Have you ever done a buffet alone w/ a toddler?

[Honeymooner04]

If so, HOW??? I'm headed to Disney World alone with my 2 year old in a couple of months and I'm trying to figure out where we will eat (haven't decided if we'll do the dining plan or not). Some of our favorite places to go with a little one are buffetts (Crystal Palace, Hollywood and Vine) and I'm trying to determine if I should try it alone or just stick with the family style places (Garden Grille, Liberty Tree Tavern).

And if a buffett would be too much hassle, does this strategy sound doable....eat our normal breakfast in the room courtesy of garden grocer or some service have a sit down lunch in the park (lunch is usually the meal dd eats the most at anyway); head back to the room in early afternoon for the requisite nap and a snack before we head back in the park and do a counter service meal for us to share at night.

And finally, what are your favorite counter service restaurants for little ones and how do you manage those? DD is good about staying with me in lines and I think as long as I avoid the peak times it shouldn't be that big of a deal.

Sorry for all of the questions. This is the first time I'm doing Disney World alone with a two year old and of everything that goes along with the trip like this the ONLY thing I'm really worried about is eating! Thanks in advance for all your help!

 

[Julieh22]

I did WDW last may with my then 3 year old. We did crystal palace buffet for lunch alone and although it was a minor hassle it wasn't bad.

He was able to walk beside me and I carried each of our plates back to the table. I guess if your daughter wasn't in the mood to walk then you could carry one plate back and go back to get the second (or maybe someone who works there could help you). Depends on what your desires are...

I say do what you feel comfortable with and have fun! I would re-do eating crystal palace with my son again. We went last year and had a great mother/son trip and did everything that we normally would have done!

 

[goofygal531]

Well, for the counter service restaurants, don't take the tray. Get a closed drink (like a bottle of water) and throw it on your stroller canapy closed (new pocket!!) if they don't have bags, then I suggest bringing some to put the food in to get it to the table so you can push the stroller with one hand.

I would bring a small umbrella stroller so you can fit in line.

For the buffet, if you go at off times, it won't be so crowded. Your DD can stand with you and can keep an eye on her better. Also, just go up twice. Keep one hand on her one on your plate. I might do it once, not everyday. I'd stick with counter service and sit down meals. Just easier IMO.

Lots of luck!1

 

[Crystal_27]

Well, DD (who was 3) and I did Crystal Palace for breakfast one morning of our trip. Getting the food really wasn't that bad, honestly (although I mistakenly gave her a parfait glass full of syrup which she proceeded to dump on herself). After we got seated, I just put all of my stuff (camera, backpack, etc.) on the chairs, and DD and I just went up to the buffet with our two plates so she could make her selections. Thankfully, we were seated very close to the buffet, so it really was convenient.

 

[Tricia1972]

Just a note, and based on a thread I read here a long time ago...

If going alone, and if she is potty trained, you may want to have a note pad with you.

I read about a poster who went to the bathroom with her young child at a buffet. The child took longer than usual to go potty and the server (who she couldn't find before leaving the table) mistakenly thought she dodged the bill and bussed the table! She had a note on her folio also about walking out on the bill that even once corrected remained there.

Servers can be hard to locate, and toddlers when they have to go have to go now.

I believe the whole mess could have been alleviated if she just had left a little note on the table "Went to restroom, be right back"

Just something to think about.

 

[HonnyDipp]

Give your DD something to hold to make her think she's helping. Like a piece of fruit or a container of milk. While you are preparing your plates, compliment her on being such a big helper. Also, try some practice runs take her to a local buffet to see how she acts, that way when its time for Disney it wont be new to her. Have fun!!!!!

 

[Wendybird55]

I'm not sure if this will work and I know some people don't like the idea, but have you considered a harness? I am bringing my son who will almost be 2 in September (and I'm going with my DH and sister) and I am planning on getting a harness. Right now my son loves to run all over the place and is not always cooperative with holding hands. I'm hoping he will get better by Disney, but I know he's not going to want to stay in the stroller all day and I want to let him walk around and have some freedom so I'm am going to get a harness. There are some they have that look like backpacks with stuffed animals. This way I can let my son walk a bit and don't have to worry about him running off.

This may be a solution for buffets as your DD can go up with you and you can have the harness strap around your wrist while getting the food and keeping an eye on her.

Again, I know people don't like harnesses and I had my doubts, but my son's safety comes first. If it doesn't work I don't have to use it, but I would rather have it then not.

Also, have you tried the Single Parent forum? - there may be some good suggestions there.

As far as restaurants or CS - Whispering Canyon is a good family style restaurant and alot for fun for kids. My sister said Liberty Tree Tavern in MK is also good food and they have Character Lunch & Dinner family style. You may also want to try Sci-Fi and Fifties Prime Time in DH.

As far as counter service - I think it's Tusker House in AK (the one near the Safari ride). You got a half of roasted chicken, potatos and vegetable. Plenty of good food to share with your DD. Most CS are set up the pretty much the same at Disney. You wait on line to give your order then walk up to the counter and they give you your tray. If the tray is too much to manage while holding your DD's hand, maybe you can ask if they can put the food in a bag or something easier to hold.

I'm sure in a pinch, you can ask if there's a CM who can help you carry your food to your table.

Good Luck...

 

[Maggie'sMom]

I traveled this time last year with my (then) 3 year old. When we did a buffet, she walked beside me. I made multiple trips carrying only one plate at a time so I could hold her hand as we were walking to and from the table. I was afraid that she might take off and run right in front of a server with a tray of drinks. It really wasn't a problem at all. I also gave her a small bread plate to carry so she felt like she was helping. I have to say I really liked the buffets for my daughter because she's a picky eater and it was much easier to find something she would eat on a buffet as opposed to ordering from a menu.

As for counter service, same thing, she would walk beside me as I carried a tray. But I will recommend taking an umbrella stroller with you on your trip because of one experience I had. It was the last night of our trip. I'd planned on us eating at a CS restaurant in the park. Instead DD wanted to continue riding rides until park closing. So we changed plans and opted to eat at our resort CS restaurant. She fell asleep on the way back to the resort and couldn't be roused. I had to carry a sleeping child in my arms while gathering our food, paying, and ultimately carrying it back to our room to eat because she was totally zonked. It would have been a million times easier if I'd had a stroller with me.

Favorite counterservice for us was Columbia Harbour House in MK. They have a basket of chicken and fish strips with fries that is perfect for sharing.

 

[ms*mountaineer]

Don't be shy about asking for help either. I'm sure you can get a CM to help you carry a plate back to your table. Strike up a conversation with folks sitting next to you - with kids about the same age. Make a new friend and I'm sure someone would love to help you by lending a hand to carry something.

I did car trips with my TWO little ones by myself. It can get interesting trying to get everyone to the bathroom at rest stops and keep your eye on everyone at the same time! But in restaurants, if I had my hands on the two girls, I would just smile at a stranger and ask "Can you get the door for me?" or things like that. People are (usually) happy to help.

 

[Tricia1972]

As far as counter service - I think it's Tusker House in AK (the one near the Safari ride). You got a half of roasted chicken, potatos and vegetable. Plenty of good food to share with your DD. Most CS are set up the pretty much the same at Disney. You wait on line to give your order then walk up to the counter and they give you your tray. If the tray is too much to manage while holding your DD's hand, maybe you can ask if they can put the food in a bag or something easier to hold.

Unfortunately, Tusker House is no longer a CS location. It's a TS buffet.

(It used to be my favorite CS on all of property, and I am very sad it's now a buffet)

 

[disnut8]

My gandson is almost two and while I've never taken him to eat by myself (I think his mother would have a heart attack if he was out of her sight for that long!), I can offer a couple of suggestions just from Disney World dining experiences and being a grandmother.

Request a table near the buffet. And talk to your server. I also read the post about the woman who left with her child to go to the bathroom and had her table cleaned off before she came back. Make sure your server knows that you are alone with your daughter and have no intention of skipping out on the check. Even offer to give the server your credit card information up front (it's a buffet, what else could you be charged for?). I doubt he/she will take it but he/she will know you are serious. Take your time. If your daughter wants to play peek-o-poo for a while, do it. The food isn't going anywhere. Put all utensils well out of her reach. Ask the server to take your picture with your daughter.

And above all, relax - it's Disney World!

 

[Julieh22]

Servers can be hard to locate, and toddlers when they have to go have to go now.

I believe the whole mess could have been alleviated if she just had left a little note on the table "Went to restroom, be right back"

ha ha. this happened to me last May at LTT! Luckily, they only bused our table, but we did have to go through the hassle of getting food re-sent to our table. I learned my lesson about the notepad for the rest of the week, because sometimes even when you tell the waiter the individual clearing the tables don't get the message.

 

[TDC Nala]

Unfortunately, Tusker House is no longer a CS location. It's a TS buffet.

(It used to be my favorite CS on all of property, and I am very sad it's now a buffet)

but the buffet is good! And they still have the chicken.

 

[disneywith4boys]

You could also stack two plates on top of each other and put both of your foods on the top plate and go back again when you're finished for another course. We went with 2 adults and 4 kids under 5 and that is usually how we get our buffett food.