Diabetic Dining Plan Question

[MomBoyd]

My DH and I are both diabetic. This will be our first time on the dining plan. I see that all of the meals include dessert. Is there any way to get an appetizer, a side or even a bottle of water instead of the desserts we should not eat?

 

[Cheshire Figment]

You can ask at the individual locations, but the official answer is no. So if the answer is yes, you have received some pixie dust; if the answer is no that was what you had expected. However, there are usually at least one diabetes-safe dessert at each restaurant.

 

[MomBoyd]

Thank you for the information regarding TS restaurants.

What about QS restaurants? Can you get fruit or a side instead of the dessert on the dining plan at QS restaurants?

 

[Selket]

You could probably get fruit as your dessert at the QS places.

Be careful of some of the "diabetic desserts" if you are sensitive to sugar alcohols or artificial sweeteners of any type - you can always ask what is used to sweeten it. Sometimes the "diabetic dessert" has as many carbs as a regular dessert but perhaps it affects your blood sugar differently if it has less sugar. I would guess the TS place would prepare you a fruit dish of some sort if you asked. They might have something like a sugar free brownie you could wrap up and take with you - we've done that before.

 

[PatsMom]

I don't do well with most of the "diabetic safe" desserts at Disney. The sweeteners wreak havoc on my digestive system! And just estimating carbs I don't think that they are much better for me than the regular desserts. We used to do the old dining plan which included an appetizer, entree and dessert. I would just not eat the dessert and let DD and DH split mine. But even that was way too much food for me. When they took away the appetizer, it really just became a less economical choice that buying meals for us.

Unless you are doing free dining you might want to do the math and see if you might be better off to abandon the dining plan. If you and DH are both diabetic, maybe you could each order an appetizer and split an entree. I can tell you that DD and DH have both split with me with absolutely no problem. I've also ordered an appetizer as my entree with no difficulty. Or asked that things be prepared without sauces, etc.

Unfortunately Disney does not give out carb counts for their restaurants so you are estimating. I do find that at Disney I tend to go low. I cut back on my insulin usually but keep up with the Byetta and meftormin. I test more frequently and carry glucose tabs with me - when I go low I get very cranky and DD and DH just want to get my glucose levels up quickly! If I realize I am going low before it is too late, a Mickey Bar is a great treat!

The last time I asked about substitutions on the dining plan due to special dietary needs, I was told that only the standard accommodations would apply - i.e., the chef would be willing to speak with you about ingredients and/or prepare you a special dish. Swapping desserts for appetizers or side was not allowed. An individual CM may give you a different answer so you have nothing to lose by asking!

The healthiest thing I could think of at a counter service would be the apples they substitute for french fries on request - maybe they would be willing to give you those in place of dessert. Or they have grapes for the kids meals, as well as carrots.

Not on the dining plan, at the counter service places I usually just order the kids meal. It is plenty of food for me.

Have a great trip!

 

[pearlieq]

They're pretty strict at the TS restaurants--they'll offer a sugar free dessert, but they usually won't budge on offering a swap for an appetizer, salad, etc.

You can usually get fresh fruit, NSA ice cream, and more and more TS places have NSA/SF options right on the menu. At other places, you can either pre-arrange for a diabetic dessert or take what they have on hand, which very often seems to be cheesecake (or at least it has been for us).

At CS you've got a few more options. You can pretty reliably get the fruit sides (apple slices or grapes) offered with the kids meals or a fresh fruit cup. Also, I've been able to get yogurt as my dessert. So far it has always been Yopliat Light strawberry flavored yogurt, but it's not bad.

As others have said, be wary about WDWs no sugar options. Many of them contain plenty of malitol, which can really mess up your digestive system. DH can only do about half of one of their no sugar brownies. If he has more, he's sorry!

 

[Selket]

I should have mentioned that many of their sugar free desserts (like the brownies - which are pretty good) are made with sugar alcohols which will give you serious bathroom issues if you are sensitive - and most people are.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Absolutely 100% no substituting an appetizer for a dessert on any Dining Plan. A Cast Member who attempts to override or circumvent this policy risks disciplinary action, up to termination - and none of us would want to be responsible for that, right?

 

[Chloesmom]

My Dd is type 1 which is a little different than your situation but I would for sure avoid the " sugar free" desserts they offer. we tried them when Dd was first diagnosed and they tasted bad and made her sick. Of course everyone tolerates the sweeteners differently. the term sugar free just means that there is no refined sugar but they can use honey, fruit juice concentrate or art. sweeteners so most times you end up with the same if not more carbs than a normal dessert. The next time we visited we just split a normal dessert. She was on a different insulin therapy then and now has a pump so she can eat a little less restricted. You may be surprised at what you can get away with food wise with all of the walking and the heat etc. so I wouldnt rule out indulging in a dessert here and there. I have also read type 2's having thier sit downs for lunch that way you have all day to try to walk off the affects of alot of carbs.
I would look into scraping the DDP. It can be a good value but if you cant take advantage of what it offers it loses its appeal...

 

[clhcpaca]

As to the DDP, I calculated my use of it last year without the value of any desserts (because of my diabetes) and I still came out ahead. Plus, at the 2-point restaurants I have always been able to get the cheese plate as my dessert. I do not do sugar-free desserts--they not only upset my system, they have usually more carbs than regular desserts. It's real interesting to check out sugar-free candy and compare it to the same item with sugar.

Cindy

 

[DCDisney]

The QS places will let you sub lots of things like fruit, carrots, bottle of water, etc for dessert. Many of them used to also have sugar free jello which I enjoy but lots of people hate If you like the sugar free ice cream they serve any QS place can get it for you but it can take them 20-30 mins for it to come from the central place they keep it. The sugar free choc mousse at the Norway QS was very tasty....

 

[buffettgirl]

The QS places will let you sub lots of things like fruit, carrots, bottle of water, etc for dessert. Many of them used to also have sugar free jello which I enjoy but lots of people hate If you like the sugar free ice cream they serve any QS place can get it for you but it can take them 20-30 mins for it to come from the central place they keep it. The sugar free choc mousse at the Norway QS was very tasty....

things like fruit are generally just as bad for someone with diabetes as a full sugar desert. It's the carbs...not the sugar that we pay attention to. I often giggle when I see fruit as a suitable substitute for someone with diabetes. Sure, fruit is more healthy than a calorie laden desert but for the most part once those carbs get into your body they all act the same - carbs from watermelon or grapes spike my son's blood sugar far greater than a bag of m&m's.

 

[DCDisney]

carbs get into your body they all act the same - carbs from watermelon or grapes spike my son's blood sugar far greater than a bag of m&m's.

It is so individual on what works and what doesn't isn't it? I can eat domino's with no effect on my numbers but pizza hut or papa john's both do horrible things.

 

[Bete]

we give it away, if we can. I'll ask someone close, if they would like to have a free dessert and I even give them the option of picking it out. I feel this spreads out the pixie dust. We're healthy eaters and the entrees are good enough for us. We do this at QS (counter service) places, too. If you are travelling with others, give them your dessert; we've done that option, too. I will admit that my hubby cheats once in a while and takes a dessert anyway, as well. He's a sucker for ice cream.

As another poster stated, if you order a high price entree you will still come out ahead on the plan.

Another option is to do more buffet places where appetizers, salads, soups, etc. are part of the buffet and you can skip dessert completely. There are plenty of nice buffet places (Bomas, Cyrstal Palace, Tusker House, Cape May Cafe to mention a few) and enough of them to keep most, if not, all of your vacation with just buffets for TS.

If you look real hard at all the restaurant offerings you may find a few places that will have a good dessert for TS and diabetics.