Are Buffets the way to go with kids

[mamamary]

Hi everyone. I'm wondering, for those of you with kids, are buffets a good way to ensure a wider variety of food and maybe to get good sized portions? I have a dd7 and ds9 (both are big eaters) and we are on the dining plan. I have ADRs for LTT, CP, Chef Mickeys and H&V. I just wanted to hear some feedback about how buffets compare to "regular" ts meals. Thanks!!

 

[Amyrlin]

With the changes and haviong big eaters buffets are probably a good way to go. When mine were younger they were idea.

 

[budbeerlady]

We love the buffet for DD. She has a habit of not wanting the food she ordered after she gets it. It leads to angry parents and an unhappy child who often would rather eat adult foods instead of chicken strips. 1900 Park Fare is one of her favorite places to eat, she can have pork, pizza and macarroni and cheese on the same plate. There is no wait to get your food is another plus for a tired hungry kid.

Unfortunately not all chicken strips are created equal, some she will eat, others she wont. She would rather have real meat if given the chance.

 

[mom2alix]

With young children especially I think buffets are the way to go. There is so much more variety in fruits and veggies, there's a much better chance of hitting on something healthy that they will actually eat.

 

[fws]

Definitely the way to go. The kids get to choose exactly what they want to eat and tend to eat more if they've picked it themselves, so you get a more peaceful time - as they're eating and as they're back helping themselves to the next course.

 

[LizinSTL]

Hi everyone. I'm wondering, for those of you with kids, are buffets a good way to ensure a wider variety of food and maybe to get good sized portions? I have a dd7 and ds9 (both are big eaters) and we are on the dining plan. I have ADRs for LTT, CP, Chef Mickeys and H&V. I just wanted to hear some feedback about how buffets compare to "regular" ts meals. Thanks!!

We ate 4/7 of our table service meals at buffets. I think they are great for kids who will try various foods. We like that we know we'll be eating within 5 minutes of being seated. We know that there will be something for everyone to enjoy. I wasn't fond of buffets when I had to juggle plates for myself and my kids, but now that they are 6 and 9, they can safely carry their own plate through the line.

Plus, on the dining plan, eating at buffets with kids is a bargain (their price at the buffet is often higher than the whole day's plan!) You also get to skip lines to meet characters because they come right to you! Gotta love that.

 

[MomofKatie]

DD8 is the buffet queen!! She usually likes more "adult" foods than the typical kids' meal offerings (she hates burgers, fries, mac&cheese, and chicken fingers, but thinks Thai food, sushi, salads, and raw tomatoes are divine). At the buffets, she can pick and choose between many more adventurous offerings. The "eat right now" aspect is also great- she doesn't get antsy waiting for the waiter to bring out her order.

We give buffets at WDW a big - and on the DDP, they are a GREAT deal!!

 

[The Sweetness]

If buffets suit your family well when dining out regularly, they should work out equally well at WDW

 

[WantToGoNow]

We are doing all buffets/family style for our 9 days of dining except for 4 meals -- LeCellier, Coral Reef, Whispering Canyon Cafe and Sci Fi Dine In. I figure these meals aren't back-to-back so if ds5 eats the same thing -- chicken (without any of the appetizers/sides/desserts) or pizza (without the chicken or sides) it would be no big deal. I may also order him something off the adult appetizer and give his meal to dd2 since she would be more than happy to eat anything on the new child's menu -- she's not near as picky as ds5.

 

[car_doctor]

we did boma, chef mickey's, hollywood and vine, crystal palace, and hoop dee doo and i will tell you i will never do hollywood and vine again all the food was bad as far as i'm concernd there was some good but very little. i would reconsider that place if i was you all others where great

 

[mamamary]

I am actually concerned about H&V from what I've been reading. I wonder if it's too late to switch. If I can, any suggestions for MGM table service? Thanks.

 

[car_doctor]

try this it list all the table service places
http://www.allearsnet.com/din/vegtsparks.htm
if your looking for buffet's then try this
http://www.allearsnet.com/din/buffet.htm
good luck

 

[RunningthruDisney]

Did you eat at H & V for breakfast or Dinner. We will be going for the character breakast in January, but I guess we are going for the Little Einsteins more than the food. Also my nephews are only two, so from what I understand they are still "free" and eat off an adults plat is this true for buffets.

 

[Tinker74]

I think we prefered the buffets...although we LOVED whispering canyon ...there is definitly more choice for the kids at buffets..i think we will do mostly buffets next time...more characters too

 

[momw/2princesses]

We too will be utilizing buffets this next trip. While DD5 and DD3 both enjoy their share of chicken nuggets, they are big fans of adult foods too, salmon, steak, etc. It's just a better way for us to deal with appetites. If one wants just green beans and chicken, that's fine. If the other wants one bite of everything, that's fine too. While I like the idea of the new menu changes, the lack of variety and substitutions is what bothers me. I wouldn't eat the same meal each night of the week and I don't expect my children to either. I'm not sure I understand their lack of substitutions. If the "sides" are served in the black bowls (mickey ears), they why couldn't they just put the appropriate bowl on the plate. I can't come up with a reason why a salad shouldn't be subbed for carrots or fruit! I laughed at the press release today that said parents could substitute fries or soda upon request. That doesn't seem to be the experience of those reporting back. All in all, if you have kids with differing tastes and appetite levels, buffets can really meet all those needs.

Mom w/ 2 princesses

5 3

 

[bkfree]

I also had originally booked a Dinner ressie at H AND V for our family that consists of DH, me, DS7 and DD5 for our day at MGM,which we would have made a late start day. But the more I read the less sure I was. So I changed it to a dinner ressie at Kona. We are now going to do a early start at MGM, Sci Fi OOP pay for lunch and TS dinner at Kona. Last year my kids LOVED Sci FI and I know they would have been disappointed to not go back. It is the cheapest to pay OOP on the DDP, will save the CS from that day for breakfast the morning we fly home.

 

[kj2mom]

We did a mix of buffet and non buffets and it worked out great for us. The buffets we did were H&V, Donald's Breakfastaurus and Chef Mickey. I enjoyed all of them and had no problems with H&V for dinner. We tried lots of different things and enjoyed each and every one. I can't say I could get into all buffets just because it was me and my two children who I felt like wanted more food everytime I tried to take a bite but the variety and immediacy of the food was wonderful. I am glad we mixed up the buffets with non buffets.