Dining with Tweens

[Daisy21015]

I'd love to know what other families do when their Tween kids are pretty much beTween the kids menu and adult menu at Disney??

This trip all 3 of my girls will be considered adults by disney dining standards. One of our favorite parts of our vacation is dining and going to the different Disney restaurants.

We are good at buffets because they can go kid friendly with adult options too. I know at sit down TS they can easily order off either the children's or adult menu in most cases.

The problem im facing is that the kids menus are so redundant (how many times in 10 days can you eat chicken nuggets & fries?) and some of the adult options at the nicer TS's are too upscale for thier tastes (not to mention a lot more expensive). Also, sometimes the kids meals are not enough for dinner and the adult portions are too much

What are my options?
At CG can I get them the pork tenderloin but mashed potatoes instead of polenta?

When ordering off the children's menu can I ask for a larger portion of mac'n cheese or chicken nuggets and pay an additional price?

What about ordering say the adult steak at LeCellier and splitting it between 2 girls? (The steak on the kids menu is practically inedible)

What do you do???

 

[Darkside]

Your best option is the Dining Plan, this at least eliminates the financial issue. I am pretty sure the restaurants would not have an issue with splitting an adult meal. The servers at Disney are some of the best I have had. I would explain your concerns at the begining of your meal and let them do their magic.

 

[baler31]

I would not do the DDP, especially in this situation. We have never had a problem with even signatures when we asked to sub a side or remove a sauce for our kids. We often order one entree and the kids will share. With app's and bread served no one ever leaves hungry.

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

I would not get the DDP so your kids can order what they want without any issues. I am not a fan of the DDP and have never gotten it.

Most TS restaurants have no problems making substitutions on their menu as long as they serve the item you want to substitute. IE: If CG serves mashed potatoes, they won't have a problem substituting the polenta for them.

Le Cellier steaks are small. One to split between both kids most likely won't be enough. They weren't for my kids who were 8 and 12 when we ate there in 2008. (My 8 year old prefers adult foods.).

When we ordered off the kids menu for my DS14 this past trip, they'd bring him a big plate full of food instead of the kids size and didn't charge us extra. I do think alot of that depends on how the server writes the order. So it might not happen every time.

If the kids were still hungry after dinner, we'd just stop and get them a quick snack at one of the carts.

I think it'll work out for you.

 

[dalt01]

took our daughters former BFF one year..........wouldnt eat beef.......wouldnt eat potatoes...........wouldnt eat anything green or anything with even a hint of green in it.........wouldnt eat chicken...........wouldnt eat any dessert unless it was all chocolate............................wouldnt drink soda.........wouldnt drink tea.........only drank water........................loved BBQ pork ribs.............. i tried to set up shop at HDDR for the whole week to no avail.............................................................................wouldnt eat bread...................wouldnt eat salad....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

 

[badblackpug]

We do the dining plan. Let me preface this by saying that my 12y is not a picky eater. She usually orders off the adult menu, but there have been a couple of instances where she just wanted something off the kids menu, or a kids dessert. It has, generally, never been a problem. They have, for instance, allowed her to get an adult appetizer (DxDDP) a kids entree, and an adult dessert. They have also been fine with substitutions, such as fries instead of whatever starch is offered with the meal. They have also let her have a whole adult menu and a kids dessert.

 

[daisyyy]

We're sort of in the same boat. HOWEVER, we do LOVE the DDP... it gives our older kids the option of ordering whatever they want from the adult menu if something strikes their fancy... or they can always find something on the kids menu.. I know it doesn't seem like it, but there are other options besides chix nuggets. We've always managed a few buffets so there is more flexibility. My oldest DD thought it was the best thing ever that she was considered an adult and ordered off the adult menu everytime... and my middle dd, she isn't as adventurous, and was content ordering from the kids menu. I think if you tried the DDP you would be surprised at how flexible it is... my kids were never hungry after a meal, and if they were the plan provides snacks, so as one of the other people mentioned, buy them a snack if they are still hungry after a meal, but if you have the plan.. you don't have to BUY it, it's paid for. there's so many places that use snack credits.. it's not just ice cream bars. there was a thread posted here a month or so ago about what people used their snack credits for, and you wouldn't believe it.