What is your favorite meal at DL--that is baby friendly?

[stampinshauna]

We're going to DL in February and I love to eat well while there. This will be my first time there with a baby (1 year old). Do you have any suggestion of where to eat--something that is yummy and doable with a baby? Also, any ideas of yummy food for a 1 year old?

 

[cruise cruise cruise]

I have not been yet (waiting for my April trip ), but I have read mention of a "Power Pack" (or named somethign like that) that is available at a few of the counter service places. It has (again check for more accurate info) yougurt, goldfish crackers, maybe even string cheese, and I think a juice or water or milk...sounds like all the things a 1 year old might like.

 

[trodrigue]

Actually a number of the places have a toddler option which is chicken, rice and applesauce I think?? I find all the places at Disney to be child/baby tolerant, and you should just go on off hours as much as possible to minimize the potential wait times. Study the menus so you have an idea of what you want to order before you sit down and those sorts of strategies.

 

[DahliaRW]

If I remember right, the French Market has a kids meal with mac and cheese and grapes. Cut up the grapes and it's very 1 year old friendly.

Really, when my kids were that age I usually just ordered something for myself that I could share with them off of my plate. Or order an extra yogurt or bring in small snacks (crakers, fruit cups, applesauce, etc).

The power packs are great, but a lot of them have artificially sweetened yogurt (aspartame), which is an issue for us because I don't like to feed nasty chemicals to my young kiddos!

 

[cheshiregirl]

We visit DL pretty frequently and our DS is now almost 16 months old. During the last three trips (ages 12 mo, 14 mo, and 15 mo) he has been to several different Disney restaurants.

I would say that his favorite two meals were the Lilo and Stitch breakfast (PPH) and the Goofy's kitchen brunch (DLH). Lots of kid friendly foods (but delicious choices for mom and dad too) and he LOVES characters at this point and thus he delighted in everyone who stopped by the table to visit. Minnie has a similiar breakfast in the parks, but we did not have a good experience there compared to the other two--quality of food was lesser and we had to ask to have characters come to our table after a 45 minute wait, and then still had to wait another 30 minutes or so!)

We also really enjoy the Storyteller's dinner buffet at GCH. There are no characters there, but once again the food is pretty good and DS enjoys what we share with him.

For most counter service places we tend to feed DS from the snacks that I have brought along rather than ordering the kids meals for him. I pack string cheese, yogurt sticks, goldfish crackers and all the other makings of a power pack meal at a fraction of the cost. The one exception is at Whitewater Snacks in the GCH, which is probably my favorite CS in the resort (except for maybe the Pacific Wharf soup and salads). There we order a fruit cup, which is absolutely huge and DS can eat off it for 2-3 meals. The fruit is always very tasty and usually has a pretty good variety of melons, grapes, pineapple and strawberries that the whole family enjoys.

Anyhow, the only places I would recommend skipping in the parks are Wine Country Trattoria and Blue Bayou as they are not really toddler friendly on their menu nor in their atmosphere. Otherwise, pick what you like and pack some snacks for the little one, and have fun!

 

[DahliaRW]

Just from a different perspective, we had no issues with my 3 1/2 yo and 1 yo at the blue bayou. We shared off our plates with the 1 yo, an dmy 3 1/2 year old had mac and cheese which he loves. They both were mesmerized by the boats which kept them occupied and happy.

 

[bumbershoot]

Big tip is to avoid proper meal times. Go early or go late, so that you're not just waiting and waiting.

There was a huge family including TWO babies at Wine Country Trattoria the first time I went, and it was fine. The adults were making far more noise than the babies.

I think that just about any place is fine, as long as you are absolutely willing to get up with the baby and go out if baby starts fussing. I think most Dis'ers are good like that...it's the non-dis'ers who don't seem to think of it.

And if you're going to Blue Bayou, for the "ease in getting out" aspect, I would NOT get a waterside table, would get a door-side table instead. Easier to get to the restrooms that way, too.

 

[DahliaRW]

The foogo by thermos is my favorite. If your lo can do straws, the straw cups stay colder and hold more. They also have a regular sippy. They are stainless steel so you don't have to worry about toxins in plastic and insulated very well.