The new children's menu... please explain.

[Papa Deuce]

Does this only apply to those on the DDP? Or is it also in effect for those wanting "kid's meals" that pay OOP?

 

[suzannews]

One kids menu for everyone, doesn't matter if you are DDP or not.

 

[Papa Deuce]

One kids menu for everyone, doesn't matter if you are DDP or not.

from what I gather... YIKES!

Thanks for responding, though!

 

[eandt]

We just got back from our trip and have to say the new kids menu really bites! Glad we did not do the DDP this time because our 9yr old would have never survived on that menu which included little more than grilled chicken strips, PPandJ, or Macaroni/Cheese along with 2 sides from choices of carrot sticks, grapes, and applesauce (unsweetened). We did find out mid week that some of the places would allow French Fries as a substitute but still the menu stinks and that was pretty much the consenses of what we heard from parents. I applaud Disney for offering the more healthy choices but they should not force their nutritional views on parents. After all it is a vacation, a time to splurge, why limit the kids on what they can eat? Well I guess the kids could order whatever they want off the higher priced adult menu (ours did).....U don't think this is what the good folks at Disney had in mind do U??? That wouldn't be very "magical" at all...............

 

[bicker]

The moderators have thoughtfully created a single, consolidated thread for the discussion of the new menus. You may find a lot more information and opinions about this topic there:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1256259

 

[janets]

The problem with the board threads on the new menus is that the boards are not updating the menus that quickly. We all know that a new menu was introduced at WCC on Sunday...Suzanne posted and she works there. However, the link to the menus is still showing the old June menu, so people still don't know what is really going on.

While I'm thankful to the mods for all of their hard work and patience during the menu transitions, isn't there someone who has access to the newest version of these menus who can get the links updated with really current info? I'm especially concerned with any changes that might be in place now at the WS restaurants in EPCOT.

 

[U2_rocks!]

We'll be paying OOP for our kids' meals next year, but knowing US portion sizes, and knowing my kids' appetites, we will not be ordering them a meal each (or rarely). We will buy whatever we know they like that is on the entire menu (kids/adults), and they will share. So instead of 3 kids meals, we might 2 adult meals. It will work out OK. Sometimes I might share with 1 kid too, since I can't eat nearly as much as I know will be on the plate! They cost will work out fine doing this. And there are no issues with sharing if you are paying OOP, except at buffets.

 

[disnut8]

I think most of the uproar about the menus is with the DDP. If you have a child in your party, they will get a child credit. That can only be used with the Kids Menu. So you are forced to deal with the new menus.

U2_rocks is right. Disney adult portions are pretty big. It's very easy to share a couple of entrees if a child doesn't find something on the Kids Menu. That's what I plan to do when we take our granddaughter.

 

[eandt]

They do not differentiate credits as Adult and Child on the DDP.......we used it last year and it is just a "pool" of credits, use them however you see fit and can justify it to yourself.

 

[disneymom2one]

They do not differentiate credits as Adult and Child on the DDP.......we used it last year and it is just a "pool" of credits, use them however you see fit and can justify it to yourself.

Although credits are pooled, the cards do indicate how many adults and children are on the account. Reports from Disney consistently indicate that TS places are enforcing those limits. The mods have indicated this is not a topic to debate and I won't. I just don't want people disappointed when they attempt to follow your advice. The best advice for anyone is to call Disney.

 

[eandt]

Just quoting from experience last year, maybe its different this year as we did not use the dining plan because we wanted to be more flexible with our eating times and locations. When you get your reciept from each location it will only list the credits available not child and adult credits. We didn't "cheat" on it but the wait staff made it known that our child could order from the adult menu if he so desired. He also was able to order an appetizer off the menu and a dessert. Last year the kids menus were much better with many more choices including steaks at some locations. With the new kids menu he definately would have been ordering off the adult menu or I would have demanded my money back, it is lousy and I highly doubt its going to last, at least in it's present form.

 

[bicker]

The rule about not using child meal entitlements for adult meals was added to the brochure mid-year (this year), and as far as we can tell, will appear in print as part of the 2007 Dining Plan brochure.

 

[Minnie824]

We were NOT on the dining plan, just back and agree the new kids menu is terrible. My DDs ate mac & cheese and a plain cheese pita pizza almost every day. There is no variety. No 'normal' chicken fingers, no grilled cheese, no pb&j. They would have loved a grilled cheese. The buffets worked out much better for them. I think they need to get rid of this, and go back to having specialized kids menus at each restaurant, as they do adult menus.

 

[jodifla]

We were NOT on the dining plan, just back and agree the new kids menu is terrible. My DDs ate mac & cheese and a plain cheese pita pizza almost every day. There is no variety. No 'normal' chicken fingers, no grilled cheese, no pb&j. They would have loved a grilled cheese. The buffets worked out much better for them. I think they need to get rid of this, and go back to having specialized kids menus at each restaurant, as they do adult menus.

Did you complain to anyone while you were there? Did you send emails and letters?

The BEST way to get them to change them is to complain!

 

[justhat]

We were in WDW with our 2.5yo for 10 days in November and we loved the new kids menus. My daughter had no problem with variety (I think she repeated only 2 meals-mac and cheese and the grilled chicken strips) as even though the menu is the same in several restaurants, many of them have additional items listed. Or if they had the 3 standard Mickey plates then the other options varied. She got a kid steak at Le Cellier, whole wheat pizza and rice krispy sushi at CG, Mickey mac and cheese at Narcoosee's (though they had a fish that she initially wanted, but then changed her mind in favor of mac and cheese for the 2nd time). Lunch we did pretty much all counter service and she ate cheeseburgers, pasta, chicken fingers, etc.

So for those with trips planned I wouldn't get too worked up about the kids menu. We never had to order our daughter anything off the regular menu (though we used to do that a lot before the new menu came about).

 

[jodifla]

We were in WDW with our 2.5yo for 10 days in November and we loved the new kids menus. My daughter had no problem with variety (I think she repeated only 2 meals-mac and cheese and the grilled chicken strips) as even though the menu is the same in several restaurants, many of them have additional items listed. Or if they had the 3 standard Mickey plates then the other options varied. She got a kid steak at Le Cellier, whole wheat pizza and rice krispy sushi at CG, Mickey mac and cheese at Narcoosee's (though they had a fish that she initially wanted, but then changed her mind in favor of mac and cheese for the 2nd time). Lunch we did pretty much all counter service and she ate cheeseburgers, pasta, chicken fingers, etc.

So for those with trips planned I wouldn't get too worked up about the kids menu. We never had to order our daughter anything off the regular menu (though we used to do that a lot before the new menu came about).

But all the things your daughter ate were on the previous kids menus.

The thing my DS likes most, chicken tenders, have been obliterated from the TS menus, throwing a MAJOR monkey wrench into the plans.

 

[justhat]

But all the things your daughter ate were on the previous kids menus.

The thing my DS likes most, chicken tenders, have been obliterated from the TS menus, throwing a MAJOR monkey wrench into the plans.

Well I was specifically stating that there are things other than those 3 Mickey head plates you hear a lot of on these boards. She ate the grilled chicken strips (like I mentioned previously), the Just Dip It, and the pita pizza. Also had a grilled chicken breast somewhere, though I forget where at the moment, and that restaurant also offered chicken fingers-the standard breaded and fried kind. If I can think of where I'll let you know so you can add it to your plans. Gosh, it was only a month ago and I'm already forgetting details!

I'm guessing your son eats other foods though so if you can given him his chicken finger fix at lunch can't he eat something else for dinner? Or find a place that does the chicken fingers for dinner and eat there once and then he eats other foods the other nights?

 

[jodifla]

Well I was specifically stating that there are things other than those 3 Mickey head plates you hear a lot of on these boards. She ate the grilled chicken strips (like I mentioned previously), the Just Dip It, and the pita pizza. Also had a grilled chicken breast somewhere, though I forget where at the moment, and that restaurant also offered chicken fingers-the standard breaded and fried kind. If I can think of where I'll let you know so you can add it to your plans. Gosh, it was only a month ago and I'm already forgetting details!

I'm guessing your son eats other foods though so if you can given him his chicken finger fix at lunch can't he eat something else for dinner? Or find a place that does the chicken fingers for dinner and eat there once and then he eats other foods the other nights?

If only life were that simple! On the DCL cruise, he ate the chicken strips EVERY NIGHT! We tried talking him into trying some different, but he flatout refused. The waiter even brought out other things, and he wouldn't touch them.

He ate lots of different things for breakfast and lunch (mainly mac :& cheese, hotdogs, pizza, waffles, bacon, toast), but when he goes out to dinner, he expect chicken tenders, largely because they are on EVERY OTHER kids menu for dinner where he's ever gone.

Combine this with his texture issues (which are getting milder as he gets older) and you have a have an unpleasant dinner situation. He also has language delays, so trying to explain the situation to him is difficult.

 

[Tokay518]

My daughter had chicken nuggets last week at the Backlot Express in MGM, her side choices were carrots, grapes or applesauce (they will subsitute fries). She loved having carrots as a side. We had no problems with food selection and we ate alot of places. We substituted "adult" desserts for the sugar free jello in a couple of places with no problem. My DD is 7 and pretty pickey but she had plenty of variety and enjoyed everything she ate (except at Tony's, nasty food). Just my two cents.

 

[justhat]

I get the texture issues as my daughter's got a thing with "slimy" foods-like eggs, canned fruit, etc. Just won't go near them. If he does mac and cheese I know that was on pretty much every dinner menu. Maybe you could tell him you're eating a 2nd lunch?