Very Picky Child

[MissKIA]

We are going be traveling with a child that is extremely picky. I have to make ADRs for our group in the next month and I am trying to pick out restaurants that will satisfy everyone. (good luck, I know, there are 9 of us!) The main problem is this one child.

What I want to know is, if there is nothing on the menu she will eat, is it possible just to order her french fries at most of the restaurants? Alot of the menus don't really list "sides", but I'm sure (hope) this must be possible?

 

[HelenParr]

It never hurts to ask, and it depends on the restaurant.

Generally, we've found if they have it, they'll make it available. Not everywhere has fries though.

If you want to throw out the names of the places, I'm sure folks here can help.

Also, is there a prepared snack or food this kid will eat for sure that mom/dad can have handy in case the ordering off menu fails? Lots of folks do that.

 

[MissKIA]

Also, is there a prepared snack or food this kid will eat for sure that mom/dad can have handy in case the ordering off menu fails? Lots of folks do that.

Yeah I have told her Mom to do that, just in case.

I'm not too sure on which restaurants yet. I was thinking of 50's Prime Time, Tony's Town Square - which should be OK because they have cheese pizza, we want to do a character meal so I though Chef Mickey's would be good since it's a buffet and there has to be something there she will eat! I'm having a hard time finding somewhere in Epcot though. Maybe Le Cellier. It seems the most main stream... I don't know. It seems so simple. Just go eat somewhere, doesn't it? lol If only that were the case!

 

[disneyag]

I have found that most WDW restaurants are really kid-friendly and will happily work with you. However, I'd still do as the PP suggested and have mom bring a few snacks, just in case.

 

[laughinplace199]

You can definitely order a side of fries at 50's Prime Time Cafe. We did this last year for our youngest DS. He shared some of my fried chicken and had his fries to go with it.

 

[Luv4Disney]

What does the child eat? I'm a very picky eater and could possibly suggest some restaurants.

 

[2Tiggies]

Will the child eat mac n cheese? A lot of the TS places will carry this for picky kids, even if it is not on the menu.

 

[dixonsontour]

I'd go where you think the majority will like.

Most of the childrens menus are very similar anyway.

I know CRT doesn't have fries.

Ohana which would be good with a group were happy to bring a kids meal if required - my then 3 yeal old had hot dog and fries there.

 

[MissKIA]

Well, she won't eat mac & cheese, hot dogs, grilled cheese, burgers, chicken nuggets, pasta, peanut butter... What she does eat is cheese pizza, french fries and lipton chicken noodle soup. lol I'm figuring most places will at least have pizza or fries.

I looked at the Ohana menu and I am definitly making an ADR there! It looks soooo good! I don't care if she won't like it. LOL Actually I think she might like the lo mein noodles.

 

[phyllis1966]

Wow! My niece was very picky, too (as a child, she only ate sweets (!), scrambled eggs and white rice), but that's a pretty limited list of foods - her mom must go crazy!

Honestly, I love kids (I'm a mom, too), but it really wouldn't be fair for 8 other people to be as limited in restaurant choices as you'd all be if you tried to only eat at places that offer fries and pizza. It's very sweet of you to try so hard, but I'd be very frustrated by now if I were you.

Check out the kids' menus on www.allearsnet.com, or here on the Dis, and you'll see where you can get pizza or fries for her.

Good luck and have a great time!

 

[PictureJumpr]

Inside Epcot, Coral Reef has a cheese pizza entree for kids.

Just outside Epcot through the 'back door,' the Captain's Grille - one of our favorites - has both cheese pizza and chicken noodle soup on the kids' menu.

Many places in WDW offer chicken noodle soup as a kid's appetizer - if you explained the situation I cannot think of any good reason they should decline to bring her a larger portion as her entree in lieu of other offerings she would not eat.

 

[carrie1626]

I raised two picky eaters, too. My condolences to you
I can look back and offer this:
Do NOT go out of your way to accomodate. But I did pack a few boxes of cereal ( Frosted Mini Wheats ) and baggies and Pudding snack packs to have on hand. My DD and DS are 21 and 17 now and their palates have expanded, (some)

 

[TwiddleDeeTwiddleDum]

Having a picky eater child I find that buffets sometimes are the best way to keep everyone happy. There is usually always a variety including "kitty" buffet offerings of pizza, nuggets, mac'n'cheese, etc.

So try to balance out some of the sit down choices with a few buffets - even character buffets which are fun for everyone.

 

[Luv Bunnies]

I used the menus on allearsnet.com as a guide when we took our trip. I have one special needs son with food issues and another who is slightly picky. I made ADRs at TS places I knew everyone would like and made a list of CS places that had what we needed. When we were looking for CS, I would pull out my list so we didn't have to walk from place to place reading menus. I also brought Jif Singles and was able to order plain bread or a hamburger bun and make my DS a PB sandwich. I would recommend bringing some small, easy-to-carry snacks that you can give the child at restaurants if all else fails.

 

[gibbersome]

Well, she won't eat mac & cheese, hot dogs, grilled cheese, burgers, chicken nuggets, pasta, peanut butter... What she does eat is cheese pizza, french fries and lipton chicken noodle soup. .

Lol, sounds EXACTLY like my gf. Though I told her she can try something new at the restaurants or watch me eat.

In you case, pack a dozen cans of chicken noodle soup!

 

[RMulieri]

I may sound harsh here, and I do have a picky eater myself so I know how it is...But MAKE your adrs for what will suit the group..Picky eaters will not starve ( trust me on this).We found that if we were dining at a place that didn't have the "Kiddie food staples" she would either try something( and we do have the rule she has to try) or we would make sure we had a snack with us or after we were done to get her a kids meal from CS.

 

[baler31]

I say just do what the majority want, I gave up trying to please even my immediate family. My kids have made do with the lovely bread offerings at most of the nicer TS restaurants many times.

The one TS my daughter wants to do is CRT and she hates the food there but I know there may come a time when she does not want to do it anymore and we have such great memories there.

 

[TDC Nala]

Will the entire group of nine be ok with choosing restaurants basically to accommodate this one child? Unless you're going to a buffet or all you can eat place, her parents can always buy her fries or a pizza separately and have her eat before everyone else. The child's parents can also do this if you go to one of your chosen restaurants and she still won't eat the pizza or fries because they're different from the ones at home, or some such thing.

 

[Jareds_mommy]

Well, she won't eat mac & cheese, hot dogs, grilled cheese, burgers, chicken nuggets, pasta, peanut butter... What she does eat is cheese pizza, french fries and lipton chicken noodle soup. lol I'm figuring most places will at least have pizza or fries.

I looked at the Ohana menu and I am definitly making an ADR there! It looks soooo good! I don't care if she won't like it. LOL Actually I think she might like the lo mein noodles.

ohana will bring her fries
they have a kids menu there

and Coral reef brough DS fries they only had mashed potatoes on the menu but they had milk in them so they offered him fries instead
i would look at buffets too so she can pick what ever she wants
sic fi would be a good one

 

[Nayan]

If you pick your ADR's just to satisfy a picky child you'll miss out on some great food for the rest of the group. Trust me, the kid won't starve. And who knows, maybe something she sees will spike her interest in trying something different.