Kid's Menus (At Least For Dining Plans) SUCK!!!

[Dixiemom]

LA2kw,

Good points all. While it is true no one held a gun to my head and made me book a dining plan, I did not put in nearly the research on the restaurant menus that I did on attractions, etc. We will be eating lunch at Sunshine Seasons, 50's Prime Time Cafe as well as Flame Tree BBQ. I do have us booked for a couple of dinner buffets as well, I just hoped there would be more than what is offered in the way of healthier food. Still they won't die eating chicken nuggets or burgers. Thanks!

Guess you missed where I posted this.

 

[chs27]

I was just wondering about the kid meals. Will a restaurant make a smaller version of adult meal? My son, 9, likes to eat variety. Even if we could order him an appetiser to eat. If not, I'm going to be sharing my food with him.

 

[mrzrich]

I was just wondering about the kid meals. Will a restaurant make a smaller version of adult meal? My son, 9, likes to eat variety. Even if we could order him an appetiser to eat. If not, I'm going to be sharing my food with him.

If you are paying OOP, you can order whatever you want, but if you are using the DDP, you are limited to the children's menu choices only. (Unless you want to supplement the DDP by paying OOP for the appitizer if you want)

 

[dmoore718]

I think most parents do care what their kids eat. I care, however, my 4 y.o. is underweight and many times will only eat chicken nuggets or pizza, so I don't mind. When at the resort food court, I do get her yogurt or another option, but usually I"m so happy she is eating SOMETHING, especially on vacation when she needs to have something in her stomach. I also will be packing pediasure for her. Believe me, it's a different kind of struggle with her. I do think the resorts and buffets have more options for kids.

 

[Dixiemom]

Well, I just thought I'd try and add our son to the adult DDP and remove him from the kids......turns out (unless the agent was wrong) if we do that we have to change him to the adult park tickets......so things will stay as they are. If anyone know if this is not the case and I just got an uninformed agent please let me know

 

[maxiesmom]

Well, I just thought I'd try and add our son to the adult DDP and remove him from the kids......turns out (unless the agent was wrong) if we do that we have to change him to the adult park tickets......so things will stay as they are. If anyone know if this is not the case and I just got an uninformed agent please let me know

No that is actually right. If you want your child to have adult dining credits, they are totally adult in Disney's eyes. Which means they need an adult pass too.

 

[Iwant2BAprincess]

I really wish that they would include a kids portion of what the TS menus are. I generally take on the attitude that it is vacation and go with the flow but there really should be more variety offered to kids.

One more side note-if they shrink the kids pizza any more at pizza planet they will be serving it on a english muffin.

 

[Skylarr29]

I don't think they are too horrible but I most certainly think the variety is lacking. I too, wish that they had smaller portions of some of the TS meals. Even grilled chicken and the same old veggies gets boring if you are there for a week or more. Our little ones will be 1 and 2 for their first trip next year and we are going to do the DXDP so they can share with us or eat for free at buffets.

I think Disney makes very strange choices regarding what they consider healthy. For example they have changed all the buns to cardboard... I mean wheat, yet they serve a double cheeseburger with bacon. I am pretty sure that if you are eating a double cheese burger with bacon and fries you do not care if you bun is whole wheat. Same thing with pizza, I will not be going to Pizzafari anymore because their pizza on wheat is just horrible. Don't even get me started on Casey's hot dog buns.

 

[Disneylvr]

Yes, most definitely the kid's menus are lacking in variety. Thankfully with the menus being available we can plan ahead which restaurants to avoid with DD. Some restaurants are better than others. But also ask the server at the sit down restaurants, sometimes they can make things that aren't listed on the official kid's menu.

 

[MissionMouse]

Yes, most definitely the kid's menus are lacking in variety...

Yep, this is the main issue. Why are they so limited? The most unappealing ones are designed around the Kids' Picks: Choice of 1 Appetizer, 1 Entree and 1 Dessert. Made us feel guilty as parents when it arrived at the table...not fresh, modular concept, resembling institutional serving methods. After that restaurant we told our kids they could order outiside the kids menu. They were happy again...

 

[kandb]

It doesn't bother me and to be honest for $12 a day to feed your kid with two meals (one sit down and one counter service) and a snack (that can be up to $4), I personally think it's a bargain. It is disneyworld, not a health club. If you try, you can check menus and find "healthier" foods, I remember seeing them. Also, try to book buffets, then your kids can eat whatever foods are on the buffets.

 

[TDC Nala]

Yep, this is the main issue. Why are they so limited?

Possibly the fact that the kids' dining plan is only $10-12 per night has something to do with it.

Yes it's a fantastic deal, but you then give up the option to buy adult meals for the children. You can always share yours with them. Buffets are still spectacular deals for children.

A few years ago Disney revamped all its kids' menus to include carefully measured portions of things like raw vegetables, fruit, grilled chicken strips and pita pizza with chicken. Desserts were limited to sugar-free jello or fruit. There was such an outcry from parents that they switched most menus back to chicken nuggets, mac and cheese and other typical "kid" food. Parts of those menus survive, usually in the kids' "appetizers" at TS and the fact that you have to ask for fries at most CS, they'll automatically give you carrots or grapes unless you do.

 

[LIBLULA]

We have upgraded our DD10 for the past 3 years to the adult plan. We did have to pay more for her, but it wasn't very much. She loved the food choices, but it was a lot of food for her!!!

 

[Iott Family]

We eat a lot of buffet type meals while at disney. They offer fresh fruit and veg. that are raw so its much healthier. You can also get fish, chicken and a fairly lean beef choice at most buffets.

Also, kids meals come with 2 side choices. Carrots and grapes are usually 2 of the sides offered at most cs places. My kids love these choices and we get fresh fruit as a snack at various snacks carts thru out the parks. At the ts places you can get steamed veggies, rice, pasta, etc as healthier choices.

I agree that WDW offers tons a bugers, fried foods and sugar laden treats but it is a theme park after all!

 

[3prettyprincesses]

Possibly the fact that the kids' dining plan is only $10-12 per night has something to do with it.

Yes it's a fantastic deal, but you then give up the option to buy adult meals for the children. You can always share yours with them. Buffets are still spectacular deals for children.

A few years ago Disney revamped all its kids' menus to include carefully measured portions of things like raw vegetables, fruit, grilled chicken strips and pita pizza with chicken. Desserts were limited to sugar-free jello or fruit. There was such an outcry from parents that they switched most menus back to chicken nuggets, mac and cheese and other typical "kid" food. Parts of those menus survive, usually in the kids' "appetizers" at TS and the fact that you have to ask for fries at most CS, they'll automatically give you carrots or grapes unless you do.

That's pretty interesting! At home, my kids eat fairly well and (gasp!) like fruit and veggies! At Disney, I don't stress over the selection for them. They were happy with it and each restaurant had slightly differing options. As I said in my other post, my DD just turned 10 and is eagerly looking forward to the adult menu because she's an adventurous eater. We typically do a lot of buffets so they can eat the same as an adult anyway. For us, the deluxe dining plan works great and my kids feel full and satisfied.

Honestly, does anyone really think that 7 days at Disney is going to make their child obese? I don't think so and if anything, a Disney vacation offers tons of exercise which is probably why my kids are hungry for every meal. I read somewhere on the dis that you can walk an average of 5-7 miles a day while at Disney.

 

[MusiqChic99]

It doesn't bother me and to be honest for $12 a day to feed your kid with two meals (one sit down and one counter service) and a snack (that can be up to $4), I personally think it's a bargain. It is disneyworld, not a health club. If you try, you can check menus and find "healthier" foods, I remember seeing them. Also, try to book buffets, then your kids can eat whatever foods are on the buffets.

I agree that the price is unbeatable, especially if you book buffets. You pretty much get your money's worth right there.

It's mainly just the variety, I gripe about. And I dont want to eat buffets the whole trip either. My son was too young for the dining plan last year so he shared from my plate. However I will do research before our next trip and find places that have different choices for him. I'm hoping World Showcase will have some CS places that aren't the same old thing. My son eats pretty much anything.

I dont get too worked up over the healthy issue while on vacation. However I dont want my kid eating chips and ice cream everyday either....stomach issues come to mind. I do suggest packing healthy snacks. Applesauce was great for my son. I gave it to him in his stroller and he ate it on the go.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

That's pretty interesting! At home, my kids eat fairly well and (gasp!) like fruit and veggies! At Disney, I don't stress over the selection for them. They were happy with it and each restaurant had slightly differing options. As I said in my other post, my DD just turned 10 and is eagerly looking forward to the adult menu because she's an adventurous eater. We typically do a lot of buffets so they can eat the same as an adult anyway. For us, the deluxe dining plan works great and my kids feel full and satisfied.

Honestly, does anyone really think that 7 days at Disney is going to make their child obese? I don't think so and if anything, a Disney vacation offers tons of exercise which is probably why my kids are hungry for every meal. I read somewhere on the dis that you can walk an average of 5-7 miles a day while at Disney.

I personally have never complained about this and don't mind my kids eating "junk" for a week while at Disney. It's one week a year. It's all of our vacation. I enjoy splurging on the food while at Disney and so should they.

However they tend not be themselves when loaded with junk. By day 3-4 I can tell they are just different. It could be exhaustion from the vacation (which I doubt since we aren't commando) but I think it's the food. I can just see a difference in them. I get that way if I eat junk all week too.

We do breakfast in the room so they eat a good breakfast. Lunch is CS which is where they get the "junk." Dinner is TS and we do lots of buffets so they can have more variety. They still go for the nuggets and pizza but they will eat fruit and cheese and veggies and more healthier options along with it. And snacks...I let them get junk for snack too.

This year DS is a Disney adult so I plan on letting him and DD share his CS meals which have some more healthier options so we can just mix it up. My kids are skinny so obesity isn't an issue here.

 

[Tara922c]

My opinion is if you do not want a dessert with every meal, and you don't like the choices from the children's menu then don't do the DDP. DD will be two weeks away from being 3 when we go, we are on the meal plan, she is not. For the most part, she will share with us, if we order her, her own meal, I just wont get her fries. We never eat dessert out, and don't eat fast food often, so a week of eating "junk food" wont kill us, or dd. I plan on getting dd tons of fruit for snacks in the park, only letting her drink water (milk with milks), and i know she will get tons of exercise. I just feel Disney's CS places are comparable to the 20 fast food joints I drive by just on my way to work. As an adult, I choose to eat there, or not to eat there, and I will choose to allow my child to eat some "not so healthy" things for one week a year!

 

[eeyorepixie]

we go for 14-16 days on average, so the kids meals are pretty important to us and I think they are lacking.

 

[SteffM]

We priced it out and it is way cheaper for us to be on the DxDP. I have no problem with them eating unhealthy for a week or two on vacation. My problem is the choices are limited. I think we will be sticking to buffets. My kids like adult foods. Not a one likes fries. Hamburgers, cheeseburgers and chicken nuggets are few and far between and three out of the four hate pepperoni and plain cheese pizza. We were hoping they would just suck it up for a vacation at WDW . Otherwise, it is a great deal for the price! Anyone know how much it would be to upgrade a child to an adult ticket/DxDP?