Can adults eat from the kids menu?

[Julie Amber]

I saw a thread in the WDW section about people doing this and wondered how well it would work at DL. We haven't been to DL in 12 years, but are fairly familiar with WDW having made quite a few trips over the years. We're going to be back in January of 2018 and are looking at some cost saving ideas for teens that don't eat very much. My dd is 12 and just doesn't eat very much at all. I can't imagine that she'll eat a full adult meal. However, a toddler sized meal is way too tiny. I have not idea how big a kids burger is compared with an adult burger or if they even let older kids/adult order off the kids menu. I am mostly asking for counter service restaurants. Thanks for any info you have on this. Pictures of kids meals would be most appreciated as well. Thank you!!

 

[SOCALMouseMommy]

I don't think they care who orders kids meals for counter service. I have an almost 3-year-old with a big appetite. Some of the portions for "toddler" meals are pretty small (like mac n cheese is served in a ramekin that looks to be about 1/4 cup) but other kids meals are decently sized. You can often ask to see how big something is before you order it (if they can't show you the food, they usually can show you the container it comes in).

In DL, the kids turkey sandwich at Jolly Holiday is perfect for adults or teens with small appetites (I've eaten it myself) and comes with a little yogurt smoothie and baby carrots as well. Kids meals at Rancho Del Zocalo are decently sized... the bean and cheese burrito comes with rice and I think another side too (maybe applesauce). At DCA, the kids pizza at Boardwalk Pizza and Pasta is plenty big (and pretty tasty too) and Award Weiners sells a kids mini hot dog that comes with a yogurt smoothie and a banana. Actually, the regular Award Weiners hot dog (plain) is a great value, it's big and comes with these cool fry/potato spiral things that are really tasty!

I know there are many more options, these are just some that come to mind.

 

[mom2rtk]

Breakfast (for adults) at Flo's from the kids' menu is one of the best bargains at DLR!

 

[figment_jii]

As others have said, they don't seem to limit who can order children's meals at Counter Service locations. The toddler meals are tiny (as mentioned by SOCALMouseMommy); I can't imagine that being enough to feed anyone beside a toddler (it's about two "adult"-sized bites at most). I've found that the children's meals tend to be large enough for a child to eat, but the variety is somewhat limited. I'd consider getting an adult meal to share (supplement with some sides or something), just for variety.

The French Market's kid's pasta was about 1/2 to 3/4 of a cup of pasta, plus an apple sauce and milk. It was the right amount for the five year old in our group who has a small to normal appetite.

 

[whoever]

You can order whatever you want at counter service. At table service, my 11 year old still eats off the kid's menu and gets charged the lower cost.

 

[swooshbear]

When we go to Plaza Inn for the fried chicken, my DW and I order one adult chicken plate and one kids chicken plate. That's four pieces of chicken for the two of us, which is just the right amount for us. I love the Plaza Inn fried chicken but three pieces is a bit too much for me.

 

[tzeitel]

DD is 15 and always orders from the adult menu - cs and ts - and no one has ever said anything or charged us more. For buffets/packages etc we pay the adult price but she gets food from the kids menu if there is nothing she likes in the set menu.

 

[mfleeting]

Counter service does not care. We ordered our 12 year meals off all the kids menus as she does not eat a lot at one time.

 

[mich311e]

I get the kids meal bean burrito at Rancho Del Zocalo. I've even asked them to give me the fajita veggies instead of the cold veggies (usually carrots) as the side. I find it to be a good amount of food. They also offer a kids meal taco. Sorry I don't have any pics.

http://www.wdwinfo.com/disneyland/dining/menus-detail.cfm?restaurant.id=523

 

[PHXscuba]

I (mother of 4) often order a kids' meal when I want a small meal so I can snack later. Some of the adult meals are enormous. Or ask if you can get the entree without the side; sometime that will be a better amount of food. We do a lot of sharing too from counter service.

PHXscuba