Kids meals

[Jobelle]

We're less than 2 weeks from our trip. I have some food questions.

I've got two picky Littles who will probably live on chicken tenders and Mac n cheese ... however they can be picky about Mac n cheese. Is it the same all over the park? If they don't like it the first time do we just give it up because it'll be the same everywhere else?

Also, I have a not picky 8 year old who eats who eats a ton. Kids meal offerings are pretty dismal. Would it be a better plan to have her share adult plates with one of us parents? Any good kids meals we should be sure to try? Appreciate any tips!

 

[beachteachlv]

I don’t have any suggestions but just here to say I can so painfully relate to the mac n cheese discrimination im taking our daughter in 3 weeks and she’s the same.. loves MnC but not all equally. Hope you get some good responses!

 

[ClaraOswald]

If your 8 year old is a good eater, I'd just order them an adult meal unless you are a lighter eater and don't plan to eat everything you order.

 

[DLgal]

The Mac and cheese is the same at all Disney owned establishments. It's very saucy, with elbow pasta.

It may vary at the Downtown Disney independent restaurants. Ralph Brennans and Tortilla Joe's (used to) serve Kraft Mac and cheese, at least a few years ago.

I'd order the 8 year old regular adult meals. Portion sizes for kids meals are TINY and the offerings for kids are very bland.

I don't find the adult portions to be overly large. They have gotten a bit smaller over the years, but sharing is also a good option.

 

[DisneylandFan22]

Agree. Kids meals are small. Splitting an adult meal depends on the meal and how much the adult wants to eat. I would lean towards ordering the 8 year old their own adult meal.

 

[roctavia]

We just finished 5 days at Grand Californian (4 park days) and I think only ordered kids meals 3 times- once at Craftsman that was not worth it, expensive and one tiny burger... and at Blue Bayou for the steak, which was worth it, though we had to ask for a new steak for one of the kiddos since the steak size was hugely different and one was way too small even for a kid portion. They fixed it for us no charge. One kiddo also got the Pym's pasta kids meal and that seemed worth it and was pretty yummy.
I think the Mac N cheese is the same everywhere, and the same as they make for the Mac N Cheese cones at the cozy cone (we got one with and one without bacon) but otherwise mostly shared snacks/corn dogs/ stuff like that. The kids meals were mostly all mac n cheese, maybe a burger and chicken tenders, so nothing too adventurous and our kids weren't very interested in those options this time. (One would eat a pretzel for every meal given the choice)

The baked potato by the Lion King Show was also a surprisingly good option for our kids.

 

[ClaraOswald]

When we do kids meals at quick service, we often try to grab a fruit cup or some grapes from a stand before going to grab lunch. That way the meal ends up being a little more substantial.

 

[wendlle]

Maybe because I'm not American ?? But I find the kids meals large, My kids usually split one between them - and both of them can eat quite a bit.
I also get kids meals and am full after eating them.

 

[Jobelle]

When we do kids meals at quick service, we often try to grab a fruit cup or some grapes from a stand before going to grab lunch. That way the meal ends up being a little more substantial.

Yeah, planning on bringing along carrot sticks, apples, string cheese, and the like to fill out the meals (and nutrients) as needed!

 

[DLgal]

Maybe because I'm not American ?? But I find the kids meals large, My kids usually split one between them - and both of them can eat quite a bit.
I also get kids meals and am full after eating them.

Have you actually done this

1. Since 2021?

2. Specifically at Disneyland Resort?

A kids burger is now a slider. No joke. Chicken tenders is 2 TINY tenders and like 5 fries OR one Cutie mandarin. Mac and cheese is served in a 4oz condiment cup. I wish I was kidding.

That is not enough for most children and definitely not enough for an adult and definitely not enough to share.

I agree that outside of Disney, many restaurant kids meals are huge, and definitely more than enough for one child.

 

[roctavia]

Maybe because I'm not American ?? But I find the kids meals large, My kids usually split one between them - and both of them can eat quite a bit.
I also get kids meals and am full after eating them.

It really depends on where you are eating, there are huge discrepancies in the size of the meals depending on restaurant. We did the "kids" cheeseburger at Craftsman grill and it was the tiniest slider I've ever seen and 2 cuties... for $10... no drink, nothing else. Thankfully we had other food to share, but for an 8 year old, the burger was so small she could eat it in two bites.

The hummus/veggies at Bengal BBQ while not a kids meal, was actually a really good portion of hummus and vegetables for a good price. I was pleasantly surprised by that healthier snack.

 

[Jobelle]

The Mac and cheese is the same at all Disney owned establishments. It's very saucy, with elbow pasta.

This is what I suspected. Thanks

 

[Curiousporpoise]

My kids lived on Mac n Cheese, chicken tenders and fries, pizza and corn on the cob. My older guy loves the pastas at Boardwalk Pizza and Pym’s Test Kitchen, both at DCA. Oh and the kids meals are tiny, I think they shrank during Covid.

 

[SOCALMouseMommy]

Maybe because I'm not American ?? But I find the kids meals large, My kids usually split one between them - and both of them can eat quite a bit.
I also get kids meals and am full after eating them.

It depends on where you order. Some are tiny. Some are larger. Here are the kids meals at a few places (Blue Bayou, Tangaroa Terrace, Lamplight Lounge).

 

[wendlle]

Have you actually done this

1. Since 2021?

2. Specifically at Disneyland Resort?

A kids burger is now a slider. No joke. Chicken tenders is 2 TINY tenders and like 5 fries OR one Cutie mandarin. Mac and cheese is served in a 4oz condiment cup. I wish I was kidding.

That is not enough for most children and definitely not enough for an adult and definitely not enough to share.

I agree that outside of Disney, many restaurant kids meals are huge, and definitely more than enough for one child.

yes, I was there with my two kids last November.
I am just saying, maybe we are used to smaller portions than the average American ??

 

[DodgerGirl]

For years Disneyland has struggled to attract kids by expanding their kids menus and what I think they are doing is making the kids meals smaller so the kids can eat a smaller portion rather than a big portion. Because when you get the general picture kids have a limited menu and they really need the proper portion sizes of food to grow strong. Because when you look at kids meals at Disneyland in the past they were the most expensive meals especially since the meal comes with dessert such as a small bowl of chocolate ice cream or vanilla ice cream. But ever since Disneyland started focusing on healthy kids meals they started giving kids things like fruit or apple slices and for drinks they started giving kids Honest Kids Juices rather than sodas and the reason why some restaurants at Disneyland have sliders instead of hamburgers and cheeseburgers is because they're smaller and easier for kids to eat. But I can't figure out why macaroni and cheese is popular with kids because the way I see it I have always viewed macaroni and cheese as a snack like ramen noodles and there should be other foods that Disneyland should add to the kids menu for healthy choices for kids. But I think in the future Disneyland will expand the kids menus and lower the prices for the kids menus

 

[NorCalFanatic]

.

 

[ClaraOswald]

Yeah, planning on bringing along carrot sticks, apples, string cheese, and the like to fill out the meals (and nutrients) as needed!

Sometimes we grabbed our son a Powerpack in addition to a kids meal to get some extra things. He's underweight and picky so we basically throw everything at him and hope he'll eat something. Ha!