Plaza Restaurant--will not be returning

[jenny-d]

Frustrating dining experience. There with husband and dd 13, ds 11. I knew it was going to be trouble when the hostess didn't want to give them kids menus when they asked. She asked me how old they were and again asked them each when we sat down. I've never before had an issue with them ordering off the kids menu. They are both very picky light eaters so it never makes sense to order adult portions. Wasteful of food and money. So instead of their meals being $8.59 including drink and dessert they were each $13.99 plus drink and dessert. They both ordered grilled cheese and fries and they said they had to charge the adult price which was $13.99! If I hadn't been so surprised and thrown off by it I should have just had them split a meal. Not to mention the server was kind of snippy. Not a good experience and this was once of my favorite places to catch a somewhat inexpensive dinner in the past. Unfortunately we will not be returning.

 

[chocolateMinnie]

sad that you had such a bad experience. We have only been once and that was also terrible more down to service than food. We went before a MNSSHP and they were running one hour behind which meant that by the time they were seated the wait staff were clearly cashing up - sorry for them but not our problem. The main meals were almost thrown at us, the waitress sighed that we wanted dessert (which was the main reason we had booked there) and then took 40 minutes to bill us because the cash register was doing it's thing and then charged us twice. Shame as actually the food wasn't bad.

 

[maxiesmom]

Wow, that is so opposite of any of my experiences at the Plaza that I'm kind of shocked. I've eaten there many times, and have had nothing but great experiences.

I'm hoping that you ran into an over-zealous server, and Disney isn't going to be strict on only young kids ordering off of the kids menus.

 

[spodie]

I have always really enjoyed The Plaza - never have had a bad experience! In fact, we just ate there yesterday for lunch and had a great time. It is always a nice, quiet place to go where you can still feel like you're in the middle of it all, which is the main reason why we like it. The prices are very good for what you're getting, too.

The only weird thing that has happened to us happened yesterday when our server (who was very attentive and friendly) tried to rush us a little into ordering dessert, but got the hint when we made it clear that we were not quite ready.

Hope what you had was just a bad experience with a server, since it really is a great place to get a good meal!

 

[Pooh2]

Yikes!! $13.99 for a grilled cheese!! Hope it was really tasty!
Sorry you had an unpleasant meal, especially at those prices!

 

[wilma-bride]

Sorry you had a bad experience, although I have to say that the kids' menus at Disney are very clearly for those aged 9 and under so it is absolutely the restaurant's prerogative to charge an adult price for their meal. There is no excuse for rudeness from a server though (presuming that it was you meant by 'snippy'). I am not surprised you were unhappy about having to pay that price for a grilled cheese though. What a shame you couldn't find anything on the adult menu they might have liked.

 

[ready2cmickeymouse]

I had a grilled cheese sandwich and tomato bisque at Beaches and Cream a couple of weeks ago and it was $8.99. It was very good and good value for the money. You would think grilled cheese and fries would be about the same price. They are both table service restaurants with limited menus.

 

[maxiesmom]

I had a grilled cheese sandwich and tomato bisque at Beaches and Cream a couple of weeks ago and it was $8.99. It was very good and good value for the money. You would think grilled cheese and fries would be about the same price. They are both table service restaurants with limited menus.

As grilled cheese is not on the adult menu, I'm wondering if they upped the size of the child's meal (which they do offer) and then upped the cost as well.

People have reported being able to get larger portions of items on the kid's menus for a higher cost. I'm thinking that is what happened here, though the OP didn't need or want larger portions. Seems strange to force it on them.

 

[ready2cmickeymouse]

That $8.99 was the price off the adult menu. It just surprises me it is so much more @ The Plaza.

 

[maxiesmom]

That $8.99 was the price off the adult menu. It just surprises me it is so much more @ The Plaza.

It is not on the adult menu at the Plaza. They only offer it on the child's menu, and then it would be a smaller size as well. I'm guessing as they were forcing the OP's kids to order as adults that they made the sandwich larger, and then increased the price to match.

 

[WantToGoNow]

Hope it was the best grilled cheese they ever had. I have read several times on here that The Plaza will not allow an "adult" (10+) to order a kids meal. I had planned to eat there last trip but couldn't find room in our schedule for it. My ds12 refuses to order from a kids menu anywhere. He says he's too old for them-I've had to drink from many a little plastic kids cup because servers bring his drink in them. Then he can barely make a dent in the food. Dd10 will be an "adult" next time as well. We usually split meals with her so I would imagine that will continue.

 

[dachsie]

I spoke with DD on the phone to ask about ordering from Kid's menus because of WLS. The lady said you could order off the kids menus from any ala carte restaurant but you would be charge the adult prices at buffets.

 

[maxiesmom]

I spoke with DD on the phone to ask about ordering from Kid's menus because of WLS. The lady said you could order off the kids menus from any ala carte restaurant but you would be charge the adult prices at buffets.

I'm a bit confused. Who did that information come from? Because there are a few restaurants that are not owned by Disney, and as such Disney has no say over who they do or don't allow to order off of their childrens menu.

You also have to take whatever you are told over the phone with a grain of salt, when it comes to anything at WDW. You can be told one thing over the phone and run into something else entirely while you are at the parks.

 

[dachsie]

It was Disney Dining. I guess i am not as versed in who to believe in regards to Disney. I took it as the truth for a Disney restaurant.

 

[maxiesmom]

It was Disney Dining. I guess i am not as versed in who to believe in regards to Disney. I took it as the truth for a Disney restaurant.

Unfortunately you have to take whatever they tell you over the phone with a grain of salt. You can call 5 times and get 5 different answers. It is a sad Disney fact that they can and sometimes do give bad information out over the phone.

I've learned when I have a question the people on the Dis know more about what is truly policy than the people that work at their call center.

By the way DD means Dear Daughter on the Dis. Which is why I was confused by your previous post.

 

[2girlsmom]

I have a very small dd who will be 16 next week and she has been offered the kids menu at every restaurant (non buffet) at Disney that we have eaten at, not to mention virtually every other restaurant in the country. Sometimes she is fine with the kids menu, sometimes she wants the adult menu. I would not have a problem paying for an adult portion if they GAVE an adult portion, but if they gave the same size as the child portion, I would not be willing to pay a higher price for the exact same plate of food. And frankly, she still eats less than most 9 year olds at a sitting, she's just in the past year stopped eating 4 peice happy meals when we get McDonald's, for example. Unfortunately for her, most restaurants ASSUME she is roughly 9 years old and don't even ask, as she is lately exploring food options not typically on the children's menu and at times gets very offended that they think she is young enough for a child menu.

 

[gwynne]

I have a very small dd who will be 16 next week and she has been offered the kids menu at every restaurant (non buffet) at Disney that we have eaten at, not to mention virtually every other restaurant in the country. Sometimes she is fine with the kids menu, sometimes she wants the adult menu. I would not have a problem paying for an adult portion if they GAVE an adult portion, but if they gave the same size as the child portion, I would not be willing to pay a higher price for the exact same plate of food. And frankly, she still eats less than most 9 year olds at a sitting, she's just in the past year stopped eating 4 peice happy meals when we get McDonald's, for example. Unfortunately for her, most restaurants ASSUME she is roughly 9 years old and don't even ask, as she is lately exploring food options not typically on the children's menu and at times gets very offended that they think she is young enough for a child menu.

Have you tried politely telling the server she's a teenager and she would like an adult menu? (Or let her take care of this, herself.) I understand it may be annoying to a teen, but maybe you could help her see it's an easy fix. Just ask for a regular menu.

 

[flutterby3744]

I have a very small dd who will be 16 next week and she has been offered the kids menu at every restaurant (non buffet) at Disney that we have eaten at, not to mention virtually every other restaurant in the country. Sometimes she is fine with the kids menu, sometimes she wants the adult menu. I would not have a problem paying for an adult portion if they GAVE an adult portion, but if they gave the same size as the child portion, I would not be willing to pay a higher price for the exact same plate of food. And frankly, she still eats less than most 9 year olds at a sitting, she's just in the past year stopped eating 4 peice happy meals when we get McDonald's, for example. Unfortunately for her, most restaurants ASSUME she is roughly 9 years old and don't even ask, as she is lately exploring food options not typically on the children's menu and at times gets very offended that they think she is young enough for a child menu.

I'm a small person too (4'10") and have always looked much younger than my age. This is something she will likely experience for quite a long time! In fact, there have been a few times when people have mistaken my DH for my dad (I'm 2 years older than him...I can't lie, I secretly love this ). You get used to it after a while and it no longer offensive. You also get used to the "wow! You're short, I feel so tall around you,"and other seemingly harmless jokes EVERY TIME you meet someone.

It has always baffled me that people think nothing of commenting on someone's physical stature. I would never say anything about a persons physical appearance unless I was paying them a clear compliment.

 

[2girlsmom]

Have you tried politely telling the server she's a teenager and she would like an adult menu? (Or let her take care of this, herself.) I understand it may be annoying to a teen, but maybe you could help her see it's an easy fix. Just ask for a regular menu.

We generally do exactly this, and generally do NOT let her take care of this. She is high functioning autistic, which means in this situation that while she may intend it to be polite, it may come out as oddly worded and not particularly friendly.

 

[cjlyon1]

I think its crazy the waitress charged her $13.99 that's more than most of the other sandwiches on the adult menu. Sometimes they should take into consideration customer satisfaction is a factor in how they are tipped.