DDP--Kids Options (Venting)

[MSLRAC]

We were there 3/18-3/27 and they only had the cheese quesadilla on the menu, along w/ chicken nuggets. This was from the menu posted at the restaurant. I am guessing the one online has not been updated yet.


I do agree there is a variety, but I also do not want to spend 2 hours going to several places to get everyone what they want and actually sit down and eat it. Most places you get 2-3 options for kids while adults have 8-10 or even more (depending on the type of local). My vent is that:

1) Disney could do a lot better
2) 3 year old and 9 year olds are not going to be eating the same foods or amounts of food
3) I would gladly upgrade my kids to the adults menus if I did not have to upgrade them to adult admissions to the parks. Technology should allow them to do this quite easily

Here's the thing, you can't have it both ways.

If Disney does better, I can promise you that they will charge for it. Seriously, how happy would you be if they revamped the kids menus but doubled all the prices?

Disney can't get into all of the eating habits and dynamics of kids. Many older kids eat less than younger kids, many boys eat more than girls, many kids at Disney can't eat at all but Disney doesn't care about that...they can't because millions of kids enter their gates every year.

Disney has picked 10 as their magical age of adulthood. If food is an issue then you either have to upgrade your child across the board or go OOP for food. Same with the under 3 crowd, if you want a meal plan for them then you have to upgrade them across the board.

I personally think that Disney does a fine job offering more than just kiddie foods especially for what we pay to have the DxDP for our kids. But it is my job as a parent, to do some research and plan our meals so that everyone will be happy. If I don't do that then I can't blame Disney because it's my fault.

 

[SnipsNSnails]

I feel for you that have children who like adventurous things. I fear we may have that problem with our youngest DS! The other night at Applebees we ordered them a kid's grilled cheese with applesause via my oldest DS's wishes. My youngest wouldn't touch his half, instead he ate some of my bourbon shrimp and chicken, and some of DH's mashed potatoes while my oldest happily ate the kids meal. Disney meals are perfect for my older son, he would eat carrot sticks and grapes all day long for every meal and regularly requests them even for breakfast and the only meat he will eat are chicken nuggets and bacon. My youngest will eat anything and everything! LOL So he usually eats off our plates, sometimes he eats the children's fare too.

 

[Celidh]

My ds 11 would live on processed food if I let him. His favourites are chicken nuggets/burgers, hotdogs, kraft dinner, and bologna. He hates any real meat, although I make him eat it anyway. I told him he can't live on chicken nuggets. He doesn't like roasts, steak, chicken unless it is breaded or any type of meat that is good for him. He doesn't like veggies either, although I make him eat those too. He asked why we had to have veggies for supper and I told him it was so he didnt die of scurvy! ( I know veggies don't prevent this but it sounded good at the time.)

Since he will be on the adult plan, I'm not sure how that will work out for him.

DD 8 will still be on the kids plan so I think I might end up switching up a few of their meals. She is more adventurous than he his when it comes to food. That could work I think. Just order what ds wants from the kids menu for her and order what she wants off the adult menu and do the ole switcheroo! If he is still hungry, he can maybe share part of dd's food.

DS 13, well he is a teenage boy and lately has been eating everything in sight, so maybe I need two dining plans for him!

 

[squirrel]

I don't eat a lot so I end up sharing my CS meal with my niece. She gets lots of variety.

I mix up our TS meals with buffet, family style and regular menu restaurants so she also can eat some of her favorite things like salad.

 

[CathieArms]

we used the regular DDP on our last trip (10 days) just a few weeks ago. I understand that Disney is trying to promote a healthier menu for kids, but after 10 days you really do figure out that there is very little in the way of variety. In many instances, the menu's at the table service places were almost the exact same as what was served at the counter service places. I mean kids can only eat so many of the same options before they get bored. Some places are great about mixing up the kids menu's but they (Disney) really need to look outside of the box a bit more. We finally started asking our servers what they could do for substitutions and that did help. If you are listening, please, PLEASE have more choices at table service options that are NOT buffet. Ban the chicken nugget !

I can't say I disagree with you. I've looked at all of the menus I can get my hands on at the various restaurants, and there really just aren't a lot of different choices for kids. We'll deal with it, I assume, by sharing some of our meals with the 6 year old so that he can get some variety. For instance, I don't need an appetizer and a dessert, but I could take a few bites of either or both. So, most of my dessert will go to the 6 year old, and my appetizer will likely go the same way. And, too, I'm likely to share some of my meal with him just to give him some variety.

It really is sad when you realize that Disney caters mostly to the kids, that they don't have more variety in their kids meals.

 

[maxiesmom]

I can't say I disagree with you. I've looked at all of the menus I can get my hands on at the various restaurants, and there really just aren't a lot of different choices for kids. We'll deal with it, I assume, by sharing some of our meals with the 6 year old so that he can get some variety. For instance, I don't need an appetizer and a dessert, but I could take a few bites of either or both. So, most of my dessert will go to the 6 year old, and my appetizer will likely go the same way. And, too, I'm likely to share some of my meal with him just to give him some variety.

It really is sad when you realize that Disney caters mostly to the kids, that they don't have more variety in their kids meals.

What menus have you looked at? I can find a lot of food on the kids menus besides chicken nuggets and burgers. Salmon, grilled chicken breast, whole wheat pizza, steak, and mac and cheese. These are some of the things that are available on kids menus, just at the monorail resorts!

I can keep going--The Artists Point has penne pasta. The Coral Reef offers a seasonal catch with risotto! Le Ceiller alone has 6 different choices on their kids menu. If you are having trouble finding variety on the menus for your child, I think maybe you gave up too fast. Go back and check again. There is more variety than you think.

 

[jm106]

I can't say I disagree with you. I've looked at all of the menus I can get my hands on at the various restaurants, and there really just aren't a lot of different choices for kids. We'll deal with it, I assume, by sharing some of our meals with the 6 year old so that he can get some variety. For instance, I don't need an appetizer and a dessert, but I could take a few bites of either or both. So, most of my dessert will go to the 6 year old, and my appetizer will likely go the same way. And, too, I'm likely to share some of my meal with him just to give him some variety.

It really is sad when you realize that Disney caters mostly to the kids, that they don't have more variety in their kids meals.

I did find variety- we booked these places because of the choices
Ohana- broccoli, noodles, pot stickers, variety of meats, salad, bread
WCC- skillet- chicken or ribs with mashed and corn- appetizer is fruit or salad
San Angel-quesadilla, taco served with veggie and mexican rice
Boma- lots of great choices

I am sure there are more then what I found. Again, I had to do a bit of homework but they are out there