Dining with a 10 year old at Disney - Specific restaurant questions.

[lovethesun12]

Unfortunately because of other commitments we had to reschedule a trip which means one of my kids will now be 10.

This makes some major differences in dining for us, and I’m think of changing a bunch of restaurants. I’d like to hear your thoughts on specific ones. My child will automatically want to order from the kids menu with their other sibling.

I’m thinking we will just skip CRT, storybook dining, BOG, R&C fireworks, California Grill, Chef Mickeys and ‘Ohana now. Skipping Chef Mickey’s and CRT hits the hardest because we love them, but the overall combined price increase in general (along with our kid increasing to adult pricing) just really doesn’t justify the value for us anymore.

I have some specific questions on keeping some (like space 220 which my kids love) and adding new ones which I’m outlining below. I’d love for anyone with experiences eating here with a child this age to chime in.

Questions:

1) On Space 220 - My child loved the mac and cheese from here. Will they be able to order this now? Also, last time they wanted more of it (one point disney for recognizing this is the age kids may eat more, lol). If they order, will they be given a more “adult” amount? Since the price is more than double I feel like the portion should be too if they order from the kids menu?

2) Does anyone have any experience with whether these restaurants will let a 10 year old kid order from the kids menu:
-SciFi, Yak & Yeti, Rainforest Cafe, T-Rex, Skippers Canteen, Rose & Crown (not fireworks), Coral Reef, Kona Cafe, Grand Floridian Cafe, Steakhouse 71, San Angel Inn, Via Napoli, Topolino’s

3) While I know buffets are out, how did the prix fixe meals in general (CRT, Storybook, etc for example) work in terms of letting kids order from kids menu? Any experiences with how much extra food was served?

Feel free to add any other tips on dining with a 10 year old at Disney

Thanks in advance!

 

[thanxfornoticin]

Just in general, I don't think you're going to have any issue with your child ordering off the kid's menus at Disney. Honestly. I expect no one looks twice when they do. Heck, in the recent past, my wife has ordered an item or two off the kid's menus because she liked something better (or smaller) on that menu!! If your 10 year-old wants Mac & Cheese off the kids menu, they should just order it and enjoy it.

 

[mom2rtk]

Just in general, I don't think you're going to have any issue with your child ordering off the kid's menus at Disney. Honestly. I expect no one looks twice when they do. Heck, in the recent past, my wife has ordered an item or two off the kid's menus because she liked something better (or smaller) on that menu!! If your 10 year-old wants Mac & Cheese off the kids menu, they should just order it and enjoy it.

This is true most everywhere except buffets and fixed price locations.

 

[thanxfornoticin]

This is true most everywhere except buffets and fixed price locations.

Agreed - those places don't technically have a kid's menu, just a kid's price.

 

[supersnoop]

For prix fixe pricing, you can expect to order off the kids menu, but pay the adult price and receive an adult portion.

 

[gorjus121]

2) Does anyone have any experience with whether these restaurants will let a 10 year old kid order from the kids menu:
-SciFi, Yak & Yeti, Rainforest Cafe, T-Rex, Skippers Canteen, Rose & Crown (not fireworks), Coral Reef, Kona Cafe, Grand Floridian Cafe, Steakhouse 71, San Angel Inn, Via Napoli, Topolino’s

We dined at Yak & Yeti, Skipper Canteen, and San Angel Inn in April of this year. Our children aged 12 & 14 were both able to order off the kids menu and we were not charged adult prices.

 

[Lilsia]

You can still do the buffets since anyone can eat anything on them. I think that would actually be the better option. I know that it stinks paying more, but at least your kid will be able to eat what they want. There are plenty of adults that don't eat enough at a buffet to make it "worth it" financially, especially at WDW. Is all of this hassle worth it because of the extra money? That is just how it is. Your kid is 10 now and they will have to pay more for food and tickets. No way around it. I wouldn't change any of my dining plans.

 

[NashvilleMama]

It's completely hit or miss if they'll charge you the adult rate or not, but we've always been able to order off the kids menu. Sometimes the bill shows up with the kid rate, sometimes adult.

 

[holden]

It might be a good idea to consider some QS meals also. You can order a kids meal there and will be charged the kids price every time. Sometimes I even order a kids meal and always pay the kids price. We have found we are eating more QS since using LLs. The timing of things is different now, and it's more important to us to be able to ride the attractions than eat a meal in a sit-down restaurant.

 

[TwoMisfits]

If price is an object for your 10 year old and dining, my suggestion is to choose CS (since anyone can order kids meals) and to choose ala carte TS where your son can either share with another adult or child, or order appetizers/sides as his main meal, or just order adult meals that don't start that expensive.

Since it seems money might be an object, I would skip all buffets, prix fixe, and 3rd party restaurants where he would not follow one of my ala carte tips above, since all 3 would likely charge him at adult rates.

 

[lovethesun12]

If price is an object for your 10 year old and dining, my suggestion is to choose CS (since anyone can order kids meals) and to choose ala carte TS where your son can either share with another adult or child, or order appetizers/sides as his main meal, or just order adult meals that don't start that expensive.

Since it seems money might be an object, I would skip all buffets, prix fixe, and 3rd party restaurants where he would not follow one of my ala carte tips above, since all 3 would likely charge him at adult rates.

Thanks. It’s not that we can’t budget for this, it’s just that I think mentally I’m looking at the increases overall plus the jump to 10yo along with it. For the 10yo alone it’s like $300-$500 extra. Just feels like such a ridiculous amount to spend on food. At the same time, we loved our experiences there and not sure I can walk away, lol.

I could eat (pardon the pun) the price increases but $50 extra for the same mac and cheese as last year? Ugh. I think everyone has a limit and maybe I’ve reached mine.

The more I think about it, the more I think I might just offer the kids a choice between fancy TS they like or $300 cash each. I think they’d choose cash and we’d save a ton. We could also still do some of our favourites and try some new ones.

I’m thinking I like your suggestions and I might skip all the buffets/etc.

 

[lovethesun12]

It might be a good idea to consider some QS meals also. You can order a kids meal there and will be charged the kids price every time. Sometimes I even order a kids meal and always pay the kids price. We have found we are eating more QS since using LLs. The timing of things is different now, and it's more important to us to be able to ride the attractions than eat a meal in a sit-down restaurant.

Yeah this makes sense. Last year we went for 9 nights and did 9 TS.

This year we’re doing about the same. With all the added price increases I think we might switch to mostly QS… maybe just a couple TS.

Thanks

 

[VFL]

I remember when my youngest turned 10 and we went to BOMA. He is picky and didn’t eat nearly enough to justify the price increase. Disney really needs to rethink the 10 year old adult dining price. Now he’s 14 and almost six feet tall and eats like a lumberjack so I have no issue with pricing. I definitely feel your pain. I would totally offer the cash and eat at cheaper places. My two would take that offer in a heart beat. Lol. Enjoy your trip.

 

[DSLRuser]

they do not "card" kids.....as long as it is not a buffet, they can order from anywhere

 

[NashvilleMama]

I remember when my youngest turned 10 and we went to BOMA. He is picky and didn’t eat nearly enough to justify the price increase. Disney really needs to rethink the 10 year old adult dining price. Now he’s 14 and almost six feet tall and eats like a lumberjack so I have no issue with pricing. I definitely feel your pain. I would totally offer the cash and eat at cheaper places. My two would take that offer in a heart beat. Lol. Enjoy your trip.

As long as they're not having problems getting people to pay the prices, they aren't going to lower them. It really does stink though. We'd for sure do more TS dining if the kids prices in age range 10-12 were more reasonable as mine eat like birds.

 

[lovethesun12]

As long as they're not having problems getting people to pay the prices, they aren't going to lower them. It really does stink though. We'd for sure do more TS dining if the kids prices in age range 10-12 were more reasonable as mine eat like birds.

Yeah I agree. Part of me wonders if the early age of 10 deliberate, to encourage more spread over the other restaurants. Who knows. Just seems like 10 is pretty young to consider an adult.

 

[HopperFan]

10+ is an adult park ticket price
10+ is an adult dining price
10+ is an adult dining plan price
10+ is an adult for upsells like dessert parties

It is to keep prices consistent across all offerings.

Just like there are 12 year olds who eat like birds there are 8 year olds who eat like adults. Disney has done all the math to determine at which point they need to charge adult prices to meet all their profit goals.

The plus for the dining options is that it is completely under the guests control. Don't eat anywhere that you won't get value for the cost.

 

[Lilsia]

Thanks. It’s not that we can’t budget for this, it’s just that I think mentally I’m looking at the increases overall plus the jump to 10yo along with it. For the 10yo alone it’s like $300-$500 extra. Just feels like such a ridiculous amount to spend on food. At the same time, we loved our experiences there and not sure I can walk away, lol.

I could eat (pardon the pun) the price increases but $50 extra for the same mac and cheese as last year? Ugh. I think everyone has a limit and maybe I’ve reached mine.

The more I think about it, the more I think I might just offer the kids a choice between fancy TS they like or $300 cash each. I think they’d choose cash and we’d save a ton. We could also still do some of our favourites and try some new ones.

I’m thinking I like your suggestions and I might skip all the buffets/etc.

We always had to pay adult prices for our kids are the regular restaurants since they didn't eat the stuff that was on the kids' menus. Even when they were toddlers, we got them one adult meal to split. Paying the higher price is a mental hurtle more than anything else. But if you let that bother you, then it will affect your trip. Maybe you can encourage your child to look at the adult menus and pick something from there. Even if you have to modify things, like leave off a sauce, it might make your child feel more grown up. If not, my best advice to you is to just to let it go. It is not worth stressing over.

 

[DisneyMama811]

Don't eat anywhere that you won't get value for the cost.

with a bottle of coke $5 or a Mickey Ice cream bar at $6.95 there is literally nowhere on Disney property you get value for the cost when it comes to food... especially when for my family personally I have to factor in exchange rate. Food at Disney is highly overpriced but I can acknowledge that, accept I'm going to spend a lot, look past it and still have a great time, but pretending it's not true is just silly

 

[Anna131517]

This is kind of off topic but consider Whispering Canyon Cafe (TS at Wilderness Lodge) and Woodys Lunchbox (QS in HS). My kids (5, 7, 9) absolutely loved those places. My 9 year old actually already orders off the adult menu half the time so although I don’t like it I can kind of understand Disney’s thought process here.
That being said, their food prices are out of control right now.