Doing Disney Low Carb

[GenevieveRaqs]

I'm in preliminary planning mode for a fall 2012 trip. I'm a type 1 diabetic, and I keep a very close eye on my carbs (typically under 100 grams per day). I'm willing to cheat a little bit on vacation, especially considering how much walking we'll be doing, but I still need to keep the carb counts pretty low. I really like the *idea* of the dining plan, for the convenience of being able to totally forget about money once we're there and because we will want to do some character meals (this is our son's first trip!). However, I'm a little concerned about whether I can make the dining plan work with my personal needs. Here are my questions:

1. Counter service meals--My understanding is that, unlike TS restaurants, CS places will not make special accommodations, they will only point out potential options from the menu as it stands. Is this correct? So, for instance, if a meal comes with fries, I can't have them sub broccoli instead? Do you know of any good low-carb options at CS places in the parks?

2. Snacks--From what I've seen, nearly every snack in the World is sugary or at the very least bread/flour-based. I know fruit is available, but even that is on the carby side. Are there any protein-based snacks out there? Any other low-carb options?

3. Desserts--This one is not a huge deal to me, really, because I can just skip dessert and snag a bite of hubby's if necessary. But, are there any low-carb dessert options? I've seen mention of sugar-free brownies here and there, but that is such a mixed bag since Disney won't give you carb counts (SF stuff is sometimes HIGHER in carbs than sugar-sweetened items...grrrr!) Anyone know what kind of flours the gluten-free items use? GF options like almond and coconut flour are very low carb, but if they're using rice flour that's not really a viable option.

I'm not too worried about TS restaurants because I can always switch out starch sides and find things that will work--I do it all the time at non-Disney restaurants.

What are your experiences following a low-carb lifestyle while at Disney? Any specific recommendations for places to check out or places to avoid? Thanks for your help!

 

[jcieutat]

I live a low carb lifestyle. While it is challenging, Disney can be done pretty easily if you have self control! What I do is look through the CS menu's and pick the places that offer a good salad (there are a few in every park). I do the same for dinner where I can enjoy a variety of meats and veggies. I usually bring Atkins shakes with us that I use for breakfast. I just pack them real good in the luggage. There are a few restaurants that offer no sugar added items. The best treat is the no sugar added brownies. They have them at Cosmic Rays, Sunshine Seasons, America, Tusker House, etc.. I LOVE these!!! At dinner, you can advise the server of your dietary restrictions and usually a chef will come out and take care of you.

Don't get me wrong, I do cheat while I am at Disney. I live this lifestyle to keep my weight under control.

 

[Dancind]

I think it's safe to say that you are right about snacks. Low carb snacks and Disney do not compute. I think I may have found some roasted nuts somewhere, but now I've forgotten where it was. Used to love the nuts in the World Showcase, but not anymore. I just carry some snacks around.

And I cheated, for sure. I'm Type 2 but it's been under control since I started eating low carb and lost 30 pounds two years ago almost. The dark chocolate caramel squares in the Germany store don't have many carbs, right?

If you decide against the regular dining plan, a lot of the appetizers in the Signature restaurants are pretty low carb. Sometimes a just get a couple of those.

 

[Rienchen]

the resorts sell tubs of veggies and hummus, I think they're available on a snack credit

 

[nanienamou]

Morocco has some awesome choices for low carbs: hummus, tabouleh, meats in platters.
France has a cheese plate.
There were many booths with low carb choices at the F&W.

 

[Quin]

CS - you can only sub sides if the item comes as a side with another 1-CS-credit item. At the resorts you're likely to get this option at dinnertime but not much at lunch. In the parks, CHH in MK has a salmon & broccoli dish now. On the plus side, many CS locations have an entree Caesar salad, generally topped with a grilled protein (chicken or salmon). Ask for the salad without croutons and you're pretty low carb. A few CS locations have fixins' bars; Pecos Bill and Cosmic Rays in MK come immediately to mind. Get a nice big bacon cheeseburger, throw away the bun, and take all the lettuce you can get on the plate.

I have not been to one yet but understand some resort food courts are putting in salad bars, similar to the pasta bar at POR. That may be an option. Salad dressings are a shot in the dark re carb counts but, again, Caesar is usually one of the lowest.

Snacks - yeah, you're pretty much SOL.

Desserts - almost as bad. Yes, I also noted the 'sugar-free' or 'no-sugar-added' option on all TS menus. But I totally agree with you that 'sugar-free' MIGHT mean sugar-alcohol, no-net-carb based, or it might be sky high. Without the full labels there's just no way to tell.

Last year I did not do any Dining Plan and stayed very low carb for most of the trip. Brought a lot of breakfast bars and snacks from home, though. This year, just for Disney, we took the regular DDP and I ate everything. It was fun while it lasted but I gained weight despite walking my feet off, and it's been much harder to lose weight since then.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

1) I do not understand all the talk about low carbs.
2) I have it on good authority (from a bus driver)
. . . WDW removed all the carbs from the theme park food
. . . WDW removed 90% of the calories from resort food

 

[Quin]

Rusty!

 

[Dancind]

Well if a bus driver said that, it must be true!

I do tend to forget about it when I'm there, too, maybe a few more carbs. DH and I stay low carb except when we vacation, about two weeks a year. Usually a week in WDW and a week in Napa Valley. Pretty easy to get back on the horse when we get home, though I sometimes pay for it in aches and pains for a while. Sugar is an inflammatory, and we both feel much better when we stay off of it.

Haven't cruised since we started this. I don't think I could go that far off.

 

[nanienamou]

Pretty easy to get back on the horse when we get home, though I sometimes pay for it in aches and pains for a while. Sugar is an inflammatory, and we both feel much better when we stay off of it.

Seriously!?! I have a pretty low-carb/high protein diet at home, but while at Disney, I ate what I wanted. I noticed that since then (we returned October 14), I've had lots of joint pains which I though was because of the walking we did. I'll have to research that!

 

[myladyisatramp]

Wow, joint pain asociated with sugar?? I think I may have to agree.. have been going nuts with sugar this week and my aches and pains are unbelievable...

 

[Cheshire Figment]

I would suggest going to the disABILITIES Forum and look at Post #3 of the disABILITIES FAQs. There is a large section in that post dealing with special dietary needs, as well as many related links. You can get directly to the disABILITIES FAQs by following the link in my signature.

This is a very common topic of discussion in the disABILITIES Forum.

 

[RMulieri]

I eat primally and avoid sugars and grains about 80% of the time.I eat pretty well at disney.It can be done

 

[Candlz]

I have done Disney Table service low carb. I asked the server prior to ordering and within minutes the chef appeared at our table and went through ALL my dining options with me. This was my birthday trip and the chef made me a special dessert - it was WONDERFUL!!!

 

[GenevieveRaqs]

Morocco has some awesome choices for low carbs: hummus, tabouleh, meats in platters.
France has a cheese plate.
There were many booths with low carb choices at the F&W.

I love Moroccan food in general, so that may be a great option. Thanks!

 

[GenevieveRaqs]

I do tend to forget about it when I'm there, too, maybe a few more carbs. DH and I stay low carb except when we vacation, about two weeks a year. Usually a week in WDW and a week in Napa Valley. Pretty easy to get back on the horse when we get home, though I sometimes pay for it in aches and pains for a while. Sugar is an inflammatory, and we both feel much better when we stay off of it.

Unfortunately, I'm low carb in order to manage a chronic disease--"forgetting about it" isn't an option for me. Although, like I said, I can cheat a *little*.

 

[GenevieveRaqs]

I would suggest going to the disABILITIES Forum and look at Post #3 of the disABILITIES FAQs. There is a large section in that post dealing with special dietary needs, as well as many related links. You can get directly to the disABILITIES FAQs by following the link in my signature.

This is a very common topic of discussion in the disABILITIES Forum.

Thanks! I've actually read through those threads, but they didn't *quite* answer my questions...I'd really love to get some specific recommendations on restaurants and dishes that have worked for others. And there are some great ones on this thread!

 

[GenevieveRaqs]

I eat primally and avoid sugars and grains about 80% of the time.I eat pretty well at disney.It can be done

Would you mind sharing some of your faves at Disney??

 

[GenevieveRaqs]

CS - you can only sub sides if the item comes as a side with another 1-CS-credit item. At the resorts you're likely to get this option at dinnertime but not much at lunch. In the parks, CHH in MK has a salmon & broccoli dish now. On the plus side, many CS locations have an entree Caesar salad, generally topped with a grilled protein (chicken or salmon). Ask for the salad without croutons and you're pretty low carb. A few CS locations have fixins' bars; Pecos Bill and Cosmic Rays in MK come immediately to mind. Get a nice big bacon cheeseburger, throw away the bun, and take all the lettuce you can get on the plate.

I have not been to one yet but understand some resort food courts are putting in salad bars, similar to the pasta bar at POR. That may be an option. Salad dressings are a shot in the dark re carb counts but, again, Caesar is usually one of the lowest.

Snacks - yeah, you're pretty much SOL.

Desserts - almost as bad. Yes, I also noted the 'sugar-free' or 'no-sugar-added' option on all TS menus. But I totally agree with you that 'sugar-free' MIGHT mean sugar-alcohol, no-net-carb based, or it might be sky high. Without the full labels there's just no way to tell.

Last year I did not do any Dining Plan and stayed very low carb for most of the trip. Brought a lot of breakfast bars and snacks from home, though. This year, just for Disney, we took the regular DDP and I ate everything. It was fun while it lasted but I gained weight despite walking my feet off, and it's been much harder to lose weight since then.

Thanks for this! Yes, whether we do the DDP or not, we will definitely bring breakfast foods and extra snacks. I've done the entree salad or bunless cheseburger options at countless non-Disney restaurants when there is nothing else edible on the menu--it's a good fall back!

 

[Mom-2-2Princesses]

I am a diet controlled Type 2, and I watch what I eat VERY carefully, even at Disney.

Breakfast-- I'm not a breakfast person, really, so usually it's just a cup of coffee for me. But if I do eat, I have been able to get bacon and eggs at virtually every resort counterservice. We also do a lot of breakfast buffets, and those are super easy to keep low carb.

Lunch and dinner-- as others have said: salads and sandwiches without the bread, for the most part. The taco salad at Pecos Bills is great, as they basically plunk meat in the fried shell (which I don't eat) and you can go to the toppings bar and load up with veggies and cheese. Cosmic Rays is also a good choice because of the toppings bar. CHH has some great non-salad options (salmon and broccoli). Epcot... Morocco is wonderful, Germany too (sausage!). I will say that Mexico wasn't great (I had to deconstruct tacos, and left still hungry). France may have had a cheese plate-- I can't quite recall.

Snacks-- yeah, those are tough. There are the turkey legs, but I find those a little icky. I bring little packs of nuts with me, and rely on the fresh fruit options at the shack carts-- usually apples since those don't blast my sugars sky high.

Side note-- if you eat at Ohana, make sure to talk to the chef. The sauces they marinate and baste the meats in are loaded with sugar. The chef was great and prepared a fantastic sugar-free meal for me.

It's not too hard, really. I would suggest looking over the CS menus before you go, though.