Can an 11 year old order off the kids menu?

[chris1gill]

Does anyone know or have an eleven year old that has ordered off the kids menu? I know this obviously won't matter at the buffet's (he's an adult), but where you order off the menu, does the staff mind? My son likes chicken fingers and burgers, oh, and the occasional pizza I don't want to spend a meal credit on an adult entree if he's not going to eat or like it My kid is so odd he doesn't even like steak.... I tested him at a restaurant yesterday & he had the adult fish & chips and ate less than half, I'm quite certain the child portion would have been plenty!

 

[kaytieeldr]

I've been told at several Disney restaurants that anyone may order from the child's menu.

 

[chris1gill]

Thank you so much, I think for all non-buffet's we'll definitely have him ordering off the children's menu then....

 

[NYMom]

I had the same problem. Last year during free dining, my 11 yo DS ate mostly of the kid's menu at TS meals. We noticed that when the bill came his meal was charged somewhere around $13-17 for his chicken fingers. They did add 1-2 extra pieces of chicken and some more french fries. But he also got his choice of appetizer and dessert. We did use his adult TS credits for him.

 

[chris1gill]

NYMom, did you tell them that you would be using a TS credit for an order from the Child's menu? Or, did they ask your child's age before preparing his meal? I'm just wondering how to go about best satisfying him & possibly saving a credit or two while we are at it...

 

[kcashner]

11 is a funny age. If your son will be satisfied with the portion off the children's menu, you can order just the kid's menu item for him and pay OOP for it. In this case, be sure to tell your server that is what you are doing when you order. That will save you a TS which can then be used for one of those "2 credit" meals or for a day when you might choose to do 2 TS meals.

If you order a kid's menu item for an "adult," they typically add just a little more food and more than double the cost if paying OOP. It works out to about the same if you use the TS for him--the cost just doubled. Of course, if you use the TS, he can choose an adult appetizer and dessert.

There is a ton of food on the dining plan. You will probably be fine ordering off the kid's menu and paying OOP...then sharing your appetizers and/or desserts with him.

Then there are those 11 year olds who have hit that growth spurt stage where they eat everything in site. If your son is there, you'd better order the adult portion of a kid's menu item.

You really have to look at what will be the best financial deal for you based on his eating habits. If you are trying to save some TS credits and he isn't a big eater, you will do best to order a child's portion off the kid's menu and pay OOP. If he is a big eater and/or you have plenty of credits, use the TS credit and get the adult portion of a kid menu item.

Am I getting too confusing?????

 

[dianemb]

In December our son (11 yrs old) ate off the kid's menu everywhere we ate a TS meal except for buffets. We had no problem and told server when we order that he was going to be OOP.. No problems at all.

 

[chris1gill]

Then there are those 11 year olds who have hit that growth spurt stage where they eat everything in site. If your son is there, you'd better order the adult portion of a kid's menu item.

You really have to look at what will be the best financial deal for you based on his eating habits. If you are trying to save some TS credits and he isn't a big eater, you will do best to order a child's portion off the kid's menu and pay OOP. If he is a big eater and/or you have plenty of credits, use the TS credit and get the adult portion of a kid menu item.

Am I getting too confusing?????

Hi kcashner, thanks so much 11 is a funny age for this sort of thing... I would imagine by the time he's 13 he may have a more consistent eating pattern. But, you raise a REALLY good point, if he's in a growth spurt, we will obviously have to order an adult size portion... There have certainly been weeks over the last couple of years where he would just eat everything in site... usually short lived, a few weeks at a time, but you can definitely tell when the growth spurt is coming...

I guess we'll see when we get there, at least this way I know the information in advance if we decide to just go OOP for him (or not....)

Thanks to everyone for all their replies

 

[ashlynn_j_m]

My sister was 23 went we went last year and she ordered off the kids menu at some restaurants...

 

[goofy 28]

In December our son (11 yrs old) ate off the kid's menu everywhere we ate a TS meal except for buffets. We had no problem and told server when we order that he was going to be OOP.. No problems at all.

I'm in the same situation with a 10 and 12 year old. But please I'm not trying to sound stupid but what is OOP?

 

[Lizzy Lemon]

I believe it means Out of Pocket

 

[NYMom]

Chris1gill,
Sorry, I just got back to the computer.
When we checked in at the podium, they asked the ages of my boys (11 & 7).
When DS11 ordered off the kids menu, the servers told us that it would be ok but they had to charge him the adult price but larger portions were included. This happened at ALL the restaraunts we ate at (LeCellier, Marrakesh, Kona Cafe & CRT). I'm not sure if they were stricter because of the free dining promo or that DS is big for his age (5"2" and 100 lbs). We didn't have any signature restaraunts booked, so we just used his credits for his "enhanced kids" meals instead of paying OOP. There were times he neither wanted appetizers and/or dessert, so we just spread a little magic to a table near us. There was a ton of food. This year not only am I going to have to plan ADRs in advance, but by using Deb's website, I will need to plan how to use our credits more effectively. At least his taste has matured over the past year and he will probably order Filet Mignon every night.

 

[EeyoreFan1]

I am 13, and I have to get the kids' meal! I only eat half of a kids meal, so pretty big waste of money.

 

[grumpygirl06]

In your post you said you would use Deb's website. What is that?

 

[NYMom]

Hope this helps.
Deb's Unofficial Walt Disney World Vacation Information Guide http://allearsnet.com

 

[goofy 28]

In your post you said you would use Deb's website. What is that?

www.allearsnet.com
the go to the dining link to see all the menu's in WDW

 

[nightowlky]

What if you're not on the dining plan? Can an 11 year-old (small for her age) order off the kids menu at kids menu prices?

 

[HappyDznyCamper]

What if you're not on the dining plan? Can an 11 year-old (small for her age) order off the kids menu at kids menu prices?

I have never had a problem ordering for my 13 year old off the kids menu, if she didn't see anything on the regular menu she wanted, but more often than not she will at least find something on the appetizer menu to order for he meal. I guess it depends on the mood your server is in and how sweetly your DD asks.

 

[yearbook50]

When I went to the Brown Derby for lunch on my most recent trip, I wasn't really hungry. They let me order off of the kid's menu for my meal and I'm soon to be 20 years old.

 

[nightowlky]

Good to hear.

She doesn't eat a whole lot and will experiment once in a while but I'd hate to pay $20-25 or more for her to eat a few bites.