New kids menu and autism

[Ctsplaysinrain]

I have noticed that the new kids menu is very differnt from last year.. I would like to get the dining plan on our next visit but this new menu seems to complicate things... His diet is very limited. My son will only eat chicken strips or pizza probably... Is there a way, I can ask for these things in advance even if not on the current kids menu?? Is there somewhere to get a list of what places have these foods? Can I pay for him as an adult for the dining plan even though he is a child since there seems to be at least more variety- he can eat a fun dessert at least instead of the jello now offered for the kids.. ANy thoughts? I know buffets offer more variety but I don't think they will work...

 

[Cheshire Figment]

You cannot pay for him as an adult.

However, at the TS restaurants there is lots of flexibility by just talking to the server and, if necessary, talking to the chef or a manager.

At the CS locations there often are "off-menu" items available which the cashiers will know about; again, if there is any prblem you can talk to a manager who really does know everything about that location and what is available and what can be done.

Almost all the cast are willing to make exceptions or changes when necessary to improve the guest experience. Just make sure you are polite and doing it as a request and not demanding. I know that I, and most others, am willing to stretch and/or bend rules for people who make polite requests, but if they are nasty or demanding I will quote the book rules.

 

[karynnix]

Here is a website that gives lots of info on the dining plan and menus for the restaurants. I hope this helps! It was a life saver when we took my DS last year because we could plan his meals ahead of time.

http://www.allearsnet.com/din/dining.htm

 

[Luv Bunnies]

Both of my kids are very picky and my 11 year old has Asperger's. One of his issues is food textures and I was also worried about being on the DDP with him.

I ended up reading all of the menus and only going to places where I knew both kids would find something to eat. Almost every place had cheese pizza for the 8 year old which was fine with him. For my 11 year old, I often ordered plain bread or a plain hamburger bun with a side of fries. I carried Jif Singles in my purse and made him a lot of peanut butter sandwiches if they weren't on the menu. Since he was on the adult plan, he could order off the adult menu with no problem.

My 8 year old was on the kid's plan and he won't touch Jello (I don't blame him!). He was able to get a scoop of ice cream or a little sundae for dessert at every restaurant.

My best advice is to do your research. Read the kid's menus and decide where your family would be most comfortable and only book those restaurants.

 

[SueM in MN]

The DIS site also has menus right here:
http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/dining/diningmain.cfm

It is arranged a little differently than allearsnet. You can search and just look at the restaurants at the park you are going to or just a single restaurant that you think you might like. Between the menus from here and from allearsnet, you should be able to get a pretty good idea.
but, as the others mentioned, they can be pretty flexible if they understand what you want/need/.

 

[mbb]

....as the others mentioned, they can be pretty flexible if they understand what you want/need/.

We quietly explained to our waitresses at both Whispering Canyon Cafe, and Germany's Biergarten...

No problems to get our boys plain french fries

They went out of their way for us at Biergarten...french fries, with fingers, and as our waitress said "with Chef's compliments!!"

Fun meals

Enjoy!

 

[Ctsplaysinrain]

The DIS site also has menus right here:
http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/dining/diningmain.cfm

It is arranged a little differently than allearsnet. You can search and just look at the restaurants at the park you are going to or just a single restaurant that you think you might like. Between the menus from here and from allearsnet, you should be able to get a pretty good idea.
but, as the others mentioned, they can be pretty flexible if they understand what you want/need/.

Well, maybe... Last summer, we ate at Coral Reef... Son had to go there as for the fish... But, we didnt realize that there were NO chicken strips on the kids menu here... AS the waiter was taking our order and Child was upset and I asked if there was any way to ge them, he said NO... I even mentioned to waiter that I might need to leave beacuse of it if I couldnt calm him down but still there wasnt any flexibility... My son didnt want to leave because of the fish so I did order him Mac and cheese and we did OK but I know the waiter knew that there was a problem...

 

[KathyRN137]

Both of my kids are very picky and my 11 year old has Asperger's. One of his issues is food textures and I was also worried about being on the DDP with him.

My best advice is to do your research. Read the kid's menus and decide where your family would be most comfortable and only book those restaurants.

I agree, absolutely! If you can view the menus ahead of time, it makes it much easier to plan your meals, especially the CS restaurants. We have made 4 visits with our extremely picky autistic son and WDW has always been able to accommodate him. It does help to have a favorite snack in your bag, "just in case". (For us, it is a bag of plain goldfish crackers.)

We used the dining plan for the first time this past November. You can't think of it as a money-saving thing for picky children...any $$ saved was from the adult dinners at the TS restaurants, not from the chicken fingers/pizza/ fries that they seem to live on!!!

If your child has a true sensitivity or allergy, have the reservationist note it on your ADR for TS and Buffet meals and the chef will come to your table to discuss options with you. We met several extremely nice chefs this way and they are really great about making special requests.

As mentioned above, we too have an issue with seasoning on the fries. If you explain to the wait person that it is a problem for your child, they will bring out plain fries, no problem.

We booked the Hoop De Doo Review at FW and we pre-ordered chicken fingers and fries for our son when we made the ADR, as well as a gluten-free meal for another member of our party.

As far as being polite when making your requests, well, it goes without saying that you always catch more flies with honey than with vinegar!!

Have a great trip!
Kathy

 

[Selket]

You cannot pay for him as an adult.

I have seen several posts on the DDP board recently about parents considering paying for their child (usually a 9 year old with a larger appetite, etc) as an adult for the DDP so they can eat off the adult menu. They also have to have adult tickets. Is this no longer allowed?

We haven't done the DDP but have had much success with TS restaurants when it comes to requesting certain items beforehand (like a hotdog at a restaurant that does not serve them, simple vegetables like peas or cut up tomatoes). This is one reason why we eat TS a lot on our trips. I usually call the # given to me when I make the ADR and have the requests noted on our ressie about a week before our trip. Some restaurants will be more accomodating than others and some of it depends on the chef you get. We've had outstanding service at Crystal Palace, the Castle, Biergarten and Le Cellier.

With CS we have just picked up things he will eat and carry them to another restaurant or eat at a place that has what he will eat. We haven't been there since they changed the menus though. I have found CS more difficult usually due to the crowds - trying to get a certain meal or something a certain way (or figure out allergens) is difficult if the parks are very crowded.