Hard time picking CS on DDP - help

[sanapp]

Okay we are going in Dec and it is me, DH and DD6. Everyone is pretty picky well except me. I could eat anywhere and be quite happy, but not DH or DD6. I will always carry a PB sandwich with me for DD6 just in case she can't find something on the menu. She isn't a big meat eater, but really enjoys pasta, rice, fruit and many veggies. I am trying to look on allears to come up with CS to make everyone happy, but I am really having a hard time doing this considering everyones likes and dislikes. Are there other menu items at each place besides what is listed?

Columbia Harbour House - this looks like a good pick for us

I need two more choices at MK

I was looking at Cosmic Ray's, but it looks like the only kids picks are:

Chicken Nuggets $4.99

Mixed Greens Salad with Chicken $4.99

Peanut Butter and Jelly $4.99

Is this really the case? I read somewhere that the PB&Js are all the gross uncrustables which my child of course wouldn't eat. She might eat nuggets, but at most places that would be her only choice. Can you get anything else at Cosmic Rays for a child????

Starring Rolls Cafe at HS looked good, but the only kids pick is a PB&J!!!!

I am really glad we have the regular DP rather than the QSDP as I don't think DD6 would get much to eat!!

Any thoughts on where we should go? I need 2 @ AK, 1 @ HS and 3 @ MK.

HELP!!!

[tortoni]

I share your pain! My youngest, now 13, was and still is picky. He likes rice so we have gone to Yakitori in Epcot and Yak and Yeti counterservice in AK and you can get a bowl of white rice at each. Keeps him happy. ALso, there is a fruit bowl at Main Street Bakery and sandwiches and other yummies for everyone else or Casey's across Main Street for a combo. You should consider WPE in DD because they have a great variety of foods including pasta for your child. Hope this helps!

[sanapp]

DH and I were talking last night and we decided that we will let her order what she really wants and just pay OOP if necessary. Since we are on free dining it isn't a big deal to have to pay OOP for her choices if we have to. I am also going to be sure to always carry a PB sandwich in a sandwich carrier in my backpack along with some goldfish crackers or pretzels. If I do that and we go into it knowing we might be paying OOP for her then we should be all set.

It is very strange to me that they would have something like a hotdog on an adult menu, but not offer it to children. I guess if that is what she wants we will just pay OOP.

Is there any place that you can get a simple grilled cheese sandwich that is a CS?

Maybe this is also an opportunity for me to get her to try a few new items as well. She is now in 1st grade and she is trying more and more of the school lunches and does report how much she likes some of them, so maybe it won't be so bad.

It just seems like if I pick a place that will make DH happy it has nothing for DD. ARRRGHHH

[PrncessA]

My kids are picky eaters as well and ate a few PBJ's from our room on the trip. For the most part we were able to find things they would eat on the menu with a few exceptions. We were on the DxDDP but ended up eating alot of CS to save time. Quite a few CS offer cheese pizza on their kid's menu which was a hit.

The kids' favorite CS meal by FAR was Casey's Corner. They had never had corn dog nuggets before and they LOVE LOVE LOVED them... so did I!

[allyphoe]

We shared a lot. 2 adult CS meals was enough food for 2 adults and a small-eating 6yo, and a kid CS plus a snack credit or three made for a more-filling breakfast. We also would have one person stand in line where the adults wanted to eat, while another went to a kid-friendly place, got a kid meal, and carried it back.

AK - the burger at Yak & Yeti CS was disgusting. The fried rice side gets generally good reviews, though. Pizzafari has mac-n-cheese or pizza. Flame Tree has portions large enough to easily share.
HS - total wasteland.
MK - Pinocchio Village house has both pizza and mac-n-cheese. We sent a runner there, since the kids didn't like the options elsewhere.

[sanapp]

I was looking at Yak & Yeti counter service as I know she would eat fried rice and then I could get the lo mein and share it with her as well because she does really enjoy both of those!!

Last year we ate at Sci Fi last year and DD got the mac and cheese there and didn't like it at all. Is all of mac & cheese around disney the same. I make a really good homemade mac & cheese and she doesn't like as she would rather eat Kraft.

Does anyone know if they have anything else at Starring Roll Cafe at HS besides the kids PB&J on the kids menu????

[TDC Nala]

Grilled cheese is not usually available at CS. That is not one of the things Disney typically offers for children.

No, Starring Rolls does not appear to have anything else for children. You can ask, but they don't have an extensive menu.

This is one of the problems with being on the dining plan. If you were not on the dining plan, you could order her pretty much anything. You can always share food with her or ask if the restaurant will accommodate her. If they do not have all specifically pre-made food they might be able to, but your leeway with picky eaters or food preferences is far less than that for medical conditions or allergies, especially at CS. You are on free dining so if you have to pay OOP a few times it won't be too much of a problem.

[klinlin]

I was also going to suggest Sunshine Seasons in Epcot. They have a ton of choices. Pizza Planet is enough to share, and pretty good as well. Not sure where you are staying, but the food courts at value/mods offer various selections. All of the PB&J we came across were uncrustables, which my youngest decided he loved last trip. As far as the kids/adult discussion, I believe if I CS does not offer a kids meal, you may order an adult meal for a child on the plan.

[sanapp]

We are staying at POP this time around. My DD6 doesn't eat jelly, so I don't believe she would enjoy an uncrustable.

I have come up with the following plan for her:

Arrival Day:
Grand Floridian Cafe: Cheese Pizza w/ veggies and apples
Day 2:
Yak & Yeti CS: Ch Bites w/ Fried Rice (will share some Lo Mein w/ her)
WCC for dinner: fruit cup, Hamburger w/ fries
Day 3:
Toy Story Pizza Planet
Captain's Grille for dinner: Hot dog w/ fries
Day 4: going to MVMCP, so no TS today
probably have lunch at Pop food court (plenty of choices for her)
Columbia Harbor House dinner: Nuggets or Mac & Cheese
Day 5:
later breakfast at Princess Storybook (no problems here)
Tepan Edo for dinner (no problems) chicken (loves lo mein and rice)
Day 6:
early Tusker House breakfast (no problems here)
may not need a lunch here - snack may do
T-Rex for dinner (no problems here)
Day 7:
Crystal Palace breakfast (no problems here)
perhaps Cosmic Rays (but may not need)
Ohana for dinner (no problems)

I have heard that they Ohana's has a small kids menu, but I haven't been able to find it anywhere. She will have enough to eat anyhow. Her favorite vegetable is brocolli and they have a lo mein I believe.

Because of our late breakfast at Epcot I don't think we will be having a CS lunch that day and she might not want lunch on day 6 or 7 either. We don't typically have a large breakfast at home, so that might tide her over till dinner.

I plan on using 1 CS for breakfast on our departure day as well.

I have read that they do pool your CS credits, but that it is your responsibility to use them properly. I don't mind paying OOP for something for her if I need to or we can just share something from the Ad menu.

Thanks for all of your input.