Dessert substitutions?

[kateybee]

We'll be heading down in September. When we were there last my son almost always went without dessert due to his pickiness. (It's related to textures and some tastes due to his Sensory Processing Disorder, but taht is beside the point. He's really no pickier than some "typical" kiddos I've known.) He doesn't like ice cream at all and a lot of fresh fruits have flavors that are too intense for him. That is what we found to be the offerings at a lot of places we went. Generally at buffets he could find something, but he never had a dessert at a table service place, or a quick service one for that matter. Thankfully he's a easy-going kiddo and wasn't too fussed. But it was a bit sad seeing him watch the rest of us eat sweets at dinner. (Yes, we did often buy him something after dinner if he wanted it. So we're not totally cruel! Haha.)

But looking at our plans for this fall I see some places where he'll be going dessert-less again. I'd not thought of substitutions but had seen this mentioned on here since we got back. Does anyone have any ideas about possible dessert substitutions at the following places: Ohana, 50s Prime Time Cafe and Whipsering Canyon Cafe? Also, do I mention this at the start of the meal or when we are asked about dessert? For that matter- he tends to have a hard time with finding apps he will eat too. Any ideas about those for 50s Prime Time and WCC? Do they even offer subs for non-allergy situations? While his are connected to his SPD he's not going to die if he does/doesn't eat what is offered. I am just wondering if there is a way to make his meals more enjoyable (and filling!) for him. I figure we're out of luck at QS but I've heard that TS can be more accomodating. Anyone have experience with such substitutions.

 

[sanapp]

What would he normally eat for dessert? Most of the QS locations have chocoalte chip cookies, brownies ..... I believe some have jello maybe yogurt or even applesauce. If you can provide information about what he does like to eat then perhaps people can give you ideas.

 

[DCDisney]

AT 50s and Whispering Canyon kids can also get milkshakes for dessert but that's still kind of ice cream. The main substitution seems to be the allergy safe brownie if you think he would eat a gluten free brownie that has kind of an odd texture and not very chocolately taste. Not all places have them but some do and some also keep the itzakadoozie popsicles for allergy kids. QS most places carry the packaged choc chip cookie so that's easy now. If you wanted to really work around it most of the signature places offer much better kids desserts like decorate your own cupcake and white chocolate mickey puzzle. The apps I don't think you can really do anything about as I don't think they really appeal to many kids at all. Soup is not really a kid food especially ones like the lobster bisque and cheese soup in Epcot that both have a very alcohol flavor. My kids aren't especially picky and I can't remember them eating the apps at all either. We usually asked if they could have apple slices instead of the app as most of the menus had those and at the places that said yes they would eat those but it wasn't many places that said yes.

 

[kateybee]

Thanks so much! Sorry I wasn't too specific before.
Chocolate in general sends my son into sensory-overload. (Yeah- how two chocoholic parents made him I will never know...) The times he has tried chocolate it makes his eyes water. I don't follow how it works. He can't explain it but it's just too much somehow. Even chocolate chips are too much for him. (I kindly ate some of his desserts last time... y'know, so they wouldn't go to waste....)
He would love jello or popsicles like were mentioned semi-bland but sweet things like that. Do you know if any of those places happen to offer that?
I did get a PM about this which I just want to speak to in case others are thinking the same- Yes I DO, in fact, understand that when I am eating at Disney restaurants it is like other restaurants and they won't cater to my or my child's "every whim." We actually choose mostly all buffets so that my son will find foods he likes without a problem. And my son never even so much as grumbled about the fact that he didn't like what was offered for dessert. He always politely declined what was there (unless we were going to eat it for him- haha). It wasn't until after we returned home and began planning our next trip that I even heard of substitutions being possible. I realized that perhaps that was an option for him. If it's not and is somehow "cheating" as was mentioned in the PM then I wouldn't do it. Forgive me for thinking my child should have the chance to eat a dessert he likes if it's possible. Silly me.
Thank you for the very kind replies so far! I appreciate them! Also, I wonder if a restaurant would be bothered if we brought him in something for dessert to eat while we eat ours? (We're on the dining plan, they get the same money whether my son eats thier dessert or not.)

 

[kateybee]

Oh- and I agree about the apps. My 4-year-old is quirky and loved all of the salads and soups. But I know most kids wouldn't. They struck me as slightly off choices for some places. My 8-year-old (the picky, SPD kiddo) is funny. At table service places he often had a hard time finidng food he liked... but would have loved some of the adult foods offered. At Tony's Town Square we ended up trading. We discovered that lamb shank is one of his favorites! (I got stck with raviolis and earned that dessert of his that night! Haha!)

 

[Celidh]

I don't think it is a big deal to ask. I can't imagine someone would pm you to give you grief for wanting to give your child more options. It's not like you are expecting it, just wondering if it is possible.

Like the saying goes, it doesn't hurt to ask.

I understand somewhat your son's issues with food. My younger ds is on the autism spectrum and he has a few sensory issues both with food and clothing. We do what we can to make our kids' lives happy and enjoyable.

As far as not liking chocolate, that is just wrong! LOL My partner doesn't like chocolate. What's up with that! My oldest doesn't much like it either but he will eat it sometimes in something but would never have a brownie or big piece of chocolate cake.

 

[marielynn724]

I don't know exactly what others were talking about "whims" and "cheating"... that didn't even enter my mind. In my experience, and in my reading on this board, Disney is always willing and happy to accomodate dietary needs (and any other medical needs for that matter) in order to make a guest's experience better. If you can come up with the types of desserts that your son might enjoy, the chefs might be able to make something special for him. I've seen on the boards here a bunch of times that sometimes the chefs make off-menu items just for someone who has allergies. You just need to be able to explain the situation to your server. I think it would be a great activity for you and your son to sit together and get ready for your upcoming trip to try to come up with a list of things he may like. I'm not sure about the specific menu items of the restaurants you've listed. I know that Ohana has banana bread pudding a la mode for dessert. You can get it without the ice cream, maybe bread pudding is mild enough that he'd be able to eat it?

 

[MedicGoofy]

Good for you....for doing what you can so that your son can enjoy the meal as much as the rest as the family.

As for your question about bringing in something for him for dessert, I do not see why not. My sister in law has multiple severe allergies. Makes it near impossible for her to eat out. The last time our family went out to eat, we packed a cooler for her. She loved it. When the restaurant questioned it, it was simple. You either accomodate her, and not kill her, or she eats what we brought, and we wont kill her (or send her to the er). With your son, you bring a dessert, it makes him happy. If they can't provide, and it's Disney, I have a hard time believing that they won't try to, then, they shouldn't have a problem with you bringing something that would make him happy.

I hope all works out for you!!

 

[DCDisney]

Since it seems like it's only very specific things he likes if you email special diets at wdw you can fill out a form and list things he would eat if available like Popsicle, vanilla cup cake, apple sauce whatever. That way if they can provide something he eats they will and you know you've made an effort. I'd also carry something because even with allergy situations they don't always seem to get the forms and often supplies are unpredictable so I've had a number of ddp meals with no dessert. I'm allergic to nuts and beans so the usual allergy safe ice cream doesn't work because they have bean gums. If you wanted to go big for him you could always order a small cake which they have everywhere onsite.

 

[Quin]

I have never tried it myself but have read here on the Dis that such 'substitutions' are easier if there is an affiliated restaurant that Disney can get the food item from. For example, at Ohana they may be able to grab a dessert from the Kona kitchen because it is right next door. At AK you have Yak&Yeti TS which could share with Yak&Yeti CS. So have a look at those menus as well; then I'd ask the server at the start of the meal if they could arrange to do this.

And, of course, those restaurants where 'he' orders a dessert from the kids' menu that you would enjoy and 'you' order a dessert from the adults' menu that he would eat. Has he tried cheesecake? Ask the server to completely leave off the sauces and garnishes, which tend to be fruity; just pain cheesecake is pretty bland.

 

[kateybee]

Thank you all for such great, informative and kind answers! We had such great meals on our last trip and enjoyed all but one so much. The only part that was lacking was when Simon watched us continue to eat while he poked at his entree. I will defintely use the tips to try and give him great meals from start to sweet finish. Thanks so much again!!!!