Sharing at table service restaurants? Ok? Frowned upon?

[MaC410]

My wife and I found out on our first trip to Disney World that we enjoyed walking around the parks snacking on things here and there throughout the day. By the time our dinner reservations came we weren't that hungry to have big (costly) meals. We still loved going to and sitting down at all the great table service restaurants. We didn't care so much about the food but more so about the theme and atmosphere of each place. We don't want to cut out going to table service restaurants for dinner but we'd love to try cutting the cost a little bit.

Is it frowned upon to share entrees at these types of restaurants?

 

[Missyrose]

My wife and I found out on our first trip to Disney World that we enjoyed walking around the parks snacking on things here and there throughout the day. By the time our dinner reservations came we weren't that hungry to have big (costly) meals. We still loved going to and sitting down at all the great table service restaurants. We didn't care so much about the food but more so about the theme and atmosphere of each place. We don't want to cut out going to table service restaurants for dinner but we'd love to try cutting the cost a little bit.

Is it frowned upon to share entrees at these types of restaurants?

Nope, not frowned upon at any a la carte TS restaurants. We do it often.

 

[goofyintoronto]

Not frowned upon at all! You can order whatever you please. Even if its one app and one dessert, its totally fine. Enjoy!

 

[MaC410]

Great to hear! That was probably going to be my next question about just ordering an app and dessert to share.

Time to plan our snacking!

 

[caliope]

We sometimes get several appetizers and drinks. Or we split an entree and add salads or appetizers to share. We rarely get dessert, but sometimes that's all we want. There are many different combinations of how to order at a TS restaurant. Get what you want! It's not frowned upon at all.

 

[Hopefully]

Great to hear! That was probably going to be my next question about just ordering an app and dessert to share.

Time to plan our snacking!

Just to clarify It is fine to share at a la carte restaurants but it is not allowed at buffets, AYCTE restaurants, dinner shows etc. At these you will be charged a per person amount regardless of how much or how little you eat.

 

[MaC410]

Just to clarify It is fine to share at a la carte restaurants but it is not allowed at buffets, AYCTE restaurants, dinner shows etc. At these you will be charged a per person amount regardless of how much or how little you eat.

Oh absolutely. I knew sharing wouldn't be a thing in those types of places.

 

[Nancyg56]

We share too! I love dinner, but cannot always have the entire thing, appetizer, entree and dessert, but I like them all. Depending on who is with us, we will often share a meal, and it is so much better to have some of each course, than to miss out because there is too much, or worse to toss the meal out because it was too much.

 

[AdamEfimoff]

Maybe not V&A but most would be fine. You can share what ever usually. You are paying for it and you can pay and eat however you want.

 

[disneyAndi14]

We share many meals and never have had any problems, we often get appetizers and dessert. We sometime share an entree. We like the flexibility of sharing, we like to snack as well.

 

[rosiebean]

My family (extended...grandparents, kids, grandkids) share all the time. And sometimes individual people in our group order a couple of appetizers per person (say, soup or salad and something heavier) instead of an entree. Sometimes adults order off of the kid's menu. Sometimes someone in our party just has a glass of wine along with bread service. Never has anyone been made to feel as though we were doing something wrong because of that, and service has never been impacted because of that (in fact, some of our best service has come when we share entrees or just have an appetizer). In my experience, that's one thing that WDW dining does right consistently, making the diner/diners feel comfortable no matter what their eating style.

 

[Muskrat191]

Many years ago, we had the deluxe dining plan. We didn't quite realize how much food it was going to be with appetizers and dessert at every meal. One day we had lunch at Tutto Italia, and then dinner at the Yachtsman Steakhouse. After explaining to the waitress why we weren't particularly hungry, they split meals for us in the kitchen, so that they came out separately plated.

 

[Barbruka]

Was eating in Chefs de France a a couple weeks ago and the table next to us had five people. Three girls about 4, 6 and 8 and the parents. They bought two main dishes and shared among the five of them.

 

[disnut8]

Just wanted to add that the meals could be split in the kitchen. If that happens, you more than likely will each get half the entrée but just about a full side dish. And when my son wanted to try the cheddar cheese soup at LeCellier, we asked for three spoons. We were brought three small bowls for the price of the one bigger bowl. So sharing is definitely not discouraged.

 

[focusondisney]

We love sit down restaurants too & often have dinner at signature places. The last 2 trips, I have gotten colds or stomach bugs while there. I just couldn't eat the full entrees I would normally order. So my DH & I split meals several times, including spaghetti at Tutto Italia & fillet mignon at Yachtsman's Stakehouse & STK at DS. We were never made to feel uncomfortable doing this. I noticed several people sharing during the week, something I never paid attention to before.

Have a great vacation!

 

[figment_jii]

I've also shared plenty of entrees (and appetizers and desserts) with members of my family family and haven't had any problems or felt like the server frowned upon it. As others have said, you cannot share at buffets (e.g., Chef Mickey), all-you-care-to-eat/family style meals (e.g., 'Ohana), dinner shows (e.g., HDDR), fixed priced meals (e.g., CRT), or dining packages (e.g., Fantasmic dining package) - at these places, each person will be charged regardless of how much or how little is eaten. In terms of splitting the meal, it varies by restaurant, chef, etc.; sometimes they split the dish in the kitchen, other times they've just brought a second plate.

 

[Stefecatzz]

I have split bread service & a bowl of split pea soup at Sanaa (which the server actually had the chef make as 2 smaller versions for us!). It worked out perfectly. I've also split apps at lounges in multiple resorts.

 

[Missyrose]

Maybe not V&A but most would be fine.

V&A falls in the same category as AYCE and buffets -- fixed price meals where you pay by the person and not by what's ordered (unless you add upcharge items).

 

[helenm29]

My husband and I go for the Food and Wine festival so by the time dinner comes we are a tad bit full!a lot of the sit down meals ARE expensive so yes, we DO some times split our meals and NO ONE has ever said anything about it. Don't worry about it...just do what you gotta do and enjoy!

 

[TXAKDisneyFan]

I guess I don't understand why anyone would think you couldn't share at a regular TS? You can share food at non-buffet/AYCTE restaurants outside WDW, why wouldn't you be able to at WDW? (Same with ordering only appetizers or dessert, etc.)