Hi Rebecca!
Thanks for stopping by planDisney where you are always welcome to be our guest. I'm happy to chat with you about one of my favorite topics, dining at Walt Disney World Resort!
Rebecca, Walt Disney World Resort offers a variety of
dining options for families from Quick-Service meals to snacks; family-style dining to signature experiences. As a mom of three, I understand where you're coming from with your question. My two oldest boys are both very picky eaters and sometimes struggle to find something they want to eat on certain restaurant menus. If you are dining at a restaurant that serves buffet, family-style, or prix fixe dining (where the pricing is set as a per-person charge), you will need to pay for your child's meal regardless of how much they eat. Many
character dining experiences use this type of pricing, but my family has found that the breakfast menus offer an assortment of food that pleases everyone! One of our favorite spots for a character breakfast is
Garden Grill Restaurant at EPCOT. If you are dining at a restaurant where you can order your menu items individually, you would only need to pay for what you and your family order. Sometimes, my kids haven't found an entree they like but instead choose an appetizer and/or side dish.
As you mentioned,
Walt Disney World Resort Property Rules currently allow you to bring outside food into the parks. I typically place an online grocery order and have it
delivered to my resort so I can bring in simple kid-friendly options like peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, granola bars, and applesauce pouches to name a few. I also like to order a case or two of water that we can use throughout our vacation.
Rebecca, I wanted to remind you that you'll soon be able to make your advanced dining reservations for any of those must-do Table-Service restaurants when your
window opens in just a few short weeks! Guests staying at a
Disney Resorts Collection hotel can begin making dining reservations for the entire length of their stay (up to 10 days), 60 days before their arrival. All other guests can begin making dining reservations 60 days before each day of the trip.
I hope this information is helpful as you start to plan for some delicious dining on your upcoming trip! If you have any other questions in the future, please feel free to stop by and see us again here at planDisney!
Bon Appetit!
Kristi