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

[Timon-n-Pumbaa Fan]

First it was the changes to the kids meals, which didn't affect us, because we don't have kids. Then it was wheat buns on a Casey's hot dog....shudder.....now, those dogs are dead to me! Now, it's a couple of changes, low-fat Mac & Cheese and no more Chicken Strips!

It's my understanding that the chicken strips are smaller and you get twice as many, but it's still not the same portion size from what I have read and they aren't quite as tasty, either. The reports on the low-fat Mac & Cheese that I saw on another board were really bad. My honey while at WDW would live on the old Mac & Cheese and Chicken Strips if given the chance.

Are you as unimpressed as I am with all of these changes? I am seriously feeling like the trip that I wanted to take to Disney next year, if it happens at all, will be a trip where we stay offsite. I love WDW, but I live with a very picky eater. Add to the picky factor the gutting of the DDP's value this year and the greedy holiday surcharges, and I am thinking it would be easier to stay offsite and cook.....God, did I just admit that it would be easier to COOK ON VACATION?

Please Disney, grab a freakin' clue!

I'm writing to complain! WDW.Guest.Communications@disneyworld.com If you are unhappy about this, you should too.

 

[Amy&Dan]

Yeah, I think its sort of silly. I mean you put a tube steak inside a wheat bun and this is somehow healthy? I am all for offering healthy options. For example I love it that you can get carrots instead of fries. But let me have my white bun on my processed weenie. They took away the Nestle Toll House Cookie ice cream sandwiches. That really burned me. A Mickey Bar is so much better? Again, this is sort of dumb and in the end do they really think their guests will suddenly become healthier because they didn't eat white bread and cookie ice cream sandwiches on vacation. And then the guest will think going to Disney is like going to a spa and that it helped them turn around their life? So dumb.

The DDP is about profit not health imho. Give me my appetizer and keep the dessert or at least give me a choice between the two!

P.S. I emailed them, what the heck. I told them I log 12-15 miles a day on my pedometer at WDW, and I want my white bread!

 

[ilovecountry]

Honestly I'm sure some are praising the healthier options but not everyone wants that on their vacations. I do eat healthy in general & I do excercise; about a month before Disney, I completely cut sugar out since I know I'm gonna love sampling all the amazing desserts they have to offer. I DON'T want to eat healthy on vacation, I want all kinds of good junk food, sweets, etc (sounds bad out loud but it's true!) I don't want my portions cut, or something healthy added to it. I eat good enough at home, vacation is time for splurging as well as for everyone I know. Don't get me wrong, I get what they're trying to do, but not everyone needs/wants it, it's vacation after all.

 

[Laurabearz]

I am deeply saddened about the change to the Chicken strips...

 

[snomofinn]

Well, this year our trip will be a little different. My DH was diagnosed with being a borderline diabetic. Usually when we go to Disney we eat healthy for breakfast and then lunch and dinner are whatever we feel we want. This year we'll be looking for a healthy alternative with all the meals. This will be new to us, and my DH is still having a hard time not eating all his favorites. I agree with the wheat buns on the hot dogs, that's a little wierd. But, I don't understand what they did with the chicken fingers? Are they baked? or what did they do?

 

[DisMN]

The healthier alternatives puzzle me because so many people are repulsed by them they won't eat 'em anyway. Kind of defeats the purpose doesn't it?

I think what Disney COULD do better is have a few more fresh fruit/vegie carts around the parks. Fresh sweet carrots or strawberries? Wow.....now THAT'S MY idea of a vacation, seriously!!

By the way, we discovered on our January trip that all the hotdog stands we ate at were serving the white buns, NOT the wheat ones. We even had dogs later in the evening and they still had the unhealthy white ones, no problem.
Casey's was too busy though, so we didn't try those ones to know if they were wheat or not.

 

[Lovin' Lorne]

They took away the Nestle Toll House Cookie ice cream sandwiches. That really burned me.

You can still get them at the Main Street Bakery. They're really good too.

 

[allisonswonderland]

OK I AM HAVING A HEART ATTACK....ICE CREAM COOKIE SANDWICHES....are still avaliable somewhere correct? Like Sleepy Hollow? Main Street Bakery.

I am thinking about this topic and I think they should be OPTIONS! (carrots or fries) But I will probably get in trouble for saying this...our society's eating habits have changed so much. I have seen old utubes of River country and I did not see any "pooh size" people in them, which really makes me wonder. Those that I have seen were from the 1970's before fast food, before convenience. And I am all about eating crap at Disney drive thrus so don't get me wrong about this. I do not think that Disney has the right to really tell us what to eat, but at the same time, I guess I can see what they are attempting to do, MAYBE - but they should have left my casey's buns alone along with my cookie sandwich! I guess what I am trying to say is yes they have a point, but I am not sure that it is disney that should be regulating it because it is not going to really make a difference.

 

[NMW]

I saw some man having a freak out at Pecos Bill in Oct 07 because he asked the CM at the register why they no longer had those vats of cheese sauce. The CM replyed that it was Disney trying to reduce saturated fat. The man was saying that if he wanted to eat gallons of cheese sauce on his vacation, then that was his business. I personally dislike cheese sauce, but I had to agree with him. If the man wants to eat artery-clogging cheese sauce on his vacation, that's his business.

That trip also happened to be the launch of the new healthier kids meals-they didn't all last though. Anyone remember Just Dip It? I was told on that trip by a CM at Sci-Fi that my daughter could not have french fries instead of apples with her lunch. When I asked if she was serious, she sighed wearily and asked if I wanted to talk to the manager. I asked her if other parents had been complaining, to which she replyed, "You have no idea." There was even an article in the Orlando paper about Disney reducing saturated fat.

Several weeks later the kids meals were revamped again, and it was clear on all menus that french fry and soda substitions were allowed.

 

[Mermaid_Ariel]

I just don't get it! Haven't all of Disney's marketing tactics been geared towards keeping the masses on property so they'll eat on property?? I definitely support choices but I don't want to be told what to eat.

If the trend continues I will definitely be reconsidering our Disneymoon plans in December. I know it sounds silly to depend a honeymoon based on food offerings - but I don't need anyone telling me how to eat when I'm paying to be there on vacation. I eat healthy and exercise all year and when I'm on vacation it's time to party!

I guess we'll see what happens. Chicken strips need to be reinstated!

 

[kakiegirl]

I agree it is great to offer healthier substitutes especially for those with dietary restrictions. But I really don't see what they are accomplishing by cutting things like white bread out. Even people who heat healthy usually kick back on vacation and what is one week going to do for anyone. Most people are not at Disney on a weekly basis.

 

[MickeyNicki]

I would like the choice, white over wheat, fruit over fries etc....

 

[TDC Nala]

Well, this year our trip will be a little different. My DH was diagnosed with being a borderline diabetic. Usually when we go to Disney we eat healthy for breakfast and then lunch and dinner are whatever we feel we want. This year we'll be looking for a healthy alternative with all the meals. This will be new to us, and my DH is still having a hard time not eating all his favorites. I agree with the wheat buns on the hot dogs, that's a little wierd. But, I don't understand what they did with the chicken fingers? Are they baked? or what did they do?

From what I understand, they're either baked or cooked in a different way to reduce the portion sizes and eliminate transfats. Haven't seen them myself. The only place I've seen the chicken fingers recently is on the buffet at Boma and they looked the same to me.

I'm for including "healthy" options as long as they are options and not the only thing available.

I believe removal of the appetizer from the dining plan had nothing to do with health and everything to do with cost-cutting and maximizing table turnover time. There's a deluxe dining plan now that still includes the appetizers.

 

[Esmerelda]

Studies show that 65% of all americans are considered overweight or obese. The percentage by 2010 is expected to be somewhere around 75%. : (

The more weight we carry, the more medical issues we have. (ex: diabetes, heart attacks/strokes, falls etc.) In turn, this costs insurance companies a lot more money. I'm thinking Disney is trying to get on the bandwagon to help these percentages go down. I even notice fast food places/restaurants here offering more healthier choices which to me is a great thing.

Even though I'm vacationing at Disney doesn't mean good health should go out the door? My family has a high rate of diabetes in it on both sides so my kids % rate to have it is very high. I have always tried to teach them good eating habits so as adults they won't face so many health issues. They are both teens now and do very well with food. They both love salads and fruits/vegetables...etc. They know that eating good is simply a lifestyle.

I say way to go Disney

 

[disnut8]

I just posted on another thread (about the chicken strips) but held in. Here I go since this is a much more appropriate thread.

Not everyone in the world needs to lose weight. Sorry but that is a fact. My husband can stand to lose a few pounds but he's addicted to the Disney World hot dogs and soft pretzels. So be it. If they ever changed those that he eats (not Casey's), he would be so ticked off, I think we would stop going to Disney World or at least stop eating there.

For me - I am 5 feet nothing and now weigh 100 pounds. But that 100 pounds came hard. And not the way you think. After an almost fatal car accident and a broken neck and two brain surgeries, I fought back to gain 20 pounds. I still have ten more to go until I'm happy. My family still tells me I look too thin.

I love fruit plates but I don't want that to be the only option. I bake chicken strips but I like a good old fashioned FRIED chicken sandwich. One of those is ver hard to find these days. It's all grilled (YECK!).

My drinks are not diet drinks. I need the calories. I know I'm a "special case" but I want CHOICES!!!

This really is not Disney's fault. There is so much outside pressure for the healthier lifestyle that Disney really doesn't have a choice. Look at what happened to McDonald's when a documentary was made about their food.

 

[Sam'sMom0126]

As per what the above person said...we just got back on Thursday and had hot dogs in the American pavilion in Epcot and the buns were wheat.

We eat healthy all through the year and feel that on vacation we want to eat whatever we want. It's our week to live it up. It would be nice to be offered the choice of white or wheat buns. A hot dog is 100x better on a old fashioned white roll.

oh and I think you can defitnatly taste a difference in the fries!

 

[PattnFmly]

When we went in 2006, they had just removed the cheese sauce from the condiment bars. DH did pay for the "tiny little cup of cheese sauce" because he couldn't stand it but ... all it did was cause us to go to BJ's when we returned home from vaca and get a huge can of cheese sauce and make cheese fries at home! Our "splurge" on vacation turned into a fairly unhealthy new habit for home. Instead of it being a treat on vacation, it is now a staple at home ... at least every couple of months anyways!

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

Hmm. The Nestle Toll House cookie sandwiches in the packages are my favorite. I don't like the handmade ones from the bakery. On one trip (can't remember if it was August or December last year) the CMs at the ice cream carts told me those are "seasonal" (which is about the stupidest thing I have ever heard). If they have gotten rid of them entirely I will be MAD!

The wheat buns at Casey's didn't bother me in December, but they sure hacked off DS! He accused me of purposely telling them to give us wheat buns!

 

[Sam'sMom0126]

Hmm. The Nestle Toll House cookie sandwiches in the packages are my favorite. I don't like the handmade ones from the bakery. On one trip (can't remember if it was August or December last year) the CMs at the ice cream carts told me those are "seasonal" (which is about the stupidest thing I have ever heard). If they have gotten rid of them entirely I will be MAD!

The wheat buns at Casey's didn't bother me in December, but they sure hacked off DS! He accused me of purposely telling them to give us wheat buns!

We also LOVE the nestle toll house cookie sandwiches and have been known to eat one for breakfast on vacation!!!

My husband would think the same way....like I had something to do with his buns maybe at home but never on vacation!

 

[Buzz's Buddy]

I was at WDW last month and I personally didn't notice a difference in the taste of the rolls.

don't blame Disney. I blame our OVERLY-litigous society as well as people who blame everyone but themselves . Instead of people taking personal responsibility for what they eat, they would rather blame corporations (such as McDonalds) for making them fat.

Understandbly, this makes companies like Disney feel the pressure to do something, even though it may not be in the best interests of all of their customers.