Dining with toddler

[Boardwalk_bride]

We will be visiting at the end of January for our toddlers 3rd birthday (she is turning 3 on the second last day). On our previous trips we've eaten at mostly restaurants - mostly because we are vegetarian and it tended to be easier. It's been 4 years since we've been though, and I've seen there will be a vegan option at all places now.

Anyway - from those with experience, I'm hoping for some recommendations. Should we just stick to QS locations with a toddler? Or, even further, should we order groceries and pack a lunch (we have a 1 bedroom DVC rental which looks like it has a full kitchen).

Thanks!

 

[DisneyWishes14]

I really enjoyed doing TS when my DS was a toddler. It was a welcome break to sit down and have someone bring us our meals as opposed to navigating QS with trays, getting utensils/condiments and then trying to find a table. As for packing lunch, others may feel differently, but when I'm on vacation, I want a break from cooking and cleaning! I used to pack snacks when DS was a toddler, but I let WDW do the heavy lifting when it came to actual meal time

 

[DISNEY1975]

With a toddler and a DVC rental, I would buy groceries and go back to the resort for lunch. The child will need some down time, in the AC (maybe not needed in January) out of the stroller, but not straight to the highchair. A nice meal, some time to walk around and comfortable nap will have your child energized for evening activities.

 

[petrola]

I agree with DisneyWishes… we looked forward to sitting down at a restaurant when my DD was 3 - plus she absolutely LOVED the character meals (still does actually) and more importantly, the characters kept her entertained while we ate! Are there any particular characters that your DD is drawn to? Does your little one like princesses? My daughter's favorite restaurant was always Akershus - she would manage to find a princess to hold her hand and parade her around the restaurant to her delight! She also loved 1900 Park Fare - the stepsisters were a hoot - I'll never forget when she asked them why they were so mean to "Cindy"? My DS who is now 5 still enjoys his character meals - Chef Mickey's is his favorite - he thinks Mickey is actually in the back making his meal! Garden Grill is also great (especially the breakfast!) and since it's not a buffet, the food comes to you! In any event - table service meals always work better for us than QS while in the parks -because often it is a nice break from the day to just sit down, maybe order a cocktail and relax a bit. We do like QS at the pool however - especially since there's really no getting the kids out of the pool to go to a sit down restaurant!

 

[KMarston]

We’ve taken our DGS every year since he was one. He’s really enjoyed sit down dinners. He loves the character meals. I think the parks are so stimulating that he likes the time out for meals. He does better in Disney than at home. Sit downs are much more relaxing than the craziness of QS.

 

[DGsAtBLT]

I really like taking 2 year olds to the buffets and family style meals because you can feed them fairly quickly, there’s a big variety, and they’re free until they’re 3.

 

[Boardwalk_bride]

Thanks everyone! It is super interesting to hear all your perspectives. I think I also need to remind myself this is a vacation and I don't want to pack a lunch everyday! I'll check out the buffet menus - we typically do not go as I don't really like buffets and being vegetarian (and me lactose free) the value isn't there. However, it looks like there should be vegan options coming soon.

I don't remember the QS areas being that busy but like I said, we didn't really eat at them (except in Epcot in WS). Thanks for the insights on that!

 

[NYCgrrl]

We will be visiting at the end of January for our toddlers 3rd birthday (she is turning 3 on the second last day). On our previous trips we've eaten at mostly restaurants - mostly because we are vegetarian and it tended to be easier. It's been 4 years since we've been though, and I've seen there will be a vegan option at all places now.

Anyway - from those with experience, I'm hoping for some recommendations. Should we just stick to QS locations with a toddler? Or, even further, should we order groceries and pack a lunch (we have a 1 bedroom DVC rental which looks like it has a full kitchen).

Thanks!

I would enjoy the last year of free dining that your toddler is entitled to and eat as your normally do. More relaxing than QS, probably healthier, and a great way to introduce children at a young age on how to sit and eat.

Have fun where ever you go!

 

[ButterbearUK]

I would do a mix of TS and CS food options, but also carry snacks with you for when you need something quick! Try to decide ahead of being seated at TS restaurants what you want to order, so that you can get that done and dusted as soon as the server appears to take your drink order, that way you won’t be waiting around too long before food appears

 

[Betty Rohrer]

Thanks everyone! It is super interesting to hear all your perspectives. I think I also need to remind myself this is a vacation and I don't want to pack a lunch everyday! I'll check out the buffet menus - we typically do not go as I don't really like buffets and being vegetarian (and me lactose free) the value isn't there. However, it looks like there should be vegan options coming soon.

I don't remember the QS areas being that busy but like I said, we didn't really eat at them (except in Epcot in WS). Thanks for the insights on that!

at lunch time CD can be very busy and not fun with hungry toddler. been there and done it

 

[gharter]

When our kids were that age, they ate nearly everywhere with us.
We just made sure we had plenty to keep them entertained and busy.
Also, when we sat down, we asked the server to bring some bread, crackers, something for them to snack on before the food came.

We still see many kids of all ages at nearly all restaurants.
As long as the parents pay attention to the kids and aren't letting them run around the restaurant, there really is not issue ven if they are noisy.

 

[lovethesun12]

We had the dining plan when my daughter was 2 and 3 and she loved the characters so much. The memories of her running up to Minnie and the princesses still melt my heart. My son wasn't as in love but this year (age 6) he loved Mickey and wanted to get his picture with him.

If they have an interest in the disney characters it might be worth it to try even one character meal. But honestly if our kids weren't into it right now so much I would probably avoid it because the value isn't there if they don't enjoy the characters.

 

[JZCubed]

We will be visiting at the end of January for our toddlers 3rd birthday (she is turning 3 on the second last day). On our previous trips we've eaten at mostly restaurants - mostly because we are vegetarian and it tended to be easier. It's been 4 years since we've been though, and I've seen there will be a vegan option at all places now.

Anyway - from those with experience, I'm hoping for some recommendations. Should we just stick to QS locations with a toddler? Or, even further, should we order groceries and pack a lunch (we have a 1 bedroom DVC rental which looks like it has a full kitchen).

Thanks!

My in-laws lived near Disney when our now 10 y.o. was a toddler, so we visited a few times each year.

Not (necessarily) in any order:
1. Have a sense of humor.

2. Be prepared to Stream/Download movies for table distraction for when the crayons break.

3. Guidebooks taught me that 4-hours is the 'window of opportunity' for kids at the Parks (or just about any stimulation) and could/should then be 'adjusted'. Guidebooks also tell ya' that kids say, "Hotel swimming pool," when asked about their favorite part of Disney vacations.

4. We used restaurant time at the end of those 4-hours. As well behaved as our child acted generally, we found restaurant meals at Disney could be over stimulating. The 'value' of a Characters meal is very personal. For the record, our child 'ruined' the enjoyment of many attempted good meals. We still feed her <snark>. See item #1 - have a sense of humor.

5. For us, this meant start your day at rope drop (Park Opening) and make lunch plans to enjoy the Parks....and then back to hotel if staying on-site - which you are. Lunch can be at your hotel or hotel room (which never worked for us, and we tried). Most kids prefer Qwik Serve to lengthier Table Service meals; in their wet bathing suit is even better when at Qwik Serve.

6. By evening, unless your toddler has napped, dinner is difficult - very difficult. Everyone is exhausted - adults too. See Item #4 - child can 'ruin' your enjoyment. See Item #1 - Have a sense of humor. Make no plans for nighttime, but be prepared with to drag your napping child into the Parks on very short notice. You'd be amazed how many young children are out playing in the dark (especially if they've had that nap they said was never gonna' happen).

7. Strollers are your friends.

8. See Item #1 - Have a sense of humor.

 

[westie55]

Toddlers are a mixed bag. You never know what you're gonna get. Character meals are awesome... But that's assuming your child likes characters. There are lots of 3 year olds who don't, and lots that do. I agree with another post that says character meals are definitely not a value if your child is miserable and wants the characters nowhere near her. Every kid is different. I would plan to do what you would enjoy, and be prepared to be flexible. You may find your toddler wide awake at a time you never expected... or sleeping. There are tons of 3 year olds at all types of dining in Disney. I am not the "pack a lunch" type. We welcome being in the air conditioning. Lugging around a cooler of food in the sweltering heat doesn't appeal to me at all, but people do it.

 

[KrazeeK120]

We took our son at 18 months and the week before he turned 3. We didn’t do a sit down meal every day, but we did 2 character meals on each trip and they were some of the best memories I have. Seeing my son’s face light up as the characters approached the table was priceless!

 

[Boardwalk_bride]

My in-laws lived near Disney when our now 10 y.o. was a toddler, so we visited a few times each year.

Not (necessarily) in any order:
1. Have a sense of humor.

2. Be prepared to Stream/Download movies for table distraction for when the crayons break.

3. Guidebooks taught me that 4-hours is the 'window of opportunity' for kids at the Parks (or just about any stimulation) and could/should then be 'adjusted'. Guidebooks also tell ya' that kids say, "Hotel swimming pool," when asked about their favorite part of Disney vacations.

4. We used restaurant time at the end of those 4-hours. As well behaved as our child acted generally, we found restaurant meals at Disney could be over stimulating. The 'value' of a Characters meal is very personal. For the record, our child 'ruined' the enjoyment of many attempted good meals. We still feed her <snark>. See item #1 - have a sense of humor.

5. For us, this meant start your day at rope drop (Park Opening) and make lunch plans to enjoy the Parks....and then back to hotel if staying on-site - which you are. Lunch can be at your hotel or hotel room (which never worked for us, and we tried). Most kids prefer Qwik Serve to lengthier Table Service meals; in their wet bathing suit is even better when at Qwik Serve.

6. By evening, unless your toddler has napped, dinner is difficult - very difficult. Everyone is exhausted - adults too. See Item #4 - child can 'ruin' your enjoyment. See Item #1 - Have a sense of humor. Make no plans for nighttime, but be prepared with to drag your napping child into the Parks on very short notice. You'd be amazed how many young children are out playing in the dark (especially if they've had that nap they said was never gonna' happen).

7. Strollers are your friends.

8. See Item #1 - Have a sense of humor.

Thank you for such an honest review! That is very helpful. I think I see my child/our family reflected most in reading this post. I was leaning toward a restaurant but am now thinking about how many times we've dragged her to a sit down lunch and one of us spent the whole time running after her. I think we will be strategic and only do a few lunches or very early dinners. I highly doubt she'll nap - which means grump evening and early bed time!

 

[leebee]

Only you know what your child will handle. Is a sit-down going to be more than she can handle if she's overtired and overstimulated? I've only done sit-down with 2 toddlers, my daughter and my niece. My daughter was the kid who'd read, color, and keep herself content for the duration of the meal; my niece was the kid everyone wished mom would remove from the premises. What worked with DD didn't work with DN, but we hit on what was a good plan: Go back to the room and take the nap, and as long as we were going back, we did take out/lunch in the room. My niece was a sweet kid (and is now a lovely woman) but by midday she'd just had enough. We'd often go back to the room and eat there (take out or pb&J.. no kitchen...), watch some cartoons, maybe swim or nap. We'd leave the park around 11, head back around 3, and it made all the difference in the world. Sometimes we could even just do a QS lunch in the park with some unstructured "run around" time (places like fountains in Epcot, Boneyard/dig area in AK, etc). She needed a bit of time to just relax. She'd be fine for the rest of the day, even for a TS at dinner... just not at lunch time, when she was overstimulated, tired from being up early, whatever.

 

[Boardwalk_bride]

Only you know what your child will handle. Is a sit-down going to be more than she can handle if she's overtired and overstimulated? I've only done sit-down with 2 toddlers, my daughter and my niece. My daughter was the kid who'd read, color, and keep herself content for the duration of the meal; my niece was the kid everyone wished mom would remove from the premises. What worked with DD didn't work with DN, but we hit on what was a good plan: Go back to the room and take the nap, and as long as we were going back, we did take out/lunch in the room. My niece was a sweet kid (and is now a lovely woman) but by midday she'd just had enough. We'd often go back to the room and eat there (take out or pb&J.. no kitchen...), watch some cartoons, maybe swim or nap. We'd leave the park around 11, head back around 3, and it made all the difference in the world. Sometimes we could even just do a QS lunch in the park with some unstructured "run around" time (places like fountains in Epcot, Boneyard/dig area in AK, etc). She needed a bit of time to just relax. She'd be fine for the rest of the day, even for a TS at dinner... just not at lunch time, when she was overstimulated, tired from being up early, whatever.

This is a good point - and the fact that it is 3.5 months away and things could change makes it harder. I think we might just keep watching her over the weekends closely (when we are home with her) to see what she handles the best. I'm sure I can also make lunch ADRs and if it doesn't work, I can just start cancelling them.

 

[MooseBucks]

So many options and opinions on this but we're a rope drop till we drop family (6yo, 3yo, & baby). We don’t go to the resort mid day for naps we just use the stroller and really enjoy TS at lunch for the break. I do bring substantial snacks because kids are not predictable when it comes to hunger but this has worked really well for us and never had any major meltdown issues or anything we do make sure we scatter in downtime to run and move for the kids and make sure napping kids still get their nap.

You know your child best!

 

[sponica]

My 3 year old handles sit down lunches (we go out to lunch usually every saturday or every other saturday). She's also good at breakfast.

Dinner is an absolute nightmare. I'm hoping next summer when she's 4 she'll be able to handle table service dinner, but I'm also going to schedule dinner as absolutely early as possible.

Seriously I'm thinking our trip when she was 20 months old will be the easier one than the one next summer.

But you know your kid best. What works for us may not work for you and vice versa (we do not go back to the room midday)