Decided not to stress about the kids menus.

[Mom of 3]

At first I was stressing over the kids menus. My 7 year old was moaning he doesn't like things on the kids menus or that the the choices are basically the same.

Then I thought about it and just decided not to worry about it.

As far as counter service is concerned he can always eat some of food the 3 adults are ordering as there is so much food we'll have more than enough.

The same goes for table service. He said he didn't like any of the choices for the kids entrees at LeCellier. So I told him order the kids steak and I'll order something off the adult menu he likes and we'll just trade.

It's just not worth worrying about this time around.

We did the free dining last year as well. I definitely have a more relaxed attitude this time around.

We also have buffets scheduled and he LOVES Boma. This will be our first year trying O'hanas.

 

[bicker]

Sounds like it will be a great trip! Have a great time!

 

[janets]

We've done the DDP several times before, but our trip in February was the toughest. We were there for ds's 9th birthday. We had planned the few restaurants that we really like and it didn't turn out as well as we thought. Not sure what went wrong, but ds was not happy with the kids meals at TS places. He doesn't like the m&c (too gloppy for him) and really didn't like the items at Coral Reef, his favorite (should have had the kids pizza, but opted for the kids chicken breast. It was awful...dry, over cooked and tasteless). He ended up eating 1/2 of my dinner (prime rib) since for some reason I wasn't hungry.

So for our trip in August, I planned all of my ADRs for places where I knew he'd have better selection. Booked Boma (love the buffet), WCC (likes the skillet or burger), WPC (awesome pizza), San Angel (likes the quesadilla), LeCellier (really likes the steak and eats my kabob appetizer), 'Ohana (really likes the wings and meats), and we have both Alfredos and Le Chefs booked (not sure which we'll keep but they both have items he'd like).

DH and I like each of these places, and feel that as long as the kids are happy, we'll be happy. We're booked through a bounceback stay and I'm waiting to see if AP rates come out that would make a better situation for us. If so, we might drop the DDP and opt to eat offsite (which would be fine for the kids too...we can do pizza or chinese just as easily for less money). We're also thinking of splitting out stay and going over to (GASP!!!) US for a few nights to try it out.

I think you're doing the right thing. Don't make yourself crazy. If you have 3 adults there will be more than enough food to give to your son to supplement his choices and I think he'll be fine.

 

[rolshuk]

At first I was stressing over the kids menus. My 7 year old was moaning he doesn't like things on the kids menus or that the the choices are basically the same.

Then I thought about it and just decided not to worry about it.

As far as counter service is concerned he can always eat some of food the 3 adults are ordering as there is so much food we'll have more than enough.

The same goes for table service. He said he didn't like any of the choices for the kids entrees at LeCellier. So I told him order the kids steak and I'll order something off the adult menu he likes and we'll just trade.

It's just not worth worrying about this time around.

We did the free dining last year as well. I definitely have a more relaxed attitude this time around.

We also have buffets scheduled and he LOVES Boma. This will be our first year trying O'hanas.

I totally agree....DD8 will probly not like many of the kids choices so I have done some buffets and plan on sharing with her at other times.Not bothered about saving credits or using credits as we are on free dinning.
DD13 is not a massive eater so they can probly share a few times...maybe I will pay oops for something.I am more concerned with her enjoying her food then worring about credits.

 

[mommyaof2]

My dd9 and dd5 both loved the kids menus last week. I was really worried about it too before we went, but it all went smoothly. I did share some things with them and sometimes they didn't even want to share when I offered. You will be okay. You will worry, but once you get to WDW, the worries somehow go away fast!

 

[Disneyof3]

I worried about our trip in March too and the kids menu. I declared before we went that all desserts had to be shared, and I looked at allears and decided which food my kids would eat and which they wouldn't and found alternatives. I like Pecos Bills and there is nothing on the kids menu they liked so found a CS close that would except the DDP and got there food first then got ours. Problem solved. I will again do this for March 2008. Less stress for me and less stress at the till.

 

[inky dinky doo]

Booked Boma (love the buffet), WCC (likes the skillet or burger), WPC (awesome pizza), San Angel (likes the quesadilla), LeCellier (really likes the steak and eats my kabob appetizer), 'Ohana (really likes the wings and meats), and we have both Alfredos and Le Chefs booked (not sure which we'll keep but they both have items he'd like).

Just a heads up, Janet . . . I just read a trip report from a fellow DVCer who was at WDW this past weekend, and the beef kabob appetizer is no longer on the menu at Le Cellier.

Pat

187 days and counting . . . again!

 

[brymolmom]

I, too, have been doing planning to try to plan for the places that my kids will be most interested in the choices. If we end up at a place that they don't like anything...I'm not going to stress either - we'll either use a couple snack credits or share our adult meals (and get an extra snack in the park) or just pay for something OOP - no worries.

My kids are HUGE pasta fans and we were very sad that Coral Reef removed it from the kids menu (they didn't like the mac n cheese there either). ANyway, I booked for August Tony's at MK - it shows speghetti & meatballs on the kids menu. My kids will love it!

 

[PoohHappens]

I love your care free attitude. We just told our child what was availible and let him pick from that. We never commented that it had changed or wish this was on there. Now he is 5 and I can see if your child is 9 and ate something last year and were hoping to get it this year....... He ate many different things including sometimes some of our food. Our friends child ate mac and cheese every time for 5 nights and was thrilled. All kids are different. I ended up loving the new sides on counter service, much more like what he would be offered at home, grapes, carrots, applesauce. He never had to have jello, until he asked for some because the other kids were eating it. I had to return a hagen daz ice cream bar for a jello cup because he asked for it. It all went just fine for us.

 

[mousecrazy]

At first I was stressing over the kids menus. My 7 year old was moaning he doesn't like things on the kids menus or that the the choices are basically the same.

Your 7yo sounds like my 9yo. I called to inquire about the cost to upgrade her child ticket and DDP to an adult. Much to my surprise, the cost was only $34 to upgrade 8 nights/7 day WYW. I figure this will give us so much more flexibility in how we order and we'll ALL get to pick exactly what we want!

 

[Katiebell]

Just want to say, I saw the title of this thread and said, "YAY!" There has been way too much stress about the kids' meals in general. Your plans sound great -- look for restaurants your kids will like, share some of the grown up food with them, go to buffets or family style like 'Ohana, be prepared to buy a little something OOP occasionally...and it should all work beautifully! Have a great time

 

[Nancyg56]

I think you will have a much better time with this mindset! We did this with my DGD in January, figured we would deal with it if the food was as bad as all the comments indicated. No worries! There was plenty to pick from and we all had way more to share if she wanted some of ours. Have a great time!

 

[MarieA]

I think you will be okay as far as TS meals go. It appears that Disney has heard everyone's complaints regarding the new children's meals. Changes have been made to many of the children's TS menus. Check out the updated menus - here is the link:

http://allearsnet.com/menu/menus.htm

 

[christinadei]

Your 7yo sounds like my 9yo. I called to inquire about the cost to upgrade her child ticket and DDP to an adult. Much to my surprise, the cost was only $34 to upgrade 8 nights/7 day WYW. I figure this will give us so much more flexibility in how we order and we'll ALL get to pick exactly what we want!

Can I do this for my 7yo? Kids meals are never enough and he would much prefer the adult menu's to the kids.

 

[Katiebell]

Can I do this for my 7yo? Kids meals are never enough and he would much prefer the adult menu's to the kids.

A lot of people have said they were allowed to do this. I believe the reason it was so inexpensive for mousecrazy (only $34?) was because she is getting dining for free. Otherwise it will cost you the upgrade from a child's to an adult ticket, and then an additional $28 per day for the difference between the $11 kids' plan and the $39 adult plan. So if you were going for 7 days, it would be the increase in the ticket price plus $196 ($28/day for 7 days).

Considering that huge difference in cost between the adult plan and the kids' plan, I'm surprised that Disney is willing to do it during free dining -- especially if you only have to upgrade the child's ticket for one day, but have free dining for a much longer period of time. But several people have reported they were allowed to do so. I wonder if there is an age limit? Could you upgrade a 4 year old to an adult to make all of their meal credits adult credits? I could see that leading to problems

 

[bicker]

Indeed, and folks shouldn't go into things expecting to be able to do what mousecrazy indicated. The rules of the plan clearly state something different, so an exception that one guest is able to negotiate for themselves only applies to that one guest. If you are able to secure such an exception, be sure to get it in writing on Disney letterhead. If the brochure says 'no', anyone can claim that some CM somewhere promised them 'yes'. Protect yourself from disappointment, and have evidence of the exception you secured in writing, available to show the CM checking you in at your hotel.

 

[TheHewitts]

With the Disney Dining do you have a select menu to choose from or can you order anything you want at any of the places you go? This is our first time to go to Disney and we are trying to get as much information as we can (within 27 days) and are finding alot of it here but there are somethings we just cannot find.

 

[bicker]

With the Disney Dining do you have a select menu to choose from or can you order anything you want at any of the places you go? This is our first time to go to Disney and we are trying to get as much information as we can (within 27 days) and are finding alot of it here but there are somethings we just cannot find.

The Dining Plan FAQ lists the exclusions and limitations. There aren't many restrictions.

Click here for the FAQ: http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=16079998

 

[kribit]

With all the talk about the child's menus, I went over to Allears and took a look. I'm a novice to the dining plan, etc...but have these menus changed, because they look pretty good to me? Last year, I remember the childs menu being Mac and Cheese and Chicken Fingers. I'm pretty happy that steak is on there and a few other items look new.

 

[mousecrazy]

Indeed, and folks shouldn't go into things expecting to be able to do what mousecrazy indicated. The rules of the plan clearly state something different, so an exception that one guest is able to negotiate for themselves only applies to that one guest. If you are able to secure such an exception, be sure to get it in writing on Disney letterhead. If the brochure says 'no', anyone can claim that some CM somewhere promised them 'yes'. Protect yourself from disappointment, and have evidence of the exception you secured in writing, available to show the CM checking you in at your hotel.

I don't know why you think what I'm doing is 'skirting the rules.' I specifically asked the CM if upgrading a child to an adult is allowed. He said sure as long as I pay for it. It turned out to be a good, inexpensive (because we're going during free dining) option for us . I'm not getting 'something for nothing' or asking for special treatment like you imply.