resturants for 3 yr. olds

[a_sailor's_wife]

DH and I will be taking our DS (who will be 3.5) in May 2009. Yes, I realize it's a long ways away, however, we're debating on whether to get the DDP or go with all the military discounts and pay OOP for food. My question is: What are some of the best places for kids to eat at? I'm not sure how he'll like the characters. He saw DeVine at Opryland Hotel and completely freaked out. So I'm thinking of only 1 or 2 characters meals if that. Any help would be appreciated!

 

[Kae]

When the kids were younger & we traveled we tried to eat at the Favorite times of the kids. Example my kids do not like to eat when they first get up so at WDW we did brunches & at that time brunch or lunch were better meals for the kids. So we did Crystal Palace Lunch, Cape May late breakfast-my kids loved Charaters. We also did Chef de france & the Plaza that trip. And looking ahead at the menus helped so I could make sure where we ate had something for the kids. And when the kids where little they loved eating at the CS places in the World Showcase, back then they would try anything

Kae

 

[a_sailor's_wife]

[/QUOTE] And when the kids where little they loved eating at the CS places in the World Showcase, back then they would try anything

Kae[/QUOTE]

DS is this way now. I hope he'll continue to eat anything.

 

[IWISHFORDISNEY]

Honestly our son ate everywhere and we never had a problem. He loved Crystal Palace with tigger and Pooh (he watches that cartoon) and he did great at the sit down places too. There were kids everywhere we went so we never felt out of place. I just picked the places we liked and went with that. His favorite by far was Crystal Palace.

 

[dvcdisney]

I think it depends on they type of food he eats. My daughter loves everything and we ate everywhere. We were on the dining plan and my children eat adult type food. The do not like the chicken nuggets, mac and cheese etc. My daughter (3) loved the steak in the children's menu in Le Cellier, and Mahi Mahi at Coral Reef. We did mostly buffets like Ohana's, Boma, and Hollywood and Vine. Before this vacation she was frightened of characters so we tried not to do Character meals. Only Princess Storybook Dining in Norway and 1900 Park Fare in GF. She was fine with People character. Now she loves them. So on our next vacation we are definitely including Chef Mickey (we loved it before she was afraid of characters).

 

[a_sailor's_wife]

I think it depends on they type of food he eats. My daughter loves everything and we ate everywhere. We were on the dining plan and my children eat adult type food. The do not like the chicken nuggets, mac and cheese etc. My daughter (3) loved the steak in the children's menu in Le Cellier, and Mahi Mahi at Coral Reef. We did mostly buffets like Ohana's, Boma, and Hollywood and Vine. Before this vacation she was frightened of characters so we tried not to do Character meals. Only Princess Storybook Dining in Norway and 1900 Park Fare in GF. She was fine with People character. Now she loves them. So on our next vacation we are definitely including Chef Mickey (we loved it before she was afraid of characters).

I'm not sure that DS would be scared of Mickey and Goofy (or Doofy as he says) because he LOVES them. However, I think he'd be afraid of the characters he doesn't know well. We've already started watching the movied and pointing out who each character is. I've also made him a book of the different characters with pictures from mine and DH's very belated honeymoon last year. I'm hoping that by him seeing mommy and daddy with them that he won't be afraid.

 

[dvcdisney]

I'm not sure that DS would be scared of Mickey and Goofy (or Doofy as he says) because he LOVES them. However, I think he'd be afraid of the characters he doesn't know well. We've already started watching the movied and pointing out who each character is. I've also made him a book of the different characters with pictures from mine and DH's very belated honeymoon last year. I'm hoping that by him seeing mommy and daddy with them that he won't be afraid.

My daughter loved them here. She had the movies, stuff animals, toys, pictures, books, colouring books etc. She hugged them, carried them around, spoke to them etc.

BUT..... when she got there, it was a whole new story when they are 5 feet tall and huge and coming at you. She did not want to go near them.

Before we went on our last vacation (she is now 3), we asked if she was going to take photos with them, she said yes and we discussed how great they are and nice and cuddly. By the time we went she said she was going to kiss and hug them all. This sounds great but she said this 6 months before on our previous vacation, so we were not too hopeful. But this time, when we asked her, she said "yes I want photos with them" and when it was our turn she ran to them and hugged them, our jaws just dropped. She just loves them now.

I think they will be ready when they are ready.

Now I'm so excited because I can add character meals to my future vacation plans. We have another vacation in August and I had to call and change some dining reservations around.

 

[a_sailor's_wife]

My daughter loved them here. She had the movies, stuff animals, toys, pictures, books, colouring books etc. She hugged them, carried them around, spoke to them etc.

BUT..... when she got there, it was a whole new story when they are 5 feet tall and huge and coming at you. She did not want to go near them.

Before we went on our last vacation (she is now 3), we asked if she was going to take photos with them, she said yes and we discussed how great they are and nice and cuddly. By the time we went she said she was going to kiss and hug them all. This sounds great but she said this 6 months before on our previous vacation, so we were not too hopeful. But this time, when we asked her, she said "yes I want photos with them" and when it was our turn she ran to them and hugged them, our jaws just dropped. She just loves them now.

I think they will be ready when they are ready.

Now I'm so excited because I can add character meals to my future vacation plans. We have another vacation in August and I had to call and change some dining reservations around.

I agree that they are ready when they want to be. That's the whole reason I don't want to push the character issue if he doesn't want to. I think since he will be nearly 4 that the age could come to play a factor as well. Right now at 2 he'd probably freak out and run the opposite direction of the characters whereas at 3-4 he might actually want to meet them. He did love meeting the Easter Bunny. If his not ready for them, that's fine, but we want to encourage him to be ready by us doing small things talking about them, him seeing something like Chuck E. Cheese, or showing him pictures.

 

[MotherOf2Princesses]

My kids only want to do a character meal and maybe one other sit down. The rest of the time they prefer to grab something quick. Mine are 4 and 7 and they think the sit down meals take too long.

As far as the dining plan goes it is a good deal. It's nice having the meals pre paid. When my youngest was 2 almost 3, I had them change the reservation to age 3 so that I could have her on the plan. I knew that she would want the same foods as her sister, like ice cream snacks. It was well worth it for us. I could order what I wanted and she got what she wanted.

Good Luck!

 

[sherabby]

He may like the Sci Fi at Hollywood Studios because you can eat in the cars and watch the short movies. Chef Mickey was fun for my son but he was 7 at the time of our last trip.

 

[MotherOf2Princesses]

My kids only want to do a character meal and maybe one other sit down. The rest of the time they prefer to grab something quick. Mine are 4 and 7 and they think the sit down meals take too long.

As far as the dining plan goes it is a good deal. It's nice having the meals pre paid. When my youngest was 2 almost 3, I had them change the reservation to age 3 so that I could have her on the plan. I knew that she would want the same foods as her sister, like ice cream snacks. It was well worth it for us. I could order what I wanted and she got what she wanted.

Good Luck!

And another nice thing is you can use two table credits for room service. Or get a pizza at the resort, one credit. These are nice options on days your little one is tired and eating in the room is a must do. Been there, Done that!

 

[goofygal531]

I highly recommend the Disney Sing Along DVDs!!

My oldest son has been watching them since he was 10 months old! We bought them right before his first trip to WDW at 1 year. He's been there every year for his birthday and has NEVER been afraid of the characters and I really truly believe it's due to the DVDs!! We have our little one watching them now too. He loves them just as much as his brother. He was only 6 months old on our last trip. This trip he'll have much more character interaction and I think he'll be fine.

http://www.amazon.com/Sing-Along-So...=pd_bbs_1?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1206556485&sr=8-1

Our favorite is Disneyland Fun (my boys think it's MK) Their second favorite is Beach Party, which features the water parks. Lastly, we watch Campout at WDW, which is filmed in Fort Wilderness.

What I love about these DVD is that they feature kids with the same characters you find in WDW. So the kids get comfortable seeing other kids interact with the characters. Plus I LOVE the scenary!! The songs are catchy too!

I believe they sell them at the Disney stores. I purchased mine at the World of Disney in NYC.

Regarding the restaurants, we plan all our meals around my DS4. Most of our meals are "entertaining" for him. Teppan Edo in Japan (cooking at the table), Sci-Fi in DHS (dine in a car and watch a movie), etc... It's all about him!