Can I order from the Children's Menu for an 11yr old that I'm paying for as an Adult?

[leebee]

At counter service restaurants you will have absolutely no problem ordering from the children's menu because often only one person is at the counter ordering for the whole family so the castmembers don't know the makeup of your family.

At pretty much every table service restaurant where you order from a menu you will be able to order her meal from the children's menu. Once in a while someone will post that it wasn't allowed, usually at a non-Disney owned venue like San Angel as mentioned by a poster upthread, but this is very rare and probably depends on the server because others have had no problem at San Angel.

The places where you will have to pay for her at the adult price regardless of what she orders are those based on age. These include buffets (e.g. Tusker House, Biergarten), all you care to eat family style venues (e.g. 'Ohana, Garden Grill), dinner shows (Hoop De Doo, Spirit of Aloha Luau, Mickey's Backyard Barbecue), fixed price meals (e.g. CRT, Akershus), Dining Packages (e.g. Fantasmic!, ROL), dessert parties (e.g. MK, IllumiNations, Star Wars), special events (e.g. Dine with an Imagineer or Animal Specialist, F&W special events), and the Family Platter at Whispering Canyon Cafe. At many of these, if she doesn't like the adult or pre-plated options she can choose from the children's options or ask about kid friendly choices not on the menu, but she will still be charged the adult price.

Purple Figment's post is correct- I've bolded/highlighted the important parts. It looks like a long list, but just remember: Quick Service won't be a problem, and regular Table Service also won't be a problem (99.9% of the time). They'll let her order and eat whatever she wants. Disney restaurants do NOT want a guest to have a bad experience and then go online to report "They refused to let Susie order and eat what she wants, we are NEVER going back!"

Check out the menus posted online (here on the DIS, through Disney Dining, or at allears.net) and look at the offerings/cost at the restaurants you are planning on visiting. Using rough figures, you are going to waste about $40+ A DAY ($69 DDP minus $26 OOP $6 for a CS meal, $10 for a TS meal, two $5 snacks) if you keep your daughter on the DDP. I can't imagine paying for the dining plan in your situation.

 

[princessbride6205]

I will note we had to ask for a kids menu at every table service restaurant. We were there last month and DD was 10 1/2. I'm not sure if they were all checking MDE info and seeing that she was 10, but no restaurant offered the children's menu (Rose & Crown, Tokyo Dining, Jiko, Sanaa, California Grill). We had to ask, but none of them gave us a problem.

 

[Aela]

If it was me, I would “Out of Pocket” her kids meal, then save the credit for another meal. Even if you guys to a Signature or two. Such a better use of your funds.

 

[Karebear]

We were there last August with DS who was 13 and DD who was 12. We paid OOP. Many times, they ordered from the kid's menu (it was too hot to eat LOL). The only place that said anything was BOG dinner and that was to say that since my kids were over 9, that they wouldn't get the dessert and drink that came with the kids meal and that we would have to pay for those (which was fine with us). Actually, at BOG, my daughter and I split an entree and each got a soup and my son ordered a kids meal. OOP might work out better for you with the age of your child. Have a fun trip!

 

[Deb & Bill]

My son was 12 or 13 and wanted a kid's meal at one of the water parks. Because he was 12 or 13 (I forget which trip) and we were on the dining plan, they wouldn't sell him the kid's meal. That was quite a while ago, but just wanted to let you know.

 

[NYCgrrl]

Never had a problem doing this and few eating venues would care since it's to their advantage pricewise.