DDP for kids question

[Hoopfamily]

We've been to Disney many times, but this is our first DDP trip. My daughter will be 8 and it says that she will have to order from the kids menus if the restaurant we eat at has 1. I get that buffet meals everyone shares, same with family style blah blah blah. Are there any restaurants other than those that have no kids menus?

 

[TDC Nala]

All the TS a la carte restaurants have kids menus.

There are only a few CS restaurants that do not. These are the places where she can order from the full menu.
There is a list in this thread:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2479727

If you would prefer she has adult menu choices everywhere, you can "upgrade" her by altering her age on the reservation to 10 years old. If you're paying for the dining plan you can then pay the adult DDP price and the adult ticket price (if you are getting tickets in a package) and she gets to order anything. If you are on free dining, you only have to pay the difference for an adult ticket.

 

[Geordietyke]

We've upgraded our DD's (7 & 8) to the adult DDP. So much more choice and not a PB&J sarnie in sight! We've been through some of the menus for our 15 TS meals and the girls are excited to try lots of different options

 

[PoohsBees]

I'm concerned about this too. Last trip DD was under 3yo, so we could feed her pretty much anything from our adult entrees or the buffet line (at no cost). We got her a 'kids meal' only once when we both wanted entrees she wouldn't have liked or couldn't have due to food allergies.
Next trip, we have to pay for her on the plan...and almost all the kids menu items are identical- ugh! I know kids like routine.... but 2 weeks of chicken nuggets is cruel and unusual punishment! I keep telling myself 'it's less than $20/day' but she could make a lot of different choices for that $20. And my own personal irritation- WDW chefs do SOOOOO much to accomodate food allergies, and PB&J is the go-to on many of the kids menus? So she gets 1/3 less choices because she can't have nuts? We'll be spending a lot of time at the MK QS with the "snack" brocolli and cous cous on the days we don't have buffets lined up. (Awesome thread on DDP snacks BTW) Yogurt for protein I guess- because she will NOT be willing to eat the same food every day.
Disney really needs to improve their 'kids menu's (best improvement- vary them, not every restaurant needs to mimic McD's) or let you opt your child out of the dining plan and go OOP for them while using the DDP for the adults. I know we parents have a bad image nowadays- but not all of us feed our kids 100% junk. My kid expects vegetables and a variety of main dishes, even at 3yo. (and at 3yo- no one should have to be in the restaurant with us if I'm having to try to convince her to eat chix nug or mac&cheese AGAIN. Are earplugs part of the DDP?)

 

[maxiesmom]

I'm concerned about this too. Last trip DD was under 3yo, so we could feed her pretty much anything from our adult entrees or the buffet line (at no cost). We got her a 'kids meal' only once when we both wanted entrees she wouldn't have liked or couldn't have due to food allergies.
Next trip, we have to pay for her on the plan...and almost all the kids menu items are identical- ugh! I know kids like routine.... but 2 weeks of chicken nuggets is cruel and unusual punishment! I keep telling myself 'it's less than $20/day' but she could make a lot of different choices for that $20. And my own personal irritation- WDW chefs do SOOOOO much to accomodate food allergies, and PB&J is the go-to on many of the kids menus? So she gets 1/3 less choices because she can't have nuts? We'll be spending a lot of time at the MK QS with the "snack" brocolli and cous cous on the days we don't have buffets lined up. (Awesome thread on DDP snacks BTW) Yogurt for protein I guess- because she will NOT be willing to eat the same food every day.
Disney really needs to improve their 'kids menu's (best improvement- vary them, not every restaurant needs to mimic McD's) or let you opt your child out of the dining plan and go OOP for them while using the DDP for the adults. I know we parents have a bad image nowadays- but not all of us feed our kids 100% junk. My kid expects vegetables and a variety of main dishes, even at 3yo. (and at 3yo- no one should have to be in the restaurant with us if I'm having to try to convince her to eat chix nug or mac&cheese AGAIN. Are earplugs part of the DDP?)

You need to go check out more menus. You can find things like fish and steak and salad on kids menus, but you do need to hunt them down. It isn't all nuggets and burgers.

For example, at the Magic Kingdom you can find steak, fish, chicken, turkey pot pie, grilled cheese, spaghetti and meatballs AND MORE on the kids table service menus. That doesn't sound at all like McDonalds! So you shouldn't have to worry about your kids being bored with their food choices, if you check out the menus ahead of time and book accordingly.

 

[Emteach]

We have a couple pretty picky eaters so are not in the same boat but can understand a lot of the restaurants have very "typical" kids foods from hot dogs to chicken to pizza. Just checked out a few menus (looked at Marrakesh, didnt know a burger was typical moroccan fare lol). That being said as the last poster mentioned if you dig deep you can find some more variety from grilled chicken, to steak, to bangers and mash, Liberty Tree Tavern may be a good option (not buffet but family style), spaghetti and meatballs, Taco, lots of fish options.
Good luck and enjoy your Disney dining!

 

[bdklein]

We've been to Disney many times, but this is our first DDP trip. My daughter will be 8 and it says that she will have to order from the kids menus if the restaurant we eat at has 1. I get that buffet meals everyone shares, same with family style blah blah blah. Are there any restaurants other than those that have no kids menus?

Do you have free Dining? Or paying for it? If you are paying, I suggest not going on the Dining Plan. So much more flexibility, and you might save money.