When did it become acceptable to....

[keishashadow]

And which restaurants offer grilled cheese or chicken tenders as appetizers? It's not a price/OOP thing it's a if they don't offer "kid" food my kid still won't eat a steak, shrimp cocktail, lobster bisque, caesar salad, etc. from the adult menu either.

To the original question I do have significant allergies but I still never order off menu. I will request that whatever dish be served plain but if they offer salmon on the menu I order plain salmon not grouper....
Yvonne

We haven't had a problem getting chicken strips served as an appetizer when they're offered as an entree, just eliminated the "sides" and they adjusted the price accordingly. Planet Hollywood comes to mind as having an extensive list of appetizers. Think the servers accommodate you according to how you present your request.

If my youngest DS doesn't care for that evenings' menu choices, we'll usually stop & get him a turkey leg to eat before the TS meal, where he'll share my entree or order an appetizer/dessert.

Consider yourself lucky that your child won't eat food from the adult menu, mine wanted steak & lobster since they were tots...guess it's what they're used to eating. Honestly, can't say that any kid I know would be satisfied with a grilled cheese sandwich when mom & dad's eating steak or seafood.

 

[Rhongepooh]

asking for something NOT on the menu???? WOW!! I never would have even THOUGHT this was possible to do!! Makes me feel a WHOLE LOT BETTER about having them hold something off my plate and asking if I could please subsitute potatoes for veggies!!

 

[Luvamouse]

Agree with many here--change a bit of an entree for my tastes perhaps, or my kids tastes-- but never request an item not on the menu--ONE exception-- 2 restaurants we frequent where I have asked about availability of a former "special" and both made it up since they had the ingredients. No begging, just politely asking and we are low maintenance customers and good tippers. I think that is about the only acceptable time-- where it is probably possible.

 

[CPer'sMom]

One note about ordering "off the menu" (not just "hold the sauce" or the like, but something not seen on the menu) ~~

There is quite a huge difference is ordering 'off the menu' at your local restaurant and ordering something not on the menu at a WDW restaurant.

Your restaurant 'at home' does not serve hundreds and hundreds of customers per day. Stop and think about it for a minute ... It takes quite a bit of extra time to prepare something special (ie, not on the menu) for a guest. As crowded as the TS restaurants have gotten lately and the way they turn over the tables now, do you really think that the chef has the extra time to make you or your child something that is not offered there?

WDW chefs have always been happy to make adjustments for dietary concerns (veggie, allergies, etc). Oftentimes the chef would even come out to the table to discuss the options with you. Those are necessary changes to a menu -- asking for a grilled cheese or chicken strips not on the menu is entirely different. If the restaurants continue to get *too many* requests, how long do you think it will be before every menu posts the words "NO changes, NO exceptions" ?
IMO I think that asking for something 'off the menu' at a crowded, high volume restaurant is abusing the fact that Disney tries (or at least DID try) to please every guest.

As the OP said --- The menus are posted. If you don't like what you see, eat elsewhere.

 

[DaisyD]

It isn't as easy to eat elsewhere. When we are at WDW we don't go offsite for any reason. I make my ADRs based on the kids and adult menus. Some places that don't offer the food DD liked I made sure she eats elsewhere beforehand. There were still plenty of restaurants at WDW that served grilled cheese or hot dogs that made it nice for all of us to eat together. Now that they have taken away those options at all the restaurants we used to eat together as a family we are left with nothing. We can either go offsite or not go to WDW at all. I'm not about to spend my vacation eating offsite and wasting my time driving around so that leaves the option of not going at all. I see no reason why all the WDW restaurants can't have the basic 3 items on the kids menu which would be grilled cheese, chicken nuggets, and hot dogs along with healthy stuff too. I doubt that WDW will miss my 30 days a year spent in a deluxe resort, eating table service meals daily, and spending thousands of $$$ on souveniers but I will be sure to let them know just the same.

 

[jodifla]

One note about ordering "off the menu" (not just "hold the sauce" or the like, but something not seen on the menu) ~~

There is quite a huge difference is ordering 'off the menu' at your local restaurant and ordering something not on the menu at a WDW restaurant.

Your restaurant 'at home' does not serve hundreds and hundreds of customers per day. Stop and think about it for a minute ... It takes quite a bit of extra time to prepare something special (ie, not on the menu) for a guest. As crowded as the TS restaurants have gotten lately and the way they turn over the tables now, do you really think that the chef has the extra time to make you or your child something that is not offered there?

WDW chefs have always been happy to make adjustments for dietary concerns (veggie, allergies, etc). Oftentimes the chef would even come out to the table to discuss the options with you. Those are necessary changes to a menu -- asking for a grilled cheese or chicken strips not on the menu is entirely different. If the restaurants continue to get *too many* requests, how long do you think it will be before every menu posts the words "NO changes, NO exceptions" ?
IMO I think that asking for something 'off the menu' at a crowded, high volume restaurant is abusing the fact that Disney tries (or at least DID try) to please every guest.

As the OP said --- The menus are posted. If you don't like what you see, eat elsewhere.

This is hardly practical advice. Like DaisyD said, folks are making their ADRs months in advance, only to have Disney yank the rug out from under them with COMPLETELy new menus in some cases.

It SHOULDN"T be that hard for Disney to put pack the kids items on the kids menus. There's are reason chicken tenders and grilled cheese are ubiquitious. It's what kids eat!

 

[SauceBoss]

I suspect at least some of the one credit restaurants may not have a real chef but rather a cook that just heats entrées that are prepared in advance, maybe even in a central location. I was served a raw pork chop at Tony's. After it came back almost the same we ordered something else. The server later told me the "chef" was new and thought the chops were pre-cooked and only had to be browned.

Actually,every restaurant has a "real" chef, even the QSR's do. All have a management figure to supervise and make sure sanitation laws are followed (it's a huge deal at WDW) That's a total crock that someone at Tony's told you that - sounds like they made up an excuse off the top of their head, "I know, let's blame the kitchen". It's lame excuses like that make for abad reputation - usually a sign of bad training which in turn equals bad service.

Just my 2-cents

 

[SauceBoss]

It's amazing how every post turns into chicken tenders and grilled cheese.

 

[Lewisc]

The pork chop was brown on the outside but raw on the inside. Of course the kitchen is to blame. I don't expect the server to check the temperature, put a cut in the meat or is the one who takes the food off the stove. I'm not talking about rare steak but pork that was literally raw inside.

I assumed a "real" chef would have known if the chops were pre-cooked and would make sure they were properly cooked. The fact that a "real" chef is in the restaurant makes the situation worse.

The server didn't take anything off my bill, I didn't bother asking.

Actually,every restaurant has a "real" chef, even the QSR's do. All have a management figure to supervise and make sure sanitation laws are followed (it's a huge deal at WDW) That's a total crock that someone at Tony's told you that - sounds like they made up an excuse off the top of their head, "I know, let's blame the kitchen". It's lame excuses like that make for abad reputation - usually a sign of bad training which in turn equals bad service.

Just my 2-cents

 

[wendy46001]

There is quite a huge difference is ordering 'off the menu' at your local restaurant and ordering something not on the menu at a WDW restaurant.

Your restaurant 'at home' does not serve hundreds and hundreds of customers per day. Stop and think about it for a minute ... It takes quite a bit of extra time to prepare something special (ie, not on the menu) for a guest. As crowded as the TS restaurants have gotten lately and the way they turn over the tables now, do you really think that the chef has the extra time to make you or your child something that is not offered there?

Well for us all these WDW restaurants are our home town restaurants...
We live, work, and play here.....So i don’t think it’s that much to ask
(all they can say is No…and if that was the case… I’d be fine with it)...
Disney is so good at Service, my little request for something different truly doesn’t affect anyone but me (and maybe my waiter who will get a good tip)...
Plus I always like to think Disney enjoys making guests feel extra special ....and agreeing to change things up is one way of accomplishing it…..

 

[CPM]

I just don't understand why chicken nuggets or grilled cheese sandwiches should have to be a "special request". They should be on all menues!!!

Do you guys really feed those items to your kids at home each night?
I can't remember when the last time I made that suff for my kids for dinner. Maybe a grilled cheese at lunch, but that's about it.
If you introduce the food that you eat to your children, they will start eating it.

 

[Mackey Mouse]

Am I misunderstanding the OP's original question? I thought it was when did it become acceptable to request special orders, like from other restaurants, or items not on the menu...

This is not about chicken fingers and grilled cheese sandwiches...

I have been at many restaurants, table service ones, where I have seen the chef come out to speak to a table about food allergies etc....actually saw it at the Rose & Crown recently, the woman had severe food allergies. So they just accommodated her skirting the food that would cause a reaction, she was happy, the chef was happy and the meal went well. They were sitting beside us and I remember there were no problems.....I do think it is nice when the chef can accommodate people who have special food needs....and I do believe this is acceptable at most Disney restaurants.

Let's keep this to special requests at restaurants and not parenting issues and how you feed your child.. Thank you..

 

[NewEnglandDisney]

What an odd thread to start, LOL.

I've never noticed it as a problem. I will often ask to mix entrees and sides (for instance, if the filet comes with mashed potatoes, and the strip comes with fries, I might as for the filet with fries), or ask for a side of sauce or what have you that I see offered with another entree (I like salad dressings on my burger sometimes, for example).

I guess I just don't think it's a problem. Either the restaurant will accomodate, or they won't. I don't think someone asking politely, and taking a "no" answer gracefully, for an alternative entree is wrong. Some places you have to ask - like to get a burger at night at Sci Fi.

Even after the OP came back to explain what he was talking about (it wasn't quite clear from the initial post as it lacked examples), I guess I still don't understand where the problem comes in. The only problem I can see is if someone makes a special request, are denied, and then creates a stink. That's just a problem with the person, though, and not the practice of asking a restaurant for alternatives.

As to the "getting food from other restaurants", while I wouldn't expect this in NYC or any other area, at WDW it's a bit different. It's offered quite frequently at 'Ohana, for instance - they are glad to get stuff from Kona Cafe for picky eaters. They offer.

I'm guessing the OP had a bad experience or something. Otherwise, I don't see where the passion comes from. Do you feel your meal is intruded upon? Or are you a server yourself? It just seems an odd thing to get hung up on.

NED

 

[CPM]

Am I misunderstanding the OP's original question? I thought it was when did it become acceptable to request special orders, like from other restaurants, or items not on the menu...

This is not about chicken fingers and grilled cheese sandwiches...

I have been at many restaurants, table service ones, where I have seen the chef come out to speak to a table about food allergies etc....actually saw it at the Rose & Crown recently, the woman had severe food allergies. So they just accommodated her skirting the food that would cause a reaction, she was happy, the chef was happy and the meal went well. They were sitting beside us and I remember there were no problems.....I do think it is nice when the chef can accommodate people who have special food needs....and I do believe this is acceptable at most Disney restaurants.

Let's keep this to special requests at restaurants and not parenting issues and how you feed your child.. Thank you..

I don't believe it was about food allergies either. that was said up front.
It's incredible to me that people will actually ask for food served at another restaurant.

 

[DCDisney]

If you introduce the food that you eat to your children, they will start eating it.

I have been serving my kids what we eat for most of their lives and beyond swallowing a bite like you'd swallow a pill we've gotten very little acceptance of new foods. It's one of those things that seems easy until you have a kid with issues. I don't make special meals and I don't let them eat the same few kids things time and time again but they are able to subsist on very little "real" food. Even as an infant my daughter wouldn't eat meat or veggies baby foods. We've been able to stretch things out a bit by cutting up pieces of baked chicken to look more like a nugget interior but eating a grilled chicken strip that has not been totally cut up and is soft and easy to chew is beyond my kids.

Yvonne

 

[Uncleromulus]

Can't say that I've ever done that--.
If I wanted a meal from another restaurant, I suspect I'd go to THAT restaurant.

 

[saschab]

I'm thinking this thread turned quickly to "chicken nuggets and grilled cheese" because it's common on this board to find postings of these off the menu requests. And in many cases because they have been led to believe, either here or by Disney contacts that they could make this request. Right or wrong.

I don't see as many adults asking for ESPN wings at Flying Fish. If they did, they would be sorely lacking in judgement!

 

[drag n' fly]

This is a little OT but my fav thing to eat is a steak sandwich. A restaurant I went into in Calgary did not have it on the menu. This is ALBERTA folks land of the AAA beef it is like not being able to get a steak sandwich down in Texas . I asked the waitress if I could get a steak sandwich and she said absolutlely just have to ask for it. Well lo and be hold comes out the most beautiful steak sandwich I have ever seen in my life personally delivered by the head chef himself. He stated he wanted to deliver it himself because back in the kitchen they LOVE to get special requests. They really get tired of having to cook the same thing day in and day out and special requests challenge the cooks to do a great job!This is no lie. That steak sandwich literally melted in my mouth....it was supreme heaven on a fork the best I ever had in my life.

If someone asked for a meal from another restaurant that is rude. Just go there instead. I do know that we are are staying at POR soon and you are allowed to order from the POFQ menu in the lounge I believe! As for special requests I honestly cannot speak for the chef but I truly believe they love to cook and please the customer if you are pleasant in your requests...all they can do is say no and offer an alternative.

 

[salmoneous]

It's always been acceptable to ask for something special. Just don't get all huffy if the restaurant doesn't grant it.

 

[CheshireVal]

I don't understand the concept of ordering "off the menu" either. Where's the sense of adventure in that? For the people who do this: do you order the same exact thing at every restaurant? Personally, I can always find something to eat on any menu, even if it's something I've never tried. I don't insist on eating the same food night after night after night.

In the rare instance that every single entree on the menu is horrendously unappealing, I just don't eat there.