What's so bad about the new kids menu

[honeymo78]

I think the ADDITION of healthier foods to the kids' menu is a good thing. However I don't think it's fair that the adults can have their cheesy alfredo pasta, gooey chocolate cake or whatever kind of ice cream...and the kids get to sit there with their cold chicken strips with apple wedges for dessert.

My son is a very good eater, but I know he wouldn't be happy with the new choices, especially at every meal for a week.

There are still options on the menu that include other items (hamburger, mac and cheese or in some cases restaurant specific items like mahi mahi at coral reef) and ice cream. You can also ask for old favorites like nuggets, plain pasta, etc and servers will do their best to find something that your child will eat. Kids don't have to eat the same 3 items unless they want to - please ask your server for other options if your child isn't happy with the menu.

 

[nbodyhome]

Disney does not offer alot of kid versions of the adult menu, because then adults want to purchase them instead of the adult version.

Many times the very changes everyone dislikes are caused by abuses of others.

I don't understand why that would be considered an abuse. If an adult can't eat an adults full meal, or if they just don't want to eat too much at one sitting - I don't understand why that is abuse. I think it's worse to order a large meal and throw half of it out. I'd prefer Disney have half-portions of their sit-down meals.

Obesity isn't just about what you are eating, but how much - and like with the dining plan, it is easy to eat 3000 - 5,000 calories in a day. I have to work a bit to make sure I'm not eating too many calories, and eating an appetizer portion sometimes is the only way to do it.

 

[mamacatnv]

Personally I have no issue with the new menus. We choose not to do the DDP so we are not restricted to kids menus. If there is not a kid menu item that DD wants then she will order off of the adult menu. The extra couple of bucks are worth everyone being happy and enjoying their meal.

We also tend to share our meals with each other. We order different things, everyone gets what they want, we try new things and we all go away happy and not hungry.

 

[ralph303]

Personally I have no issue with the new menus. We choose not to do the DDP so we are not restricted to kids menus. If there is not a kid menu item that DD wants then she will order off of the adult menu. The extra couple of bucks are worth everyone being happy and enjoying their meal.

We also tend to share our meals with each other. We order different things, everyone gets what they want, we try new things and we all go away happy and not hungry.

Lets fight child obesity, along with human obesity of course. The problem now is kids aren't has active as they use to be. Instead of playing in parks, and moving around, kids are watching to much T.V. and playing video games. Its going to get even worse when the new Wii (Nintendo system come out) along with the Play Station 3. Disney is doing the right thing to limit Mcdonalds fries and stuff like that. There is a new Disney website. check it out. disneypost dot calm. no advertisements. not yet that is. I am going to be a writer for the site. Disneypost is in deperate need of new users

 

[mrsbug]

My only problem is the lack of variety. I have a son with sensory integration disorder. He has a real problem with specific textures. Refuses to eat most fruits and veggies, screams a holy fit if you try to get him to eat mashed potatos or applesauce, and does not like cold foods. Has to be at least luke warm, unless it's cereal. It's all part of the sensory problem he's got, it's not that he's a picky eater. His choices with the new menu are very limited. I am happy to hear you can request things that are not on the menu though, like grilled cheese, a hot dog, or warm nuggets. We're going in December and will have to try that. But, I'll also be bringing in raisins, nutrigrain bars, and other snacks he likes, just in case he won't eat the restaurant foods. I think it's great that Disney is offering healthier choices, but they still need the old kid-friendly standbys. Dd will be thrilled to get fruit as a side, but sometimes the girl just wants a cheeseburger!

Bartleby1, I'd also suggest getting your child evaluated for sensory issues. I thought ds was just picky until we got the SID diagnosis. Since we've goud out it's a real problem we've found lots of ways to cope with his texture issues.

 

[Bonnie151]

I'm gradually shifting from liking the new healthy items to liking the idea of WDW implementing healthy kid menus, but being disappointed by the choices. I saw a photo of the new chicken strips meal on the food photos thread, and my first reaction was one of, "yep, we'll definitely need to supplement DS' dinners." To me it looks more like a *diet* meal than a purely healthy meal. DS needs some sort of filler like mashed potatoes or rice or bread to go along with his chicken & veg. And he really doesn't like more junk-like foods either (hamburgers, hot dogs, pizza etc) so most of the a la carte entrees are no good either - unless we want him eating mac & cheese over and over again or can manage to find out exactly which restaurants have spaghetti meatballs.

DS is skinny as a rail - we can't get enough food into him! He's 4 (will be 5 on holiday) and a typical day for him is:

8:00 breakfast of cereal & orange juice
9:00 second breakfast! (at nursery) toast & milk
11:30 lunch of stew with mash & veg, fruit salad with custard & milk
3:00 snack of crackers, cheese & grapes & milk
5:30 snack of a banana
6:00 dinner of salmon with Chinese 5 spice, thai rice & peas. Yoghurt, mini-cake and a plum. Milk to drink
7:30 supper of bread with butter & honey

He's 95th percentile for height & 25th percentile for weight. He eats what we eat and, I'd swear, he eats more than I do! Quite often he's trying to steal food off my plate after he's hoovered his up. So yeah, whilst I think it's great that Disney is trying to improve their menus, it's just not enough food for my son and we'll be either paying OOP quite a lot for him or asking if any of the old entrees (e.g. steak/mash/veg) are still available off menu.

 

[Katy Belle]

My kids are not picky eaters. They will eat from the new menu with no complaints. I do think they will get tired of seeing it at all restaurants, if it eventually comes to that. I certainly would.

My biggest problem with it is that I bought the dining plan because I thought it would be fun. Fun for the kids to get to choose an appetizer and a fun dessert. I will be crushed if the cute kids desserts such as the Choc. mousse at LeCellier are taken away from kids choices. That is one of the main reasons I bought the dining plan, to add some fun to the trip.

The kids will eat, we will still have a great time. I just feel I bought something and now it has been changed to something I would not probably have purchased.

Katy

 

[jodifla]

I hate the new menu. It's inflexible, and TERRIBLE for kids with texture issues. My son eats chicken strips, not cold grilled chicken.

I'm furious at the changes. And many posters on this board who have just returned from DIsney report that the ONLY MENU is the NEW MENU. No old menu request, no substitutions. Just like it or lump it.

 

[wdwfamilyinIL]

I want to add in is another who "hates" the new menu. It would be fine if it offered choices, but it doesn't. How would most adults feel if this whole situation was turned around, I don't know to many that would be happy with it. It's not fair to the kids!

 

[WantToGoNow]

I hate the new menu. It's inflexible, and TERRIBLE for kids with texture issues. My son eats chicken strips, not cold grilled chicken.

Do we know for fact that these chicken strips are served cold? If they are meant to be warm and come out cold, couldn't you ask that they be warmed up. When a CS serves cold chicken (Peco Bills) they tell you they are cold. I was under the understanding that these are grilled chicken strips -- something grilled is usually warm.

 

[All Morganic]

My girls are excellent eaters - fruit, veggies, steak, fish (even sushi!). My husband and I never force them to eat anything but gently encourage them to try stuff and 9 times out of 10 they do. We're adventerous eaters tho and have always eaten that way in front of them - so most things probably don't seem "weird." But, they like their junk food (on occasion) too. Both HATE chicken in any way, shape or form so I was extreemly disappointed to see so many options on the new menu consisting of chicken items. I guess we'll either be rotating through the 2 ala carte items or sharing our meals with them. That's the kicker for me. I don't want to have to think about THEM when I'm ordering MY meal. I thought the DDP would be a fun for them to pick out their appie, main and desserts. I think the biggest problems (according to the lastest reports) are going to be that the food is bland and the lack of options. I'm really not too worried about the dessert - I'm sure there will be plenty to share since there are going to be 4 adults and only 2 kids.

On another thread it recommended e-mailing Disney direct because "they" (the Disney powers that be) are under the impression that everyone is in love with the new menu. Healthy is good. Lack of variety is bad.