Discuss the "new" menus here

[mackey_931]

My pediatrician has told me to just be sure to offer LOTS of different choices for her to pick from. Disney is doing just the opposite. They are limiting the choices in order to provide a so-called healthier menu but in doing so, many kids will be forced to eat the same foods over and over and over for a week or more. Not only is this not fun for them or the parents, but it is NOT a healthy way to eat. Kids need variety to eat healthy.

Giving a kid too many choices of anything is a bad idea IMHO. Giving a kid too many choices just means they are going to pick out what he/she knows they like, and never try the other things. They will end up with a diet that still only consists of a few things. You pediatrician's only concern is getting the kid to eat something, not teaching them disipline or expanding their pallette.

I do agree, however, that if they are going to standardize the menus, paticularly the kids, they need to offer a little more variety. I think just one more addition of a "kid-comfort" food to the menus is more than sufficient. This would give you the 3 healthy choices and 3 crap-food choices (i.e., mac & cheese, hamburger, and a third (maybe chicken nuggets). I also would like to see kid size portions of adult meals sometimes too.

I will agree too, that the child meals are inadequete for kids over about 6 or 7. For lunch they are probably fine, but a bit small and boring for older kids for dinner.

 

[kimbac3]

I just had a phone call from WDW guest communications. She called because of my email about Country Bears Christmas (but that's a different thread!) anyway while I had her on the phone I asked about the menus. She gave the same "these 3 healthy options are in addition to what is already on the menu plus we added two additional appetizers" So I asked her specifically about Concourse Steakhouse. She pulled up the menu and read it off to me..it was the old menu. She also said that the Chef's are very accommodating and that I should talk to my server if there was a problem with the menu choices. I really got the impression that she didn't know a whole lot about what was actually going on in the parks. She did say that she knew that there was a lot of rumors going around on the Internet about the menus. I said "yeah, people are really upset about this" She just went on saying how people don't understand what's really happening. I chose not to argue with her because I haven't been yet, so it's really hear say (and see as I have seen the new menus). After my trip I will contact them again with actual first hand knowledge of my concerns.
Kimba

 

[disnut1149]

I'm not disagreeing with you. But the fact is, these ARE the menus, you will either have to buy additional adult options for the children or the kids will have to eat these option. It's not ideal, but it's just the way it is. It will ONLY ruin your vacation IF you let it. I do agree that the choices aren't varied enough between restaraunts (personally I think each restaraunt should be required to do two basic dishes in child-sized portions) but the fact is, these ARE the new menus CURRENTLY being used, and people will simply have to get by.

Hi
I respect everyone's opinions, but when you are spending thousands of dollars to go on vacation, I don't think "people will simply have to get by." Who wants to just "get by" when they're on vacation. I know I expect more than that. I think that it's a good idea to have healthy choices, but I think they should have a lot more variety, especially if you are staying more than a week. Personally, we will probably go to more buffets, but I know some people enjoy a sit down dinner where they're being served.

 

[sweetp267]

Hello all:

Although I have not visited WDW since they have changed the kids menus, I am very unhappy from what I have seen and read on the boards. My daughter will be 9 soon and this will be the last time that we will probably be able to pay the kids price for her on the DDP.

Does anyone out there have a email address or a link to send an email to the dining department so I can give them my two cents?

Thanks in advance

Jon

 

[millerjudi]

I also agree with Barleby1--great analysis of what happens in my family too. In fact, my DS will go hungry rather than eat something he doesn't like--we took him to an Indian restaurant one night where he ordered a "hamburger" made with lamb--he hated it and broke down in tears because he was starving and there was nothing in the restaurant he liked. I know this won't happen at Disney because they are so accommodating, but with some kids, this can happen.

 

[Cookie Princess]

Hi
I respect everyone's opinions, but when you are spending thousands of dollars to go on vacation, I don't think "people will simply have to get by." Who wants to just "get by" when they're on vacation. I know I expect more than that. I think that it's a good idea to have healthy choices, but I think they should have a lot more variety, especially if you are staying more than a week. Personally, we will probably go to more buffets, but I know some people enjoy a sit down dinner where they're being served.

I couldn't agree more! Our vacations are supposed to be fun for the whole family, not just the parents who are eating the yummier foods. I do think you will see more families gravitating toward the buffets to get some variety for their kids.

 

[Kath2003]

Hi
I respect everyone's opinions, but when you are spending thousands of dollars to go on vacation, I don't think "people will simply have to get by." Who wants to just "get by" when they're on vacation. I know I expect more than that. I think that it's a good idea to have healthy choices, but I think they should have a lot more variety, especially if you are staying more than a week. Personally, we will probably go to more buffets, but I know some people enjoy a sit down dinner where they're being served.

Please re-read my post. I didn't say people SHOULD have to "get by", I said that this is the current situation, and people WILL have to live with it. By all means voice your opinion to Disney, but sitting here saying "my child won't eat anything!" isn't helping. You've obviously taken the right approach and sourced alternative options for your child by going to more buffets. This IS the current situation, and I would love to see one person come back and say "My vacation was absolutely ruined because my DD couldn't get chicken nuggets at Restaraunt X". It's just not going to happen. Either accept that those are the choices for children at the minute, or source another food option: bring your own, eat off-site, order an adults meal and split with your children, ask the restaraunt if they'll make you something else...

 

[3for Me]

Has anyone had any recent DDP (post menu change) experiences with the following restaurants:

Tony's Town Square
Le Cellier
Coral Reef
California Grill

These are the TS I am most concerned about for our February trip.

For instance, my kids would be crushed if they went to Tony's and couldn't get meatballs and spagetti. I would also hate to sit there eating a nice steak in front of them at Le Cellier while they eat the same old chicken strips.

We can "deal" with this menu for some of the trip - but 7 days with nothing special would be a bummer!

Also, is there ANY counter service where they can still get a hamburger? Pecos Bills? Columbia Harbour House? Anywhere?

Any help would be appreciated!

Thanks!

 

[bicker]

All discussions about the new menus have been consolidated into one thread -- you can find the answers to any questions about the new menus (for which there are answers) in that thread -- here's the link: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1256259 (FYI: There you can find out that Tony's is on the list of those that have adopted the new menus.)

I'm not sure about your question regarding Counter Service eateries.

 

[honeymo78]

I think you'll have a hard time finding a kids burger at CS locations. Your best bet is to just order a burger OOP (you don't have to get the sides unless you want to) if your kids want burgers.

 

[dixiedizfan]

There is a Menus thread toward the top of the Restaurants main page. Most menus were recently updated, so you can look them up and see what they have for kids. By the way, I looked up Tony's for you, and the kids menu does not list spaghetti & meatballs ... sorry.

 

[sweetp267]

Just bumping. Anyone know anything?

 

[jodifla]

wdw.guest.communications@disneyworld.com
or
Walt Disney World Guest Communications
PO Box 10040
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830-0040

Good Luck! I have contacted them as well. I got a phone call....basically, they try to say it's all in flux, etc.

Don't let them off the hook! Call and complain. It's the only way things will get done.

 

[shelly3girls]

For us none of this would be a problem if the restaurants offered a child size portion of the adult meals. My DD will not eat any of the "healthy" choices and does not like mac 'n cheese. This only leave hamburgers which I will not allow her to eat for a week straight. She would gladly eat things off the adult menu just in smaller portions. Does anyone know if I would be permitted to purchase an adult dining plan for my DD7 while staying at DVC? She is a big eater and I will end up paying for all of her food if she is ordering from the menu anyway.

 

[3for Me]

All discussions about the new menus have been consolidated into one thread -- you can find the answers to any questions about the new menus (for which there are answers) in that thread -- here's the link: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1256259 (FYI: There you can find out that Tony's is on the list of those that have adopted the new menus.)

I'm not sure about your question regarding Counter Service eateries.

Thanks, I missed it initially!

 

[PoohFan97]

For us none of this would be a problem if the restaurants offered a child size portion of the adult meals. My DD will not eat any of the "healthy" choices and does not like mac 'n cheese. This only leave hamburgers which I will not allow her to eat for a week straight. She would gladly eat things off the adult menu just in smaller portions.

My thoughts, exactly. For most entrees it seems as though it wouldn't be difficult to serve a child size portion of the adult meals. It wouldn't work for everything, but a few decent choices would help.

My DS will eat macaroni and cheese at home, but only the kind I make from scratch. And he definitely won't eat mac and cheese if it's orange!

One of our local (non-chain) Italian restaurants will make *any* pasta dish in a half-portion serving, if kids want that instead of something from the kids' menu. I think this is a fantastic option! If they didn't have a terrific chicken parmigiana on the kids' menu, I'm sure my DS would opt for the pasta.

 

[disnut1149]

Please re-read my post. I didn't say people SHOULD have to "get by", I said that this is the current situation, and people WILL have to live with it. By all means voice your opinion to Disney, but sitting here saying "my child won't eat anything!" isn't helping. You've obviously taken the right approach and sourced alternative options for your child by going to more buffets. This IS the current situation, and I would love to see one person come back and say "My vacation was absolutely ruined because my DD couldn't get chicken nuggets at Restaraunt X". It's just not going to happen. Either accept that those are the choices for children at the minute, or source another food option: bring your own, eat off-site, order an adults meal and split with your children, ask the restaraunt if they'll make you something else...

Hi
Just wanted to let you know that I emailed Disney last week, but have not heard anything yet. I know our vacation wouldn't be ruined, but it would just be a lot nicer and easier to be able to order from a bigger variety of foods. My children are grown, but I took my DGD (4) in August and we're going back next summer. My 3 year old niece will be with us. Also, like you said, another alternative might be to eat offsite, which we have done many times in the past. I think the preplated meals are more geared for younger children, as I really can't picture children around 8 or 9 eating that food all week. I just hope they make some changes.

 

[3for Me]

Just wanted to update my post.

After reading the Menus sticky above (Thanks, Bicker!) I called WDW Dine about my Tony's reservation. The CM I spoke to (very nice by the way) checked with Guest Services for me and swears that there will be two pasta alternatives for children on the DDP at Tony's.

Can't swear to it since I haven't been yet, but she did put me on hold to check specifically for Tony's and CG. The stated menu items for CG were exactly the ones reported here on the menu sticky, by the way.

Hope this helps someone!

 

[Mcqueen Fans]

Just wondering if anyone has just gotten back from WDW and can tell us their experience witht the new menus.

 

[Tink&Mickey]

Is there someplace and someone we can call or email our complaint about the new kids menu? I'm going to WDW in April and I am very unhappy with the new menu change. I know my daughter will not like being singled out having just these 3 choices and she doesn't like that food, she likes regular adult food too, she isn't going to be happy eating that for 9 days. I can understand the changes, but I think they should at least let the child/parent have a choice if they want to go healthy or not, leave those things on the menu but have regular food too. This will probably be my last time staying on site because of this dining situation.

I also have a ADR at Morocco in Epcot and I just saw somewhere it's not a Disney Restaurant, does that mean it's not a participating rest. in the dining plan, this would be out of pocket? If that is the case, I'm cancelling that one. Anybody know?