Trying to justify character dining price with 11 yr old

[antkim]

We have done lots of character dining in the past and have always enjoyed it. This year my oldest will have just turned 11 when we are in WDW (we skipped last year). When I say he eats like a bird I am not kidding! He would be happy with a plate of bread and butter and a milk shake. Dh and I have many times just let him eat that instead of buying a full meal that he will pick at...basically throwing money down the drain. I would really like to dine at Chef Mickey's again but it kills me to pay $30 (that is if they don't go up in price in 2010) for him when I know he won't hardly eat anything!! I assume they would not consider charging him the child's price? Quite honestly, I would rather the server charge less for the meal and I would leave more for a tip!! Having been a server for MANY years I always leave a nice gratuity whether a buffet or full service!

I am sure some will say..."if you can't afford it don't go" and that is not my point. Just wish there was something "in between" for JR's.

 

[TDC Nala]

They won't consider charging him the child's price if he's older than 9. It doesn't matter how much or how little people eat, at buffets you pay the price for your age. From what I've read on the boards, even an adult with a lap band and a doctor's note will have to pay the adult price.

 

[ShannonMB]

I can understand where you're coming from -- it's weird to hear of an 11 yo boy who doesn't want to eat you out of house and home, though! I imagine soon you'll be able to get your money's worth out of a buffet with him when he hits the teen years!

My DD is not quite 9, so I haven't had this problem yet. But I guess I would just think of it as paying for the experience. In reality, your average adult wouldn't probably eat $30 of buffet food, either. If he still is interested in the character meals, I say take him. Probably won't be long before he's rolling his eyes at the suggestion.

 

[El&Asmom]

I totally get your frustration. We will be bringing dn who is 10 in April. We thought about booking O'hanas, but the thought of spending $28 for a child at a restaurant is insane. We will do CP with her for breakfast, but the other TS will be a la carte places. That way she can eat whatever she wants.

 

[Allison]

No, they will not consider charging him a child's price.

 

[Cindy's Mom]

This is why we do the DDP - we can enjoy all the character meals and not have to worry.

We also prefer the buffets family style - you can be in and out in an hour and it provides us a nice park break in the air conditioning

 

[tony67]

Probably won't be long before he's rolling his eyes at the suggestion.

Excellent point.

This is exactly why it is worth paying the $30 and Disney can get away with charging that much.

Your paying for the experience. The food itself is not worth $30 IMO, even for an adult.

 

[antkim]

Excellent point.

This is exactly why it is worth paying the $30 and Disney can get away with charging that much.

Your paying for the experience. The food itself is not worth $30 IMO, even for an adult.

True...I was thinking after I posted that GEEZ...I don't even come close to eating enough to justify $30 worth of buffet food! LOL It is all about the experience but it still kills when the bill comes! The character dining this time is more about my little guy than it is my oldest. DH always enjoys CM's as well...when we find something in WDW that he likes you stick with it!! LOL He is sort of a food "snob" but for some reason he always seems to enjoy his meal there. I can't say it is the best buffet I have ever dined at but heck...kids and dad happy=

Thanks for your replys!

 

[skier_pete]

Yup, that's something that'll kill TS for us...when we have to pay an extra $30 a day for the DDP when DD turns 9 to 10. That's another $250 a week for the same amount of food. (I assume she won't suddenly be a big eater at 10 years old.) WE will probably go to a lot less of them once she turns 10.

My theory is the reason Disney sets the age at 9 is because they expect that people are going to lie about their age...which is too bad for those of us that prefer to be honest.

I guess I would say, assuming you don't do the DDP, just attend less of them, but maybe still do 1 or 2 as a "splurge".

Alternate - take advantage of "free dining" offers.

 

[snookiedoodles]

Well, I really think that he will make up for not eating now when he is 13!!!! I couldn't keep enough food in the house for my son!!!

 

[Sandy321]

Well, I really think that he will make up for not eating now when he is 13!!!! I couldn't keep enough food in the house for my son!!!

ITA - and fwiw my dd never eats anything - she's 13, its hard not to yell at her - or try to encourage or tempt her... but I do what I was told by her pediatrician when she was a toddler - look at the food intake over a week, not a day...

Its not easy - on the other side when she rode the Indy Speedway cars she told the CM she wanted a car to herself "Disney says I'm an adult now"

This is why we do the DDP - we can enjoy all the character meals and not have to worry.

We also prefer the buffets family style - you can be in and out in an hour and it provides us a nice park break in the air conditioning

Us too - and like a PP said - there is no way we eat $30 worth of food at a Buffet - so paying for the DDP up front, then we "let it go" - the money part, we're on vacation, and this is the price of vacation...

 

[BEASLYBOO]

I feel the same about Boma, Adults - $30.88; Children 3-9 - $14.99. I honestly feel that there's a huge gap between $31 dollars and $15. As an adult, I can justify $31 but for a 10 year old who' eats 4 chicken nuggets, a milk and a roll, it's not fair. Then again Disney's doens't have to play fair, they set the rules!. I love Boma but when we go with friends who have 3 thin kids between the ages of 10-13 and who don't eat, we don't go. Now my 13 year old eats like a man, he's 5' 10" w/ size 13 feet and he eats, I understand paying $31 for him!. I'm glad we're past the character buffets!

 

[Jill in Chicago]

If he really wants to go I would go. We went 2 years ago with our then 14 year old and focused on what he wanted to do. We had a blast.

If he is not into the character meals I would skip it. There are other ways to spend your time and money.

 

[antkim]

If he really wants to go I would go. We went 2 years ago with our then 14 year old and focused on what he wanted to do. We had a blast.

If he is not into the character meals I would skip it. There are other ways to spend your time and money.

As I mentioned it is not so much about him anymore..but his little brother and his dad... Oldest has been many many times since he has been 2 yrd old. My youngest has been many times but does not remember much. He was 4 the last time we went so although he remembers some there is much he forgets. He LOVES the characters....so I guess it is more about him. In the end I guess it is $15 we are talking about and that is not a lot in Disney terms! LOL

We will have a great time and I can't wait!! BTW this whole trip is a surprise to both of them!

 

[BEASLYBOO]

He LOVES the characters....so I guess it is more about him. In the end I guess it is $15 we are talking about and that is not a lot in Disney terms! LOL

Sometimes we lose perspective, and you are right, it's jsut $15 and soon, too soon, like my 13 year old son, your children will no longer be interested in it. What a wonderful surprise! Have a wonderful time!

 

[KevGuy]

If he's not that big and your paying cash then just tell them he's 9, I don't think they will be asking for id.....

 

[tndisneyfan]

I agree with you, it does seem like they would have something like a 9-12 for a little less money.

 

[vicki_c]

I understand where the OP is coming from too - my DS just turned 10 prior to our last trip. This is the child that this very morning - I had to tighten the waistband on his size 10 Slim pants to the 5th buttonhole on the elastic waist thing -- the child eats nothing!

I just posted on another thread about our $210 Spirit of Aloha dinner in June - he had 2 hot dogs, his younger sister ate a few bites of salad and bread, my husband was sick that day and ate rice and some bread. I was the only one who ate anything!

I just try hard not to think about it -- budget it into the plan -- and look at it for the experience vs. the food (and the big drink I had in a coconut at the luau helped too).

 

[aring75]

I totally get where you are coming from. We visited in July with a 2 yo, a 10 yo, and a 12 yo. Neither the 10 nor the 12 yo eat much...they are both girls and just not heavy eaters.

We really wanted to do a character meal b/c of the little guy, so we opted for b-fast. Instead of $30 and $15 we paid $23 and $11. I know not a huge difference, but there were 4 adults in our party as well.

Also, the kids seemed fresh and happy in the morning, as opposed to the afternoon/evening when you can't be sure how tired/cranky/uncooperative they may be feeling.

 

[antkim]

I understand where the OP is coming from too - my DS just turned 10 prior to our last trip. This is the child that this very morning - I had to tighten the waistband on his size 10 Slim pants to the 5th buttonhole on the elastic waist thing -- the child eats nothing!

I just posted on another thread about our $210 Spirit of Aloha dinner in June - he had 2 hot dogs, his younger sister ate a few bites of salad and bread, my husband was sick that day and ate rice and some bread. I was the only one who ate anything!

I just try hard not to think about it -- budget it into the plan -- and look at it for the experience vs. the food (and the big drink I had in a coconut at the luau helped too).

I think your ds might be my ds's long lost twin! LOL

We are going on a 4 night cruise before WDW and I can tell you they will LOVE being able to go get whatever they want when they want. That is the thing about oldest ds....he is more of a "lots of small meals" type eater. Putting a huge dinner in front of him sort of overwhelms him which is why if he only wants bread and butter and a shake when we go out to eat I don't mind at all! He's happy and I know he has a well balanced diet so I don't worry!

But again, I will remind myself it is about the experience!!