After looking at some menus, Disney needs to...

[JoanieS]

rethink the "children's menu".

I was looking at menus to get ideas for CS for our Oct. trip. Columbia Harbor House looks yummy...until I look at the kids menu! 2 stinkin' choices for kids??? Mac and Cheese and Salad with chicken. Nuggets and tuna are on the "adult" menu, why the heck can't they put smaller portions of those on the kids menu???

ETA: Same with Pinocchio Village Haus - pizza and nuggets on the adult menu, but not on the kids!

 

[TheRustyScupper]

1) Disney changed the menus based upon
. . . guest surveys
. . . nutritionist consults
. . . accountant computations
. . . public relations dept gaging the lack of complaints
2) It will be tough to go back.

By the way, which ones of you voted for the new menu items in the surveys?

 

[Moeluv4u7]

I agree JoanieS
We have never been but I am trying to decide for our trip next year where we may want to go and if we would wantthe Dining Plan or not (7 of us) However since the kids have to get from the kids menu if one is available I am becoming a bit frustrated- My kids like "real food" along w/ an occassional "fast food" type item-
I expected at the Aloha Dinner Luau that the kids would get some type of Luau type food (chicken on a stick; kabobs w/ pineapple, chicken, tomato, or whatever, some corn on the cob or something...
And at one of the other "theme type" restraunts- Some type of foods that are kid friendly or portioned properly of a few of the same foods or so-
All I have seen on all kids menus, chicken nuggets, burger, mac n cheese, corndog, etc- My son will be sorely upset if I get him chicken nuggets while we have kabobs, ribs and such- The kids menu may be fine for those 4 and under but my DS7 & DS9 want food! LOL But if we get Dining Plan I have just learned we must all get it and they will have to have kids meal - OR choose only places w/ no kids menu (not many)
Maybe they will change a bit of that w/ the new Dining Plan changes- But Disney should realize that not all kids up to 9 yrs old are picky eaters who only want burgers, nuggets or pizza-

 

[dementia412]

Which is why I think they need a third category of Junior for the food plans. It would cover kids 7-13 or so, cost in between kid and adult price, and allow them to eat more adult meals but with smaller portion sizes.
Or, allow people to pick which meal plan they will get for children. That way if your 12 yo eats like a bird or only eats mac and cheese, you could put her on the children's plan, but if your 7yo eats like a horse or wont touch "baby food" they could pay for and eat adult meals. I don't think WDW would lose any or at least much money because many people would put younger kids on the adult plan which would make up for those who put older kids on the kids plan.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Disney does realize that. Occasionally, in response to threads like this AND when time is available, one or another DISer will go through all the menus and post the "unique" items.

Yes, many restaurants have the same, boring kid fare - but as RustyScupper implies, that's at least partly in response to those being items kids will eat.

All items taken from the DIS's own http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/dining/diningmain.cfm, using its search tool feature. I did not look at the individual menus so cannot tell when each was posted. Remember, ALL menus online are subject to change - given that they're unofficial and generally provided NOT directly by Disney, but by site staff or users or both

ABC Commissary: chicken nuggets, fried fish
Artist's Palette: pb&j, chicken nuggets, macaroni & cheese
Yak & Yeti counter service: cheeseburger, chicken bites, pork eggroll
Backlot Express: chicken nuggets, chilled chicken & vegetables
Cantina de San Angel: grilled chicken & cheese quesadilla
Captain Cook's: chicken Strips, grilled cheese, turkey & cheese sandwich
Chakrandi: chicken soup
Cheesecake Factory: hamburger, hot dog, pasta
Columbia Harbor House: garden salad, macaroni & cheese
Cooke's of Dublin: fish & chips, batter-fried skewered chicken & chips, baby sausage & chips
Cosmic Ray's: mixed green salad w/chicken, chicken nuggets, pb&j
Disney Quest: pasta w/alfredo, pasta w/marinara, pasta w/meat sauce
Earl of Sandwich: turkey/swiss, pizza sandwich, grilled cheese, pb&j
El Pirata Y el Perico: taco
Electric Umbrella: macaroni & cheese, chicken nuggets, turkey pinwheels
All Star food courts: chicken nuggets, grilled cheese, pasta w/meatball
Everything Pop: chicken nuggets, grilled cheese, penne w/meatball, vegetable lo mein
Flame Tree: baked chicken wings, hot dog
Gasparilla Grill: hot dog, chicken strips
Goods to Go: hot dog, hamburger (meal in a bucket)
Hurricane Hannah's: chicken strips, cheeseburger
Leaning Palms: grilled cheese pretzel, hot dog, pb&j
Lotus Blossom: Beijing bbq drumstick
Liberty Inn: chilled chicken, chicken nuggets, pb&j
Lottawatta Lodge: hot dog, macaroni & cheese, turkey sandwich
The Mara: rotisserie chicken, macaroni & cheese, chicken strips, hot dog
McDonald's (DtD): hamburger Happy Meal, nugget Happy Meal, Mighty Kids Happy Meal
Old Port Royale: chicken nugget bucket, chicken drumstick, macaroni & cheese
Pecos Bill's: hamburger, garden salad w/chicken
Pepper Market: hot dog, pizza, pasta, chicken strips
Pinocchio's: pb&j, turkey roll-up, macaroni & cheese
Pizzafari: pb&j, cheese quesadilla
Rainforest Cafe: pizza, macaroni & cheese, pasta, hot dog, hamburger, chicken tidbits, grilled cheese, shrimpkens, shrimp
Riverside Mill: macaroni & cheese, turkey pinwheel, hamburger, chicken nuggets, fish basket, pasta
Rix: grilled ham & cheese
Roaring Forks: pb&j, chicken nuggets
Rosie's: macaroni & cheese, chicken nuggets
Sassagoula: chicken nuggets, pasta w/marinara, grilled cheese, pb&j
Studio Catering: grilled chicken wrap, pb&j
Sunshine Seasons: chicken leg, macaroni & cheese, sweet & sour chicken, make-your-own mini sub
Tangierine Cafe: hamburger, pizza, chicken tenders
Tempura Kiko: chicken w/vegetables, shrimp w/vegetables
Typhoon Tillie's: Grilled cheese pretzel, pb&j, macaroni & cheese
Food & Fun Center: hot dog, chicken strips, macaroni & cheese, grilled cheese
Warming Hut: pb&j, hot dog
Wolfgang Puck Express: pizza, chicken tenders, macaroni & cheese, grilled cheese
Yakitori House: Teriyaki chicken

Counter service with apparently no children's menu:
Asia Food Stand
Avalunch
Boardwalk Bakery
Boardwalk Pizza Window
Boardwalk to Go
Bongo's Express Window
Casey's Corner
Catalina Eddie's
Courtyard Pool Bar
Dip Site
Lowtide Lou's
Main Street Bakery
Marketplace Snacks
Safari BBQ
Safari Turkey Leg
Sand Bar
Siesta's Pool Bar
Sommerfest
Space Dog Hot Dog
Spoodle's Pizza Window
Surf Doggies
Grab & Go/Contemporary
Village Fry Shop
Pizza Planet
Wetzel's Pretzels
Yorkshire Fish & Chips

So, while yes, there are a lot of repeated items, there appear to be enough different choices so as not to have to feed a child a week's worth of macaroni & cheese (for example), even for Guests who dine SOLELY at counter service locations.

 

[pat fan]

I haven't gone to see if the menu has changed, but last summer at 50's Prime Time I got the children's menu for lunch and ordered salmon. It was a nice sized portion of fish in the center of the Mickey kid plate with whole grain rice in one Mickey ear and green beans with carrots in the other ear. I think there was yogurt there also. Maybe the rice was with the salmon and the yogurt was in the other ear. Anyway, it was very good and there were other choices there as well that were not nuggets.

SORRY!!!
I just re-read your post and saw you were looking at CS! Oops! In that case, yes, a little limited.

 

[Maggie'sMom]

But Disney should realize that not all kids up to 9 yrs old are picky eaters who only want burgers, nuggets or pizza-

My DD is a picky eater, and I still have problems finding things she'll eat at CS restaurants. She was just 3 1/2 last time we went so I used her CS credits to buy her breakfast at the resort foodcourt since she likes waffles and pancakes. For lunch, I would buy just one adult meal and split it with her because too many of the kids meals just weren't appetizing. A couple times, I also purchased an additional side to get her something I knew she would eat. I agree it's ridiculous that at CHH, adults can have fish and chicken strips, and a child cannot. She'll be turning 5 on our trip in September, and I'm still planning to share meals with her.

 

[JoanieS]

Moeluv - you said exactly what I meant!

We do have the dining plan, and, with the places we made ADR's, TS meals should be fine. The counter service just seems so limited! My kids like "real food" too, not "kid food". Neither of them will touch the mac and cheese, they only eat my homemade. One likes chicken nuggets on occasion, the other does not. They are both cheeseburger lovers, but that is not an option most places.

We will probably just split the adult counter service among us, or just buy a few meals OOP. Or, we may split up for the CS meals to keep everyone happy! My kids will be all over the eggroll at the Yak and Yeti CS place!

It amazes me that Disney changed the menu according to "guest surveys" and "nutrition consultants" - who took the surveys and where did they get the consultants that think frozen mac and cheese at almost every eatery is a good idea????? LOL!

 

[TDC Nala]

There's also the option of not getting the dining plan...then the kids can order whatever they want off any menu.

Part of the reason for the limited children's menus is because the dining plan is only $10 a night for kids.

 

[JoanieS]

True, but then I would end up spending a ton of $$$ - my kids cannot each eat an adult counter service meal themselves, and their taste is so different, sharing would probably not be an option!

We'll figure it out, and it will all work out in the end. I will probably share with my one of my kids, as a half a meal is enough for me (suppliemented with a dole whip of course!)

I just wish it could be the same menu, just SMALLER portions for the kids - heck, the tuna is made, just make a smaller sandwich - then Disney's cost really wound'nt be a factor!

 

[disnut8]

If you go out to any restaurant, look at their kids menu. They will have the "standard" kids choices on there. The difference is that you are on vacation and eating out every night of the week. Chili's kids menu has ribs, burgers, corn dogs, chicken crispers, and grilled cheese. TGI Friday's kids menu has ribs, burgers, pizza, chicken fingers, and pasta. Applebee's has chicken fingers, burgers, mac and cheese, and a grilled chicken sandwich. Not much variety there. But you don't eat at Chili's on Monday, TGI Friday's on Tuesday, and Applebee's on Wednesday.

 

[kaytieeldr]

SORRY!!!
I just re-read your post and saw you were looking at CS! Oops! In that case, yes, a little limited.

Yep I can do the same thing for the TS restaurants next time I wake up in the middle of the night and can't get back to sleep. The other advantage to TS is it includes buffets, and the advantage to that is just because some items are listed as 'for children', every Guest can select any/every/all foods from any section of the buffet.

 

[clutter]

I agree JoanieS
We have never been but I am trying to decide for our trip next year where we may want to go and if we would wantthe Dining Plan or not (7 of us) However since the kids have to get from the kids menu if one is available I am becoming a bit frustrated- My kids like "real food" along w/ an occassional "fast food" type item-
I expected at the Aloha Dinner Luau that the kids would get some type of Luau type food (chicken on a stick; kabobs w/ pineapple, chicken, tomato, or whatever, some corn on the cob or something...
And at one of the other "theme type" restraunts- Some type of foods that are kid friendly or portioned properly of a few of the same foods or so-
All I have seen on all kids menus, chicken nuggets, burger, mac n cheese, corndog, etc- My son will be sorely upset if I get him chicken nuggets while we have kabobs, ribs and such- The kids menu may be fine for those 4 and under but my DS7 & DS9 want food! LOL But if we get Dining Plan I have just learned we must all get it and they will have to have kids meal - OR choose only places w/ no kids menu (not many)
Maybe they will change a bit of that w/ the new Dining Plan changes- But Disney should realize that not all kids up to 9 yrs old are picky eaters who only want burgers, nuggets or pizza-

On my dd's last trip when she was 9, I purchased the adult dining package for her. Perhaps you could do the same and your 7 and 9 yo's could share? Granted, it was way too much food because she's pretty much only eat the entree, but it was still less expensive than paying oop for the meal.

 

[SoloFriendly]

Have you noticed that most of these children's menus do not include fruit or vegetables? Kids need fruit and vegetables, whether they like them or not! Fruit is easily obtained in the parks and via grocery store and can be stored in your room, but veggies really need to be available with meals. I would be horrified to feed my kid for a week at Disney if there were no way to get vegetables for them off the menu. Or do parents just share their own veggies from their meals with their kids?

Surely, if anyone could find a way to make vegetable-eating fun, it would be Disney World??? I think restaurants (not just at WDW) do need to offer the option to order half-size portions of their meals, both for children and adults with smaller appetites. That would solve a lot of problems, IMO.

 

[TDC Nala]

Were you reading awhile back when all the children's menus at WDW were suddenly changed to include raw vegetables and fruits? At that time kids were generally offered a choice of grilled chicken, beef and macaroni or raw vegetables with dips - no other options. Desserts consisted of sugar-free gelatin or applesauce. At the table services they could get stewed apples and MAYBE ice cream.They had to go back on that. Parents apparently wanted the types of food that kids preferred.

If I'm correct, practically all CS meals permit substitution of vegetables (usually carrots) or fruit (usually grapes or apples) for french fries. Actually I think the fruit or veggies are listed as the standard offerings, and if you want fries you have to ask for them.

 

[sk8jdgca]

This was a huge problem for my 8 year old-I ended up changing my TS to all buffets so she could find soemthing good to eat. Yes most outside restaurants have bad children's menus too. I try to go to restaurants with better kids meal choices.

 

[asmit4]

With a 7 and 9yo, I would probably bump the 9yo to an adult- then explain to each of them that they can each switch off on the 'adult' meal or share it. 37.99x2 is a lot for a 7 and 9yo but I'd probably be willing to spend under 50 bucks on both- so less than 25/day.

 

[TDC Nala]

With a 7 and 9yo, I would probably bump the 9yo to an adult- then explain to each of them that they can each switch off on the 'adult' meal or share it. 37.99x2 is a lot for a 7 and 9yo but I'd probably be willing to spend under 50 bucks on both- so less than 25/day.

The problem with bumping a 9 year old to the adult dining plan is that, unless you are a DVC member or an AP holder, you also have to buy the kid an adult park ticket.

 

[asmit4]

Yes, she would have to make it an adult ticket. On a 7 day ticket that would run about an extra $40 bucks. I would probably recommend that you do the math- figure out where you want to eat at, and what the children would realistically want. IMO- on vacation if my 9yo wants a steak and I know she likes steak, it's not worth the fight but that would all depend on your budget.

Then determine what it would cost on the DDP vs. not on the DDP. Then also figure in adding 1 or both of them on the adult plan and determine what works for you. I have a feeling that math wise and for your sanity- bumping one of them is going to be worth it.

 

[melancholywings]

I was also disappointed with the kids menus. We used a few of DD's CS as a family 'snack' to share on some days. Then I'd share my meals with her (TS to). No one said anything to me about putting some of mine on her plate.