Family Style with Dining Plan?

[SLDisney]

At the family style restaurants, specifically the Liberty Tree Tavern, does everyone in your party have to get the family style meal, or are there also ala-carte item or appetizers.

I am asking because my 11 yo daughter eats very lightly and no meat. We are planning on paying OOP for her sit-down meals, as she enjoys apps (and dessert) and does not get entrees. The $30 cost of the family style dining at Liberty Tree would be a waste.

We also have a res at Whispering Canyon, so I guest the same question there.

We are hoping to use the saved dining credits for a signature (2 credit) restaurant. Will this work?

 

[NOLA_Tink]

Lunch at Liberty Tree is only menu/a la carte service & dinner is only served "family style." Everyone will be charged for dinner regardless of the amount that they eat. For Whispering Canyon, the unlimited skillet is a set price, but they also have a seperate menu to order from during lunch and dinner. If you eat at WCC, no one actually has to order the skillet to dine there- or some in the party can order the skillet while others order their own items. Hope this helps!

 

[gigi1313]

because your daughter has special dining needs (i.e. no meat) you should mark your ADR as such and discuss additional options with the chef when you arrive... they should easily be able to supplement the family style meal with something else for her due to her dietary restrictions...

my son has food allergies and the desserts at LTT and Garden Grill have never been safe for him and they have always found alternatives w/zero hassle!

 

[SLDisney]

Yes, it does help and a good suggestion
Thanks for the replies.

 

[TDC Nala]

If she's at the table you will have to pay for her to eat at a family-style restaurant, so the above suggestion about notifying the restaurant of her dietary restrictions may be the way to go. You will still likely pay full price for her though, so you might as well use the dining credit.

At Whispering Canyon she doesn't have to order the skillet, she can order off the menu.

 

[Nadjalu]

If she's at the table you will have to pay for her to eat at a family-style restaurant, so the above suggestion about notifying the restaurant of her dietary restrictions may be the way to go. You will still likely pay full price for her though, so you might as well use the dining credit.

At Whispering Canyon she doesn't have to order the skillet, she can order off the menu.

Nala, we have not experienced this.
Both in March and Dec. of last year my friend met us at Ohana for dinner. She brought both her daughters and only she and one of them ate. The younger one (14 at the time) wasn't interested in anything but having an iced tea. We ate as well and the server never had an issue with her sitting with us while we ate.
Ohana is a family style restaurant. We didn't have the same server, is Ohana just different about this?

 

[TDC Nala]

It may depend on whether the server is willing to cut you a break, but the general policy is that everyone at the table at a buffet or family style pays. It is too difficult for the restaurant to police the table to make sure the non-paying person doesn't eat.

 

[Nadjalu]

It may depend on whether the server is willing to cut you a break, but the general policy is that everyone at the table at a buffet or family style pays. It is too difficult for the restaurant to police the table to make sure the non-paying person doesn't eat.

When you posted that, I was assuming that would be why they do it. I just found it odd that 2 different servers didn't make her pay and the trips were 7 months apart.
But it is good to know to expect it then. We must have gotten lucky.