Mod. resorts with food courts better than deluxe w/out for toddlers?

[HeatherPage]

We have stayed at places like the Poly and Contemporary and DVC resorts in the past, but my son who is two hasn't liked his high chair much since he was about 12 months old, so I was thinking a place like Caribbean Beach Resort would be 1) better for our budget; and 2) Has a pretty cool looking food court (at least from the pictures I've seen lately) that maybe would be better for my toddler than resorts with only sit down restaurants where he either doesn't want to go into the highchair at all from the start or will only tolerate it for about 20 minutes. Are there any parents of toddlers out there who can give an opinion. Is my child the only two year old who barely eats (he doesn't get that from me! ha-ha) and who refuses to sit still during a meal out turning most meals outside the house into a scream fest? I promise when he does start the screaming one of us gets up and takes him out while the other gets the food bagged up quickly to go, but I still want to keep trying meals out until he one day learns to sit there nicely?
Thanks for any tips in advance!

 

[J.C.&ALI'SMOM]

The mod might be the way to go for your family if you are concerned about the cost. But I wanted to remind you about the counterservice/fast food areas that are located at each deluxe. The Poly has Captain Cook's, the Cont. has Food n Fun Center, etc. They don't offer the variety of the food courts but it sounds like it would be enough for your child. You might have a surprisingly good time at O'Hana where it is completely permissable for your child to get up and join in the coconut races and hula hoop contest. It is a very fun, loud, family meal! Also Chef Mickey's is another meal that is rather active and loud. I would consider all the options and who knows?, these types of restaurant experiences might help him to begin enjoying restaurant meals!

 

[SteveH]

When we stayed at CS the one good thing for us was that our young one could pick out what he wanted to eat and have fun doing it, and the service was quick enough so that he could start eating. The variety is a plus too, and the cooks always seemed willing to customize an order. I'm not sure its a huge benefit, but at the time it was a plus for our family.

 

[swilphil]

We stayed at the Dolphin, which is a deluxe and has a food court--Tubbie's Buffeteria, opened 24 hours. It was a great place for our 2 toddlers. My 3 year old is terrible in restaurants. Tubbie's isn't really a cool looking food court, but my 3 yo is actually worse about eating when he's distracted so much. We made sure we had lots of finger/snack foods for him and kept some fruit and nutritious foods in the room. That seemed to be about the only place we could really get him to eat. Everywhere else we went, he just seemed to want to check everything out. I really wish we would have just gone to the Character Ice Cream Social in Epcot, instead of wasting money on character meals. I did really like the kids' buffet at Gulliver's in the Swan (next to the Dolphin). My son did eat lots of blue jello and the desserts, of course.

 

[HeatherPage]

Thanks for the replies! We've actually done 'Ohana (one of our favorites) and Chef Mickey's, he loved Chef Mickey's for the obvious reasons, 'Ohana he did okay at, but the part about getting him to actually eat there was still tough. He's two so he still can't quite tell us what he wants to eat by picking and choosing (we just get what we think he likes at that particulary moment and hope for the best and then try something else if that wasn't quite it )We would be doing some character meals, etc. not all sit down meals, but I thought a food court option would be good (they are also louder than Captain Cooks, etc., so maybe some of his screams (if there are any) could be drown out. I'll continue to research, ponder, change my mind a dozen times and then hopefully decide Thanks again!

 

[lisareneeo]

We have stayed at moderates and the Wilderness Lodge two times. I do like haveing a food court and my kids are 5 & 7. I like being able to get breakfast and bring it to the room while we are still getting ready. I also like just being able to get something quick when we are really tired after being in the parks all day. We have stayed at POFQ POR and CB and have liked them all!!

 

[tjmw2727]

I remember those days, don't worry they will pass!

Meantime I would pick the resort based on ease of transportation and all the other amenities you like. Remember you can pretty much have lunch at the pool at every resort - no hichair sitting required!!

I like the AKL fast food area very much, more for the choice of foods than the table set up but they have both an inside and outside area. Actually many of them have outside seating IIRC which may work well if its warm enough even for breakfast. The poly had nice outside tables as does CSR.

Again, with a young toddler I would probably go with the ease of transportation to the parks first, room size and amenities second and food choices third. YMMV. Remember there is always room service! Now that the parks are offering more fruit and healthier choices in general its easier to do quick serve on the fly as well. My dd's loved to much on an apple or bananna in the stroller - there is so much to look at.

TJ

 

[spiceycat]

maybe you should try a DVC resort - OKW, VWL, BCV or BWV - they have a under-the-counter refrigerator and a mircowave oven in the studio - 1-bedroom and larger have a full kitchen - with a whirlpool tub and a shower in the master bath - you can rent from a DVC member for not alot more (maybe less) than what you would pay at a deluxe resort.

you have a kitchen - so the problem eater will find something to eat - of course you have to go to the grocery store - but most of the towncar will do a grocery stop before delivering you at your resort. if you have your own car - no problems.

I would recommend a 1-bedroom so after you put the 2-year to sleep - you have the livingroom for you and your husband.

if you want easy access to the mK - the VWL - if you want Epcot and Studios (mgm) - then BWV and BCV.

bigger rooms and room for the child to run around then OKW - but all DVC resort are use to children running in the halls. OKW is in the downtown area (like POR) and has a boat to DD - but parks transportation is by bus.

 

[swilphil]

Originally posted by tjmw2727
I remember those days, don't worry they will pass! Again, with a young toddler I would probably go with the ease of transportation to the parks first, room size and amenities second and food choices third. YMMV. Remember there is always room service! Now that the parks are offering more fruit and healthier choices in general its easier to do quick serve on the fly as well. My dd's loved to much on an apple or bananna in the stroller - there is so much to look at.
TJ

I agree with TJ. We picked the Dolphin based on location (and price!) My kids ended up eating a lot of meals in the stroller. The 1 yo actually used the stroller tray as his little table since he couldn't sit in a chair or booster seat at the table. Of course, if I could afford it a 1 bedroom DVC at Beach Club or Boardwalk would be great. I really do like that Epcot area, so until I win the lottery it's the Dolphin for me!