Kids under 3 eat free--how does this work?

[kfeuer]

This is probably a stupid question, but I've referred to guide books and looked online and can't find a good explanation anywhere.

My son will be 2 years 9 months old when we got to Disney in September, so he'll be able to eat free. However, what exactly does that mean at a sit-down restaurant? Can we order something for him off the regular children's menu, or do they have special offerings for little ones? Am I safe in assuming we can fix him a plate at a buffet? Also, will we have to pay for him at Rainforest Cafe and other non-Disney owned restaurants which are on Disney property?

TIA for clearing this up for me!

 

[JBurke]

He will only eat free at buffets.
If you go to a sit-down restaurant and order him a meal off the children's menu, you will have to pay for it.

Janice

 

[Stimpy]

Actually, if you go to the Whispering Canyon in WL, they have a free kids meal for under 3. The 1st time we went the CM told us about it, the 2nd time we had to ask. It's basically Macaroni and Cheese and I think french fries.

 

[suzannews]

Originally posted by Stimpy
Actually, if you go to the Whispering Canyon in WL, they have a free kids meal for under 3. The 1st time we went the CM told us about it, the 2nd time we had to ask. It's basically Macaroni and Cheese and I think french fries.

This is no longer offered for free.

 

[cgcw]

Originally posted by Stimpy
Actually, if you go to the Whispering Canyon in WL, they have a free kids meal for under 3. The 1st time we went the CM told us about it, the 2nd time we had to ask. It's basically Macaroni and Cheese and I think french fries.

Interesting....Whispering Canyon was the only place last trip which added what DS2 ate as a child's portion onto the bill. When I questioned it, the CM inquired as to the policy with her manager. Came back and had removed it from our bill and made a point of telling us that the manager made an exception for us. I will always willingly pay for my children's meals so I was not asking for his meal free -- I was more surprised that we encountered this after dining so many other places on property.

By the way, he didn't have any special child's meal. He ate the same we did....the family style meal (can't remember all it was -- corn, pork roast, maybe some ribs??).

 

[marybdisney]

I'd have a really difficult time paying $8.99 for a 2 year old to have the all you can eat skillet at the WCC. At least I think that is the kids price....

Basically I was under the assumption that at buffet or all you can eat type restaurants any child 3 or under eats free (assuming they are mostly eating off the parents plate).

At a counter service or sit down restaurant I would expect that unless you order the child a dinner from the kids menu that they can share your meal for free.

Am I off base on this???

 

[JBurke]

marybdisney- I wouldnt pay $8.99 either for a 2 year old!

In answer to your question, if a child is sharing a meal with an adult at a restaurant/counter service, then of course you would not have to pay for that child.

In kfeuer's question, he was under the assumption that you could order a meal for your child and as long as he/she was under 3 it was free. But that's not the case. I have a 2 year old so I know that his meals are free only if its a buffet restaurant/character meal or dinner show or if he is sharing a plate with me or my older kids. But if I went ahead and ordered him his own mac n cheese (or whatever) off a menu from a sit-down restaurant or counter service then I would be charged.

Hope that clears it up. I just would not want kfeuer going to WDW thinking his 2 year old would be eating free everywhere, that would be a bummer when you find out you got pay sometimes.

 

[disneyvoice]

Now I have a question. Our son will be two for our October trip. Can we get a separate plate for our son's food at the buffet or do we have to literally have him eat from our plate in order for him to eat for free. I remember Crystal Palace having a separate kid sized buffet with kid foods on it. Does that mean that if we fix a plate for our son from the kids' buffet that we will then have to pay for him even though he'll only be 2??

 

[JBurke]

disneyvoice-at a buffet he can get his own plate

What I do at a sit down restaurant (non buffet) is to have my son share a meal with his older sister. I will order one kids' meal and I will ask for a separate empty plate for him so I can put his share on it. Then you would only get charged for one kids' meal.
I have never been hassled for doing that.

 

[Stimpy]

Just wanted to let you know that kids do not have to eat at the kids buffet. They can get food from the "adult" one and they will not be charged anything additional.

My DS is a very picky eater and doesn't like "kid" foods (Except that magical Mac & Cheese ) so he eats the regular food. I have also seen many adults eating from the kids buffet and no one has ever said anything.

 

[SuzanneSLO]

Anyone know what they do for the fixed price Fantasmic dinners at Mama Melrose or Brown Derby? I assume that a child under 3 can eat off the other diners' plates for free but that itf you order a meal for the child, you will need to pay the child price for them.

I have to admit that WDW does sometime make this issue very confusing due to its own stated policies. For example, the AK meal deals have a special price for meals for those 3-11 at the counter service restuarants. In this case, they really have to mean under 11, since there is no way they woudl give the meal to those under 3 for free nor would they stop you from buying it just becuase your child is 2!

-- Suzanne

 

[kfeuer]

Thanks for all the feedback, it really helps to know what to expect. My 2-year old doesn't eat enough to justify ordering a child's meal--hope Disney doesn't mind us sharing with him (that's what we do at restaurants here). Looks like the buffets will be our best bet, though.

 

[cgcw]

In reading the replies, I just remembered that when we had tickets for the CP last December, we dined at LeCelliers. DS3 (who was 2 at the time) slept through the entire meal in his stroller. When we were ready to leave, the CM asked what we though he might have eaten. We told her he most likely would have been happy with a burger and when she brought the check, she also brought an entire kids burger meal for us to take with. The CM said she figured he'd be hungry later and want something then. There was no charge on our bill for it -- I just accepted it as one of those things Disney did. We did tip extra for her thoughtfulness. And, DS was hungry when he woke up.

I'm wondering now if it's more of a case by case thing. I certainly would not seek out having free meals for my children (no need to worry, both of ours are now over 3 and we will not be having any more) but it does seem a bit strange that people have different experiences.

 

[skiwee1]

There was someone here on this board awhile back that brought up this subject. Apparantly she was told that under 3s could also order kids meals at regular restaurants and fast food places and get it free since kids under 3 eat free. She ended up calling someone at WDW and getting all of the charges taken off her bill for the kid meals. This person she spoke to told her that kids under 3 could indeed order kid meals for free and that is the way it has always been. Not just for the buffets. I've never tried this as I don't have the you know whats to ask for something like that for nothing. Does anyone remember this coming up last year?

 

[JBurke]

cgcw-That's was such a nice thing for the CM to do.
By the way I see you are in Schaumburg...hey I am in Carol Stream (small world)

skiwee1-I dont remember that post. Wish I did!
I dont know if I would be ballsy enough to complain and ask for all my 2 year olds meals take off my bill. Where does it state somewhere that all kids under 3 eat free? I dont see how that could be true for something like a cart or counterservice in one of the parks.

 

[Samandmom]

Fantasmic Dinner Package

When we went in April we had three kids with us under 3. My DD was obiously free since she was only 3 months old. Then there was my DS who was 2 1/2 yrs old. (looks like he is 3 or 4) and also my niece was 15 months. I was under the impression that I had to pay for my DS since he was getting a kids meal just like any other restaurant. So I did not inquire about it. But my sister in law asked if their was a charge for her daughter and the man said she could get a free kids meal. I found out after that she was able to get the free kids meal. If I knew before I might have asked and told them my DS was 2.