Childs age

[shoppingnut]

When I just went with my 12 yr old nephew last month for a week, sometimes he ordered off the adult menu and sometimes the kids menu, depended on what he felt like ordering. We weren't on the dining plan so to me it made no difference. When we were being seated at the restaurant, I would ask for a child's and adult menu for him and no one ever questioned his age, nor did I think it necessary to inform them he was over 9 yrs old. For the longest time, I have felt that Disney was bringing on themsevles any deception by people. They could very easily offer a junior price for the dining plan which would make sense. While we were down 1/2 the time he ordered from the kids menu and the other 1/2 the adult, so even if the dining plan was offered say at $21.99 for a junior, they would be still coming out ahead and people wouldn't try to cheat the dining plan system.

 

[cheezedoodle20]

I didn't care so much about the tickets it was the character meals they are buffet or family style and to pay adult price it is ridiculous

 

[Nemo14]

I didn't care so much about the tickets it was the character meals they are buffet or family style and to pay adult price it is ridiculous

My DD is 21 and has never been a big eater. We have always paid full price for her at buffets, but she always orders off the children's menus for counter service. That's never been a problem.

 

[Aurora_25]

My humble opinion: If you can eat a child's portion and feel full, then you should be allowed to pay the child's price, be you 3 or 23. Basing meal charges on age instead of appetite is a racket. They should have sizes roughly commensurate with different appetite levels, including that of a small child, and let everybody order what they want.

I know my DH wishes they would charge us a child's fare for what I eat- especially in the buffet places at WDW....I eat almost less than my kids!!!
Places where we live sometimes give you the option of getting a half portion of whatever is on their menu for a cheaper price and to me that's great
What a great idea you have there :sohappy:

 

[ELopez]

I think it's a question of ethics. Unfortunately, not eating a lot doesn't justify purposeful deceit. I may think Disney charges an outrageous price for one small item, and when I am already paying thousands of dollars for my family's vacation, I shouldn't have to pay $3 for a bottle of coke. But it doesn't make it ok for me to steal it.

We paid for our daughter the day after her 3rd birthday. Not only did we sleep better at night, but we had the opportunity to live out the integrity we are trying to instill in her.

You'll have to decide for yourself, but I reccommend you take the high road and be honest about her age. Take some of the suggestions from the other posters to save money on food. Best of luck and have a great vacation!:wave:

 

[MissM]

My humble opinion: If you can eat a child's portion and feel full, then you should be allowed to pay the child's price, be you 3 or 23. Basing meal charges on age instead of appetite is a racket. They should have sizes roughly commensurate with different appetite levels, including that of a small child, and let everybody order what they want.

At 29, I usually can't finish even a kid's portion. It's not because I starve myself or have an eating disorder, it's because I suffer from chronic GI issues. It's physically impossible for me to eat more then a few bites of anything at a time. I graze on tiny bits throughout the day.

Resturants are often a disappointment and frustration for me. Between servers who give you a hard time about kid's portions or non-existant half-portions, it's never a lot of fun. I'd love to try some of the buffets or sit-down resturants at WDW but I can never justify spending $20-30 so I can eat a handful of bites of a meal.

I think policies like Disney's of age-based pricing and meal portion sizes are outdated. What's so different from a 9 year old and a 10 year old anyway that it warrents such a change in size and price? They should have a sliding scale of size and portion, not a set amount for a person based on an arbitrary thing like age.

Ordering from the kid's menu at counter service is never an issue (done it myself), but I never get to experience the sit-down resturants so I can't comment on what - if any - accomidations they would make for your daughter. Most likely, you're going to have to waste food and money. Sadly, this isn't an idea situation to say the least.

Good luck,
-m

 

[meatloafsfan]

Disney is a business and as such has the right to make the rules and regulations regarding pricing and ages.

I understand people's frustrations, and there are situations where I have been tempted to lie to save money, but bottom line is Disney's rule is that anyone age 10 and up must pay adult prices for the tickets.

And don't say, "well, Disney won't go broke if I do this (or that or whatever)". Yeah, it won't - but if EVERYONE did it, they just might. (and please don't think that any one person is special enough to be the exception to the rule).

 

[The Mom]

Perhaps they should do what Dim Sum restaurants used to do when we lived in Toronto. Each item was on a little plate, you helped yourself from a cart, and the waiter tallied your plates (they each had a different color and size, depending on the item) as he/she cleared them from your table. It would certainly cut down on wasted buffet food.

It was perfect for everyone .

 

[FAIRIEDUST78]

I'm sorry but I have to disagree with the most of the posters. A ten year old is not an adult. I take my niece and nephew with me to DL every christmas. THis year they will be 12 and 11. Last year I paid children's prices for them,this year I will pay adults. My husband always waits on the outside of the line with the kids,so nobody can dispute whom I'm buying the tickets for. Do I feel guilty,not in the slightest.

When it comes to eating,I have always let them order what they want,be it from kids to adult portions. And if they don't finish it ,oh well. My husband and I always share our meals as it is.

And that's my two cents worth!

 

[Yellow Shoes]

If it's buffets we're talking about...well....there are LOTS of people who don't / won't / can't get "their money's worth."

For this reason, many people avoid buffets and choose a traditional table service restaurant.

 

[Wilt Dasney]

I think it's a question of ethics. Unfortunately, not eating a lot doesn't justify purposeful deceit. I may think Disney charges an outrageous price for one small item, and when I am already paying thousands of dollars for my family's vacation, I shouldn't have to pay $3 for a bottle of coke. But it doesn't make it ok for me to steal it.

We paid for our daughter the day after her 3rd birthday. Not only did we sleep better at night, but we had the opportunity to live out the integrity we are trying to instill in her.

You'll have to decide for yourself, but I reccommend you take the high road and be honest about her age. Take some of the suggestions from the other posters to save money on food. Best of luck and have a great vacation!:wave:

I'm sure this is a sincere post on your part, but I don't believe ethics necessarily come into play here. If I order a child's meal for my (nonexistent) 10-year-old daughter and pay for the food I ordered, no harm has occurred. Disney has recieved the amount of money they deem an appropriate price for the amount of food they gave me. It's a fair and equitable transaction. The age of the person consuming the meal has zero impact on how much it costs Disney (in labor and food products) to give me that plate.

Having said that, I'm not in the habit of lying, so if a CM specifically asked how old a child was, I'd tell them. After that, it's up to them to decide what to charge me. I'd feel no obligation to volunteer the information, however, since I don't think it's any of their business in the first place. As long as I've paid for what I've been given, then my ethical obligations are satisfied in my mind.

 

[The Mom]

I'm sorry but I have to disagree with the most of the posters. A ten year old is not an adult. I take my niece and nephew with me to DL every christmas. THis year they will be 12 and 11. Last year I paid children's prices for them,this year I will pay adults. My husband always waits on the outside of the line with the kids,so nobody can dispute whom I'm buying the tickets for. Do I feel guilty,not in the slightest.

When it comes to eating,I have always let them order what they want,be it from kids to adult portions. And if they don't finish it ,oh well. My husband and I always share our meals as it is.

And that's my two cents worth!

But neither is a 15 year old, or 17 year old, or even a 20 year old an adult. WDW is just saying that guests 10 and over will be charged full price, the same as adults, not that they are really adults.

 

[ELopez]

I'm sure this is a sincere post on your part, but I don't believe ethics necessarily come into play here. If I order a child's meal for my (nonexistent) 10-year-old daughter and pay for the food I ordered, no harm has occurred. Disney has recieved the amount of money they deem an appropriate price for the amount of food they gave me. It's a fair and equitable transaction. The age of the person consuming the meal has zero impact on how much it costs Disney (in labor and food products) to give me that plate.

Having said that, I'm not in the habit of lying, so if a CM specifically asked how old a child was, I'd tell them. After that, it's up to them to decide what to charge me. I'd feel no obligation to volunteer the information, however, since I don't think it's any of their business in the first place. As long as I've paid for what I've been given, then my ethical obligations are satisfied in my mind.

I actually agree with most of what you said. As long as the restaurant doesn't advertise a policy against people over a particular age ordering off the children's menu - I don't think there is a problem. But simply because you think "there is no harm done" doesn't mean that ethics don't play a part. There doesn't have to be a victim for it to be wrong.

I agree that Disney (and everyone else, for that matter) should charge based on amount - not age. Although, if you have seen my husband eat, you would know that we would have to take out a 2nd mortgage on our home simply to go out for dinner.

I hope I am coming across as giving my opinion and not unfairly judging others choices. I really do mean well. I am so impressed that this thread hasn't gotten nasty! (yet)

 

[Wilt Dasney]

I actually agree with most of what you said. As long as the restaurant doesn't advertise a policy against people over a particular age ordering off the children's menu - I don't think there is a problem. But simply because you think "there is no harm done" doesn't mean that ethics don't play a part. There doesn't have to be a victim for it to be wrong.

The point in bold is where we differ, I guess, but I don't think this is the place to delve into a discussion of the philosophy of morality. :lol:
I'll just say that, to me, a restaurant's stated policy isn't really a barometer of ethical behavior. But I'm sure we can agree to disagree.

I hope I am coming across as giving my opinion and not unfairly judging others choices. I really do mean well. I am so impressed that this thread hasn't gotten nasty! (yet)

I also didn't want to come off as mocking your beliefs in my post. I don't see anything offensive in how you've expressed yourself. :wave:

 

[Laura]

The point in bold is where we differ, I guess, but I don't think this is the place to delve into a discussion of the philosophy of morality. :lol:
I'll just say that, to me, a restaurant's stated policy isn't really a barometer of ethical behavior. But I'm sure we can agree to disagree.




I also didn't want to come off as mocking your beliefs in my post. I don't see anything offensive in how you've expressed yourself. :wave:

But the bottom line is, you don't have kids. :lol:

*poke*

 

[Wilt Dasney]

But the bottom line is, you don't have kids. :lol:

*poke*

Got me there.

And since we're currently debating this on AIM lookaroun), I should point out that I'm not talking about buffets, since you can take as much as you want there. I'm only talking about situations where you can order a predetermined amount of food at a rate ostensibly determined by age.

 

[Annabelle]

I'm struggling with the same dilemma, my child turns ten next month. We love to go to Chef Mickey's, Crystal Palace and other character buffets but I can't rationalize paying an adult price for a child who barely eats anything. The only solutions I've been able to come up with for our next trip to WDW is to either eat at counter service eateries or go to lunch at Crystal Palace or the Garden Grill when the prices aren't quite as high as they are at dinner time. I have also looked into the possibility of eating at some Downtown Disney establishments which have children's menus for kids up to age 12.
A few of the ones that I have located are House of Blues, Planet Hollywood, Bongos and Rainforest Cafe. I wish Disney would reevaluate its policy of charging kids ten years old full price. It definetely will limit how many sit down meals we will eat therefore Disney will lose my money that I would spend on the two adults in my family, since I refuse to spend that much on my picky eater daughter. We will just have to visit the characters in the parks for free instead of eating a meal at one of their character buffets. I can't see us spending $90 for one meal. I can feed my whole family for a week for that much money.

 

[metscool]

This is not a child but when I was 15 the people at the airport kept on asking me for ID and my parent kept on saying that I was only 15 not 16. So when I came down here my freshmen year of high school to march in the parade we went to DMV to get a ID so when I went to here I wouldn't be asked for an ID.

 

[ELopez]

The point in bold is where we differ, I guess, but I don't think this is the place to delve into a discussion of the philosophy of morality. :lol:
I'll just say that, to me, a restaurant's stated policy isn't really a barometer of ethical behavior. But I'm sure we can agree to disagree.




I also didn't want to come off as mocking your beliefs in my post. I don't see anything offensive in how you've expressed yourself. :wave:

Thanks for being so respectful! (It seems to be so rare these days!) Yes, we will have to agree to disagree. :wave: