under age 3 dining ??s (and knives?)

[heather13]

I know that under 3 eats free, but does that mean that she orders off the kids menu (assuming there is one) or do they just assume she'll eat off of our plates? If there's no kids menu can we order anything for her?

And do they allow pocket knives in the parks? Not expecting trouble just want to be able to cut grapes in half since it seems grapes & carrots are the only two side options for kids (and I'm a choking hazard paranoid).

 

[GladGame]

I know one answer to your questions:
Under 3 free means she can eat off of your plate, or at a buffet you can get her a plate of food from the buffet. You can order anything of course, but you would have to pay extra for it. We usually had to pay extra if we got our 2 year old her own drink, though sometimes not.

Have a good trip!

 

[MSLRAC]

Children under the age of 3 eat of of your plate. If you order them anything, then you have to pay out of pocket for it. You can find knives at the restaurants to cut up food so there really is no need for a pocket knife but pocket knives are not allowed in the parks.

ETA: Yes, people do make it past security with pocket knives (My DH did) but if it is found, you will be asked to take it back to your car/room or it will be taken from you.

 

[TDC Nala]

They only eat free at the buffets and all you can eat or fixed price places. Anywhere else, if you order anything specifically for them, you will likely need to pay for it. I don't see where it would be difficult to cut grapes with a plastic knife, although I've never tried to cut grapes so I don't know.

 

[LuluLovesDisney]

Kids eat from your plate, except at buffets, you can get them their own there. You can order whatever you like (ie a kid's meal for a 3 year old) you will just have to pay for it.

You can get an extra plate and spoon/fork for your child, too, that's never been a problem. I would also just ask for a steak knife to cut up grapes. Even if you get in with a pocketknife, it is one more worry/thing to carry.

 

[n2mm]

Yep, if you order a meal no matter TS or CS expect to pay for it. If you eat at a buffet, then yes the toddler will be allowed to eat off of the buffet for free and even receive a drink. We've been traveling with our granddaughters for years and even the last trip our almost 3 yo ate all of her own meals and we paid OOP for all of them. (We don't eat at buffets anymore, so not an option for us and our food is not her taste.)

As for the pocket knife, it's really not an issue. They are not going to search you. I've always commented that not once has my DH ever been asked to life his tee shirt to see that his phone is on his side and not something else. They are only going to search bags for alchol and glass containers, and a weapon if you have one in your carry through bags.

 

[heather13]

Thanks! I'm mostly worried about cutting grapes at CS meals (what's with grapes & carrots as the only "side" option for kids anyway!) because more than once I've been stuck at local venues like the zoo where they are out of plastic knives. Not to mention it's impossible to cut grapes with a plastic fork and not always easy to cut with a knife (depending on the thickness of the plastic).

Oh yeah, I'm an obsessive planner

 

[maggiew]

You can get fries, on request, as a side at the counter service places with the kids meal.

Maggie

 

[GrumpyMom25]

I had to cut grapes when we were there last week and the plastic knives worked fine.

 

[mom of princessx2]

Thanks! I'm mostly worried about cutting grapes at CS meals (what's with grapes & carrots as the only "side" option for kids anyway!) because more than once I've been stuck at local venues like the zoo where they are out of plastic knives. Not to mention it's impossible to cut grapes with a plastic fork and not always easy to cut with a knife (depending on the thickness of the plastic).

Oh yeah, I'm an obsessive planner

You can usually get applesauce or pudding or a cookie and there may be a few others choices but don't forget those are in the meals you will pay for. Also the carrots are raw. We went several times before my youngest was 3 and she always did well eating off my plate (or dh's). We never had to order her another meal.

 

[heather13]

Thank you!

 

[heather13]

Thank you! If they have applesauce I'll be in heaven. And thanks GrumpyMom for your firsthand utilization of the knives - also makes me feel much better!

 

[djp0630]

I agree with the previous posters except at Akershus. It's part-buffet/part-sit-down and they let us order a meal for DS (he was 1 at the time) and didn't charge for him.

 

[bijoli666]

Tutto Italia in Epcot also gave our DS (2) a free kids entree and drink when we were there a couple weeks ago