I need some serious CS help

[cab0ad]

Please tell me there are places in MK, Epcot, and AK that a kid can eat a CS meal that ISN'T peanut butter, nuggets, or macarroni. My kid is allergic to peanut butter, hates macarroni, and can't live on nuggets for 7 days! I didn't realize how limited the kids choices were before I purchased the dining plan. We get 1 table service meal a day so that helps but the quick service menus are HORRIBLE. I can't even find a place where he can get a burger! Please Please Please help me by giving me some advice on where to go for something "different". Is there anywhere WITHOUT a kids menu to where he can get something other than the above 3 choices which seem to dominate every menu I've seen?

 

[Colleen27]

I feel your pain! The limited kids' selections are part of why we don't do much counter service any more. My kids don't like the uncrustables that pass for PB&J at Disney, and they aren't big fans of other "kid" foods except as a once-in-a-while thing.

MK - Main Street Bakery is the best CS in the park, without a doubt. The food is simple, sandwiches and pastries. I don't remember if they have a kids' menu or not, because 2 adult meals was plenty for our family of 4. I don't think they did, but even if they do I'm sure they've got a non-PB option since they've got ham & cheese, turkey, etc. sandwiches for the adults.

Epcot - Sunshine Seasons has good kids' options, rotisserie chicken leg, sweet & sour chicken, mini-sub, etc. I'm sure there are some better CS options around the World Showcase too, depending on what your son likes.

Animal Kingdom - Flame Tree BBQ has chicken leg kids' meals. I think there's a kids' option at Pizzafari now too, but we've never tried it. I miss the old Tusker House CS.

Hollywood Studios - This is the worst park for food options in my opinion. My kids like the turkey legs from the stand over by Tower of Terror, so they usually split one if we do eat CS in the park. We used to like Toy Story Pizza Planet back when they didn't have a kids' menu, but now the only kids option is a plain cheese pizza so we don't really go there any more.

 

[teach22180]

Kids can get the hot dogs at Casey's in the MK, too. At least that gives them a little variety. I was also going to mention the "make your own sub" at Sunshine Seasons/Epcot because I thought it was adorable when I saw it! I would think there is some variety in the World Showcase for kids, but I've never taken anyone eating off the child's menu, so I'm just guessing. I just felt so bad for you that I wanted to help out if I could! Hope it all works out!

ETA-I found Hamburgers at Pecos Bill at MK and Morocco in Epcot, of all places!
They can get spaghetti at the Pizza place in AK.
In the World Showcase, there is quesadillas in Mexico and teriyaki in Japan on the child's menu. There isn't a child's menu in England, so I would assume they can get fish and chips.

 

[squirrel]

Not sure how old your child is but I shared meals with my niece (4.5yrs). I would get the 1/2 chicken meal and we would share it.

 

[PictureJumpr]

I dug up the list for someone else, but it's handy here too...

CS Kid's Meal Options that are specifically not nuggets, pb&j, or mac and cheese:

AK
Flame Tree - baked chicken leg; hot dog
Pizzafari - pizza; spaghetti with meatballs
Restaurantosaurus - cheeseburger
Yak and Yeti - cheeseburger; egg roll

DHS
ABC Commissary - cheeseburger; deli wrap (ham and chese?)
Studio Catering Co. - chicken leg
Pizza Planet - pizza

Epcot
Cool Wash Pizza (seasonal) - pizza
Electric Umbrella - cheeseburger; deli wrap (turkey?)
Sunshine Seasons - Sweet n Sour chicken; sub sandwich; chicken leg
Cantina de San Angel - chicken quesadillla
Liberty Inn - Chicken Salad
Lotus Blossom Cafe - BBQ Chicken leg
Tangierine Cafe - Hamburger
Yakitori House - chicken teriyaki

MK
Cosmic Ray's - chicken salad
Pecos Bill's - Chicken salad; burger
Pinocchio Village Haus - pizza


This list doesn't include places like Casey's Corner (MK) and Yorkshire Fish Shop (Epcot) that do not even have a kid's menu - kids get the same thing adults get in these places.

HTH

 

[bookwormde]

You think you are going to have fun; I have a self-proclaimed vegetarian DS9 (since he was 5) who beyond that is a picky eater (does not like many vegetables). At the parks it is pretty much French fries, I have found that at the resorts CS they do a pretty good job of making the effort to come up with something appropriate (off menu).

bookwormde

 

[summermac]

Another option would be to use his CS for a decent breakfast at the resort and then just have him share from you & DH's CS for lunch. Most of the CS portions are decent sized and you could easily share with him.

The pizzas at Wolfgang Puck Express appear to be pretty huge so that's an option for sharing as well if you were planning on DTD.

 

[jennipooh]

DS (9) is also not a fan of typical kid's fare. (mostly because I just don't offer it much at home) Therfore, we have never chosen the Dining Plan. I felt it would be a waste. Most of the time we have shared meals at both TS and CS.

A few exceptions - DS loves:

AK - Pizzafari, Child's Spaghetti; Flame Tree BBQ has a drumstick, but ds prefers the adult ribs!

MK - Columbia Harbor House, Child's Grilled Chicken Salad (they also offer this at Cosmic Ray's, but DS has to share the ribs there!); El Pirata y el Perico, Kid's Cheese Quesadillas

Epcot - Cantina de San Angel (Mexcican CS), Plato del Nino (chicken quesadilla and tortilla chips with cheese sauce); (Epcot also offers mini subs in Sunshine Seasons, but there are so many other exciting choices at Epcot, we just never make it over there)

DHS - this is tricky for several reasons but don't think it is due to lousy cs options (I don't know why people think that!) I think they just have too many great choices!! Also, the TS restaraunts are very fun (Sci-Fi in particular) so that takes us away from CS appeal at DHS
Toy Story Pizza Planet has a very kid friendly atmosphere and the kids order off the same menu as adults which basically consists of pizza and a salad. DS loves the salad - the pizza is so-so, but he helps eat it.(there is talk of adding a kid's menu)
ABC Comissary was the first Disney World kid's meal ds ever ordered (when he was 4) and it was his first big junk food meal (chicken fingers and fries) and they have tv's everywhere - he thought it was great fun! It's a little nostalgic for us. They offer chicken nuggets, cheeseburger, and a ham & cheese wrap.
Back Lot Express has a child's sloppy joe, but ds likes to split the turkey sandwich there.

There are more options - these are just the ones we have experience with! Have fun and good luck!!

 

[summermac]

Jenni, I'm surprised you don't do DDP given that it's only $10.99 for a child under 10. Typically with just a TS meal & a snack, you're at the $10.99. And if you do any charcter meals at all, you really benefit on the DDP. Just sayin'

 

[3boymthr]

Because DS (6) has chewing/swallowing issues which leaves out any of the kid's lunch/dinner choices except pizza (can I tell you it kills me that they sell PB&J sandwiches that are pre-made so I can't get him a sandwich that's just PB???) - I've been planning and plotting everywhere we'll be eating - even our CS - so that I know he can find something to eat. Since he can only eat pizza just so many times in a week I plan to get him pizza when it's an option at the places we've chosen for our meal and at places it's not well, he'll be getting a snack item that's closer to a meal, such as a muffin, etc. using one of our snack credits. We're planning on using snack credits for breakfast most days but on days I won't be using his CS credits for lunch I'll use his CS credits to get him a bigger breakfast instead.

 

[TxRabbit]

OP: We found a cart in Epcot over by the fountains in front of Test Track that sold hot dogs. DS got a bag of chips and two bottled waters (one for the drink and one for the dessert because we didn't like the frozen lemonade dessert options.) The hot dog was huge btw.

 

[Happydog]

Also, at the Toluca Turkey place in DHS, they sell hotdogs, with chips and and a drink, since they don't have a child's menu. And the hd is definitely better quality.

 

[bytheblood]

I feel your pain! The limited kids' selections are part of why we don't do much counter service any more. My kids don't like the uncrustables that pass for PB&J at Disney, and they aren't big fans of other "kid" foods except as a once-in-a-while thing.

MK - Main Street Bakery is the best CS in the park, without a doubt. The food is simple, sandwiches and pastries. I don't remember if they have a kids' menu or not, because 2 adult meals was plenty for our family of 4. I don't think they did, but even if they do I'm sure they've got a non-PB option since they've got ham & cheese, turkey, etc. sandwiches for the adults.

Epcot - Sunshine Seasons has good kids' options, rotisserie chicken leg, sweet & sour chicken, mini-sub, etc. I'm sure there are some better CS options around the World Showcase too, depending on what your son likes.

Animal Kingdom - Flame Tree BBQ has chicken leg kids' meals. I think there's a kids' option at Pizzafari now too, but we've never tried it. I miss the old Tusker House CS.

Hollywood Studios - This is the worst park for food options in my opinion. My kids like the turkey legs from the stand over by Tower of Terror, so they usually split one if we do eat CS in the park. We used to like Toy Story Pizza Planet back when they didn't have a kids' menu, but now the only kids option is a plain cheese pizza so we don't really go there any more.

Great post - I agree.

 

[NorweJenNY]

I dug up the list for someone else, but it's handy here too...

CS Kid's Meal Options that are specifically not nuggets, pb&j, or mac and cheese:

AK
Flame Tree - baked chicken leg; hot dog
Pizzafari - pizza; spaghetti with meatballs
Restaurantosaurus - cheeseburger
Yak and Yeti - cheeseburger; egg roll

DHS
ABC Commissary - cheeseburger; deli wrap (ham and chese?)
Studio Catering Co. - chicken leg
Pizza Planet - pizza

Epcot
Cool Wash Pizza (seasonal) - pizza
Electric Umbrella - cheeseburger; deli wrap (turkey?)
Sunshine Seasons - Sweet n Sour chicken; sub sandwich; chicken leg
Cantina de San Angel - chicken quesadillla
Liberty Inn - Chicken Salad
Lotus Blossom Cafe - BBQ Chicken leg
Tangierine Cafe - Hamburger
Yakitori House - chicken teriyaki

MK
Cosmic Ray's - chicken salad
Pecos Bill's - Chicken salad; burger
Pinocchio Village Haus - pizza


This list doesn't include places like Casey's Corner (MK) and Yorkshire Fish Shop (Epcot) that do not even have a kid's menu - kids get the same thing adults get in these places.

HTH

Thanks for the comprehensive listing! I'm sure that'll be helpful for many of us parents!

I'm going to suggest not just thinking of kid's meals too...

...like at Pecos Bill's (even though they have burgers), I know you can get yogurt or chili... perhaps sometimes a pretzel dipped in cheese sauce might make a good vacation meal... other places might offer soup or salads or fruit salads that might add to the variety! Sometimes we have to think outside the box a bit.

 

[jpkkld]

I have this same dilemma, but for different reasons. My DD4 won't eat tomatoes (no pizza), is mostly vegetarian (no burgers or dogs), and I just CAN'T feed her nuggets and noodles for 7 days straight. Here are some of the options I've found (we're big sandwich eaters, so I'll leave the burger/pizza options to the other posters):

MK:
Main St. Bakery - sandwiches, including specialty styles. Also, there are no "kid's meals" here, so you can use a kid CS credit for real food. Also have breakfast quiche, cottage cheese, and fruit.
Cosmic Rays - 1/2 rotisserie meal can be split between 2 people. Save a child credit to use for breakfast one day.
Tomorrowland Noodle Station - yeah, it's noodles, but at least they offer teriyaki and other flavors (for the adult meals that is - you'd have to split an adult meal for this to work).
Columbian Harbor House - vegetarian chili or clam chowder
Fruit - whole apples/oranges/bananas for $1 each are available at fruit stands on Main St., Liberty Square Market, and Toontown Farmer's Market.

Epcot:
Boulangerie Patisserie - ham & cheese croissant, quiche, fruit and cheese, plus no kid's menu.
Sunshine Seasons - kid's can make their own mini sub, or split an adult meal from the Asian counter, where there's a "2 entree/2 sides" option. Also, I believe a bowl of soup is counted as a snack.
I could not find any other CS places with no kid's menu, but there are lots of interesting kid's meals here - plus a snack credit will buy egg rolls, smoothies, or fruits.
Fruit - Boulangerie, Refreshment Outpost between China and Germany

AK:
Tamu Tamu Refreshments - sandwiches and salads, and no child menu.
Anandupur Local Food Cafes - egg rolls or fried rice for $4
Harambe Fruit Market - whole fruits, fruit and chees plate

HS: Sorry - we're not planning to visit here, so I didn't research the food.

Dowtown - I've read great things about Earl of Sandwich

Don't forget your snack credits - a healthier granola bar from your backpack plus a yogurt from a snack cart might be enough food for your child in the heat of a FL day. Doing this, or splitting an adult meal a couple times would allow you to enjoy a breakfast or 2 at your hotel food court. (That's our plan, at least).

Also, we are planning to place an order with gardengrocer.com, including bread, PB, J, bagels, water, applesauce, and healthy snacks (like graham crackers, nuts, raisins, etc.), plus a few gallons of water. We'll bring a PB&J with us each day, just in case we can't find anything dd finds appetizing.

And don't forget, at a counter, no one knows who the food is for. You can always order a kid's meal for yourself and get the adult meal for your child. Or just share everything. That should get some healthier stuff into your child while somewhat limiting the junk.

Good luck!
-Kristin

 

[2Monkeys]

MK:
Main St. Bakery - sandwiches, including specialty styles. Also, there are no "kid's meals" here, so you can use a kid CS credit for real food. Also have breakfast quiche, cottage cheese, and fruit.

So what can you get at the MSBakery for a CS credit - 2 items and a drink?