My 5 year old likes to eat!

[M&E]

He's not opposed to things like nuggets and burgers, but it's not what he would choose- especially for 9 days straight. He's the kind of kid who will try and loves most everything. Crab, steak, etc... The kid's menus at most of our TS restaurants look pretty limiting. Do they ever allow a kid to choose an adult entree, but just give them a smaller portion? Thanks!

 

[kaytieeldr]

No.

If your son will not be happy with the available choices, you might want to consider not including any Dining Plan in your package.

 

[Tinker*Shell*Bell]

Have you already picked your TS restaurants? I ask becasue the menus at http://www.allearsnet.com/menu/menus.htm are a great place to start. Many restaurants have other offerings for kids besides the nuggets and pizza.
Examples include:
Kids Steak at LeCellier
Grilled Fish at Tony's Town Square
Salmon, Chicken Breast or Steak at California Grill
fish at Kona Cafe
Chicken Breast or Salmon at Artists Point
Kids Prime Rib at Yachtsman
I'm sure there are more, these are just the ones off the top of my head.


And most of the World showcase restaurants at Epcot serve childrens versions of the adult meals. China, Morocco, Japan, England and Germany all offer the kids "traditional" meals from the country instead of the burgers and fries.


Also the buffets and family meals are great for kids who want adult food. They have a "childrens" buffet but kids can eat off the whole buffet. So many choices that no one can leave hungry. Plus what 5yo wouldn't love a meal with characters?


Sheli

 

[septbaby]

I'm always amazed when people talk about the kids meals being limiting, especially TS. Even beyond the buffets there is good variety. Here is a sampling of the things available TS for kids(many have a secondarly list as well, ie. my nephew got Pizza at Coral Reef):

Spoodles: Beef Kabob - Add $2.00, Cheese Pizza, Mickey-Shaped Macaroni and Cheese

Grand Floridian Cafe: Grilled Chicken Breast OR Grilled Salmon OR Grilled Steak (add $2.00 for steak)

Kona: Grilled Fish of the Day served with whole-grain pilaf, veggies, and yogurt parfait; Grilled Chicken Strips with macaroni topped with marinara sauce and mozzarella, served with veggies and fruit salad

WCC: Cheeseburger OR Macaroni and Cheese OR Canyon Skillet (Add $2.00 for Skillet)

50's PT: Meatloaf, Chicken Nuggets, Macaroni and Cheese, Grilled Hot Dog

Mama Melrose: Cheese Pizza, Pepperoni Pizza, Spaghetti or Penne Pasta topped with tomato sauce, meat sauce or cheese sauce

Coral Reef: Grilled Mahi Mahi, Grilled Chicken Breast, Macaroni and Cheese

LeCellier: Pasta and Tomato Sauce, Hot Dog, Grilled Steak - Add $2.00

Nine Dragons: Fried Rice and Spring Roll - Shanghai-sytle spring roll made fresh daily with minced pork, baby shrimp and Chinese vegetables; Sweet and Sour Chicken; Pork Pot Sticker; Sweet and Sour Chicken

Marrakesh: Chicken Tenders, Moroccan Pasta - Served with meatballs in tomato sauce, Kefta(Hamburger), Vegetable Couscous steamed and served with seasonal vegetables

San Angel Inn: Pollo Con Fideos - Chicken tenders served with "fideos" (angel hair pasta in a light tomato sauce topped with shredded cheese),Mahi-Mahi,
Quesadilla de Pollo - grilled flour tortilla filled with low-fat cheese and chicken. Served with Mexican rice

We are a vegetarian family and my nephew still ate well at Disney. I think you can relax and look forward to your entire family enjoying meals and the DP at Disney.

 

[christa112]

Also, the buffets the children can eat anything on that as well, and there is a very good variety of items for them to choose from too.

 

[DVCkidsMOM]

We're going with DD, 7, who would rather have sushi than mac-n-cheese and smoked salmon that fish sticks or chicken nuggets. We are eating at "signature" locations and will allow her to order off the adult menu whenever she wants unless we get "free dining" and are limited. If we're DDP, then I'll share my TS meal with her and her meal will be saved as a take-out for later. (We'll have a fridge in the room. Dad grew up in depression and I can't stand letting food go to waste without a second chance as left-overs - besides some of those icky as meals kid options are good snacks later.) We'll do the same at CS - I'll share adult meal with her then the child CS credits, if we're DDP, will be saved as "healthier snacks" by our clan... Just an idea. Of course if DD is in the mood for kid food and happy with only a bite of mine to try - yeah for me!

 

[septbaby]

Mixing in buffets/all you care to eat are a great way to ensure your DD7 gets her "adult" variety. There are also some CS places that don't have kids meals; several are pizza places. You can use her child CS credit for an adult meal.

Saving a meal for later may be hard to do, even with a fridge. It may be inconvenient to get that food back to room and carrying it around the park might be unsafe temperature wise. Depression era or not, don't get anyone sick while at Disney; no Magic in that.

Happy Dining!

 

[SmallWorld71]

I agree with the previous posters who said that good food is there if you look for it.
Last summer DS (then 8) enjoyed mahi-mahi, clams, salmon etc. at Crystal Palace, the shrimp and steak at 'Ohana, shrimp and prime rib at Chef Mickey's and the pork shnitzel at Biergarten. (all buffets or all you can eat.) He also had some salmon at Grand Floridian Cafe. He is looking forward to trying Mahi Mahi at Coral Reef and the shrimp at Teppan Edo on our next trip. With a little planning I think you (and he) can do just fine at the TS meals. Happy eating!

 

[DVCkidsMOM]

Mixing in buffets/all you care to eat are a great way to ensure your DD7 gets her "adult" variety. There are also some CS places that don't have kids meals; several are pizza places. You can use her child CS credit for an adult meal.

Saving a meal for later may be hard to do, even with a fridge. It may be inconvenient to get that food back to room and carrying it around the park might be unsafe temperature wise. Depression era or not, don't get anyone sick while at Disney; no Magic in that.

Happy Dining!

Definintely! When I say save CS for later, I mean don't use the credit 'til we want it. WRT TS, we take leftovers straight to the room fridge and then if we eat it we do so in a day or two in the room. Nothing is kept out of the fridge -we don't let anything spoil! I guess I should have clarified...

 

[septbaby]

We just found the DP to be so nice, so easy and had a very magical WDW stay in 2007. I'm always hopeful that others can do the same. Sounds like you have a great plan, now if the calendar would just play along with you...lol

 

[skater]

There are some great suggestions here - and yes, there are some choices if you look for them. However, I am still of the opinion that the DP is very limiting if you have children (under 10) who like to eat lots of different foods. I am so glad my DS will be 10 this year. I have a younger son, but he has been very satisfied so far with the kid's selections. We have never paid for the DP, so I can't complain too much - it wasn't a great hardship to purchase something extra or share if we needed to - it was just often disappointing for him when he knew the adults and his older sister could order anything we wanted to and he could not . I think it is hardest for kids who are 8 and 9 who are big eaters and like lots of variety. My 10 year old is very excited this year (too bad he didn't get in on the free appetizers ).

 

[Em&Bec'sMom]

I agree with the PP. We too had a very adventerous eater who, since she was 9 on our last trip, was still a "child" to Disney for the dining plan. We booked many of our TS at buffets, where she would try all sorts of things. It's a shame, because although she likes "adult" fare, she doesn't eat an adult-sized portion. Like the PP, now that she's 10, she is very excited to be able to order off the adult menu on this next trip.

I would say to take that 5 yr old to Crystal Palace and Ohana!