Not thrilled with Disney's kids menus

[Disneynut5]

I like my kids to get some vegetables at dinner but it seems that all of the kids menus are chicken nuggets and fries! The buffets like Boma, Chef Mickeys and others should give us a little better selection for dinner. I am just surprised that they could not throw in an option for green beans, peas, or corn instead of fries with everything! We are going to eat great as adults but I am worried my kids will be soooo sick of nugget and pizza by the end of the trip!

For a place that is suppose to be for children they could have some healthier kids menus. Oh well, both my kdis eat like birds anyway - so much food will go to waste with them anyway!

 

[Mom2Nick]

What restaurants are you looking at? We had no problems with vegetables and fruits for our children for their meals. In fact they only had french fries once the whole week we were there.

Most of the restaurants offer healthy meals that come with vegetables, raw carrot and celery sticks and or a salad. They had plenty of apple slices as well.

 

[Tricia1972]

I like my kids to get some vegetables at dinner but it seems that all of the kids menus are chicken nuggets and fries! The buffets like Boma, Chef Mickeys and others should give us a little better selection for dinner. I am just surprised that they could not throw in an option for green beans, peas, or corn instead of fries with everything! We are going to eat great as adults but I am worried my kids will be soooo sick of nugget and pizza by the end of the trip!

For a place that is suppose to be for children they could have some healthier kids menus. Oh well, both my kdis eat like birds anyway - so much food will go to waste with them anyway!

Children can eat whatever they want from buffets, they aren't limited to the "kids buffet" area, that's simply an area of the buffet that offers more 'typical' kids fare, which is lower to the ground with plastic plates by it. Adults can even select items from the 'kids' area if they choose!

 

[Castillo Mom]

When my boys were younger they rarely ate off of kids' menus for the exact reasons you stated. Don't know the ages of your children or how many you have but, could you order from the adult menu and split a plate between them? Maybe order an extra side if necessary?

 

[3boymthr]

I've looked at most of the kid's menus on AllEars as my kids are very fussy and I wanted to make sure fries were available. For most TS meals fries are an option that you must ask for.

Actually, in the exact opposite of what you're saying, I noted that most of the kid's TS menus have lots of vegetables and fruit. For example, most places that offer pizza also include sides of seasonal vegetables and slice apples. Almost all TS kids meals have an appetizer of fruit or salad or soup or two sides of fruit and veggies. To be more specific if you look at the Allears children's menu for Tony's Town Square all the meals come with a choice of carrot sticks or salad.

Also, I'm pretty sure most of the CS, at least those at MK, offer grapes or carrot sticks as a side, and again, the fries must be requested.

 

[RCharnay]

I ate from the kids menu at many CS restaurants so I could get carrot sticks, applesauce or grapes with my meal. It seemed healthier than the adult choices.

 

[Disneynut5]

My kids are 8 and 4 - they do not like salad or raw veggies. I was just hoping for some sides like corn, peas, or green beans (which they will eat). I will probably order something and let them eat off my plate for a side. THe buffets will be fine - lots of choices. I was just talking about places like Coral Reef, 50's PTC, California grill, etc. There seems to be some fruit choices but not many veggie choices.

 

[disneyag]

Actually, we've found that WDW has pretty decent food (better than any of the amusement parks around here!)

Many of the adult entrees offer veggies with them. I know in the past that Disney has been quite accomodating when we've wanted to substitute something. We were getting veggies years ago when kids meals ONLY came with fries. Just ask. Unless you're on the dining plan, which could possibly complicate things, I'm sure your server can help you out.

 

[MickeyNicki]

We took our nieces last month, 6 and 12...they loved the breakfast buffets and ate alot of food and fresh fruit. The TS dinners were a huge bust...they did not like the food options at all and what they did order was terrible. Next time we take them we will just to TS breakfast and CS for lunch and dinner

 

[Tiger926]

As mentioned, many kids' meals come with fruits and carrot sticks. Some restaurants offer green beans and corn too - I have a head cold and can't think of specific restaurants right now, but we've had them.

If OP is on the DP, then this might be a problem, but no harm in asking if steamed veggies can be substituted. If not on the DP, then I would definitely suggest asking for this, or, order adult meal or appetizers to share - this is what we have found works best, so no more DP for us!

Happy eating, Tiger

 

[BEASLYBOO]

My kids are 8 and 4 - they do not like salad or raw veggies. I was just hoping for some sides like corn, peas, or green beans (which they will eat). I will probably order something and let them eat off my plate for a side. THe buffets will be fine - lots of choices. I was just talking about places like Coral Reef, 50's PTC, California grill, etc. There seems to be some fruit choices but not many veggie choices.

Totally agree but our children are the exception to the rule! Chicken Nuggets, Mac/Cheese, Raw Carrots, Pizza (yuck) is the main stream fare for young children. Buffets are good options but they are quire expensive(IMO) for the amount of food young kids eat. I opted to share with my son when he was younger, if there was a sharing charge is still less than a full meal and a lot better food than the kids menu. Now, and since he was 8 he's ordered from the adult menu.

Good luck to you!

 

[dancin Disney style]

My kids are 8 and 4 - they do not like salad or raw veggies. I was just hoping for some sides like corn, peas, or green beans (which they will eat). I will probably order something and let them eat off my plate for a side. THe buffets will be fine - lots of choices. I was just talking about places like Coral Reef, 50's PTC, California grill, etc. There seems to be some fruit choices but not many veggie choices.

I would suggest that you order an adult entree for your kids and split it. Unless of course your kids are big eaters. The portions are generally on the large side at the TS restaurants. The CS portions are not that large anymore so that might be a little harder to split a meal. You can always get an extra side or have dessert.

In general I have always been somewhat dissapointed by the kids menus. They really should offer some cooked veggies.

 

[nikkers]

We just got back last month, my kids only had fries at Boma. With every meal they had vegetables or fruit. All of the meals came with 2 sides at both TS and CS, unless of course it was a buffet. At each CS they had either grapes, carrots, applesauce or apple slices. Some CS places had pudding, jello, or yogurt.

 

[RCharnay]

As a mom of 2, I certainly understand your concerns. But I guess it's like wondering why McDonald's doesn't serve green beans with their hamburgers...that's not why you go to fast food. I think Disney's philosophy is similar. Most kids on vacation aren't going to jump for joy over green beans and it doesn't make economic sense to offer them. The fresh stuff is easier and has a longer shelf life so grapes and carrot sticks are the "healthy choice." The table service service restaurants are more or less like chain places, Chilis, Outback, etc...same thing. They cater to the masses and a salad is about as green as it gets. I think Disney does a great job of trying to introduce people to many ethnic flavors but I wouldn't say that healthy homemade meals are their specialty.

 

[mmmears]

I disagree about the buffets -- there is plenty there for kids! Not only can they take food from the "kids area" but they can also take food from the rest of the buffet. And every buffet has plenty of fruits, veggies, salad, and breads for a kid (at least mine) to make a meal out of.

I agree that there are too many nuggets and pizza choices. That's why we just let our DD order off the kid or adult menu, depending on the restaurant. Sometimes we just shared our food with her.

Now that she is 11, we have to pay adult prices for the buffets! Since she doesn't eat prime rib, seafood, or almost any other meats, it's going to be hard to get our $$$ worth at any of the buffets!

 

[minniebeth]

The healthy items offered for kids are fine, UNLESS you have a kid like mine who is allergic to peanuts/tree nuts and has a birch allergy which means no raw carrots and apples. This pretty much eliminates 80% of all kids' menu items...sorry, just a little vent.

On the plus side, if you thoroughly comb the menus on allears, you can find some decent options that can keep life varied for your visit. It IS possible!
It is a lot of work and some park planning involved, but it's there...

 

[PattnFmly]

On our last trip, DS#2 got double-grapes at every CS with his kids meal. He doesn't do carrot sticks, but absolutely loves grapes! If there was an option for cooked veggies, he wouldn't want them anyway and they'd just go to waste. Somehow, green beans don't seem to go with a burger ... at least not in our house! We had no problem at the buffets, though. We do a lot of buffets in our family. Regardless of the price, there's something for everyone, which works for DH too!

 

[Disneynut5]

On our last trip, DS#2 got double-grapes at every CS with his kids meal. He doesn't do carrot sticks, but absolutely loves grapes! If there was an option for cooked veggies, he wouldn't want them anyway and they'd just go to waste. Somehow, green beans don't seem to go with a burger ... at least not in our house! We had no problem at the buffets, though. We do a lot of buffets in our family. Regardless of the price, there's something for everyone, which works for DH too!

See we do burgers and green beans here - we always have some type of veggie. I guess the grapes are a pretty good option that I will probably opted for. Most of our meals will be TS so I hope they have that as a option there also!

 

[java]

My kids are 8 and 4 - they do not like salad or raw veggies. I was just hoping for some sides like corn, peas, or green beans (which they will eat). I will probably order something and let them eat off my plate for a side. THe buffets will be fine - lots of choices. I was just talking about places like Coral Reef, 50's PTC, California grill, etc. There seems to be some fruit choices but not many veggie choices.

Not really at the ones you mentioned my kids all got a cooked veggie- 50's was carrots and peas, CG was green beans I think?? And I believe Coral Reef was Broccoli.
Really there are those options and if it's not listed on the menu just ask. They actually don't push the fries anymore-

 

[Disneynut5]

Not really at the ones you mentioned my kids all got a cooked veggie- 50's was carrots and peas, CG was green beans I think?? And I believe Coral Reef was Broccoli.
Really there are those options and if it's not listed on the menu just ask. They actually don't push the fries anymore-

Thanks -that is good to know. I have one who actually hates fries! I guess asking can not hurt if it is not on the menu.