Can an 11 year old order off the kids menu?

[colleen costello]

My fusspot husband often orders off the kids' menu! If there is nothing "dull" for him (this means BURGER) he will order the chicken fingers or a burger and a LARGE beer or mixed drink. This is the only way I get him to Kona for dinner, which the rest of our group loves...

Often when they see him ordering from the kid menu, they will offer and "adult" portion of that item... This is how we learned that Kona will always make a big burger for him, even at dinner when it is not on the menu. He now gets the "big kid" burger plus his large drink!

 

[Lesley]

In January our 11yo was allowed to eat off the kids' menu everywhere except The Plaza (oddly enough, our worst dining experience as we had a horrible server....not even counting this issue) where the server insisted that he needed to order off the adult menu. As we have a 2yo we got around this by "splitting" 2 adult sandwiches among the 3 "adults" (dh, ds and me) and ordering kids' meals for our 6yo and 2yo. Then we played musical plates. This was not on the dining plan.

And of course, we paid adult prices for him at all buffet/family style places...we figure it works out since the little one eats free at those places.

In September when we're on the dining plan we'll pay oop if he wants a kids meal. I think in most places he'll want the adult meal.

 

[dmzrn]

anyone can order off of the childrens menu... but they do give that person an "adult portion. My DD 11 did all week when we were there June12-19.

 

[essmom]

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.

But if you are NOT on the DDP, I assume it doesn't matter- or do they charge an 11 year old 12 bucks for the chicken fingers.

 

[nurseypoo5]

my son will be turning 10 just before we leave. He is all of 54 inches tall and wieghs 52lbs soaking wet, very small for his age. He rarely finishes the childrens meals at home restaurants. There are plenty of restaurants i have on my list as OOP childs meals. Its just stupid to order a big dinner at LeCellier for him when he would be happier with a small salmon or steak. Besides he hates "artsy food"...if its got green stuff on it he wont touch it, heck he hates burgers and hot dogs but loves seafood and crab.

I'm hoping to pay OOP at 50's PT, Kona Cafe and Cali Grill. We will let him have full service at Coral reef (like i said loves seafood), Crystal Palace (buffet), Spoodles (no way would he give up the add on shrimps) and Ohana (again set price, he is over that week).

I think its really unfair of disney to make kids this young order off adult. Most restaurants in the real world kids are 12 and under...not 9! Its just a waste of my money and thier food to pay for an adult meal for the above restaurants. Nothing appeals to him and he just flat wont eat that much.

I hope they dont give him a hard time while were there...