Lack of kids food in kids meals, being healthy has gone too far!

[Mrs. Whoever]

I don't miss the lackluster mac and cheese and nuggets on the TS menus. My kids eat a mix of healthier food options and junk while we are in the parks, just like in real life. We have never had a problem with finding something on the menu to please them. CS meals are often helped with a Kid's Power Pack for fresh fruit and yogurt. I also read menus and mentally plan food options for different times of day in each park. We are also not shy about asking for substitutions and have never been disappointed. It helps that they love steak and salmon, but honestly they only love those things because we've been feeding them that since they had teeth.

 

[tiffjoy]

I wonder if the issue is not knowing menus beforehand. When we are going to eat, if it's CS, I look up the menu (I tend to use my Touring Plans app) and read the options to my kids and DH for a couple places. We decide together if we want to go to that restaurant or somewhere else. I list not just kids meal options, but adult items or appetizers/sides, too, as I'm willing to share with a child if they would prefer an adult meal or they sometimes will share an adult meal.

If I'm booking TS, I do the same- review the menu and make sure there is something for everyone. We have never gone to Taste Pilot's before because it only has burgers, and my kids don't like burgers. So we don't go. Instead, we may go to Flo's for a turkey sandwich or Boardwalk Pasta for them and Paradise Garden Grill for DH and I.

I don't typically take us someplace without knowing there are options on the menu my kids will eat. It's simply a matter of looking at the menu and making appropriate restaurant choices based on what they have- some places have chicken nuggets and fries and others have salmon and veggies. Pick what works for your family, but I don't get complaining about a variety being available?

 

[wildflower329]

I wonder if the issue is not knowing menus beforehand. When we are going to eat, if it's CS, I look up the menu (I tend to use my Touring Plans app) and read the options to my kids and DH for a couple places. We decide together if we want to go to that restaurant or somewhere else. I list not just kids meal options, but adult items or appetizers/sides, too, as I'm willing to share with a child if they would prefer an adult meal or they sometimes will share an adult meal.

If I'm booking TS, I do the same- review the menu and make sure there is something for everyone. We have never gone to Taste Pilot's before because it only has burgers, and my kids don't like burgers. So we don't go. Instead, we may go to Flo's for a turkey sandwich or Boardwalk Pasta for them and Paradise Garden Grill for DH and I.

I don't typically take us someplace without knowing there are options on the menu my kids will eat. It's simply a matter of looking at the menu and making appropriate restaurant choices based on what they have- some places have chicken nuggets and fries and others have salmon and veggies. Pick what works for your family, but I don't get complaining about a variety being available?

I completely agree with all of this. We have always had our kids eat what we eat, but they do enjoy macaroni and cheese every now and then. My oldest is also gluten free, so we often have a more limited selection. I found there is a huge variety of foods at Disneyland, but you have to choose where you go. I wouldn't go to a nicer restaurant at home expecting chicken nuggets for kids, and feel the same at Disney. Check the menus and go to a place that has what works for your family. There are plenty of options throughout the parks.

 

[LizzyS]

I look up the menus beforehand to make sure it looks like there's something there that my DH would like, haha. He can be a bit on the picky side and not very adventurous, either.

To me, it seems like there is a wide array of choices for adults and kids at DLR, but they'll never be able to please everyone.

 

[lovebug33]

I just want to say all of you with children who are not picky or don't have sensory issues are super lucky. I feed my kid whatever we eat at dinner, and she doesn't eat. I do want the option of some of the things she will eat because the only time she generally eats is at daycare and since we won't be there, I'd like her to actually eat something.

 

[ELSA711]

I think the issue for me is the 'healthy kid' stuff is really gross. It's bland or boiled it seems.
My kids like healthy food and chicken fingers with fries but WDW BOG was awful with their turkey meatloaf, but the fish was good. No experience with DL yet but if Disney wants the healthy stuff for kids, great!!! I'll take it but make it just like the adult food in smaller portions.

 

[MommyJKM]

I was under the impression that the sit down restaurants my wife and I wanted to go to would have the usual child's fare of hot dogs, hamburgers or chicken nuggets. This never happened!

This is actually not the "usual child's fare" now, especially in California, super especially in Southern California. I don't know ANY kids that usually eat hot dogs, burgers and processed nuggets. NONE.

 

[SMD]

I think that in the past, a number of vocal parents complained about the unhealthy/kiddie type meals. Disney tried to appease them, so now you have less "junk" food at the table service restaurants. There is just no way to make everyone happy. All kids don't like the same thing any more than all adults. I think it will have to boil down to checking out the menu.

I definitely think that people need to check menus ahead of time, especially if their kid is a picky eater. But CS places only offer 2 kids choices per location. I understand that these locations are small and it would be hard to keep a variety in stock. But I overheard a mom complaining just the other day that her kids wouldn't eat the second entree option offered at dinner, and the only other one was mac and cheese, which they'd had for lunch. She said if she'd known that was the only option for dinner, they would have had something different for lunch. I don't know, it wasn't TS, so I think I would have left and found something else if that's a concern. If the options were mac and cheese or chicken nuggets for lunch and your kid picks nuggets, and then nuggets again or burger for dinner then your kid ends up eating either fried nuggets and fries twice, or fries and fries twice either way. Maybe there should be a menu map that has little burger, chicken nugget and mac and cheese icons so people know where to go if their kid will only eat 1-2 of those options.

Oh, and as far as the menu at Carthay. I think if there's an adult burger on the menu then they should have child sliders instead of mini tacos. If you're going to do healthier fare, then make it kid friendly versions of the adult meals, or something close to that.

 

[JadeDarkstar]

This is actually not the "usual child's fare" now, especially in California, super especially in Southern California. I don't know ANY kids that usually eat hot dogs, burgers and processed nuggets. NONE.

That is just so wrong. Kids eat hot dogs and Burgers and Nuggets all the time. If it isn't happening in California I feel bad for the kids there. I have to say I would love to live close to Disney but sadly things California is doing is making me want to run screaming away from them.

I eat Hot dogs burgers and nuggets. Its what I like give me fries and a bacon burger and I am happy. What I don't like is at a few of the restaurants I would love to visit they don't have anything good. I wish CC had regular bacon to substitute the pepper bacon and id probably do that. I wish BB would have the MC for dinner on the Fantasmic meal and have fries as an option.
I wish they would stop trying to shove us to CS only meals. I should not have to go to a CS to get something I like. I want to go to those restaurants. Why shouldn't I be allowed to just because I want Junk as you all seem to say. SO what. Its my choice. Disney should have Junk and Healthy options at ever TS and CS not just for kids meals but also adults.
I will give them that a lot places I find have surf and turf (yummy for me at least.)

 

[SMD]

That is just so wrong. Kids eat hot dogs and Burgers and Nuggets all the time. If it isn't happening in California I feel bad for the kids there. I have to say I would love to live close to Disney but sadly things California is doing is making me want to run screaming away from them.

I eat Hot dogs burgers and nuggets. Its what I like give me fries and a bacon burger and I am happy. What I don't like is at a few of the restaurants I would love to visit they don't have anything good. I wish CC had regular bacon to substitute the pepper bacon and id probably do that. I wish BB would have the MC for dinner on the Fantasmic meal and have fries as an option.
I wish they would stop trying to shove us to CS only meals. I should not have to go to a CS to get something I like. I want to go to those restaurants. Why shouldn't I be allowed to just because I want Junk as you all seem to say. SO what. Its my choice. Disney should have Junk and Healthy options at ever TS and CS not just for kids meals but also adults.
I will give them that a lot places I find have surf and turf (yummy for me at least.)

It would be nice if there was an American Diner style TS place, but there are also so many of those just outside the park, I can understand why DLR doesn't try to compete just outside the park. Have you tried the pepper bacon? It's just along the edges of the bacon and covers very little surface area. You could always order it and just cut the edges off at the table. I can also understand why signature restaurants want to limit the amount of finger food. I think it's actually a compromise that they're offering a burger at all. I can't imagine people ordering a hot dog from, say, Blue Bayou. Does anyone know if Steakhouse 55 still offers a burger at lunch, or is it now only in the lounge?

 

[sweethannah]

That is just so wrong. Kids eat hot dogs and Burgers and Nuggets all the time. If it isn't happening in California I feel bad for the kids there. I have to say I would love to live close to Disney but sadly things California is doing is making me want to run screaming away from them.

I eat Hot dogs burgers and nuggets. Its what I like give me fries and a bacon burger and I am happy. What I don't like is at a few of the restaurants I would love to visit they don't have anything good. I wish CC had regular bacon to substitute the pepper bacon and id probably do that. I wish BB would have the MC for dinner on the Fantasmic meal and have fries as an option.
I wish they would stop trying to shove us to CS only meals. I should not have to go to a CS to get something I like. I want to go to those restaurants. Why shouldn't I be allowed to just because I want Junk as you all seem to say. SO what. Its my choice. Disney should have Junk and Healthy options at ever TS and CS not just for kids meals but also adults.
I will give them that a lot places I find have surf and turf (yummy for me at least.)

Why do you want to go to a restaurant that doesn't serve food you like? I pick the restaurants I go to because I want to try the food on that menu. As for the pepper bacon, just get it without ? The thing is, imo that there are places to eat that serve both the burgers,fries, chicken nuggets and there are restaurants that don't. The idea that all restaurants at DL should have the same items on the menu is a bit unreasonable. They aren't trying to shove you to CS meals, your dietary habits are. It's a personal choice to eat the foods you enjoy and you can exercise your choice to eat at restaurants that fit your preferences as it should be, not the other way around.

 

[tiffjoy]

That is just so wrong. Kids eat hot dogs and Burgers and Nuggets all the time. If it isn't happening in California I feel bad for the kids there. I have to say I would love to live close to Disney but sadly things California is doing is making me want to run screaming away from them.

I eat Hot dogs burgers and nuggets. Its what I like give me fries and a bacon burger and I am happy. What I don't like is at a few of the restaurants I would love to visit they don't have anything good. I wish CC had regular bacon to substitute the pepper bacon and id probably do that. I wish BB would have the MC for dinner on the Fantasmic meal and have fries as an option.
I wish they would stop trying to shove us to CS only meals. I should not have to go to a CS to get something I like. I want to go to those restaurants. Why shouldn't I be allowed to just because I want Junk as you all seem to say. SO what. Its my choice. Disney should have Junk and Healthy options at ever TS and CS not just for kids meals but also adults.
I will give them that a lot places I find have surf and turf (yummy for me at least.)

There is a McDonalds right outside the DLR gates that is plenty busy, just like all the other many fast food restaurants that exist in CA. Kids in CA definitely eat hot dogs and hamburgers. The state of CA, as of yet, doesn't govern what parents feed their children- not sure why you are implying it does?

DLR also has hot dogs, hamburgers, and nuggets on several menus. Go to those locations to purchase those items- you can check online for menus of all the TS, CS, and stands, which I find very helpful in planning. DLR is a business, and they choose to offer what sells. They aren't trying to "shove" anything. They are trying to make money. This includes a variety of items rather than offering exactly the same three options (burger, nuggets, hot dog) at every single restaurant. Just like in the outside world, you pick to go to a restaurant that offers a menu that fits your tastes.

 

[jammyjam25]

I'm not trying to sound catty but there are 94 restaurants that come up on the Disneyland website...94! There are more than enough options, healthy or unhealthy, to please every palette. It's up to us to decide which of these choices fit our personal dining preferences and seek them out.

I personally think Disney does a wonderful job of accommodating all types of dining styles and food preferences. Not to mention the bending over backwards they do to keep up with all the dietary restrictions, allergies, etc. that people seem to have nowadays.

 

[LizzyS]

It's pretty easy to scope out menus beforehand, it shouldn't really come as a "surprise" as to what's on them when you get to the restaurant in this day and age.

 

[3Gsandme]

Also, if I'm paying $61 for dinner there damn well better be something I consider more expensive than a hamburger on the menu.

I think it's really important to familiarize yourself with the menu of any place you're planning to eat. I mean, I do that IRL. Not just at Disney. If there is a place we're interested in, we look on-line to see what they serve. There's an amazing restaurant in the city here, but it sells sushi. It advertises itself as a sea food restaurant, but 95% of their menu is sushi. I like seafood, but I don't like sushi (I've tried, I swear) and I'd pretty darn disappointed to pay those prices and not find what I like to eat. It's the same with the kids. If I'm paying $23 plus tip for my kid to eat dinner, I want more than chicken fingers for that price. Looking at the Blue Bayou kids menu, my kids would be pretty happy with the offerings (chicken with spaghetti, steak with potatoes). I think Disney expects that their diners will expect something a little more "special" for the premium prices charged at table service restaurants. I know I do. I love a good hamburger or slice of pizza. I even like the cheap crap. But, if you're charging me $60 to eat dinner, I'd be pretty peeved if I was offered a hamburger.

 

[coaches24]

I'm also in the "check the menu" before you eat there crowd. I am at Disneyland, they have soooooo many different places to eat with different styles and different foods. I look up the menus online and decide where I want to go by what is offered. That usually means I stay out of most of the TS places as they aren't really my taste but then that's kind of how I am at home too. I like CS places more than TS places. I don't understand the mindset of "they should all offer what I want so I can go anywhere" mentality but to each their own I guess.

I think the reason all of the restaurants menus are so limited is because they have so many different places to pick from.

I think of DL as one big restaurant. And it has a HUGE and varied menu.

 

[MommyJKM]

That is just so wrong. Kids eat hot dogs and Burgers and Nuggets all the time. If it isn't happening in California I feel bad for the kids there. I have to say I would love to live close to Disney but sadly things California is doing is making me want to run screaming away from them.

I eat Hot dogs burgers and nuggets. Its what I like give me fries and a bacon burger and I am happy. What I don't like is at a few of the restaurants I would love to visit they don't have anything good. I wish CC had regular bacon to substitute the pepper bacon and id probably do that. I wish BB would have the MC for dinner on the Fantasmic meal and have fries as an option.
I wish they would stop trying to shove us to CS only meals. I should not have to go to a CS to get something I like. I want to go to those restaurants. Why shouldn't I be allowed to just because I want Junk as you all seem to say. SO what. Its my choice. Disney should have Junk and Healthy options at ever TS and CS not just for kids meals but also adults.
I will give them that a lot places I find have surf and turf (yummy for me at least.)

Disneyland is also a Locals park. Have you seen what the people in Southern California generally eat? It's a very healthy lifestyle and the park caters to International guests and locals who don't want to eat bacon burgers and processed foods. There are plenty of options for the "other" eaters, but know that that is NOT how people eat in SoCal.

It's pretty demeaning to tell parents that don't feed their kids the standard Midwestern fast food choices that "It's just wrong" not to eat processed meat and sodium filled food because we choose not to. My daughter doesn't seem to be crying over not eating chicken nuggets and meat slurry and is perfectly happy.

It doesn't come across to me as "shoving" to CS meals, it seems like they are catering to the way of life most experience in SoCal. You can easily read a menu and choose plenty of "Junk" at EVERY TS restaurant. It is your choice, but times change and you are now in the minority.

 

[kangamama]

I've got to say that I really don't understand why people are getting so bent out of shape in this thread. I'm sensing a lot of judgment and shaming -- on both sides of the debate -- and for what reason? OP didn't like the choices? So what? Why is that such a big deal to people? Kids from EVERYWHERE (California, too, speaking as a mom of two Californian kids) have different eating preferences, styles, and tastes.

 

[TechGuy]

I do not like going to a restaurant and handing a kids menu to my grandkids and making them pick something from it, as if they are somehow not as privileged as we are. We get to pick from a huge menu but they have three or four things to choose from. Back when I was a kid, there were no kids meals. Restaurants offered smaller portions of the adult food at a lower price. Life was much easier.

I also assume this has something to do with parents choosing to feed their kids chicken nuggets and mac-n-chez because it's the ONLY things the kids will eat. I taught my kids to like food, real food. As soon as possible, we stopped buying dino-nuggets and other finger foods and replaced it with chicken, plain cooked chicken and fresh peas, real cheese (no wrapper cheese). Within a few months, she was happier with simple versions of what we were having for dinner and soon enough, the same meal. We now eat gluten free due to us learning we needed to, due to the side effects of eating gluten (attitude, attention issues, intestinal...)

She is now 12... going on teenager. We went to Six Flags yesterday and she chose to eat the nuts and snack bars we brought. She didn't complain once when she saw the only foods within the park would be considered junk food, with essentially no GF options. True, for dinner, we did got to In-N-OUt but it a fun Girl Scout trip and INO has the best GF options, in fast food restaurants. It also happened to be 12 hours after we ate breakfast at home.

 

[Malcon10t]

I tend to agree with the above posts. I don't care for the majority of food at CCR. I love the menu at STeakhouse. Guess where I eat? I don't care for the menu at Blue Bayou, but love Cafe Orleans. If I want a hot dog, I head to Coke Corner or Award Weiners. If I want a burger, either Smoke Jumpers or ESPN zone or Carnation Cafe. But I don't go to Cafe Orleans or French Market and expect hot dogs and fries.

And that is one of the "hard" parts of DIsneyland. Why eat a burger or hot dog that I can get anywhere, because there are stew boules, Monte Cristos, Chicken Fuselli, Chicken Fried Chicken, great salads, etc... to choose from. Now the Mac and Cheese Hot dog with chili on it? ..... Yes, at least one of those this coming weekend!