Kids' meals are lousy

[Aristocath]

I agree with the OP. Last summer we did a 13 day trip to Florida, staying on property for 10 days, with the dining plan. Two of my boys are "Disney Adults" and we should have upgraded my youngest son, who was seven at the time. We were pretty good at finding places with more choices but for 10 days it was hard. I wish more of the TS places had a child's steak, that would help!

 

[Disneyelf10]

I agree, but I find the CS are worse in finding an option for my 7yo than some of the TS (yes buffets work in variety). She is a very adventurous eater and I've been looking over some CS menus on line and I wouldn't want to eat some of the items, and I know she wouldn't. This may sound strange but she doesn't like PB&J that much so forget an uncrustable, which those are sooo small to begin with.

I was thinking of upgrading her to an adult. I know she is excited about the steak option at Le Celliar!!

 

[SamJane]

We just got back and we were on the QSDP. I agree that the choices were very boring for the kids. We thought of eating lunch at Starring Rolls one day, but walked right out again when we saw that the ONLY sandwich choice for a kid meal was a PB&J Uncrustable. Really? You can't do anything else?

I get that a lot of kids are very picky eaters. But why can't they have just one restaurant specific option on the menu for kids? We LOVED our meal at Tangeirine Cafe, but the kids options were nuggets and burgers. Again. Why not a kids lamb platter? State on the menus that the kids meals are for kids aged 9 and under only, and most people will not push that rule.

We did see yogurt for a side as an option at most places which was nice. Grapes, carrots, fries, apple sauce, yogurt, jello, cookie were the standard sides we saw.

 

[teetee830]

I do agree in some cases the kids meals are somewhat limited. However I get the logic behind and agree that sometimes kids are picky because they are picky. My DS however isn't one of them and even though he would be fine with the kids opions, gross meaty macaroni and all, I would prefer he not eat that all week.

So my question is if I just have him share some meals with me is there anything I can do with the extra child's dining credits?

 

[MusiqChic99]

We choose buffets and table service resturants that have some variety...like Ohana.

My son isn't picky and will eat "adult" meals. When it comes to CS meals, he doesn't get much choice. Those 4 little chicken nuggets barely fill him up and he's 5. I can't imagine how it will be when he is 8. I bring a lot of snacks from home so he won't go hungry. There are some places with good CS kids meals. Flame Tree BBQ comes to mind. Those chicken legs are really good.

 

[Tramp68]

Can't we basically just say the the Counter Service at Disney in general is gross? I have yet to find a place that wouldnt be considered sub-par at any fast food joint. Even the healthy choices are made with the cheapest ingredients and are sitting under a heat lamp for a considerable amount of time. I will take table service any day.

I will give Disney the fact that their counter service is still better than the inedible options at both Sea World and Universal!

 

[Princess Vespa]

My son is a picky eater. He won't eat a hamburger/cheeseburger, he won't eat a taco, he won't eat spaghetti and meatballs, never near a crustible thing., doesn't even eat eggs. At home he eats what I make, but if I make spaghetti and meatballs,he will eat just the spaghetti, plain, no sauce. He does not like spaghetti sauce, he hates ketchup. He has tried all of these things, just doesn't like them. We don't eat fast food at home, he gets a cooked meal every night. He is just pickey. I will make him try new things, but if he doesn't like it, I can force him to eat it.

But I find that most sit downs in WDW will accomidate. Even if there is nothing on the menu he will eat, if I ask the server, I can get him something. I have not had a problem yet. He will eat chicken and rice, or turkey. He is a big fruit eater, loves tomates (weird since he won't eat ketchup or tomato sauce) and loves cucumbers. Even in the QS places, There seem to be enough options that I can get him something he will eat. He does like the chicken nuggets and the mac and cheese, but I won't let him eat that the entire vacation.

Than there is my daughter, who will pretty much eat anything and everything. She is not picky at all. Sometimes flavors that are a bit more grown up- and she loves it. Here are two kids, brought up in the same household, that have two extreme eating habits. Sometimes its not the parents fault. kids will be kids.


On a side note, I do think having a big kids menu would be great.

 

[BEASLYBOO]

Interestingly I'm lost on when "kid's food" made the departure from "food" in general.

Thankfully, never had a pickky eater but I fail to see how gloppy, macaroni full of processed cheese and glued chicken parts formed and deep fried came to qualify as "food" at all!

Disney wouldn't sell it if people didn't buy it! It also probably has something to do with why even the adult meals only have 3 green beans per plate! So much for the nutritional food chart!

We eat the same on vacation as we do when we're not, except at Disney, we have to order extra sides of vegetables!, because not so surprisingly, you can't substitute extra vegetables instead of potatoes. Sometimes you can, they make exceptions, then you end up with 6 green beans!

 

[LilyWDW]

Can't we basically just say the the Counter Service at Disney in general is gross? I have yet to find a place that wouldnt be considered sub-par at any fast food joint. Even the healthy choices are made with the cheapest ingredients and are sitting under a heat lamp for a considerable amount of time. I will take table service any day.

I will give Disney the fact that their counter service is still better than the inedible options at both Sea World and Universal!

Actually, I consider many of the adult CS options at Disney a ton better then any fast food joint. Nothing I have had screams that it has been sitting under a heat lamp and I have had many "healthy" options that have tasted fresh. If you want something besides burgers and hotdogs, there are plenty of options.

I won't get in a debate about the kids options. Not long ago Disney changed their menus for kids and these boards lit up with complaints about there not being enough "kids options". So, Disney then put hot dogs, pizza, and the like back on the menus. I don't think ANYTHING they do (that is cost effective, because, like it or not, they are a business) that will make everybody happy.

 

[HunnyJar]

Actually, I consider many of the adult CS options at Disney a ton better then any fast food joint. Nothing I have had screams that it has been sitting under a heat lamp and I have had many "healthy" options that have tasted fresh. If you want something besides burgers and hotdogs, there are plenty of options.

I won't get in a debate about the kids options. Not long ago Disney changed their menus for kids and these boards lit up with complaints about there not being enough "kids options". So, Disney then put hot dogs, pizza, and the like back on the menus. I don't think ANYTHING they do (that is cost effective, because, like it or not, they are a business) that will make everybody happy.

I seriously cannot agree with you more. I've tried to stay out of this conversation for the most part just adding restaurants that serve different options to the "same ol' same ol'" but it really doesn't seem like Disney can win in this situation. They listen to one group another gets angry, they listen to that group the first one gets angry. Personally, I'd rather dine at Disney than any other theme park. Heck, I'd rather dine at Disney than a lot of local places.

 

[PatsMom]

I think that Disney has things on the kids menu that sell to the majority of people. When my daughter was younger, the kids menus were quite different than they are today. They were much more repetitive but that was OK. When she was little her idea of food was macaroni & cheese, chicken nuggets, pizza and hot dogs. Or maybe a hamburger. She was not an adventurous eater, although she is today.

I still pay a lot of attention to the kids menus even though my daughter is 20. That is because I order from the kids counter service menus fairly often. I am diabetic and the carb count in the kids meal is better than an adult meal. Some place my daughter and I will order two burger combo's, one with fries and one with apples (this is on the adult menu). We have more than enough to eat and fewer fats and calories. The kids meal turkey sandwich at Cosmic Ray's is one of my favorite quick service meals.

If I had a child who didn't like the QS options, I would let them order an adult meal and do some sharing. It's not advertised but you can order just a burger with no fries. Or cut a burger in half.

But if my child really was going to be unhappy because of the CS meals, I would do buffets or table service. You can order from the adult menu for them at a table service. Perhaps share an entree and each get your own appetizer? That is another tactic my daughter and I use.

 

[PoohsFan1]

I completely agree with the OP. My oldest DD (who is 10 now) cannot wait for our January trip because she can finally eat like an adult. She loves adult type foods rather than kiddie foods...she loves steak, seafood, cheeseburgers, anything that is not chicken nuggets, unbreaded chicken strips, or those little mini pizzas that they serve. Also, since we always do the DxDP, she is very excited that she can now have the adult deserts. As for my DD8, she is very content with the children's menu since she doesn't have the taste palate like her older sister.

 

[Tramp68]

Actually, I consider many of the adult CS options at Disney a ton better then any fast food joint. Nothing I have had screams that it has been sitting under a heat lamp and I have had many "healthy" options that have tasted fresh. If you want something besides burgers and hotdogs, there are plenty of options.

I would love to hear some examples with locations, because I have yet to find any of them. (Exception given for the options in the Land Pavillion at EPCOT)

 

[daleswife]

I love the argument "my kids will only eat the nuggets or pizza" Thats crap. If you give your kids good food from a young age they will eat what they know. I think a lot of it is parents that run out of time. They have to pick something up on the way to they next activity. I know its hard but you can making things at home faster, healthier and less expensive then even McDonalds. I'm not judging anyone for going to fast food places. I love a nice burger or a pizza. I also hate people telling me how to parent so I understand if someone would get mad from comments like this. I just think its crazy to see kids dictate that they are only going to eat garbage. Both of my kids don't like the taste of fish. That's fine but I'm not going to get them a pizza because of that.

AND! what about this... My DD8's friend came over for dinner one night and I asked her to pick a vegetable she said doesn't ketchup counts as a vegetable! I cooked broccoli, carrots and green beans. She said carrots and green beans are gross and she was affrad to try the broccoli because she had never had it before.

I agree with you. My kids started out very young eating a variety of foods and now they love veggies and chicken and beef. Of course they love the occasional happy meal, but if they had their choice, they would pick a japanese steak house or Red Lobster over Mcdonalds any day!

That being said, I also wish they had other things at disney than chicken nuggets, hot dogs (which my kids hate), and burgers. I didnt know you could ask for something for the kids other than that, maybe i'll try that next time we go!

 

[WTP]

. Edited: Nevermind, decided what I had to say wasn't great.

 

[Candlz]

I wish they had something in between kids meals and adult meals. For example - half portions of a meal. When I go out to eat at home - I request my meal cut in half and they keep the other half in the kitchen until we leave. I can't do that at WDW though - I certainly don't want to walk around the park with it. I do order off the kids menu a lot because I just can't eat a full adult meal (Well I COULD but I have lost a ton of weight and would not be pleased with myself if I did.)

I guess what confuses me is what difference does a person age make when it comes to food. Does that uncrustable sandwich cost more money if I eat it at 38 or my son eats it at 9. *sigh* Flame away...

 

[crimsontide27]

I wish they had something in between kids meals and adult meals. For example - half portions of a meal. When I go out to eat at home - I request my meal cut in half and they keep the other half in the kitchen until we leave. I can't do that at WDW though - I certainly don't want to walk around the park with it. I do order off the kids menu a lot because I just can't eat a full adult meal (Well I COULD but I have lost a ton of weight and would not be pleased with myself if I did.)

I guess what confuses me is what difference does a person age make when it comes to food. Does that uncrustable sandwich cost more money if I eat it at 38 or my son eats it at 9. *sigh* Flame away...

Sure does. Look up "opportunity cost" and learn.

 

[SamJane]

I would love to hear some examples with locations, because I have yet to find any of them. (Exception given for the options in the Land Pavillion at EPCOT)

Tangierine Cafe in Morocco. DELICIOUS. One of the best restaurant meals I've had anywhere in a long time. I had the chicken and lamb platter. Came with Cous cous, tabouleh, hummus, and some yummy bread, and baklava for dessert.

Wolfgang Puck Express at DTD. Delicious pizzas and other choices. Much more like a sit-down restaurant then a Counter Service one.

Flame Tree BBQ (AK) was pretty good too. As was Columbia Harbor House (MK).

And actually, we weren't all that impressed with Sunshine Seasons in the Land Pavilion at Epcot. It was OK, but not great.

 

[Tramp68]

Tangierine Cafe in Morocco. DELICIOUS. One of the best restaurant meals I've had anywhere in a long time. I had the chicken and lamb platter. Came with Cous cous, tabouleh, hummus, and some yummy bread, and baklava for dessert.

Wolfgang Puck Express at DTD. Delicious pizzas and other choices. Much more like a sit-down restaurant then a Counter Service one.

Flame Tree BBQ (AK) was pretty good too. As was Columbia Harbor House (MK).

And actually, we weren't all that impressed with Sunshine Seasons in the Land Pavilion at Epcot. It was OK, but not great.

We ate at Tangerine cafe twice. Food was warm and bland. Service was slow and rude.

We ate at WP and didnt like it, so I have never tried WPE

I have not tried Flame tree as my wife will not do BBQ...I guess I should try. I am actually content to grab a corn dog at one of the carts in AK, but I really expect the parks to have some repeat factor to them...

Just ate at Harbour house and was not impressed there either. Had 2 pieces of greasy fried fish with warm tartar sauce...yuck

I guess I just expect more out of a $9 meal than most people...

 

[amym2]

I do agree in some cases the kids meals are somewhat limited. However I get the logic behind and agree that sometimes kids are picky because they are picky. My DS however isn't one of them and even though he would be fine with the kids opions, gross meaty macaroni and all, I would prefer he not eat that all week.

So my question is if I just have him share some meals with me is there anything I can do with the extra child's dining credits?

We ended up using some of the kids' credits for breakfast. We'd get a kids' platter of bacon and eggs and share it. Remember also that restaurants that don't have a kids' menu will let you use the credit for an adult meal. For example, we were able to get a turkey leg using DD's credit (but no dessert since they didn't have anything). We had a great breakfast sandwich in AK back by the safari that we got with a kids' credit since there wasn't a kids' meal offered. We all split it to hold us over until lunch.