Not Ordering for Older Toddler at TS Restaurants?

[SheSingsAlong]

Was recently at Disney with my family and now planning our next trip. DD is 4 and a picky/light eater. We wasted a LOT of money on food she did not eat and I'd like to avoid doing that again on the next trip I'm now planning.

Is there a rule at Table Service restaurants that you have to order food for everyone at the table? Not even planning on DD eating off my or DH's plate. Was thinking of bringing Uncrustables in our park bag for her. Will the restaurants allow this? Disney food is just SO expensive and even on a good day DD eats less than half of a restaurant kid's portion. Can't even hang onto leftovers if you are staying at a Value resort because no microwave.

 

[FCDub]

At non-AYCE/family-style restaurants, it’s almost assuredly fine.

Would I personally bring outside food to a sit-down restaurant and eat it there? Surely not.

You’d be better off letting your daughter have some of your food than unwrapping store-bought food in the middle of a restaurant.

 

[SheSingsAlong]

You’d be better off letting your daughter have some of your food than unwrapping store-bought food in the middle of a restaurant.

And it's okay to feed her off our plates as long as it is not an all-you-care-to-eat situation like the skillets at Whispering Canyon?

 

[bearette]

Feed her the sandwich before or after the table service visit, it would be in bad taste to feed her at the table if it isn't baby food. I would do this with my twins because they would waste a lot of food and eat the snacks I brought anyway.
Yes you can share food with her no problem if it isn't all you can eat.

 

[FCDub]

And it's okay to feed her off our plates as long as it is not an all-you-care-to-eat situation like the skillets at Whispering Canyon?

Yep.

 

[SheSingsAlong]

Thank you, folks! I will feed the picky DD her sandwich before any TS reservation and supplement her meal off of our plates. Approciate the feedback

 

[unrequited23]

Personally, I have no issue with your daughter eating her sandwich at the same time the rest of the family eats a meal. I would probably order the child a drink and request an extra plate. When my kids were that ages I would try to order something for myself they might want to share, or order them a side of fries/rice/pasta to share. I also see no problem with letting a child have a small snack if there is a long wait to be seated. A hangry child is no fun, especially on vacation.

 

[robinb]

Personally, I have no issue with your daughter eating her sandwich at the same time the rest of the family eats a meal. I would probably order the child a drink and request an extra plate. When my kids were that ages I would try to order something for myself they might want to share, or order them a side of fries/rice/pasta to share. I also see no problem with letting a child have a small snack if there is a long wait to be seated. A hangry child is no fun, especially on vacation.

This is exactly what we did when my DD21 was a toddler. She is a life-long vegetarian and it was difficult to find meat-free kids meals 15+ years ago. I was unwilling to make all reservations based on her food choices so I made her PB&J sandwiches and put them in Tupperware sandwich keepers so they wouldn't get crushed in our park bag. I would order her a drink or maybe dessert and feed her the PB&J. I would also tip the waitress extra to make up for the missed meal.

There is no reason why a child shouldn't eat with their family and there is no shame in bringing in your own food for a child into a Disney restaurant. @SheSingsAlong, bring in the sandwich and don't worry!

 

[brockash]

Was recently at Disney with my family and now planning our next trip. DD is 4 and a picky/light eater. We wasted a LOT of money on food she did not eat and I'd like to avoid doing that again on the next trip I'm now planning.

Is there a rule at Table Service restaurants that you have to order food for everyone at the table? Not even planning on DD eating off my or DH's plate. Was thinking of bringing Uncrustables in our park bag for her. Will the restaurants allow this? Disney food is just SO expensive and even on a good day DD eats less than half of a restaurant kid's portion. Can't even hang onto leftovers if you are staying at a Value resort because no microwave.

No, you can definitely just share.. I still do with my 7 year old because I get so sick of her not eating what we order. While, I wouldn't bring a whole meal in; we've definitely given her an applesauce pack and/or goldfish at times at a TS restaurant. No one has ever batted an eye.

 

[nherbert]

My son is 13, most of the time we ordered a side dish bowl of steamed white rice (which he loves) - not that whole-wheat stuff they make the kids have in kids meals
never had an issue. His other favorite, is pasta with butter. So long as they have a rice or pasta dish on the menu there generally isn’t a problem, we don’t ask if there isn’t one.

 

[SheSingsAlong]

Thank you, everyone, for your helpful advice. I think I will have a much better, less wasteful food plan for DD on the next trip