Buffets with young'uns

[lonegirl]

Hi. We are using all of our TS credits for lunches or dinners. That being said, the meals will be a nice, air-conditioned break in our day. For those of you that have traveled with little ones (our sons are 4 and 2), are buffets relaxing? I am not asking about the food quality/taste, but instead about getting up repeatedly, littles ones wanting to get up repeatedly, etc. We are doing Crystal Palace and Chef Mickey and Boma AND Biergarten. Our only stay-in-seat is 50's prime time. Should I find more to stay in our seat??? LTT or the Benihana-style restaurant in Epcot, O'hana or WCC???

On a side note, this dining plan is fabulous, but not for indecisive gals like me!

 

[beth_cam]

I love buffets with young children. The whole fact that they dont have to stay in their seat is a plus. When they get antsy they can walk with me to the buffet. Even at 8 and 6 a meal that isn't quick and over can be a bit difficult if they have to stay put. Also we love buffets because there is always something they will eat...even if it is nothing but fruits or mashed potatoes, they will get full with very little comment. I have always been the kind of parent who says you eat what you are given. But that hasn't stopped them from complaining. Even when they 'know' exactly what they want sometimes they get it and dont like it. Buffets give us the chance for everyone to eat without problems.

 

[beattyfamily]

Some people say they are not relaxing and are tiring with little ones due to having to get up for food but I disagree!

I've eaten at many buffets with my girls and we never felt that way. We enjoy the variety of food. We like that our kids can be kids and not worry about being in a fancy, quiet restaurant.

We either all go up together in the beginning or when my kids were smaller, DH and I would just take turns going up. Then if anyone wanted more, we'd go up one more time.

It's really not that bad, IMHO.

 

[MickeyNicki]

We took a 3 year old and 10 year old to Chef Mickeys dinner and the Princess Breakfast.

DH took the older kid up to the buffet and I took the little one, it was not an easy task because they little one kept running after the characters.

When we went to the Princess Breakfast they served us a platter of food and I left DH and the girls at the table and went to get stuff for all of us from the buffet, that worked out so much better.

 

[Colleen27]

Hi. We are using all of our TS credits for lunches or dinners. That being said, the meals will be a nice, air-conditioned break in our day. For those of you that have traveled with little ones (our sons are 4 and 2), are buffets relaxing? I am not asking about the food quality/taste, but instead about getting up repeatedly, littles ones wanting to get up repeatedly, etc. We are doing Crystal Palace and Chef Mickey and Boma AND Biergarten. Our only stay-in-seat is 50's prime time. Should I find more to stay in our seat??? LTT or the Benihana-style restaurant in Epcot, O'hana or WCC???

Our only buffets were Boma and 1900 Park Fare, but I found both to be very relaxing. Our kids were 4 & 7, and we just took our usual divide and conquer approach - I handled DD's requests, DH handled DS's requests, and we both had plenty of time to relax over dinner. I think buffets can be a great option with younger kids, especially for kids who would get impatient waiting for appetizer, entree & dessert at a sit down restaurant.