Dieting at Disney Restaurants?

[kmccartney]

Has anyone that is following a strict diet (such as Weight Watchers, or South Beach, or Atkins,etc.) ever had problems dining at Disney? Do you ask for special meals? Or menu options to be prepared a specific way? Do you tell Disney Dining when you make your ADR's?

 

[mamamac]

I'm in the same boat. I have restricted my calories to 1500 / day, and I don't know how in the world I am going to do it except portion control.

 

[earthiejen]

I was on weight watchers when we went last spring. I couldn't count points because I didn't research in advance for nutrition information. (not sure if you even can?) I chose the best dishes I could as far as grilled not fried,etc You likely know the tricks. I didn't deprive myself at all. I ate some of my desserts each time (we did dining plan) and I actually lost 2 lbs that week! You walk so much!! So enjoy yourself take a deep breath and get back on plan when you get back.

 

[santa's surpriz]

You'll actually be burning extra calories while at Disney. I usually walk on a tread mill miles a day and find that I keep up that pace while at WDW. A Disney vacation is the only vacation that I don't gain weight and do stray a little from my regular diet. Be aware, but I don't believe that you can't live a little while at the world.

 

[kmccartney]

You guys are all great! I love the support. However, it doesn't seem to matter that we walked 8-10 miles a day, the past three trips I swear each trip I gained 10 pounds each trip. I really am very good about following my diet plan at home, and when we go we are DDP, and I don't really want to feel like I am going without or denying myself. I never have a problem in a restaurant asking for my food to be prepared in a special way, I am just hoping that I can do that at Disney.

 

[Lynne M]

To the best of my knowledge, Disney doesn't provide points or any other nutritional information for any of their restaurants. They will, within reason, work with you to modify dishes to your needs. They're very accommodating if you want to have sauces left off, substitute sides (veggies instead of fries, etc), that sort of thing.

What I'd suggest is looking through the menus to find dishes you can modify to suit your dietary needs, and base your restaurant choices on that.

 

[kmccartney]

To the best of my knowledge, Disney doesn't provide points or any other nutritional information for any of their restaurants. They will, within reason, work with you to modify dishes to your needs. They're very accommodating if you want to have sauces left off, substitute sides (veggies instead of fries, etc), that sort of thing.

What I'd suggest is looking through the menus to find dishes you can modify to suit your dietary needs, and base your restaurant choices on that.

Thanks for the input. That is what I was hoping for. I don't want drastic changes, just some small changes. It sounds like I shouldn't have any problem.

 

[tley]

Thanks for the input. That is what I was hoping for. I don't want drastic changes, just some small changes. It sounds like I shouldn't have any problem.

Understanding that calories aren't everything, but does anyone know if Florida requires the caloric information on their menus like NYC? That would be SO handy!

 

[madisonwi]

We just got back, but the week before we left I was diagnosed with Gestational Diabetes and really had to watch what I ate. All of the staff were VERY helpful with what I could eat!

 

[disneyfav4ever]

I think as long as you use common sense, and try to stay away from a lot of sweets and fried foods you should be fine. You burn so many calories with all the walking, that a little over your calorie counts or points shouldn't hurt either.

 

[disneyfav4ever]

Understanding that calories aren't everything, but does anyone know if Florida requires the caloric information on their menus like NYC? That would be SO handy!

Calories are definatly not listed on Disney menus.

 

[hookedup]

DH and I have been pursuing weight loss very seriously for a few months now - I am down over 30 pounds (dh is down 60) and we have been thinking about our upcoming vacations including 10 days at WDW.
Here are some of the thoughts we have had. 1. Check out the menus ahead of time so you can have some ideas of what you may want to order. 2. Use common sense and look at over all calories (estimate) avoid fried foods, heavy sauces, lots of fat and sugar. Watch carbs and fatty foods too! Avoid salt and salty foods. 3. Drink lots and lots and lots of water. 4. Opt for extra veggies and salads - but watch what dressings you are using (if needed bring some of your own low cal dressings with you). 5. Remember portion control!!!
We are not doing the dining plan on this trip - we decided that was not a good option for us this time.
Best of luck for a happy and healthy trip!

 

[dansamy]

I'm an on-again, off-again Atkins dieter. (On/off because I have a serious pasta and Mexican food addiction. I really like, and can stick with, Atkins for long periods of time. Just don't take me anywhere near an Olive Garden or a Mexican restaurant, and I'll be fine!) I think the key is careful menu reading. I didn't gain weight during my last two trips and I wasn't dieting during them. I did choose sensible stuff off the buffets and split the CS meals between two people.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Understanding that calories aren't everything, but does anyone know if Florida requires the caloric information on their menus like NYC? That would be SO handy!

No. Florida's Legislature apparently feels people can determine for themselves what's healthy to eat and what's too caloric

Look right here http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/dining/disneydining.cfm on the DIS home site for menus.

 

[mistee]

o man,, i know i am going to be a very,, very bad girl in sept!!!

i have been doing ww points and is going great BUT i know in sept when i go w/ ddp i will eat everything

i'm sorry but if i gain 10 lbs eating all my fave wdw food once a year so be it,,lol..... i will get back on the horse after!!

Since i know this already i wont feel guilty when they roll me out of wdw

 

[kmccartney]

I'm an on-again, off-again Atkins dieter. (On/off because I have a serious pasta and Mexican food addiction. I really like, and can stick with, Atkins for long periods of time. Just don't take me anywhere near an Olive Garden or a Mexican restaurant, and I'll be fine!) I think the key is careful menu reading. I didn't gain weight during my last two trips and I wasn't dieting during them. I did choose sensible stuff off the buffets and split the CS meals between two people.

You hit it dead on, although I didn't post specifically, I am an Atkins follower. Six years ago I started and lost 40 pounds, and kept it all off until I stopped following Atkins. Now I am back on Atkins and losing the weight I gained back. Mod. Lynne was very kind and told the thread that it is perfectly possible to ask for some changes when ordering, such as "please leave the sauce off" and substituting such as no potatoes for veggies. That makes life very easy for an Atkins follower.

And, oh, I didn't mention that after 8 days in Disney we are continuing our vacation on Hilton Head Island. I need for my swim suit to stilll look presentable when we get there

 

[dslk]

The problem for me has never been gaining weight while at WDW. Each time I've thrown the diet out the window and enjoyed whatever I wanted - including desserts and snacks - and in the end I came back weighing less than I did prior to the trip. I'm pretty sure it was because of the huge increase in exercise.

However, the hard part is getting back on the diet when you get back home. That's where I've slipped up in the past.

 

[jamstew]

I was on Nutrisystem on one of my trips and didn't have a lot of problems eating sensibly. I did look at all the menus carefully before the trip and made a list of what I would order. I normally had yogurt parfaits for breakfast and fruit for snacks. Lunch and dinner would be a protein (grilled or baked, sauce on the side), veggies and a salad. I was also very careful of portion sizes--just because they serve you eight ounces of meat or two cups of potatoes doesn't mean you have to eat all of it. I think I had dessert 2-3 times, usually sorbet or whatever no sugar added dish they offered. I didn't eat the whole dish, but I needed something to satisfy my sweet tooth.

 

[Golf4food]

I want to re-emphasize what a PP mentioned: portion control. The portions at most WDW meals are far too big for a single serving. Start with half of what they give you, don't scarf it down like Emile the Rat, and see how it goes from there (in addition to the smart choices, of course).

 

[DW2010]

This is me! Don't get me wrong, I won't go completely crazy, but on vacation I'll be more laid back. I actually have only recently started watching portion control since I lost 15lbs and then put back on 20 Now I'm trying to lose 20-25 before our September trip!

o man,, i know i am going to be a very,, very bad girl in sept!!!

i have been doing ww points and is going great BUT i know in sept when i go w/ ddp i will eat everything

i'm sorry but if i gain 10 lbs eating all my fave wdw food once a year so be it,,lol..... i will get back on the horse after!!

Since i know this already i wont feel guilty when they roll me out of wdw