Basic Kids Menu

[iluvdizknee]

My kids are very basic, not fancy..plain chicken.pizza,ribs kids. I would love to try say Boma's for dinner, but looking at their menu, spending $25 a person for them to eat Mac and Cheese would kill me. Is there anywhere that would anyone recommend for us, family of 4, son 15 daughter 12. They ate at the hoop de do, so any food like that,...Help!

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

My kids are very basic, not fancy..plain chicken.pizza,ribs kids. I would love to try say Boma's for dinner, but looking at their menu, spending $25 a person for them to eat Mac and Cheese would kill me. Is there anywhere that would anyone recommend for us, family of 4, son 15 daughter 12. They ate at the hoop de do, so any food like that,...Help!

The Dining Plan?

Seriously - it's the only way I can justify it.

 

[iluvdizknee]

The dining plan would not be good for us. The higher restaurants my kids wouldn't like the food in. That is really how when the plan is worth it, for those big tickets meals....thanks anyway

 

[pezpam]

Most of the counter service places have some sort of kid's meal. If you're going to table service meals anyway, it might be worth doing the math on the dining plan. DD and I used it and found it well worthwhile, without going for all of the big-ticket items. Once you add in the fact that taxes and tips are included in the price and add up the plan cost vs meal costs, it really can work out well for you.

If it doesn't - and maybe it won't - work for your family, then you're pretty safe at counter service places with the various kids meals. You could try allearsnet for menu ideas and ideas of prices - doublecheck when they were updated, but add tax and tip when figuring your budget. Their menu listing saved me from trying a couple of places that sounded good, but didn't have anything we liked, but pointed out a few places we might not have tried otherwise, but which are now favorites.

 

[iluvdizknee]

Thanks,.. We actually sat down one night and did exactly that. We calculated the places we would eat, what we would get and the DP would not save us any money. I think we may look into some of the countries to eat. We really never have done that before.

 

[kimbac3]

We just got back and I was really surprised how accomadating every place was. for example at Cinderella's Royal Table - I didn't care for anything on the menu, the waitress gave me the choice of plain roasted chicken and mashed potatoes..perfect! She also gave my DD13 the option to order an adult portion of anything on the kids menu. Yes - the prices were the same ..I think $22 for mine and $18 for DD's chicken strips. But we did get a window seat and it was a once in a lifetime meal.
The Sci Fi and Whispering Canyon were also very good. When in doubt just ask, they are very eager to please!
By the way my DS10 practically lived on the Mac and Cheese...he had it every time it was offered on the menu!!
Kimba

 

[vicb]

I have posted this before so pardon the repetition for those who have read this from me before

My DS is somewhat picky but it has not stopped us from eating at lots of different places at WDW. Most are very accomodating. Once DS ordered a chicken quesadilla "unassembled" at SAI and the waiter was really nice about it. Everything came in little piles on the plate just how DS likes it! Last trip he was able to order plain grilled chicken breasts and either fries or mashed pots at RFC, R&C, Le Cellier etc... Some places would bring fresh fruit if we asked also. It is WDW, they are used to eaters of all kinds, especially picky kids!

DS did very well at Teppanyaki also. I carry ketchup packets and small packets of peanut butter with me which helps at the unfamilar spots.

Next trip we plan to try Biergarten and Morrocco.

BTW, the dining plan not our style either.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

Have you looked at the menus on www.allearsnet.com to see the different selections? The menus also have prices listed so you can get an idea of what you would be spending.

Liberty Tree Tavern at MK seems to have pretty basic offerings.

We ate at Boma in October, and DS9 really didn't eat much at all. He ate plain pasta (they had sauce, but he chose not to have any!), fresh fruit, bread, a couple bites of salmon, and about 2 bites of a cookie. I walked up to the different pods with him to encourage him to taste some new things, but he wasn't interested. BUT we were on the dining plan and he isn't counted as an adult yet, so we weren't spending $25 for him to eat. After he turns 10 we will have to think REALLY hard about whether or not it is worth having the plan since he eats very small portions.

 

[vicb]

Have you looked at the menus on www.allearsnet.com to see the different selections? The menus also have prices listed so you can get an idea of what you would be spending.

Liberty Tree Tavern at MK seems to have pretty basic offerings.

We ate at Boma in October, and DS9 really didn't eat much at all. He ate plain pasta (they had sauce, but he chose not to have any!), fresh fruit, bread, a couple bites of salmon, and about 2 bites of a cookie. I walked up to the different pods with him to encourage him to taste some new things, but he wasn't interested. BUT we were on the dining plan and he isn't counted as an adult yet, so we weren't spending $25 for him to eat. After he turns 10 we will have to think REALLY hard about whether or not it is worth having the plan since he eats very small portions.

Yes, that is my issue with the dining plan as well. My DS is 10 now and DD is 13, neither are big eaters and I feel that the dining plan doesn't really work well for us.

 

[d-man's mom]

Just a warning that there was a sample menu at LTT last week for kids that was NOT basic fare at all. Grilled Tofu, a hummus dipping plate, mahi-mahi, etc. I *think* it only was being tested through yesterday, but am not 100% sure. I saw them bring out mac & cheese for a child, so there were definitely other options, but last week's menu wasn't typical kid fare.

 

[Noah122898]

If they liked Hoop dee doo then they will like Trails End at Fort Wilderness. Same type of food at reasonable prices.

 

[JayCT]

Most of the sitdown restaurants have kids menus that feature the kinds of foods your kids eat. My kids are the same (actually worse) and they have not stopped us from eating at different places. Check out allears.com for the menus of different places and see which ones interest you. A lot of them will accomodate the kids with special foods that they like. Just call ahead. We like O'Hana's, Cape May Cafe and the 50's Prime Time. Also ESPN Zone. Remember it is a vacation for everyone, not just the kids, so do not be afraid to try something new. Good luck. Jay

 

[Minnie]

I have a very picky DS and he found something he liked at every restaurant we went to. Even the "fancy" places have kids menus and they WILL allow your older children to order off the kids menus. Some may have an upcharge to do this however.

Now that my DS is 12 we will have a hard time going to the buffets due to the price. He has a tiny appetite so the $25 is very hard to swallow. We will do a buffet for the character experience and because the trips to WDW are very special to us.

 

[tar heel]

Are you sure they wouldn't eat more than mac and cheese, etc.? My oldest son is picky and he loves Boma. He's a big meat eater and they've always had either ribs or prime rib and sometimes pork roast. He eats stuff from the kids' area, lots of meat, fruit and a bunch of desserts. Once in a while, he might even try something he wouldn't normally eat. While he doesn't go near the stuff I think is most special at Boma (soups, salads, hummus, etc.), he eats well there so I don't fee ripped off.

My picky child's favorite Disney restaurant is Teppanyaki, although he does pick out some of the veggies. Le Cellier also works well for him.

As long as you avoid buffets, your picky kids can just order kids' meals, too. Given the ages of your children, you could send them to the counter service place at AKL while you go to Boma. It was wonderful for us when our son got old enough to not eat with us if that's his preference. He and our youngest often choose to go off and get counter service while DH, middle DS and I go somewhere else.

 

[ahutton]

One place I haven't seen mentioned was Garden Grille at EPCOT. Their food was pretty standard American, but was very good and it has great atmosphere. Will they eat basic meat/seafood without fancy sauces? That opens a who bunch of places as you can order the dish without the fancy sauce (or ask for it on the side - they might try it). Teppanyaki is good because the meat is grilled at the table with just butter, oil, salt and pepper. We also have found them very helpful in meeting special requests for meals...