Kids Meals - What should they add?

[TruBlu]

We've all been complaining about the lack of choices for kids meals. What would you like to see CS places add to the menu?

 

[TruBlu]

I'll start -
Cheeseburgers and Hotdogs. These are really hard to find for some reason! AND they are two things that my boys really love.

 

[vanessat]

Food that is not deep-fried: such as roasted chicken drumsticks, meatballs, pasta...

 

[bluejasmine]

pizza in a pizza place, burger in a burger place etc. More salads, sandwhiches besides pb&j, mainly I would like to see mini version of adult menu in kid size portions. My DD will eat what I eat just much less.

 

[TinkerbellMama]

We've all been complaining about the lack of choices for kids meals. What would you like to see CS places add to the menu?

Something healthy! Personally, I do NOT look forward to having to steer my child away from the greasy, cheese-laden choices they currently seem to offer. We don't do dairy so the macaroni and cheese and pizza options are right out, regardless of nutritional value or lack thereof. I'd like to see a veggie burger, "fun" fresh sandwich (maybe in pita bread?), or even a pasta made without beef or sugar (yes, there is sugar in a LOT of commercial/restaurant pasta sauce!). Even some chicken or fish choices which are not breaded and deep-fried would be lovely!

 

[Stimpy]

Cheese sandwiches, Turkey & Cheese sandwiches, yogurt...but I can see why they don't offer these Those are just the things my DS will eat besides Mac & Cheese. Healthier, non fried type stuff....and not just "chilled" chicken!

I also wish they would offer burgers and pizza at the places they are expected.

 

[Pixiedust34]

I'd like to see Pecos Bill offer a hamburger kids meal. I think they have beanie weenies, which my dd doens't like. I forget what the other kids meal is, though I remember she wasn't too pleased with that either. Since Pecos Bill is known for burgers, I'm surprised that a kid can't get a burger kids meal.

I'd also like to see Pizzafari offer a pizza for a kids meal.

There is a place in Epcot (Japan, maybe??) that had 1 choice for a kids meal. It would be nice if there were at least 2 or 3 choices for kids. I wouldn't want to go to a restaurant with just 1 choice of food for myself, and I imagine kids would like a choice of a few things, too.

As for healthy choices, you can almost always substitute carrots or fresh fruit for fries, and ask for a bottle of milk to with the with meal instead of a soda. The fresh fruit was usually grapes when we were there in August.

 

[juligrl]

Yes, I will agree that the kids CS meals could be a little more varied. I would love to see more cold cuts and deli style kids meals available at these sorts of places (one of my daughter's favorites is turkey & cheese sandwich on whole wheat bread), yogurt or cottage cheese, warmed, non-fried chicken strips, grapes (although they may already offer these), steamed vegetables (broccoli, carrots & cauliflower especially).

Also agree with a previous poster who said adult meals in a mini portion. DD eats the same things we do at home, just less of them. It would just be more convenient if they just offered the kid sized portion rather than have us purchase the adult portion and then store/lug/eat the remainder.

 

[Ms.Mouse]

I think the restaurants should offer child-sized portions of whatever they are serving, or at least take a few regular adult-meals that may be more popular with most children and have a small selection of those meals in child-sized portions... My grandson quickly became tired of the same... nuggets, burger, hotdog etc.... we tried to get to some of the restaurants that offered grilled chicken and steak and also tried a couple of buffets so he could have REAL FOOD!!!

 

[WAHMto5]

The only thing I complain about it is like places like Pecos Bill, PLEASE have the same things for children as adults (just a smaller version of course). We go there every trip tp get the Cheeseburgers and there are NO cheeseburgers on the kids menu Of course what the kids see us eating, they want the same most of the time!

 

[Jerseygirl63]

I would love to see more fruits and raw veggies offered as a side instead of french fries or apple sauce. My son (8) wants to see a GOOD pickle offered at every meal including breakfast He's the pickle king!

 

[princesspwrhr]

I have to agree that the kids choices definately need to be healthier and more varied. Deli style sandwiches on whole wheat would be good (Anything on wheat actually!), yogurt, more fresh fruit/veggie options, maybe soup, smaller portions of the adult menus and some places definately need more choices! Usually we end up getting an adult meal for my 3 girls to share since they won't eat chicken fingers, mac n cheese, burgers, hot dogs or frozen pizza. They were fighting over who got the last of the clam chowder at Columbia Harbour House, lol it was cute. Oh and if they're going to do PBJ, can it *please* be REAL pbj not those nasty frozen white bread uncrustable garbage things?


Didn't Liberty Tree Tavern test a healthier kids menu late last year/early this year? Something like that at more places or even a couple options like that would be nice. My kids would have loved that menu, counter service or table service.

 

[LSUDis]

I agree.

I would want smaller versions of what the place serves adults--counters and tables.

At least then we'd know what to expect from each eatery--

Pizzafari-you can get pizza and Italian food
Pecos Bill-you can get American/"cowboy" food,
etc.

Then, it would be nice if every restaurant offers the same typical "kid" food along with their niche food. Ex: burgers, hot dogs, fries, grapes, chicken nuggets. We know then that the kids could get "regular" food OR ethnic/niche food. It would be standardized, but with specialized choices, too.

 

[DumboDash2006]

I think it depends on the restaurant. They should definitely offer their specialty adult items in a child size portion.

Really I don't see why they can't offer just about anything they sell for adults, for children.

IMO an idea children's menu would offer a hamburger, chicken nuggets/strips, a deli style sandwich and one or two other items (mac and cheese, pb&j, pizza, hot dog etc). My dd will eat just about anything so we'll be fine. I am however very worried about my nephew. We will be limited in where we can eat or my sister will have to pay OOP for him a number of times between his food allergies and pickiness. I mean many places have mac and cheese as one of two options. He can't eat that and if he doesn't like the other choice....well, too bad it seems.

 

[magicmouse2]

Pasta other than mac n cheese, boiled rice as side options, mini flat breads with various toppings. I have one VERY picky daughter who wont eat veg, salad, beans or potatoes, so I tend to book a lot of buffets for more variety.

 

[patsal]

I'm not looking for anything too crazy--just pizza or a half pizza at pizza CS, hotdogs (where adult Hotdogs are sold), burgers(at pecos bill and other burger places), kids size order of chicken planks (like at CHH or other appropriate venues). I'm not saying they need to have all items at all places, just one "normal" choice per place would be fine. Since I have no "children" anymore this will not affect us, but in December we just paid for the extra item ala carte and used the children's CS for breakfast.

 

[Mom of Sleepy Bashful and BabyDoc]

Pecos Bill's
Bean's and Franks- keep
Chilled Chicken/carrots/applesauce - keep
Jr. size burger w/fries or carrots/applesauce- ADD
Mac and cheese w/applesauce - ADD
Turkey and cheese(or without), lettuce, tomato wrap w/carrots and applesauce - ADD
Veggie burger w/side - ADD


Columbia Harbor House

Mac and Cheese w/grapes/crackers - keep
Chilled Chicken w/cheese, grapes, crackers - keep
Fried fish basket w/fries or coleslaw or applesauce - ADD
Fried chicken basket w/fries or coleslaw or applesauce - ADD
Half Tuna salad sandwich w/applesauce or coleslaw - ADD
*something for vegetarians..........sorry, I'm not much good with this unless it's a veggie burger which I'm sure they get tired of. - ADD


Comic Ray's

Chicken noodle soup - keep
Chicken garden salad - keep
Chicken nuggets - keep
Mini corn dogs - keep
Piece of rotisserie chicken(light or dark) w/mashed potatoes,veggie - ADD
1/4 rack of ribs w/mashed potatoes,veggie - ADD
Vegetarian burger w/choice of fries/carrots/applesauce - ADD

Pinocchio Village Haus

Mac and cheese - keep
PB & J sandwich - keep
Chicken strips w/choice of fries,carrots or applesauce - ADD
Grilled turkey and cheese sandwich w/choice of fries,carrots,applesauce-ADD
1/2 Italian sub sandwich w/cup of minestrone soup or fries - ADD
Pizza w/choice of carrots,applesauce - ADD
Ham and Cheese on roll w/choice of fries, carrots,applesauce - ADD
*something for vegetarians.........- ADD

This is just the Magic Kingdom............I could go on for each park. The big thing is CHOICE. Have more than two or three choices and have the restaurants "specialty" if there is one.

And it doesn't have to be plain applesauce. Bring in those berry applesauce's like what Mott's makes. And maybe ranch dip for the carrots..........I think some of them do this already. Just give choices!! Even with the sides.

Maybe have a list of "MAIN" dishes to pick from and a list of "SIDES" to pick from. There might have to be an extra charge for some sides in comparison to others, but I bet they could make it work.

 

[poohguys]

I agree that there should be "healthy" and vegetarian choices for those who want them. I also find it quite odd that there is no childs pizza on the menu at the Pizzafari in AK or that the Columbia Harbour House does not have a childrens fish basket. My DS lives on fish sticks lately. I also think that some of the kids meals are a little on the small side. With a growing 5 yr old that has eating more and more lately, and I am sure it is a little small for some of the bigger kids 8 or 9 too.

 

[Lisa_Belle]

I'm not looking for anything too crazy--just pizza or a half pizza at pizza CS, hotdogs (where adult Hotdogs are sold), burgers(at pecos bill and other burger places), kids size order of chicken planks (like at CHH or other appropriate venues). I'm not saying they need to have all items at all places, just one "normal" choice per place would be fine. Since I have no "children" anymore this will not affect us, but in December we just paid for the extra item ala carte and used the children's CS for breakfast.

I agree with this. It would be so easy to have a fish meal with just one or two pieces of fish, or a chicken finger basket with one or two pieces of chicken, etc. There are kids' sized personal pizzas at other places at WDW, so it stands to reason they would be a logical choice at a PIZZA PLACE!

(Honestly, do kids actually eat that chilled chicken meal? It sounds horrible to me, and I'm not a picky eater)

 

[seven dwarfs]

I agree with mini size of adult food. My kids are healthy eaters. (and junk food eaters too) pb&j, mac n cheese, and nuggets everyday gets old fast. When we go to 9 dragons my kids want what we have! I am using the plan in Sept becuase it is free. But last trip we did not buy it due to this reason. Plus when my kids are overloaded on junk food they act out if you know what I mean. Controlling the amount have junk helps control behavior