Buffets/Family-style with a Toddler?

[MommytoaSweetie]

I know that our daughter (who will be almost 2 during our trip) is not included on our dining plan thing. So for CS restaurants, if we want anything extra for her, we just pay for it (right?). But for TS restaurants, we're mostly doing buffets and family-style (currently they will be Crystal Palace, Epcot's Princess Storybook dining, Donald's Safari breakfast, and the 50s Prime Time Cafe), are we allowed to get a plate for her (which would essentially be sharing off our our plates, like she'll do at the 50s PTC place - she doesn't eat that much!) or do we need to pay extra to do that?

What about drinks? I'm assuming that drinks are included for us (sodas or juice... is that right?), but what if we want to get a drink for DD? I might want a soda for dinner, but I wouldn't let her have that and she'd prefer milk anyway.

Thanks for your help!! (btw, we're used to regular casual dining restaurants where we each order our own meal and DD shares off our plates but we order her own drink and sometimes a side of fruit or something)

 

[HeidiGW]

You have got it right.
Pay for anything you order. She can share with you or eat free from the buffets/family style restaurants.
We have always found plenty for our then-toddlers to eat without really ordering extra. (We might change how we order a bit, my husband getting broccoli (cooked well) and me mashed potatoes, so the baby could have both.)
The only exception is LeCellier, where the portions are smaller. So we ordered a side a mashed potatoes--something like $3.99--and got a HUGE BOWL!
Last month, we always ordered our two-year-old a milk. We were hardly ever even charged for it.

The buffets always have lots of kid-friendly items, too.

 

[iheartdisney]

I don't remember ever getting charged for DD2's drink any time during our trip in September.
The only time she was charged for anything was at Coral Reef, they charged us for her ice cream sundae (which i was prepared for) All the other TS's gavev us a dessert for her as well without charging us.
For buffets, yes, she is free. At CRT, she got a plate of plain noodles.

 

[disneyJMD]

We did the same thing--eating at family style and buffet, as we have a 14 month old. We were on DxDDP and we were never charged for anything for him and he was always offered drinks with everyone else. They did, however include him in the number od people for our reservation, which put us at 6 people and automatic 18% gratuity.

 

[figaromeetsmarie]

We did the same thing--eating at family style and buffet, as we have a 14 month old. We were on DxDDP and we were never charged for anything for him and he was always offered drinks with everyone else. They did, however include him in the number od people for our reservation, which put us at 6 people and automatic 18% gratuity.

I think this is the best way to go as far as table service This is what I will be doing all the time now

 

[MommytoaSweetie]

Thanks for the info!! I definitely don't mind paying for a drink for DD, but I wouldn't want to have to pay full (kid) price for a meal that she would barely touch. We've found that many "regular" restaurants (ie, non-Disney chains around us) often don't charge for her milk, either (or she gets water, which is free too ). I appreciate the tips!