Feeding a 10yr old, how strict on age for kids meals?

[EdnaMarieMode]

We were specifically asked the age of the child when we checked into Be Our Guest. I had the reservations listed as just me and 3 unnamed quests. I said 3 adults and one child. They asked the age of the child. Just a heads up.

I hope it didn’t come across like I advocate trying to cheat the system- it’s quite the opposite. Lying about kids ages to save some money on a meal really only drives the cost up (the less money they make on collecting adult prices, the more inflated those prices or the kids prices will become)- the house always wins.

It would be super awkward for me if I tried to lie (and my 11 year old doesn’t pass for 9, and neither does my 14 year old, regardless of their eating habits). I’m not perfect by any means but how am
I supposed to tell my kids that honesty is important, unless we’re trying to save money at Disney? They have definitely asked how old my kids are (either asking me, or them, in conversation. Sometimes they ask what grade they’re in as well). They have never given me a problem ordering a kids meal for either of them, or having them split a meal. We just limit anything prix fixe or aycte to 1-2 meals or less per trip.

 

[maxsmom]

I hope it didn’t come across like I advocate trying to cheat the system- it’s quite the opposite. Lying about kids ages to save some money on a meal really only drives the cost up (the less money they make on collecting adult prices, the more inflated those prices or the kids prices will become)- the house always wins.

It would be super awkward for me if I tried to lie (and my 11 year old doesn’t pass for 9, and neither does my 14 year old, regardless of their eating habits). I’m not perfect by any means but how am
I supposed to tell my kids that honesty is important, unless we’re trying to save money at Disney? They have definitely asked how old my kids are (either asking me, or them, in conversation. Sometimes they ask what grade they’re in as well). They have never given me a problem ordering a kids meal for either of them, or having them split a meal. We just limit anything prix fixe or aycte to 1-2 meals or less per trip.

Nope, I didn’t think that. I was just letting people know that there, they were asking the age of the child. To me it’s more about the waste of food not eaten simply b/c they are a certain age supposed to buy bigger meals. One should be able to buy the size meal that meats their needs for that meal. I also realize that all you can eat type of meals are different also.

 

[EdnaMarieMode]

Nope, I didn’t think that. I was just letting people know that there, they were asking the age of the child. To me it’s more about the waste of food not eaten simply b/c they are a certain age supposed to buy bigger meals. One should be able to buy the size meal that meats their needs for that meal. I also realize that all you can eat type of meals are different also.

I have that same issue. I can't stand getting a meal for myself that I know I won't finish, and then you add in getting my kids an adult meal they won't finish and it's even more waste. Also, it isn't like I can take the leftovers and carry them around the park for a few hours and then have them later for dinner, so it's definitely wasted food.

 

[MomOTwins]

I have that same issue. I can't stand getting a meal for myself that I know I won't finish, and then you add in getting my kids an adult meal they won't finish and it's even more waste. Also, it isn't like I can take the leftovers and carry them around the park for a few hours and then have them later for dinner, so it's definitely wasted food.

Now I get why people say the dining plan is too much food! I grew up overseas where restaurant portion sizes are smaller, and I almost never finish what is on my plate when we eat out. U.S. portion sizes are so huge the meals are over 1,000, or sometimes even 2,000 calories if you eat everything! Adult portion sizes may be large, but please, please don't feel the need to eat everything if you don't want to! How is the food "wasted" if you throw it away, but somehow not a waste if you eat more than you want to? It is a waste either way because it is more than what is needed or wanted. But that is the restaurant's fault for oversizing portions, not yours for ordering the meal. I guarantee there is lots of food waste on the kids' menu too.

The way I look at it is that there is a time for everything. When kids are under 3, they get to eat for free, then for the next 7 years they get discounts, and then it is full price. Heck, even Bobby's Burger Palace won't let me order their kid's cheeseburger even though their adult burgers are too big for me, so why should I expect a nice sit-down dining establishment to do so where the price difference between an adult meal and a kids one is even more pronounced?

 

[Pumbaa_]

Growing up we are taught to eat what we are given and not to waste food (by not eating it)rightly, wrongly it’s a thing.

 

[KrazeeK120]

Growing up we are taught to eat what we are given and not to waste food (by not eating it)rightly, wrongly it’s a thing.

Not everyone is taught that, though. I’ve never been forced to finish my plate. It isn’t healthy to continue eating when your body is telling you it’s full. Overeating can lead to health issues, including obesity. I wasn’t allowed to go eat candy bars or whatever later on, obviously.

I apply the same principal to my son. He is 2 years old and is allowed to decide how much he wants to eat.

I, personally, don’t feel bad when I can’t finish the portions in a restaurant. I go in with the realization that they’re portioning food for an NFL linebacker, not a 5’3, 112 lb. 30-something woman.

 

[EdnaMarieMode]

Now I get why people say the dining plan is too much food! I grew up overseas where restaurant portion sizes are smaller, and I almost never finish what is on my plate when we eat out. U.S. portion sizes are so huge the meals are over 1,000, or sometimes even 2,000 calories if you eat everything! Adult portion sizes may be large, but please, please don't feel the need to eat everything if you don't want to! How is the food "wasted" if you throw it away, but somehow not a waste if you eat more than you want to? It is a waste either way because it is more than what is needed or wanted. But that is the restaurant's fault for oversizing portions, not yours for ordering the meal. I guarantee there is lots of food waste on the kids' menu too.

The way I look at it is that there is a time for everything. When kids are under 3, they get to eat for free, then for the next 7 years they get discounts, and then it is full price. Heck, even Bobby's Burger Palace won't let me order their kid's cheeseburger even though their adult burgers are too big for me, so why should I expect a nice sit-down dining establishment to do so where the price difference between an adult meal and a kids one is even more pronounced?

My 2 year old only eats for free if he is at a buffet (which we limit/ avoid due to the high price for my

Now I get why people say the dining plan is too much food! I grew up overseas where restaurant portion sizes are smaller, and I almost never finish what is on my plate when we eat out. U.S. portion sizes are so huge the meals are over 1,000, or sometimes even 2,000 calories if you eat everything! Adult portion sizes may be large, but please, please don't feel the need to eat everything if you don't want to! How is the food "wasted" if you throw it away, but somehow not a waste if you eat more than you want to? It is a waste either way because it is more than what is needed or wanted. But that is the restaurant's fault for oversizing portions, not yours for ordering the meal. I guarantee there is lots of food waste on the kids' menu too.

The way I look at it is that there is a time for everything. When kids are under 3, they get to eat for free, then for the next 7 years they get discounts, and then it is full price. Heck, even Bobby's Burger Palace won't let me order their kid's cheeseburger even though their adult burgers are too big for me, so why should I expect a nice sit-down dining establishment to do so where the price difference between an adult meal and a kids one is even more pronounced?

For me it's not about feeling the need to finish everything (or have my kids finish everything). It's really largely cost-driven for me. I can spend money on a kid's meal they won't finish, or I can spend double that on an adult meal they also won't finish. In either case, I'm spending money on food that won't be finished and I'd rather spend less money and present my children with a more reasonable portion.

Yes, portion sizes are much too large all around. If a restaurant served what is actually a measured portion of pasta and charged $20, people would riot.

Many restaurants outside of Disney have zero problem with adults ordering kids meals, including nice sit-down establishments. Most restaurants in general have no issue with this as some money is better than no money. It's really not an unreasonable expectation.

At Disney my 2 year old only eats for "free" if he eats off of my plate- if I order him a meal, it has to be paid for (so a $10 grilled cheese that he will take three bites of and no matter how you slice it, that is a waste of money and food). At buffets I realize he can have his own plate but I'd hardly call that free either when I am paying nearly double the price for my 11 year old. An adult meal at Cape May buffet is around $48, a kid's meal is $27 and there is no way my 11 year old consumes $27 worth of anything, nevermind the $48 he will be charged.

We stick to mostly QS meals because there is no issue ordering a kid's meal for my 11 and 14 year old (and myself if I choose). For TS meals we avoid anything that is buffet or prix fixe (we limit to one meal per trip) so as to not pay upwards of $48 for them. That's our choice, and the beauty of Disney is that I can choose from hundreds of places to eat and most places I've chosen have been completely accommodating in allowing us to order a child meal for our 11 year old, or have him split an adult meal with his sister, or even order an appetizer and a salad as his meal if he chooses.

 

[ENJDisneyFan]

Many restaurants outside of Disney have zero problem with adults ordering kids meals, including nice sit-down establishments. Most restaurants in general have no issue with this as some money is better than no money. It's really not an unreasonable expectation.

Interesting. Most restaurants near me DO enforce the "9 and under" policy for ordering kids meals. I think it's less about portion size and more about the free drink and dessert that often come with the kids meal. I can completely understand why they don't want a table of adults coming in to order a 3 course kids meal for $6.99. Those meals are intended for families with adults who are paying for full price meals.

 

[EdnaMarieMode]

Interesting. Most restaurants near me DO enforce the "9 and under" policy for ordering kids meals. I think it's less about portion size and more about the free drink and dessert that often come with the kids meal. I can completely understand why they don't want a table of adults coming in to order a 3 course kids meal for $6.99. Those meals are intended for families with adults who are paying for full price meals.

We're in southern CT, and frequently travel. It could be luck, but we've never run into a problem. We typically order a kid's meal for the 11 year old, 2 adult meals (for DH and myself) and either a kid or adult meal for the 14 year old. Depending on what I order, I may also order a meal for the 2 year old. Most restaurants we go to don't have dessert included on the kid's meal so it's just the meal and beverage (and sometimes the beverage isn't included either- so we're paying anywhere from $8-10 for just the kid's entree, plus $2-3 for a drink). I could see a restaurant discouraging the $6.99 3 course meal for a 14 year old, but where we are you'd be hard pressed to find more than just the entree for $6.99 anywhere.

 

[KrazeeK120]

We're in southern CT, and frequently travel. It could be luck, but we've never run into a problem. We typically order a kid's meal for the 11 year old, 2 adult meals (for DH and myself) and either a kid or adult meal for the 14 year old. Depending on what I order, I may also order a meal for the 2 year old. Most restaurants we go to don't have dessert included on the kid's meal so it's just the meal and beverage (and sometimes the beverage isn't included either- so we're paying anywhere from $8-10 for just the kid's entree, plus $2-3 for a drink). I could see a restaurant discouraging the $6.99 3 course meal for a 14 year old, but where we are you'd be hard pressed to find more than just the entree for $6.99 anywhere.

Interesting. I’m in Central IL and we frequently dine out with our 2 year old. The kid’s meals here are usually in the $5-7 range and always include a drink. We go out at least once a week and I don’t think we’ve run across anyplace that doesn’t include a drink. A few include dessert too.

 

[EdnaMarieMode]

Interesting. I’m in Central IL and we frequently dine out with our 2 year old. The kid’s meals here are usually in the $5-7 range and always include a drink. We go out at least once a week and I don’t think we’ve run across anyplace that doesn’t include a drink. A few include dessert too.

That sounds great! Definitely not the norm here (and I'm okay with it because my kids don't usually have room for dessert, and I'm happy to tack on a few extra dollars for a drink unless they want water).

 

[MomOTwins]

Interesting. Most restaurants near me DO enforce the "9 and under" policy for ordering kids meals. I think it's less about portion size and more about the free drink and dessert that often come with the kids meal. I can completely understand why they don't want a table of adults coming in to order a 3 course kids meal for $6.99. Those meals are intended for families with adults who are paying for full price meals.

That has always been my experience too—I have never seen a kids menu at a sit down restaurant (i.e not fast food) without an age restriction. This must just be one of those things that varies geographically.

 

[EdnaMarieMode]

That has always been my experience too—I have never seen a kids menu at a sit down restaurant (i.e not fast food) without an age restriction. This must just be one of those things that varies geographically.

Most of the menus have it printed “kids meals for guests 12 and under,” so unlike at Disney adult meals don’t start at 10 years old, and it’s rarely enforced.

 

[DisLiss]

I have a picky 10 year old to plan for on our trip, and we've decided to just stick to mostly QS meals. We figure that way we can each get what we want, even if it means we'll stop to eat a few times to get one meal accomplished. We'll also be going during the food and wine festival, so that will help.

We're planning on trying a lot of different items, but sharing everything, that way no ever feels like they're throwing something away if they take a bite and realize they don't like it. Unless we all don't like it, of course!