Another reply from disney

[aaronandterri]

Heres my reply from disney reagrding the new childrenus menus

Dear Mrs. Pearson,

Thank you for your recent email about the changes to the childrens menus
here at Walt Disney World.

Disney is moving in a positive new direction by providing a healthier
range of food choices for parents and kids. Since families are looking
for better nutritional options, the new policy calls for products that
meet specific food guidelines. These guidelines are based on USDA
recommendations and which we developed with the help of two top child
health experts.

We have introduced new kid's menus that automatically come with
healthier sides and drinks (although parents and kids can still get
fries and a soda). We hope to eliminate all added trans fats from the
meals we serve at the U.S. Parks by the end of next year and for all
Disney food products sold or licensed in the U.S. by the end of 2008.

There are definitely other choices than sugar free jello for your
children. There will be chocolate chip cookies, fruit salad,seasonal
fruit with honey yogurt, cheesecake with strawberry sauce, no sugar
added brownies and ice cream sundaes. Menus vary by location so you will
see some great choices.

We feel there is a good selection for everyone at the Disney
restaurants.

Thank you for sharing your concerns and we wish you and your family a
magical Disney vacation.

Sincerely,

Sally Bowen
WDW Guest Services

 

[Disneyolic]

Very interesting. I wonder why the CMs at the counter service places do not know that kids can get more than just sugar-free Jello?

That is an issue for me now that someone from Disney actually says they have more choices ... will the CMs start to allow that too?

 

[BuffaloGal]

have you actually been to Disney World and not been allowed another dessert? I'm a CM and was also actually vacationing on the Dining Plan in early February and NEVER had an issue where my child was forced into sugar free jello. In fact, she never had a single cup of the stuff.

 

[csmommy]

We are going in June. Unless I hear that more choices were offered from you all I will print this out & bring it with me. Perhaps this is a trickle down thing. Perhaps WDW has been changing it & not all CM's are aware.

 

[Disneyolic]

have you actually been to Disney World and not been allowed another dessert? I'm a CM and was also actually vacationing on the Dining Plan in early February and NEVER had an issue where my child was forced into sugar free jello. In fact, she never had a single cup of the stuff.

I personally cannot say that I have been there yet with the DDP. Many people have made posts here stating that on the DDP, all counter service places would only give sugar-free Jello as the dessert for a child. I would hope that was not the case, but it seems that there have been many who have said that. We won't be there until June so I would like this issue resolved before we go...hopefully.

 

[bicker]

have you actually been to Disney World and not been allowed another dessert? I'm a CM and was also actually vacationing on the Dining Plan in early February and NEVER had an issue where my child was forced into sugar free jello. In fact, she never had a single cup of the stuff.

Hi BG! It's been a while hasn't it?

Anyway, I do have one relevant experience to relay here. We were at Cosmic Ray's a few weeks ago, and indeed observed an irate parent getting into it with the manager there about the fact that they couldn't get anything for their child other than sugar-free Jell-o. I was pretty consistent about keeping my eyes and ears open for this sort of thing, and it was the only place I noticed it (and from what I've heard, it isn't always like that there) but indeed there are cases where CMs have denied requests for alternatives to the sugar-free Jell-o that comes with the child meals.

 

[ksoehrlein]

We were at Cosmic Ray's a few weeks ago, and indeed observed an irate parent getting into it with the manager there about the fact that they couldn't get anything for their child other than sugar-free Jell-o.

Wow. When we ate at Cosmic Ray's in December, I'm almost certain we were able to get DS double servings of grapes instead of one serving of grapes as a side and sugar-free Jello as a dessert. Then again, both kids actually enjoy the sugar-free Jello (odd, I know), so my memory may be faulty.

I guess -- like so many DDP-related things -- it depends on the individual CMs, which is unfortunate. In a case where an alternate, similar value item (such as grapes) is available, I would hope they would allow a substitution, but it sounds like it can't always be counted on.

 

[irishbosoxfan]

have you actually been to Disney World and not been allowed another dessert? I'm a CM and was also actually vacationing on the Dining Plan in early February and NEVER had an issue where my child was forced into sugar free jello. In fact, she never had a single cup of the stuff.

We were there 1/24 to 1/30 and twice we were made to take the jello

First was at Columbia Harbour House--we placed our order and had asked for cake, we paid then went to pick up our food-on the tray was the jello and we told the counter worker we had ordered the cake-she directed us back to the register and the guy there said we didn't get the cake because it wasn't allowed with the kids meal--I told him I had emailed guest communications because of allergies and he said basically 'sorry doesn't matter"


Second was at Flame Tree BBQ--we had ordered and again asked for the cake and the register person said "no" I told her we were dealing with allergies and she was very rude (I am waiting to hear back from an email I sent to GC) so we said ok forget the dessert--we go to pick up our food and there is the jello on the tray we told the guy we had not ordered it--well this went on for a few minutes and DH ended up picking up the jello and throwing it out.

 

[DisneyMama27]

With 3 trips on the DDP and 3 children eating kids' meals, we've NEVER been in that position! The CMs have always allowed another option like rice krispies (DD's fave) or some form of ice cream or cake. We've doubled up on grapes, applesauce and carrots for the 2 sides as well. My kids never eat all the food, even at CS, so it's not been a big issue. Rice Krispie treats fit nicely into my tote. At Pizzafari they even let the kids have the frozen lemonades.

I like the new options for kids at TS as well - as stated above, fries were also offered, and they let us mix and match pretty much anything on the kids' menu - they were very accommodating, and wanted to make the kids happy. By dessert, the kids were pretty full already and hardly ate any of it. DS was 9 last time and he liked that there were often more "grown-up" offerings on the kids' menus that he could try as he transitions to the adult menu! The girls liked that they could get mac & cheese just about anywhere. I'd say the place with fewest CS choices is Pizza Planet, but they were pretty nice too - I just don't like that pizza!

 

[Disneyolic]

With 3 trips on the DDP and 3 children eating kids' meals, we've NEVER been in that position! The CMs have always allowed another option like rice krispies (DD's fave) or some form of ice cream or cake. We've doubled up on grapes, applesauce and carrots for the 2 sides as well. My kids never eat all the food, even at CS, so it's not been a big issue. Rice Krispie treats fit nicely into my tote. At Pizzafari they even let the kids have the frozen lemonades.

Just a quick question. When was your last trip on the DDP with your kids? It seems that most of the complaints are coming since the new year. Just wondering...

 

[bicker]

Actually, most of the complaints were late last year through early January. Since then things appear to be much better.

 

[Disneyolic]

Actually, most of the complaints were late last year through early January. Since then things appear to be much better.

Sorry, I didn't make myself clear. I knew people were complaining last year about the "unhealthy" menus and then Disney changed them. But I thought a lot of people were now complaining about the Jello being the only dessert given at CS as of the new year. Maybe I'm wrong...

 

[MariaEllerºoº]

I would definitely print out the response from Disney and take it with you on your trip so you can show CM's Disney's response to this issue. CM's just might not be aware that children can order a different dessert.

 

[BuffaloGal]

For the record, we ate at Pizzafari (got cake), Port Orleans Riverside food court (got cookies, crispie treats, etc), ABC commisary (don't remember what we got, but it was awful), and the Refreshment Port in Epcot. I think it's horrid that anyone would try and make you get sugar free jello for your kid. It's not USUALLY the case and if it did occur, I'd take names and complain all the way up the food chain until something happened. Flame Tree has always been ridiculous on allowing substitutions.... even when you are paying OOP. I've gotten to a point where I don't even go there.... and it used to be a favorite. My experience has always been that if you want the most leway, visit your resort food court. They are usually the most accomodating to special requests and needs (By the way, that Allergy thing..... that costs CMs their jobs for ignoring known allergies. Hope that you got his/her name and write a blistering letter. Disney Food and Beverage takes allergies super seriously and that's supposed to be across all levels of service and across property).

 

[bicker]

Sorry, I didn't make myself clear. I knew people were complaining last year about the "unhealthy" menus and then Disney changed them. But I thought a lot of people were now complaining about the Jello being the only dessert given at CS as of the new year. Maybe I'm wrong...

My memory might be off, but I think the original "new child menus" concerns came up last year, maybe September or October (?), and was effectively "resolved" to many folks' satisfaction by subsequent changes made in January (? - again, I really don't remember the dates that well). While some folks are still unsatisfied with the child meals (especially with the child dessert issue), many have acknowledged that there has been a big improvement from the originally-introduced healthy meal offerings.

 

[BlueFairy]

It seems to me that if I seriously have enough of an issue with the jello or any other food I am forced to take, or if I had an allergy . . . and it is worth taking the time to discuss with the CM, then I would definitely speak to the on-duty manager and take care of it right then and there. Problem solved, since this appears to be more of a front line attitude issue than a problem coming from the higher-ups.

 

[TinkerbellMama]

have you actually been to Disney World and not been allowed another dessert? I'm a CM and was also actually vacationing on the Dining Plan in early February and NEVER had an issue where my child was forced into sugar free jello. In fact, she never had a single cup of the stuff.

ITA. My child will not be eating that Jell-O, either, since I don't like the ingredients. It's never been a problem for us to substitute anything as needed, but then again we have dietary restrictions so maybe that's why no one argues.

 

[MaeDaisy]

We were there this past December and at both CS places with jello, that's what the kids got. At Flat Bread Grill in MGM, we didn't ask for a substitution, but at Tusker House I asked if they could get cake and was told nope, kids meals come with jello.

I think that email from Disney is really just saying "your kid won't be forced to eat jello, because there are places that have other desserts." For example, the food courts and World Showcase CS's usually have other choices. I don't think it means to imply that Flat Bread or Tusker House or any other place with the jello (which is most of them) will go get you something else. Just that if you don't want the jello, you can choose somewhere that doesn't have it.

 

[Nancyg56]

have you actually been to Disney World and not been allowed another dessert? I'm a CM and was also actually vacationing on the Dining Plan in early February and NEVER had an issue where my child was forced into sugar free jello. In fact, she never had a single cup of the stuff.

I think at Pecos Bill, although I cannot be sure that was the place. Sugar Free jello or nothing. No substitutions. It was no big deal for us because my DH would not touch the peanut butter mouse brownie, so the little one ate his, but I can see if everyone wants dessert the choice would be an issue.

 

[Sammie]

We were there this past December and at both CS places with jello, that's what the kids got. At Flat Bread Grill in MGM, we didn't ask for a substitution, but at Tusker House I asked if they could get cake and was told nope, kids meals come with jello.

I think that email from Disney is really just saying "your kid won't be forced to eat jello, because there are places that have other desserts." For example, the food courts and World Showcase CS's usually have other choices. I don't think it means to imply that Flat Bread or Tusker House or any other place with the jello (which is most of them) will go get you something else. Just that if you don't want the jello, you can choose somewhere that doesn't have it.

I would say you were correct.