Dining Plan Question regarding my 10 yr old son who's a picky eater

[HeatherAndTheBoys]

My husband just realized that he should have listened to me a few months ago when I told him we needed to make reservations for more restaurants while in Disney (Now our trip is just few weeks away) So we're trying to decide on places to go to eat (Like in Epcot) for a sit down meal but the problem is our 10 yr DS who has PDD-NOS is a VERY PICKY eater and we noticed the kids menus are for children 9 and under. So I was wondering if anyone knows whether Disney sticks to that rule or makes exceptions?? If someone could let me know I would really appreciate it

 

[Mary976]

Anyone can order a kids meal. The only catch is if you are buying the actual dining plan, your 10 year old will still be counted as an adult and you will pay accordingly.

Same thing at buffets...10 years and up pay the adult price, even if all they have is a piece of chicken (like my daughter). We don't go to buffets much anymore because DD is such a light eater.

Mary

 

[buffettgirl]

My husband just realized that he should have listened to me a few months ago when I told him we needed to make reservations for more restaurants while in Disney (Now our trip is just few weeks away) So we're trying to decide on places to go to eat (Like in Epcot) for a sit down meal but the problem is our 10 yr DS who has PDD-NOS is a VERY PICKY eater and we noticed the kids menus are for children 9 and under. So I was wondering if anyone knows whether Disney sticks to that rule or makes exceptions?? If someone could let me know I would really appreciate it

they'll sometimes even give older kids (even adults) things off the kid's menu but in larger sizes. It all depends on the restaurant and the attitude of the waiter at the time. And many times they'll do something off the menu - like if the menu has pasta, they'll give you plain pasta.

 

[Texashokies]

Also as long as the restaurant stocks the ingredients, you can ask for food that is not on the menu. We often order grilled cheese sandwiches for our picky eater.

 

[clanmcculloch]

For Epcot restaurants, I'd try to stick with the Disney owned ones or Teppan Edo (if your picky DS will eat there) because some of the non-Disney owned restaurants are not very accomodating about kids who are Disney Adults ordering foods from the kids menu. If you'll be eating at a restaurant not owned by Disney then make sure that there's something on the adult menu that he'll enjoy. They'll generally leave sauces or spices off of foods to make them simpler. He could likely get some kind of simple spaghetti dish in Italy for instance. Biergarten is a buffet so he can easily pick and choose the foods that he wants. Akershus has the fall back of rolls and salads plus they have Mickey ravioli that they'd likely serve in an adult portion. The food at Garden Grill can be made very simple if he'll eat fresh simple foods (they don't have a typical kids menu but the food can be made very plain if you'd like or he can be served drum sticks and I think even mac & cheese).

Summary: At Disney owned restaurants they'll typically let him order food found on the kids menu and serve him an adult portion of it or even just a regular kids meal if he's not a big eater but non-Disney owned restaurants are not nearly as consistent so I'd plan at these ones for not being able to.

I would make certain that any ADRs you do book have at least one thing on the menu that he'll eat as-is or at least if modified to have no sauce and if it's not a Disney owned restaurant then make sure that there's at least one thing like that on the adult menu.