10 years old eating and paying for the kids menu ?

[correcaminos]

My 11-year-old was allowed to order from the kids menu at Skipper Canteen (a la carte, TS) but we had to pay an adult price for it, and they doubled the portion size, all of which was fine since it was the particular kids entree, and not simply a smaller portion size, that our daughter was after.

The server probably already knew her age because our MDE profiles were linked to the reservation, but the moment she asked him if there was mac and cheese on the kids menu, he claimed he could tell she was too old to order from it "just by looking," as he pointedly glanced at her developing chest. (He then explained that if she wanted that dish, we could purchase an adult portion, which had been our intention all along, but he treated us like would-be scammers.) That server was a total d%$@, but the experience does illustrate that allowing a kids menu order is up to the server.

Wow, that's gross really what he did. I mean not pointing out adult prices or portions but the rest... seriously I'd be livid as a parent.

One family we ate with in June, has a teen with legit food intolerances (think like lactose intolerance where it just makes him icky) and wanted a safe food that happened to be on the kids menu. The server cut off immediately to tell him it was adult prices. Not kindly either. When we asked for a kids portion because the adult portion was huge (we tried it in March and only 2/3 was eaten) we got less gruff I guess because his was kid's priced on the receipt. I forgot to look to see what mine was (onion allergy so it was off menu but said not to be huge because I wanted ice cream lol). I don't mind paying, but I dislike when they're just short with customers. Maybe I got the touch as a whole lol

 

[FiestaFunKid]

or perhaps he has benjamin button syndrome........Ridiculous for a waiter to pull something like that on an 11 yo. Beyond the obvious inappropriateness, this kind of power-tripping does nothing but upset customers and cost themselves a better tip. I'm sure Disney bakes in borderline kids getting through, vs training the waiter to be age limit gestapos.

 

[Club Cooloholic]

or perhaps he has benjamin button syndrome........Ridiculous for a waiter to pull something like that on an 11 yo. Beyond the obvious inappropriateness, this kind of power-tripping does nothing but upset customers and cost themselves a better tip. I'm sure Disney bakes in borderline kids getting through, vs training the waiting to be age limit gestapos.

I'm pretty sure Disney is fine with teens even ordering off it and probably charge them that price. A waiter might be more inclined to charge the kid price for a someone obviously older if the adults at the table are ordering drinks or desserts for everyone. That or the waiter just doesn't care and hopes the guest compensates with a tip over 20 percent.

 

[Weather_Lady]

Hopefully she didn't notice and feel uncomfortable? DD13 has become very self conscious due to looks.

She was shaken and uncomfortable, but I think it had more to do with his accusing tone toward her -- acting as though she was trying to put one over on him -- because my daughter is a stickler for rules and was mortified that anyone would assume she was trying to skirt them. I couldn't tell if she'd noticed the CM looking her up and down, but after it happened, DH and I just wanted to distract her from the negative interaction as quickly as possible and keep the mood light-hearted, since we were there trying to have a nice time and celebrate a family birthday. In hindsight, I do wish that DH or I would have said or done something more, but we were caught completely unawares and had no chance to discuss it privately with one another until the end of that day, when I was finally able to say, "did you see it like I saw it?" Even if we had tried to complain to a manager, I think we'd have been hard-pressed to convince a non-witness that a CM had "looked" at our 11-year-old inappropriately, even though that's exactly what happened.

 

[disneyfireman]

or perhaps he has benjamin button syndrome........Ridiculous for a waiter to pull something like that on an 11 yo. Beyond the obvious inappropriateness, this kind of power-tripping does nothing but upset customers and cost themselves a better tip. I'm sure Disney bakes in borderline kids getting through, vs training the waiter to be age limit gestapos.

Agreed. Any wait staff doing that. Should be fired asap. Literally I have never encountered a waiter that cares how old or what anyone orders. I mean it doesn’t affect them. They don’t care. Except the above fool waiter. Again. I constantly order off kids menu. Never an issue.

 

[Club Cooloholic]

Agreed. Any wait staff doing that. Should be fired asap. Literally I have never encountered a waiter that cares how old or what anyone orders. I mean it doesn’t affect them. They don’t care. Except the above fool waiter. Again. I constantly order off kids menu. Never an issue.

It effects a waiters tip, 20 percent off $12 is not the same as $22.

 

[Chi84]

It effects a waiters tip, 20 percent off $12 is not the same as $22.

It does affect tips, along with many other factors. It also affects the bottom line if large numbers of adults are ordering kids’ meals, but I doubt that’s happening. My opinion is that it’s better for the restaurant to just accommodate their customers’ requests.

In any event, several posters have reported that at least some of the restaurants have policies in place and that’s certainly their right. I guess I can understand giving the person a larger portion and charging an adult price if it’s really that much of a problem. Not letting someone order what they want just seems heavy-handed.

 

[DryerLintFan]

It effects a waiters tip, 20 percent off $12 is not the same as $22.

Giving a seedy side eye to my daughters chest would effect my waiters tip. Bet.

I'm still grossed out by that story

 

[FiestaFunKid]

Well - the chances of getting the full 20% go down if you are harshly enforcing the rule or power tripping...getting a bigger, very generous tip would be out. Also, upset/uncomfortable customers are less likely to hang around for the dessert or that extra drink - so I think forcing the adult meal on borderline kids with the goal of bigger tips is at least a questionable strategy.

 

[Chi84]

Well - the chances of getting the full 20% go down if you are harshly enforcing the rule or power tripping...getting a bigger, very generous tip would be out. Also, upset/uncomfortable customers are less likely to hang around for the dessert or that extra drink - so I think forcing the adult meal on borderline kids with the goal of bigger tips is at least a questionable strategy.

It's not always at the server's discretion. If a restaurant insists on enforcing a heavy-handed, unaccommodating policy, I usually don't let it affect the tip. I just don't return to that restaurant and usually let a manager know my thoughts on the matter.

 

[Club Cooloholic]

Well - the chances of getting the full 20% go down if you are harshly enforcing the rule or power tripping...getting a bigger, very generous tip would be out. Also, upset/uncomfortable customers are less likely to hang around for the dessert or that extra drink - so I think forcing the adult meal on borderline kids with the goal of bigger tips is at least a questionable strategy.

I am not talking about kids or even teens. Chances are if your ordering off the kids menu as an adult man a lot, the waiter isn't expecting you to be much of a tipper either way and has nothing to lose being a pain if they so inclined

 

[disneyfireman]

It effects a waiters tip, 20 percent off $12 is not the same as $22.

Thats not the guests problem...literally not even on the list of 1000 to be concerned with. And, 20% lol.

 

[Club Cooloholic]

Nope..its actually a legit comment. And... It takes a special person to care who orders what... Like that is a lonely bored server...to care...kinda nanny state like..

I'm glad you agree he's nobody to emulate. That said...let me tell you, restaurants work with thin margins when it comes to food. Kids meals are priced low because they want adults spending on adult meals and drinks but not staying home just cause they have kids.

 

[disneyfireman]

They'll make more money than if I didnt order anything but a drink.....And Disney doesn't operate at thin margins at anything.

 

[Ldno]

So my kids are 9 now but the Disney App age checks you only when buying tickets, with that said though my girlfriend made a dumb decision whenever she selected one of the kids was 10 and oh boy it was a mess, the server kept asking us about the third adult's order but I didn't catch on because I didn't make the reservation, once I caught on we told them it was only 2 adults, 5 kids, it was a small big deal because they were deadset on charging him adult pricing to the fact that I had to bust out the app and show them my kid's ages because I have 3 nine year olds with different birthdays haha.

Lesson learned, they go off your reservation "check-in" and not the actual app.

What sucks is that my kids are big for their age I can only get away with it for so long, not that I don't want to scam the system but because really they don't have big appetites and the adults menu on some WDW restaurants serve you all three courses were my kids would only eat 1 serving and it's just wasting food and money at that point.

 

[DryerLintFan]

So my kids are 9 now but the Disney App age checks you only when buying tickets, with that said though my girlfriend made a dumb decision whenever she selected one of the kids was 10 and oh boy it was a mess, the server kept asking us about the third adult's order but I didn't catch on because I didn't make the reservation, once I caught on we told them it was only 2 adults, 5 kids, it was a small big deal because they were deadset on charging him adult pricing to the fact that I had to bust out the app and show them my kid's ages because I have 3 nine year olds with different birthdays haha.

Lesson learned, they go off your reservation "check-in" and not the actual app.

What sucks is that my kids are big for their age I can only get away with it for so long, not that I don't want to scam the system but because really they don't have big appetites and the adults menu on some WDW restaurants serve you all three courses were my kids would only eat 1 serving and it's just wasting food and money at that point.

For me, that's really what I don't understand. Disney sets the menu prices. If your platter of 4 chicken tenders with a side of Mac is worth $12 and your platter of 6 chicken tenders with double the Mac is worth $18 who cares who eats it?

Aside from family style and buffet, set your menu prices based on what your food is worth to you and then let your customers prefer what they want, imo.

 

[FiestaFunKid]

I mean, a fully grown adult trying to order kids meals at a sit down restaurant is one thing. I can see this getting annoying for servers, since most grown-ups don't want to spend all that time sitting down for a child portion of chicken fingers (which they can openly buy at quick service)....and I'm betting this segment of guests probably aren't big tippers. Although, some restaurants outside Disney do allow elderly people to order kids meals too which is a nice offering.

However, given all the money people spend on these vacations, giving kids (8,9,10,11,12) the third degree over their age is bad service and would affect my tip if handled rudely. If really bad, I'd probably tell the waiter the child is not eating and give them my appetizer or side. I will say almost all servers have let my kids slide past 9, so I don't think is a Disney rule - more of a random low class waiter move.

 

[Club Cooloholic]

I mean, a fully grown adult trying to order kids meals at a sit down restaurant is one thing. I can see this getting annoying for servers, since most grown-ups don't want to spend all that time sitting down for a child portion of chicken fingers (which they can openly buy at quick service)....and I'm betting this segment of guests probably aren't big tippers. Although, some restaurants outside Disney do allow elderly people to order kids meals too which is a nice offering.

However, given all the money people spend on these vacations, giving kids (8,9,10,11,12) the third degree over their age is bad service and would affect my tip if handled rudely. If really bad, I'd probably tell the waiter the child is not eating and give them my appetizer or side. I will say almost all servers have let my kids slide past 9, so I don't think is a Disney rule - more of a random low class waiter move.

I think it's a byproduct of having everything linked digitally now. No doubt servers are told to follow the rules. Again, when people make reservations why do they add everyone that is going? When I make a reservation I have myself and the rest of my party is unassigned, not because I have an advantage, just because I don't bother to do the extra clicks.

 

[disneyfireman]

I forgot, you have little respect for those in the service industry and don't like to tip. For folks out there that wonder why Disney can't find more housekeepers and waiters, @disneyfireman is exhibit A of the the kind of folks that don't make those jobs too appealing.

Housekeeping is a non tipped position. It’s a unionised job. As for servers. People will tip servers. But that isn’t even always done. Some countries it’s not customary. And … my last visit 7 days. I never used housekeeping. I got my own clean towels from the pool on way back to room. They won’t come unless you ask. So the daily housekeeping and bed making. Those days are gone as they were not needed. No one needs clean sheets daily. But in the end. You do you. No one cares. And no one should care what anyone tips or how they order food. It’s no one’s business. To each thier own.

 

[Wendy Pleakley]

This isn't about "some countries", it's about Florida, and yes, tipping is an expected norm.

I don't know about FL specifically but in many cases servers don't earn minimum wage because of tips, and they have to pay out a portion of their expected tips to back of house staff, whether they got a tip or not. A server receiving a $0 tip still has to pay out, and they actually lose money on that customer.

Whether or not we move to a non-tipping system for restaurants is up for discussion, but right now there's no excuse for not tipping. It's part of the cost of the meal, so it shouldn't be surprising.