Coral reef- kids dont want to eat!

[rolshuk]

I have booked a diver etc for Coral reef but DD13 and DD8 just dont want anything on the menu
Will it be possible for them to just have a drink whilst DH and I dine .WE have an ADR for all of us but I thought I could feed them first then we could have birthday cake after our meal. We are on the DDP.
Anyone done this?

 

[Quinn222]

I have booked a diver etc for Coral reef but DD13 and DD8 just dont want anything on the menu
Will it be possible for them to just have a drink whilst DH and I dine .WE have an ADR for all of us but I thought I could feed them first then we could have birthday cake after our meal. We are on the DDP.
Anyone done this?

I don't see why you can't do that but maybe you can get an ADR somewhere else? Coral Reef isn't very good.

 

[rolshuk]

I don't see why you can't do that but maybe you can get an ADR somewhere else? Coral Reef isn't very good.

I really want the diver

 

[Anc96]

Hi...

Yes, you can do that. You do not need to order a meal for everyone at the table. Order a drink or dessert for the kiids, and pay oop for that. Just use your dining credits for yourself and dh.
Coral Reef may not be everyone's preference, but a lot of people love it there. The ambience is very nice. I like their spicy catfish dish.

Enjoy your stay!

 

[msteddom]

Well, tell your kids that this is a meal that you're really looking forward to and just ask them to make the best of it. There should be something on the menu that can be modified to meet their tastes, and if worse comes to worst your kids eat cake for dinner.

Melissa

 

[Albytaps]

I have 3 DD's (1.5,4,5) and I wouldn't even attempt a real sit down meal at Disney until they're all old enough to not drive me nuts. We tried a character meal and we ended up having to run out of the restaurant before we even got served. What a mess! Kids really stink! JK...maybe...

 

[EMom]

I have 3 DD's (1.5,4,5) and I wouldn't even attempt a real sit down meal at Disney until they're all old enough to not drive me nuts. We tried a character meal and we ended up having to run out of the restaurant before we even got served. What a mess! Kids really stink! JK...maybe...

Yes, but there is a big age difference between your kids are the OPs. Hers are 8 and 13. I'm with msteddom. I'd tell them....in more polite language, of course.....to suck it up and sit there quietly for mom and dad's sake. You make plenty of sacrifices for them and eat meals you don't care for and they can do you the same favor every once in a while. They're old enough to learn this courtesy. It's not all about the kids, and we as parents forget that sometimes.

For practicality's sake, I wouldn't take them in there hungry, though. That's just asking for trouble. Feed them first. And I'd tip well, since I'd be taking up a table for 4 but only 2 are eating. JMHO.

 

[rolshuk]

I am quite sure the girls will be ok if we eat and they dont.I will explain its either that or they eat with us LOL.
I was thinking of getting them a cs meal before we sit down then getting them a special drink and we could then share the cake at the end.
I am more concerned if it will be ok with Coral reef then my girls.

 

[disnut8]

Are your daughter's just looking at the menu offerings as they are printed? ON the dinner menu, I see a garden salad and a Ceasar's salad available as well as chilled shrimp. I also see a cheesecake dessert. there's a chicken breast and a steak option. You don't have to get all the side items. Or, you can switch sides. Example - you can get the NY steak with roasted potatoes and baby carrots instead of the potatoes au gratin and the broccolini. They have macaroni and cheese and a fruit cup on the kids menu.

At Disney, I have found (with a picky husband) that if you ask for substitutions with any other item on the menu, it's easily done.

 

[Anc96]

I am quite sure the girls will be ok if we eat and they dont.I will explain its either that or they eat with us LOL.
I was thinking of getting them a cs meal before we sit down then getting them a special drink and we could then share the cake at the end.
I am more concerned if it will be ok with Coral reef then my girls.

That's a great idea. There are so many great CS to choose from at Epcot. The UK is "just around the corner" for great fish & chips.. or you can get normal lunch fare at the Electric Umbrella.. then wander over for your adr at Coral Reef. There are some fun drinks they can have while they enjoy the fish! (the ones swimming around.. not the ones on the plates ).
Like I said, it's fine with the restaurants if everyone isn't eating. Just mention it when they take your drink order. Tell them the girls misbehaved and no dinner tonight for them

We love the ambiance there.. we don't always love the food, but we've had more good experiences than bad. We go at least once every trip. My dd loves it.
My fave is that catfish I mentioned, and the chocolate wave!! Mmmm..

Enjoy!

 

[Ilovestitch]

They won't eat pizza, grilled chicken or mac n cheese. I was picky as a kid, but I would eat those for sure.

 

[PatsGirl]

At 1 1/2 they are too young to notice or care where they eat (I would think) and at 4, 5, 8, or 13 -- I agree with a pp that it's time to learn that the world, even WDW doesn't revolve around them. I agree that we, as a nation, and many of us baby boomers, forget this and IMHO are doing our children a great disservice in allowing them to think it does. Okay, off my soapbox.

 

[septbaby]

I think the less stressful way to handle this is to determine what they will eat (3-4 choices) and contact Coral Reef to have something available. Given enough notice and requests of things that exist in the park I'm sure they can accomdate. If you have booked a diver you obviously have the manager's contact info, use it and have a Magical Family dinner. Don't run around trying to accomodate them, Disney will cater to you, just have some flexibility.

Honestly, when I first opened this thread I expected to see accounts of how the children were so enthralled by the aquarium they did not want to eat. We are taking our 5yo and I fully realize that this could be the case with him!

 

[beachgrl001]

Im doing the same thing as the OP I have a 12y/o and a 2y/o Im feeding them before w go in and I'll just get them a desert oop. Im planning on bringing a small magnadoodle and my son's ds. Im doing this 3 times, my 12 y/o is very picky

 

[Pumbaa_]

I would just plan another meal. Not worth it to me to have 2 of my kids not eat just to have a diver, just my opinion

 

[disneymom06]

Go eat and enjoy yourself! We did the same thing and have four children, (12,11,7,4 last summer). I wanted to eat at Coral Reef, so I made sure that they ate something at the Electric Umbrella and then explained to the server that the children would be having dessert and a soda while we ate dinner. He was fine with it and made sure that the children had refills. We paid OOP for the children and used the DDP for our two meals. THe CM did not have a problem with the arrangement at all. I say its your vacation too, go and enjoy!

 

[EMom]

Yep, so long as they've been fed and are not starving, they should be fine. I would think the aquarium would keep them occupied. I don't think the server cares if they eat an actual meal instead of dessert, so long as you leave a generous tip. To be honest, the tip on a $7.49 kid's meal and the tip on an OOP dessert and drink probably won't be that different anyway.

 

[rolshuk]

They won't eat pizza, grilled chicken or mac n cheese. I was picky as a kid, but I would eat those for sure.

Nope ,they wont The eldest is on the adult menu and I hear Coral Reef wont let older children have the kids menu .The yougest may eat pizza at a push.

 

[rolshuk]

At 1 1/2 they are too young to notice or care where they eat (I would think) and at 4, 5, 8, or 13 -- I agree with a pp that it's time to learn that the world, even WDW doesn't revolve around them. I agree that we, as a nation, and many of us baby boomers, forget this and IMHO are doing our children a great disservice in allowing them to think it does. Okay, off my soapbox.

Actually I think its ME who is being selfish here....I want to eat here but no one else does .However my wonderful family will come with me because its my 40th birthday and I really want the diver etc.I was hoping to make it more pleasent for the kids by not making them eat something they didnt want and that way we will all be happy.
To be honest if I didnt have free DDP I wouldnt choose here as the menu is not really to our taste but DH and I can find a couple of things.

 

[rolshuk]

That's a great idea. There are so many great CS to choose from at Epcot. The UK is "just around the corner" for great fish & chips.. or you can get normal lunch fare at the Electric Umbrella.. then wander over for your adr at Coral Reef. There are some fun drinks they can have while they enjoy the fish! (the ones swimming around.. not the ones on the plates ).
Like I said, it's fine with the restaurants if everyone isn't eating. Just mention it when they take your drink order. Tell them the girls misbehaved and no dinner tonight for them

We love the ambiance there.. we don't always love the food, but we've had more good experiences than bad. We go at least once every trip. My dd loves it.
My fave is that catfish I mentioned, and the chocolate wave!! Mmmm..

Enjoy!

Thank you....being English I am sure the kids will enjoy fish and chips