Can an 11 yr old eat off the kids menu at a TS restaurant?

[mrspopeye]

I have an 11 yr old picky eater as far as grown-up food, but is very content with standard kid menu fare, for the age 3-9 group. Everywhere I have made ADRs it will be a problem if she is forced to order off the adult menu. I posed this question to the Disney customer service and I got a rather vague answer, and said it was up to the individual restaurants, but hinted it would not be an issue.

Myself, hubby and 15 yr old really wanted to eat a O'Hana and I called to see if they would make some type of arrangement for a kids dinner, but was told because it was served family style, and that accomodation could not be made. Called back another day and got a different operator, who suggested we make a special arrangement like a Kosher meal where she could have chicken strips. This worked out fine.

Anyone have ideas? How tough are they on this restriction? Should I call each restaurant and ask? I hate surprises on vacation after spending so much time planning.

 

[TDC Nala]

I don't see what good calling ahead to each individual restaurant would do. It's possible that the server you get when you arrive will tell you something different from what you would be told on the phone. That said, historically it shouldn't be an issue at a la carte restaurants (COULD be more of an issue if you are on the dining plan, depending on the restaurant - some of the restaurants that are not operated by Disney can be more strict about sticking to the exact dining plan entitlements). If the restaurant is a buffet, all you can eat family style, fixed price fixed menu, or a dinner show, you'll be paying full adult price for her no matter what she eats.

 

[angiedora]

This has been a couple of years ago but my 10 and 12 year olds were able to order off of the kids menu everywhere they tried. One or both ate off of the kids menu at Coral Reef, Chefs de France at lunch, Kona Cafe, and LTT lunch. Most often it was my DD who was 12 at the time. She tried the mac and cheese everywhere she could. Edited to add we were on the dining plan and payed oop for any kids meals.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

If you are not on a Dining Plan there is no restriction about anybody ordering from a children's menu.

Any all-you-can-eat location (all buffets) there is no specific children's menu so everyone will pay the adult price.

If you are on a dining plan it will use up an adult TS meal.

 

[iteachlit]

Any all-you-can-eat location (all buffets) there is no specific children's menu so everyone will pay the adult price.

At first I stated that kids pricing is offered at the buffets, then I went back to the OP and saw that the kids are 10+. In that case, CheshireFigment is correct, and I'm a moron.

If your kids are under 10, reduced pricing is available. Kids can eat off of the "adult" line as well.

 

[MissionMouse]

Can an 11 yr old eat off the kids menu at a TS restaurant? ...

I do not see why not, since at Disney an eleven year old is an old. You paid Disney an adult rate for your 11 year old. If you order off the kids menu, pay adult price ...clearly Disney benefits when you do this, so it would make no sense for Disney to say no.

 

[Mommy2Jameson]

When I took my 17 year old sister in 2008, she ate off the kids menu multiple times. We were on the dining plan, so at Table Service meals, we were still charged for an adult credit, but they let her order off the kids menu. She's a vegetarian, and a lot of the time, she just wanted the kids cheese pizza!

And at buffets, ANYONE can eat off the kids portion of the buffet! I'm always getting the little mickey waffles off the kids counter at the breakfast buffets! I think they taste better than the big sized ones!

 

[hildarumpole]

Ohana will serve kid-friendly foods upon request. My kids got mac & cheese. We didn't call ahead, just asked the server what was available for them, because they didn't care for the regular items. I can't remember all the choices, but it was whatever is on the kids menu at Kona. We noticed a lot of kids getting alternative meals. Since your child is considered an adult by Disney, you'll still be charged the adult meal price at Ohana and other all-you-can-eat restaurants. At other TS, your daughter will be able to order off kids menus. Ask the host/hostess for the kids menu before you're seated. My older kids have never been denied a kids meal at any restaurant. If you aren't on the DDP, you'll be charged the regular kids meal price. If you're on the DDP, you might consider paying OOP for kids meals and save up credits for signature dining.

 

[mrspopeye]

Thanks for the helpful reponses. Glad to hear other were not given a hard time when ordering off the kids menu. We are not on the Disney dining plan. O'Hana did confirm that we will be shelling out the $30 for her meal. I wonder if we will be charged some type of adult rate for other places like 50s Prime Time or Sci-fi Drive In to order off the kids menu?

 

[gw_lit]

I wonder if we will be charged some type of adult rate for other places like 50s Prime Time or Sci-fi Drive In to order off the kids menu?

No, at regular table service restaurants (not family-style like 'Ohana or not a buffet) you will be charged the price of the child's meal no matter the age of the person ordering.

 

[Arkansan]

I wonder if we will be charged some type of adult rate for other places like 50s Prime Time or Sci-fi Drive In to order off the kids menu?

Possibly, but I doubt it. We just got back 5/17 and at Sci-fi our kids were given the adult menus at first. The younger two didn't see anything they'd like so we asked the server for the kids menu. Both ordered off it (they were 9 and 7, but sitting and in the dark the server couldn't really see how old they were). Our other 9 yr. old ordered an adult cheeseburger because she said, "Mom, the kid's meals are too small." We were paying OOP for all meals, so no problem. All the kids added a shake to their meals and were charged the regular price. ($4 something, but our server did bring the small bottles of water that come w/kids meals so we took them to go.)

At Hurricane Hanna's at the BC pool, I ordered a kid's meal turkey sandwich for myself and no-one questioned me. (The kids were swimming and I ran over to get them lunch. Ordered 4 kids meals and no-one batted an eye.)

Also--don't overlook the sides. At LeCellier, one DD didn't see anything she liked on the menu. (I know, blasphemy! ) Anyway, I spied the macaroni and cheese as a side and asked the server if she could get it as her meal. Server said, "of course. But it does contain bacon, is that ok?"--ie:more of an "adult" side than reg. kid's mac and cheese. DD said she wanted it, we ordered it, and it was her favorite meal the whole trip! Bonus: it was only $5.99 and the kids meals were $7 or $8 something! DH loved it, too. In hindsight, since none of our kids were super hungry that night, we should have just ordered a couple of sides of mac and cheese for them all and then had a bigger dessert. Live and learn...

Hope you have a great trip! I miss it already!

 

[VAN]

Yes, at the regular TS restaurants where you order off a menu, you will be charged for the items you order ... unless stated on the menu otherwise. At a buffet/all-you-can-eat restaurant, you will be charged per person based on AGE, not what is eaten.

 

[rcraw45425]

My girls are 13 & 15 and still order the kids burgers at Sci Fi. When we pay OOP we are charged for kids meals and they still get the dessert!

 

[tlenzendorf]

If you are on the DP, they will bring you an adult sized kids meal if you ask. DD got that at WCC and at 50s PT. Other places we ate she was ok with getting adult meals or they were buffets.

 

[leebee]

DD is not a big meat eater and therefore often orders from the kids' menu. She has done this at many Disney restaurants and only been charged the kids' meal price (not on dining plan). The only place that ever mentioned this or gave us a hard time was San Angel Inn in the Mexico pavilion in Epcot. They said she could NOT order a kids' meal. She had a soda and a small side dish while I ate as quickly as I could; she had cs dinner in Future World. We won't go back to San Angel Inn.

 

[TheTXTaylors5]

I have an 11 yr old picky eater as far as grown-up food, but is very content with standard kid menu fare, for the age 3-9 group. Everywhere I have made ADRs it will be a problem if she is forced to order off the adult menu. I posed this question to the Disney customer service and I got a rather vague answer, and said it was up to the individual restaurants, but hinted it would not be an issue.

Myself, hubby and 15 yr old really wanted to eat a O'Hana and I called to see if they would make some type of arrangement for a kids dinner, but was told because it was served family style, and that accomodation could not be made. Called back another day and got a different operator, who suggested we make a special arrangement like a Kosher meal where she could have chicken strips. This worked out fine.

Anyone have ideas? How tough are they on this restriction? Should I call each restaurant and ask? I hate surprises on vacation after spending so much time planning.

ANYONE can order off the children's menu at a table service restaurant at WDW. The only time there is an issue is when a child tries to order off the adult menu when on the DDP. Then, that is NOT allowed.

Also, ANYONE can order off the children's menu at counter service. I've done it numerous times.

We ate at 'Ohana and DD7 didn't want the all you can eat meats and sides. So, she ordered a kid's meal. I didn't call ahead, it is available every evening. So, whoever you talked to didn't know what they were talking about.

Jennifer