dining plan optioms for tween with sensory issues

[jbrnhrt]

we decided to do the dining plan, our son (who will be 11 years old at the time) has autism, and other intellectual and physical concerns. After looking at the menus for the table service restaurants I'm concerned that our options for restaurants will be very limited because he is too old for the kid's menu, but he won't eat many of the options on the adult menus. Can he choose to order from the kids menu but still "pay" with his adult dining plan credit? Are there other options for people with food sensory issues? He typically likes hot dogs, burgers without buns, chicken nuggets, mac and cheese, meatballs, so typical kid foods. We dont want to have to miss out on experiencing many of the dining options at disney, but also need to ensure that our son will eat. We plan to do a couple buffets which will allow him to sample different foods, so he's not stuck if he doesn't like the food he gets. any ideas?

 

[smbowtie]

Yes, you can order from the kids menu.

 

[purple figment]

Yes, almost all of the TS restaurants will let him order from the kids' menu. Once in a while someone will post of a server or restaurant that will not allow it, but it is rare. If he has a big appetite you can ask if they will upsize the portion, especially if you are using his adult dining credit. If he has a small appetite and will be happy with the child's portion you can choose to pay for his meal OOP and save his credit for another restaurant or 2 credit dining experience.

At buffets, all you care to eat family style places, pre-paid meals (CRT, the 3 dinner shows) Fantasmic! Dining Package and the family platter at Whispering Canyon Cafe he will be charged by his age so you may as well use his dining credit.

 

[jbrnhrt]

Yes, almost all of the TS restaurants will let him order from the kids' menu. Once in a while someone will post of a server or restaurant that will not allow it, but it is rare. If he has a big appetite you can ask if they will upsize the portion, especially if you are using his adult dining credit. If he has a small appetite and will be happy with the child's portion you can choose to pay for his meal OOP and save his credit for another restaurant or 2 credit dining experience.

At buffets, all you care to eat family style places, pre-paid meals (CRT, the 3 dinner shows) Fantasmic! Dining Package and the family platter at Whispering Canyon Cafe he will be charged by his age so you may as well use his dining credit.

thanks for the info! It's great to know we can ask to upsize his portion if he orders from the kids menu. paying oop for his kids meals may be a great way to apply his credits to a 2 credit restaurant.

 

[Maggie'sMom]

My DD has sensory issues which have impacted what she will eat. She's gotten a lot better, but a few things I found helpful:

1) Buffets were great for her. We could usually find something she would like on a buffet.
2) The CS kids' meal options were not appealing to DD. She thought the kids' meal chicken nuggets were disgusting, and I agree with her on that. For chicken nuggets for her, I searched out restaurants which had chicken tenders or chicken strips on the adult menu. These are always (or almost always) real strips of chicken instead of the processed chicken parts and taste a whole lot better.
3) Don't be afraid to ask the server for different options. TS restaurants really try to accommodate. Sauces and seasonings could be left off. Alternate side dishes were offered. Alternate desserts were offered.
4) In our experience, dining at Disney can be magical. DD has tried foods there, and found that she liked them, that she absolutely refused to try at home before the trip. Things that she tried and liked at Disney, she will now eat at home.

 

[jbrnhrt]

My DD has sensory issues which have impacted what she will eat. She's gotten a lot better, but a few things I found helpful:

1) Buffets were great for her. We could usually find something she would like on a buffet.
2) The CS kids' meal options were not appealing to DD. She thought the kids' meal chicken nuggets were disgusting, and I agree with her on that. For chicken nuggets for her, I searched out restaurants which had chicken tenders or chicken strips on the adult menu. These are always (or almost always) real strips of chicken instead of the processed chicken parts and taste a whole lot better.
3) Don't be afraid to ask the server for different options. TS restaurants really try to accommodate. Sauces and seasonings could be left off. Alternate side dishes were offered. Alternate desserts were offered.
4) In our experience, dining at Disney can be magical. DD has tried foods there, and found that she liked them, that she absolutely refused to try at home before the trip. Things that she tried and liked at Disney, she will now eat at home.

great tips! thank you. sometimes just leaving the food "plain" is enough to get him to eat

 

[WantToGoNow]

I was worried about ds12 on our last trip. At all TS meals he either had a burger or steak without any sauces or condiments with fries. The only place he didn't was 50s Prime Time Cafe. He will not order a kids meal and I knew he would not eat any of the adult offerings. He ended up ordering the chicken even though he won't eat anything off of a bone. My dd ordered the kids nuggets. After the food was on the table he wasn't eating at all but was eyeing his sisters nuggets. He traded with her and they were both happy. We had no problems with CS meals.