Has Disney gone too far with the "healthier options" menu changes?

[brighteyes]

I guess this really upsets me, I think I said "bummed out" at least 4 times in my posting. ha ha Sorry to repeat myself so much.

Stephanie

 

[Mom-2-2Princesses]

(and I am a lawyer, so no flames, please!)

I think the people who blamed it on litigation issues have hit the nail on the head. Don't think for a second that switching to healthier options is less expensive for WDW. A simple trip to the grocery store will demonstrate that convenience food, white breads, and anything laden with saturated fat is LESS costly than the whole wheat, fresh alternatives.

It's all about protecting WDW from lawsuits. The in-house counsel at WDW watches the same newscasts as the rest of us, and they see what is happening-- fast-food restaurants and food manufacturers getting sued, and in some cases losing those lawsuits, because their products are not healthy and some people can't seem to exercise the self-control necessary to not make themselves sick (or worse!). No one ever claimed that McD's was good for you, especially when eaten 3 times a day for a year, for example. But when someone who then engages in that behavior has a heart attack, and the doctors blame it on all the saturated fat and cholesterol in his/her diet, the lawyers point the finger at McD's-- because they have lots o' money!

The changes are WDW are geared to protect our beloved mouse from these lawsuits. For instance, say someone visits WDW 6 times a year (lucky duck!), and has a heart attack. The doc says it's diet related. The lawyers may try to point to Disney and say "See, if Disney had not offered all that unhealthy food, my client wouldn't have eaten it and wouldn't have had the heart attack, so Disney owes my client a ton of money." However, if Disney's food IS on the healthier end of the spectrum, that argument is much much harder to make, and WDW is protected (at least to some degree).

So why not let it be a choice, you ask? Because there are still risks associated with that. The argument goes something like this: "But we offered carrots instead of french fries-- your client didn't have to choose the fries, but did. We can't be responsible for his choices!" "But, you see, my client has emotional/psychological issues that prevent him from being able to NOT eat the fries if they are an option, so WDW was negligent in even offering them in the first place."

Crazy, but it happens, and companies like Disney are LOSING these lawsuits. I don't agree with it-- I think it's a miscarriage of justice, but juries all over the country are buying into arguments like these and holding the corporations responsible for the habits of their patrons.

So there it is... IMO, blame the lawyers!

 

[Mermaid_Ariel]

Even though Disney's Magical Express (DME) is great to save us money, I'll be renting a car for our honeymoon and eat off property if we must. I'm sure there's chicken strips not far from the Disney Bubble.

 

[tigger536]

I agree - its all about choice! Give us the fruit carts AND the cookie sandwhiches! We are adults, let us make the decisions for ourselves and our families (if we have them). I loved the CCH chicken strips. I look forward to that CS all year long. And I'm not overweight either, not by a long shot. Besides, with so much walking at WDW, most people come back to report they have lost weight not gained. (I know I usually do.) And if it is a cost issue, come on Disney, how much more are you going to cut and raise prices? Its getting more and more expensive to go, fewer discounts are offered, and they gutted the DDP this year. Come on, you are raking in the cash. Give the people a choice of bun and their strips back. I mean jeez!

Yes, you can get that food offsite, but its not the same. Its just tastes better at Disney for some reason. Bring back choice or I will take my 6K vacation elsewhere!

 

[Disneyonmymind]

It really amazes me that WDW had begun including artificial sweeteners in the kids' meals. Sugar free jello (made with artificial sweeteners) may be low calorie, but is hardly "healthy", and may even be dangerous for children. Fruit is healthy - sugar free jello is not healthy. It's fine to offer it as an option, however. I have no problem with unhealthy options. Just don't include it with my kid's meal and then tell me it's part of WDW's health kick.

Bottom line - If I want someone to dictate my food choices, I'll go to a fat camp/health spa. Otherwise, when I go on vacation, I want CHOICES. Anything else is un-American. (Or at least the America where I grew up.) If regular folks don't wise up soon, elitists (who think they know so much better than everyone else) will soon be making every personal choice for us, from cradle to grave. It's a slippery slope folks. Okay, that's my 2 cents.

BTW- I'm not overweight, and neither are DH or kids. We eat both healthy food and junk food and we know the difference. Moderation is the key with the junk.

 

[Mermaid_Ariel]

Bottom line - If I want someone to dictate my food choices, I'll go to a fat camp/health spa. Otherwise, when I go on vacation, I want CHOICES. Anything else is un-American. (Or at least the America where I grew up.) If regular folks don't wise up soon, elitists (who think they know so much better than everyone else) will soon be making every personal choice for us, from cradle to grave. It's a slippery slope folks. Okay, that's my 2 cents.

Nail right on the head!

 

[Tricia1972]

What I don't understand is how there are not dining choices anymore?

I'll agree that there are more healthy options available on the menu. I don't see that it's all health food though.

I posted this on another thread. I quickly went through the menus of CS locations and Snack carts at the parks. I just jotted down some of the options out there that can't be considered healthy. I don't see that consumers are being dictated to as much as consumers are being given healthier options to balance with the following options.

Snacks/Desserts
Chips
Hot Fudge Sundae
Ice Cream in a Waffle Cone
Ice Cream Float
Ice Cream Cookie Sandwich
Churros
Fresh Baked Cookies
Hot Chocolate
Popcorn with butter grease
Key Lime Pie
Chocolate Cake
Soft Pretzel with cheese sauce
Sweet Pretzel
Assorted Pastries, Muffins, Bagels, Cookies and Cakes
Soft Serve Ice Cream
Strawberry Shortcake
Brownies
Mango Mini Pie
Chocolate Mousse
Carrot Cake
Nestle Crunch King Size Ice Cream Bar
Cookies n Cream Ice Cream Sandwich
Caramel Corn
Mickey Mouse Crispy Treat
Cheese Cake
Milk Shake
Pretty much any pastry dessert you can dream up at Boulangerie Patisserie
Two locations - Main St Confectionery and Goofy's Candy
Bunnelos
Crepes
Funnel Cakes
School Bread
Lefse
Black Forest Cake
Apple Strudel
Dole Whip/Dole Whip Float
Apple Pie Sundae
Strawberry Shortcake Sundae
Cracker Jacks
Mickey Mouse Ice Cream Bars
Nestle Toll House Ice Cream Sandwich
Fruit Tart
Napoleon
Bear Claws
Crumb Cake
Apple Charlotte
Apple Turnover
Cupcake
Cinnamon Rolls
Bread Pudding



Beverages
Soda with Sugar
Beer
Frozen Lemonade
Wine
Cappuccino
Frozen Carbonated Beverages
Margarita



Meal Options
Hot Dog (put it on whatever bun you want -that dog is still not healthy)
Ribs with baked beans and corn muffin
Beef or Pork Sandwich
Cole Slaw
French Fries
Onion Rings
Pepperoni or Cheese Pizza
Caesar Salad - Delicious, but not a truly healthy option
Breadsticks with cheese and marinara sauce
Hot Italian Style Sandwich
Double Cheeseburger
Cheeseburger with Bacon
Chicken Nuggets or Chicken Strips
Smoked Turkey Leg
Egg Rolls
Fried Rice
Fried Fish
Chili Cheese Hot Dog
Chicken Caesar Wrap
Mac N Cheese
PBJ
Nachos
Wet Burrito
Bratwurst
Frankfurter with sauerkraut
Meatballs
Fish & Chips
Corn Dog Nuggets
Chili
BLT Salad - salad with bacon and egg in it
Taco salad - ground beef in a fried flour tortilla
Figaro Fries[/quote]

 

[Lovin' Lorne]

What I don't understand is how there are not dining choices anymore?

I'll agree that there are more healthy options available on the menu. I don't see that it's all health food though.

I posted this on another thread. I quickly went through the menus of CS locations and Snack carts at the parks. I just jotted down some of the options out there that can't be considered healthy.

That list looks wonderfully unhealthy to me.

I wonder sometimes if it's more of a "the place I've always eaten no longer has" as opposed to "WDW no longer has". Maybe people get used to finding their favorites at a particular place and don't want to have to search for it again?

 

[Mermaid_Ariel]

That list looks wonderfully unhealthy to me.

I wonder sometimes if it's more of a "the place I've always eaten no longer has" as opposed to "WDW no longer has". Maybe people get used to finding their favorites at a particular place and don't want to have to search for it again?

Interesting perspective! Maybe some of it does have to do with it being a comfort thing. For example, a lot of people have their traditional meal when they first arrive at Beaches and Cream. Some people find comfort when they kinda know the lay of the land so to speak. I know I do!

 

[deekaypee]

What I don't understand is how there are not dining choices anymore?

I'll agree that there are more healthy options available on the menu. I don't see that it's all health food though.

I posted this on another thread. I quickly went through the menus of CS locations and Snack carts at the parks. I just jotted down some of the options out there that can't be considered healthy. I don't see that consumers are being dictated to as much as consumers are being given healthier options to balance with the following options.

ITA! And I wonder if the responses are more to not being able to get "my" favorite, unhealthy food than to all the foods offered. We've heard a lot about chicken strips & Nestle Toll House Ice Cream sandwiches & wheat buns on this thread. But Disney's still offering tons of junk food even *if* these changes take place all across WDW, which seems uncertain. And I have to agree with a PP who noted that Disney doesn't prevent you from enjoying junk food on vacation--they just may stop serving you the #1 junk food of choice you desire.

And in response to the OP's question, "Has Disney gone too far with the 'healthier options' menu changes?" my response would be, "No. Disney hasn't gone far enough."

I know that answer goes against the grain of this thread's responses and even the intent of the OP's post--and I think it's great that many of you feel so passionate about it that you're going to contact Disney. I'm all for consumer advocacy, even if I don't agree with the position.

 

[Goofy'slady]

Hey wait...I'm still trying to get over the no Nestle Toll House Chocolate Chip Cookie Sandwich.lol I must be honest and tell you that upon hearing this horrid/outlandshish rumor I went on the Nestle website and asked them to confirm this alligation(sp?). Once I hear back I will report my findings.

Toya

 

[mickeysgirl17]

This is how I see it:

I find it ridiculous that the choices have changed and that they are doing away with the "unhealthy" foods.

It would have been a much better decision to have added healthier foods on the menus along with the regular foods so that we can decide ourselves what we like to eat and still keep everyone happy.

I don't like a lot of junk food and I certaintly don't give my family a lot of junk food but I think it would be okay to splurge a little while on VACATION.

For those of us who'd like to eat healthy on vacation, then Disney should have just added on healthier options, but why should the rest of us suffer and miss out on our favorites (such as the chicken strips) just because Disney feels that everyone should be on a restricted diet?

Regarding children's meals, which really bothers me the most of all of this, I just don't understand how Disney can have so little choices for children. Our next trip consists of 10 nights/11 days and my DD will have to eat the same things over and over again.
How am I supposed to eat a ice cream sundae in front of her while she has grapes as her dessert?

I know that this isn't true at all the restaurants, but most of them especially the counter services, have limited choices for children.

I love that my DD can eat healthy and I encourage her to do so at home, but while on VACATION, I wouldn't mind her having a few things that she normally doesn't have at home.

It bothers me that the menus are changing. I understand its for the better, but if we eat healthy at home, I don't see why we can't just go all out for the couple of days we are away.

Tricia, regarding your list......Yes, there are many choices on there that are "unhealthy" but little by little, Disney is removing something here and there and unfortunately, that something could have been someone's favorite food at Disney. Why shouldn't they have it because Disney feels that everyone shouldn't have it?

 

[luvdisney00]

The funny thing is that most of Disney's "Healthy Chioces" aren't that healthy at all. Most people who truly try to eat health food (organic, minimally processed, chemical free food) wouldn't eat the garbage that Disney is calling "healthy options" such as those brown rolls that are loaded with chemicals, preservatives and sugar and very little fiber, or those artificially colored and sweeted gel cups. I feed my family healthy whole foods at home most of the time, but on vacation we like to eat sugary and fatty fun foods that we usually avoid. It is part of cutting loose and spoiling ourselves on vacation.

I would like to see more fresh fruit, salads, whole grain breads and cereals etc... These could be choices and not replacements for those who want them.

 

[Tricia1972]

For those of us who'd like to eat healthy on vacation, then Disney should have just added on healthier options, but why should the rest of us suffer and miss out on our favorites (such as the chicken strips) just because Disney feels that everyone should be on a restricted diet?

I believe that chicken strips are just a rumor. In the chicken strip thread there's several reports that chicken strips are alive and well. There's also a TR from someone who was in Disney 2/11/08-2/16/08 that has a photo of the strips. They may be smaller than they used to be, but they are still there. The reviewer who took the photo described them as 'good' and 'normal fried fare'

Regarding children's meals, which really bothers me the most of all of this, I just don't understand how Disney can have so little choices for children. Our next trip consists of 10 nights/11 days and my DD will have to eat the same things over and over again.
How am I supposed to eat a ice cream sundae in front of her while she has grapes as her dessert?

I know that this isn't true at all the restaurants, but most of them especially the counter services, have limited choices for children.

The children's CS meals aren't too bad, nor are the table service. Most locations have one or two 'standard' children's fare options as well as one or two 'off the menu' options.

Children's desserts (thankfully) aren't all fruit. Most TS locations have a choice of a Sundae of some sort, and all CS locations offer at least a cookie. Some kids may get tired of the same two options on longer trips. I know my DS on our 14 day trip last year enjoyed getting ice cream after every meal, but he no longer looked forward to it. If you know what I mean.

It bothers me that the menus are changing. I understand its for the better, but if we eat healthy at home, I don't see why we can't just go all out for the couple of days we are away.

Tricia, regarding your list......Yes, there are many choices on there that are "unhealthy" but little by little, Disney is removing something here and there and unfortunately, that something could have been someone's favorite food at Disney. Why shouldn't they have it because Disney feels that everyone shouldn't have it?

I guess I don't know what foods have been removed from the menus. The only one I can think of is that instead of pure white, they offer the 'enhanced' white buns that have the wheat enhancement in them. Other than that, and the rampant rumors about the chicken strips, I don't see what's being taken off. That being said, I think Disney could have a problem if they just doubled their menu to have the healthy menu and the not healthy menu. Too much inventory, menus too big, etc.

However, ideally it'd be nice to have choices instead of being force fed. I do agree with that!

The funny thing is that most of Disney's "Healthy Chioces" aren't that healthy at all. Most people who truly try to eat health food (organic, minimally processed, chemical free food) wouldn't eat the garbage that Disney is calling "healthy options" such as those brown rolls that are loaded with chemicals, preservatives and sugar and very little fiber, or those artificially colored and sweeted gel cups. I feed my family healthy whole foods at home most of the time, but on vacation we like to eat sugary and fatty fun foods that we usually avoid. It is part of cutting loose and spoiling ourselves on vacation.

I would like to see more fresh fruit, salads, whole grain breads and cereals etc... These could be choices and not replacements for those who want them.

I agree, the healthy options are minimally healthy.

 

[Tricia1972]

The 'new' chicken strips...

 

[Goofy'slady]

I'm sorry but they seem so small to me I barely even see them under all of those fries.

Toya

 

[Tricia1972]

They may well be smaller, but they're still deep fried and most importantly they are still on the menu.

I am just trying to stop the "they're not available anymore" hysteria that seems to be grabbing the boards today.

 

[SmallWorld71]

I saw it very briefly mention in the beginning.....can someone please tell me what they did to the Mac & Cheese?

 

[BabyPiglet]

Has Disney gone too far with the "healthier options" menu changes?

No.

 

[sjaakie]

Maybe they changed the menu because they are out of scooters...

Don't you think that's a terrible and very freighting though?