children under ?? eat free??

[new mom11]

I've always understand that children under 3 eat free. Known friends who have gone to buffets and had no problem. Wanted to find out what the situation is at sit down meals. My sister (a travel agent) called for me and was told all kids pay unless they eat off of parent's plate! The woman claimed if they have their own plate they will pay at the buffets, also. Said it may depend on the server. I guess it's only fair to expect to pay if my 17 mo old wants something off of the kids menu but just interested to know if there's an official policy. (Noticed the carrots and peas on the Jiko kids' menu. My DS is a vegetable freak!!)

 

[eeyore0062]

OK, this is how it works. At "all you can eat" type restaurants, like buffets, children under 3 eat free. However, if you go to a restaurant where you order entrees individually off of the menu or a counterservice restaurant, you will pay for your child to eat whatever is ordered for him/her. Sharing from your plate, however, is allowed, and they will either give you an extra plate, at no extra charge, or divide your meal (Since only you know how much and what your child will eat, I would suggest that you just have them bring you an extra plate.)

 

[Alice28]

I just wanted to echo what Eeyore said. For example, at Cape May Cafe (buffet), Chef Mickey's (buffet), 'Ohana (family style all you can eat) & Whispering Canyon Cafe (I got the all you can eat skillet), my 20 month old just ate what he wanted and was not charged. But at Cosmic Rays, Rose and Crown, Pecos Bills, etc., I ordered him his own meal and paid for it. Since I also had a 5 year old, sometimes I would order them one thing and they would split it- like a regular order of chicken strips or a grown-up size burger...that would save a few $$.

 

[Lesley]

Once again...all of the "all you can eat" places, including the dinner shows like Hoop de Doo and the Luau are free for children under 3. They can eat all they want and its free.

Anywhere you actually are ordering a meal for your child you will pay for it. We really didn't start ordering kids' meals for our dd until she was over 2. When she was younger than that she'd generally share...either with her brother (who was only 5-6 at the time and almost never finished a kids' meal himself) or with my dh and me.

Its a real shocker when they turn 3 and you're paying $8 for breakfast or $10-12 for dinner for a child who doesn't really eat any more than she did a couple months before when it was free! LOL.

 

[sters]

AT the Wilderness Lodge there is a restauraunt... sorry, can't remember the name, not the Artist Point, not the Roaring Fork, but the other one,... gave my 2yo a free meal and it was not a buffet.

 

[sters]

Whispering Canyon! That's it, I remember it now. There was a Brio train set out in the front to play with while we waited to be seated, and they did some games, too. But, I was surprised by the free meal. That was 2 years ago.