My "kid" was told they couldn't order off childrens menu

[DisneyScraps]

I am a small eater and ordered a kids meal at The Plaza and got it no problem that was 3 years ago. This last trip my DD split a sandwich with me so it was the prefect sized portion.

 

[Pixiedust34]

After reading this thread, I'm hoping that Hollywood Brown Derby will be OK with my dd (12) ordering a kid's meal and with me ordering the cobb salad (technically an appetizer, I think) for lunch. We'd both order desserts, too. We are paying OOP for the lunch.

In the past, the only time I encountered a kid's meal issue is when dd wanted a burger at WCC and they didn't let us use an adult dining credit for it so I had to pay OOP for her meal. I thought this was crazy since we were saving Disney money by asking for a less expensive meal, but this was dd's birthday meal and I didn't want to make a big issue of her meal so I paid for it OOP. Otherwise, dd has been able to order off the kid's menu when she wanted to o so.

 

[disneynan]

This is an interesting thread. I'm surprised that no one has commented on ordering off the child's menu while on the DDP. We plan to have my 11 + 12 yr old children order off the children's menu at a few TS places and pay out of pocket for them in order to have enough credits to have an extra TS buffet meal. If that is not allowed, then we will simply order three meals for our family of 5 and share. ?We are doing this to maximize our credits, not because of portions or menu choices.
I do agree that many times there is just too much food with everyone ordering a full meal each time. I wish Disney would allow us to use dining credits to order an appetizer rather than an entree if we chose as I usually prefer to do that when we eat out at home.

 

[grafxgirl]

Personally I think it's ludicrous to force anyone, child or not, to order and pay for more food than they'll eat. No wonder this country is overweight. I hate to waste food so I am stuck with either wasting it, paying adult prices for a child's portion, or stuffing my face. It's insane. Getting penalized for trying to be healthy makes no sense to me. The mark up on food is very high so please don't tell me they'll lose money by honoring the requests of those wanting to simply not waste and eat less and not get screwed over while trying to do so.

Off soap box.

My husband and I end up splitting an adult meal when we go out to eat because the portion sizes are so large. It doesn't matter if we are at Disney or in our home town.

 

[robinb]

This is an interesting thread. I'm surprised that no one has commented on ordering off the child's menu while on the DDP. We plan to have my 11 + 12 yr old children order off the children's menu at a few TS places and pay out of pocket for them in order to have enough credits to have an extra TS buffet meal. If that is not allowed, then we will simply order three meals for our family of 5 and share. ?We are doing this to maximize our credits, not because of portions or menu choices.

We did that on our last August trip when we brought my DD's friend with us. Both girls were 11 and we never had a problem ordering off the kid's menu for either one of them. We made sure to tip our server generously!

 

[disneynan]

Thanks for the info. We plan to tip generously for good service anyway, but it will be good to know that we can do this. Especilly at Mama Melrose where the two kids would rather have the child's pizza rather than the fancier flatbreads on the adult menu.

 

[Kelblum]

I bet "Jersey Week" is just a brutal time for WDW CMs.

Huh??? What makes Jersey Week any worse? Most of us are not like the "Jersey Shore" (even though I live at the Jersey Shore! )

I would think the Holiday weeks would by far be worse than Jersey week! Have been to both and would take Jersey week anytime!

 

[thymed]

If the two children want to order off of the kids menu then they (Plaza) should have just let it happen. It seems ridiciulous to be mean and snide about this. There are plenty of young adults and other who may prefer the offerings on the kids menu. I think the waitress might have been able to say, "no problem but because they are over 9 we will have to charge for their drinks" and that could have been the end of it. It does not sound very Disney like to have a manager come to the table and talk down to the guests! And truely a grilled cheese is not a high cost to the restaurant! Not everyone that enters a restaurant is going to order soup to nuts and top it off with dessert, coffee and an after dinner liquer! Likewise, not everyone that wants a grilled cheese is trying to beat the restaurant out of a drink!!!!

 

[rentayenta]

My husband and I end up splitting an adult meal when we go out to eat because the portion sizes are so large. It doesn't matter if we are at Disney or in our home town.

We usually share an appetizer and an entree. I eat about 1/4 of the entree.

 

[TLSnell1981]

Personally I think it's ludicrous to force anyone, child or not, to order and pay for more food than they'll eat. No wonder this country is overweight.

I agree. Also, it's not just portion size, but personal taste. Sometimes, the DGKs want the adult menu, but other times the child's. It really depends, what they are in the mood to eat.

 

[mjaclyn]

I don't really understand what the big deal is if someone wants to order off the kids menu, regardless of their age. If a person wants a smaller portion or an item that is only offered on the kids menu why can't they get it? The customer is the one paying for the food.

 

[rentayenta]

I agree. Also, it's not just portion size, but personal taste. Sometimes, the DGKs want the adult menu, but other times the child's. It really depends, what they are in the mood to eat.

Absolutely! If one of the kids wants steak, then we'll share an adult meal if a child's steak is not on the menu. Sometimes they'll order an app and stay away from the kids menu all together.

 

[Halloweenqueen]

One of my biggest pet peeves about Disney is the "kid" age issue. I think they should allow kids up to 13 to buy off the kid's menu. I also think kids that age should be able to not have to buy an adult admission ticket.

Many restaurants at Disneyland now allow kid choices, but adult portions and prices. While this is a compromise, why should my kid be given such a HUGE amount of food? My ten year old was given a plate of mac and cheese that would have fed all 5 of my kids!

The way I go around this now is ordering a couple of these larger meals and having two kids split. I just ask for an extra plate at the table. They will charge you if you ask to split back in the kitchen.

 

[BriarRosie]

One of my biggest pet peeves about Disney is the "kid" age issue. I think they should allow kids up to 13 to buy off the kid's menu. I also think kids that age should be able to not have to buy an adult admission ticket.

Many restaurants at Disneyland now allow kid choices, but adult portions and prices. While this is a compromise, why should my kid be given such a HUGE amount of food? My ten year old was given a plate of mac and cheese that would have fed all 5 of my kids!

The way I go around this now is ordering a couple of these larger meals and having two kids split. I just ask for an extra plate at the table. They will charge you if you ask to split back in the kitchen.

Was the splitting charge for Disneyland? I've told servers that I'd want an extra plate to split with someone at WDW restaurants. And the restaurant had split the meals in the kitchen for us without any request to do so. At no charge.

I haven't asked at non-Disney owned places, but if they had splitting charges, I'd be ok paying them. Disney, to the best of my knowledge, hasn't charged for that.

 

[Colleen27]

I don't really understand what the big deal is if someone wants to order off the kids menu, regardless of their age. If a person wants a smaller portion or an item that is only offered on the kids menu why can't they get it? The customer is the one paying for the food.

I can understand why restaurants with good kids selections (smaller portions of adult type foods) might disallow that because as others have mentioned those types of kids' meals are often a loss-leader to attract families. Our favorite local place doesn't allow adults to order off the kids' menu, but their kids' meals are basically half-portions of some of their house specialties at quite a bit less than half the adult entree cost.

At Disney, though, where a kids meal is typically dull, bland, unimaginative, and has no relation whatsoever to the adult menu options or the theme of the restaurant? I can't imagine why they'd care if a teenager wants an $9 grilled cheese with grapes... They certainly aren't losing money on it!

I've noticed a trend on the boards as far as adults ordering kids meals and meal sharing go... The two places known mainly for their desserts - The Plaza and Beaches & Cream - seem to be the ones where guests most frequently report problems with sharing or ordering kids meals. In fact, I think those are the only Disney-owned restaurants that come up in these discussions.

 

[eliza61]

The thing with kids' meals is not the portions, but the cost. Kids' meals are at a lower cost point, and people want to order them to save money, and therein lies the issue. There are many Disney restaurants that do allow older kids or even adults to order kids' meals, but there are some that do not, and I think that is their choice to do so, as they don't even have to offer kids' meals. We have eaten at The Plaza many times, but usually our kids split an adult entree over there.

If everyone did this at WDW, not sure what the menu prices would look like? You all are saying it's for dietary reasons, which is a great point, but kids' meals are offered (which many restaurants don't even offer kids' meals) at a reduced cost, as a break for the parents. So, there are some restaurants that offer kids' meals at much smaller portions, but then there are some that offer huge portions - we have purchased kids' meals that were larger than our adult portion, and so the financiall product cost would come into play here.

I come from a restaurant family, and a very ethnic restaurant town, and the authentic European places, like my family's restaurant, don't offer kids' meals, but they offer half portions and other similar reduced sized portions. They are a bit more in cost than kids' meals, but that is the way it is.

We have been getting our kids' adult meals to share for years at Disney as we have been using DDE/TIW for years. It works out to be a bit more, but my kids find that many of the kids' meals aren't enough food, or they offer yucky choices (kids have never eaten peanut butter/jam, mushy mac n cheese, etc.). Plus, they don't always want the kids' combinations (although at Disney owned restaurants, it's a la carte for kids, so you don't have to order dessert).

Just a different perspective, Tiger

Another restauranter here. You are absolutely right. That is why my family's restaurant does not offer a childs menu. We do the same thing, we have smaller portions for a lower price but that's it.

Of course every one here says they order off the childs menu because of the amount of food but this is the dis, no one ever breaks the rules.
The vast majority of people order off the childrens menu because they don't want to pay the adult price.

 

[eliza61]

One of my biggest pet peeves about Disney is the "kid" age issue. I think they should allow kids up to 13 to buy off the kid's menu. I also think kids that age should be able to not have to buy an adult admission ticket.

Many restaurants at Disneyland now allow kid choices, but adult portions and prices. While this is a compromise, why should my kid be given such a HUGE amount of food? My ten year old was given a plate of mac and cheese that would have fed all 5 of my kids! The way I go around this now is ordering a couple of these larger meals and having two kids split. I just ask for an extra plate at the table. They will charge you if you ask to split back in the kitchen.

The problem becomes what is the normal plate size. Your kid may have thought it was a huge plate some one else may have thought it was a normal size.

For example. I always read on these boards all about "sharing" meals. I read time after time about how people can split a burger and it feed every one.
I consistently ask where they do this because I've yet to be at one non buffet restaurant in WDW where I could split my meal with one of my sons and both of us leave satisfied. Every time we've done this, we end up snacking heavily within 1 hour of the meal.

At what age do you think some one should be considered an Adult? Most 13 year olds are riding each and every ride, they have long since branched away from fantasy land.

 

[rentayenta]

Another restauranter here. You are absolutely right. That is why my family's restaurant does not offer a childs menu. We do the same thing, we have smaller portions for a lower price but that's it.

Of course every one here says they order off the childs menu because of the amount of food but this is the dis, no one ever breaks the rules.
The vast majority of people order off the childrens menu because they don't want to pay the adult price.

I wish more places offered half or smaller portions but they don't.

I disagree with what I bolded. I have yet to see any restaurant that offers the same dishes on both an adult menu and child's menu at Disney or otherwise. We have a few local places like Texas Roadhouse and Outback that try and offer some similar items and we do frequent those but for the most part, I find the children's menu very limiting.


I want a smaller portion and don't want to pay for something I'm not going to eat and throw away. It's simple. It's not a matter of being cheap- it's a matter of being healthy and not wasteful. I find 99% of adult portion meals to be far too much food. Satisfied and full are not interchangable. I am petite, 5'1 and 105 lb. I don't stay this way by cleaning my overfull plate. When I'm finished, I'm finished and with so much poverty and hunger, it blows my mind that amount of food that gets thrown away.

 

[OceanAnnie]

I wish more places offered half or smaller portions but they don't.

I disagree with what I bolded. I have yet to see any restaurant that offers the same dishes on both an adult menu and child's menu at Disney or otherwise. We have a few local places like Texas Roadhouse and Outback that try and offer some similar items and we do we frequent those but for the most part, I find the children's menu very limiting.


I want a smaller portion and don't want to pay for something I'm not going to eat and throw away. It's simple. It's not a matter of being cheap- it's a matter of being healthy and not wasteful. I find 99% of adult portion meals to be far too much food. Satisfied and full are not interchangable.

Same here.

 

[amw]

Let me start off by saying I'm a cool aide drinking, go every July since 1998, DVC member. I have never had an issue anywhere on property and if a cast member punched me in the face, I would ask for another (you get my dedication here). This past week, I went to the Plaza for lunch. I am not on a dining plan. My kids are 15 & 11 (both girls). Even though I listed 4 adults when I made the ADR, I asked for kids menus when we checked in and the hostess said no problem. When the kids ordered Grilled cheese off the kids menu, the waitress said they couldn't. I said, "really?", and she pointed to the sentence that says 9 and under (I told her their ages). I said they've been doing this the whole trip and w/o any hesitation, she said I'll get the manager (I honestly wasn't being rude and wasn't ready to play the "I want to speak to a manager" card). At any rate, the manager came over who was very polished and spoke to me like I was 9 or under. I told her that I had eaten in Italy the night before and had no problem. She used the "WDW doesn't own those restaurants" reply. I honestly can’t stand that response because I’m on freaking WDW property!! It was at that point that she said they could order off the kids menu but I would have to pay for their drinks. All of a sudden, this turned into “Let’s Make a Deal”. Take a look at the difference between the club sandwich I ordered and anything off the kids menu, they are similarly priced. Money was not the issue here, they just wanted the grilled cheese. At this point, I was just getting confused and wanted to clarify for the rest of my trip. I asked her what if a senior wanted to order from the kids menu because of portion size (which we have done years ago w/ grandparents). She again went to her talking points and said WDW serves thousands of meal a day and some crap how she has worked there for 5 years. Little did she know, I wasn't some newbie tourist but someone who has singled handedly stimulated the Central Florida economy since 1998. At any rate, the kids got their grilled cheese, my wife got her Ruben, and I got a bill w/ 4 drinks on it.

Let me just finish by saying my kids did order off the kids menu at LeCellier & SciFi later in the trip w/o any resistance. On a positive note, Boma, Crystal, SciFi, LeCellier, Dessert Party, and both Italian restaurants were all awesome!!

The takeaway from this story, I think this was an isolated event and if you think your kids will use the kids menu, put them down as kids on the ADR because that seemed to be the genesis of this problem.
I think?

On my last trip, my DDs were 8 and just-turned 11. We were not on the DDP. My DD11 would select from kids menu or adult depending on the food selection and her pickiness at any given restaurant. The Plaza was the ONLY place we had problems with this. In my case, the check-in wouldn't let DD11 even get a kids menu! There was a bit of negative energy coming from them -- treating every customer like they were cheating the system. Fortunately, we didn't have this problem with the waitress inside and both girls did eat of the kids menu.

Like I said, we had no problem at all at any other restuarant throughout the world ... just the check-in at the Plaza.