Very Picky teenager-not on the dining plan

[stefwynn30]

Hello, this is my first post in a very very long time but these boards have been an enormous help this past year. We got back from trip to WDW during August of 2009 with free dining, it was so great we're going back in August of this year. I have a 14 year old who is a very picky eater. He did have to order from the adult menu this past trip and for the most part it was okay but we will not be on the dp this year. Can he order off the kids menu since we are paying oop?.

Stefanie

 

[Tara922c]

That shouldn't be a problem. At buffetts he will have to pay adult prices, but most of them have a childrens section which he is welcome to eat from. I have never ordered a kids meal from a TS, but heard that you can. I have ordered a kids meal for myself at a CS with no problems.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Yes, he can order a children's meal. But if he is a typical 14yo boy he will probably need to order four or five children's meals to fill up. Also, now may be a good time to widen his eating horizons.

 

[csmom]

My 13 year old son is a picky eater and did fine ordering from the adult menus. He loves steak, and ordered that almost everywhere. Disney restaurants seem to have no problem subbing sides, and some places our server even offered to sub fries in place of another side dish without him even asking. We asked for sauces on the side at several places, and he found that he liked some of them when he tried them.

 

[tinkerbell60]

DS12 and DD 16 are both picky eaters. They both have ordered from the kids menu - although DD has progressed and started ordering from the adult menu at times too. As a pp suggested you still pay adult prices at buffets. We have had no problem with them ordering from the kids menu and they are not big eaters so filling up has not been a problem either. The desserts are great, and a good way to fill up if he is still hungry too.

 

[NMAmy]

DD is not a picky eater but because she goes to school in New Mexico, the time change can often make it so she's not that hungry at our ADR times. She's 19 and will sometimes order off the kid's menu or get an appetizer if she's not that hungry. At some places, they'll give a more adult sized portion and charge a higher price which is fine with us.

 

[2infinityandbeyond]

Also, now may be a good time to widen his eating horizons.

It's nobody's business what the kid does or doesn't eat.

 

[stefwynn30]

Thanks for the information... Its nice to know its an option if nothing on the adult menu appeals to him

S

 

[B-Ride]

It's nobody's business what the kid does or doesn't eat.

I disagree. The poster was only offering a suggestion, and it was a good one. People are asking for advice and it was being offered in a genuine effort to help. If people restricted themselves to answering questions exactly as asked we wouldn't get nearly as much good information.

 

[wdwmickey]

My very picky DD (now 14) started trying new things at WDW because we were on DDP. We went on a mommy & me trip and she helped choose the restaurants etc. I was thrilled when she tried new things and learned that she like Mahi-Mahi and that chicken didn't have to be breaded to taste good. She is still picky and prefers PBJ to anything else, but, she is also more willing to try new things. I hope you have an awesome trip and rest assured there are tons of place to get nuggets, hot dogs and PBJ

 

[danceintherain]

Since you won't be on the Dining Plan, he has more options. Most picky eater (like myself) can look at a menu and tell what they will or will not like. Therefore, if he doesn't see anything he likes on the menu, with the exception of buffets, just let him order whatever he wants which may be nothing, then allow him to grab something at one of the many Quick Service Dining Places to finish his meal.
You could also have him look at the menus in advance and help you plan your meals, or just take him past the restaurant to look at the menu before the meal, that way he could potentially grab something to consume beforehand if nothing on the menu looks appealing. That way he's not sitting there starving while the rest of you are eating.
When I do Disney not on the Dining Plan sometimes all I eat at a meal is French Fries. Considering Disney food is so expensive, unless you're on the Dining Plan, it's really not worth it to be trying new things.

My younger brother and sister are also very picky. For our trip in July I sent them menus from a bunch of places I was thinking about getting ADRs for. I told them to pick one from each group. (they were arranged by proximity to the park we would be in that day) I threw the Biergarten in there, because I thought my Dad would enjoy it. I didn't think they would pick it, but they did. It was because it had Macaroni & Cheese on the menu.

 

[2infinityandbeyond]

I disagree. The poster was only offering a suggestion

The OP wanted to know if her adult aged (by WDW standards) child can order from the children's menu. A simple yes or no answer is all the question requires. Personal opinions regarding what a 14 y/o should or shouldn't be willing to eat are irrelevant.

 

[disnut8]

How is your 14 year old "picky". Some will only eat certain foods (my son was fried shrimp, mozzerella sticks, pizza, chicken fingers). Some will only eat plain foods (my husband is still this way - no sauces of any kind for him). With either of these cases, it's not that difficult to handle it at Disney World. If your son only eats certain foods, look at menus before you go and make sure there is at least one thing on the menu he will eat. Look at EVERYTHING, including the kids choices, appetizers and sides. If he's a person who wants things plain, that's not a problem. Just order anything he wants plain. Disney doesn't have to put on the sauces. If he likes pasta and it's somewhere on the menu, you can get that plain. Use your imagination and encourage him to look at menus with you and to use his thoughts too.

Although I will never forget (and my son doesn't let me forget it either) when he and I went to a very nice restaurant at the edge of the Grand Canyon. I had looked at the menu weeks before we left and saw they had raviolis. He likes those so no problem. What I didn't know was there was spinach mixed in with the cheese! He did eat the meal but has never let me off the hook for that one.

 

[KateMW]

It's nobody's business what the kid does or doesn't eat.

Actually it's a very good suggestion and one that will serve both the OP and her son well in the coming years. There is no reason to let a child get away with eating off the kid's menu in their preteen/teen years just because they're "picky". Yes, there are some exceptions, of course, but the OP would do better to ask where there are good compromising meals then if they can order nasty chicken nuggets. IMO, of course.

 

[disnut8]

Can we please get this thread back to helping the OP with her question and not turn it into something that gets closed due to bickering? Because if this thread gets closed, the OP cannot open up another one to get her question answered or to get additional help. If people want to snipe at each other, send PMs instead. Don't clutter up a thread with it.

 

[Tricia1972]

Can we please get this thread back to helping the OP with her question and not turn it into something that gets closed due to bickering? Because if this thread gets closed, the OP cannot open up another one to get her question answered or to get additional help. If people want to snipe at each other, send PMs instead. Don't clutter up a thread with it.

Excellent Point

Having differing opinions is part of life, and sharing your opinions is what a message board is all about.

However, the restaurant board is not the debate board here. Debates on eating habits are better suited to the Community Board.

A point and counterpoint have been made. Please let it go at that, or we will have to close this thread.