Kids who are dining "adults" sharing?

[Rock'n Robin]

I have been thinking we could have a nice 2 TS meal if my two daughters, who will be 11 and 14, share 4 other TS meals (we will also have DS, but can just pay OOP to save him a TS).
At first I was thinking how would we pull this off, wouldn't the girls be hungry...but I was just looking at menus with DD#2 and thinking, how the heck can she eat that much anyway?
Is it feasible to have the girls share a meal like that? Is it allowed?
Robin M.

 

[gigi1313]

as long as it's not a buffet or all-you-care-to-eat meal, you should be fine w/the sharing... there may be a nominal sharing charge... my kids are big eaters, but i could see them sharing a meal at someplace like lecellier (if they could agree on something!) or one eating the appy as their main meal w/some of mom or dad's or both's side dish (i.e. the beef kabobs is easily a meal for a kid/young adult if you tossed some of your mashed potatoes or pasta on the dish with it)

 

[rascalmom]

My two teen dd's share frequently - they are 17 & 13. We've never had a problem with this at any of the restaurants - they like it because they can then save room for dessert.

Sometimes the younger one will still want something from the kid's menu. We do DDE instead of the dining plan, so it has never been a problem.

 

[bicker]

Keep in mind, though, that some TS restaurants are now serving reasonable single portions (instead of the massively unhealthy portions that restaurants were throwing around years ago in an attempt to trick us into thinking we were getting a good value ). Plan your trip carefully, so you're not disappointed by having to pay OOP to make up for the sharing.

 

[The Sweetness]

You could always order an extra ap, or desert, or side

 

[bicker]

Precisely. I would definitely plan for that at some of the TS restaurants, if you intend to have DD14 and DD11 share meals there.

 

[Letsbgoofy]

bicker,

When did the smaller portions start? We were at WDW in late August and the portions were more than even my 16 year old son could finish. I had planned on my DH and I sharing some meals this summer so that we were not always stuffed.

 

[bicker]

It's not at every restaurant, but rather just at some. Search the archives here and you'll find some threads about this -- folks disappointed that the portions were so small at some of the restaurants. I personally noted this as Chefs de France and Artist Point.

 

[Letsbgoofy]

I have seen it mentioned before, but only by you! (and I have been meaning to ask you about it) I'll have to do a search and see what other restaurants this has happened at. I wouldn't mind the portions being smaller, but I would like to know in advance for planning purposes.

 

[bicker]

I have seen it mentioned before, but only by you! (and I have been meaning to ask you about it) I'll have to do a search ...

Here's some...

I'm sure this is doeable, but be warned, the portion sizes are not what they use to be.

http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=11258240&postcount=6

Portion sizes were very much less than what we remembered from the past as well.

http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=11010291&postcount=12

My favorites are Japan in EPCOT, although they have cut back on portions

http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=11264331&postcount=30

Oh, as for splitting portions: the portions are not big. The filet's are 7 oz, plenty for one person but i wouldn't think for 2.

http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=11267272&postcount=37

Portion sizes were so small and i don't eat much to begin with; it wasn't even enough for me.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=11285242#post11285242

What's really interesting is that the last time I mentioned this someone questioned it as well:

I do remember reading a thread recently, though, reporting that portion sizes are getting more reasonable, so sharing is no longer quite as attractive a proposition.

Here it is: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=863379

So it is something that people have a hard time accepting.

In that thread:

Talked to DH's Cousin who is a COOK at one of the restaurants... He also told me that the restaurants are decreasing portion sizes

 

[Disneyhappy]

I can only speak of Alfredos and Whispering Canyon Cafe from last month. There was plenty enough for sharing, more so at WCC, and we had some big eaters in the group. We just asked the CMs up front and they were more than happy to accomodate and make suggestions. Good luck and have a wonderful trip!

 

[bicker]

I suspect there is an inverse relationship between menu price and portion size. It seemed to me that during our trip a couple of weeks ago, the more expensive the restaurant, the better the food, the better the service, and the smaller the portions.

 

[patsal]

I suspect there is an inverse relationship between menu price and portion size. It seemed to me that during our trip a couple of weeks ago, the more expensive the restaurant, the better the food, the better the service, and the smaller the portions.

Exactly, with many of these "finer" restaurants when you figure in an app. entree and dessert you will be full, but usually there isn't really enough for two to share and walk away satisfied.

 

[maggiew]

My DD (13) and I share often, but we are not big eaters.

At alfredos, the pizza appetizer was a dinner plate size pizza. The chicken parmesan had a huge piece of chicken and some pasta. The dessert was a dessert cup of chocolate mousse. We had more than enough to share. My other DD could have probably shared with us too, but she got the kids spaghetti.

At Whispering Canyon Cafe, DD and I shared the roasted chicken. It was a lot of chicken, I think maybe 1/2 a chicken? It was more than the two of us could share. We didn't get an appetizer for that meal.

DD and I shared at Teppanyaki. It was plenty for us. They gave us each a plate of the veggies and rice and then just split up the meat. I ended up eating all of DDs meat, but only because it "tasted funny" to her. Otherwise, it would have been enough for us to share.

At Tempura Kiku, DD got the shrimp appetizer ( I think it was 3 of those large shrimp / prawn tempura). It was enough for her. I got the fruit appetizer and then picked a little at my other DDs kids meal when she was done.

At Mama Melrose, we got the Fantasmic Package one time and we brought home 2 full meals! Way too much food for us. My chicken parmesan was enough to feed me, DD13, DD9!! It was 2 huge breasts with pasta. Plus we had the salad and the flatbread (pizza) and the dessert!!

So, these are a few places that I have personally experienced that had portions enough to share. Check out the "Post a picture of your Disney food" thread that is stickey-ed at the top of the Restaurant board. You can get a good idea of portion sizes and go to the places that look like it would be enough to share.

We are planning on getting the dining plan this June. Both of my girls will be "adults" at this time. I already know that getting a full meal for each of us is WAYY to much food. So I am planning on splitting a few meals (we will get 2 full meals at lunch and 2 full meals at dinner and share). We will use the counter service for breakfast. We will have the snack while watching fireworks/evening shows.

Maggie

 

[Merriwind]

I think how much the people in question eat is a big part of the equation. I am a very small person and small eater. I can't remember the last restaurant meal I finished. DD8 isn't a kids menu kind of kid (seared tuna is her favorite food). So, we share meals often and not just at WDW. Even restaurants that aren't known for their huge portions often serve much more than you or I would at dinner at home.

Robin, I think you and your DDs will probably be the best judges of what will work best. I say definitely try sharing first. You can order more food if someone is still hungry--and an appetizer or dessert or whatever. Too much food, however, is always a waste.

Enjoy!