Toddler "bird" eaters: advice on Disney meals?

[jpeka65844]

Okay, gang. DS will be 3 when we go in Dec (he will have turned 3 a week before). He eats like a bird; we're talking small portions of a very limited variety.

It's killing me to think we're going to have to pay for him at meals now; especially at the buffets (Boma and CP); I have NO problem paying for his park ticket but the kid just doesn't eat enough to warrant $$$$ at a meal.

Any advice for keeping cost for sit-downs to a minimum? Will they let me order just sides or appetizers for him? We won't be on the DDP so won't be confined to just those choices.

 

[laughinplace199]

We don't do the DDP and we've never had a problem just ordering an appetizer or side order for one of our kids. Our youngest was 17 mos on our last trip. Sometimes, if I thought he was really hungry, I'd order him his own meal. Most of the time, he just shared with us. He might have one of DS's chicken nuggets, some od DD's fries, a spoonful of my pasta, etc. I find most WDW meals to be on the bigger side - good for sharing.

 

[Miss LD]

the last time we went we also didn't have the dining plan.
I was actually surprised by how hungry DS was. He isn't a picky eater normally, just not a big eater.
I think because he was burning so many calories he was starving.
Having said that, my niece who had just turned 3 was also not on the dining plan and she often had just an appetizer.
Truthfully, for the kids meals, with the drinks and stuff included, I didn't find the prices that expensive even if the kids didn't eat much.

 

[jboysen]

As far as I know, you should not have a problem ordering a side or an app, or even splitting meals(maybe a small extra plate charge at the really nice resturants). My mom is a travel agent and has told me many times as long as you don't make a big deal in advertising it to everyone in the resturant they are pretty lienent. I've even ordered off the kids menu when I haven't been that hungry and no one has told me NO and I'm 31 yrs old. My DD on the other hand will eat anything and everything you put in front of her.

 

[carmie3377]

At non buffet/non all you care to eat restuarants, he can share with you or you can order items ala cart for him. However, at the buffets and all you care to eat places, you will be required to pay for him, regardless of how much he eats.

 

[Not so Dumbo]

I thought the same thing about the buffet meals, until DS caught wind of the dessert table. He ate his weight in icecream and cookies.

 

[tjmw2727]

You can order whatever you like for him, except as you said, at the buffet or all you can eat restaurants. I would book a minimum of those and only if its a character you must see and don't want to wait in line for. Consider the meal cost as an entertainment cost and if it isn't worth it choose a different restaurant and get to the characters early before the lines form.

My dds were never "kids meal' kids and to this day they will order an appetizer, salad, soup or some combination instead. I have found the waitstaff very accomodating about bringing an extra side or substituting. You can also just give him something from your plate if you wish.

TJ

 

[jessica52877]

I always fed my DS off my plate at regular restarants, we skipped the buffets unless on the dining plan. I could never justify that kind of money.

 

[christa112]

Same issues with DD who is 4. We are lucky enough to be going during Free Dining, so her meals are free!!! But she never wants to eat either. There are 7 of us going including her and I cannot avoid ordering her TS, but I will not order her CS and she can share off of all of us, there will be plenty of food to go around.

Sometimes when we go out to eat we don't order her meals she shares with us especially at Olive Garden where she eats the salad and bread and then will have a few bites of my chicken parm. We are a family of 5 so we still end up spending $50 on our meals not including her.

 

[asoko]

This is why I didn't get the DDP. I don't eat much neither do DS or DD (5 and 3). Together we would finish a CS meal. If I went to a character buffet meal, I would chalk the cash up to entertainment and joy for the kids. Luckily DS could take or leave the characters and DD only likes the blinkers (princesses etc) and last year we found them throughout the parks. So I got off easy.

 

[ktwoof29]

I have the same problem DD(4) is very picky and DS(2) is starting to be "selective" about what he wants. Luckily he can eat off my plate but Ive also read that you can request mac and cheese or nuggets(the only two thing DD wants)even if they arent on the menu. Is this true?everywhere or only at certain resturants?
This is my first trip w/ kids...last one was honeymoon!
Thanks

 

[Schmeck]

You can ask if they can bring something not on the menu (they made my DD a grilled cheese at the castle) but it depends on the waitstaff, crowd level, if they have stuff in stock to make it, etc. The waitress actually suggested the grilled cheese, as DD didn't like the mac and cheese we ordered for her there. Of course we were charged for the one meal (sandwich), but they didn't charge us for the mac and cheese (which was gross and soggy!)

 

[tjmw2727]

I have the same problem DD(4) is very picky and DS(2) is starting to be "selective" about what he wants. Luckily he can eat off my plate but Ive also read that you can request mac and cheese or nuggets(the only two thing DD wants)even if they arent on the menu. Is this true?everywhere or only at certain resturants?
This is my first trip w/ kids...last one was honeymoon!
Thanks

It depends - if your at a resort restaurant that also has a counter service type restaurant you can "probably" get about anything from the counter service restaurant. Like the pp said it does depend on the server and how busy both places are. My dd has gotten a substitution at Ohana during breakfast twice.

It never hurts to ask -

TJ

 

[Tiffany_MommyOf3]

I'd let him eat off of your plate at table service meals. I'd get him something small at Counter Service meals. At buffets though, you just gotta pay for him LOL.