I have a finicky 12 year old...what do I do?

[lntsmom]

The info on the Disney site is next to useless. If I understand what I am reading here, they won't let me buy the Dining Plan for myself and my 6 year old and pay out of pocket for my 12 year old...

So, my next question is, what if we eat at, say, the Crystal Pavillion. Is it my understanding that he will be charged as an adult, but allowed to eat off of the children's buffet?

This is my kid who eats only chicken nuggets/strips, waffles and pancakes, and peanutbutter sandwiches. I'm not kidding or exagerating. He won't eat fried chicken or pbj. He really is THAT finicky.

What about table service restaurants? Will they allow him to order the chicken strips off the kids menu?

I wanted to simplify the trip and do the dining option, but it looks like it won't work for my family. I would like do so a sit-down meal once a day, but if they won't let olders kids order the chicken strips that isn't going to happen. I can't imagine eating counter service two meals a day for 7 days...I have got to have a decent meal or two in there somewhere.

I am starting to seriously reconsider booking this trip at all if my kid isn't going to be served at restaurants. At least at Disneyland you have the option of walking across the street and eating at places where they don't care if a 12 year old wants to eat off the kiddie menu.

I would appreciate any advice you can give! I was going to book our travel on Monday, and need any input anyone here can give.

Last time we went to WDW he was just 3 and they bent over backward to accomodate him...the Crystal Pavillion even made him nuggets when he got upset because there was only pizza and pigs in a blanket on the buffet that day. I'm not wanting that kind of service, I just want him to be able to sit down with his brother and I and enjoy a meal!

 

[rcraw45425]

Anyone regardless of what they paid (child vs adult) can eat off any buffet table at the buffet restaurants. Heck, that's where the mac & cheese is, lol. Have you taken a look at the menus for the restaurants you plan to eat at? Maybe there is some thing on the "adult menu" that your son will eat. I faced the opposite problem, my kids wanted adult food when they were kids so we normally wound up splitting our adult entrees with them (back when portion sizes were larger). This is out first Dining Plan trip so we'll see how it works with all of us eating off the adult menu.

 

[Colleen27]

He'll be able to order off the kids menus most, if not all, of the time, and at buffets, anyone can have anything they want (we love them for the opposite reason - DS is kid-aged with adult tastes). However, the dining plan might not make sense if you anticipate him wanting a lot of kids' meals, simply because you'd be paying for him as an adult while he eats as a child.

 

[pwyu1969]

Just got back from Disney on 12/26. My son (5) and niece (16) are picky eaters too. The issue wasn't so much whether or not Disney would accommodate them, as it was getting value for their meal. In my case, I paid only $10/day and my son ate mostly carrot sticks, pizza, burgers, and ice cream. I think I got good value for the $10. My Sister paid $40/day for my niece who lived on pizza, burgers, french fries... $40 a day!

Without question, the Disney restaurants will do whatever they can to make what your son will eat, but if he is going to order mostly kid meals stuff, the question is whether or not you'll get your value for the $90/day you'll spend on you and your two sons.

 

[PlutoPony]

My then-12 yo DS is somewhat picky and had no trouble ordering from any kids menu last summer, including CG. That said, we did not do the DP as we didn't think it would be a good value given his eating preferences. In the end that was a good decision as he ate mostly mac and cheese at the beginning of the trip, since his mouth was still sore from getting braces the week before we left (poor kid ). If your daughter would be interested in eating off the adult menu at some non-buffet TS restaurants the kids could essentially trade their meals/credits and make this more cost effective for you..... Otherwise OOP might be a better bet for your family from a $$ standpoint.

 

[gigi1313]

my brother (age 55) is extremely picky... and he was able to order off the kids' menus... at coral reef he got a kids' pizza as his appetizer and then had the adult steak (NOTHING ON IT! or even near it 'cept french fries! LOL!) with no problem... he also was able to order other kids' choices in adult portions w/out a problem at many other restaurants... (and we were on the free dining plan)

therefore, i say go for it... since you'll be paying for your ds as an adult at buffets or all-you-care-to-eats anyway, you might as well use the ddp and save a few bucks...

another thought... if your 12yo ds wants something from the kids' menu, how 'bout getting the ddp, ordering for him oop and using his credits for you (and then paying for your other ds oop as well) at other meals, or do HDDR or SoA or another 2 credit meal?

 

[lntsmom]

I think we'll skip the dining option, as for most of our meals it will be cheaper to pay out of pocket. To be honest, although it doesn't look like it from the photo,lol, we aren't big eaters!

My boys are like me...driven to squeeze every ounce of fun out of a vacation. The last time we went to WDW we were there 3 full days and 2 half days. In that time we didn't do any table service meals and just two buffets.

When we went to Disneyland we could grab a bite to eat at the fast food places or at Mimi's...or from the giftshop at HoJos even. I have to admit, by about the third day of our vacation I was thrilled to find carmel apples...with the carmel on the side...at DCA. We ate at the Grotto our second day there and at the ESPN zone the last day...no buffets. However, with all the places to eat between our hotel and the gates, we were able to grab something on the way back to the room each night.

This time we'll be traveling a week instead of 5 days, though, and I'm afraid that if I don't plan some meals the kids will push themselves until they're a frazzled wreck. I'm checking the menus again next and on Monday I'll call for our ADRs. I'm hoping to get everything else booked that day, too.

Thank you all for the good news. If I had to rely on the Disney site for info I'd probably throw my hands up and book a weekend at the zoo in Omaha instead, lol!!!

 

[Pumbaa_]

Sounds like a good idea to skip the DDP. The CS options though have many more choices than just burgers and fries. You could do CS twice a day and barely need to go for a burger.

Here is a link to the DIS Menus. There are burger choices, but lots of other options as well.

If you do TS, you may want to stick to buffets, nice adult choices for you and the requisite chicken nuggets for your DS.

The gift shops at most of the resorts also sell bread and peanut butter (or stick a jar in your bag) so you have a backup plan for him

have fin planning!

 

[n2mm]

When my grandson was considered an adult at 10, we no longer ate at buffets when he travelled with us. We could not justify his eating mac and cheese and chicken strips for that price. We continued to visit TS locations and he could get a child's meal, or a super size child's meal for an extra price. It was never a problem, heck even I get a child's meal every now and then.

 

[Aliceacc]

Just a thought: how is your younger son? Is there any way he would eat from the adult menu and have your older son eat from the kids menu? As long as the numbers add up, I'm not sure they care who is ordering what.

If not, you're right... skip the dining plan and just make the ADRs you want.

Have fun!

 

[Luv2Roam]

Nothing wrong with Henry Doorly Zoo! Been there many a time.

Doesn't compare with WDW though!
Sounds like you have good advice here. Enjoy!

 

[lntsmom]

timed me out!

Here are my thoughts in short:

1. If Disney will let the boys swap the menu they order off of, the Dining Plan would work for us. My younger son would gladly eat off the adult menu! (Thank goodness only one of them is finicky!)

2. Here are my dining plans so far:

5/28 50's Prime Time Cafe for early dinner
5/29 Crystal Palace for late dinner...about an hour before the parade if I can swing the ressys.
5/30 The Garden Grill. Possibly right at park closing to help us avoid the bottleneck out of Epcot (?).
5/31 Tusker House Character Breakfast Buffet...Hopefully before the park opens.


I thought of doing Chef Mickey's our first night, just to set the tone, but honestly, I think my kids would much rather hit Downtown Disney. I haven't told them about DisneyQwest yet. I have a bad feeling that once they experience it they will lobby for spending half a day at AK and going back Downtown, lol!

I'd kind of like to find someplace nice for lunch 6/1. Ideas??? I'd be willing to leave the park that day, as it is open until 11 pm that night. What about Whispering Canyon? I'm not sure I understand the concept there...everyone has to order the same thing??? If there's a good WDW restaurant that you've been to, please share!

 

[Luv2Roam]

They probably would really like WCC.
Generally it is a fun type meal, like Prime Time in MGM. Not everyone has to order the all you care to eat skillet. I have dined there in groups and some ordered the skillet and some of us did not.
They may even like Sci Fi Drive Inn at MGM. I would suggest that for lunch rather than dinner.

 

[GreatLakes5]

Chiming in with a picky one as well - also 12 so also an "adult" by DDP standards.

Last year his brother ended up eating some of the adult meals & they swapped just fine. Buffets always worked well. And (shock of all shocks) he got adventurous and tried some different foods that he ended up enjoying (though still no j on his pb sandwiches )

WCC - menu or a 'skillet' meal which is more all you can eat. Not a bad choice. Trail's End at Fort Wilderness has a buffet - downhome sort of western food. Both are a boat ride from MK.

Oh and Liberty Tree Tavern in the MK was great for him - Stouffer's food so it was rather familiar kind of Sunday mashed potatoes and meat sort of fare. Or, of course, mac & cheese.