Children Meals

[kittyab]

I am wonder if what we encountered is a MK only thing. We have eaten at the other parks this week and she received a decent portion.

 

[baler31]

She'd honestly prefer ordering from the adult menu. I'm just concerned about asking for a second plate or exactly how that would work. I would much rather share an adult meal with her if I thought I could get away with it without it being a 'thing'. I had tried to do that at one table service (Garden Grill) and was told I could not, but, I'm sure the rules vary from place to place. She didn't even touch her meal, the whole thing went in the garbage. Ugh!

Garden Grill is a fixed price meal. Everyone pays the adult or child price regardless of how much or how little they eat. We share frequently at many restaurants in WDW and we have never had a problem. Buffets and fixed price are the exception as they typically feature characters and so you pay regardless of food consumption.

 

[Nancyg56]

There's really no reason they can't make both sides happy. Have a children's menu with "classic" kid food, but offer child portions of some "adult" menu items as well. They have the food available, there's no good reason that they can't serve a smaller portion.

You have to check out the menus ahead of time. May TS restaurants have options that are appropriate to the restaurant.

I have been listening to this debate for years now and Disney cannot win.

She'd honestly prefer ordering from the adult menu. I'm just concerned about asking for a second plate or exactly how that would work. I would much rather share an adult meal with her if I thought I could get away with it without it being a 'thing'. I had tried to do that at one table service (Garden Grill) and was told I could not, but, I'm sure the rules vary from place to place. She didn't even touch her meal, the whole thing went in the garbage. Ugh!

GG is an AYCTE meal so no sharing unless the child is under three. You are not paying for the food actually, but the experience.

As to sharing, my family has been sharing for years. We will often share an entree in order to be able to eat an appetizer and then dessert. Even many CS have large portions that are okay to share, and we do that as well. WE like to eat, and we enjoy the Disney snacks so this is a good wat to enjoy three meals, but to avoid rolling down Main Street.

 

[MrsHammer]

We are visiting next year, and my daughter will be just shy of 10 when we go. I've had concerns about whether or not the kid's portions will be enough, and this thread seems to put more validity to the concern. Does anyone know if they will show you what the kid's meal looks like before you order it so you can get an idea of the portion? We will not be on the dining plan, so I'm leaning toward letting my daughter just decide on the spot if she wants an adult or kid's meal. I'd rather pay more and her get enough to eat as opposed to still paying $7 or $8 for a kid's meal and leave with her still hungry.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

Buffets and fixed price are the exception as they typically feature characters and so you pay regardless of food consumption.

Even the buffet/fixed price without characters cannot be shared. It's not the characters, it's the pricing structure. These places are priced per person, not per dish - so they will charge for each person aged 3 or older.

 

[Nancyg56]

We are visiting next year, and my daughter will be just shy of 10 when we go. I've had concerns about whether or not the kid's portions will be enough, and this thread seems to put more validity to the concern. Does anyone know if they will show you what the kid's meal looks like before you order it so you can get an idea of the portion? We will not be on the dining plan, so I'm leaning toward letting my daughter just decide on the spot if she wants an adult or kid's meal. I'd rather pay more and her get enough to eat as opposed to still paying $7 or $8 for a kid's meal and leave with her still hungry.

Just ask. The servers will help you. When you pay oop you can order anything you want.at the buffet you will pay child's price and at the other ts you may find there is enough. My 10 yo dgd had plenty. We were on the DDP but if she wanted a child's meal we ordered and paid oop. I think it is the CS that are stingy

 

[leebee]

Back in the 90s, Disney TS restaurants used to offer a half-portion. You'd get a half-meal, basically, for half-price plus $1. THAT was customer service! DD was in heaven- she could eat the good food instead of the kid-stuff (we never fed her "kid food" at home; she ate what the adults ate.)

 

[Simba's Mom]

Back in the 90s, Disney TS restaurants used to offer a half-portion. You'd get a half-meal, basically, for half-price plus $1. THAT was customer service! DD was in heaven- she could eat the good food instead of the kid-stuff (we never fed her "kid food" at home; she ate what the adults ate.)

Sounds like I'd be in heaven too! As an adult solo traveler with a small appetite, this would be a great option. Chicken nuggets and macaroni and cheese don't appeal to me.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

not going to happen as long as they are trying to homogenize and offering the dining plan.

 

[starsweeper]

We never do DDP because we save money not buying it and we have more freedom in what we want to eat. On our recent trip, the girls split a quesadilla appetizer for our lunch at San Angel Inn (Mexico), and had some of my salad for a veggie. So we paid $12.00 for 2 of them to eat an appetizer versus $18-30 each for a full entree.