Dining and age considered 'adult'

[MelanieC]

My DD15 (now) 14 last year has eaten off the kids menu many times. At buffet's it's full price, but she is a chicken finger kind of kid. She did have a few adult meals here and there (like at the Sci Fi) or order the adult pizza's, but most times she would rather have the kids stuff. Nothing usually appeals to her on the adult menu.

I even ordered the kids chicken meal at the Prime time last year because I had had such a huge dinner at Ohana the night before and wasn't that hungry for lunch the next day.

 

[rcraw45425]

At Concourse our DD almost 12 asked if she could order the pick three from the kids menu and the server said no problem. DD10 shared the ribeye with me and had an order of fries and the $6 Pirate punch drink, so her meal cost the same as another kids meal with no food DH also had a steak. Even that way our meal was still $70 without a tip. The prices are ridiculous. That meal was actually supposed to be Chef Mickey's but the girls looked at the menu earlier that afternoon and said, ick, no way. Too many strange items on there for them!

 

[PatsGirl]

My party of four, myself MOM, not telling , DS17, DD10, and DDBFF10, are heading down in September. Yes, we have free dining so you would think it wouldn't matter much but...

Both girls do like the appetizers and desserts at both Mama Melrose and LeCellier but want "kid food" for their meal. They wouldn't be able to eat the portions of an adult-size meal anyways and then add the app and dessert and... you get the picture. They are both considered adults and as such can order adult meals but will they be able to order the app/dessert and then chicken fingers or something simple like that? In essence, we want to mix it up: some adult, some kid.

As for myself and DS, no problem, we love everything!

Anyone run into this before?

 

[taximomfor4]

that really is a hard one though. It is like ANY person. Some will eat very light, while others don't. Seniors quite often don't eat as much (as example) someone in their 30's. But they don't have senior prices either. And then you get into those with diet restrictions (whether self imposed or not).
I agree 9 is pretty young for an adult. But at least you know it up front and can plan accordingly. I imagine there are some pre teens who eat like a horse, and some like a bird.

Very true -- big variety of appetites at every age. Also, for every person on the disboards saying their 10yr old won't eat like an adult, there is another person on the Disboards upgrading their under-10-yr-old to "adult" during free dining. To me, that sort of tells me Disney's age cutoff isn't too off. At least we all know the ages in advance, so can plan accordingly. Next year, my middle daughter will be 10. To give you an idea of her size, her dance dress is a size FIVE. We won't be doing buffets next year once she is adult-priced there (she could easily pass for younger, of course, but we won't let the kids pretend to be an age that they are not).

Happy planning, everyone!

 

[hmp2z]

In essence, we want to mix it up: some adult, some kid.

Anyone run into this before?

As long as it's a regular table service place (not buffet), some of you can order from the kid's menu, and others can order from the adults menu. I don't eat meat, so when we go to Beaches & Cream, I invariably get the grilled cheese from the kid's menu. Disney is very good about letting you order from whichever menu you'd prefer.

Cheers!
Heather W

 

[Kath2003]

Disney have to draw the line somewhere. And for every 10 year old who doesn't each much, there's a 10 year old who can manage adult sized portions. I've never heard of Disney having a problem with anyone ordering off the kids menu for a middle school child or a young teen. And buffets are a set price no matter HOW much you eat - and for every picky adult there's an adult that goes "all-out". Disney have to draw lines somewhere.

 

[ReneeA]

My kids were 3 & 4 on our last trip and ate more off our plates than they did of their own "kid food". They also have very high metabolisms and eat a ton for their size...probably more than me on a daily basis. I guess I can't relate to those complaining about 9-12 year olds NOT eating.

Of course, I don't cater to them at home, and they are very used to eating adult-type foods.

 

[PatsGirl]

Hmp2z: What I'm trying to explain, and not very well I guess, is they would like to order the apps and desserts from the "correct" adult menu but have PB&J or chicken fingers for their actual meals. One of the girls really likes salads and shrimp cocktail which is often offered as an appetizer and of course both like the desserts (no jello for these two ) but are looking at the menu items, salmon? filet mignon? seafood fradiavolo? and going huh????? If I were paying for the plan they would be costing me a fortune but they would still be 10, and 10 is the adult menu so... can they order the adults apps/desserts and a child-like entree? I'm really thinking they can because we have never had a problem at WDW when dining and asking for certain requests. If they can't, fine. They will decide on one or the other, doesn't really matter to me, just was hoping to be able to offer them decent starters before they started on their yuckee kids' meals, hoping they might fill up on salad and other healthier items. Of course, the desserts will even it all out in the end

We have ADRS at Ohana and Boma as well and of course its buffet so it won't matter. One of the reasons I like the buffets is they are more apt to try things in very small portions and be able to try something else if they don't care for it. I can't ask them to try the salmon and have them not like it and go without a dinner that evening.

 

[amery]

Interesting question.............

While securing my ADR at CRT yesterday morning for 11 people (7A/4C), I was asked how many were under the age of 17? Would this have implied that 16 is the cutoff and so, why wouldn't this be consistent everywhere else?

 

[solferino]

Interesting question.............

While securing my ADR at CRT yesterday morning for 11 people (7A/4C), I was asked how many were under the age of 17? Would this have implied that 16 is the cutoff and so, why wouldn't this be consistent everywhere else?

Maybe it has more to do with presentation of the magic sword/wand for the princes and princesses?

 

[kaytieeldr]

I think so, solferino.

FTR - while I don't remember which age changed first, the adult/child dining cutoff now, or once again, coincides with the adult/child park admission cutoff.

Most likely (and I'm saying this without research or support), Disney determined that the majority of Guests age ten and above are able to ride ALL attractions throughout all the parks. It would have then made sense to have the ages coincide.