what is your younger childs favorite...

[jm106]

...Kids meal that isnt a typical kids meal?
DS(3) isnt into chicken nuggets and fries and pizza he does if its good pizza. I prefer him not to eat hot dogs much
He would much rather eat an adult meal and I normally share mine(but now we have 2 kids and my dinners are getting smaller LOL). I get limited as to what I can eat that I can split with 2 of them, so it would be easy if they can split one and I can enjoy my own. I have the opposite of the picky eaters
Could you share your kids favs-
Good pizza?
Pasta?
Any place that has kids steak?
Soups? (he loves soups)
Also, do many(or any) places in parks offer salads with meals? He also loves salad so he can share mine or I can get an extra side salad for him.
And last, are the sides of fruit or carrots... tiny portions or decent size?

 

[TruBlu]

Le Cellier has a fantastic kids steak. And, Tutto Italia has some great choices for kids. My boys had spaghetti and meatballs.

Have you checked out the menus on www.allearsnet.com?

 

[TruBlu]

Forgot to add...
Buffets are always a good choice. Lots of options there.

 

[ShannonMB]

The ONLY thing I don't like about the dining plan is a lot of the kids' options. My DD could not care less, but I feel like I'm treating her like a second-class citizen making her choose between the 2 or 3 crappy choices at each place! I asked her if she minds having to get the kids' meals, and she said, "No, why would I"? But I still feel bad about it.

That said, there are some great choices out there. Sunshine Seasons at Epcot has some varied choices for kids (for CS). DD also did love the kids' steak at LeCellier as a PP said. We tend to also do several buffets (as ANOTHER PP said), because everyone has the same choices!

So, no NEW suggestions here, but I DO know what you mean!!

 

[ms*mountaineer]

My kids also don't care for "typical kid food" - chicken nuggets and pizza are fun the first time, but not the next day and every meal after that!

At 50's Prime Time - the kids meals went over great with my kids. One had chicken noodle soup and mac & cheese. DD5 chose the FISH (she shocks me sometimes) - and it was a small piece of salmon. We swapped out the rice pilaf for mashed potatoes.

My kids ate great at Biergarten - lots of different sausages, plus roast chicken and roast pork, potato soup, etc...

They liked the kids pasta at Tutto Italia with the cream sauce (heck - everyone at the table loved that sauce!)

 

[tinkandpan]

My kids also don't like the kids meals. This is one of the reasons we don't do the dining plan. They will usually order a salad and an appetzier from the restaurant instead. But- if i can recall some of our better menu choices from kids came from:
Kona Cafe
California Grill- they make a great kids steak
actually most of the signature restaurants do as well
tokyo dining has a great terriyaki meal
teppen edo allows for the hibachi
Coral Reef had a few other choices

As for counter service
Pinnochio village haus has a pizza that isn't too bad in the grand scheme of things
wolfgang puck express
earl of sandwich (not sure if they are on DDP though)
Seasons sunshine
most of the countries in Epcot.

Buffets are always a good choice as well
our favorites include, Boma, Tusker House, Crystal Palace (for bfast)

 

[peggyjean123]

my oldest age 8 loves a lot of adult food, sushi and fish are her fav. she also loves steak. She really enjoyed mama melrose, I too get discouraged with kids menu choices, I think that they should encourage parents to venture out from chicken nuggets.

 

[jm106]

thanks! I sis see menus but I could make myself crazy searching them and figured I would ask those who experienced the meals, since they have first hand info.
I wish places offered a kids size of an adults meal- I have lost a goof Rib eye to my 3 yo and been stuck with a grilled cheese before,lol. We stopped ordering kids meals for him.
We have crystal palace booked so there we have choices, but honestly I am not big on buffets- parlty because things sit (I assume in wdw it moves faster though) and mostly because I hate to get up and get meal, then DH has to get up, then if you forgot something or want more, you need to get up again. I like to sit and be served after walking all day
We also have chef mickeys breakfast, but I wouldnt have trouble getting him to eat breakfast any place.

 

[mommycrawford]

My daughter also wouldn't touch a kid's meal either!...If you are going during "free dining" promo you could upgrade her ticket for about $40 to an adult one (age 10), and she would get adult meals attatched to her ticket! ( A Disney TA let me know to do this about 3 years ago.)

Of course your tips go up, but not as much as paying oop and increasing your tip. The other way to get better options is to eat at buffets, for which anyone can eat from any selections.

I hope this helps.

 

[jm106]

thanks not on dining plan-staying off site.

 

[dmaz]

My Kids love 'Ohana, Liberty Tree Tavern and WCC. Also, any of the buffets will do.
I wish I had the chicken nugget problem though. They would live on them if they could. They enjoy a wide variety of food though and I try to make sure that they do not live on Chicken nuggets and pizza all week.

 

[ktlm]

With my 2 yr 10 month old we couldn't get by on the free under 3 snacks as she is a big eater. Also, she can be picky so I'm not going to give up ordering what I want to eat, just to get something she will eat. She absolutely loved the Tortilla Soup off the adult menu at the San Angel Inn and she really liked the Crystal Palace Buffet which had a large variety of things she would eat. She also loved the grilled chicken off the Akershus children's menu, but your son might not be crazy about a Princess meal. She also liked the Spaghetti with meat sauce from the children's menu at Mama Melrose.

 

[allyphoe]

thanks not on dining plan-staying off site.

If you're not on the dining plan, just buy your kids what they want to eat. (Or don't, but with the understanding that it's not an issue of "Disney won't let you.") It's not like you aren't allowed to buy an adult appetizer or an entree for them.

I have a kid who eats nothing but mac-n-cheese at Disney (although she eats a wider variety of foods at home), so I can't help you with more-adventurous meals. I will say that the grapes and carrot sticks that come as kid meal sides are very small. When they did loose grapes, they were nice big portions of fresh (although sometimes grubby) grapes. The prepacked ones have 5 or 10 small grapes, and to me taste of either preservative or packaging.

 

[mommycrawford]

Are you concerned mostly with counter service or table service, and which parks?

If counter service: Epcot : Sunshine Seasons (or the different countries)
MK: Cosmic Ray's
AK: Flame Tree BBQ
HS: ...I wish you luck!

...all of these have a lot of non-fried options and the first two have three types of menus. HS: had a venue with rice and beans, but it looks like the menu changed recently.

If table service: it seems that Epcot restaurants give you better kid's options:
grilled fish, steak, etc. For buffets, 1900 Park Fare has more grown up choices than Chef Mickey's (I think,) and O'hana is simple and good-salad and shrimp and sweet wings before the main meats and vegetables. I believe Kona had decent kids choices too! Check out the menu pages!

All the best!

 

[mommycrawford]

Sorry...double post!

 

[emmabemmainc]

My 7 year old daughter ate an entire BIG bowl of salad by herself at 'Ohana--that was her favorite thing the whole trip!

 

[Vickis3js]

My kids are so not kids meal eaters. Unless its pasta or fish my kids would rather eat what DH and I are eating.

They LOVED Ohana. My 6 yo dd ate more steak then I did and my 7 yo DS polished off the salad. My 8 yo DD's fav was 50's PT she got chicken noodle soup and a kids meatloaf. They all liked Teppen Edo as well. For CS their fav was Flame Tree they loved the chicken legs. They also liked the variety at Pop Century.

We also did a lot fo the family style and buffets so my kids never went hungry!

 

[jm106]

If you're not on the dining plan, just buy your kids what they want to eat. (Or don't, but with the understanding that it's not an issue of "Disney won't let you.") It's not like you aren't allowed to buy an adult appetizer or an entree for them.

I have a kid who eats nothing but mac-n-cheese at Disney (although she eats a wider variety of foods at home), so I can't help you with more-adventurous meals. I will say that the grapes and carrot sticks that come as kid meal sides are very small. When they did loose grapes, they were nice big portions of fresh (although sometimes grubby) grapes. The prepacked ones have 5 or 10 small grapes, and to me taste of either preservative or packaging.

Thanks good to know about the sides- thats what I figured. He could eat a bag of baby carrots himself.
I know I can order what ever since not on dining plan- I was just looking for places that offer a decent kids meal that wasnt a typical. My reason is I dont want to get him an adults and pay full price for a 3 yo. I would look for appetizers or sides, or soups/salads where we can find some for him for sure.

 

[sherabby]

My son has multiple food allergies and sometimes gets items prepared for him due to the lack of choices on the kids menu that are safe for him.
I LOVE how Disney goes above and beyond to keep him safe and happy!