Is Disney contributing to childhood obesity?

[SpoonfulofSugar]

It's hard for me to take the OP too seriously on the subject of his post. Nobody is forcing his family to go to WDW nor is anyone forcing them to overeat. As someone mentioned already, you would have to eat at WDW multiple times a week indefinitely to have any lasting affect on their weight.

Yes...it is not a serious post blaming disney for obesity (I did seem to get off track in that first post and put more in about obesity than intended, oops). But meant to talk more about how disney is a leader in the US and has a lot of impact on other theme parks and their policies...which include how children are grouped with food and tickets.
I wrote this above but will write again:
Back in the 80's there were 3 categories for people at disney...child, junior and adult, then in 1984 disney changed that to two- child and adult but raised the child age to 3 to 12...and then again in 1987 lowered that child group to 3 to 9.
Even if you look for tickets at Disney parks outside the US you will see the child ages are 3 to 11 for child tickets and Shanghai goes by height.
So why here in the US do we have 3 to 9 for kids???

I don't know if other parks always had low child's ages or if they followed Disney's example and made child pricing to match the leader. Many local parks when I was younger had free admission and then you paid with a ticket when you wanted to ride..no ages for tickets, one price.

 

[Pooh2]

Believe me we have it figured out lol I really am not looking for solutions or complaining, just observing how this age group seems to have slipped away here in the US, and probably got lost and rambled a little too much about obesity...squirrel lol

Back in the 80's there were 3 categories for people at disney...child, junior and adult, then in 1984 disney changed that to two- child and adult but raised the child age to 3 to 12...and then again in 1987 lowered that child group to 3 to 9.
Even if you look for tickets at Disney parks outside the US you will see the child ages are 3 to 11 for child tickets and Shanghai goes by height.
So why here in the US do we have 3 to 9 for kids???

Yeah, guess your rambling disguised what your post intention is.. It gives the impression of putting blame on Disney for a parent's choice of vacation/dining/obese kids.

 

[Amelia :)]

Yes...it is not a serious post blaming disney for obesity (I did seem to get off track in that first post and put more in about obesity than intended, oops). But meant to talk more about how disney is a leader in the US and has a lot of impact on other theme parks and their policies...which include how children are grouped with food and tickets.
I wrote this above but will write again:
Back in the 80's there were 3 categories for people at disney...child, junior and adult, then in 1984 disney changed that to two- child and adult but raised the child age to 3 to 12...and then again in 1987 lowered that child group to 3 to 9.
Even if you look for tickets at Disney parks outside the US you will see the child ages are 3 to 11 for child tickets and Shanghai goes by height.
So why here in the US do we have 3 to 9 for kids???

I don't know if other parks always had low child's ages or if they followed Disney's example and made child pricing to match the leader. Many local parks when I was younger had free admission and then you paid with a ticket when you wanted to ride..no ages for tickets, one price.[/QUOTE

To be fair by the time a child is aged 9/10 they are old enough to ride everything at Disney, so to me it seems a fair age to charge them full price. Dining age brackets will always coincide with tickets, would be too confusing for them not too.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Even if you look for tickets at Disney parks outside the US you will see the child ages are 3 to 11 for child tickets and Shanghai goes by height. So why here in the US do we have 3 to 9 for kids???

If you would like to take that a bit further...

1) Shanghai also requires you provide a certificate/proof of a disability in order to get their disability pricing...could you see that working out well at the U.S. parks?

2) If you consider it from a more broader sense you could see that the height requirement for Shanghai ticket pricing is actually quite close to the age requirement the U.S. parks use as far as 3-9=child 10+=adult after conversion of meters to inches and using the average heights for children.

3) Disney fully owns the following parks outside of the U.S.-there are none..

~Disneyland Paris is owned by Euro Disney S.C.A. Prior to 2015 The Walt Disney Company only had a 39.78% share with 10% being owned by a Saudi prince (umm had no idea on that) and 50.22% held by other stockholders of the Euro Disney S.C.A company. After 2015 (which is actually fairly recent if you consider how long Disneyland Paris has been around when the policies were 1st put in place-not saying they haven't changed over time as I have not done that research) The Walt Disney Company now owns 76.71% share in the company, the Saudi prince still has 10%, U.S. based financial management company Inveso owns 6% and other stockholders now only own 2%.

~Disneyland Hong Kong is owned by The Walt Disney Company and the Government of Hong Kong

~Disneyland Toyko is owned by The Oriental Land Company which licenses the theme from The Walt Disney Company.

~Disneyland Shanghai is owned by The Walt Disney Company at 43% and Shanghai Shendi Group at 57% (comprised of 3 companies owned by the Shanghai government).

Disneyland in CA and WDW are both fully owned by Disney.

You would need to consider that not all policies (especially when you consider cultural expectations and government control) can be 100% Disney's responsibility. If all parks were fully owned by Disney who could control all aspects of the decision-making then it would be more of a discussion of what drives the differences in park structures in general between the U.S. and non-U.S. parks.

Don't take this as me not understanding your point because I absolutely do but I can't point the finger at Disney and say "well how come we don't get a break on senior pricing, junior pricing, height pricing, child pricing and even disability pricing" because they are not in full control of their non-U.S. based parks.

 

[SaintsManiac]

I think disney needs to improve their food quality. I'm not health nut or anything like that but after a couple of days I could feel my arteries clogging.

This kind of comment makes me crazy. I ate salad every single day on our last trip. There are so many choices, honestly. I don't know why people think there aren't.

 

[andyman8]

This kind of comment makes me crazy. I ate salad every single day on our last trip. There are so many choices, honestly. I don't know why people think there aren't.

While Disney has gotten better over the years, I still don't think they're that many options at the less expensive quick-service restaurants, which make up quite a hefty percentage of their food business each year. I don't know if just having a salad on the menu really counts as a significant health alternative. That said, I wouldn't really put the blame at Disney's feet when it comes to childhood obesity, but that's as much as I'll say.

 

[rwdavis2]

Yes...it is not a serious post blaming disney for obesity (I did seem to get off track in that first post and put more in about obesity than intended, oops). But meant to talk more about how disney is a leader in the US and has a lot of impact on other theme parks and their policies...which include how children are grouped with food and tickets.
I wrote this above but will write again:
Back in the 80's there were 3 categories for people at disney...child, junior and adult, then in 1984 disney changed that to two- child and adult but raised the child age to 3 to 12...and then again in 1987 lowered that child group to 3 to 9.
Even if you look for tickets at Disney parks outside the US you will see the child ages are 3 to 11 for child tickets and Shanghai goes by height.
So why here in the US do we have 3 to 9 for kids???

I don't know if other parks always had low child's ages or if they followed Disney's example and made child pricing to match the leader. Many local parks when I was younger had free admission and then you paid with a ticket when you wanted to ride..no ages for tickets, one price.

Fair enough. I always tell folks that wander why Disney does something, just follow the $$.

 

[FigmentFinder]

Back in the 80's there were 3 categories for people at disney...child, junior and adult, then in 1984 disney changed that to two- child and adult but raised the child age to 3 to 12...and then again in 1987 lowered that child group to 3 to 9.
Even if you look for tickets at Disney parks outside the US you will see the child ages are 3 to 11 for child tickets and Shanghai goes by height.
So why here in the US do we have 3 to 9 for kids???

Hershey Park's kid pricing is 3-8. Sesame Place and Dutch Wonderland have no children's price, everyone is the same. Dorney Park only gives children's pricing to those under 48 inches. Heck, there's a small kids place here, Land of Make Believe, that the kids cost more than adults. At both Hershey and Sesame Place any dine with character experience has children's pricing only for 3-9.

So I think Disney is being as reasonable as any theme park.

 

[Amelia :)]

Hershey Park's kid pricing is 3-8. Sesame Place and Dutch Wonderland have no children's price, everyone is the same. Dorney Park only gives children's pricing to those under 48 inches. Heck, there's a small kids place here, Land of Make Believe, that the kids cost more than adults. At both Hershey and Sesame Place any dine with character experience has children's pricing only for 3-9.

So I think Disney is being as reasonable as any theme park.

I agree, a 9 year old can ride everything at Disney, why should their ticket be cheaper?

 

[Magpie]

While Disney has gotten better over the years, I still don't think they're that many options at the less expensive quick-service restaurants, which make up quite a hefty percentage of their food business each year. I don't know if just having a salad on the menu really counts as a significant health alternative. That said, I wouldn't really put the blame at Disney's feet when it comes to childhood obesity, but that's as much as I'll say.

Would you consider Cosmic Ray's in the Magic Kingdom to be a "less expensive quick-service restaurant"?

I see a few reasonably healthy options here:

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/dining/magic-kingdom/cosmic-ray-starlight-cafe/menus/

Vegetable Burger
with choice of Green Beans or French Fries - 11.99

Greek Salad with Chicken - 11.79

1/2 Rotisserie Chicken
with Mashed Potatoes and Green Beans - 14.49

Even the little kids can get a Turkey Sandwich for 6.49 (the other options on the kids' menu are a peanut butter sandwich, chicken nuggets, or mac-and-cheese).

For dessert, there's Greek yogurt (if you can resist the lure of the Triple-Chocolate Cake).

And there's milk or orange juice or the healthiest drink option of all - water!

I've eaten a lot of Disney quick service salads. They're really quite good, and often include interesting ingredients, such as avocado and edamame. I'll usually opt for one of these over a burger or hot dog.

 

[SaintsManiac]

While Disney has gotten better over the years, I still don't think they're that many options at the less expensive quick-service restaurants, which make up quite a hefty percentage of their food business each year. I don't know if just having a salad on the menu really counts as a significant health alternative. That said, I wouldn't really put the blame at Disney's feet when it comes to childhood obesity, but that's as much as I'll say.

Take the time to read the menus for the QS locations. You might be surprised, even for the MK.

 

[TigerlilyAJ]

And if a poster would like everyone to read their post word for word, a shorter post would be best. After the first 3 paragraphs, I (apparently like many others) skimmed.

Yes, it's obvious that many skimmed, which is understandable. What I don't get is not only feeling "TL;DR" but thinking one should still *respond* to a post one ("one" being used in the general sense for all PPs who said "TL;DR" or otherwise indicated they skimmed) didn't actually read. I, too, have started reading a post, and it loses my interest, is too long, is something I can't address, etc. etc. And so I click away and move to the next post. Not only do I not respond to something I didn't really read, I certainly don't respond with vitriol, finger wagging, and pontificating as some people did.
Move along. {sigh} I guess this is a general comment on my feelings about some charged DIS threads, rather than merely this one, though, to be fair.

 

[AngiTN]

You think Disney is bad. Try going to a college football game. They charge every one, even lap babies, same price. I've often joked that at UT I'm surprised they don't charge pregnant women for 2

 

[KrazeeK120]

You think Disney is bad. Try going to a sports game. College or Pro. They charge every one, even lap babies, same price. I've often joked that at UT I'm surprised they don't charge pregnant women for 2

That's not true. I'm an avid St. Louis Cardinals fan and they do not require a ticket for children age 3 and under. I checked into it because we're taking our son as a lap baby to a game in September.

 

[ryansstitch]

I can empathize with your desire to have some support in managing your son's eating habits. It would make sense to have a middle age for meal plans and for meals. I do think that many restaurants try to accommodate the diner's needs if you communicate what you're actually looking for. Frankly when I was a 11 year old girl I ate at least 50% more than I do nowr. My parents always made me order off the kids menu because I looked young and it was cheap. and then I was ready for dinner part 2! I wonder if you expressed your concern for the meal size and asked for a modification if that might work? also most appetizers at Disney are not that exciting. Maybe he could get an appetizer and a side? I've done this and no one cared when I placed the order

 

[Magpie]

Yes, it's obvious that many skimmed, which is understandable. What I don't get is not only feeling "TL;DR" but thinking one should still *respond* to a post one ("one" being used in the general sense for all PPs who said "TL;DR" or otherwise indicated they skimmed) didn't actually read. I, too, have started reading a post, and it loses my interest, is too long, is something I can't address, etc. etc. And so I click away and move to the next post. Not only do I not respond to something I didn't really read, I certainly don't respond with vitriol, finger wagging, and pontificating as some people did.
Move along. {sigh} I guess this is a general comment on my feelings about some charged DIS threads, rather than merely this one, though, to be fair.

I did read the whole thing, but responding to every single point would mean writing a novel (which I came close to doing anyway). I don't see anything wrong with responding to just one particular point and leaving others for other people to tackle. And if someone has only read the first three paragraphs... why shouldn't they respond to those? After all, they're basically a separate post of their own (and in many ways, more interesting than 'Disney's definition of "child" should be under age 12 not under age 10!')

I mean, it's not as if the OP wrote "Kidding! Ignore everything I just said!" in paragraph four.

 

[ryansstitch]

What if they don't want to eat the same thing?

had to laugh and comment. my parents didn't let me choose my own meal until I paid for it myself! I thinks it's reasonable if you have two kids that aren't big eaters, to have them choose one meal to share. They might even enjoy reading menus of different restaurants and helping with the planning based on what they would like to share.

 

[AngiTN]

That's not true. I'm an avid St. Louis Cardinals fan and they do not require a ticket for children age 3 and under. I checked into it because we're taking our son as a lap baby to a game in September.

Maybe not baseball but football does. At least all the ones we go to

 

[KrazeeK120]

Maybe not baseball but football does. At least all the ones we go to

That definitely could be true, however, your post said "pro sports," not "pro football." I just didn't want anyone reading to automatically think that they couldn't ever attend a professional sporting event of any kind without paying for their lap baby.

Out of curiosity, I did a little quick digging and found that lap babies are free at all MLB stadiums and at all but 6 NFL stadiums (Colts, Steelers, Packers, Patriots, Eagles, and Redskins).

 

[AngiTN]

That definitely could be true, however, your post said "pro sports," not "pro football." I just didn't want anyone reading to automatically think that they couldn't ever attend a professional sporting event of any kind without paying for their lap baby.

Out of curiosity, I did a little quick digging and found that lap babies are free at all MLB stadiums and at all but 6 NFL stadiums (Colts, Steelers, Packers, Patriots, Eagles, and Redskins).

Then your data was wrong. We paid for DGD at Titans

I changed my post to college. Point is, some do indeed charge for even lap babies. Disney isn't the only greedy business