How do you handle Breakfast on Your Park Day?

[devotedchristian]

I'm trying to decide how to handle breakfast for the kids (2,4,7,15) before we go to the Park (For us-Universal Studios).

We plan to arrive at Universal by 8:30am and I know they will be hungry before they even go on the first ride.

I'deally, I'd like them to eat breakfast by 7:30am and we are out the door by 8am. I just want them to get something in their tummies before we start our Park Day.

They are not going to last until lunch (11:30am).

We are staying in a Villa (Marriott Grande Vista) so we will have a kitchen OR we could order breakfast from the restaurant on site.

What do you do?

 

[mrs. magoo]

My kids are happy with pop tarts, granola bars and those type of things. We usually grab something on our way out the door. Works for us.

Kathe

 

[Carrie772]

Pop tarts and milk in the room for us too. I usually try to have a few bozes of raisins in my Back pack too for just poppin' while in line for stuff.

 

[devotedchristian]

My kids are happy with pop tarts, granola bars and those type of things. We usually grab something on our way out the door. Works for us.

Kathe

I wish DS (the 4 year old) liked Pop Tarts. He likes a hot breakfast: Grits, Eggs and Sausage so I have to figure that one out.

The other kids nieces/nephews may like Tarts.

 

[TinkerbellLuvr7]

when we would get a rental car we would go to the local grocery store by DTD to get some poptarts, donuts, and other breakfast type food that we knew we could throw away if not eaten b/c we always fly and dont see the need to bring them home. I have read on another board that some grocery store delievers too but i'm unsure of the price or what goes on with that. We will not have a rental car for our trip in May so we will either pay the price of some breakfast food at the WL gift shop or pay OOP for a CS at roaring forks.

 

[Kae]

Would DS4 like those Mirco Jimmy Dean Breakfast Sandwiches? Or How about Brown & Serve Sausage & Toaster Waffle?

Kae

 

[devotedchristian]

Would DS4 like those Mirco Jimmy Dean Breakfast Sandwiches? Or How about Brown & Serve Sausage & Toaster Waffle?

Kae

Thanks Kae!

No, it has to be pan cooked sausage/eggs. He's a very picky eater and won't eat anything microwaved.

 

[U2_rocks!]

We're planning to do scrambled eggs and toast on our park mornings, except for the 2 mornings we have park breakfasts ('Ohana and CRT). My kids love scrambled eggs, and they're pretty quick to make, just whiz them around a hot pan a few times - the toast takes longer!

It helps that they are early risers and they like to eat soon after waking. We figure that protein in the morning will keep them going longer than sugary foods, which is why we aren't even doing the cereal thing.

 

[abeyst]

Ya know, I'd be willing to cook breakfast for you every morning if you pay for my plane ticket down to FL!!! I'll even clean up the dishes!!

You could cook the night before, heat it up the next morning (maybe in the microwave!) and throw it in a pita. If DS doesn't SEE you warm it up in the microwave, then you didn't really do it, right?

 

[LuvOrlando]

This is always a worry for me too. Nothing is worse than dragging hungry & cranky kid around. Here is how we manage our meals at WDW these days.

When we wake up 7:30-8 the kids have Cheerios, DS with Parmalat milk & DD likes them dry. Sometimes they will want a bagel or roll. I always pack boxes of raisins, chewy chocolate chip granola bars and a baggie of sunflower seeds for the kids to snack on as soon as they start asking.

We manage to keep everyone comfortable by eating at the earliest lunch, 10:30 or so. The meals tend to be so big no-one wants to eat for hours. There is usually little to no snacking before we eat dinner which is also early at around 5. An added perk to eating at these times is that we are out & about during the main meal times when most of the other visitors are eating or on line to eat.

Good Luck

 

[wrighter]

My goal was to feed them as "normal" a breakfast as possible. Something they were used to eating on a regular basis. That way I knew their tummies wouldn't be upset - especially with all the rides, etc.

 

[seashoreCM]

How are the kids weightwise? Unless they are underweight I would skimp on breakfast, perhaps just cereal and milk. A muffin would be OK too but here I might be cautious if one or more kids were overweight.

More time sitting down at meals means less time on rides.

Have not raised kids but have often gotten by with a muffin or a Danish and perhaps some fruit for breakfast, often consumed while standing at the bus stop, wrapped up if the bus comes quickly, and finished upon getting off at the park.

Disney hints: http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

 

[Marthasor]

Eat at the restaurant - that way all the children will get something they like to eat and you don't have to worry about cleaning up after making an egg and sausage breakfast.

 

[CastleCreations]

I know this is pathetic, but I have heard this and haven't forgotten it. Someone packed an iron, and a non stick pan and took it to their hotel. They took the ice bucket, and put a towell in it. They turned on the iron and set it in the ice bucket, hot side up and put the pan on top of the iron. Instant hot plate. I thought this was a riot!! I can live on dry cereal and never need a hot meal, but thought this was totally funny!

 

[dawnball]

I wish DS (the 4 year old) liked Pop Tarts. He likes a hot breakfast: Grits, Eggs and Sausage so I have to figure that one out.

My DD is pretty similar, although her foods are different, they must be prepared the "right" way. We just do the same thing in the kitchen in FL that we do at home. Most of our breakfasts are fairly fast though.

Sausage will cook faster if you press it very flat in the pan. Pre-cooked frozen (or fresh) sausage that you re-heat in a frying pan would also be fairly fast if your son will eat it.

Hard boiled eggs? They don't take much attention in the morning - I frequently put the eggs on, start coffee, when the eggs start to boil I turn the heat off and take my shower while they finish cooking in the hot water. Grits can be done in a similar manner, just turn the heat way down just before they reach a boil and they've always come out fine for me.

Toaster waffle? A breakfast casserole/quiche that can be made the night before or purchased fresh or frozen and re-heated in the oven? Instant oatmeal or other just-add-water hot breakfast cereal?


On the last trip I made scrambled eggs every morning. Getting them to eat a good breakfast was worth the 10 minutes of lost sleep in missed aggravation later. On this trip I think we'll probably rotate between quesadilla, yogurt, hard boiled eggs and cereal.

If the problem is that eating breakfast takes too long you could try semi-portable food. Breakfast burritos, breakfast sandwiches (toast, fried egg, slice of cheese, maybe fried ham instead of sausage in the interests of time). I try to keep cleanup to one or two pans that go straight in the dishwasher.


If it's just the 4 year old who needs a hot breakfast and the others will go for prepared/microwaved foods then I'd probably check to see if the deli/convenience store offers any kind of hot breakfast he would eat and send someone down to fetch his breakfast.

 

[seashoreCM]

OT: Don't look now but a good breakfast excludes sausage and bacon and, depending on the method of preparation, home-fries.

If you want to take the time to have a good breakfast, consider not gorging yourself at lunchtime. Saves time and also weight.

>>> just the 4yo who needs a hot breakfast...
Possible danger signal that you may just be beginning to lose control of your children. As well as consuming the usual double dose of extra time, first in the morning for the 4yo's breakfast, and next at lunch when everyone else has a hearty meal.

 

[arielsleepingbeauty]

My kids are pretty easy to please. I get up early. I don't fuss around so i am quick in and out of the shower. On a park day I will go to the food court as early as possible at Pop. This year it will be POR. I get them the mickey waffles. I wake them up and while they are eating, I do their hair. When they are done, they brush their teeth, go to the bathroom and then get dressed. They are not big eaters at all. I pack dry cereal and when they get hungry again, i will pull that out for them.

 

[devotedchristian]

OT: Don't look now but a good breakfast excludes sausage and bacon and, depending on the method of preparation, home-fries.

If you want to take the time to have a good breakfast, consider not gorging yourself at lunchtime. Saves time and also weight.

>>> just the 4yo who needs a hot breakfast...
Possible danger signal that you may just be beginning to lose control of your children. As well as consuming the usual double dose of extra time, first in the morning for the 4yo's breakfast, and next at lunch when everyone else has a hearty meal.

And only 1 of the children are "mine" (the 4 year old), I am not responsible for the eating habits of my neices and nephews.

I certainly won't get into a "debate" over what's considered a "good breakfast".

 

[kevschickee]

OT: Don't look now but a good breakfast excludes sausage and bacon and, depending on the method of preparation, home-fries.

If you want to take the time to have a good breakfast, consider not gorging yourself at lunchtime. Saves time and also weight.

>>> just the 4yo who needs a hot breakfast...
Possible danger signal that you may just be beginning to lose control of your children. As well as consuming the usual double dose of extra time, first in the morning for the 4yo's breakfast, and next at lunch when everyone else has a hearty meal.

this seems a little judgmental.
I find if you dont have a full breakfast before the park you dont feel quite as good. Plus with all of the walking Im sure those calories are burned off

 

[disneyjunkie]

OT: Don't look now but a good breakfast excludes sausage and bacon and, depending on the method of preparation, home-fries.

If you want to take the time to have a good breakfast, consider not gorging yourself at lunchtime. Saves time and also weight.

>>> just the 4yo who needs a hot breakfast...
Possible danger signal that you may just be beginning to lose control of your children. As well as consuming the usual double dose of extra time, first in the morning for the 4yo's breakfast, and next at lunch when everyone else has a hearty meal.

Wow

My son and I try to eat a good, hot breakfast each morning while on vacation. If I don't book a character meal, then we'll grab grits, eggs and bacon or pancakes/waffles and bacon in the food court.

If we're doing a late breakfast TS meal, then we'll have bowl of cereal or poptarts before jumping on the bus.

OP, will your kids eat instant oatmeal?