Counter Service Kids Menus Are Really Limited!

[Mom of Sleepy Bashful and BabyDoc]

I've read the whole thread but I can't find the post about searching through the menus and deciding what a good CS place would be ahead of time. So, whoever said that, thanks for the reminder. I think I will do that just to have a couple picked out and if we are nearby one of them, then I don't have to worry.

I DO think it is HISTERICAL though that the "burger joint" (Pecos Bill's) doesn't have burgers on their child's menu or Pizzawherever doesn't have pizza!!! What braniac decided that!!??? Restaurant Marrakesh even has a burger! ok, ok........sorry, my funny bone just got tickled on that one.

My kids eat really well and whatever they are served, they eat. But I don't want them having mac and cheese everyday (unfortunately, my DS6 chooses that if he sees it on a menu...I think I'll just not tell him...shhhhhh). But once or twice on vacation I like to have a good burger. I think what I will do at places like Pecos Bill's is order the double cheeseburger meal and just share with him. If we don't use all of our kid's credits, then so be it. This is all free for us this time, so I hate being picky. I just don't want junk food for 11 days.

 

[frayedend]

LOL! ITA! Long before FDP or DDP at all, didn't we all realize that there are many many CS choices in ALL the parks???? Hey, I dunno - - I just have always chosen which restaurant works best for my kids and I as a group. I don't dis Disney because those fries are flavored and DS doesn't particularly care for them....

Sounds like those entitled adults are working hard on raising entitled kids. If I work to have my Asperger's kid effectively deal with disappointment, what on earth is the problem if your kid can't eat what he wants every day all the time?????


I am so glad I am going this trip with DD, turning 10, and she's a FDP "adult".

I haven't read past this yet. But i have to say The Big Deal is that My Kid Is On Vacation. So at home, when I make tacos for dinner and my kid wanted a hot dog, well he will learn to deal with disappointment. But he won't deal with disappointment at Disney. That's my opinion. And on top of that I spoke with a few frequent Dining Plan users this past day. They said that they are actually encouraged to get adult meals for the kids at CS. And it was a CM that told them this "If you think you will use all of your TS credits up early, then what you should do is pay for your kids meals and use your TS credits for the adult meals only.
Curious if anyone has done that. My question being would they let you pay for 2 kids when you are using the Dining Plan for 2 adults? My friends said they do it all the time. Now, if anyone has the guts to answer yes I would be proud because I'm sure the posts telling them that they are thieves will soon follow. Face it folks, Disney isn't losing any money over these kids getting adult meals and they know it.

 

[frayedend]

Page 5, child entitlements are not to be used for adults. So that is Disney's expectation.


This means to me that the meal is for a child, not an adult. That being said, for 10 days I dont want my kids eating junk. Fried Chicken nuggets, hamburgers, Pizza, even Mac N Cheese or fries, is a VERY unhealthy diet for children. I hate the fact that I have to use my DP to buy fruit! Why cant they be like McDonalds and start offering healthier choices? Ham or Turkey sandwiches at least! I know how I look at the rule is that the meal is for a kid. If my kids want an adult buger, or salad, I am ordering that, and I will challenge Disney on their unhealthy choices for children. Its as bad as school lunches!

Yup, I read this Child Entitlements line in previous post and didn't say anything. The poster I think, used it to say you couldn't get an adult meal for a child. But what it is actually saying is that adults shouldn't be ordering off the kids menu. That being said, the only reason I will skirt the rules is that this thread has informed me that I won't have good choices for my kids at CS places. I didn't know that. I was actually quite shocked to find out the CS places had separate kid menus. Because in my mind, chicken fingers/burgers/pizza is all kids menu stuff. Let's just say it's something that would have bothered me if I got there and thought it was a rip-off for my kids. I'd rather know in advance and then decide if the DP is worth it.

 

[english rose 47]

We will have 4 adults on dp 2 actual adults ,1 real child. Fortunately his favorite food is mac. 7 cheese. However the c.s. that offders P.B.J or chilled chicken wont get our c.s business. I found lots of healthy choices such as Cosmic rays chicken and ribs meal we can use 2 adult c.s and oop for french fries and extra drinks and all have plenty to eat. I fully expect to pay oop for some food. But think the value of ddp is awesome.

 

[LoveThatDarnMouse]

Wow, this post is all over the place! Anyway, thanks for the education guys (and the laughs) I'll be checking back in on the debate from time to time.

 

[idreamofdisney24/7]

We had dinner at the Coronado Springs Pepper Market for our counter service one day last week. We were told by our waitress that brings our drinks, that we did NOT have to order from the kids menu for my son who is 8. He could have anything. He ended up with adult sized fajitas. Also, there was many counter services that we went to that didn't say whether a meal was for a child or adult...like chicken fingers or hamburgers..we also ate at Wolfgang Puck Express and my son was able to get the adult Margaretta Pizza. We had a total of 6 counter service left and we didn't know whether they were for a child or adult??? It's hard to keep track when you have 11 nights of dinners and 4 people on the plan! We ended up using all the 6 remainder meals at Wolfgang Puck Express and got 2 extra pizzas that we all shared together..including our 2 year old. The guy ringing up our meals didn't find it a problem at all.

 

[disneyjunkie]

Didn't they pull the pizza from the Pizzafari kid’s menu because people were taking advantage of the last meal plan?

I agree with gigi1313, if the dining plan doesn't work for your family, then don't book it.

 

[Blue62]

You can always just pay for a cheesburger if your 8 or 9 yo needs it. The kids price for the plan is such a bargain anyway.

Wow, I am shocked to see all the replies this thread generated. Thanks guys.

True... I am just trying to get a handle on the economics of the DDP for us and how the limited CS children's menus will affect that. It appears that with a bit of research there are CS options that will be a better deal and more suited... but I am finding that this takes me away from some of the places we often eat.

I just cannot believe that Pecos Bills does not have a kids burger and a few of the pizza places do not have a kids pizza.... places to avoid on the DDP.

 

[Blue62]

We found it easier to just order three adult meals--there were three adults in the party--and one extra entree like a hot dog, burger, etc. No way my DD is going to eat beans and weenies while we are all have burgers or pizza. We just let her use the credits for breakfast at the hotel--kids Mickey Waffle. The kids choices are stinky at many of the park CS. DD is now considered an adult so I wil paying for her as an adult and I do not have to worry about the really strange things they have put together for the kids meals. Sorry but a pizza place should offer children pizza, a burger place should offer burgers. As for the free dining comments, well it is only free for those who are able to go during that promotional and yes even if it is free it should be kid friendly and edible. I have never been able to go when it is free dining and have paid for the plan, which is worth it, but to say that someone should not complain because it is free doesn't make sense. It is only free for a very short period of time and even if you dont' have the plan you will still enounter the ickky things on kids menus. Which, isn't that what the real problem is? Foods that are not really what our children would expect to be offered. DD does not expect that she'll have to eat a turkey roll up and sugar free jello when we are eating pizza and canolli. And she wouldn't expect to eat grilled cheese while we were eating filet. At home we would not make her eat chilled pieces of chicken while we ate burgers. The point is that the choices for children's counter service is a little bizarre at best and downright ickky at the worse.

I agree.

I like the idea to use the kids CS credit for breakfast and then buying their lunch.

 

[english rose 47]

In planning where/how to best use ddp the kids meals were a big factor. Thank goodness he loves mac & cheese as that is on many menus. I don't want to take the chance he can,t pick from adult meal but if he wanted adult menu someone would eat the kids meal in his place or share.Thhe 11 year olds(twins)are thrilled about beingable to order staek, but liked some kid choices too. I still say ddp is awesome.

 

[melomouse]

... But i have to say The Big Deal is that My Kid Is On Vacation. So at home, when I make tacos for dinner and my kid wanted a hot dog, well he will learn to deal with disappointment. But he won't deal with disappointment at Disney. That's my opinion......"

HE won't - or YOU won't let a melting down kid appear during your magical holiday?? Things are different on vacation - routines shift, activities change, and no one eats out for a week straight. Yes, more variety should be offered. But to make Disney change for YOU around this issue is, IMHO - ....Disney is not responsible for avoiding normal disappointment at every turn - there is too much else to enjoy that is NOT disappointing.


"....My question being would they let you pay for 2 kids when you are using the Dining Plan for 2 adults? My friends said they do it all the time. Now, if anyone has the guts to answer yes I would be proud because I'm sure the posts telling them that they are thieves will soon follow. Face it folks, Disney isn't losing any money over these kids getting adult meals and they know it.[/QUOTE]

Dunno for me - will do FDP for the first time this fall. OOP is always an option.No problem there.

I think what the conflict is here with folks not wanting to be told to follow the language in the DDP brochure is that, very simply, the plan is NOT a good choice for many families. Instead of accepting that very real concept, and working out a rough dining schedule,many here are trying to FORCE the plan to accomodate individual needs.

Gigi1313, my fellow LI-er, rides again in wisdom.... the plan is NOT for everyone. DON"T buy it. And if it's "free", no one's under any obligation to buy the package.

 

[DCDisney]

the fact that I have to use my DP to buy fruit! Why cant they be like McDonalds and start offering healthier choices? Ham or Turkey sandwiches at least!

Every kids CS meal we had in Jan 06 the kids always had the option of getting unsweetened applesauce or carrots with their meal rather than fries. Often they would offer both when we said the kids didn't want fries. It seems like most places offered 1 "unhealthy" option and 1 healthier option like a baked chicken leg, turkey roll up sandwich, grilled chicken, baked chicken wings, veggie noodle stir fry, sub sandwich, PBJ, etc. They were able to get low fat milk at every meal on the DDP. At the TS places most meals were accompanied by fruit even if it wasn't on the menu so even something like chicken tenders and fries would come with some grapes and an orange slice. In terms of snacks my kids found that they really liked the frozen fruit bars at the ice cream carts almost as much as ice cream. They certainly didn't eat an ideal diet at WDW (but the adults didn't either) but there were certainly reasonably healthy and reasonably fun choices to mix and match.

Yvonne

 

[DCDisney]

But i have to say The Big Deal is that My Kid Is On Vacation. So at home, when I make tacos for dinner and my kid wanted a hot dog, well he will learn to deal with disappointment. But he won't deal with disappointment at Disney. That's my opinion.

If this is your main goal than clearly the dining plan is probably not going to work well for you. The dining plan does limit what you can order to some extent. We were very borderline on doing it for that reason. When we took a trip pre-DDP a few years ago we just did what we felt like--things liked kids ordering an adult app to share, kids ordering a side and drink only and sharing our entree at CS, using snack type foods as a light lunch, etc. When using the plan on our last trip I explained to the kiddos that they were going to be able to have way more desserts than we would ever normally buy them (still didn't let them eat the whole things) but they may have to order things that weren't their first choice. They were fine with planning that way and understood the plan. So at the PO-FQ CS when they told my son he could have any entree not just kids entrees the first day he picked the adult hamburger because he knew that he might not get that option again but he would certainly find chicken nuggets elsewhere. If what is on the plan isn't what you want then don't do it. We are doing the plan again this year because we are eating at more high cost TS places and less character meals but I also plan on spending some money to supplement when something isn't quite what we wanted.

Yvonne

 

[wdwobsessed]

Frayedend:

I feel for you and know what you are saying. Shame, shame, shame on the DISers who are being nasty to you.

We too pretty much let our kids have what they want when at WDW. Our family does without things on normal occasion in order to have our vacations and I don't want or need a meltdown. And yeah .... I do expect WDW to be accomodating to a certain extent giving how much $$ I fork over to them for all of our WDW vacations.

And ya know what ... in most cases they are accomodating.

I bet in 8 or 9 out of 10 cases when it comes to a child WDW will still be accomodating. They will work with you ... they will figure it out so that everyone is happy.

So go and have a good time ... if you don't see anything at a particular place on the child's menu that your child wants than maybe ask if there are other options not on the menu.

It never hurts to ask, it never hurts to ask!

WDWO

 

[disneyjunkie]

Frayedend:

I feel for you and know what you are saying. Shame, shame, shame on the DISers who are being nasty to you.

We too pretty much let our kids have what they want when at WDW. Our family does without things on normal occasion in order to have our vacations and I don't want or need a meltdown. And yeah .... I do expect WDW to be accomodating to a certain extent giving how much $$ I fork over to them for all of our WDW vacations.

And ya know what ... in most cases they are accomodating.

I bet in 8 or 9 out of 10 cases when it comes to a child WDW will still be accomodating. They will work with you ... they will figure it out so that everyone is happy.

So go and have a good time ... if you don't see anything at a particular place on the child's menu that your child wants than maybe ask if there are other options not on the menu.

It never hurts to ask, it never hurts to ask!

WDWO

I don't think anyone is being nasty, we just all have different opionions.

Disney will always offer packages that works for some guest and not for others.

WDW isn't forcing anyone to pick the dining plan. If it doesn't work for your family, then just skip it.

 

[kcrew]

I really don't see a problem with counter service. My DD will likely not eat anything off the children's menu (she has very adult tastes) but the portions are so huge, that if I order 3 CS for DH, DD13 and me, there should be plenty to share with DD7.

TS is a different story and I am choosing my ADRs based, in part, on the children's menu.

I repeatedly read about the huge portions (I have never been before), which I believed until I started looking at the picture thread. Nothing there looks "huge", but quite the opposite. Could someone clarify what they consider "huge"?

 

[wdwobsessed]

A PP was NASTY to Frayedend ... posting back in a taunting manner.

WDWO

 

[gigi1313]

...

Gigi1313, my fellow LI-er, rides again in wisdom.... the plan is NOT for everyone. DON"T buy it. And if it's "free", no one's under any obligation to buy the package.

thanks melomouse! i was just stating the obvious...

 

[meshmar]

It isn't just the CS children's menus ... most of the TS Children's menus are somewhat lacking also. The children's menu should have reduced serving sizes of the same food served from the adult menu. I had a nephew that would have blown the roof off if he had to eat something different than his parents ... and he wasn't a small eater either! The Yachtsman Steakhouse is a good example of what a child's menu should look like, and there is NO reason other restaurants couldn't do the equivalent. This isn't just an issue at Disney, either. It applies to almost EVERY restaurant.

 

[akalittleeva]

Why not? If they separate the credits and your card says 2A/2C and you want to order 4 Adult CS credits, then you've used up 4 A credits and have all your child credits still available. I think that it would make more sense to separate the credits and then let the guest use them as desired until they are gone. As of the first week of June, the computers allowed any number of CS credits to be deducted at a time no matter how many adults and children were on the reservation. If the credits were separated by A/C, then if you order 10 adult CS meals on the first day of your 5 day trip, you'd only have 10 child CS meals left. According to Disney's FAQ on their tickets/package page, you can use them in any way you choose. Until they are separated, I find it hard to believe that Disney expects the guest to keep track of the A/C credits themselves. Once they are separated, they surely won't expect that a child MUST eat a child's CS meal assuming they use an adult credit to pay for the adult meal.

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw/common/helpFAQ?id=HelpFAQTicketsPage#q21

Q. How does the Disney Dining Plan work?

A. Use your meals and snacks in any order and in any amount throughout your stay until your total is completed. For example, on the day of arrival your travel party of four could use four counter-service meals, and then on day two your party could use four table-service meals, four counter-service meals, and two snacks. You can continue using meals any way you like for the rest of your stay until the number of meals allotted are completed.

Present your Key to the World card to your server prior to ordering, so your server knows to charge meals to your Disney Dining Plan. Applicable taxes and gratuities are already prepaid and included. Your meal usage will be tracked electronically to your room reservation. Each time you redeem meals or snacks from your Disney Dining Plan, your server or cashier will provide you with a receipt showing your remaining balance.

Well said! This is exactly what I was thinking and trying to clarify on another thread - I just wasn't able to make it so clear! Thank you! I certainly hope they make the change and separate them! I think it would make things so much easier!