Kids Who LIKE TS Dining?

[Withacy]

I'm taking my 7 year old godson to WDW Dec. 12-20th.

I was over in another forum on this board, mentioning some troubles getting dinner reservations that worked with events, and I was surprised by how many people said "forget reservations, kids are just as happy with a hotdog at a QS". People asked if I was going to let him go on any rides, and suggested I was making it all about ME instead of him by making reservations.

I took his sister in January, 2008 for her 9th birthday - and for both I got the Deluxe Dining Plan. She loved going to all the interesting restaurants (places like CP, CM, TH, CRT, WCC, SciFi, 50's Prime Time, Boma, Coral Reef, etc.). And it wasn't about the food. They look on going out to those places as being as much of an event as Philharmagic or Festival of the Lion King.

The thing is, this is my 10th trip - and these are the only two I've even got the dining plan. I don't go to TS that often on my own. And it's not like we're going to Citricos or adult themed restaurants. We're going to places with interesting, child-friendly, engaging themes.

And we're there for 8 nights - it's not like we're going to have to skip anything to do it.

Is it really so impossible to imagine that some kids actually LIKE going to TS restaurants?

 

[SunniKC]

Seriously? Okay...my kids are 8 and 10...now my son might be happy with a hot dog but then again that is because they don't get them often. We are doing one TS each day but the rest will be CS...so they will have that opportunity as well as the experience of dining disney style. But even at home my kids would rather go to a real restaurant with real food than a fast food place!

 

[koolaidmoms]

My children love TS meals and far prefer them over the QS meals. They especially love the buffets (even Biergarten and Tusker House) where they can choose what they want to eat and are not limited to the kids menus. They do not just eat off the "children's bar" portion either. They are fairly adventurous eaters and we encourage them to try new things such as bratwurst with sauerkraut or bobotie.

My kids are much happier with the TS and often complain when we go to QS.

 

[Darcy03231]

My kids love TS restaurants! In fact, on our last trip we only ate CS once (and DS complained about it).

When I took my niece (she was 4 at the time) last fall we were on the DDP and she had a great time in the TS restaurants (Chef Mickey's, 1900 Park Fare, Askershus Princess Breakfast, Crystal Palace, and Coral Reef). While she liked all the character meals, she loved Coral Reef. We were seated next the aquarium and she was just fascinated by the sea life and the divers.

Go with your plans and don't worry about what others think.

 

[MouseMomx2]

My two kids have always preferred TS meals. We never shied away from taking them to nice restaurants when they were little, and taught them how to behave appropriately at a young age.

They both love trying new foods and are most excited about going to Sanaa on our next trip. Their favorite event at WDW is the Food & Wine Festival and on our trips during that time we have to make sure we try one of everything. They like chicken nuggets/fingers, pizza and hot dogs, but would much rather have something a bit more adventurous...especially on vacation.

They would both gladly eat TS for every meal but we tend to do a mix of TS, CS and cooking in our DVC villa. These are kids who are very much into the thrill rides and other experiences at WDW, they just like good food.

 

[rlahsin]

My girls, ages 5 and 7, love TS restaurants. We take them out a lot at home, so they are very used to dining out. They also have well developed eating habits as a result. They have tried a wide variety of foods since they were very little, so they tend to eat more like adults than children. I'm actually really turned off by the kids menus at the Disney restaurants. If you expose children to something other than hot dogs and mac & cheese, they may actually LIKE something other than hot dogs and mac & cheese! We have ADRs for every night of our trip..and they will absolutely love the food!

 

[sue1013]

Some kids may prefer a hot dog to a real meal but how can any responsible adult allow them to eat hot dogs for a week?

 

[Princess Disney Mom]

I've takes kids ages 4-16 to resturants and have never never heard a complaint. Do what works for you.

 

[TriMom]

Don't worry - my 3 and 6 yo are looking forward to the meals as much as everything else. My 6 yo favorite food is a Samosa (an Indian potato and pea app.) So we are going to Sannaa at his request. My kids are adventurous eaters, so I have no problem with them at restaurants. And as you pointed out - the atmosphere of the restaurants are so uniquely Disney!

I have a friend who's kids are super picky eaters. I would never tell her that she is missing something by skipping all TS restaurants - it WOULD be miserable for her kids and her!

I am so sorry people got snippy with you Of course you will plan a vacation that is perfect for YOUR family. Keep trying to track down ADR's and go enjoy the restaurant experience! I am sure that your 7 yo will love them.

 

[Withacy]

OH yes - Liam LOVES fish, and his mother told me he'll be in heaven at Coral Reef (we'll do it for lunch at Epcot).

The first place I took his sister was Crystal Palace. And since it was the first time I'd used the dining plan, I wasn't really sure about it. I just knew the rules said that kids had to ORDER off the children's menu - so I wasn't sure if that meant they could only get the "kids" food at buffets. Well, we went up to the buffet and my VERY picky-eating goddaughter got a look at the shrimp & filled up her plate! I wasn't sure if we were going to get kicked out! (I learned better.)

Like I said, she was a very picky eater (for example, she won't eat anything with sauce on it - even spagetti). It wasn't about the food. It was about the Princesses, the aquarium, the characters, the hootin' & hollerin', and eating in a car watching movie trailers. It was about having FUN at meal time. What's not to like about that?

And I don't care what anyone says, after this last trip in March (with another adult), I'm convinced it doesn't take any longer to eat TS (especially in the park).

QS daily experience:

"Are you hungry?"
"I don't know...are you hungry?"
"I guess. Where do you want to go?"
"I don't know. Where do you want to go?"
"I don't care."
"I don't care either. You choose."
"I chose last time. It's your turn."
"OK, let's try ABC."
"OK."
(Walk over to ABC. LONG line.)
"Eh...I don't know. Maybe we should try XYZ - unless you had your heart set on ABC."
"No, that's fine."
(Walk over to XYZ, find even LONGER line.)
"Do you want to wait, or go back over to ABC?"
"Eh...I don't know...what do that have anyway?"

And so on, and so forth. And that's not even the time waiting, and the hassle trying to find somewhere to sit AFTER you get the food. And that's with just two ADULTS.

 

[Kit'smommy]

My 5 year old loves going out to eat at nicer places. The only reason he wants to go to McDonald's is for the toy. The only thing he will touch there is a chicken breast from one of the southern chicken sandwiches. Everything else is "yucky."

He isn't a big eater quantity wise, so he often shares meals with me or DH instead of ordering off the child's menu. He will eat an occassional hot dog or chicken finger, but he would rather have real food.

We usually have one TS meal and on QS meal per day with a quick snack for either breakfast or lunch. The quiet time at TS meals is very good for him and he enjoys them.

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

My kids 6 and 11 love going to TS meals. We all have our favorites: Chef Mickeys, CRT, Sci-Fi and Le Cellier to name a few.

One TS a day for my kids is fine. I know it would be too much with the Deluxe plan. Way to much down time and way too much food. But thats just my opinion with my kids.

 

[Withacy]

I have a friend who's kids are super picky eaters. I would never tell her that she is missing something by skipping all TS restaurants - it WOULD be miserable for her kids and her!

I am so sorry people got snippy with you Of course you will plan a vacation that is perfect for YOUR family. Keep trying to track down ADR's and go enjoy the restaurant experience! I am sure that your 7 yo will love them.

Like I said, his sister was a very picky eater - but she had FUN, which is what really mattered. Her one frustration was she kept getting the same menu/activity sheet at all the restaurants (there were like 3 different ones, but she got one of them 3 out of every 4 restaurants we went to - she had the thing memorized!). She always found something to eat. Her brother is a lot more adventerous - though he's not too fond of spicy food.

As for the ADRs, I've already made them all. I was actually complaining that the one thing that didn't work out was that the only day I could fit in WCC I had to take a 7:35 ADR, and that meant we'd miss the SpectroMagic Parade & Wishes on the only day I'd set aside to see them. But then Wednesday I ended up snagging a 5:00 for that day, so it worked out. He REALLY wants to do WCC. Mostly because his sister chickened out on getting Ketchup, and he's sworn he's going to! (I hope we get a good server.)

The only substitution I had to make for the whole week was Liberty Tree Tavern instead of Tony's (which is odd - I managed to get CRT for dinner at the time I wanted, no problem). That's certainly not a big deal, though I've taken a slight dislike to LTT after Liam's sister asked me, during our lunch there, if I lived in a house like that when I was a kid. And yet, she still lives.

We're hitting most of the character meals, and most of the rowdy, noisy places. It should be great fun!

 

[robinb]

Is it really so impossible to imagine that some kids actually LIKE going to TS restaurants?

I don't know. Is it really so impossible to imagine that some kids actually LIKE CS restaurants?

ETA: There is little difference, IMO, between most CS and TS kids meals.

 

[waltskids]

Our DS doesn't even like hot dogs (and neither do we...yuck!) He is only 2.5 but loves table service restaurants. It's a nice break from the hustle and bustle of the parks and he loves trying new foods. Some kids are happy with the standard 'kid fare' but not our kid. We always do one table service a day while in Disney.

 

[Withacy]

I don't know. Is it really so impossible to imagine that some kids actually LIKE CS restaurants?

Did anyone suggest that they don't?

This thread was in response to the insistance of some people that children don't like TS. And that adults who plan TS meals are being selfish & only thinking about themselves. The point here being that some kids actually DO like some TS restaurants.

No one said ALL children - or even MOST children - prefer TS.

So - what point are you trying to make?

 

[HM]

My kids have never been typical. They've hardly ever eaten a kid's meal at a restaurant....don't like mac and cheese, etc. So if they eat at a TS restaurant it's usually off the adult meal (they are older now....so meet that requirement anyway), so DDP would not have done us any good when they were younger. At WDW, we like to have a variety of dining experience and TS meals are high on the kids list of fun things to do.

 

[luckymom4]

My kids prefer TS. We will be there three days and have one TS per day, Whispering Canyon, T-Rex, and Chef Mickeys. Whispering Canyon is to please my DH and DS12. T-Rex is for DS5. And Chef Mickeys is for DD9. (he sent her a letter and personally requested her presence ). DS5 is the ONLY one who would be ok with CS, and that's only because he hardly eats at all. My older two like "real food". And I think having a special atmosphere while dining will be magical as well because it's not something you do every day. My kids are looking forward to their personal dining experiences as much as the parks themselves!

And only 34 days left!

 

[robinb]

Did anyone suggest that they don't?

This thread was in response to the insistance of some people that children don't like TS. And that adults who plan TS meals are being selfish & only thinking about themselves. The point here being that some kids actually DO like some TS restaurants.

No one said ALL children - or even MOST children - prefer TS.

So - what point are you trying to make?

My point is that it's not a shocking revelation that some kids like TS restaurants. My DD has been going to Disney TS restaurants since she was 4-months old. However, I have never heard her say "Goody! We're going to Citrico's!"

 

[JennyT2]

Going to also add in that my kids (8 & 6) LOVE TS ... so much so that my dd wanted to see my adr list before I booked ... wanted to make sure I had CP, Biergarten, Le Cellier and GF!!!! And depending where you book, there is a BIG difference btwn qs and ts for kids menu. We always do Le Cellier and GF b/c they have a kids ssteak. LTT they get the turkey etc like the adults and at CP they can have whatever they want.

Also, since when is a family vacation JUST about the kids? I hate riding It's a Small World, but my kids love it so we ride it. No adult should have to suffer through countless QS (even though there are lots of good ones) when they really want to eat at a TS.