Exchange dessert for appetizer

[kaytieeldr]

You probably have no idea what it is like to be discriminated against because of your weight,

You would be wrong. See what happens when you assume?

I am so sorry that my positive experience with Disney has set off this heated response becasue of some happiness that came my way. I will remember not to post any happy experiences that come my way

Again, nobody is doubting that your experience is as you report it. We all want to make sure that ANYBODY else reading this thread not expect the same experience. Yours was unusual and, although not your fault, in violation of the rules of the Basic Dining Plan.
For the record, while yes, gastric bypass patients need to limit or avoid high-sugar foods, fruit (not unusual as a dessert) IS allowed.

I am sorry for all the people who had negative experiences with the DDP,

Again for the record, nobody is reporting negative experience with the DDP. We are reporting standard/expected experience, i.e. experience in line with the rules, regulations, and restrictions of the Basic Dining Plan.

it is very surprising to hear that exceptions were made to a policy we have been told over and over (and over) had no exceptions.

Including by Cast Members who are (or were, when the Basic DDP dropped the appetizer) servers in Disney Table Service restaurants.

My health is more inportant than getting the most bang for my buck and Disney is not the place you want to be when you get sick.

Eh, that's debatable. Ever been a guest of Celebration Health's Presidential Suite? "All" it takes is a bad case of pneumonia and no other empty rooms

 

[Steffiesunshine]

I can see why eyenjeff feels attacked.

I know I wouldn't like individual statements I made to be repeated in quotes and disputed. It's disrespectful to pick apart every sentence that you don't agree with.

Eyenjeff...congrats on your weightloss!

 

[lisadr]

Something I wanted to add about the dessert app swap. It is quite possible that Disney is getting less strict with the plan. Or is reading all these boards and the emails they have gotten about it and is slowly making the switch to all an either /or they choice for the Basic DP.

We were there in Sept and had the DDP and wound up with extra meals at the end. I off the cuff asked a cook at Pop (who turned out to be the Head Chef) if I could use them for snacks to take with us on the plane. She said she could ring them up as a continental meal, which let me pick 2 pieces of fruit or bakery items and 2 beverages. So we grabbed some cookies and a few pieces of fruit and drinks. It's not something I have heard of before, but they did allow it.

With everything there is a first person-maybe Eileen is the first to post here about Disneys' possibly new rules for basic DP.

Oh and to a PP who said desserts are the cheapest thing to make-they are actually the highest cost items and lowest profit item on a menu. That's why it's weird they won't swap.

Eileen-I am glad you had a nice vacation and you got a little extra perk . Maybe you'll be the first person to enjoy some new rules with the dining plan .

 

[kaytieeldr]

With everything there is a first person-maybe Eileen is the first to post here about Disneys' possibly new rules for basic DP.

That's possible - but given the number of reliable unofficial sources - www.wdwinfo.com, allearnet, mouseplanet, etc. - and that some of those sites' own sources are Travel Agencies (which are among the first to get information from Disney) - along with the Disney servers who read this board and tend to post new information, it seems that if such a change or even relaxation in policy HAD been made, we would have heard about it. Plus, while that poster says she "just" got back, she's actually been back from Disney almost two months. Other DISer's who've been there more recently have not been able to substitute an appetizer for a dessert on the basic plan; and if Disney was going to make a policy change, it seems unusual they would do it at that point in the year.

Oh and to a PP who said desserts are the cheapest thing to make-they are actually the highest cost items and lowest profit item on a menu. That's why it's weird they won't swap.

Overall, maybe. But appetizers are more labor-intensive and (usually) time-sensitive. It may cost a "lot" to create a cheesecake, but one needs to be made once, on the pastry Chef's (not the diner's) schedule, and refrigerated - and then that one can serve sixteen people.

 

[loonytoony]

I know when I ate on Basic DDP at Planet Hollywood I ordered an appetizer (Captian Crunch Chicken Fingers) for my main meal and she put it in as a cheeseburger dinner instead of the chicken fingers appetizer. I was so thankful she did that and she wasn't hestitant about it at all when I asked if I could do that. I truly had no idea if it was or was not allowed so I was glad I asked. I think it's great that someone got the chance to order an appetizer instead of dessert.

PH has Cheeseburger for dessert?

 

[Alexander]

snip.....The Cm at Le Cellier said they could be fired for allowing it.

Interesting, because in Feb. '08 we were offered an appetizer instead of a dessert. Our waitress said, "if you'd prefer and appetizer rather than dessert, I can substitute that for you." And pass up the maple creme brulee (sp?). No way, but it was definately offered to us at LeCellier in 2008.

 

[wvdislover]

Eileen, I am so proud of you! I am over 100 lbs overweight, and could probably benefit from having gastric bypass, but I just don't have the nerve to do it. I don't think I could follow the strict diet I've thought about the lapband, but I have an autoimmune disease (Graves Disease), and that prevents me from being able to do that procedure. 80 lbs in 5 months is a phenomenal achievement, and you should be very proud of yourself for such a great accomplishment

 

[Tricia1972]

I think that this argument has come to a stalemate here. We are making the OP feel very uncomfortable and as if we're ganging up on them. While this is nobody's intention, it is nonetheless the result of the ensuing discussion and arguments of whether Disney is absolute with their rule or not.

I feel that Moderator TDC Nala said it best when she said...

Eyenjeff, as you are the only poster in an entire year who has mentioned that you were able to substitute appetizers for desserts on the basic plan, even due to medical conditions, it's probably prudent to make sure readers of this thread are aware that no one else who has posted on the DIS has been able to make that sort of substitution. In fact, everyone else has been informed that this particular type of substitution is strictly prohibited, special needs or not. It isn't that people don't believe you, it's that the odds are not with the ability for others to repeat your experience. In fact, the odds are against your being able to repeat your own experience on a future trip with the basic dining plan.

Anyone can ask, but based on the vast majority of reports, the answer will most likely be "no." It will also take more reports of the same thing happening for us to confirm that WDW is changing its policy, if in fact it is.