Breakfast/ Lunch/Dinner suggestions with a toddler ( close to GCH ) ?

[pearl12970]

We are staying at the GCH for 5 days in the last week of September and looking for suggestions on where to eat B/L/D with a restless squirmy active 3 year old.

He's not yet interested in food and stays put as long as it takes for him to be "Done"; which doesnt take long After that he's off to explore the restaurant.So long classy leisurely dinners are out of the window for us . Food service has to be quick so wait time is minimum.

We have plans to go to Goofy's Kitchen for breakfast one day and Rainforest Cafe . Completely open to other suggestions for B/L/D. Where do you like to eat ? Specially parents of young children - please help me decide !
Also very interested in knowing your fav snacking options at the Theme parks

We MAY not rent a car and so may need to eat at restaurants within walking distance of the GCH. However I am open to all suggestions coz we may just end up renting a car ( need to figure out if it makes financial sense to rent a car or pay $ 90total for shuttle service both ways )

TIA !

 

[jacky b]

White Water Snacks in the GCH. It has a great variety of breakfast and lunch food and you could take them to your room if you choose.

 

[mrswh]

La Brea Bakery in DTD has an express side where you can pick up salads, sandwiches, etc. (They do have mac & cheese too!) There are plenty of tables outside to eat at, and there are plenty of kids who can't sit still (or in their seats) - dancing around the table is perfectly acceptable.

Napolini is the same type of thing - also in DTD it is the express service for Naples restaurant - they have pizza and some other italian items. Not too much space to sit, though. Ralph Brennan's also has an express but I have not eaten there so I don't know what they serve or if it's any good.

 

[goldies 5]

You will do great at your sit down choices. Goofy's is so busy, and Rainforest is so loud that once I couldn't hear my infant son in his carrier. You will enjoy yourself with an active one at these places.
I like the pp suggestion about Whitewater snacks too.
We often enjoy The Jazz Kitchen Express. You can sit or play outside while you eat at this DTD outdoor spot.
Rancho has good kid choices and we have never had any problem with our very active ADHD child here either.
Hungry Bear is a very good place for active kids too. They have a lot of room to look and move around. And they can look at the Rivers of America.
Churros, Dole Whips, Mickey ice cream bars are all easy snacks.
We love to go to Pooh's Corner and get Tigger Tails, chocolate pretzels, etc.
At the Wharf in DCA can eat from a variety of places and sit outside too.

 

[pearl12970]

Thank you everyone for the very helpful suggestions Appreciate it !

mrswh : thats what he does " dancing around the table " . LOL

 

[CaseyK]

DD was just about 3 last time we were there- DS was 5 months. Now he's the tricky one- 22 months when we go!
We ate at some of the places mentioned last time and they were great. Another thing we did was get an outside table and had pizza from that Rocket (can not remember the name right now!) and DD was able to eat quick and take in the park and play at that waterball thing.
Also did the same in CA but ate on the pier so that she could be 'busy' and not get in the way.
Sounds like we're there at the same time so maybe we'll both have dancing kids while adults eat furiously!!

 

[pearl12970]

Haha " adults eating furiously" . That describes me perfectly

Sounds like we're there at the same time so maybe we'll both have dancing kids while adults eat furiously!!

 

[amamax2]

La Brea Bakery in DTD has an express side where you can pick up salads, sandwiches, etc. (They do have mac & cheese too!) There are plenty of tables outside to eat at, and there are plenty of kids who can't sit still (or in their seats) - dancing around the table is perfectly acceptable.
.

I want to second La Brea Bakery - on the express side, the outside seating area is a fairly large mostly enclosed patio where the kids can definitely run around - we have gotten breakfast there many times - yummy, huge portions.

But even on the sit-down side - it is a small patio, but also almost completely enclosed, and although my big galoots do sit at the table for the whole meal now (teens - I would hope so, lol), every time we've eaten there, there is at least one family with a small child, who after s/he is done eating can get down and walk around close to the table etc. When the kids were littler and we ate there, we'd ask for the table furthest from the entrance - a bit more space and privacy there. The patio has a waist high railing and lots of plants, so your child can see over it into DTD, but not get out. While not the same "run-around" higher-energy space, do-able. It faces DTD, so we eat dinner there and the twinkle lights are so pretty, there is usually music playing, lots of people to watch etc. - lots to distract and occupy. The staff is very child friendly.

Also, I believe many of the places in DTD you can get food to go - Tortilla Joe's etc - and then just find a bench to eat while your little one wanders close by - we've done this many, many times when our boys were small.

 

[DTDkettleCORNfan]

Whitewater snacks has been mentioned already, but I wanted to add that they have an outdoor seating area that has always been empty when we have gone. We always eat inside, which has always been nearly empty as well. But I believe the outside area is enclosed and small....so he could have a safe place to explore while you guys eat and keep an eye on him.

 

[fidoprincess]

Just another suggestion, if you take a break at the pool, you can order food from White Water Snacks and eat right there at the pool. We did this one day and it was perfect for us. Lots of good choices from the kids menu and it was quick and easy and not all that pricey.

Why don't you plan on having breakfast in the room? WWS has milk and fruit and we used to feed our little ones while we took turns showering and getting ready. We adults didn't need to eat right away or would have a banana and then just do an early lunch. We saved money but more importantly time! We always had juice boxes, cereals, instant oatmeal packs and yogurts-plenty to keep the kids filled up. We also took some snacks in to the park like cereal bars, cheese sticks and crackers and more juice boxes and waters. That way, if there were big lines, the kids were not starving waiting to eat.

Watch out for Rainforest Cafe. Lots of times little kids get really scared if you are by the loud gorillas! Ask to be by the aquarium if they might be frightened. Even the elephants can be scary.