Need advice for my PICKY eater

[Trevelline4]

I'm worried about finding food in Disney that my picky daughter will eat. Are there any fast food options in Disney that she would recognize - as in McDonalds, Wendy's, etc? If not, how about a restaurant that has a burger/nuggets that resembles McDonalds??? Sounds silly, I know!

Any advice would be appreciated!

 

[brymolmom]

How old is your child?

Ofentimes, at WDW due to the huge different environment, I have found my children not as picky as usual. So a burger is a burger...and mine will eat it. If yours will not - keep in mind there are always a lot of sides or alternatives - like fruit cups, french fries, you can get bagels in some of the bakeries - something like a bagel and some fruit could make a meal for a picky eater.

Sounds like you'll have a car since you mention McDonald's and Wendy's?? My advice to you if you will have a car is to do a grocery run and bring in food to the parks with you. PB&J or other favorite sandwich option plus some drinks plus some fruit or other sides. That way you won't have to worry if you end up at a place and she's not liking what's in front of her - you can just grab out the sandwich in the bag and be good to go!

 

[Trevelline4]

We will not have a car. I thought there was a McDonalds in DDS but I read somewhere that it closed. She eats a handful of things - grilled cheese, hot dogs, pasta w/butter, cheeseburgers from McD . . . .I know I need to work on this!!!

 

[tluvstink]

Most CS places offer burgers, fries and chicken nuggets. Some places like Pecos Bills and Cosmic Rays have a fixins bar so the burgers are plain and you can add what ever or nothing at all if you want.

The TS restaurants are great about special orders and will do what they can.

 

[PatsMom]

No more McD's at Disney thank heavens! And no other chains as well, except for Earl of Sandwich and the new latin chicken place at Downtown Disney (can't remember the name).

If you are doing counter service meals, you can probably get away with bringing in food for her. If you are doing table service, it might be frowned on not to order anything and then whip out a PB&J. And you would still be charged if you do a buffet.

Most restaurants have fairly friendly kids menu's. Check them out on line and plan your meals for where you think you can find something your child will eat. I do know that if pasta is a choice on the kids menu, you can get it with butter instead of sauce. We didn't much tolerate pickiness in my DD but that is one quirk we learned to live with. She loves tomato, loves catchup, but will not eat red sauce on her pasta!

I also came the conclusion when my DD was five that it wouldn't be the end of her life if she went for a week living primarily on bad french fries and Mickey ice cream bars!

 

[Trevelline4]

I also came the conclusion when my DD was five that it wouldn't be the end of her life if she went for a week living primarily on bad french fries and Mickey ice cream bars!

Love this comment! I need to quit stressing and remember that this is vacation! She eats terribly at home and probably will there too . . .

 

[joviroxx]

My DS was a very picky eater. You will find things for her eat, if not well, don't worry about it.

 

[PatsMom]

Love this comment! I need to quit stressing and remember that this is vacation! She eats terribly at home and probably will there too . . .

The attitude saved my sanity on our first few trips to Disney. She isn't picky but was so distracted by what was going on that she just didn't want to eat. But Mickey bars are a whole different story. And frozen lemonade on a bench made a good break for her. But the Mickey bars have always been something special for her and her Dad. They still eat a lot of them!

 

[GBBTomorrow]

They are expensive, but the buffets might be what you need. They typically have a kids' station that has familiar foods.

 

[carrie1626]

I had a very picky eater (DD) too. Now she's 20 and still "picky" but much better.

Don't go out of your way to accomodate her TOUGH LOVE, I know. If she's hungry she will either eat something or NOT. I'm just saying don't promise french fries at the so and so place and then have to backtrack, miss a parade or ride or what-ever to get them.

One thing I did do was bring a big box of her favorite cereal (Frosted Mini Wheats-not too junky) in our luggage so she could only have that at the end of the day.

 

[mastermind307]

My DD4 is a picky eater and she did fine during our Sept. trip. She ate a lot of chicken nuggets and mac & cheese.

 

[brymolmom]

We will not have a car. I thought there was a McDonalds in DDS but I read somewhere that it closed. She eats a handful of things - grilled cheese, hot dogs, pasta w/butter, cheeseburgers from McD . . . .I know I need to work on this!!!

OK, no car...I would pack some things for her just so she can have something in her tummy...even if it isn't a full meal. I would bring granola bars or something similar that she will eat - and fixin's for PB&J - small plastic jar of PB and then small jelly packets with a thing of bread.

You didn't mention her age I don't think...if she is old enough to understand, I would certainly explain to her that you won't be able to have McDonald's cheeseburgers (oh yeah - and grilled cheese is VERY RARE and hard to find in WDW...so don't expect that one). You can tell her she can order whatever and have a granola bar out of the backpack or a bagel or whatever if she doesn't like it. Anything over the age of 5 or so I would think will understand. Then she'll know that she will have different choices and likely won't be too upset about it - she'll be at DISNEY WORLD!!!

 

[mom2val]

100% agree with packing some foods with you. Our first 2 trips we had an entire suitcase of dd food! She loves ramen cup of noodle soup ( used coffee pot to make it), pop tarts, canned oranges, apple sauce, cereal (milk from food court), crackers, sardines (crazy- I know) and juice boxes.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

No more McD's at Disney thank heavens!

Actually the McDonald's along the way towards Blizzard Beach, Animal Kingdom and Animal Kingdom Lodge is still open.

 

[goofy4tink]

My dd started going to WDW when she was five....and she was incredibly 'choosy' about her food. Sounds like your dd eats pretty much the same way my dd did. In fact, butter/parmesan cheese pasta, grilled cheese, burgers are still her favorite foods at 17!!!
Your dd will find lots to eat at WDW...she won't starve. I wouldn't kowtow to her but let her see what is available and make her own choices. But..not a ton of popcorn and Mickey bars either. I always told my dd that those were special treats for after meals..not in place of. If she didn't eat something decent at a meal, she didn't get the snack stuff later. Otherwise she would eat as little as possible at meals and then fill up on popcorn and ice cream.

 

[UncleRay]

I'm worried about finding food in Disney that my picky daughter will eat. Are there any fast food options in Disney that she would recognize - as in McDonalds, Wendy's, etc? If not, how about a restaurant that has a burger/nuggets that resembles McDonalds??? Sounds silly, I know!

Any advice would be appreciated!

Not to worry, a burger, fries and nuggets are never far away

 

[disneylover1959]

You can't go wrong with a buffet, which there are plenty of. There is always something that a picky eater can eat. And I have three of the pickiest eaters that ever existed!

 

[Mamu]

I have always found that Disney deals with picky eaters on a regular basis and they are willing to cook things for these eaters. Like plain Pasta with butter or sauce on the side. Most places offer grilled cheese, pizza, hot dogs, chicken fingers, (not anything like McD's) and burgers. All food is cooked how your want. Plain, with or without rolls or rolls on the side.

 

[nyrebecca]

My son is the pickiets of the picky eaters. Just remember as someone else said it is vacation! Last year my son lived off of hot dog rolls and french fries for the week we were there. The year before he lived off pizza. The year before that it was grilled cheese (we ate at the Plaza so many times they started greeting us by our first names that week).

This year, I can only guess what will be the food of the week and will just roll with it when we figure it out. Why? Because we are at Disney and that is the last place I will choose to fight a war that I already know I will loose.

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

Hi there everyone!

Please don't take this as nasty or hard nosed, but my duagther went though that picky eater thing, and I really think it was just to get attention............so.............my.............. ..point, especailly on vacation, we took a postion, to all agreed to have each person picking a restuarent one night...........and if she didnt want to eat anything at some place........she got hungry.......

My wife and I discovered when she got hungry enough...........she started eating!

We followed the same program at home.............she doesnt want to eat..........she went hungry.......today...at 16........she loves all kinds of food.*G*

Just my opinion and experiance!

AKK