Bringing in kids meals to Restaurants

[Adlergray]

So I know its uncouth to bring outside food in to a restaurant, but last year my 1&3 year old only ate at about 1/2 the restaurants we went to. With all the new non kid friendly kids menus there are a few places I am thinking about getting a QS chicken meal before we go in. Now I know its not proper but I am tired of paying for food that my kids don't eat. As long as we tip well and The 4 "disney Adults" eat off the menu. Do you see anyone saying anything about it. Disney days are long and these kids need energy and them not eating is not a good thing.

 

[Gingerg11]

Well personally I am of two minds about it. On one hand, I understand the difficulty of feeding picky eaters. On the other hand, the server will be serving at least beverages to the children, and the bussers will be cleaning up after the children and neither will be benefitting from a tip on the costs of those two missing meals. Unless you plan on tipping extra to make up the difference?

Edited to add: I wasn't sure if tipping "well" meant enough extra to cover.

 

[Adlergray]

Yes by "well" I meant extra to include the missing meal.

 

[SwirlyGirly]

Other than Monsieur Paul and V&A, don't all Disney restaurants have a kid friendly kid menu? My 8yo orders almost exclusively from the kid menu and I don't ever remember there not being a kid menu in any of the Disney restaurants we've been to.

 

[maxiesmom]

The biggest problem you will have is timing. You have no way of knowing exactly when you would be seated for your ADR. Plus they won't seat you unless everyone is present. The chicken could be cold and disgusting by the time you are seated. You would be better off feeding them ahead of time, and then ordering them a drink and dessert.

 

[sunkissed4]

It seems like too much of a hassle for me to bring the food in. I have young kids too and they almost always find something to eat. Do you order them each a meal or let them share? I've had better experiences letting them share so it's not that much wasted money if they don't eat it all. Most restaurants have chicken tenders on the kids menu.

If anything I'd let them eat before we go in and then maybe order a side that you know they'll eat to keep them entertained while you have your dinner.

I'm a former server (not Disney) and I wouldn't care at all if kids weren't eating, especially kids that young. You're not banking on kids meals to raise the tab, you're hoping for drinks, appetizers and desserts!

 

[TheRustyScupper]

. . . I am tired of paying for food that my kids don't eat . . .

{FLAME PROOF CAPE FROM DRAWER TO SHOULDER}
1) Maybe, Disney isn't a place you should eat.
2) They try to accommodate everyone, and do a GOOD job at it.
3) But, not their fault if kids are picky eaters or light eaters.

PERSONAL OPINION: I understand medical issues as reasons for pickiness or
light eating. Otherwise, kids should eat what is available and/or placed in front of them.
{FLAME PROOF SUIT BACK TO DRAWER}

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

I have a picky eater who has some texture/sensory issues (although she is much better now that she is older). We would choose to eat at places that she liked - there are so many choices at Disney that this isn't really a problem. It might mean forgoing a restaurant that I want to try, but I try to pick restaurants that everyone will enjoy. One of her favorites has always been Boma, surprisingly.

We do have reservations at Be Our Guest for our next trip and she might not like the kids' menu. We will feed her in advance if she is hungry, or we will order her some sides during dinner if she can't find anything on the menu. She can order from the kids' or adult menu if she sees something she wants.

 

[disneyfav4ever]

I don't know if I'd bring in a hot meal, but I wouldn't be bothered taking a snack, fruit, cereal, etc.

 

[Adlergray]

I'm not sure what qualifies as a good kids menu but where we live it usually includes things like chicken fingers, hot dog, or Mac & Cheese or like wise. Not grilled chicken, steak, salmon, whole wheat pasta, and meatloaf. For a low spectrum child with sensory issues that doesn't work. And the idea of picking a meal for 6 people based on a 4 item kids menu is ludicrous and why should we not eat at disney just because they are trying to force healthy but non kid friendly meals on us, (you can do both- healthy and kid friendly) The question was if any one would mind, meaning restaurant staff as long as we tipped as if we bought the whole meal there.

 

[Betty Rohrer]

example of a problem with bringing meal for toddler, you get meal for kids, walk to ressie and ressie is 20 minutes behind. meal is now cold but ressie can not reheat as it is outside food even though bought at WDW. plus most likely the food will not be covered as you walk thru park. sounds good on paperjust not sure how it will work in life

 

[ses1230]

I'm not sure what qualifies as a good kids menu but where we live it usually includes things like chicken fingers, hot dog, or Mac & Cheese or like wise. Not grilled chicken, steak, salmon, whole wheat pasta, and meatloaf. For a low spectrum child with sensory issues that doesn't work. And the idea of picking a meal for 6 people based on a 4 item kids menu is ludicrous and why should we not eat at disney just because they are trying to force healthy but non kid friendly meals on us, (you can do both- healthy and kid friendly) The question was if any one would mind, meaning restaurant staff as long as we tipped as if we bought the whole meal there.

BOG has grilled cheese on both the lunch and dinner menu and dinner has Beast Casserole (baked Mac and cheese). Will that work?

 

[blackpearl77]

I would feed them first at a quick service place that has the food they like then go to your reservation. They can get a dessert while you eat or just color or play with a toy at the table. We do this at home when we are going out for Mexican which my son doesn't like - we feed him first then go. Then he colors and has chips and a dessert there. Then everyone is happy. It's hard having picky eaters. Some kids are just not going to eat anything that is put I front of them.

 

[GillianP1301]

OP, to answer your question, I don't see that there would be an issue in doing what you have planned. However, if having the food fresh/hot is important, then I think you may be better off feeding the picky one first and then ordering a side or a dessert that they can eat while you have your meal. Some colouring or a table activity might be a good idea to keep them occupied if they won't be eating their meal with you.

It's Disney, it's a young child, I would be shocked if any WDW restaurant made a big deal of this.

 

[CinderElsa]

I'm not sure what qualifies as a good kids menu but where we live it usually includes things like chicken fingers, hot dog, or Mac & Cheese or like wise. Not grilled chicken, steak, salmon, whole wheat pasta, and meatloaf. For a low spectrum child with sensory issues that doesn't work. And the idea of picking a meal for 6 people based on a 4 item kids menu is ludicrous and why should we not eat at disney just because they are trying to force healthy but non kid friendly meals on us, (you can do both- healthy and kid friendly) The question was if any one would mind, meaning restaurant staff as long as we tipped as if we bought the whole meal there.

I don't think anyone would mind. I just wouldn't want to be the kid who has to eat the cold chicken nuggets. I'd bring something that wasn't temperature-sensitive instead.

Lots of kids are picky eaters at some point. My brother refused to eat anything but Trix cereal and frozen pizza for two months when he was about 2-3. My mother was beside herself. The doctor shrugged and said he was a healthy kid, he'd be fine and he'd grow out of it. He was fine and he grew out of it. It's pretty ridiculous to advise people you don't know about how/what to feed their children and where to take a vacation.

 

[Adlergray]

Thank you guys for the responses. I hadn't thought far enough a head that it might be cold by the time we got there.Great suggestion. I will definitely try to find some less temperature sensitive options.

 

[Jennasis]

The restaurants have menus that ARE kid-friendly. Perhaps not YOUR kid-friendly. Some of the restaurants have menus that are not ME-friendly or my DH-friendly. I avoid them.

That aside, I echo the posters who suggest feeding them ahead of time and just ordering them a drink and dessert at the TS meal.

 

[sunkissed4]

OP, which restaurants are you planning to go to? Most do have the standard hot dogs, chicken nuggets, etc.

 

[lillygator]

what kinds of foods do your kids eat?

 

[Hopefully]

I'm not sure what qualifies as a good kids menu but where we live it usually includes things like chicken fingers, hot dog, or Mac & Cheese or like wise. Not grilled chicken, steak, salmon, whole wheat pasta, and meatloaf. For a low spectrum child with sensory issues that doesn't work. And the idea of picking a meal for 6 people based on a 4 item kids menu is ludicrous and why should we not eat at disney just because they are trying to force healthy but non kid friendly meals on us, (you can do both- healthy and kid friendly) The question was if any one would mind, meaning restaurant staff as long as we tipped as if we bought the whole meal there.

OP, in your original post you state that you know it is uncouth and a not proper. What do you expect us to say. I agree with your own statement. Given there are literally over 100 TS restaurants in WDW, and most offer chicken fingers, mac n cheese etc, you have a wide variety of options. I personally think it is bad form to bring outside food into a TS restaurant.
Good Luck