Children's Meal Portions - any advice for me?

[DCDisney]

The WDW kids meals are much smaller than what you would find at a typical fast casual chain restuarant. The serving size of protein is very small--4 nuggets, 1 chicken leg, etc. We don't do a lot of sugar and my kids would have milk at meals since they were having desserts and snacks but as they got to the higher end of kid range it wasn't enough food for the amount of activity they do each day--no stroller and average size kids. I knew this going in and planned accordingly. We'd use the kids CS credits for breakfast which was nice and then pay OOP for an adult meal for them to share. Half an adult meal was usually way more food and way better options. At TS mostly dinners depending on how late it was, snacks, etc if we felt like they would be hungry we'd order them a soup or salad OOP. It wasn't that much money over the course of the trip but we really only did DDP if it was free once the kids meals weren't meeting our needs.

 

[katilac]

The WDW kids meals are much smaller than what you would find at a typical fast casual chain restuarant. The serving size of protein is very small--4 nuggets, 1 chicken leg, etc. <snip>

Actually, wouldn't they be almost exactly the same? 4 nuggets, 2 sides, 1 drink is the standard at all of the big chains (fries & fruit are the sides). At chicken places, it's generally 1 chicken leg, 1 side, 1 drink.

It may not be enough for certain kids, but it's a typical kids' meal, not a small one. At any of the places, Disney or otherwise, you pay to upgrade, either the meal itself or by adding a side, etc.

A kid's meal at Disney averages about $5. Our local McD's have their kid's meal at about $3. However, prices are much higher in the heart of the city or near a popular attraction, so I consider the Disney prices to be just as typical as their serving sizes.

When we first went to Disney as a family, I was actually surprised that the food prices were pretty reasonable for a theme park, and that there were so many meals that would feed 2 either on their own, or by adding a side dish.

 

[Becca0711]

Depends on many factors, IMO.

We have never had an issue with portions on the regular dining plan, and we've always had at least 1 child on the kids plan when we've gone. The reason is this - We rarely have soda AND a dessert with meals at home (at least not every meal of the day) - so even if the meal is on the small side (3 chicken strips and fries)...The extra calories from the soda I USUALLY let them get on vacation (sometimes it's milk) AND the dessert (chocolate cake) - make it plenty for a single meal. For the rare times when it hasn't been enough - we have snack credits and can always pick up a mickey ice cream bar an hour later if the tummy wasn't full enough at the meal.

We also share a lot of our meals...so between the adult portions (in some cases HUGE) and the kids - we all eat plenty between all of us.

For TS places - book all buffets if you're concerned about it - adults and kids can eat as much as they want of everything there. This is another reason we don't usually bat an eye at a small portion at the CS meal for that day - Oftentimes we know we're going to be eating a TON at the buffet meal later in the day so honestly we don't want to be 100% full at lunchtime.

And unless it was a very difficult guest, that I'm assuming YOU don't want to be - I doubt they upgraded for free. The rules for the dining plan are spelled out all over the place and you have no obligation to buy it, if, for example, you think the kids meal sizes will be too small for your family. Also - you are always welcome to upgrade your child to adult for a fee. If the kids plan doesn't work for you I wouldn't complain or even want to get it for free - either don't get it at all or pay for the adult plan.

So, it's an option to upgrade to an adult meal plan? (We took advantage of the free DDP for our trip in early September.) Our kids are all very small for their ages but they are good little eaters! A Happy Meal is definitely not enough food for my 44-lb seven year old. (Similarly, he, his 6-year-old sister & 5-year-old brother can easily eat two--and sometimes three!--Uncrustables with fruit & chips when we pack those for the zoo.)

We don't let them eat chicken nuggets and none of them care for French fries, so they'll always choose the fruit/applesauce option when available. They'll drink milk at least two meals a day so that will fill them up a little but we also have a 2-year-old who will be sharing meals with all of us too. (We ARE doing character meals every day so we'll be able to fill them up at the buffets.)

Any advice is appreciated!

Thanks so much!
xo,
Becca

 

[robinb]

So, it's an option to upgrade to an adult meal plan?

Yes. You need to list your children as "Disney Adults" 10 and older. If you are there for Free Dining, then you have to pay the difference between a child's ticket and an adult ticket. If you are upgrading from the free QSDP to the DDP or the free DDP to the DxDDP you need to pay the additional adult upcharge for the kids you are upgrading to "Disney Adult". If you are not there for FD, you have to pay the difference in the ticket price plus the difference in the cost of the dining plan from child to adult.

 

[loveswdw]

Definitely depends on the child. Our DS9 has gotten to where kids' meals no longer satisfy him. At McDs, we HAVE to order him the Mighty Kids meals. I thought it might be nice to take advantage of the DDP one last time before he turns 10 but after discussing with my DH, we may just do TiW this time. At least with TiW, he's not stuck with ordering from the kids menu unless he wants to. We've also considered upping him to 10 and paying as an adult but I really don't want to do that either.

On the other hand, DS5 doesn't usually finish his kids meals so maybe DS9 can just polish off DS5's meals.

 

[jimmysmom74]

This might be a stupid question, but will server understand that my 6 y/o is able to order from the adult menu, and if he likes something on the kids menu can he order from it if he is being considered an adult? I know he will be changed in computer to a 10 y/o, but he definitely doesn't look 10. I just don't want it to be a problem everything we go in a restaurant.
Thanks in advance. Tina

 

[aaarcher86]

This might be a stupid question, but will server understand that my 6 y/o is able to order from the adult menu, and if he likes something on the kids menu can he order from it if he is being considered an adult? I know he will be changed in computer to a 10 y/o, but he definitely doesn't look 10. I just don't want it to be a problem everything we go in a restaurant.
Thanks in advance. Tina

It will show on your KTTW that there are X amount of adults (including your 6yr old). They will understand that he has adult credits

 

[jimmysmom74]

It will show on your KTTW that there are X amount of adults (including your 6yr old). They will understand that he has adult credits

thanks

 

[tinkerpea]

This might be a stupid question, but will server understand that my 6 y/o is able to order from the adult menu, and if he likes something on the kids menu can he order from it if he is being considered an adult? I know he will be changed in computer to a 10 y/o, but he definitely doesn't look 10. I just don't want it to be a problem everything we go in a restaurant.
Thanks in advance. Tina

We have upgraded our children who are now 8,8,11 when they was 6,6,8!

At nearly every TS place the server said that they thought there was a mistake on our cards we would then explain that we had upgraded the kids to the plan and they was fine with it,

We are from the UK and I had to call 2/3 times for them to change the ages I got told they could do it on all occasions,I then left it a few days called up and said that I had been going through our reservation and noticed they had the kids ages down wrong and that they was on the wrong ddp!
I got them changed and all was fine

This trip I've booked through dreams unlimited and it was very easy to change the ages,

You will get asked at the restaurants if you realise your child is down as an adult but just say yes you do, and all will be fine.

My kids can not stand those kids nuggets an I refuse to let them have them while I end up with the decent ones lol

 

[Secretselkie]

If you are in the UK, there are usually reports that UK guests are not permitted to change their child's age on their reservation.

This is true if you are booking Disney as part of a package from the UK, but if you book your flights and Disney separately then you can easier change your child's age ... we did this with one of my DD's in Feb this year

 

[stef12280]

I took my kids two years ago and we are 16 days away from our next trip. I thought the Disney plan for kids was worth every penny. My kids did not starve we ate two meals a day and got snacks in between breakfast and dinner. My kids actually ate better just having two meals especially dinner.
My kids were alway full and satisfied. So I find it hard to believe that also upgraded for free.

We have the meal plan again I think its great!

 

[mb_uh]

We have always had enough. Plus most character meals are buffet so if doing regular plan little ones can have smaller cs lunch and bigger dinner.

 

[kiramay]

For us it was a crapshoot. One of my ds8 (7 then) is a big eater. Sometimes the CS plus snacks we packed ourselves were enough; sometimes he nibbled off of our plates too. The other ds8 is picky and the food was plenty. If I get FD I'll upgrade both my older two. Otherwise we're paying OOP for all the dining so we can customize.

 

[robinb]

Whoops!

 

[mara61]

I upgraded my then 8 year (2 years ago) to adult while on free dining, he is extremely active and has a more mature tastes. It was the best $40 I spent. The children's meals are not enough food for him. Now my other son who is two years younger can still do kids meals at DW ( I hope ). We will find out next month. We are paying out of pocket for our meals this time, we don't normally eat dessert on a daily basis nor do soda at any time, and after reviewing menus, we would rather do apps than desserts at out TS.

Personally I would upgrade or perhaps get a extra frie at the cs or an app. At the ts to help fill up if you think its going to be a problem.