Why can't they...?

I honestly don't think people will be happy with kids meals no matter what Disney or any other restaurant put on them. But think about it. The only reason the kids are be subjected to the same menu items is because they are eating out every single night. You wouldn't do that at home, would you? However, there are variations in the kids menus. You have to look at the menus and make decisions based on everything. I think oftentimes parents want a certain restaurant because of the adult food and then lament the kids food isn't exactly the same. But look at the restaurant - do you really think a typical (not your child but a typical child) is going to eat exotic food? I know my son before the age of ten never did. Disney has to go for the typical child. Not your specific one.

I don't think people are suggesting that Disney dump the typical "kid foods" and replace them with "adult foods", but rather to give the option of ordering kid-sized entree meals rather than junk food for their kids, 24/7. You know, when I was a kid there was never "kid's food" and "adult's food;" everyone ate the same food at supper. Surely you don't cook one meal for yourself/DH and then another meal, like nuggets, for the kids, do you? At my house (both growing up and now) there is one meal... whatever I cook is what you eat... and it's usually a protein main dish with a starchy side and a veggie, or salad. Everyone eats it (and DD knows the option- as she doesn't like meat- never has) is cereal or yogurt, and she gets it herself- if she doesn't care for the entree). Why isn't this an option in WDW? Why can't it be an option in WDW? They could have an upgradable kid meal plan, where you pay a set amount up front, or they could have a surcharge at each restaurant; certainly they have no problem charging for appetizers and other things not on the DDP, so why not a surcharge if kid decides to eat a kid-portion of a menu item instead of the standard kid-fare?
 
After traveling with my mother to WDW last month, I think I have a new perspective as to why they don't offer more options.

Its to keep people like my mom from ordering off the kids menus.

No matter where we went, her first question was could she order a kids meal. Even if she hadn't seen the menu, she wanted a kids meal. I know at 74 her appetite isn't as good as it use to be, but come on mom..... If she was told no, she then pouted the entire meal and complained.

When I caller her out on it, she told me all of her friends eat off the kids menus!?!? I think that may be one of the reasons for the limited menus. They can't afford to offer the small portions to children and the elderly, so they offer what they can serve cheap! Lets face it, someone has to pay for the full size portions!

You also see it here all the time, people wanting to eat off the children's menu. I know there are times my appetite is small and I don't want much, but not every meal.
 
give the option of ordering kid-sized entree meals

Not going to happen with that price point on the child's DDP.

Disney is adamant about not charging DDP guests extra for anything that is normally covered by DDP(according to reports I've seen having to pay surcharges or have special menus would make DDP guests feel like second-class citizens apparently). Some of the third-party restaurants used to do it, but they stopped (except for Marrakesh which still does it for multi-course meals)

Without the DDP you have the option to purchase whatever your child wants off the regular menu (although not in a smaller portion).

Its to keep people like my mom from ordering off the kids menus.

That is most likely another reason.
 
I agree with those that say what you make at home is the only choice 100%. We do things the same way at our home as well.

I haven't ever noticed the Disney menus being a lot worse than the kids menus I see when I am at home or making short day trips. Being that I have a trip coming up I ran through all of the kids menus at TS locations at Disney. For the sake of Dining Plan argument, I tried to stick with only dining plan restaurants.

Yak and Yeti: Mini Burger, Vegetable Lo Mein, Chicken Bites, Egg Roll

50's Prime Time Cafe: Grilled Fish, Grilled Chicken Strips, Meatloaf, Chicken Nuggets, Hot Dog, Mac N Cheese.

Brown Derby: Grilled Chicken Breast, Meaty Macaroni, Grilled Cheese on Wheat Bread, Tempura Fish Strips, Hot Dog

Mama Melrose: Grilled Fish, Grilled Chicken Strips, Cheese Pizza, Peperoni Pizza, Spaghetti or Penne Pasta with meat, sauce and cheese.

Sci Fi Dine In: Cheese Pizza, Meaty Macaroni, Mac N Cheese, Hot Dog, Cheeseburger

Coral Reef: Grilled Mahi Mahi, Grilled Chicken Breast, Meaty Macaroni

LeCellier: Cheese Pizza, Meaty Macaroni, Pasta and Tomato Sauce, Hot Dog, Steak

Nine Dragons: Sweet and Sour Chicken, Lo Mein and Meatballs

Restaurant Marrakesh: Chicken Tenders (first menu we've hit with chicken fingers), Moroccan Pasta with meatballs, hamburger, vegetable couscous

Rose and Crown: Pizza, Beefy Macaroni, Shepherd's Pie, mac N Cheese, Bangers and Mash

San Angel: Cheese Quesadilla, Beef Taco, Chicken Tenders (there they are again)

Tutto Italia: Pizza, Grilled Chicken, Spaghetti, Piccolini alla Panna

Plaza: Grilled Chicken Sticks, Cheeseburger, Grilled Cheese, Turkey Sandwich, PB&J

Tony's Town Square: Cheese Pizza, Grilled Fish, Cheeseburger Calzone, Spaghetti and Meatballs, Pasta Primavera, Cheese Ravioli (Chicken nuggets can be special ordered, but don't appear on the menu)

Jiko: Tomato and Cheese Pizza, PB&J, Grilled Cheese, Grilled Chicken Breast, Broiled Fish, Grilled Filet of Beef, Mac N Cheese with white sauce

Sanaa: Cheese Pizza, Grilled Fish of the Day, Cheeseburger, Grilled Chicken Breast, Meaty Macaroni.

Beaches & Cream: Mini Cheese Burger, Hot Dog, Turkey Sandwich

Big River Grille and Brewing Works: Grilled Cheese, Burger, Hot Dog, PB&J

Flying Fish: Grilled Beef Skewers, Florida Coast Fish Sticks, Grilled Chicken Breast Skewers, Grilled Cheese, Mickey Pasta with tomato sauce

Kouzzina: Cheese Pizza, Meaty Macaroni, Greek Lasagna, Grilled Chicken Breast

Shutters: Cheese Pizza, Grilled Fish, Meaty Macaroni, Cheeseburger, Grilled Chicken Strips

California Grill: Mac N Cheese, Roasted Salmon, Oak Fired Steak, Grilled Cheese, Hand Made Whole Wheat Pizza with provolone

The Wave: Cheese Pizza, Grilled Fish, Grilled Chicken Strips, Linguini with marinara, Chicken Nachos, Cheeseburger

Maya Grill: Breaded Chicken Parmesan, Mac N Cheese with Penne, Beef Tenderloin Tips, Grilled Cheese, Pan Seared Salmon.

Citricos: Mickey Pasta with Marinara, Grilled Beef Tenderloin, Grilled Chicken Breast, Pan Roasted Fish, Mac N Cheese, PB&J

Grand Floridian Cafe: Cheese Pizza, Meaty Macaroni, Grilled Chicken Breast, Grilled Salmon, Grilled Steak

Narcoossee's: Oven Baked Fish, Filet Mignon, Cheeseburger, Mac N Cheese, Chicken Breast Nuggets, Pasta with Marinara

Olivia's Cafe: Cheeseburger, Chicken Fingers, Pasta with Meat Sauce

Kona Cafe: Hot Dog, Cheeseburger, Mickey Ravioli, Hamburger, Mac N Cheese

Boatwright's: Cheese Pizza, Meaty Macaroni, Cheeseburger, Chicken Breast Nuggets, Mac N Cheese

Turf Club Bar N Grill: Cheese Pizza, Meaty Macaroni, Cheeseburger, Grilled Chicken Breast, Mac N Cheese

Artist Point: Grilled Chicken Breast, Baked Salmon, Penne Pasta, Hamburger

Whispering Canyon Cafe: Cheeseburger, Canyon Skillet

Captain's Grille: Cheese Pizza, Meaty Macaroni, Cheeseburger, Hot Dog, Chicken Nuggets

Yachtsman Steakhouse: Cheese or Marinara Pasta, Oak Grilled Steak, Grilled Chicken Breast, Baked Fish of the day

(I am pretty sure that if you asked nicely it'd be possible to slightly dress up some of the plain grilled items with sauces available on the adult menus if you want. I'd further guess that tehre'd be no extra cost to you if they just dressed up an existing kids menu item)

You go to any chain restaurant, and even most privately own cafes in our area, and the choices are somewhat worse than Disney.

Applebees: Chicken Fingers, Mini Cheeseburger, Grilled Cheese Sandwich, Kraft Mac N' Cheese

Hudson's Grill: Cheese Pizza, Chicken Strips, Cheeseburger, Deep Fried Fish, Mac N' Cheese, Spaghetti

Chili's: Corn Dog, Grilled Cheese, Chicken Strips, Burger, Cheese Pizza, Mac N Cheese, Baby Back Rib Basket

TGI Friday's: Mac N Cheese, Hamburger, Chicken Fingers, Cheese Pizza, Pasta, Baby Back Rib Basket

IMO most of these menus are worse than Disney's options.

Some chain menus stand up well against Disney's offerings. Like Macaroni Grill (Mac N Cheese, Chicken Fingers, Fettucini Alfredo, Grilled chicken and broccoli, cheese pizza and spaghetti) and Olive Garden (Mac N Cheese, Grilled chicken and pasta, cheese pizza, spaghetti, chicken fingers, cheese ravioli, fettuccine alfredo). These seem to be more in line with the types of items that you see offered at an average Disney TS. No, you definitely don't see the variety of items offered at Disney, but I'd argue that the adult menus are more limited than your average Macaroni Grill or Olive Garden at Disney as well. ;)

I'll reiterate that a large part of the problem is that you're eating at Disney every single night for a week or two (sometimes three to four weeks), and that's a long time to eat out for every meal. You'd never do it at home, and if you did, your child would be sick of the same old choices day after day as well.[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][/FONT]
Not going to happen with that price point on the child's DDP.

Disney is adamant about not charging DDP guests extra for anything that is normally covered by DDP(according to reports I've seen having to pay surcharges or have special menus would make DDP guests feel like second-class citizens apparently). Some of the third-party restaurants used to do it, but they stopped (except for Marrakesh which still does it for multi-course meals)

Without the DDP you have the option to purchase whatever your child wants off the regular menu (although not in a smaller portion).



That is most likely another reason.

I agree with the above, and want to also ask more could Disney do to offer healthier options for kids, while still trying to appeal to the masses. Most all menus have a healthy grilled option with veggies, which would be similar to what many of us make at home on a daily basis. It's also something that you generally don't see on kids menus at chain restaurants.
 

I agree with those that say what you make at home is the only choice 100%. We do things the same way at our home as well.

I haven't ever noticed the Disney menus being a lot worse than the kids menus I see when I am at home or making short day trips. Being that I have a trip coming up I ran through all of the kids menus at TS locations at Disney. For the sake of Dining Plan argument, I tried to stick with only dining plan restaurants.

Disney Kids menus for comparison to the above chain menus:
Yak and Yeti: Mini Burger, Vegetable Lo Mein, Chicken Bites, Egg Roll

50's Prime Time Cafe: Grilled Fish, Grilled Chicken Strips, Meatloaf, Chicken Nuggets, Hot Dog, Mac N Cheese.

Brown Derby: Grilled Chicken Breast, Meaty Macaroni, Grilled Cheese on Wheat Bread, Tempura Fish Strips, Hot Dog

Mama Melrose: Grilled Fish, Grilled Chicken Strips, Cheese Pizza, Peperoni Pizza, Spaghetti or Penne Pasta with meat, sauce and cheese.

Sci Fi Dine In: Cheese Pizza, Meaty Macaroni, Mac N Cheese, Hot Dog, Cheeseburger

Coral Reef: Grilled Mahi Mahi, Grilled Chicken Breast, Meaty Macaroni

LeCellier: Cheese Pizza, Meaty Macaroni, Pasta and Tomato Sauce, Hot Dog, Steak

Nine Dragons: Sweet and Sour Chicken, Lo Mein and Meatballs

Restaurant Marrakesh: Chicken Tenders (first menu we've hit with chicken fingers), Moroccan Pasta with meatballs, hamburger, vegetable couscous

Rose and Crown: Pizza, Beefy Macaroni, Shepherd's Pie, mac N Cheese, Bangers and Mash

San Angel: Cheese Quesadilla, Beef Taco, Chicken Tenders (there they are again)

Tutto Italia: Pizza, Grilled Chicken, Spaghetti, Piccolini alla Panna

Plaza: Grilled Chicken Sticks, Cheeseburger, Grilled Cheese, Turkey Sandwich, PB&J

Tony's Town Square: Cheese Pizza, Grilled Fish, Cheeseburger Calzone, Spaghetti and Meatballs, Pasta Primavera, Cheese Ravioli (Chicken nuggets can be special ordered, but don't appear on the menu)

Jiko: Tomato and Cheese Pizza, PB&J, Grilled Cheese, Grilled Chicken Breast, Broiled Fish, Grilled Filet of Beef, Mac N Cheese with white sauce

Sanaa: Cheese Pizza, Grilled Fish of the Day, Cheeseburger, Grilled Chicken Breast, Meaty Macaroni.

Beaches & Cream: Mini Cheese Burger, Hot Dog, Turkey Sandwich

Big River Grille and Brewing Works: Grilled Cheese, Burger, Hot Dog, PB&J

Flying Fish: Grilled Beef Skewers, Florida Coast Fish Sticks, Grilled Chicken Breast Skewers, Grilled Cheese, Mickey Pasta with tomato sauce

Kouzzina: Cheese Pizza, Meaty Macaroni, Greek Lasagna, Grilled Chicken Breast

Shutters: Cheese Pizza, Grilled Fish, Meaty Macaroni, Cheeseburger, Grilled Chicken Strips

California Grill: Mac N Cheese, Roasted Salmon, Oak Fired Steak, Grilled Cheese, Hand Made Whole Wheat Pizza with provolone

The Wave: Cheese Pizza, Grilled Fish, Grilled Chicken Strips, Linguini with marinara, Chicken Nachos, Cheeseburger

Maya Grill: Breaded Chicken Parmesan, Mac N Cheese with Penne, Beef Tenderloin Tips, Grilled Cheese, Pan Seared Salmon.

Citricos: Mickey Pasta with Marinara, Grilled Beef Tenderloin, Grilled Chicken Breast, Pan Roasted Fish, Mac N Cheese, PB&J

Grand Floridian Cafe: Cheese Pizza, Meaty Macaroni, Grilled Chicken Breast, Grilled Salmon, Grilled Steak

Narcoossee's: Oven Baked Fish, Filet Mignon, Cheeseburger, Mac N Cheese, Chicken Breast Nuggets, Pasta with Marinara

Olivia's Cafe: Cheeseburger, Chicken Fingers, Pasta with Meat Sauce

Kona Cafe: Hot Dog, Cheeseburger, Mickey Ravioli, Hamburger, Mac N Cheese

Boatwright's: Cheese Pizza, Meaty Macaroni, Cheeseburger, Chicken Breast Nuggets, Mac N Cheese

Turf Club Bar N Grill: Cheese Pizza, Meaty Macaroni, Cheeseburger, Grilled Chicken Breast, Mac N Cheese

Artist Point: Grilled Chicken Breast, Baked Salmon, Penne Pasta, Hamburger

Whispering Canyon Cafe: Cheeseburger, Canyon Skillet

Captain's Grille: Cheese Pizza, Meaty Macaroni, Cheeseburger, Hot Dog, Chicken Nuggets

Yachtsman Steakhouse: Cheese or Marinara Pasta, Oak Grilled Steak, Grilled Chicken Breast, Baked Fish of the day
Great list, I do think Disney offers items that most children like. I know my younger GC order chicken fingers, mac and cheese and burgers.

Years ago R&C offered a childs prime rib, my GC always ordered it. I do think with the DP Disney has cut back on it offerings for children. Although most TS restaurants do have something a little different on each menu.
 
Because the child's dining plan is only around $10 a night. That is why Disney doesn't want all their restaurants offering smaller versions of adult meals.

For awhile Disney tried totally "healthy" children's meals (no fried chicken, grilled only; pita pizza with chicken instead of traditional pizza; no burgers on kids' menus; salads or raw veggies with every meal, fruit, yogurt or sugar-free jello for dessert) and that effort didn't pan out because of complaints. Now they offer for the most part the sort of basic "kids' menu" things demanded by most parents as that is what their children want.

I'll agree on the price point, but in cases where the restaurant has a vegetarian option, those can usually be downsized for about the same price as the mass-produced reheatables. A plate of pasta or rice with vegetables fits in the "budget".

I've got to say thank God WDW has backed off on that "healthy" kick they tried a couple of years back. It bombed because it wasn't just "healthy" food -- it was hospital food, and just as appetizing. There was no seasoning of any kind, and most of the meat was grilled to the point of becoming shoe leather. Most of it was tasteless, tough to chew, and absolutely awful.
 
You know, when I was a kid there was never "kid's food" and "adult's food;" everyone ate the same food at supper. Surely you don't cook one meal for yourself/DH and then another meal, like nuggets, for the kids, do you?

Unfortunately, I know many families who do this. Or they all just eat crappy "kids' food" all the time. DH invited friends over for dinner when I was helping them plan their Disney trip and the mom informed him that her kids only eat frozen chicken nuggets or pizza.

I think the options for children's menus are just based on what most kids eat or what people expect them to like. Even our schools serve unhealthy "kids food" (french fries as the vegetable with pizza :rolleyes:)


The Disney menus (at least for the TS restaurants) seem a bit better than most restaurants I have seen and we're planning to do a few buffets so the kids can have a bit more variety and salads.
 
I think the PP made a great point about adults ordering the kids menu. If they offered smaller portions of the regular menu, there would be many adults that would order off the kids menu instead. This is not cost effective for Disney. If you look at the list, there is variety at each place, usually one or two unique offerings that relate to the adult menu. This is great to introduce variety for kids. Also there is always the option of not getting a dinning plan and ordering ala carte. If we don't have the dinning plan, I order one adult meal for my two kids and they spit it if nothing looks good from the kids menu. We do this when we eat out a lot so that my kids don't eat chicken nuggets and mac and cheese all the time.
 
Why is it that the Childs menues at the resturants are not that varied? I know that some of them have some better chocies. I think they should have the standard child menu fare plus put on it smaller portions of what that resturants is known for. It would be nice for kids who do not like PB, hot dogs, chicken strips etc.

ABSOLUTELY AGREE WITH YOU!!!!!:thumbsup2
 
Many of the restaurants will give your child what they want.
We have made many off the menu requested and have never been told NO.

It never hurts to ask.

Have you done this on the dining plan. I have 3 children on the "kids plan" and I can not imagine asking for 3 child size meals - for $10 a day per child.
 
the nice thing about Disney is you have choices. You do not have to order children's meals, you can order them whatever you want :) hte caveat is you pay for it

The dining plan is not required and you don't have to purchase it

If you do get the dining plan, (as my niece says) you get what you get and don't get upset :thumbsup2
 


Receive up to $1,000 in Onboard Credit and a Gift Basket!
That’s right — when you book your Disney Cruise with Dreams Unlimited Travel, you’ll receive incredible shipboard credits to spend during your vacation!
CLICK HERE


New Posts







DIS Facebook DIS youtube DIS Instagram DIS Pinterest DIS Tiktok DIS Twitter DIS Bluesky

Back
Top Bottom