Concerns about Kids Meals on the DDP

[Dchef]

We signed up for the DDP because we like to have a sit down dinner and try and and get better food options that way. But I have been looking at some of the menus for kids and like I always am--disappointed!!

Somehow there is a general concensus that kids like nothing other than Mac and cheese and Chicken nuggets. I am concerned that the lack of options for the kids will end up costing us money in the end. DD LOVES salad and DS LOVES fish and they both would rather have vegetables than French fries (DD won't touch a fry). My question is how liberal are they with changes like this...can we swipe out fries for a salad?

On the flip side there are great buffets that I am trying to throw in there like Boma's too ease the Kids menu boredom. Its been awhile since they have ordered kids meals--usually its off the main menu.

Any advice would be appreciated.
Thanks

 

[Nancyg56]

There are many TS restaurants that offer entrees in line with the regular options on the menu. My DGD had her choice of chicken steak and fish when we had dinner. You just need to check the menus on
http://www.allearsnet.com/din/dining.htm


I hope that I got the link in correctly.

 

[JimMIA]

Oh good! Kids menu thread 300,001! These threads usually take one of two tacks, depending on the bias of the OP -- "Why can't I find healthy foods?" Or, "Why can't my kids find the foods they love?"

I really don't know what all the fuss is about. We go twice a year, DD5 strongly prefers "healthy" food, and we have never had any problem finding options she loves.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Just for fun... from the Childrens' menus at the park restaurants...

50s Prime Time
Grilled Fish of the Day
Grilled Chicken Strips
Meatloaf
Chicken Nuggets
Macaroni and Cheese
Grilled Hot Dog

Brown Derby
Grilled Chicken Breast
Beef and Macaroni
Grilled Cheese on Whole Wheat Bread
Tempura Grouper Strips
Grilled All-Beef Hot Dog

Mama Melrose's
Grilled Fish of the Day
Grilled Chicken Strips
Cheese Pizza
Pepperoni Pizza
Spaghetti/Penne

Coral Reef
Grilled Mahi mahi
Grilled Chicken Breast
Macaroni & Cheese
Pizza w/ chicken
Grilled Fish of the Day

Akershus
Grilled Chicken Breast
Grilled Salmon
Cheese Ravioli
Meatballs & Pasta
Hot Dog
Turkey & Cheese roll-up
Pizza

Chefs de France
Breaded Chicken Strips
Hamburger
Pan-roasted Flounder

Alfredo's
Spaghetti w/ tomato sauce
Penne w/cream sauce
Penne w/meat sauce
Grilled Chicken Strips

Le Cellier
Pizza
Beef & Macaroni
Pasta & tomato sauce
Hot Dog
Grilled Steak

Marrakesh
Chicken tenders
Moroccan Pasta
Kefta
Vegetable Couscous

Rose & Crown
Pizza
Beef & Macaroni
Cottage Pie
Macaroni & Cheese
Bangers & Mash

San Angel Inn
Chicken Strips
Burrito
Quesadilla de Pollo

Cinderella's Royal Table
Beef & Macaroni
Mini Hot Dogs
Chicken Strips

Liberty Tree Tavern
Pizza
Beef & Macaroni
Sliced Turkey
Macaroni & Cheese

Tony's Town Square
Pizza
Grilled Fish of the Day
Spaghetti & Meatballs
Macaroni & Cheese

Plaza Restaurant
Grilled Chicken on a Stick
Junior Chef Salad
Two mini-hamburgers
Grilled Cheese Sandwich
Turkey Sandwich
Peanut Butter & Jelly Sandwich

So, while, yes, some items do carry over across a number of locations - but most locations ALSO have menu items unique to them, i.e. the choices aren't as boring and repetitious as some Guests think.
Out of the fifteen restaurant menus I checked:
35 items appear on only one menu
1 item is on two menus
2 items on three menus
2 items on four menus (one being hot dogs in various forms)
2 items on five menus
1 items on eight menus (includes ALL varieties/versions of pizza)

 

[JimMIA]

There you go again, katieeldr -- messing up a perfectly good thread with facts!

 

[bicker]

 

[Dchef]

Oh good! Kids menu thread 300,001! These threads usually take one of two tacks, depending on the bias of the OP -- "Why can't I find healthy foods?" Or, "Why can't my kids find the foods they love?"

I really don't know what all the fuss is about. We go twice a year, DD5 strongly prefers "healthy" food, and we have never had any problem finding options she loves.

Sorry to offend you My question was directed towards convience of the DDP--not in general. I am glad you've been fortunate to return so often, but this will only be my 2nd with the family and YES...I my be a little green looking for some advice. Why don't you ignore the post you don't care for!! Not being mean just frank.

 

[Dchef]

Just for fun... from the Childrens' menus at the park restaurants...

50s Prime Time
Grilled Fish of the Da
Grilled Chicken Strips
Meatloaf
Chicken Nuggets
Macaroni and Cheese
Grilled Hot Dog

Brown Derby
Grilled Chicken Breast
Beef and Macaroni
Grilled Cheese on Whole Wheat Bread
Tempura Grouper Strips
Grilled All-Beef Hot Dog

Mama Melrose's
Grilled Fish of the Day
Grilled Chicken Strips
Cheese Pizza
Pepperoni Pizza
Spaghetti/Penne

Coral Reef
Grilled Mahi mahi
Grilled Chicken Breast
Macaroni & Cheese
Pizza w/ chicken
Grilled Fish of the Day

Akershus
Grilled Chicken Breast
Grilled Salmon
Cheese Ravioli
Meatballs & Pasta
Hot Dog
Turkey & Cheese roll-up
Pizza

Chefs de France
Breaded Chicken Strips
Hamburger
Pan-roasted Flounder

Alfredo's
Spaghetti w/ tomato sauce
Penne w/cream sauce
Penne w/meat sauce
Grilled Chicken Strips

Le Cellier
Pizza
Beef & Macaroni
Pasta & tomato sauce
Hot Dog
Grilled Steak

Marrakesh
Chicken tenders
Moroccan Pasta
Kefta
Vegetable Couscous

Rose & Crown
Pizza
Beef & Macaroni
Cottage Pie
Macaroni & Cheese
Bangers & Mash

San Angel Inn
Chicken Strips
Burrito
Quesadilla de Pollo

Cinderella's Royal Table
Beef & Macaroni
Mini Hot Dogs
Chicken Strips

Liberty Tree Tavern
Pizza
Beef & Macaroni
Sliced Turkey
Macaroni & Cheese

Tony's Town Square
Pizza
Grilled Fish of the Day
Spaghetti & Meatballs
Macaroni & Cheese

Plaza Restaurant
Grilled Chicken on a Stick
Junior Chef Salad
Two mini-hamburgers
Grilled Cheese Sandwich
Turkey Sandwich
Peanut Butter & Jelly Sandwich

So, while, yes, some items do carry over across a number of locations - but most locations ALSO have menu items unique to them, i.e. the choices aren't as boring and repetitious as some Guests think.
Out of the fifteen restaurant menus I checked:
35 items appear on only one menu
1 item is on two menus
2 items on three menus
2 items on four menus
2 items on five menus
1 items on eight menus

Thanks a bunch. I click on a link that took me to the menus, but perhaps in order to save space, this place DID NOT list those items. I appreciate the post and I will do more research.

 

[bicker]

I think you're misinterpreting JimMIA. The reality is that there are literally dozens of threads about this in the forum. What's worse, they tend to become contentious because some some posters are over-the-top emotional about the issue. It would be too onerous for the moderators to continually merge and close threads to keep this kind of thing in check, so that leads to the kind of frustration you saw from JimMIA. It was surely not directed at you.

 

[Dchef]

I think you're misinterpreting JimMIA. The reality is that there are literally dozens of threads about this in the forum. What's worse, they tend to become contentious because some some posters are over-the-top emotional about the issue. It would be too onerous for the moderators to continually merge and close threads to keep this kind of thing in check, so that leads to the kind of frustration you saw from JimMIA. It was surely not directed at you.

Thanks. I am sure you are right however just going at this time of the year is making me frantic to make ADR's now. I think all any of us are looking for is a little HELP. I do a search everytime before I post and the question was more in line with "is the DDP flexible for kids" than a rant, although I thought I would clarify a bit. I know that these boards get really redundant and if you are on here a lot (i am not) you get tired of seeing it--but there is no need to post if you don't want to answer. JMO. But I am sure he will appreciate you coming to his defense I am just a mom trying to get the best info I can here--thats all.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Sorry to offend you .

I feel comfortable stating that Jim's not offended. We all also hope YOU don't feel offended, or that his post was any kind of 'attack' on you. As indicated below, this is a - oh, heck, perennial doesn't cover it - regularly-recurring issue.

You weren't here last Fall when Disney first changed the kids' menus, so you missed all the controversy, arguments, heated discussions

Anywhoo - ask questions!
You'll get answers (and sometimes some side commentary, too )

 

[bicker]

To be fair, there really is no way to assuage fears like those brought up in this thread, without being patronizing. Sometimes there just aren't good, clean answers that resolve concerns. I'd be more upset with the posters who come here saying, "everything is great" or "everything sucks" because neither of those actually help. As a matter of fact, both kinds of replies harm readers in the same way -- the both foster unreasonable expectations (the former by convincing readers that they have nothing to worry about, and the latter by convincing readers that they're justified in expecting better).

Truly, Kaytie's reply is the best we can provide, and perhaps, as a rule, we veterans should keep that list handy and be sure to post it each time another thread like this gets started, to cut the silliness off at the pass..

 

[JimMIA]

Sorry to offend you

I'm not offended. Just a little frustrated, as the posters above indicated. Your thread really DOES seem like #300,001 on this subject!

Sorry if I upset you.

Worst case scenario, your kids are going to Disney, and they are going to have a wonderful trip they'll remember for years. You might want to do a "Leave a Legacy" tile at Epcot, so they can show their kids when they take them to Disney.

Do your homework and have a great trip!

 

[kaytieeldr]

Truly, Kaytie's reply is the best we can provide, and perhaps, as a rule, we veterans should keep that list handy and be sure to post it each time another thread like this gets started, to cut the silliness off at the pass..

Aw, shucks - thanks, bicker! I'll add to it later (e.g. tomorrow, if I don't go to Foxwoods) to include most of the resort restaurants - as well as a disclaimer that the list is accurate as of that date, but of course subject to change.

And, it was inspired by Katiebell's similar post a few months back, which I didn't save and now can't find

 

[Luv2Roam]

Until all these 300,000 Dis child's food threads I never realized how America's children live mainly on formed chicken meat. They should have a Chick Filet, rather than McD's, on property and most everyone would be happy.

 

[EMom]

One place we're eating is Akershus, because it's almost a combo of buffet and sit down. The appetizers are more like buffet and you can select what you like. DD can eat her weight in smoked salmon and might eat enough of that to skip an entree! Later, the entrees are ordered off a menu.

We are eating at some buffets, but I am not a buffet fan and could not do them for 10 days. I want some nice sit down dinners for ME.

The kid's menus are somewhat workable for people on short vacations but for those of us on 10-14 day trips, it really does become WORK to find meals that are not repetitive for your child. Remember, much of what is offered at night is the same thing they are offered at lunch.

We'll ask for some changes......She's not going to like that beef-a-roni stuff, so plain pasta with some parmesan cheese will suffice. I think they can handle that. But the DDP is not nearly so convenient as it was in 2005, as it's just that simple.

 

[Pumbaa_]

To the OP, I apologize for the silliness of some of the others (you know who you are )

For some of us who hang out here regularly, this type of post comes up often. Sometimes it is easy to forget that not everyone lives here, right guys?

Here is a link to the Dis Menus.

The children's menus have chnaged alot over the past year. Take a look and you will see there are some great choices as Katie has pointed out.

 

[Dchef]

One place we're eating is Akershus, because it's almost a combo of buffet and sit down. The appetizers are more like buffet and you can select what you like. DD can eat her weight in smoked salmon and might eat enough of that to skip an entree! Later, the entrees are ordered off a menu.

We are eating at some buffets, but I am not a buffet fan and could not do them for 10 days. I want some nice sit down dinners for ME.

The kid's menus are somewhat workable for people on short vacations but for those of us on 10-14 day trips, it really does become WORK to find meals that are not repetitive for your child. Remember, much of what is offered at night is the same thing they are offered at lunch.

We'll ask for some changes......She's not going to like that beef-a-roni stuff, so plain pasta with some parmesan cheese will suffice. I think they can handle that. But the DDP is not nearly so convenient as it was in 2005, as it's just that simple.

Thanks--I think the Smoked Salmon is funny because my DD loves it too. We may try that but it will be hard to pass up Teppanyaki for that while in Epcot. And yes the Beef n Roni isn't going to fly so for things like that, I would want to know about pasta with parm and maybe a chicken breast. I guess we will take our chances and bat our eye lashes and pay extra if necessary. What I don't want is mom's decission for everyone, to turn into mom's bad decission.

I apologize for making a big deal out of this, I know most of you feel like "just grab a burger and call it good" but it just isn't possible--its been 8 years of training --no soda-no fast food and limited sugar to get to this point with the kids and I am not about to let Disney pull them in. When traveling its hard and tedious and there are a lot of ugly stares from waiters who get tired of us changing things--but we always manage.

I will continue to research and I am PROUD to have contributed to the other 300,000 threads like this ...Its a great crowd to be in let me tell ya.

 

[justcruisin]

Take a look at the appetizer selections off the adult menu. I'm planning on ordering DS8 items off that (OOP).

 

[Nancyg56]

No, don't apologize, you are just looking for good meals for your children. The best advice I can give you is to look at the menus before you make your ADR's. We were there for 10 days and we had no problems finding nutritious meals that my DGD enjoyed. On kaytieeldr's list you can see that there are a lot of choices for children and there are a lot of the old standby's that many restaurants use to placate parents and children alike.
It really comes down to research and honestly evaluating the plan to determine if the choices are appropriate for your children. The DDP is not a perfect match for all families if their children are not going to be satisfied with the children's menu. It worked for my family, but it may not for your family.