Why don't they offer kids meals at the Big Thunder Ranch BBQ??

[fairytalelover]

We tried the BBQ out a couple of weeks ago and just loved it! The food was great, the show was cute, the atomosphere was great. Only issue: they didnt have kids meals. Not many kids especially the younger ones like BBQ ribs and chicken. Most kids are into chicken nuggets, pizza etc.. The guy behind the counter told us that we can buy a kids meal for our son (who only likes chicken nuggets) at another restuarant and bring it in and they wont charge him. So we did that but honestly it was a hassle. My family was seated and started eating and I had to go across the park to the nearest place that serves chicken nuggets, stand in a huge line and walk back. It kinda sucked. I saw many other parents who had to do the same thing. Why dont they just offer a chicken nuggets kids meal at the BBQ and charge for it??

 

[TheZue]

I agree, we have every character meal except this and Ariel's booked and this one is only because of the menu.

 

[fairytalelover]

I agree, we have every character meal except this and Ariel's booked and this one is only because of the menu.

It's a great experience and very fun. They bring the kids on stage and have them participate with the cowboys etc... and the food is really yummy. Just nothing for kids....makes no sense

 

[pixiewings71]

Well the kids we were with last weekend loved it, they ate as much as I did! LOL But, my kids don't like it all that much so they didn't eat with us, but they did meet us for dessert at the end, which was aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaamazing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and they did get to share some of that.
I had no idea you could bring outside food in. LOL My kids are the chicken nugget type, I'm not sure where you went "all the way across the park" but the Golden Horsehoe/StageDoor Cafe both have chicken nuggets that would have been easy to grab and take back to the BBQ. Thanks to your info we can now tell people they can do this!!
TheZue, I would reconsider booking the BBQ AND AG for sure, these are definitely 2 of my favorites!!

 

[TwingleMum]

I agree, I will probably cancel our ressies b/c they don't offer kid meals and my kids won't eat chicken on a bone or ribs. Too bad I would have liked to try it.

 

[fairytalelover]

Well the kids we were with last weekend loved it, they ate as much as I did! LOL But, my kids don't like it all that much so they didn't eat with us, but they did meet us for dessert at the end, which was aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaamazing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and they did get to share some of that.
I had no idea you could bring outside food in. LOL My kids are the chicken nugget type, I'm not sure where you went "all the way across the park" but the Golden Horsehoe/StageDoor Cafe both have chicken nuggets that would have been easy to grab and take back to the BBQ. Thanks to your info we can now tell people they can do this!!
TheZue, I would reconsider booking the BBQ AND AG for sure, these are definitely 2 of my favorites!!

Well it was so super crowded that day that by the time I got over to the stagedoor cafe through the crowd and stood in the huge line with was going super slow, it took almost 25 minutes for me to get back to my table at the BBQ. Didnt appreciate that.

 

[mouseymommy]

This is interesting to me. I thought the food was pretty kid friendly. I liked that I was able to get food that wasn't fried. My kids love chicken drumsticks, so I always ask for a bunch. My DS5 is a rib addict and they always bring a bunch for him. Sorry you didn't have a great time!

 

[fairytalelover]

This is interesting to me. I thought the food was pretty kid friendly. I liked that I was able to get food that wasn't fried. My kids love chicken drumsticks, so I always ask for a bunch. My DS5 is a rib addict and they always bring a bunch for him. Sorry you didn't have a great time!

Well glad your kids liked them but most of the kids I know are not into BBQ, especially the younger ones like mine. There was a large group of families at the BBQ that had to go get a kids meal and bring it back to their tables. I think it's safe to say that most small children are not gonna go for BBQ ribs and chicken etc...

 

[TheZue]

Well the kids we were with last weekend loved it, they ate as much as I did! LOL But, my kids don't like it all that much so they didn't eat with us, but they did meet us for dessert at the end, which was aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaamazing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and they did get to share some of that.
I had no idea you could bring outside food in. LOL My kids are the chicken nugget type, I'm not sure where you went "all the way across the park" but the Golden Horsehoe/StageDoor Cafe both have chicken nuggets that would have been easy to grab and take back to the BBQ. Thanks to your info we can now tell people they can do this!!
TheZue, I would reconsider booking the BBQ AND AG for sure, these are definitely 2 of my favorites!!

Ariel's Grotto is great, we ate there before it was princesses and the view on the deck is amazing But my boys have zero interest in dining with the princesses I would do the bringing in the food from outside for Big Thunder, but if I start messing with reservations again my husband will kill me. He's sick of hearing about it Next time I'm planning on that for sure though. I wish I had known this was an option because it is a good one for kids who don't like bbq.

 

[roobug]

Well glad your kids liked them but most of the kids I know are not into BBQ, especially the younger ones like mine. There was a large group of families at the BBQ that had to go get a kids meal and bring it back to their tables. I think it's safe to say that most small children are not gonna go for BBQ ribs and chicken etc...

My three year olds love BBQ chicken and ribs and will not touch chicken nuggets. I think it all depends on the kids but if I where booking a BBQ I would be really surprised to find chicken nuggets.

 

[sweethannah]

I'm not a fan of catering to kids who claim to only want to eat one thing..the food should be kid friendly enough- chicken and corn should be acceptable to the pickiest of palates unless experience has thought them that they'll get catered to if they fuss enough. The fact that they'll let you go bring other food in to the restaurant should be concession enough IMO.

if your kids dont chicken on the bone remove the meat then... at least its still real meat

 

[M4travels]

I'm not a fan of catering to kids who claim to only want to eat one thing..the food should be kid friendly enough- chicken and corn should be acceptable to the pickiest of palates unless experience has thought them that they'll get catered to if they fuss enough. The fact that they'll let you go bring other food in to the restaurant should be concession enough IMO.

if your kids dont chicken on the bone remove the meat then... at least its still real meat

LOVE this post!!! Thanks, sweethannah!

Michael

 

[sheetz]

Eating meat off the bones isn't particularly grown up--many children enjoy eating fried chicken drumsticks and many adults only eat boneless meat. It's really just being a picky eater.

 

[TheZue]

I just think it's an incredibly limited menu no matter how you look at it. If you don't like bbq sauce you are out of luck, which is our issue with it. If they had steak or roasted chicken we'd be fine. Sure they could eat corn & corn bread but that seems like a lot of money to spend on them just eating that, especially when there is something on every other TS menu they will eat.

 

[rtfelt]

It's like any sit down restaurant. You're going to have higher quality food (I don't consider nuggets as higher quality). If you know your children won't eat it, don't go there. You won't find nuggets or pizza at Carthay either. I have 6 children and have always refused to cater to them. With that many children I could guarantee at least one wouldn't like the food at any given dinner. They could eat it, make themselves a PB&J or go hungry. If we go to a nice restaurant I prepare them for the menu items. They can prepare beforehand that those greesy foods won't be there. Because I don't cater to them, they either find something of what's available to eat (sometimes that's just the rolls) or they go hungry. I have found that this strategy tends to help them eat healthier. Traditional children faire is NOT healthy. If they know there's no other option, most will figure something out rather than go hungry.

 

[sweethannah]

Why would you go to a BBQ restaurant if you don't like BBQ sauce?

If I wasn't fond of fish I wouldn't make a reservation at seafood restaurant. I would save my money for other dining which it sounds like a few people would rather do and naturally that is the customers right. I don't think it's fair to suggest an all you can eat BBQ restaurant cater to people who might not like BBQ... especially when there are so many other options out there AND they'll let picky eaters bring in meals from other restaurants. How many places will let a customer bring in outside food if the menu choices don't appeal?

It is a very limited menu but you know that going in. If that isn't what you want then don't go... ?

If you don't like the BBQ sauce maybe you can ask for it on the side or light sauce?

 

[fairytalelover]

My three year olds love BBQ chicken and ribs and will not touch chicken nuggets. I think it all depends on the kids but if I where booking a BBQ I would be really surprised to find chicken nuggets.

Actually it's a western themed restuarant so chicken nuggets would fit in just fine.

 

[TheZue]

Like I said before, I'm not expecting nuggets but Bengal BBQ has a bigger menu. It's not like all you can eat ribs coated in BBQ sauce or sausages are exactly healthy either so I don't think this is a straight healthy food issue. And Carthay Circle has a kids menu with more variety than this menu has in total. We are eating there and there will be no problem with the kids finding an entree they like (My oldest is really excited about the $22 burger ). Really if you look through the resort they are phasing out the nuggets as the kids go to choice. Most places have sandwiches now. I would just like more than two or three items to choose from not including sides.

 

[TheZue]

Why would you go to a BBQ restaurant if you don't like BBQ sauce?

If I wasn't fond of fish I wouldn't make a reservation at seafood restaurant. I would save my money for other dining which it sounds like a few people would rather do and naturally that is the customers right. I don't think it's fair to suggest an all you can eat BBQ restaurant cater to people who might not like BBQ... especially when there are so many other options out there AND they'll let picky eaters bring in meals from other restaurants. How many places will let a customer bring in outside food if the menu choices don't appeal?

It is a very limited menu but you know that going in. If that isn't what you want then don't go... ?

If you don't like the BBQ sauce maybe you can ask for it on the side or light sauce?

That's why we aren't going I just think adding burgers, steaks, or a greater variety of BBQ items would be nice...there is far more to BBQ/grilling than slathering things in sauce and calling it a day; but I think they opted for the all you can eat gorge-fest instead of variety. I just think it's a bummer because it looked fun.

 

[BLAZEY]

I'm not a fan of catering to kids who claim to only want to eat one thing..the food should be kid friendly enough- chicken and corn should be acceptable to the pickiest of palates unless experience has thought them that they'll get catered to if they fuss enough. The fact that they'll let you go bring other food in to the restaurant should be concession enough IMO.

if your kids dont chicken on the bone remove the meat then... at least its still real meat

I too have never really catered to my DD3. She has always eaten whatever we were have from the time she stared solids. I just mushed up or put what we were having in the food processor. Now at 3yrs old she eats almost anything. I wish that steamed or raw veggies were more readily available at restaurnts as a kids menu option. I quite often will just order a side of veggies and cut her up some of my entre in place of a kids meal.