Non-eater at buffets: what do they pay?

[hockeybabe]

I have one "adult" (11 year old) who will be eating her mac n' cheese at a CS for $5 before we go to a buffet restaurant. Does anyone know if all of the buffet restaurants will charge a $5 "entertainment fee"? What if she just orders a soda?

 

[SmallWorld71]

Someone please correct me if I'm wrong - but it is my understanding that all people pay full price at a buffet regardless of what they eat. Which would mean adult price for the 11 year old. There is no way for Disney to watch every table and see who is/ isn't eating. Also, every buffet I've ever been to at Disney had Mac & Cheese. Anyone else?

 

[hockeybabe]

I know that allearsnet.com has LTT as having a $5 "entertainment fee", and over the years on the DIS I have read some other buffets having such a charge, I just want to know which buffets do this and which don't. My 11 year old won't eat $20 worth of mac n' cheese!

 

[LuluLovesDisney]

I know that allearsnet.com has LTT as having a $5 "entertainment fee", and over the years on the DIS I have read some other buffets having such a charge, I just want to know which buffets do this and which don't. My 11 year old won't eat $20 worth of mac n' cheese!

I *think* the entertainment fee is for character meals where someone is not eating anything. (Crystal Palace, LTT, etc.) I don't know what Disney would advise for you. I would speak to a manager as soon as I got there, since I believe that would be something done at the manager's discretion.

 

[septbaby]

To get the right answer to your question I'd call the specific restaurant and inquire.

Trails End at the Fort Wilderness Campground offers Buffets under $20, $11.99B, $14.99L, $17.99D; Garden Grove at the Swan has character Breakfast for $14.95 or $17.95 weekends.

If the buffet pricing doesn't fit your budget I'd avoid them. It seems cruel to have a child watch everyone around her eat as much as they want and not be able to have any. She's on vacation too and that would simply seem like a punishment to me. I just couldn't put a child through that. Not that we should make choices based on what others think, but I'm sure you'd get lots of dirty looks as it will appear that you are not feeding your child or she did something so awful that you are willing to torture her in public. If she sips or tastes anything from your plates they are supposed to charge her for the buffet. So I'd either willingly pay for her to enjoy the buffet, select another restaurant or put her in an activity while we enjoy a grown up buffet meal.

Good luck with your choice and trip!

 

[aubriee]

I know that allearsnet.com has LTT as having a $5 "entertainment fee", and over the years on the DIS I have read some other buffets having such a charge, I just want to know which buffets do this and which don't. My 11 year old won't eat $20 worth of mac n' cheese!

I thought I read that WDW did away with the $5.00 entertainment fee option and that everyone paid full price now . (except 2 y/o and under eat free, of course) I know when we were at Crystal Palace this past Sept there was a family trying to say the two kids had already eaten and only the parents were paying. This did not go over and they were told all had to pay. The only reason we noticed was that we were sitting next to them and heard the argument. They did finally agree to pay for both kids.

 

[Pixiedust34]

Someone please correct me if I'm wrong - but it is my understanding that all people pay full price at a buffet regardless of what they eat. Which would mean adult price for the 11 year old. There is no way for Disney to watch every table and see who is/ isn't eating. Also, every buffet I've ever been to at Disney had Mac & Cheese. Anyone else?

I'm also pretty sure that you pay full price at all buffets whether or not you eat. Is there any reason why she can't eat her mac and cheese at the buffet with everyone else?

 

[ElizabethB]

I don't know if the $5 entertainment charge still exists, but I had always understood it was available to adults with a specific eating issues, such as gastric bypass (something of a disability accommodation, if you will).

I've never heard it applying to an 11-year-old who simply doesn't eat much. Disney makes its money by, among other things, overcharging for buffets for kids who eat very little!

When our boys were younger and ate very little if anything we either (1) avoided buffets altogether, or (2) did one character meal, taking the view that we were paying chiefly for the entertainment and little if anything for the food. For example, whem we stayed at Fort Wilderness, we avoided Trail's End because we didn't feel like paying $15 or so per boy for them to eat three bites.

 

[tinkandpan]

I don't believe that entertainment fee exists. I believe all people (unless of course due to specific dietary restrictions) pay the full price of their age for the buffet. Of course I could certainly be wrong, and would check with the manager first.

 

[hockeybabe]

If the buffet pricing doesn't fit your budget I'd avoid them. It seems cruel to have a child watch everyone around her eat as much as they want and not be able to have any. She's on vacation too and that would simply seem like a punishment to me. I just couldn't put a child through that.


Actually, SHE is the one who wants to go to Biergarten again, but not eat there! She just WANTS to sit through it, and "maybe" just have something to drink. We have gone to Biergarten every trip, but she was always a "child"; now that she's an "adult", $20 seems a little steep to just have her watch and eat mac n' cheese.

We'll probably just skip buffets this year until she gets a more adult appetite! Thanks for the replies!

 

[hockeybabe]

I don't know if the $5 entertainment charge still exists, but I had always understood it was available to adults with a specific eating issues, such as gastric bypass (something of a disability accommodation, if you will).

I've never heard it applying to an 11-year-old who simply doesn't eat much. Disney makes its money by, among other things, overcharging for buffets for kids who eat very little!

When our boys were younger and ate very little if anything we either (1) avoided buffets altogether, or (2) did one character meal, taking the view that we were paying chiefly for the entertainment and little if anything for the food. For example, whem we stayed at Fort Wilderness, we avoided Trail's End because we didn't feel like paying $15 or so per boy for them to eat three bites.

Yes, I think we will just skip buffets this year until my 11 year old "adult" starts eating like one

 

[disneyfav4ever]

I'd either just pay for your child, or not eat at buffets.

 

[hockeybabe]

I thought I read that WDW did away with the $5.00 entertainment fee option and that everyone paid full price now . (except 2 y/o and under eat free, of course) I know when we were there this past Sept there was a family trying to say the two kids had already eaten and only the parents were paying. This did not go over and they were told all had to pay. The only reason we noticed was that we were sitting next to them and heard the argument. They did finally agree to pay for both kids.

Thanks, this recent information was what I was looking for!

 

[disneymom06]

We went to Rest Akershaus for breakfast and my son did not want to eat a thing. His plate stayed empty and I was charged for him to be with us just as if he had eaten. I would imagine that you will have to pay for DD at the buffet as well.

 

[hockeybabe]

We went to Rest Akershaus for breakfast and my son did not want to eat a thing. His plate stayed empty and I was charged for him to be with us just as if he had eaten. I would imagine that you will have to pay for DD at the buffet as well.

Thanks for the info!

 

[jakenjess]

I was always under the impression that we paid whether the child ate or not. We also have a very picky 11 YO. Our last trip we had a meal at Biergarten, and I fed my son before we went, as I knew he wouldn't eat anything there, but I was prepared to pay full price for him. We were a party of eight, and my SIL checked us in. When she did, she told them my DS wouldn't be eating, and then told the server again when we were seated, and they were totally fine with it and didn't charge for him. I never would have even asked, but it doesn't hurt to try. He also loves the show and the atmosphere, and didn't mind at all that we were all eating and he wasn't. Maybe they made an exception because we were a large party? Good luck!

 

[miss_scarlett]

Last year I went to Crystal Palace with my parents, my adult sister, teenage sister, her friend and my niece and nephew who were under 2. My adult sister does not eat in restaurants. Ever. That is another story for another time. Regardless, she knew she would not be eating, and had asked in advance about the issue. She was not charged and it was basically a non-issue with the waitress.

 

[BuzzandAriel'smom]

What about a non-character buffet? We are going to Boma and I know my kids won't eat their $12 worth. (they are 3 and 5) So I have 2 plans; let the kids eat at Mara and then play in the lounge while my MIL, DH and I switch back and forth so we all get to eat or let the kids sit with us and just color. If I did the last option I would tip as if we were all eating since I would be taking up a 5 person table for a 3 person tab. Any thoughts? We paid for the kids to eat there last year and it was miserable! That was the only restaurant that they didn't want to eat at, but it was one of our favorites/ food wise that is!

 

[kaytieeldr]

I would ask at the restaurant in advance – but frankly, that musical diners option could tend to look very suspicious. I mean, what’s to stop a party of relatives who look similar from dressing alike, then have two or three people go in and eat while one or two others ‘entertain the kids in the lounge’; then Reggie leaves the dining area to take his turn watching the kids while Archie, who was on the first babysitting shift, goes into the restaurant and eats all HE can? Then Betty, who was dining with Ralph, goes out to check on the kids and Veronica, who was kid-watching with Reggie, takes Betty’s place at the table? Note that this does not apply to either the OP, the poster above (# 18), or likely anyone here – but it’s possible.

The problem with non-eaters at a buffet is, unless someone on staff is watching them the entire time, there’s no way to be sure that persons who don’t pay for any food, don’t eat it.

I would say, aside from checking with the restaurants in advance (and making note of names), be prepared to pay full price for all diners, and be pleasantly surprised, and grateful, if you don’t get charged.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

I remember seeing something about "entertainment fee" written somewhere in regards to Garden Grill but that was a LONG time ago. It was before our first trip in Jan. '05, back when they had the ice cream social. In all of the guide books and websites and official Disney info I have gone through since then I have never seen it mentioned again.