Children's meals on DDP

[skipamyb]

Hi All!
We have done the DDP for our last 2 visits and loved it. It worked for us not to have to worry about cash and just order whatever we wanted. This year I am a little worried, even considering dropping it over the stinky children's menu offered now . I'd like to call/email and complain. Any suggestions where to start or if you think if enough people complain that something might actually change?
Thanks,
Amy

 

[CarnotaurDad]

I'm confused. What is so stinky about the children's menu offered now? Why would you want to complain about it?

 

[DisneyGirl4188]

You can email WDW.Guest.Communications@disneyworld.com or you can call 407-560-3477 and speak with April McKenzie.

 

[DisneyGirl4188]

I'm confused. What is so stinky about the children's menu offered now? Why would you want to complain about it?

Part of the issue is the menu is pretty much the same everywhere. Kids don't have a lot to choose from.

 

[skipamyb]

From what I understand, the choices (unless it's a buffet) are cold grilled chicken strips, pb&j, or mac and cheese. Dessert choices are grapes or sugar free jello. And this is pretty much every restaraunt (TS and CS). 9 days of that and my kids will definitely revolt. I think it's great to offer healthy alternatives. But these aren't alternatives, it's the only choice. There's a thread on TGM discussing the actual ingredients of the sugar free jello and while it might have fewer calories, it sounds far from healthy. It almost sounds not like actual food. When I'm on vacation I like to splurge a little with food, so do my kids....
Those are my complaints...
Amy

 

[Michigan]

From what I understand, the choices (unless it's a buffet) are cold grilled chicken strips, pb&j, or mac and cheese. Dessert choices are grapes or sugar free jello. And this is pretty much every restaraunt (TS and CS). 9 days of that and my kids will definitely revolt. I think it's great to offer healthy alternatives. But these aren't alternatives, it's the only choice. There's a thread on TGM discussing the actual ingredients of the sugar free jello and while it might have fewer calories, it sounds far from healthy. It almost sounds not like actual food. When I'm on vacation I like to splurge a little with food, so do my kids....
Those are my complaints...
Amy

It's not chicken strips it's 3 chicken nuggets and the pb&j is a pre-made crustable and you forgot that childs meal that has them waiting in line spinich with cold chicken chunck salad. Let's not forget the every kids favorite breakfast food unsweetened applesauce served with all the kids breakfasts.

 

[skipamyb]

OK so I emailed a quick note off to guest relations, I got the generic response back, and replied asking for a real human being to contact me. I'll let you all know when I actually hear something back....
Amy

 

[Microcell]

The entire reason that we are doing the dining plan is because my DD is a nut about desserts, and it is vacation. That is not good. I will not pay all that money for Disney to decide how I should feed my children. I also hear the sugar free Jello has Asparatime, which is not good for you at all!

 

[Microcell]

Thansk for the email address, I emailed my concerns as well, and we shall see if the little guy can make a difference.

 

[Katiebell]

Have you read the current kids' menus? Some of them aren't so great, but many of them are just fine. The TS at most places sounds quite good, and there are specific CS that are horrible (I'd avoid Pecos Bill's ), but others have burgers, pasta, turkey subs, teriyaki chicken, pizza, sweet and sour chicken... Epcot sounds like it has the most variety. Before you get concerned and email Guest Services, you might want to read the kids' menus here, and the most recently updated ones on AllEars.

The "healthy" sides are choice of two: carrot sticks, grapes, and applesauce, and the beverage is juice or milk -- but a lot of the menus say "soft drinks and fries on request". Most of the CS offer the dreaded sugar-free Jello, but you could try asking for something else (never hurts to try), or if all else fails, just throw it away and share your dessert with your kid, or use a snack credit to buy them a good dessert, and you should be fine.

And for TS, if you take your kids to a buffet or all you care to eat meal (almost all of the character meals, Boma, Biergarten, H&V, Trail's End, Cape May) they are getting the exact same meal and choices as the adults.

 

[OneMoreTry]

The menus on wdwinfo look pretty good. Also, some of the TS places will accomodate requests, I've heard.

 

[Microcell]

I guess that what really bummed me out for DD was the loss of Chocolate Mouse at Le Cellier ( I swear the kid dreams about it), and the chocolate cake at CHH.

I know I sound petty, and I am usually the first to say a kid should not expect dessert at every meal, but that is what stands out in her memory from last year. It is obvious that is was a special treat for her (trust me she rarely gets dessert- she has long since given up asking for it at restaurants because we ask if she wants dessert or Disney) and she will talk about it in the future, like to her kids it was such a good memory for her.

I will definitely share with her (or actually give it to her), but it is the fact that Disney has decided what I should feed my kid if I need to stay with the DDP. Too many people, school, Disney feel they know better how to raise my kid just because some other parents do such a rotten job. I am sure they are trying to save money, but it just seems so big brother!

 

[ronirp]

I just fired off an e-mail as well - mentioned that the limited selection may force me to eat off site (maybe that would do the trick....). While there are practical solutions to these as mentioned, and I have heard that in many places accomodations are made, it should not be a case where you are dependent on the nice CM to get what you want, but rather something that is available to you.
I hope that by the time we go (in Dec.) this will change!

 

[annie1995]

I plan on voicing my opinion too. I agree, kids need more choices.

 

[bicker]

This has come up quite often. A couple of notes:

Child meals cost just a bit more than one-quarter the price of regular meals, and since food ingredients are a small percentage of the costs of running a restaurant, the smaller portion size cannot, alone, account for that price differential, so it is accounted for by reducing the value of the meals by standardization. At these low prices, a price level that a great number of young families want to pay for these meals, what the restaurants are offering is appropriate. If you're writing to Disney about this, it may help your cause if you make the point that you're willing to pay a lot more to get what you're looking for. If that is indeed the case, and enough guests are willing to pay a lot more for child meals, then there would be a chance to see some substantial improvements in them.

The other thing that tends to keep child meal variety small is that Disney has a very hard time saying no to adults who want to order child meals. Adults ordering child meals severely cut into a restaurant's profitability, so Disney has apparently addressed this by making the child meals much less appealing to adults. Until there is an effective way for Disney to tell adults no when they ask for child meals, without coming out looking like a villian, I fear that there is much less chance that they make anything more than minor improvements.

 

[Michigan]

Have you read the current kids' menus? Some of them aren't so great, but many of them are just fine. The TS at most places sounds quite good, and there are specific CS that are horrible (I'd avoid Pecos Bill's ), but others have burgers, pasta, turkey subs, teriyaki chicken, pizza, sweet and sour chicken... Epcot sounds like it has the most variety. Before you get concerned and email Guest Services, you might want to read the kids' menus here, and the most recently updated ones on AllEars.

We looked all over CS for a hamburger and the only place we found it at was GF on the last day when she did the pirate cruise. The pizza is a cheese pizza that if you took a small regular piece and cut it four way that would be the slice size you get. If it was an inch wide at the top that would be pushing it.

It was pretty bad every place we went except Le Cellier, Tony's & 1900 Fare by 9 year old would say I thought Disney was for kids.

 

[Katiebell]

We looked all over CS for a hamburger and the only place we found it at was GF on the last day when she did the pirate cruise. The pizza is a cheese pizza that if you took a small regular piece and cut it four way that would be the slice size you get. If it was an inch wide at the top that would be pushing it.

It was pretty bad every place we went except Le Cellier, Tony's & 1900 Fare by 9 year old would say I thought Disney was for kids.

OK, I perused the menus to see, where would I take my kid? My youngest is almost 16 now, but the older boys have girlfriends, so I could have DGK's to take in a few years!

MK -- CS looks pretty lame, even for adults.
Casey's Corner: has no kids' menu, kids have same options as adults.
El Pirata y el Perico: taco, cookie, and beverage
Main St Bakery: doesn't look like there's a kid' menu, so same options as adults.

AK -- CS not great options for kids
Flame Tree: chicken wings or hot dog (may be ok)
Tusker House: mac and cheese or chicken drumstick (may be ok)
Pizzafari: cheese quesadilla may be ok, but really dumb there is no pizza for kids!

MGM -- CS options not great for anybody, but...
Catalina Eddie's: don't see kids' menu? same options as adults?
Toy Story Pizza Planet: no kids' menu, same options as adults
ABC Commissary: gets bad reviews, but kids' meals includes fried fish and vegetable noodle stir fry, specifies fries and soda available on request

Epcot -- some really unique and appetizing-sounding CS options for kids:
Cantina: beef burrito and soft drink
Electric Umbrella: standard chick nuggets and mac & cheese, but also turkey and cheese pinwheels, at least it's something different...soda and fries on request
Fountain View: don't see kid's menu -- same choices as adults?
Sommerfest: don't see kid's menu -- same choices as adults?
Sunshine Seasons: sweet and sour chicken, mac & cheese, mini sub, chicken leg
Yorkshire Fish Shop: don't see kid's menu -- same choices as adults?
Lotus Blossom: egg roll and beef fried rice
Tangierine: burger, pizza, or chicken tenders, all with fries and drink
Yakitori: teriyaki chicken w/veggies, rice, and soft drink

DTD
WPE: chicken fingers, mac & cheese (the GOOD stuff), cheese OR pepperoni pizza
EOS: PB&J, grilled cheese, turkey and swiss, pizza sandwich
Food Quest (in Disney Quest, requires admission): pasta, burger, hot dog
Cooke's: fish, battered chicken skewer, baby sausages, all with chips (fries)

And those are just CS options at the parks and DTD. I could go through the resort menus as well, but you get the idea. The TS menus are more varied, many with creative desserts, and kids get appetizers as well. Yes, there are definitely some awful and boring options, but it's not all chilled chicken and sugar-free Jello. It may take a little bit of research, but there definitely are places that will give your kids better variety and more appealing and interesting choices.

 

[katrinao]

I emailed disney about the lack of choices, especially with the sugar free jello that I WILL NOT feed my child. This is the response I got...
Thank you for contacting the Walt Disney World Resort.

Disney is moving in a positive new direction by providing a healthier
range of food choices for parents and kids. Since families are looking
for better nutritional options, the new policy calls for products that
meet specific food guidelines. These guidelines are based on USDA
recommendations and which we developed with the help of two top child
health experts.

We have introduced new kid's menus that automatically come with
healthier sides and drinks (although parents and kids can still get
fries and a soda). We hope to eliminate all added trans fats from the
meals we serve at the U.S. Parks by the end of next year and for all
Disney food products sold or licensed in the U.S. by the end of 2008.

If you have questions or need further assistance, feel free to contact
us.

Please include your full name, E-Mail address, and reservation number
if
applicable on all correspondence.

Thank you!

Sincerely,

Suzanne Walden

WDW Online Communications

PLEASE NOTE: All information is subject to change without notice and
should be confirmed just prior to your visit.

 

[Michigan]

OK, I perused the menus to see, where would I take my kid? My youngest is almost 16 now, but the older boys have girlfriends, so I could have DGK's to take in a few years!

MK -- CS looks pretty lame, even for adults.
Casey's Corner: has no kids' menu, kids have same options as adults.
El Pirata y el Perico: taco, cookie, and beverage
Main St Bakery: doesn't look like there's a kid' menu, so same options as adults.

AK -- CS not great options for kids
Flame Tree: chicken wings or hot dog (may be ok)
Tusker House: mac and cheese or chicken drumstick (may be ok)
Pizzafari: cheese quesadilla may be ok, but really dumb there is no pizza for kids!

MGM -- CS options not great for anybody, but...
Catalina Eddie's: don't see kids' menu? same options as adults?
Toy Story Pizza Planet: no kids' menu, same options as adults
ABC Commissary: gets bad reviews, but kids' meals includes fried fish and vegetable noodle stir fry, specifies fries and soda available on request

Epcot -- some really unique and appetizing-sounding CS options for kids:
Cantina: beef burrito and soft drink
Electric Umbrella: standard chick nuggets and mac & cheese, but also turkey and cheese pinwheels, at least it's something different...soda and fries on request
Fountain View: don't see kid's menu -- same choices as adults?
Sommerfest: don't see kid's menu -- same choices as adults?
Sunshine Seasons: sweet and sour chicken, mac & cheese, mini sub, chicken leg
Yorkshire Fish Shop: don't see kid's menu -- same choices as adults?
Lotus Blossom: egg roll and beef fried rice
Tangierine: burger, pizza, or chicken tenders, all with fries and drink
Yakitori: teriyaki chicken w/veggies, rice, and soft drink

DTD
WPE: chicken fingers, mac & cheese (the GOOD stuff), cheese OR pepperoni pizza
EOS: PB&J, grilled cheese, turkey and swiss, pizza sandwich
Food Quest (in Disney Quest, requires admission): pasta, burger, hot dog
Cooke's: fish, battered chicken skewer, baby sausages, all with chips (fries)

And those are just CS options at the parks and DTD. I could go through the resort menus as well, but you get the idea. The TS menus are more varied, many with creative desserts, and kids get appetizers as well. Yes, there are definitely some awful and boring options, but it's not all chilled chicken and sugar-free Jello. It may take a little bit of research, but there definitely are places that will give your kids better variety and more appealing and interesting choices.

When was the last time you were there? We were there 2 weeks ago they have changed the kids menus within the last 2 months. Just because you don't see a kids menu listed online doesn't mean there isn't one when you get to the restaurant.

The mac and cheese is nasty even if you like it. How fair is it that a parent has a choice of hamburger or hot dog and the kid gets a choice of a frozen crustable PB&J or spinich salad? All counter service meals offer cake for adults and give kids fruit cups or sugar free jello.

All I'm saying is we were there my 9 year old is small for her age only weighs 55 pounds and she hated them all. It would be nice if they offered maybe a junior meal and a child's meal like the fast food does now.

 

[Katiebell]

When was the last time you were there? We were there 2 weeks ago they have changed the kids menus within the last 2 months. Just because you don't see a kids menu listed online doesn't mean there isn't one when you get to the restaurant.

The mac and cheese is nasty even if you like it. How fair is it that a parent has a choice of hamburger or hot dog and the kid gets a choice of a frozen crustable PB&J or spinich salad? All counter service meals offer cake for adults and give kids fruit cups or sugar free jello.

All I'm saying is we were there my 9 year old is small for her age only weighs 55 pounds and she hated them all. It would be nice if they offered maybe a junior meal and a child's meal like the fast food does now.

The original posts in this thread said:
"Part of the issue is the menu is pretty much the same everywhere. Kids don't have a lot to choose from."

"From what I understand, the choices (unless it's a buffet) are cold grilled chicken strips, pb&j, or mac and cheese. Dessert choices are grapes or sugar free jello. And this is pretty much every restaraunt (TS and CS)."

"It's not chicken strips it's 3 chicken nuggets and the pb&j is a pre-made crustable and you forgot that childs meal that has them waiting in line spinich with cold chicken chunck salad. Let's not forget the every kids favorite breakfast food unsweetened applesauce served with all the kids breakfasts."

When I looked at the most recent menus, there seem to be a lot of different options, but you would certainly have to compare menus and go to different places. The info I got is from AllEars, which tends to be the most updated -- several of the restaurants showed they were updated between 12/06 and 2/07.

http://www.allearsnet.com/menu/menus.htm#mgm

The places I listed that show no kids' menus are Casey's, Main St Bakery, Pizza Planet, Sommerfest, Fountain View, Catalina Eddie's, Yorkshire Fish Shop -- the only ones I've heard for sure have no kids' menus are Pizza Planet and Casey's. Can anyone confirm if those other restaurants have kids' menus, and if so, what the selections are?

I definitely saw some awful options at CS, particularly in AK, MGM, and MK (I'd avoid Pecos Bill's like the plague ) but Epcot and DTD looked pretty decent. I didn't list the choices I thought were bad; I listed the places I would take my kids if they wanted a variety of more interesting food. And I only listed CS at the parks and DTD, not any resort CS, and no TS meals.

Did you go to any CS places in Epcot? If they have all switched to chilled chicken and PB&J, then I'd sure complain too! But that's not what the most recent online menus are showing. I'd be very interested to hear if any families visiting Epcot could let us know what they are seeing on the kids' menus.