Dining with a 2 year old.

[mom2blake]

I was wondering if chidren 2 and under eat free at the Character meals and buffets at Disney restaurants. Everything I see says for children 3 to 9. Thanks!!!

 

[altheatoldme]

I believe 2-year-olds eat free at all of the buffets, it's awesome!
The only other experience we have is at CRT, my 2-year-old was given french toast sticks. At any other restaurant they gave her an empty plate and we could share our food with her. Of course there's also the option of buying a meal for a 2-year-old but we never had to, there was plenty of food.
Hope this helps!

 

[Alice clones]

it has been a few years since we had a 2 year old at disney, but have done it 2x. at CRT they were able to eat from the pastry basket, and they got a small plate for themsleves. at buffets they eat free, but everywhere else you either let them eat off your plate or buy a kids meal. we were on the dining plan last time, and we would often pick an appetizer for the 2yo to have as her meal, and then she picked off everone elsed plates. we had 3 kids (including the 2yo), so for QS we would often split them 3 ways, no left overs!
they are also free at the family style dining like liberty tree tavern.

 

[SEC]

We recently returned from a trip to WDW with our 2-year old and they are allowed to share food. At CRT for lunch and dinner they are given free pasta.

 

[TDC Nala]

Children age 3 and under may share with any party member at any restaurant. At buffets, all you can eat family style restaurants, and fixed price, fixed menu restaurants, they eat free. If you order a meal specifically for them at an a la carte restaurant you will need to pay for it.

 

[Tiger926]

FYI - Akershus actually gives children under 3 their own meal and beverage for free! We've eaten here many times, but this past July, was the 1st trip where the baby was old enough to eat (last trip, he was still drinking milk), so the server told us that they provide meals for free. We ordered off of the children's meal, same as we did for our DD. It was a great surprise!

Happy eating, Tiger

 

[TDC Nala]

Akershus is a fixed price, fixed menu restaurant, not a la carte - children under 3 are free in that type of restaurant.

 

[Tiger926]

Akershus is a fixed price, fixed menu restaurant, not a la carte - children under 3 are free in that type of restaurant.

Ok, that is confusing as I thought I've seen posts in which children under 3 have been charged here... Did I confuse something here? I also asked the server, and perhaps I misunderstood...but the server said that they used to charge for children under 3. I've been home sick today, so perhaps I messed up. So sorry if I did.

Thanks for the info. Maybe I confused something, Tiger

 

[laliwalden]

We ate a quite a few buffet or family style restaurants for this reason. We knew she would eat free and with buffet there are lots of options.

At LeCellier she was not interested in eating, so I requested her a fruit cup. I was thinking like a Dole fruit cup, LOL, they brought out this HUGE bowl of fresh fruit!! She was in hog heaven!! And there was no charge on my bill for it!!

 

[TDC Nala]

yeah, it shouldn't be inconsistent - like CRT, because you pay one price for 3-9 and one price for 10-up the under 3s are supposed to be free. But when is Disney in practice ever consistent about anything.

 

[tigger2on]

We have 4 kids ... with 3 of them being under 5. (Yep... slightly crazy on our part). We go every year at least once and always get the dining plan through our DVC stays.
We generally have used character buffets for the variety of food and the ability for our under 3's to eat what they want. Also the characters keep them happy for a longer sit down meal.
We also like going to Ohana's and Whispering canyon Cafe as they can eat the family style meals that are offered there and the all you can eat skillet at WCC. Both places have entertainment geared to kids at all meal servings.
We also have had to purchase meals off the kiddie menus for them but were able to split one between two kids and share some of our stuff with them too.
Good luck with your choices and enjoy your trip making magical memories!

 

[djp0630]

FYI - Akershus actually gives children under 3 their own meal and beverage for free! We've eaten here many times, but this past July, was the 1st trip where the baby was old enough to eat (last trip, he was still drinking milk), so the server told us that they provide meals for free. We ordered off of the children's meal, same as we did for our DD. It was a great surprise!

Happy eating, Tiger

At Akershus DS1 was able to order a meal for free, along with eating off the cold buffet. I was quite surprised. All buffets he ate for free. At the one or two fixed meal places we ate at, he ate off our plates and DD3's plate (like we normally do at restaurants at home) CRT gave him free buttered pasta during lunch (which he didn't like!).