Dining with "new adults"...?

[NewbieMouse]

I am struggling with dining reservations/choices for our upcoming trip. I would love to do the Dining packages for Fantasmic and WOC, but am hesitant as I know that ordering from the adults menu for my two 11 year old daughters is such a waste. Has anyone else struggled with this and come up with a decent solution? I'm assuming they won't let us order off the kids menu as these are fixed prices, although I know that's exactly what they'll want to eat and might not even touch some of the adult choices.... I've always wanted to try BB (dining package or not) but ordering my daughters a filet mignon (or equivalent) seems so crazy.

 

[longtimedisneylurker]

With those packages that you are mentioning, you will most likely be charged the full adult prices for your 11 year olds, but they can probably select food from the kids menu if that suits their palettes better. For non-package meals, I have heard of others choosing from the kids menu at a place like Blue Bayou and getting double the portion for double the price.

 

[NewbieMouse]

With those packages that you are mentioning, you will most likely be charged the full adult prices for your 11 year olds, but they can probably select food from the kids menu if that suits their palettes better. For non-package meals, I have heard of others choosing from the kids menu at a place like Blue Bayou and getting double the portion for double the price.

For the Fantasmic package, I think I'll have to just go with Aaddin's Oasis - this adult meals (the lasagne in particular) hey would totally like. I could try to pull fastpass, but we're going the week before it closes, so this may just be simpler.

The BB multiple purchases foromthe kids menu (non-dining package) sounds like a great idea - I wonder if ether is anyone here who as done this who can chime in? I would be happy to do this and they'll eat that for sure. But I'm ordering the filet!

 

[NiceOneSimba]

I was going to say what the PP said. I am pretty sure they will charge you the full adult price for the package meal, but let them select food from the kids menu. I'm assuming they'd get a larger portion than the kids meal portion, but I haven't done this myself, so I don't know from personal experience. I am sure someone has done this and will chime in.

If the issue with the non-package meals is that they don't like the adult menu food, there is the "double the portion, double the price" option for adults dining off the kids' menu.

If the issue is portion size, you can always split an adult entree between your girls at non-package table service meals. At most table service places, there are two ways to do this. If you split at a place like BB, there is a charge, but the kitchen does the splitting, the food is delivered on two plates, and each person gets their own sides (and starter, if it's included with the meal). Or you can share and divide it up yourself at the table, but you only get one set of sides, but no charge.

Hope that helps!

 

[mom2rtk]

OP, we had trouble with those decisions in the years right after our daughter aged into adult dining. It's really hard to justify. I think your choice to go with Aladdin's Oasis is a good one.

If you want to eat at BB (not on a Fantasmic package) you can split a plate with her. We did that on our most recent trip. Neither of us is a huge eater so splitting is a good option for us. They gave us the choice of splitting the side and soup as well, but we opted to spend the $12 split plate fee so we could each have our own. It was still pricey, but doable.

Last trip we splurged on Carthay Circle WOC, and this trip we splurged on RBT Fantasmic. It's getting easier to justify as she gets older and appreciates the adult dishes more (and eats more of what is served!)

I do wish they offered some sort of "junior" category for kids in those in between years.

 

[NewbieMouse]

I was going to say what the PP said. I am pretty sure they will charge you the full adult price for the package meal, but let them select food from the kids menu. I'm assuming they'd get a larger portion than the kids meal portion, but I haven't done this myself, so I don't know from personal experience. I am sure someone has done this and will chime in.

If the issue with the non-package meals is that they don't like the adult menu food, there is the "double the portion, double the price" option for adults dining off the kids' menu.

If the issue is portion size, you can always split an adult entree between your girls at non-package table service meals. At most table service places, there are two ways to do this. If you split at a place like BB, there is a charge, but the kitchen does the splitting, the food is delivered on two plates, and each person gets their own sides (and starter, if it's included with the meal). Or you can share and divide it up yourself at the table, but you only get one set of sides, but no charge.

Hope that helps!

OP, we had trouble with those decisions in the years right after our daughter aged into adult dining. It's really hard to justify. I think your choice to go with Aladdin's Oasis is a good one.

If you want to eat at BB (not on a Fantasmic package) you can split a plate with her. We did that on our most recent trip. Neither of us is a huge eater so splitting is a good option for us. They gave us the choice of splitting the side and soup as well, but we opted to spend the $12 split plate fee so we could each have our own. It was still pricey, but doable.

Last trip we splurged on Carthay Circle WOC, and this trip we splurged on RBT Fantasmic. It's getting easier to justify as she gets older and appreciates the adult dishes more (and eats more of what is served!)

I do wish they offered some sort of "junior" category for kids in those in between years.

It would be great if there was a "9-12" option! I guess they consider the split plate option to be that.... I didn't realize that about the split plate charge, and I had always thought, "That's a lot of $$ just to put something on two plates!!" Just so I know I understand, when you do the split plate, if you pay the $12, they would each get the side and a starter? That would work well as that's what they'd be most likely to eat.

 

[mom2rtk]

It would be great if there was a "9-12" option! I guess they consider the split plate option to be that.... I didn't realize that about the split plate charge, and I had always thought, "That's a lot of $$ just to put something on two plates!!" Just so I know I understand, when you do the split plate, if you pay the $12, they would each get the side and a starter? That would work well as that's what they'd be most likely to eat.

That's correct. We each got a soup and a side, so that was as good a deal as we were going to get at Disney. I thought that was a great answer since I try to eat smaller portions and my daughter is more of a grazer anyway.

The hard part was agreeing on an entrée choice. She really wanted the Monte Cristo but after trying it the last 2 trips I finally decided I just don't like it that much. LOL. So we split the chicken. We both liked it.

 

[NewbieMouse]

Good news - it is an excellent option for us.

As far as choosing an entree, I'lll make them arm wrestle for first dibs

 

[JennyN]

Just checking, is the cut off for kids meals 9 years or under 9?

 

[mom2rtk]

9 and under.

 

[JennyN]

Ok so a 9 year old is still considered a kid. Do they need some sort of ID with them for tickets and dining, I would prefer not to carry her passport.

 

[mom2rtk]

Ok so a 9 year old is still considered a kid. Do they need some sort of ID with them for tickets and dining, I would prefer not to carry her passport.

No ID required.

 

[JennyN]

Thanks mom2rdk.

 

[JadeDarkstar]

I hate the 9 age thing it makes it so hard to go to big places to eat.