Discuss the "new" menus here

[#1 Pocahontas]

We just got back from our trip. DD enjoyed the kids menu. We never saw all the options that I read about on All Ears. We must not have hit the right restaurants.

We never asked for substitutions because my DD always liked what was offered. I did overhear many castmembers explaining the kids meal to other guests. They were offered at least two additional kids meals that were not listed on the menu. The castmembers also offered adult desserts for the kids. They also instructed the guests to make sure to ask for the "rules" (not the word they used but I can't remember what word it was) for each restaurant. From overhearing a few of these conversations I gathered that they are more than willing to accommodate request. I gathered this because in each of these conversations the castmember was offering this without the guest asking for it. That doesn't seem quite right though. If they are going to offer it to people why don't they put it on the menu?

Most of the time on each menu they had two entree items listed. One was usually a healthy option and the other was something like; chicken nuggets, mac-n-cheese, pizza....

My DD is 4. The portions sizes were just about right for her. Sometimes she took her sides with her to have as a snack. Thinking about it though, those are pretty small portions for children up to 9. Before we went I couldn't understand the fuss about the new menus. I still don't think the new options are bad at all, but I totally can see the frustration with the size. They do need to rethink that a little.

 

[BuffaloGal]

Please share your information: Which TS restaurants were these at?

I'll start! Ohana has chicken fingers & grilled cheese. Boatwright's updated kid's menu has chicken fingers. Kona has a hot dog. (I think that that was one of your other requests, wasn't it?). Artist's Point has chicken fingers.

You know what? I'm gonna start a thread on "where can I find this kid's item?" just so you know that it's not as bad as you are telling every one. Might take me a week to hit all of the restaurants for menus, but I'm gonna work on it.

 

[jodifla]

I'll start! Ohana has chicken fingers & grilled cheese. Boatwright's updated kid's menu has chicken fingers. Kona has a hot dog. (I think that that was one of your other requests, wasn't it?). Artist's Point has chicken fingers.

You know what? I'm gonna start a thread on "where can I find this kid's item?" just so you know that it's not as bad as you are telling every one. Might take me a week to hit all of the restaurants for menus, but I'm gonna work on it.

That would be fantastic. Thank you.

 

[phyllis1966]

We returned on Sunday from a 4-day surprise (for me!) trip. We mostly ate places where the new kids' menus were not an issue (Restaurant Marrakesh, San Angel Inn, Citricos). Two places I did notice the "Kids' Picks" with the special Mickey-shaped dish were Sunshine Seasons in Epcot and the Plaza Restaurant in the MK. We had never eaten at either of these places before, but the choices were satisfactory to our DD7. At Sunshine Seasons the choices were:

1. Build your own sub sandwich (small roll with turkey, salami, cheese lettuce and tomato) and unsweetened apple sauce (a no-go) with water, juice or milk. DH didn't realize these were the offered drinks and got her some lemonade, but he wasn't charged any extra for it. DD really enjoyed this lunch.

2. Sweet and Sour Chicken w/white rice at the Asian section.

3. Salad (and soup I think).

At the Plaza, the appetizer offered was tomato soup. We asked for a substitute and our server happily offered Beef Barley, which DD loved.

Again, "all meals served with 1% milk, bottled water or juice"

Entrees:

1. Grilled chicken (2) on a stick with white rice, apple slices and BBQ sauce - DD enjoyed this but was already feeling full from the large serving of soup.

2. Junior Chef Salad

3. 2 Mini Hamburgers

4. Grilled Cheese Sandwich

5. Turkey Sandwich

6. PB&J

"French Fries and soft drinks available on request"

Desserts were 3 mini chocolate chip cookies (freshly made) or a Mickeylodeon, which is rainbow sherbet in a bowl with a cone on top and maybe those chocolate disks for ears. DD was full so we took the cookies with us for later. The food was really good at both places and we were glad we tried them finally.

 

[PoohFan97]

And you were there after this new 12/3 rollout or before it?

We're coming down in February and have ressies at LeCellier and Coral Reef (for ds's bday) plus Concourse. I'm hoping that LeCellier and Coral Reef don't change their menus much since they offer terrific items for kids (ds loves CR's lobster bisque and it's his choice for his birthday night dinner).

Thanks for the update.

We just got home, and we saw the new-new menu at LeCellier and Concourse. LeCellier has a kids' steak; the menu says there's an upcharge, but the server said that guests on DDP didn't pay the additional charge. The chocolate moose is no longer on the kids' menu, but as Shelly mentioned, it's available for a few dollars extra. My DS had the cheddar soup, the steak, and the "moose," with a shake for his beverage.

Concourse has a steak on the kids menu, too, and it's a filet mignon (much better than the kids' steak at LeCellier). Same deal with the upcharge: it's on the menu, but DDP guests didn't pay the extra. This was my DS's favorite meal of the trip.

I haven't read this whole thread, so maybe this isn't news. The preplated meals have changed since the original three. There are now two choices: the pizza (no longer on a pita, chicken listed as optional) and macaroni with beef. My DS didn't order either of them, so I can't comment on the taste. There seemed to be more entree choices for the kid picks than what I'd seen from version 1 of the new menu. We'd cancelled our ADR for Cap'n Jack's but looked at the kids' menu when we walked by. I was glad we'd cancelled when I saw that they'd removed the one pasta dish that my DS would have ordered. Since we didn't eat there, I don't know whether they would have accomodated a request or not.

I'll be back with more reviews after I get caught up on laundry!

 

[Teresa Pitman]

We're just back from ten VERY WONDERFUL days at WDW with a 5-year-old and an almost 2-year-old. We loved the new menus and meal options for the kids (we were on the dining plan). We often find it hard to eat out with them because they really don't eat the things that most restaurants seem to consider "kid's foods" (chicken nuggets, mac and cheese, etc.). So we were delighted with the changes, and both kids were quite enthusiastic about their meals. We also did several buffets so they were able to choose from a wider range of options at those (although we also often shared parts of our meals with them as well).

I also felt that the CMs we encountered were very helpful in letting us substitute when we asked. For example, at several places I asked to substitute the french fries that were supposed to come with my meal with carrots, and the CMs happily gave me a couple of packages of carrots that normally come with the kid's meals. I also was able to get V8 (vegetable juice) instead of soda at POFQ's restaurant. We were also told that we could have fruit for dessert and did that in several places.

We had a really magical trip, and the food was a big part of it!

Teresa

 

[Michelle2]

I guess I am on the opposite side of the scale on this issue, but I don't really consider myself the norm since my kids are so dang picky, which is my own fault--but that's another story, and that is how it is...

We went to Whispering Canyon Cafe, (unfortunately 1 DAY after the change!!!!! ) and our kids could hardly find anything that they liked...when we ordered them SOMETHING that would seem to maybe satisfy them, they hardly ate anything--maybe 2 bites, if that. 4 kids meals $$$ down the drain. We were very disappointed with the change, and like the OP stated, we will either be bringing counter service with us so DH and myself can eat in a little peace, or avoiding TS restaurants from now on. It is too hard with the kids and this new menu for our own family.

If they want to make things healthier, that's fine, but at least add it as an alternate or extra selections to the old/existing menu...Give people a choice to do what they want with their vacation dollars. Don't force things on me, or I will not dine there. And as much as I like the TS restaurants, it is just not worth all that hassle and expense to me. I was very disappointed with this change, and will be making my opinion known, whether it helps or not.

 

[Zoie]

We were there dec 10-16 with a four year old. We were NOT on the dining plan -- we had debated about it but when this new kids menu came out we decided against it, and we're glad...

We did fine in terms of food for the most part, but we only ate counter service meals and I had looked at menus ahead of time so we only went to counter service places I already knew would have something on the menu the four year old would eat. That decision resulted in the two adults on the trip having to eat nothing but junk food because that's all the counter service places had to eat. The part that frustrated us the most was that the sides were identical at EVERY meal -- applesauce, carrots, or grapes. Our child wouldn't eat any of them, she tried the applesauce and didn't like it, she won't touch raw carrots although she loves them cooked, and she won't eat grapes. There are plenty of fruits and veggies she DOES like, these just don't happen to be among them. So the fact that those were the only options at every single meal was frustrating, and even if she DID like them, she'd certainly get tired of having them three times a day for a week!

We ended up having to order her fries as one of her sides with every meal, and she LIKES fries but prefers not to eat them because "they're not helfy". So thanks to Disney's lack of choices, she was forced to eat one of THE most unhealthy foods there is, which is a food she NEVER chooses to eat when at home. (Even at fast food places, she'll choose apples at McD's, yogurt at Wendy's, etc.) Great plan for improving kids' health there...

Even at counter service, the options seemed limited. She lived on chicken nuggets and mini corndogs all week. Never saw a kids' hot dog at a counter service, never saw a kids' hamburger, only saw mac and cheese once, never saw kids' pizza, never saw pb&j...

We avoided table service places except for two buffets so that wouldn't be a problem, and the Sci Fi. There she did get a hot dog which worked out well since she'd been asking for one all week. She only got one side with her meal, and we were told she could have french fries, or a veggie mix of peas, carrots, and broccoli. Peas and carrots are her FAVORITE food at home but I knew she wouldn't touch it if it had broccoli all mixed up in it, so I asked if they could make her one without the broccoli in it, and the answer was no. So she ended up with french fries yet again.

So all in all, although we all got tired of eating the same junky things all week and wished we'd had more options (I noticed someone said in defense of the new menus that a kid should be able to have an apple or a banana if they wanted one, well, that isn't happening -- she would have eaten those, the only bananas she got all week were at the breakfast buffets), we managed to survive without starving, but only due to my knowing about this ahead of time and planning carefully. I think we would have ended up very frustrated and wasted a lot of time looking for food had I not done this.

The signs on the counter service places didn't make it at all obvious that fries and soda were allowed -- I knew from here that they were, but on the signs, their healthy options were pictured and written in big letters, and in tiny letters you could barely see at the bottom of the sign it said you could substitute fries and soda upon request. There were people in line in front of me and behind me several times telling their children in frustration that no, they couldn't have fries, and no they couldn't have pop, because they weren't on the menu, and the children were crying. I let them know they COULD request it, and they were SO grateful -- so people who don't know all this in advance are probably getting REALLY upset as they're having to deal with unhappy children every meal, and that does NOT make for a fun vacation.

 

[Teresa Pitman]

I remember at both the POFQ food court and Sunshine Seasons, they had other fruits available - whole apples, oranges, bananas - which we took as desserts for the kid's meals. While our kids like grapes and carrots and were happy to eat them (they are not huge applesauce fans, so only had that once I think), they liked having these other fruits too. We also got salads for the adults and then shared with the kids.

I know vegetables tend to be hard to get at theme parks. There's a fruit and vegetable cart at each of the parks where we can usually get some more options - the selection varies, but they usually have whole fruits, celery and carrot sticks, etc.

Teresa

 

[WDW_Owns]

Thats cool stuff.

 

[dbmarie]

We just got back on Dec. 28th and the beginning of our vacation went well the CS and TS were allowing you to subsitiute almost anything. However our last 3 days the desert on CS was replaced with sugar free jello which did not taste good and is made with nutrasweet. From what I understand most places were still allowing you to exchange the jello for something else however at both Flame tree bbq and tusker house they did not allow you to exchange for anything.

 

[Kellyscrapbooks]

We just got back on Dec. 28th and the beginning of our vacation went well the CS and TS were allowing you to subsitiute almost anything. However our last 3 days the desert on CS was replaced with sugar free jello which did not taste good and is made with nutrasweet. From what I understand most places were still allowing you to exchange the jello for something else however at both Flame tree bbq and tusker house they did not allow you to exchange for anything.

NOw this upsets me. I have let the whole "kids menu" fiasco as I think of it go, but they are feeding kids NUTRASWEET?!?!?!? Come on! That's NOT a healthy choice in any way! Why don't they realize that they should leave the food policing up to the parents?
My 5 year old ds's favorite food ever is grilled mahi mahi, he would eat it all day, especially with garlic fennel sauce! He asks for roast chicken and salad, steak and ribs also are high on his list. He's going to be disappointed, but will find things to eat, even if we eat at buffets for almost every meal.
My 9 year old dd loves vegetables and fruit, the just dip it will be great for her! But she won't touch any of the other choices, I already know it. Ugh... I'm seriously rethinking the dining plan now!

 

[VengenRM]

I too must chime in here with my disappointment in the Kids Meal selections. My son is by far my pickiest eaters and we generally had to purchase an Adult meal for him as he would NOT eat from the kids menu at all. We are generally a family who does a week or more at a time and you can only eat so much of the same food. We generally eat at TS restaurants for dinner and last time we used the meal plan. Although having the plan was a big savings we often had to pay extra since my kids would not eat from the NEW KIDS MENU. So I guess we really didn't SAVE all that much. We are going for 10 days in MAY '07, I hope that the menu's will offer more choices by then! Or again we will be buying adult meals for my 7 year old just so he can eat.

I just don't understand why Disney of all places has to take away CHOICE to help with the growing population of overweight people. Vacations are all about making choices and if my choice is to eat dessert before eating dinner by all means that is my choice.

Disney better rethink taking away CHOICES or we may choose to vacation elsewhere in the future. And having taken over 20 Disney vacations in the past 7 years that's BIG! I am a HUGE Mouse Fan and would go through some major withdrawl but there are other choices available out there and they don't limit the KIDS MENU to the same HEALTHY items at all restuarants.

I am hopeful that if they receive enough complaints from Disney Addicts that some of the choice will come back and DISNEY may realize that CHOICE in menu items is BIG business and a major concideration for people who stay on property.

I will be looking for a return in CHOICE to the menu items and am somewhat reluctant in making dining reservations for our upcoming trip... I will be watching closely to see what happens with the menu choices and will keep my own tabs on the menu items, may need to make dining changes along the way.

Sorry to take up so much space I just needed to put my own 2 cents in.
Faith Trust and Pixie Dust! (right?)
: ) Michele

 

[honeymo78]

NOw this upsets me. I have let the whole "kids menu" fiasco as I think of it go, but they are feeding kids NUTRASWEET?!?!?!? Come on! That's NOT a healthy choice in any way! Why don't they realize that they should leave the food policing up to the parents?
My 5 year old ds's favorite food ever is grilled mahi mahi, he would eat it all day, especially with garlic fennel sauce! He asks for roast chicken and salad, steak and ribs also are high on his list. He's going to be disappointed, but will find things to eat, even if we eat at buffets for almost every meal.
My 9 year old dd loves vegetables and fruit, the just dip it will be great for her! But she won't touch any of the other choices, I already know it. Ugh... I'm seriously rethinking the dining plan now!

Many TS restaurants have fish, chicken and/or steak for the kids. There is a thread with pictures of the new menus that isn't stickied. http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1296621

This thread was started months ago and the menus have undergone several changes since then, the most recent was considered much better by many. A lot of the comments on this thread were made before the lastest round of changes. The Just Dip It was removed from most, if not all TS menus.

 

[phyllis1966]

The new, revamped kids' menus seem to have plenty of choices, from all the menu scans I've seen and from our pleasant experiences at Sunshine Seasons and the Plaza Restaurant. There are new, healthier options, a couple of the original kid-faves at each place, and soda and fries available if your kids prefer. I would think everyone could be happy with these new menus, for TS anyway. We haven't tried CS other than Sunshine Seasons (which is like CS Plus), and the sugar-free Jello is a no-go here.