If you opt to pay OOP vs MP...

[mid630]

If you choose to pay out of pocket, can kids share an adult meal at TS restaurants, or do they still have to each order off the kids' menu (like you had a MP)?

I'm still weighing whether or not to get the MP. My kids love a variety of food. Most of our TS choices (whether we do the MP or not) will allow them to eat what we're eating ('Ohana, Biergarten, etc). In fact, we're picking almost all of our ADRs based on the ability for them to get real food vs the same ole kids' menu they'll be getting for QS at lunch.

However, I noticed the Akershus princess meal have a kids menu that is no where near as exciting as the adults. Can my 5 yr old daughter share my meal with me there if we decided to not do a MP, or is she still required to order her own meal?

And for places like 'Ohana, could we just pay OOP for 2 adults & 2 kids and have her share a little of everyones? Or order for 3 adults and have them split an adult portion?

 

[sarmat1]

You definitely can't share (i.e. pay nothing for the child) at buffets. I would assume this would go for fixed price or family-style places as well (Akershus and O'hana would fall into those categories). Somebody can correct me if I'm wrong.

In ala-carte restaurants, however, you can certainly share as you see fit.

 

[GOOFY4DONALD]

If you choose to pay out of pocket, can kids share an adult meal at TS restaurants, or do they still have to each order off the kids' menu (like you had a MP)?

I'm still weighing whether or not to get the MP. My kids love a variety of food. Most of our TS choices (whether we do the MP or not) will allow them to eat what we're eating ('Ohana, Biergarten, etc). In fact, we're picking almost all of our ADRs based on the ability for them to get real food vs the same ole kids' menu they'll be getting for QS at lunch.

However, I noticed the Akershus princess meal have a kids menu that is no where near as exciting as the adults. Can my 5 yr old daughter share my meal with me there if we decided to not do a MP, or is she still required to order her own meal?

And for places like 'Ohana, could we just pay OOP for 2 adults & 2 kids and have her share a little of everyones? Or order for 3 adults and have them split an adult portion?

at all places that have buffet (Biergarten) or family style ('Ohana) you have to pay for everyone at your table. Basically for any all you care to eat place you must pay for everyone. At a table service that you order a plate brought to your table, your kids can share no problem, even on the dining plan (my kids did this at 50's PT). The only buffet exception is kids under 3.

 

[floridagirl61]

If you are paying OOP, then you can order whatever you want and share it however you want as long as you are not at a buffet or a family style restaurant. If you are at O'hanas, you must purchase meals for everyone, kids included. Hope this helps.

 

[mid630]

Thanks! That's what I assumed. I shouldn't have used 'Ohana as an example, since I know it's family style.

But say it was a steakhouse. My kids can share an adult steak vs being forced to order of the kids menu if we're paying OOP, correct?

The food planning aspect is stressful!

 

[mid630]

At a table service that you order a plate brought to your table, your kids can share no problem, even on the dining plan (my kids did this at 50's PT).

Really? That goes against everything I've read about the MP. It clearly states that they have to order off the kids' menu when applicable. So I've been avoiding restaurants with a kids' menu like the plague. Do you give up all their credits for that meal (essentially being charged 2-3 kids credits for one adult meal), or do they just take one kids credit? I'm fine with being charged all 3 so it's still "breakeven", but I'm working on my MP vs OOP analysis, so it would be handy to know.

And is there only certain restaurants that allow it, or is it fairly common throughout the parks? Or is it if you just get lucky with the server you get? (I'm a first timer, so I have no experience with the restaurants or the MP). My apologies for all the questions.

 

[GOOFY4DONALD]

Thanks! That's what I assumed. I shouldn't have used 'Ohana as an example, since I know it's family style.

But say it was a steakhouse. My kids can share an adult steak vs being forced to order of the kids menu if we're paying OOP, correct?

The food planning aspect is stressful!

Yes. You can even be on the dining plan redeem 2 adult credits for the adults in your party and then still pay OOP for a 3rd adult meal for your kids to share. I have found most CMs very plesant to work with and they will do what they can to make you happy. We don't do this a lot with TS meals but we do this often with my ever grazing kids. We order and adult CS meal to share (oop) and then later redeem their CS meals to take back to our resort.

 

[GOOFY4DONALD]

Really? That goes against everything I've read about the MP. It clearly states that they have to order off the kids' menu when applicable. So I've been avoiding restaurants with a kids' menu like the plague. Do you give up all their credits for that meal (essentially being charged 2-3 kids credits for one adult meal), or do they just take one kids credit? I'm fine with being charged all 3 so it's still "breakeven", but I'm working on my MP vs OOP analysis, so it would be handy to know.

And is there only certain restaurants that allow it, or is it fairly common throughout the parks? Or is it if you just get lucky with the server you get? (I'm a first timer, so I have no experience with the restaurants or the MP). My apologies for all the questions.

There are a couple different wayswe have done this. 1 pay OOP for 2 kids to share an adult meal and redeem 1 adult meal from my 10 year old to share with my son that did not order anything. Basicall you have to redeem adult credits for adults and kids credits for kids BUT they don't demand you order off the kids menu if you are paying for it.

 

[wendylovesdisney]

If paying out of pocket, you can do whatever you want at a "normal" restaurant. At buffets everyone must pay.
With the dining plan, you can use adult credits for yourself, and pay out of pocket for an extra adult meal for the kids. If you use kid credits from the dining plan, they have to order off of the kids menu.
If you go to a buffet with the dining plan, again everyone must pay.

 

[lurkernj]

It sounds like you are confusing the two. If you are on the dining plan and would like to pay for the meal in credits, you would be required to use an adult meal credit for each adult meal ordered, regardless of who is eating it. If you are looking to use child credits, you would need to order off of the childrens menu.

If you are paying out of pocket (at a "normal" restaurant), you can order whatever you want, and it doesn't matter who is eating it. I've even ordered a kid's mac and cheese as an adult and paid oop. You just pay for what you order.

If you are at a buffet or family style, you are required to pay or use the appropriate dining credit for each person at the table regardless of how little they eat (with the exception of the under 3 rule).