where to take spoiled rotten kids to dinner?

[Belle5]

At teppanyaki they can get kids meals that are adult both is quality and quantity.

I agree with dining at places like Trail's End (less expensive) and Cape May (more expensive) for dinner-- where they can chow down and have items like peel and eat shrimp.

As far as Robin's son not asking for extras beyond the basics--what an awesome kid!!! He knows that he is already so privileged to be vacationing in Orlando-- so he's sensitive to not push on what he asks for and making it look like what Robin has provided isn't enough. Good job, Robin!! Some woman is going to be very lucky (some day) to find not only an unspoiled young man in Michael-- but one who is sensitive to feelings and circumstances, as well!!!

 

[Robinrs]

LOL!

Guess where I just came from?

A chinese buffet at a very nice restaurant with my son!!

Kind of ironic, isn't it?

He had a rough week, (testing week) and I splurged that ridiculous $5.95 for a meal!

Thanks, Claudia and Belle5. I DO realize that everyone has different priorities, and this is a very touchy subject for me. I had a sister that demanded so much from my parents and I spent most of my life resenting it. I thought it was so rude to ask for so much more than the wonderful life they had worked so hard to give us.

The biggest joke is when I turned ten I asked for knitting needles from my parents. My sister asked for a stereo system one month later... and GOT it! I don't know, I just didn't that it was appropriate to ask for expensive things from my parents! Never did!

Like I said I'm glad my son feels the same. I've heard him tell others how happy he is that his Mom sacrifices so much just for him. It's important for kids to know at a very young age that money and everything you buy with it is something that is earned, not just given to them.

And iwannago!! forgive us for hijacking your post!! Go and have fun!

 

[claudia]

Thanks Robin for sharing such a sensitive story....I had a feeling deep down that there was much more to this. I am sorry that your experiences in you family caused you so much pain.
I absolutely agree with you about money....
I think that your son is an amazing young man, he is just bursting with love for you!!! He understands how fortunate he is to have such a caring and loving mom. What a gift!!!
iwannago....sorry also...everyone has posted such great ideas for you, I am sure that you will all come to a workable solution.

 

[DMRick]

for $10 the girls could get steak and crab legs--all they could eat!

Crab legs aren't incuded..they are extra. The "steak" is not traditional steak..but steak tips, etc.

My "kids" (35, 32, 27), still know better than to order soda when we go out LOL. And it got passed on..the grands, when with their mom, also know to order water, unless the drink comes with a kids meal. Just like your son, they knew why..if we had to spend an extra $10 on drinks each meal, chances were greater, we wouldn't go out eat.They never asked (my son in law has been a little harder to "train". But we have had over 25 trips to Disney (as well as DC, Grand Canyon, France, London, Niagara Falls etc) so I don't think they were scarred from the experience. Oh, and what a treat, now that we have a bit more money, to take out the grands and tell them they can order "real" drinks. Why, they just think I'm special.

 

[MrsPete]

This is hillarious -- because it's happening to someone else and not to me!

I think you need to have a discussion with the guest (and her parents) before the trip. You need to explain (not discuss) your expectations.

Be very specific:
We will be eating 3 "nice meals" during our vacation; the others will be counter-service type meals.
We allow our children to have soda once per day -- it's water for other meals.
We will carry snacks into the park in our fanny packs instead of buying goodies from the carts.

If you're having problems with the food issues, there may be other issues as well. I'd err on the side of caution and discuss sleeping arrangements, pit stops on the drive, girls going to the pool alone, and anything else that 8-year olds could think they can decide on their own.

One thing you might consider is ordering pizza in the room. It's cheap, and it might be very convenient with an infant. Or you could send one adult out to pick up some take-out while the other adult stays in the room with the kids -- that way the adult has complete control over the choices.

Personally, I am highly against taking friends to Disney -- there's just too much room for trouble. I'd take my nieces because I know them well and I'd have more control over them, but I would not venture into the world of friends on vacation!

One more thought: I have a daughter this age, and I know that she and her friends like to "talk big." This girl may be used to eating the 4-piece chicken nugget meal with her own parents, but she may be "acting the part" of a grown-up girl who's old enough to go on vacation without her parents.

 

[jenjie]

If you're willing to eat off-property, you might want to try someplace like http://lighthouselobsterfeast.com/index.htm If you go to their website there is a coupon for $5 off for each person, too. I've never been there, just happened to stumble across the website when planning for my own trip.

There are several seafood buffets mentioned in the free Orlando guidebooks you can get at the airport or rental car places.

 

[ceecee]

My daughter thinks a vacation with Kid's meals are a treat, she doesn't get them much at home, because they aren't very healthy. We always share a drink too...........did it as a child and do it now. Whenever I get my own drink, half gets thrown away. I can't believe at 8 the girl's wouldn't love kid's meals...if not you may have to set limits. All I've heard for a week is McDonalds have Bratz, can we go?????

 

[iwannago!!]

Originally posted by ceecee
My daughter thinks a vacation with Kid's meals are a treat, she doesn't get them much at home, because they aren't very healthy.

I agree completely and BTW... feel free to Hijack away!! LOL!

I guess you folks must all think that I am some nutso mom that lets my kid dictate! LOL, NOT the case

Actually, I don't like to do the kids meals for her anymore because it is always.. chicken tenders/grilled cheese/hot dogs etc. I don't eat a full adult meal, so she and I just share. This way we both eat enough and she eats better than she would with a kids meal (baked potato vs french fries, veggie.. you get it)

At home, I cook 5 days a week. Friday is Pizza, Saturday hubby cooks or we go out. Sundays I cook a good meal.. any other day could be brats or burgers on the grill.. spaghetti... grilled chicken. And what is for dinner is what is for dinner... DD eats what I cook. When we go out, we all figure our order around sharing. I don't make DD get a kids meal, DH and I will order and plan to share with her from our meals - even if it is a nice restaurant - we will share steak and lobster with her if she wants it! She is an angel in a restaurant!

The 'friend' is a sweet girl.. very sweet girl. Her mom isn't very handy in the kitchen, so they go out a lot. They happen to do the 'buffet thing' a lot which gives her dd free reign over what she wants to eat for dinner. Often they 'buffet' where there is crab legs and steak.. so that is what she is used to, she is not really at fault to 'expect' that, she doesn't know much different. To each their own.

On this trip, I know that I will want to take them out at least twice where they can indulge in the seafood. You guys have given me some fantastic ideas on where to take them without spending a fortune- THANKS!

 

[DMRick]

The 'friend' is a sweet girl.. very sweet girl.

YOu gave us a bum steer, when we read the title : )

 

[iwannago!!]

well she IS spoiled rotten!! LOL... she thinks that she is eating steak and crab legs all 10 days!!

 

[jilljill]

A very big vote for Cape May Cafe and O'Hana.
Last year at Cape May Cafe DD8 & I both had our money's worth on the steamed clams alone, she had 3 buckets and I had a couple more than that. At home it's a big, big treat to order a dozen for 7.95. So it was well worth the price for us.
As for O'Hana, if you love shrimp this is the place to go. It is grilled and served straight off the grill, no sitting in a steamer plate on a table. My friend & I got into a bit of a shrimp eating contest last year, he won but I gave him a run for his money. These were not the popcorn size, but what I would call large. He had 101 and I had 75. Needless to say we were stuffed and they made a big deal of it at the restaurant. We had our money's worth that night too.
We do not eat this way at home, it was vacation and we splurge a couple of times on big meals. Have fun and eat what you like, it's vacation.

 

[disneymania]

On our last trip, any type of shrimp was the one healthy thing that our 2 yr old DS would actually eat. So while his 2 older siblings ordered off of the kids menu, I would order him a shrimp appetizer off of the regular menu. Many times there were tons left over for the rest of us too. The prices are usually much cheaper than the entrees too.

Also, Ohanas has great shrimp & other meats, as others have posted!!!

Have fun!!!

I remember when fast food restaurants were first opening up, my father used to say that we could each order a sandwhich & then pick either a soda, fries or dessert to go with it (before happy meal days). If you feel comfortable, you could give them some choices too.

 

[mom2smjn]

LOL my 4 kids can eat Dh and I under the table ...and they all like adult fare so we looked high and low and I suggest if you can eat outside the parks Iron Chef is FABULOUS! crab legs, steam ship roast,chinese and american cuisine plus dessert all you can eat!!
It is on the main drag in kissimee down past the walmart. YUMMMM my kids went NUTS here!
We also did ponderosa(steak and such with buffet)

We tried several other buffets but found these the tastiest,cleanest,and most bang for your buck.

 

[erinch]

i remember being taken to McDonalds and being given choice of drink, hamburger or fries for a snack. All of them cost the same: 18 cents.

 

[Poohnatic]

Originally posted by iwannago!!
I can' t be the only one out there with a kid that likes seafood and steak, right?

No, you're not the only one with kids that like that. Heck, my kids want shrimp three nights a week. They don't get it, but they sure ask. My 3 yo has developed a taste for crawfish and lobster, too. These are things I never got to eat until I was 18 and paying my own way, LOL!

We do the Chef Mickey's dinner buffet as one splurge and 'Ohana as another. Yes, they are both up there in terms of cost, but it is offset by quite a few counter meals. Although this last trip we did sit down once every day. After realizing how much we spent on food, DH realized that we are NOT doing that again, LOL. I think 'Ohana will be it, steak and shrimp, all you can eat. The atmosphere is great, too. IIRC, it's 25 per adult and 10 per child. Like I said, not an every night, but an end of the trip splurge

One trip we went out on I Drive and had a great meal for about 60 bucks for 3 adults and the two kids, including 2 alcoholic drinks and an appetizer. Yes, the boys got shrimp that time. I'm sure there's plenty of less expensive choices than what we got (race rock).

Good luck. You are a brave (and nice) parent for bringing a friend.


Suzanne

 

[eelderm1]

Hi , I know this is not steak and shrimp but maybe for lunch one day you could try The Garden Grill in Epcot. The food was really good and Plenty of it! Mickey, Minnie, Chip, Dale, and Pluto all visited our table and the retaurant revolves. We really enjoyed it and plan to go back. It is also priced very well for Disney.

 

[Mary Anne]

I can' t be the only one out there with a kid that likes seafood and steak, right?

LOL, I have to tell you this story. When my son was 10 we went on a 7 day cruise from NYC to Bermuda. It was around lunch time and he said he was hungry. Now keep in mind on a cruise everything is paid for so extra money for food does not come into the picture.

Anyway, he mentioned he was hungry and wanted to get something to eat. Neither his father or I were hungry so we said sure get yourself somehting to eat. I assummed he was going to the hamburger/grill by the pool for a bite to eat. He was off before I could say a word to him and when he wasn't back in 15 mintutes I set out to find him. He was no where to be found, I checked everywhere, went back to the room. I was really started to panic when for some reason we were walking through the main dinning room and there he was in all his glory eating a FULL MEAL being waited on hand and foot.

"Mom, why would I pick just a hamburger when I can have ALL this" was his reply.

We ROFL laughing about this to this day.

 

[iwannago!!]

Mary Anne - your story is hilarious!

I am glad that I am not the only one with a kid that has active taste buds! My DH made me dinner for Mothers Day (Saturday night) and we put the kids to bed. When my dd saw the lobsters on the counter (DH grills tails) she got a big sad face and looked at me and said "you guys are having lobster??".. so we let her stay up until it was done so that she could have a couple bites... then she went to bed.

I didn't even get to try lobster or crab legs until I was about 17 years old - and then it was few and far between!!!

You all have given me some fantastic ideas - I think that we will definitely try out Cape May and O'hanas!