Child's price at buffet lowered to 9?!

[Lizgistix]

I just returned from a weekend trip but in the course of my stay, I talked with a guest who had lunch at Tusker House with her two children aged 10 and 11. When they received the check at the end, she was shocked to find instead of being charged for 2 adults, 2 children, they were charged 4 adults. When it was questioned, their server informed them the age cut-off for children was lowered from 11 down to 9.

Have any of you experienced this?
I'm not sure if this is an isolated incident just at Tusker House or if this is property-wide.

 

[TwoMisfits]

I just returned from a weekend trip but in the course of my stay, I talked with a guest who had lunch at Tusker House with her two children aged 10 and 11. When they received the check at the end, she was shocked to find instead of being charged for 2 adults, 2 children, they were charged 4 adults. When it was questioned, their server informed them the age cut-off for children was lowered from 11 down to 9.

Have any of you experienced this?
I'm not sure if this is an isolated incident just at Tusker House or if this is property-wide.

It has been the case for quite a few years that child priced dining is only for 9 and under. Thus, why many parents with children 10-12 tend to avoid buffets - it's a huge price escalation.

 

[Lizgistix]

It has been the case for quite a few years that child priced dining is only for 9 and under. Thus, why many parents with children 10-12 tend to avoid buffets - it's a huge price escalation.

Yeah it is! egads. Even the adult pricing (just for me) I'm like "oof, that's a lot"

 

[SteveH]

I think the policy aligns with the Disney ticket prices Ages 10+ now.

 

[HopperFan]

Pretty sure this is nothing new,
maybe as long as the Disney Dining Plan arrived ... 17 years ago.

Under 3 eat free off parents plate at prix fixe
3-9 are Children
10+ are Adults

Restaurant priced by age fall in line with DDP prices, by age.

 

[Marthasor]

3-9 has been the child age for dining pricing for many, many years. When my DS turned 10, we stopped doing character and AYCTE meals, temporarily, because he didn't eat enough to justify the enormous price increase. A good way to work around it, is to eat at a la carte TS or QS where anyone can still order a child's meal and only be charged the child price - unfortunately, that means foregoing fixed-priced dining. If it's important to doing character dining, HDDR, fixed-priced meals when a child turns 10, you just have to go in knowing it's going to cost a fortune. Now that my DS is 14 and eats like a horse, the adult price finally seems justifiable again.

 

[TOBS2010]

I don't remember when a child was cut off at 9 years old at WDW---pretty sure it was even the case when I was that age.

 

[Timbud2]

I think it’s ridiculous. Most 10 year olds don’t eat adult size portions and a lot are not going to want to eat the adult choices. Luckily my kids are older and don’t care about characters, so I can skip paying $$$$ for an adult size order of chicken fingers.

 

[SL6827]

It is absurd. Its just a money grab.

 

[Betty Rohrer]

I just returned from a weekend trip but in the course of my stay, I talked with a guest who had lunch at Tusker House with her two children aged 10 and 11. When they received the check at the end, she was shocked to find instead of being charged for 2 adults, 2 children, they were charged 4 adults. When it was questioned, their server informed them the age cut-off for children was lowered from 11 down to 9.

Have any of you experienced this?
I'm not sure if this is an isolated incident just at Tusker House or if this is property-wide.

has been this way at least since my 18 year old grandson was 10 years old and yes it is property wide

 

[TheSouthernBelle]

I just returned from a weekend trip but in the course of my stay, I talked with a guest who had lunch at Tusker House with her two children aged 10 and 11. When they received the check at the end, she was shocked to find instead of being charged for 2 adults, 2 children, they were charged 4 adults. When it was questioned, their server informed them the age cut-off for children was lowered from 11 down to 9.

Have any of you experienced this?
I'm not sure if this is an isolated incident just at Tusker House or if this is property-wide.

Yes, it's been this way since we've taken our kids as babies and they're now 15 and 13. I think it's silly since most places "kids" pricing usually caps at around 12 but of course when at Disney it's all people with kids, it's 9. Totally makes sense....LOL.

Even now that my kids do eat more, it still doesn't make sense for us to do buffets, we just don't eat enough to justify the cost.

 

[HopperFan]

I think it’s ridiculous. Most 10 year olds don’t eat adult size portions and a lot are not going to want to eat the adult choices. Luckily my kids are older and don’t care about characters, so I can skip paying $$$$ for an adult size order of chicken fingers.

It is absurd. Its just a money grab.

This has been the price structure since the current Disney Dining Plan started in 2005. There were a few other plans previously. I remember going in 1993/4 and under 5 could eat free at buffets. I think at that point kids were 5-11. Not much different than what they are now.

It's Disney, it's expensive, they are going to charge to cover the "seats" ... I mean rarely are you paying for the value of the food, especially the character meals/buffets. On the plus side all of their dining is optional. I've been where I ate TS/QS each and every day AND I've gone where I ate breakfast in room, packed a lunch in park and grabbed dinner offsite.

Food budget is in everyone's control and if it is more than you wish to purchase, don't. That is one area where I feel there is no griping - food prices, there are lots of ways to eat reasonably considering you are in an expensive theme park.

 

[saraheliz]

Yep, my girls are 15 and 13 and it's been that way as long as we've been taking them. They don't eat like adults so we're doing one character meal at Topolino's breakfast in August (they WILL eat breakfast food like adults) suck up the price for the experience (mostly for their 6 year old brother's first trip).

I can't imagine booking somewhere like Tusker House and not paying attention to the menu/price. It's the same age cutoff as a child vs adult ticket.

 

[quoo]

Sigh. Yes, our trip delays mean our eldest is now 10 for our upcoming trip. Oh well. It'll still be awesome, just more $$$.

 

[DisneyFive]

Yes, on a broader topic I think it's disingenuous of Disney to have such a low age to be considered a "child", especially for meals. Park tickets? Maybe, they take up the same attraction seats as an adult would. Food? NO WAY. Personally 12 and under seems more appropriate for child food quantities.

We stopped going any buffets when we no longer could travel during the time of year when "free dining" was offered. Food cost at Disney is already extreme. Buffets are ridiculous (IMO)

Dan

 

[quoo]

I dunno. Have you met my 10 year old?

Kid's gonna blow the budget when we go to Citrico's - I know he's going to order the priciest steak.


(it's his birthday dinner, we're fine with this)

 

[tinkerbelletreasure]

It’s been that age limit for a long time. My youngest is turning 11 this year and we are finally starting to feel like he eats as much as an adult for some meals. But we also don’t do too many buffets and prix fixes meals in general. Usually LTT, and this trip we are doing Cinderellas castle for my birthday. All other meals he will probably eat off the kids menu.

 

[SL6827]

Yep. Been that since I started going in 2005. Thought it was absurd then. But no dog in that fight for me, I have no small kids.

 

[DisneyFive]

I dunno. Have you met my 10 year old?

Kid's gonna blow the budget when we go to Citrico's - I know he's going to order the priciest steak.


(it's his birthday dinner, we're fine with this)

Awe, congrats! That's such a perfect age for WDW. Hope it's an awesome meal.

Pricing:
There's sit down meals, then buffets, then there is Citrico's .

Dan

 

[Dug720]

Maybe, they take up the same attraction seats as an adult would. Food? NO WAY.

They take up the same seat as an adult at the restaurants too.