Are toddler meals available everywhere

[Jynxed]

I notice on the menus at all ears, that only some places have toddler meals. Are they only available at certain spots? Also, I notice it is only Mac and cheese. Is that all that is offered? Do they really expect a toddler just to eat Mac and cheese for 4 days straight? (I know most people would suggest sharing what I am eating, but I have a picky eater on my hands and I would rather not have to limit what I eat if I could avoid it).
Also, any quick serve places serve veggies?

 

[DizNee Luver]

Allears is usually pretty up on what the restaurants have. The other toddler meal available is the chicken & rice. We found the power pack meal (yogurt, string cheese, goldfish crackers) were a good meal too. Otherwise, sharing your meals with your toddler is the way to go.

There are some fruit carts & little markets too that sell different things that might help mix it up.

 

[DahliaRW]

Most of the CS restaurants have toddler meals. The sit down restaurants tend not to. Though at a lot of the table service ones the waiters brought my dd free food, so she'd have what her brothers did. Things like the veggies with dip or desserts when they came with the meal (not the main course). We just shared our food with her, or some of our son's food at those restaurants, and at most of the CS ones too. No point in buying something extra. She did like the power packs. We'd do the yogurt right away, and then could use the other stuff as snacks during the rest of the day.

 

[Cagirl767]

This is my biggest gripe with DLR, is the kids' food selections, or lack thereof. It was very very difficult for us when our kids were toddlers and is still difficult without a cooked veggie with a child's meal and typically only those packaged half brown apple slices as the fruit option. My kids won't eat raw carrots and that's all that's served with most meals, and they certainly won't eat raw stringy celery. So we started eating breakfast and dinner at our hotel so the kids (and us adults) would get fruit and vegetables 2x a day. If you have to rely on the DLR, you can try to ask at a sit down service restaurant if they will make up a cooked vegetable for you as a side. French Market sells a vegetable gratin that would go over well with my kids since it's vegetables smothered in cheese. Plaza Inn also has green beans as a side with the chicken entree. This is how we've approached the lack of vegetables/fruit issue without counting French Fries as a "vegetable".

We've bought a Mickey pretzel, and brought in apple sauce or brought in a cereal bar and bought grapes in Frontierland back when we had to bring in food for our toddlers. Maybe you can combine something from a walk up window along with a little side you bring in?

 

[Jynxed]

This is my biggest gripe with DLR, is the kids' food selections, or lack thereof. It was very very difficult for us when our kids were toddlers and is still difficult without a cooked veggie with a child's meal and typically only those packaged half brown apple slices as the fruit option. My kids won't eat raw carrots and that's all that's served with most meals, and they certainly won't eat raw stringy celery. So we started eating breakfast and dinner at our hotel so the kids (and us adults) would get fruit and vegetables 2x a day. If you have to rely on the DLR, you can try to ask at a sit down service restaurant if they will make up a cooked vegetable for you as a side. French Market sells a vegetable gratin that would go over well with my kids since it's vegetables smothered in cheese. Plaza Inn also has green beans as a side with the chicken entree. This is how we've approached the lack of vegetables/fruit issue without counting French Fries as a "vegetable".

We've bought a Mickey pretzel, and brought in apple sauce or brought in a cereal bar and bought grapes in Frontierland back when we had to bring in food for our toddlers. Maybe you can combine something from a walk up window along with a little side you bring in?

My son is a very picky eater at this point. He LOVES most fruits and vegetables but anything with meat he will not eat.
I will have to look into a supermarket and maybe find some prepackaged options to bring into the park with me for him. Which is a big PITA.

 

[Cagirl767]

DLR does have fruit carts around and kiosks that have snack sized packages of carrots with dip and celery. We've found grapes, strawberries with chocolate dipping sauce, pineapple spears, mango slices at various locations. My kids liked the yogurt parfait at Clarabelle's, not sure if they still have it.

There are adult pasta dishes that are without meat and Rancho Del Zocalo has enchiladas and burritos. Pizza is around too, of course.

I know it's a huge PITA, and we certainly comiserate with you. We had dealt with this for a few years. Luckily now, we're pretty much in the clear.

 

[spiderdust]

Who actually does have the chicken & rice toddler meal? When we last went, there were a couple of places that were listed as having it, but didn't.

Also, is it just plain chicken and plain white rice, or does it have any kind of sauce or seasoning?

 

[Minuet888]

my son loved the yogurt, cheese nd goldfish toddler meal as the mac and cheese was too small and he was still hungry afterwards, then again my son was 4 and a little more than a toddler

 

[Gisele]

Yes, everywhere that toddlers are.

 

[ConnieB]

If your toddler is a typical toddler, the good news is that they don't require a huge meal...just little bits more often. Also remember, while in the non-Disney world it may be considered tacky to bring "outside" food into another restaurant that is NOT the case at Disney. When my girls were young we'd often stop and get them a hot dog or chicken nuggets and then head into a sit down restaurant for the adults. As teens they may still want a different CS than the rest of the family, so we just bring in a CS meal from where they want to a CS the rest of us want. Think of it as a big food court, lol.


Anyway....there is fruit to be found in a lot of different places....vegetables are a little harder, but NEVER hestitate to ask a CS or TS what they can do for your little one. If they have veggies in their kitchen, they'll make something for the child. Just as Disney is wonderful about accomodating to the best of their ability the eating requirements of adults....they probably will go MORE out of their way to do it for kids. Obviously this is easier at a TS, but if a CS has a dish with veggies in it, they can possibly give your toddler JUST the veggies because they have them in the kitchen. Always ask.

Here are a few choices:


Main Street has a whole fruit market. Pineapples, grapes, mangos, apples, oranges, bananas. You could always pick up a few items here to take to the restaurant that the adults want to eat.

Toonup Treats in Toontown also has a very large selection of fruit items...grapes, pineapple, apples, mangos, watermelon.

Bengal BBQ has a vegetable skewer and a fruit cup.

French market has a garden salad. Also a pasta/veggie gratin dish. You might be able to ask them just for the veggies without the cheesy pasta.

Harbour Galley has a fruit cup.

Plaza Inn's childrens meals comes with a fruit cup. Also they sell whole fruit.

Pluto's Dog House has a toddler meal that includes apple sauce, so you may be able to get just the apple sauce.

Rancho del Zocalo has fresh tropical fruit.

River Belle has a "Becky Thatcher Fresh Fruit Plate" at breakfast, as well as ala carte fresh fruit.

Tomorrowland Terrace has a fruit platter that includes a muffin and yogurt for breakfast. At lunch their toddler meal has applesauce.

Village Haus has an apple and cheddar salad that has two kinds of apples, dried cranberries, raisins, cheddar cheese and greens. It comes with a yougurt dressing that you can ask not be included.

Blue Ribbon Bakery on Main Street sells fresh fruit.

Clarabelles in Toontown has a fruit salad. Also a fruit and yogurt parfait.

Troubadour Tavern has corn on the cob. I've asked for a knife to take the corn off the cob before. They also have a wonderful brocolli and cheese baked potato. And whole fruit.


Moving over to DCA there are a few less places, but the choices are still there:

Baker's Field Bakery has whole fruit.

Hot Dog Hut has corn on the cob

Lucky Fortune Cookery has edamame and mango slices. SIDE NOTE: Someone else was asking about the kids chicken...this place has teriyaki chicken and rice on the kids meal.

Fairfax market has grapes, watermelon, apples, mango, pineapple. Again, this would be a good place to grab something for the little one before heading to the adult choice of restaurants.

Schmoozies of course have all fruit smoothies....yeah a lot of sugar, but perhaps a treat that your fruit loving kid would enjoy that is at least healthier than some other choices.

 

[Jynxed]

Thank you Connie, that was very helpful!

 

[Sephrina]

The Trobadour did not have corn on the cob when we ate there on Wednesday. There was a sign stating it wasn't available.

 

[ConnieB]

The Trobadour did not have corn on the cob when we ate there on Wednesday. There was a sign stating it wasn't available.

I've seen that sign on one day and the next day the item is back...I think it's a matter of running out or other "unforeseen problems". If it was no longer to be offered they tend to cover it up on the menu until the menu is corrected. Obviously any of the restaurants can run out of a particular item (of course that typically shows poor management skills, but other things can cause it as well, such as the equipment used to cook it breaking down, or a million other reasons).

 

[LisaT91403]

I know this isn't exactly "fruit and veggies", but our DS enjoyed the Smucker's Painters Palette at Carnation Cafe. The peanut butter is on the bread, and then everything else (jelly, sliced bananas, raisins, and mini marshmallows) are on the side so you can make your own sandwich. It also comes with a side of grapes. My DS really liked all of the little things in little cups...he worked his way through the bananas, raisins, and then tried the marshmallows but didn't like them

One other good thing about this meal was that we took half of the PB&J to go when DS couldn't finish it. It was a great snack after his nap.