children's menus

[MagicKisses2]

I've looked online at many of the menus for the park's restaurants and I have a question about the children's menus.

Are they really all the same? I've seen penut butter and jelly sandwiches, mac and cheese, and chicken strips... I can't imagine that every restaurant has the exact same thing.

While I realize there can't be a huge variety, I think of my two nephews and what they typically order and even for a 9 year old, those choices are pretty "young".

I'm asking because if I ever had the chance to take them with me on a trip, I would want to get the dining plan and I think at least one of them would want to order from an adult menu. What can I say, they like their food!

Thanks!

 

[RMulieri]

Sadly the kids menus are mostly the same and Mostly leave alot to be desired. My 5 yr old loves it because she likes kids foods and is picky...not so much for the older kids are those with more adult tastes. Your options are to scrap the dining plan.Then your nephew can order whatever he likes.If on the dining plan he HAS to order from the KIDS MENU. OR you can upgrade him to an adult dining plan, but than you have to Buy an adult park ticket as well

 

[Tricia1972]

Most restaurants have the typical kids fare and at least one more 'adult' choice. I just went through the first few menus listed at allears.net and copied them over here. Hope this helps

Flame Tree BBQ - Animal Kingdom

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]For Guests Ages 3-9[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]All meals include choice of 2 sides: grapes, carrot sticks, applesauce or fruit punch gelatin
Choice of: 1% milk, Small Bottled Water or Apple Juice[/FONT]​

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Baked Chicken Drumstick $4.99
Hot Dog $4.99[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Chocolate Chip Cookie or Soft Drink substituted upon request.[/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Pizzafari - Animal Kingdom[/FONT]

[FONT=verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif]Kids' Picks[/FONT]​

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] For Guests 9 & Under
All meals served with choice of 2 sides
Grapes, Carrot Sticks, Applesauce or Fruit Punch Gelatin
Choice of Beverage: 1% Mickey Milk, small bottled water, or apple juice [/FONT]​

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Spaghetti and Meatball - $4.99
Child's Cheese Pizza - $4.99[/FONT]​

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Chocolate Chip Cookie or Soft Drink substituted upon request[/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Yak and Yeti - Animal Kingdom[/FONT]​

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]$7.49 for Ages 9 and Under [/FONT]​

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Add a Kid-sized portion of milk or apple juice in a souvenier cup.
All items served with choice of carrot sticks, applesauce cup, fruit punch gelatin or chicken fried rice.[/FONT]​

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Mini Burger
Vegetable Lo Main
Chicken Bites
Egg Roll

Dessert - Ice Cream Sundae $1.49

Add a kid-sized portion of milk or apple juice in a souvenir cup.

Soft drinks or french fries available upon request

ABC Commissary - DHS
[/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Kids' Picks
for guests 9 and under [/FONT]

All meals include choice of two side items: grapes, carrot sticks or applesauce
Choice of: 1% Mickey Milk, 1% chocolate milk, small bottled water or apple juice box [/FONT]​

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] [/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Chicken Nuggets - $4.99

Cheeseburger - $4.99 [/FONT]​

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] [/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Ham and Cheese Wrap- $4.99 [/FONT]​

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] [/FONT][FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Chocolate Chip Cookie, French Fries or Soft Drink available upon request.

Backlot Express - DHS
[/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Kids' Picks[/FONT]​

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]All meals include choice of two side items: grapes, carrot sticks, or applesauce
Choice of 1% Mickey Milk, 1% chocolate milk, small bottled water, or apple juice box [/FONT]​

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]$4.99[/FONT]​

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Chicken Nuggets OR Sloppy Joe [/FONT]​

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Chocolate Chip Cookie, Chocolate Pudding, French Fries and Soft Drinks substituted upon request[/FONT]
​

50's PTC - DHS

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Kids' Complete Meals[/FONT]​

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Grilled Fish of the Day - served with whole-grain pilaf, veggies, and yogurt parfait $7.59[/FONT]​

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Grilled Chicken Strips - with macaroni topped with marinara sauce and mozzarella, served with veggies and fruit salad $7.59[/FONT]​

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Kids' Picks[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Choice of 1 Appetizer, 1 entree and 1 dessert - $7.59[/FONT]​

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Appetizer[/FONT]​

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Chicken Noodle Soup[/FONT]​

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]OR[/FONT]​

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Garden Salad[/FONT]​

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Entrees[/FONT]​

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Meatloaf[/FONT]​

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]OR[/FONT]​

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Chicken Nuggets[/FONT]​

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]OR[/FONT]​

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Grilled Hot Dog[/FONT]​

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]OR[/FONT]​

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Macaroni & Cheese[/FONT]​

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]French Fries and Soft Drinks Available Upon Request[/FONT]​

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Desserts[/FONT]​

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Fruit Salad[/FONT]​

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]OR[/FONT]​

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Ice-Cream Sundae[/FONT]​

 

[squirrel]

There are more choices but you do have to look for them.

You will find some more grown up choices in EPCOT.

There are still a few places without kids menus and then your nephew can order an adult meal.

 

[Redbudlover]

I think the kid's menus suck. there are many threads on here complaining about the fact their kids get no variety. At least now there are some choices for fruits - grapes or carrot sticks instead of fries. What is wrong with a tuna salad sandwich? Or a salad? Or grilled veggies? My 3 year old DGD is vegetarian and trying to get her something healthy is almost impossible. Mac and cheese is never a first choice for protein and veggies - though she loves it. Why can't they offer a fish filet or something? One of the reasons I like taking her to the Flying Fish is that they have a great fish meal on the child's menu.

 

[Tricia1972]

I think the problem is that what is consistent between the restaurants is the 'regular kid fare', and the adult choices are harder to find.

There is grilled fish on the menu from 50's PTC, and I know that there are several other restaurants that have grilled fish as well.

Columbia Harbor House has a salad on it, and I believe other CS's have this option as well. They're listed with chicken, but you could probably order one without.

I don't know of any CS that has grilled veggies, for adults or for children, but there is usually a veggie option at every TS location

I agree that there aren't a lot of choices on the kids menu, but I think by studying the menus you can find places to satisfy almost any child's taste.

(Part of the problem is also that you're at Disney for so long, and after a week of eating out everything starts seeming a little old)

 

[brymolmom]

For the price of it - when you really think about it - with a TS meal (buffet - with characters plus LOTS of food options) and a snack credit - $4.00 right there - really you're getting the CS meal for free. So it's not surprising they don't offer anything except the really cheap options.

Look around and there are options there - just have to look hard. I have 2 kids - they do like nuggets, etc. but not for every meal - we share some adult CS meals (and add a couple of snack credits to make them go further) - use their CS credits on breakfasts and at the food court (POP has chicken stir-fry, pasta, soup and turkey sandwich as kids' options), go to Sunshine Seasons - anywhere in World Showcase and Wolfgang Puck Express at least once on our trip. Between all of the above - my kids get the 'usual' chicken nuggets once maybe twice on the trip. And they're getting stir-fry, pasta, pancakes, etc. all for 'free' since their $$ for their plan is already used up in the TS and snack! It's a great deal really if everyone would take a harder look. Most people just look at all the complaints and don't go into it any deeper and assume that my kid 'has to have mac n cheese and nuggets every meal - NO WAY!' when that is not the case at all.

 

[goofygal531]

This is where going to a buffet for lunch or dinner helps. Although my DS5 likes the basic kid food (nuggets, pizza, etc..) it's nice to have a change. I take him up to the buffet with me and let him pick out what he likes. I've found he's starting to break out of his picky-eater shell by selecting his own items.

The buffets are also great when you have one child who is not paying for a meal yet (DS2).

I'm not a buffet fan, but right now it just works for my kids so we deal with it.

 

[sherabby]

Yep. We just got back and most of the restaurants use the exact same menu. They are not even printed with different locations on them. RIght now they have the G-Force promo on them.

 

[MagicKisses2]

Thanks everyone, there are some great ideas here.

I do have to say that once I looked at the kid's menu I was really surprised at how basic they are.

I guess you just have to get creative!

 

[3boymthr]

Yes, the kids meals are very basic.

BUT....

Look at any kid's meal menu anywhere in the country and guess what? The options are pretty much the same as at WDW - very basic and repetitive. For example:

TGIFridays: Mac & Cheese, Burger, Pizza, Chicken Fingers and - the token grown up choice - Ribs;

Olive Garden: Macaroni & Cheese, The grown up choice - Grilled Chicken with pasta & broccoli; Cheese Pizza; Spaghetti; Chicken Fingers; Fettuccine Alfredo - Oh wow two adult type choices here - but really this is just fancy mac & cheese

Bob Evans: Mac & Cheese; mini cheeseburgers; grilled cheese (ooh something different); chicken strips; The grown up choice - turkey dinner; pasta and sauce (read - spaghetti); and a healthy choice - Grilled chicken strips. The only thing different at Bob evans is you can order off the breakfast menu all day which gives a few more choices.

I could list more but really it's all more of the same.

The problem is that restuarants everywhere cater to the 5 yo crowd AND these menus are not designed for people who are going to be eating at restaurants every day for a week or more and probably 99% of them don't cater to vegetarians. WDW is no different so really unless you can get the restaurant industry as a whole to change you're not going to get better choices at WDW.

Truthfully, I have to say we were very happy with the kid's menu choices at all of our TS restaurants. The biggest problem we encountered was finding a CS restaurant that offered something our kids would like AND that offered something more than burgers for us - That's where we had to get creative!

ETA - I have to admit we would have been in trouble if the DDP forced our 13 yo gourmand to order off the kids menu so I can see where this is a problem for some people.

 

[jdd]

This is where going to a buffet for lunch or dinner helps.

I completely agree. My kids are not impressed with the "standard" TS kids' menu - it doesn't look very appetizing to me either! Buffets are great - they can stick with the kids area (which is usually pizza, mac and cheese, etc) or get more "grown-up" offerings. Out of our 6 table service meals this time, we're doing 4 buffets, 'Ohana, and Teppan Edo. At all of these restaurants the kids can eat the same food as the adults

 

[MickeyNicki]

They are pretty much the same, they may vary by grilled chicken instead of chicken nuggets and I know Coral Reef had a kids fish but other than that and the buffets they are the same

 

[mermaid&cinderella]

Yes the kids meals are not the greatest but look at the actual price of the kids DDP, it really isn't much. So I wouldn't complain. We do alot of buffets b/c there they can eat a variety of foods and my DD will often eat something from my plate so we will order an extra appetizer and we all get a good meal. SO instead of complaining try to find ways around it!

 

[Pooh&OurHunny]

We do alot of buffet, share our meal with our son or order him from the adult menu and ask them to cut the portion (b/c I don't want to waste it)...I don't ask them to cut the price b/c I'm willing to pay adullt price for his meal to get him to eat a healthy meal (he doesn't eat PBJ, chicken nuggets, hot dogs or mac & cheese)...if the kids meal has grilled chicken and vegatable he'll love that but otherwise we try to find something for him in the adult menu or share my plate.