Currently on the dining plan and so far not happy with the children's quick service

[Pir8girl]

We are embarking on our first trip to the world this March and I'm really grateful for all for the information I've gleaned from you all.
We did buy the dp but I'm concerned because ds cannot have nuts and dd and ds cannot have dairy.
I think I'll be doing a lot of oop meals for him since he likes sandwiches soup and salads rather and hates junk food.

BTW: I have read a World Health Organization paper about the dangers of aspartame.
It's made by Monsanto folks... the people who have brought us Roundup and the terminator gene.

 

[bicker]

It's made by Monsanto folks... the people who have brought us Roundup and the terminator gene.

So it is pretty impressive, then, that they made an artificial sweetener so safe, eh?

 

[pperfectmom]

BTW: I have read a World Health Organization paper about the dangers of aspartame.
It's made by Monsanto folks... the people who have brought us Roundup and the terminator gene.

I'm sorry, but you won't find me feeding my kids any artificial sweeteners or genetically modified foods if I can help it. I realize on vacation one may not have the options they do at home, but I will have to tell them to keep their sugar free jello. Give me good old fashioned sugar or, even better, honey or molasses any day. As for Monsanto, I'd love to see one of their head honchos drink a cup of round-up(which they claim would be perfectly safe ). I'm sorry, but it's made to KILL things. Duh?

I know that this country has an obesity epidemic, but feeding children artificial products will not solve the problem. We enjoy homemade goodies a lot at home, but try to balance it out with an overall healthy diet, exercise and nutritional education. Believe me, those kids you see running all over the MK are probably getting enough exercise that day, at least, to burn off vacation sugar.

 

[maminnie]

I vowed this morning to step out of the threads regarding the children's menus as I think it is a no win battle but I must say that I too generally prefer NOT to give my children artificial sweeteners. As I have stated in so many other threads that relate to the inadequate children's menu, there should be choices not such limitations. Let us as parents decide what our children eat NOT Disney by the nature of their limited menus. (And yes I realize that for the money I can buy something for my children off the children's menu/selections but that is not the point.)

maminnie

 

[dbmarie]

I was under the impression that at many CS locations, they were not allowing ANY substitution for the SF Jello (e.g., Flame Tree). Is this wrong?

When we were there the week of Christmas they had turned all kids CS desserts over to the SF jello and those two specific locations were not allowing substitutions.

That may be the case, at a few restaurants. Given how few they are, it clearly isn't Disney policy to limit things in that manner, but rather the choice of the restaurant.

I'm sorry but clearly that is exactly what disney is doing in regards to children's CS. I was a little shocked as well by this.

 

[Pir8girl]

I called Disney today to inquire about the availablity of childrens meals that are not chicken nuggets, corn dogs etc. as ds does not eat these. She agreed that many, many parents dislike the menu choices. My only options are to either move him up to the adult meals or buy out of pocket.

So I said I'd pay more for him to have the better options. Turns out, if you do that, their admission tickets also need to be traded up.

It was going to cost me $166 and change. For four days. No thanks.

I'll buy him lunch out of pocket and skip the nasty jello. My kids don't do dessert anyway.

 

[kato0627]

Does anyone know the email where I can contact Disney regarding the sugar free jello issue. I just thought that one more email may help. Thanks in advance... Not sure it will make a difference.

 

[Ilovemyprincesses]

I don't give my kids artificial sweeteners either. I wish Disney would get it. These kids are on vacation. It is a treat. They can have Jello any time.

 

[maryliz]

We were at WDW in December, and paid OOP for all of our meals. I have to say that my kids disliked the new kids menus. Especially because DD does not eat grapes or applesauce, and DS who loves all fruit, hated their applesauce. And since they both get baby carrots in their lunches here at home pretty much 5 days a week, they were unimpressed by them on vacation.

Going back again in Aug, and DD will be 10 -- we have the Bounce Back free dining, so I'm pretty confident that between the 2 kids -- one on the childs menu and one on the adult menu, we'll be able to satsify them both, even if we have to do some "switching" between them. And if I have to pay OOP the odd time to accommodate, I don't mind doing that, even if I wasn't on the Free dining ... $10.99 for my DS6 is a pretty good deal even I was paying for it.

My kids love PB&J here at home, but those "uncrustables" are nasty ... tried one when DD was about 3, and totally understood why she pitched it onto the floor.

One thing ... I wish that you were able to get a kids burger at Pecos Bill's or a child's Chicken Strips at CHH. Just seems so ludicrous to me. Luckily we'll be able to split an adult chicken strips for the kids, and with the desserts, we'll all be happy.

 

[digskat]

We were at WDW in December, and paid OOP for all of our meals. I have to say that my kids disliked the new kids menus. Especially because DD does not eat grapes or applesauce, and DS who loves all fruit, hated their applesauce. And since they both get baby carrots in their lunches here at home pretty much 5 days a week, they were unimpressed by them on vacation.

Going back again in Aug, and DD will be 10 -- we have the Bounce Back free dining, so I'm pretty confident that between the 2 kids -- one on the childs menu and one on the adult menu, we'll be able to satsify them both, even if we have to do some "switching" between them. And if I have to pay OOP the odd time to accommodate, I don't mind doing that, even if I wasn't on the Free dining ... $10.99 for my DS6 is a pretty good deal even I was paying for it.

My kids love PB&J here at home, but those "uncrustables" are nasty ... tried one when DD was about 3, and totally understood why she pitched it onto the floor.

One thing ... I wish that you were able to get a kids burger at Pecos Bill's or a child's Chicken Strips at CHH. Just seems so ludicrous to me. Luckily we'll be able to split an adult chicken strips for the kids, and with the desserts, we'll all be happy.

We had the same problem with our kids this past Nov/Dec on the DDP. The kids hated the applesauce. I tried and and I can see why. Even the mini carrots had an odd taste. I just wish the options were a little broader throughout the multiple restaurants. Can they not give the kids a smaller portion of what the adults have. I can not imagine the money wasted with each person pitching out the side choices for the kids. I does pay to complain though..most places are willing to substitute and then they fill in a report ie 10 people today refused applesauce and were given ie potatoes at breakfast. At POFQ they said they had no trouble substituting for a side as long as it was not meat etc. TTFN Kat

 

[bicker]

I just read a report on another website saying that most CS locations (not just the six or seven without child menus) will allow you to use a child credit for an adult meal. That sounds wrong, but that's what I read. Does anyone have any post 1/1/2007 experience with this?

 

[maryliz]

We had the same problem with our kids this past Nov/Dec on the DDP. The kids hated the applesauce. I tried and and I can see why. Even the mini carrots had an odd taste. I just wish the options were a little broader throughout the multiple restaurants. Can they not give the kids a smaller portion of what the adults have. I can not imagine the money wasted with each person pitching out the side choices for the kids. I does pay to complain though..most places are willing to substitute and then they fill in a report ie 10 people today refused applesauce and were given ie potatoes at breakfast. At POFQ they said they had no trouble substituting for a side as long as it was not meat etc. TTFN Kat

Thanks, Kat. Glad to hear your experience with substituting the sides. I agree, they need to have a few more choices, or at least different choices at different CS restaurants. Gets a little tiresome after a while.

Bottom line ... we'll ask and all they can say is "no".

 

[udsweetpea]

I worked at the All Star Cafe at the Wide World of Sports as a server, and we were able to switch out sides of the kids menu for the other side options on the kids menu. For example, if you don't like applesauce, you can have the yogurt.

 

[Ilovemyprincesses]

A yogurt to replace the jello or applesauce sounds great.

Wouldn't it be nice if every restaurant followed the same rules?

 

[Aquagirl]

I think that the kids options at the CS restaurants have been terrible for years. I was shocked when I went to Peco's Bill in 2001 and the only kids option was a hotdog and PBJ, no burgers. I was also shocked that they did not have a kids pizza at pizza planet.

 

[bicker]

Wouldn't it be nice if every restaurant followed the same rules?

Not if it meant that the restaurants that do want to offer their guests more flexibility could not do so. I believe it is better to do as they're doing: have a minimum standard that all must satisfy, and then let each do what they wish over-and-above that.

 

[Ellester]

While discussing children's CS choices today, my DH was astonished that chilled chicken and sugar-free jello are the choices next to the adult's burgers and chocolate cake. He told my kids that the next step is "adults only" ride times!

I've also seen the thread that the CS credits are not currently separated. We'll have to see when we go on Saturday.

 

[Ilovemyprincesses]

Not if it meant that the restaurants that do want to offer their guests more flexibility could not do so. I believe it is better to do as they're doing: have a minimum standard that all must satisfy, and then let each do what they wish over-and-above that.

I think all restaurants should have the flexibility to satisfy the customers that are paying so much to be there. Not everyone can go a few times a year. Some are on a once or twice in a lifetime trip and have saved and saved to be able to go.

I haven't seen anyone asking for anything unreasonable. Getting ice cream instead of jello is not asking for too much IMHO.

 

[TDC Nala]

I think that the kids options at the CS restaurants have been terrible for years. I was shocked when I went to Peco's Bill in 2001 and the only kids option was a hotdog and PBJ, no burgers. I was also shocked that they did not have a kids pizza at pizza planet.

Pizza Planet has the same menu for everybody, no separate kids' menu.

Where the Dining Plan is trouble is Pizzafari at AK. They have a kids' menu, but because the pizzas are mass produced and they don't make a smaller portion of pizza, there is no pizza on it.

 

[udsweetpea]

Just wanted you all to know that the healthy options for children on the dining plan were put into place because of the mass amount of letters from parents saying their kids were eating nothing but junk on their vacations. While I agree with all of you, there is a reason why Disney did what they did with the kids' options.

I can't tell you how many times parents complained about the kids choices at 1900 Park Fare. No more chicken nuggets or any other fried food. But they replaced the chicken nuggets with chicken wings. Not healthy either.