Meals and the under-threes

[motherhoodandmickey]

Hi!

Our trip is coming up in less than two weeks, and I have a quick question for those of you with young kids.

Our daughter will be turning three just after our trip, and is fiercely independent when it comes to meals. She insists on having her own - nothing from mom and dad's plate (unless, perhaps, she has her own plate).
We could order her a kid's meal, but she's practically a self-proclaimed vegetarian... The only meat she'll happily eat is a hot dog, and I'm not too thrilled by the idea of her eating (non-organic) hot dogs every day. I also don't relish the idea of buying her her own meals and having her eat only the fruit sides. Like most two year olds, she also doesn't particularly enjoy most veggies - or even things like spaghetti sauce.

My question is: how do you deal with the picky under-threes when you are eating at Disneyland? Can you make special requests for meals (ie just plain pasta, no sauce, or just fries and fruit) - and would they adjust the price, or just give you larger portions of the side dishes? I know they have special toddler meals, but only in some locations - and she'll only eat the mac and cheese.

Any tips, advice or experience?

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

At a counter service place you are pretty limited on what they offer. At a sit down meal you should be able to get a plain pasta or something. For sit down meals you could consider a character meal or all you can eat meal (buffet or Big Thunder BBQ). She's free and can choose whatever she likes. I'd look at bringing in your own food for the most part for her.

 

[Girimama33]

My DD is very picky too, and also barely eats any meat. I have researched menus in order to determine where we may go to eat. If they have mac and cheese on the kids menu - it works for us. I have a feeling DD will be eating a lot of Mac and Cheese next week.

My suggestion is to click on the Dining tab above, and review the different menus. We will also be taking a lot of snacks and fruit with us.

 

[tiffjoy]

Last summer, my daughter loved the Kid's Power Pack. It was packed in a cute box (she had to bring them all home ) and contained: package of goldfish crackers, apple slices, string cheese, Dannon yogurt, and choice of water, millk, or juice. It's $5.99.

Unless she shared a meal with one of us (which we also do- the adult meals are much better and healthier than the kid meals, but you said she won't do that? We always get DD her own plate when we do this.), that's what she got every time. She always ate every bite. We purposely either went to CS with the power pack (they aren't offered at them all) or else bought one then brought it with us to another CS.

Here's a pic.

You can ask for pasta with no sauce, but we have never gotten a price break when we did that for DD (when she was really little).

 

[motherhoodandmickey]

Thanks for the advice!

She will definitely eat fruit and mac and cheese, so as long as we can get that, we should be fine. I might also just order her an appetizer as an entree - the only non-buffet sit-down we have scheduled is Cafe Orleans. I know for a fact that she'll love the beignets for dessert

 

[Malcon10t]

Thanks for the advice!

She will definitely eat fruit and mac and cheese, so as long as we can get that, we should be fine. I might also just order her an appetizer as an entree - the only non-buffet sit-down we have scheduled is Cafe Orleans. I know for a fact that she'll love the beignets for dessert

Here are the options for Cafe Orleans:

Salmon Filet - Alongside tender Buttered Noodles, served with seasonal Fresh Fruit. $7.99

Chicken Breast - with Pasta and Marinara sauce, served with seasonal Fresh Fruit. $7.99

Mickey's Cheesy Macaroni - Baked Noodles with creamy Cheddar cheese Sauce, served with seasonal Fresh Fruit. $6.99

 

[LittleBlackRaincloud]

Last summer, my daughter loved the Kid's Power Pack. It was packed in a cute box (she had to bring them all home ) and contained: package of goldfish crackers, apple slices, string cheese, Dannon yogurt, and choice of water, millk, or juice. It's $5.99.

Here's a pic.

This looks like a great option for my kids. Is there somewhere online to see where it's offered since it's limited? Also, have you ever seen them sold in the hotels? Thanks!

 

[seagodess]

Last summer, my daughter loved the Kid's Power Pack. It was packed in a cute box (she had to bring them all home ) and contained: package of goldfish crackers, apple slices, string cheese, Dannon yogurt, and choice of water, millk, or juice. It's $5.99.

Unless she shared a meal with one of us (which we also do- the adult meals are much better and healthier than the kid meals, but you said she won't do that? We always get DD her own plate when we do this.), that's what she got every time. She always ate every bite. We purposely either went to CS with the power pack (they aren't offered at them all) or else bought one then brought it with us to another CS.

Here's a pic.

You can ask for pasta with no sauce, but we have never gotten a price break when we did that for DD (when she was really little).

Where do you get the kids pack from? That would be perfect for my DS.

 

[SunsetsOnTheBeach]

It looks like it's available in quite a few areas. We've gotten it in Toontown, it was either Daisy's Diner or Pluto's Dog House. It's also available at Hungry Bear restaurant, Troubadour Tavern, somewhere in Tomorrowland, and we've also gotten it at the Pacific Wharf Cafe in CA Adventure. My kids love it!

 

[CandMmommy]

My daughter was a few weeks from 3 when we went and had the toddler Mac and cheese at every opportunity. Cafe Orleans brought her a side of fruit free and at Ariel's we didn't get charges for her meal. She ate her fruit at every meal.

 

[disneyfan4ever54]

This looks like a great option for my kids. Is there somewhere online to see where it's offered since it's limited? Also, have you ever seen them sold in the hotels? Thanks!

In addition to the places mentioned above, according to the online menus it looks like they are also sold at the Golden Horseshoe and Harbour Galley. In DCA, they were listed at Taste Pilots Grill, and at Tangaroa Terrace at DLH.

 

[LittleBlackRaincloud]

It looks like it's available in quite a few areas. We've gotten it in Toontown, it was either Daisy's Diner or Pluto's Dog House. It's also available at Hungry Bear restaurant, Troubadour Tavern, somewhere in Tomorrowland, and we've also gotten it at the Pacific Wharf Cafe in CA Adventure. My kids love it!

In addition to the places mentioned above, according to the online menus it looks like they are also sold at the Golden Horseshoe and Harbour Galley. In DCA, they were listed at Taste Pilots Grill, and at Tangaroa Terrace at DLH.

Thank you!

 

[disneylover2005]

Here is the menu for all the food in Disneyland, California Adventures, the Hotels and Downtown Disney with prices.
http://allears.net/dlr/din/menu/menus.htm#dl