Beverage for under 3 at buffet/AYCTE?

[KrazeeK120]

My son will be 18 months when we go to Disney. It is my understanding we won't be charged for him to eat at buffet/AYCTE places. However, is there a way I can purchase a beverage for him? He likes to drink milk with his meals.

 

[JimmyBean42]

My son will be 18 months when we go to Disney. It is my understanding we won't be charged for him to eat at buffet/AYCTE places. However, is there a way I can purchase a beverage for him? He likes to drink milk with his meals.

Yes you can. Now also not to get your hopes up, but when we went one year DS was 4 and DD was 1.5, they would bring them both drinks at buffet and most of the time we were not charged. I guess it depends on your waiter/waitress. But we would have paid if they didn't bring it.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

KIDS UNDER-3-EAT-FREE "411":

1) TECHNICALLY, there is no such thing as a "kids-under-3-eat-free" policy.
. . . no where in ANY Disney brochure is this mentioned
. . . there is no such policy
2) But, when done per policy, they eat almost free.
3) And, based upon CM discretion, they can eat free.
4) The official rules:
. . . kids under three can eat off the adult's plate
. . . if they order anything, like milk, they are supposed to pay for it
. . . if they order any food, they are supposed to pay for it
. . . this is anywhere, including buffets
5) What really happens:
. . at buffets & AYCTE kids actually "eat buffet food free"
. . . . . . adults could get the food, instead and give it to the kid
. . . . . . the adult could claim it is their plate kid eats from
. . . . . . they might as well have a drink, for same reason
. . . . . . it's tough to determine it was theirs or their parents
. . . . . . thus, kids can have their own plate and beverage without charge
. . at non-buffet, servers can determine if they ordered food
. . . . . . it is easy to tell if they got a drink
. . . . . . the server usually charges for food ordered for the kid
. . . . . . the server usually let's the drink go without a charge, but not ordered food
. . . . . . the server, at their own discretion, can charge for beverage or not charge for it
6) So, to wrap-up, in practical terms
. . . at non-buffets, kids under-3 eat without charge ONLY from parent's plate
. . . at buffets & AYCTE, they can actually take food from the buffet table or separate plate
. . . at all meals, items are ordered for the child "might" be charged for them

7) Please remember to add your child to the table count.
. . . if there are four adults and a child, that needs an ADR for five people
. . . this is regardless whether the child is lap, stroller, highchair, or regular chair
. . . also, if the baby makes six people, the AUTOMATIC 18% GRATUITY is in effect
. . . no automatic gratuity at CRT-HDDR-LUAU-BBQ, as tips are already included in the meal price

 

[KrazeeK120]

KIDS UNDER-3-EAT-FREE "411":

1) TECHNICALLY, there is no such thing as a "kids-under-3-eat-free" policy.
. . . no where in ANY Disney brochure is this mentioned
. . . there is no such policy
2) But, when done per policy, they eat almost free.
3) And, based upon CM discretion, they can eat free.
4) The official rules:
. . . kids under three can eat off the adult's plate
. . . if they order anything, like milk, they are supposed to pay for it
. . . if they order any food, they are supposed to pay for it
. . . this is anywhere, including buffets
5) What really happens:
. . at buffets & AYCTE kids actually "eat buffet food free"
. . . . . . adults could get the food, instead and give it to the kid
. . . . . . the adult could claim it is their plate kid eats from
. . . . . . they might as well have a drink, for same reason
. . . . . . it's tough to determine it was theirs or their parents
. . . . . . thus, kids can have their own plate and beverage without charge
. . at non-buffet, servers can determine if they ordered food
. . . . . . it is easy to tell if they got a drink
. . . . . . the server usually charges for food ordered for the kid
. . . . . . the server usually let's the drink go without a charge, but not ordered food
. . . . . . the server, at their own discretion, can charge for beverage or not charge for it
6) So, to wrap-up, in practical terms
. . . at non-buffets, kids under-3 eat without charge ONLY from parent's plate
. . . at buffets & AYCTE, they can actually take food from the buffet table or separate plate
. . . at all meals, items are ordered for the child "might" be charged for them

7) Please remember to add your child to the table count.
. . . if there are four adults and a child, that needs an ADR for five people
. . . this is regardless whether the child is lap, stroller, highchair, or regular chair
. . . also, if the baby makes six people, the AUTOMATIC 18% GRATUITY is in effect
. . . no automatic gratuity at CRT-HDDR-LUAU-BBQ, as tips are already included in the meal price

Uh, ok. I just wanted to know if I could purchase a beverage. I wasn't looking to start a discussion regarding official Disney policy. I understand that there isn't an "official policy," but I've never heard anyone say they were charged for their 1 year old at a buffet, so it is my understanding that standard procedure is that they're not charged. I also didn't say anything about not including him on the reservation, so not sure why this information was included.

 

[powellrj]

Uh, ok. I just wanted to know if I could purchase a beverage. I wasn't looking to start a discussion regarding official Disney policy. I understand that there isn't an "official policy," but I've never heard anyone say they were charged for their 1 year old at a buffet, so it is my understanding that standard procedure is that they're not charged. I also didn't say anything about not including him on the reservation, so not sure why this information was included.

Because usually someone will come along later with these questions so he just usually posts the information before it's asked.

 

[Nancyg56]

Uh, ok. I just wanted to know if I could purchase a beverage. I wasn't looking to start a discussion regarding official Disney policy. I understand that there isn't an "official policy," but I've never heard anyone say they were charged for their 1 year old at a buffet, so it is my understanding that standard procedure is that they're not charged. I also didn't say anything about not including him on the reservation, so not sure why this information was included.

Because you did not ask the question does not mean others reading will be as knowledgeable. It is inevitable that someone reading will assume that the children are "free" and then leap to the conclusion that all meals for under 3 are free.

Not too long ago there was a discussion about a child that was charged for breakfast at CRT when Mom ordered a meal. "Children under three are free." They are not. They can eat from your plate.

We also see posts from upset guests who were charged for children's meals or beverages when they ordered, assuming they were free. They are not.

Better to have the info out there to avoid issues with the server and the restaurant.

 

[CinderDuffy]

Uh, ok. I just wanted to know if I could purchase a beverage. I wasn't looking to start a discussion regarding official Disney policy. I understand that there isn't an "official policy," but I've never heard anyone say they were charged for their 1 year old at a buffet, so it is my understanding that standard procedure is that they're not charged. I also didn't say anything about not including him on the reservation, so not sure why this information was included.

Because these responses are repeatedly copied & pasted from a text document and are not edited for each individual thread. You mentioned children under 3 & received the stock "children under 3" reply, even though most of it had nothing to do with your question.

 

[nco91590]

My son was 18 months old on our last trip and was not charged for buffets anywhere we went. He technically ate off of our plates. I typically drink water or wine with my dinners, so I would just order a milk for myself or my daughter, who was charged at the time, and pour it into a sippy for him.

It's no big deal. Honestly.