (as I did) an 8 week old infant who actually sat in my lap. Whether it be a high chair, regular chair, sling baby chair or space where the chair should be for your stroller, there should be a separate place for your child to sit (if you want him/her to). Honestly, if a waiter said that to me, I'd be calling the manager right over to clarify and if the manager said that, I'd ask to have it put in writing. This experience that some of you had is so wrong. Fight back!!!

Guess I'll be packing some disposable plates for my 1 year old to eat off of next time. From my plate to his. FWIW, we didn't have any problems at WCC last trip (our only buffett with an under-3 year old).

 

[jenjersnap]

We've had an under 3 with us on every family trip and have eaten probably 30-40 buffets. I've always gotten a plate for the toddler and never been charged. I think you will find this to be the norm with the PP's experience a very unfortunate exception.

 

[LuvsTigger80]

my wife and I are going next week with my 2 (turning 3) DS. Maybe if I sat on my mom's lap and shared off of her plate it'd be ok. (I'm only 27!) Think they'd notice?

 

[Pumbaa_]

Have to tell you, this is hte first time I have heard this in all the years I have been hanging out here

 

[Mom23Disneybelievers]

We were never charged for our 2 year old while dining at a buffet or family style meal. The Crystal Palace, Chef Mickey's, Boma, HS Play & Vine Buffet, 1900 Park Fare, The whispering Canyon. DisneysThe waiter /waitress always offered him a drink...milk...and we were never charged for it. (He also always had his own seat, too.)
That would make me very uncomfortable...if someone told me my child should sit on my lap or eat off my plate. Not very good service!