Child's menu age change?

[SuBeat]

I had noticed with the reopening of the Garden Grill and the unveiling of the new character lunch at CRT that these restaurants had changed the kid's cutoff age from 11 to 9. Today there was also a mention of a "realignment" of the kid's menus with the meal plan pricing for children in the All Ears newsletter. To those who have visited recently, what has your experience been? It would be nice to prepare ourselves if DS11 is going to be charged as an adult or a child at the character meals we have planned.

 

[Catrin]

This will be interesting since I am going with my 10 yr old son on Thursday.

I did buy the MYW dining.. but plan on using a couple of his credits, and paying for his kids meals in certain restaurants.....
Will let you know what they say when I return on Monday!
Catrin

 

[n2mm]

I have been watching this too. While in WDW in May I started watching signs and menus for changes. The only one I noticed was at the GG and the food court in the land. While still being able to order from the kids menu for most kids who don't eat much regardless of age, my only concern is buffets. My GS will be going with us in July and we have a couple of buffets booked (Cape May and Trail's End). He can certainly eat well at Trail's End regardless what they charge, but I will have to rethink the Cape May's ADR if the age changes. If he ate the food at buffets it would not be a problem, but I'm not going to pay $24.99 for him to eat a plate of chicken nuggets, or a hot dog. He's just not ready to experiment with different foods. I'm sure my GS is not the only 11 year old like this. We are lucky, he at least made it this far, but how many other families will pass on the character buffets because they are not ready to pay $25 for their 10 and 11 year old kids to eat chicken strips and hot dogs? Disney needs to let them be kids a little longer....I wonder who came up with this bright idea?

 

[suzannews]

I just heard about this from a neighbor who works at DAK. He said they are making the "food ages" the same as the "ticket ages". I agree that my DD who will be 10 on Tuesday will not eat anywhere near $25 worth of food so we won't do any buffets for a long time either. If I hear any news from my restaurant, I will pass it along.

 

[tinkerbell60]

I am glad to know I don't have the only picky 11 y.o. - my DS 8 would eat more than his 11 y.o. sister, too bad they couldn't swap for meals!! That is the main reason we aren't doing the dining plan.

 

[Belle0101]

We booked the MYW with Free Dining for our upcoming trip. "We" being myself, DH, DS10 and DS5.

Now if I understand right with the new age / menu changes - DS10 will need to order off the adult menu at all the table service locations?

In a way that works out better for us - we can use fewer Table Service credits and share meals but ... he's just like all the other children mentioned in that at 10 he's just not ready to experiment with many new foods.

Just for example, we planned on eating at Shutter's one night. Looking over the adult menu, there is really nothing - appetizer or entree - that would be as appealing as the chicken on the kids menu to him.

I may have to do some more thinking on our dining plans - tomorrow though. I need to sleep before I do anymore planning

 

[goofy4tink]

Just read the same thing on Deb Wills newsletter. When I spoke to DD last week, to make some last minute changes, the CM said nothing to me about an age change!! And I specifically said a child age 11. We have 6 months before she turns 12 and I'm hoping to be able to have her have the children's menu since she doesn't eat more than mac and cheese or chicken strips in WDW. I can see a lot of parents not doing those character meals if the children's age goes down to 9!!! No way would I pay $25 to have my dd see the characters and not eat very much. I'm already not to happy about the amount I'm paying to eat at the Princess Lunch at Norway.

 

[slp87]

AARRRGG! My DD will be 11 on our next trip and being the light and picky eater that she is, I was thrilled that we still wouldn't have to pay adult prices. She doesn't even eat enough to justify the kids price, but hey, it was WDW, vacation, live it up. But if we're going to pay the adult prices on buffets, we'll be rethinking our plans as well.

 

[Mady/Sophiemom]

I had suspected this would happen too, when I saw the prices for the Garden Grill reopening. Plus this would explain why the dining plan was structured the way it was.

I'm not sure how I feel about it, as my 10 Y.O. loves to try new things, and can prob. find something at about every restaurant. However we planned on doing some switching around of credits when my mom joins us in WDW for December.

 

[cobbler]

I know it stinks when you have a child that is near that age and is in the inbetween stage.

They should have a junior rate, maybe 10-15 where its a little more than child but not quite adult.

 

[n2mm]

I know it stinks when you have a child that is near that age and is in the inbetween stage.

They should have a junior rate, maybe 10-15 where its a little more than child but not quite adult.

Oh for the olden days. I remember in 1989 when I took my kids to HDDR and they had junior prices. It was 11-17. I also believe they need to bring back the junior prices. However, other than buffets, most servers will accommodate the light eaters. It's only at the buffets where the price is black or white, no grey zone here. When we go in July, we will be staying at the BC, so will have a day or so before our PS at Cape May. We'll find out then what the scope is because we don't want any surprises.

 

[aurora19]

So maybe a junior rate just for the buffets - although the age should probably be 10-15 since I know many teen boys who eat more that adults

 

[Lewisc]

The problem with buffet pricing is some people eat a lot more than others. It's not just age related. Face it we're paying for entertainment not food with any of the character buffets.

The new meal plan has been described as a "license to print money" by allowing guests to use child's credits for adult meals. This may just be a way for Disney to level the field a little. A way to get back some of what they're giving away.

It wouldn't be easy to police it but it would be nice to have a reduced price for children who just take one plate from the children's section of the buffet.

 

[shellybaxter]

I don't know that a jr price would make sense. We went with a 13 year old boy and a 15 year old girl one trip. The boy ate twice as much as any of the adults, so an adult price was warranted for him. The girl barely ate anything. She only went to the buffet one time. Maybe that could be the answer, a "once through" plate, like at some salad bars. If you have a "red" plate you can only go to the buffet once, for a discounted price.

Shelly

 

[leebee]

If I'm remembering correctly, there used to be a junior price charged with the resort-pass-dining plans in days goneby. I HOPE that Disney will announce a change in age ahead of time, like "starting on date XYZ, child's ages at buffets will be...". This change in age will greatly affect how we plan our meals. DD just doesn't eat enough food to pay $25 at a character meal, regardless of the "entertainment". The only buffet she even eats $12 worth is at Boma. I suppose this will free up some PS's at certain locations. I remember the morning DD ate only one slice of toast at Crystal Palace; I almost had a stroke! Imagine if I'd paid adult prices for it instead of children's!!

 

[cocowum]

Okay, I have a question... I prepaid for HDDR 1 adult and 1 child (10yo) When I get there will there be an additional charge???

 

[disneyjunkie]

The new meal plan has been described as a "license to print money" by allowing guests to use child's credits for adult meals. This may just be a way for Disney to level the field a little. A way to get back some of what they're giving away.

ITA

I wonder if the new pricing will force more people to book the dining plan?

 

[addicted_to_WDW]

It's going to change how we eat at WDW as well. DS just turned 11 and at this point in time there is just no way he'll eat remotely enough to justify an adult price at a buffet. In a year or two when he hits his growth spurt...well, ok then. We'll likely avoid buffets until he eats enough to warrant a $20+ price tag.

 

[SuBeat]

I can accept the change as long as they give us enough notice to plan/budget accordingly. I think most of the full service restaurants will still allow an 11 year old to order off the children's menu...my own DS can put away quite a bit, but is not an adventurous eater. He lives on chicken strips and pizza on these trips. It's the buffets I'm most concerned about. I guess the breakfasts won't be too bad, but $25+ for chicken strips is a bit much.

If a change is going to happen, I think they should announce a date where it will be in effect at EVERY restaurant, so we'll know what we're in for.

 

[Julia M]

We're going in December with a 13, 11 and 8 year old. If they really change the kids menu age to 9, we will not do the buffets. My kids don't eat alot (even the 13 year old), and that would just be too much money. We will still eat at sit down restaurants, but where the kids can order off the kids meal.

Julia