Dining with kids who don't like nuggets or pizza...

[jbm02]

Does anyone know how particular Disney is about kids eating non-kid meals at the buffets? Neither of my children are big nugget, pizza or mac 'n cheese eaters - their favorite dinner food is steak! we planned to make most of our TS ADRs at buffet restaurants so as to have more options for the kids. Has anyone else run into this issue? If so, what buffets do you recommend? we're planning on making ADRs at Liberty Tree (I know, not a buffet but dh's favorite restaurant!!), Cape May and maybe Park Faire or Boma. Thanks for any suggestions!!:woohoo:

[septbaby]

There are no restrictions on who eats what at buffets; its every child or adult for themselves.

Keep in mind LTT is no longer offers character meals.

Be sure to use the Grab and Go section at the resort. We found a nice selection of items for my nephew there for CS meals and snacks. Several times he chose sliced apples for a snack and he got very excited when he saw those Uncrustable PB&Js. I'm wasn't 5 so I didn't understand the excitement, but hey he as happy and that I could understand.

[jennipooh]

How refreshing to hear that my ds is not the only child in the world who doesn't live on chicken nuggets and pizza!!! DS (now 9) prefers salad and steak (he always has).

Le Cellier has a child's steak. We love Chef Mickey's buffet which used to have prime rib and now has another yummy cut of beef!!! Also, I find that the adult meals at Disney are often too big for me so we share adult food a lot. We were able to split the steak at Coral Reef when ds was 8 and it was just the right amount of food. Just this past Dec. we decided to split the filet at T-rex. The waiter warned us that it wouldn't be enough and since we didn't take his advice he surprised us with double the waffle fries and veggies. They were delicious!!!

DS will turn 10 soon and when we travel this summer I think I will finally take advantage of the dining plan, now that he is an "adult". We might even be lucky enough to get in on the Free Dining.

[NJRA]

You should try Ohana's at the Poly it is all you can eat served family style, and boy do they have delious steak. My kids LOVE it there. It's a must do every vacation!:thumbsup2 :thumbsup2

[MomofKatie]

My DD is a kid food hater. Her idea of a great meal is Thai, sushi, or Lebanese- not chicken nuggets, fries, or a burger. We have always done well at buffets- she can pick more healthy, "grown up" foods.

We tried Tusker House on our last trip- DD loved it! Lots of stuff she really loves- tabouli, hummus, salad, cous cous, and vegetarian dishes. She also likes 'Ohana, Biergarten, and Crystal Palace. I don't think she has ever had any of the "kid food" offered at any of these places.

There are some non-buffet TS places she likes the kids' meals at- The Plaza has tomato soup and grilled chicken skewers that she enjoys. Teppan Edo and Tokyo Dining both have really good selections for kids.

CS can be a bit harder- we usually just opt for ordering her adult entrees. When we did the Dining Plan, we mostly ended up with me or DH eating the kids meal and she would share an adult entree (usually a salad) with us. There are some good choices for kids with more adult tastes, but they aren't really easy to find. We always get the carrots and apple slices as sides, and she gets milk to drink.

[eandesmom]

Day 3 of our trip so it's not final but...we have 2 pretty adventuresome eaters (8 and 9) and one not-so at 12. We've done.

TS

Biergarten. Huge hit with the younger ones. Tons of options. Limited kid food (mac and cheese) which they both passed on. The loved the sausages, potato dumplings, german potato salad and the schnitzel in particular. All of which paled next to the Bavarian cheesecake and the pureed berries. Of course the show didn't hurt the experience either.

Kona. Kids menu included grilled fish of the day as an option. Which turned out to be what looked like a 6-8 oz piece of Mahi! I had a bite as that is what the 8 year old picked, it was really good! At this one the 9 and 12 year old traded which worked out well. Pan asian noodles with shrimp for the 9 year old, mac and cheese for the 12! They were amazing at Kona with letting kids switch out sides and such, letting the 12 and 9 year old trade, allowing smoothies as the adult non-alch beverages etc. My personal favorite meal so far, the Tuna Oscar is to die for and the desserts were mind boggling.

Teppan Edo. Not only was our chef an absolute riot who put on a great show, the kids get to choose from shrimp or chicken and get the full teppan menu. As a result, they didn't need to trade. Here they would not let us get smoothies as the non-a adult entitlement drink much to the 16 year olds dismay but oh well. This was the kids favorite meal for entertainment value.

CS

Tangienge Cafe (Morroco). 8 year old had Fafalel, and tried some of my Scwharma platter, loved it. 9 year old went for nachos in Mexico. The Morrocan food was a million times better.

Gasparilla Grill at the GF. Only the 12 year old and I ate there but they had a great selection for a pretty small CS area. I had an amazing jerk chicken wrap on a whole wheat tortilla and they let us trade the dessert for chips. The rest of the gang would have loved it. They all ate at Cosmic Rays and though it was just ok.

HOB. This was OOP but was really yummy for all so thought I'd throw it in there!


We still plan to hit PTC, Boma and Hoop De Doo for the rest of our trip although may end up switching PTC if we can find a time that works better elsewhere.

[rocio]

Tangienge Cafe (Morroco). 8 year old had Fafalel, and tried some of my Scwharma platter, loved it. 9 year old went for nachos in Mexico. The Morrocan food was a million times better.


Were your kids on the dining plan? I was excited about Tangerine until I saw the kids menu and though *snooze*. My kids would much rather have the shwarma and hummus, but if they can't get it on the plan maybe it's not for us. Sounds like you had no problem getting it for them.

[TDC Nala]

It is the stated policy of Walt Disney World that CS credits purchased for children must be used to order from the children's menu at restaurants that have a children's menu. Any reference to possible methods for "getting around" the WDW rules, whether the poster intended to get around rules or not, will be deleted.

[n2mm]

Our next trip will be a challenge for us. My granddaughter is latose intolerate, so no pizza, mac/cheese and possibly nuggets for her, so that will be interesting to see what they offer her. (We're not sure if there is dairy -- butter/milk -- in the nugget coating.) She is 2 so we will be purchasing her meals separate from the ddp. Sounds like CS will be hardest. (Obviously no peanut butter or hot dogs either.)