Hi Colleen,
Welcome to the Disney Parks Moms Panel! I relate to your dining dilemma so well. While both of my children are more adventurous eaters now, they both went through phases of extreme pickiness. I feel the pain of trying to make sure there is something on the menu your child will want to eat. We ate at a lot of Buffets during this time of our lives!
I have found that it truly depends on the restaurant for this question. While it isn't possible to use a Child Dining Credit to order from the adult menu, it can be possible to use an Adult Credit to order from the children's menu. We had varied success with restaurants and their ability to be flexible. My kids have received the exact menu items from the children's menu and occasionally have received an adult portion of the children's item. I will admit to keeping protein bars in my bag for my kids just in case a meal didn't work out the way we hoped. Hopefully, your child will find lots of dishes to interest them and make full use of your
Disney Dining Plan.
I will also add that visiting Walt Disney World Resort helped my children try new foods. My husband and I love the
Epcot International Food & Wine Festival. The unique dishes from around the world inspired my kids to step out of their comfort zones and try something new and unusual.
Colleen, thank you for visiting us. I hope you will let us know if we can help you with any other dining or planning questions!
Wishing you a magical vacation,
Amy H.