Any tips for feeding toddler at WDW?

[Kate-n-sam]

I have a picky eater, although he gets better everyday. Just wondering how you fed your toddler at WDW? My DS basically eats fruit and bread. I figure I'd try to get PS at buffets so we have a variety of foods to choose from. He just started to eat hot dogs and french fries, but of course I really don't want him to live on that for a week. He eats Gerber Graduates, do you know if the restaurants will heat this for us? Any help appreciated....Thanks

Also...any suggestions on buffets that are more toddler friendly or your favorites for whatever reason?

 

[deeshie]

My toddler (2 1/2) is not so much picky as erratic, and I decided I was on vacation and I was not going to fight with him over his eating habits while we were in WDW. Besides, it was 90 degrees+ while we were there, and I figured he would not starve in a week, but he absolutely could not dehydrate (luckily, he loves water).

That said, the buffets we went to worked out, and since he was under 3 we did not have to pay for him. At the Garden Grill at EPCOT, they served him chicken strips, mac 'n' cheese and french fries. He chowed down on the mac 'n' cheese and the fries, but he did not care for the chicken strips, either there or anywhere else in WDW that he got them, although he did eat the chicken nuggets from the ABC Commisary in MGM, and I noticed that there were McDonald's stands in the parks that served chicken mcnuggets. Plus, he got to meet Mickey, Pluto, Chip and Dale.

We also took him to Chef Mickey's for breakfast. They had so much to choose from, he was fine. But, he was so busy with his Mickey pancake, he didn't want to deal with the characters.

At Ohana's, all he ate was bread and rice, but he did like my virgin pina colada. Oh, and he loved the pineapple dipped in caramel they brought for dessert.

Right before we left for WDW, he got on a peanut butter and jelly kick. Aunt Polly's on Tom Sawyer Island had pb&j bag lunches (I would take it with you, there was so much bird poop on the patio it was too disgusting to eat there). The Concourse Steakhouse and the Rose and Crown in Epcot also had pb&j.

We got a couple of hot dogs into him, and anytime french fries were offered he ate happily. He also chowed down on pizza.

The biggest problem with my approach, sometimes we wasted alot of food. But, we came back from vacation rested and hydrated.

Have fun!

 

[erica_mutterer]

when we go with our todlers we did some buffets, some reg sit downs and some counter. there has always been a great variety for the kids at the buffets and have always seen fruit. we also pack a small soft cooler in our backpack with sippy cups of water or juice fruit cups, banannas, pb&j sandwiches, pop tarts and dry cereal (not all at once, we pick a few different ones each day). this seems to work well and we have never had a problem bringing any of these items in to any of the WDW restaurants.

 

[dcedwards]

We have had our toddler at WDW at age 2, 2 1/2 and 3. We are going back in late November at 3 1/2 yrs old. I basically figure that for a week he won't starve. Drinking is more of my concern. The buffets are great, especially until they turn 3. They always have a wide variety of food. You can also ask at most WDW restaurants, especially sit down ones and often the buffets, if there isn't food that your toddler will eat. They have always been very helpful and have even been known to make a pbj when it isn't on the menu.

There were fruit stands with fresh fruit and juice, in MK. These worked well. We also bought cereal at the food courts and brought it with us. You could just bring it from home. But, overall, I just didn't worry about it. It doesn't take long to get him back on his schedule at home and he adjusts to eating the foods we usually eat pretty well.

 

[susy]

My DS will be 4 and won't touch fruit!!! You are so lucky! Perhaps you can find out which restaurants/counter service have a microwave available and use that time to feed him his gerber graduate meal. I would bring along a cooler from home to keep in the room with bread and fruit from home. Bring anything else he likes (like cheerios? , cheese?) in a little bottle/lunch bag into the parks and let him "graze" while in his stroller or just take it out for him when you sit down to eat. Maybe the restaurants in your resort might help you out by agreeing to let you use their microwave (it can't hurt to call and ask). Maybe room service can help you. If he lives on fruit and bread for a week at WDW that's much better than my son does all year at home!!!!! I think he'll be fine!!!!

 

[nancy13]

The food court at the All Stars have a microwaves as well inside the parks each of the Baby Care Centres have micro.'s and high chairs.

 

[susy]

That's a great idea! You could heat up his food at the Baby care centers then go to your restaurant!

 

[AllisonG]

I brought my baby food grinder with me and just pureed all my toddlers food right there at the table. The buffets were a huge help. There is always fruit, lots of types of breads, scrambled eggs, corned beef hash, all kind of stuff. I have been taking my 4 y.o. since he was 9 months and my 2 y.o. has been 5 times already.
The baby care centers come in real handy too. Just to go in a change a diaper. There's high chairs, room to breast feed, a clean place to wash your hands. I find them very pleasant. Good luck!!

 

[shrimp0]

We just came back from a week at Disney with a 3 year old picky eater. I brought many things from home and kept them in my backpack. I had made my own pbj sandwiches for him. I had a variety of cheese and crackers/peanut butter and crackers. I also brought easy mac to make when we were eating in the food court at the All Stars. For the gerber jars, you could also ask for a cup of hot water to drop it in for a few minutes. We also brought food for us grown ups too!!! I had instant oatmeal and bread ( to make toast) for breakfast. Hubby and I even had our own tuna sandwiches one day. I brought cans of tuna ( and a can opener***checked in luggage*** ) and used the mayo in the food court and viola..... home made sandwiches. This saved us a lot of money... and left room in the suitcases for the souviners on the way home!!!!!!!

 

[Coll0610]

If you are carrying your Gerber Graduates around with you all day and they aren't in a cooler, they may already be pretty warm when you sit down to eat. Your son may not even care if his food is warm or not.

 

[Kate-n-sam]

Thanks so much for all of the great replies.....I really appreciate~!~!~!~