A gentlemen called me from Disney Dining regarding the email I sent about the new kids menus being rolled out throughout the World. At first he really didn't want to admit this was new - said they had been test marketing this for awhile - but I begged to differ based upon what I read here on the boards. I have 3 girls - 4, 7 and 9yo's who really only eat a handful of food to begin with and while the chicken & cheese pizza (without the chicken) and the mac & chz will probably be fine, seeing this menu over and over would be a bummer after a few days. I told him THAT was the issue - and that while I'm sure most parents appreciated the healthier options, that we were still on vacation and it should be my choice as to whether my kids eat chicken nuggets or cold chicken strips. I asked why they couldn't offer each course as a la cart, so that the child could pick between all of the appetizers/entrees/desserts rather than 'plating' 3 of the meals and only offering 2 a la carte options. He noted that requesting the substitutions should be no problem although I have read that some servers have said 'no' to this. He said they should allow it and if they don't just ask for a manager. I told him that each restaurant really should be able to offer at least a few of the adult entrees at a smaller kids version - like many of our restaurants do around here. He said most would if we asked. He did seem to indicate that this was just a 'test' but I got the impression it was going to be long test. This is going to be the new 'base menu' as he called it at many of the restaurants but the chefs of each individual restaurant will have the discretion to add to the menu from their specialties. He said that he has heard no complaints about the menu - I told him that he just needed to go on this board to see how upset parents are at the elimination of some basic 'kid' food. He said that people should complain when they get to the restaurant or email disney (like I did, via their website). So I encourage all of you to email your concerns, as this is going to be the only way Disney will listen. I was on the phone with the guy for almost 45 minutes! and I appreciated the call. Oh, and by the way, I complained that at our visit 2 years ago, we encounter the 'cold' chicken strips - which he said weren't supposed to be cold, but our server told us then that they were and others have indicated the same here. AND I complained about the incessant use of applesauce as a side dish - I remember leaving about 10 little containers of the stuff in the hotel room when we left because there is only so much applesauce even a kid will eat! He was very nice and although he didn't verbally agree with me, I know I got my point across.
