Dining with a 2 year old

[Sparky's Wife]

Hello everyone. Newbie-lurker who is still a little confused about the dining options for our January trip when we go with our almost 3 year old daughter. We have planned several character meals, mostly buffets. It is my understanding that she should be free for each of them as long as she shares from my plate. But, she does eat a lot. I would really appreciate if someone would clarify the following scenarios for me.

1) Buffets- she should be able to have her own plate of anything that is offered. Are there separate adult and children's offerings, and if so, would she still be able to eat items from the children's buffet or not since she is technically "sharing" my dinner?

2) Family Style TS- she should be able to have her own plate of anything that is offered.

3) Pre-platted (specifically CRT)- She can share from any of our plates. I assume I would not be able to get a second helping if need be, correct? Are there any a la carte items I would be able to order her? If not, would I be able to order from the children's menu for her (for a price)?

4) A la Carte restaurants- should be no issues as she can share whatever we pay for.

Thank you all for any help you can provide!

 

[alyssa810]

She will be able to have her own plate at the buffets, and under 3 are free. She can eat from the children's or adult offerings. For the family style, our only experience was at Whispering Canyon, and our DS was about 18 months at the time, and again, he was free and ate from the "skillet."
I can't speak to CRT, having not had the experience.

As far as regular a la carte meals, you can order a children's meal for her even though she's not 3, but you would have to pay for it.

to the boards!

 

[danielle782001]

She will absolutely be able to have her own plate at the buffets and can take from any of the offerings. They will even give her a drink. FOR FREE!

Table service meals will give you a plate to serve food from your plate BUT if you want to order for her you will pay OOP...It is not all that much so would recommend ordering for her...I tried having my son eat from my plate when he was two and it was hard for me to find things both of us would enjoy...You have to pay for tip OOP anyway, so a bill is coming no matter what...If you can find something you would both like, by all means just share...But in my experience it was not worth the small amount it saved us.

Family-style dining works out well because she will get her own plate and seconds are for the entire table so go ahead and ask for what ever you want more of (gor her and yourself). Again, for free.

 

[Anthony1971]

They will even give her a drink. FOR FREE!

This is not true.. unless it is a Buffet where dinks are included in the price otherwise you will pay
BYO if the 2.00-3.00 is an issue yes some places in DTD the drinks are 3.00 for kids sad but true and more epensive for adults

 

[TDC Nala]

The restaurant may or may not provide a drink for a toddler for free. Some posters report that their children were provided with a drink, even at a la carte restaurants. Some posters report they had to purchase a drink for the children, even at a buffet. Depends on the restaurant and maybe even on which server you ask.

 

[Sparky's Wife]

Thank you all for your responses. It is not the cost so much as knowing what the norm is, what to expect, and what to ask for without sounding like an idiot! We will not have the DP, so we will be paying OOP anyway.

Thanks again! Anything else I should know?

 

[Anthony1971]

The restaurant may or may not provide a drink for a toddler for free. Some posters report that their children were provided with a drink, even at a la carte restaurants. Some posters report they had to purchase a drink for the children, even at a buffet. Depends on the restaurant and maybe even on which server you ask.

I agree as we in some cases when he was 3 1/2 and ate very little at a Buffet we were not charged for the Buffet much less the drink.
In most cases we paid for drinks under 3 and over 3 paid for all...
however free is not the norm...
This is the same with Coffee after a soft drink some will charge some will not...

 

[DisneyFirstTimer10]

when we were there in may with our 1 yr old she was able to eat for free at all buffets (and they GAVE her drinks too) at CRT they gave her a drink, pasta, and ice cream.

 

[danielle782001]

This is not true.. unless it is a Buffet where dinks are included in the price

I was actually pointing to the the features of the buffet. Sorry if I was not clear. We went to several buffets over a few trips when one or two of our sons could eat for free and the severs always offered them drinks at no extra charge.

I agree that bringing a cup/drink is a good idea. We packed a few sip cups for our kids when they were young and still eating free. We packed older ones, that we tossed at the end of the trip. We brought the apple juice they drink and gallons of water to the room (to cut the juice). And brought the cups with us to meals.

One thing that happened for both of them is the love of water in Disney. We always asked for water, which were not charged for. They became more interested in the water than the juice. Now that is all the drink.

 

[clairemolly]

Hello everyone. Newbie-lurker who is still a little confused about the dining options for our January trip when we go with our almost 3 year old daughter. We have planned several character meals, mostly buffets. It is my understanding that she should be free for each of them as long as she shares from my plate. But, she does eat a lot. I would really appreciate if someone would clarify the following scenarios for me.

1) Buffets- she should be able to have her own plate of anything that is offered. Are there separate adult and children's offerings, and if so, would she still be able to eat items from the children's buffet or not since she is technically "sharing" my dinner?

2) Family Style TS- she should be able to have her own plate of anything that is offered.

3) Pre-platted (specifically CRT)- She can share from any of our plates. I assume I would not be able to get a second helping if need be, correct? Are there any a la carte items I would be able to order her? If not, would I be able to order from the children's menu for her (for a price)?

4) A la Carte restaurants- should be no issues as she can share whatever we pay for.

Thank you all for any help you can provide!

AT CRT, they have a "under 3" meal of buttered noodles, dessert, and I believe a child-friendly appetizer plate free of charge. You shouldn't need to order anything for her there either. We didn't for our DD in 2006 the week before she turned 3, or in 2008 for our other daughter who was 10 months.