Low Sodium Meals at the DIS

[TandT]

Has anyone on here ever requested a low sodium meal from any of the restaurants in WDW???

I have heart failure and I am on a restricted low sodium diet BUT was wondering if the food is terrible if you request it that way. Last year I DID NOT request it, but I made very smart choices. I ended up being fine....no heart failure episodes. But I am contemplating about doing it for our ADR'S this December. ANY THOUGHTS???

 

[Cheshire Figment]

I would suggest you go over to the disABILITIES Forum and look at Post #3 of the disABILITIES FAQs. One of the items discussed, with lots of useful links, is special dietary requirements. You can get there directly by following the link in my signature.

 

[gshumaker]

When making any ADRS just tell them the requests and they will accomodate!!

 

[Timon-n-Pumbaa Fan]

My MIL has CHF, COPD, Diabetes and is at the begining stages of renal failure. When I called for our ADR's, I had them make a note about this and my partner's severe seafood allergies. I was given phone numbers for each of the restaurants for me to call roughly a week in advance to arrange the special menus for my MIL. You can see what we set up below.

12/11 Lunch at the Rose & Crown at 1:00pm
(407) 560-6395 I can't even begin to understand how they are going to make potato leek soup low sodium and tasty, but I am really hoping that they can work some magic.

12/12 Breakfast at Tusker House at 10:15am
(407) 938-3243. It's an expensive character breakfast buffet, just don't salt the egg whites and bring out the whole wheat toast.

12/13 Lunch at the Biergarten at 1:45pm for CP
(407) 560-6674 - Honestly how much are they going to be able to do for her at a German buffet?

12/14 Breakfast at Kona Cafe at 10:00am
It's breakfast....see Tusker House...lol (407) 824-1152

Dinner at Liberty Tree Tavern @ 5:20pm for MVMCP
(407) 824-6461 This should be interesting to try to work out. Thanksgiving food is never low sodium.

12/15 Afternoon Tea at GF at 3:40pm
(407) 824-2351 *2 I might not even call on this one. Finger sandwiches and pastries. This is a guilty pleasure experience. I might just let her have this one, but I will probably call just in case.

12/16 Lunch Mama Melrose at 12:00pm
It's pasta and probably premade sauces. I can't imagine what they are going to be able to do, but I am praying for pixie dust. (407) 560-3650

12/17 Lunch at Liberty Tree Tavern at 12:00pm
(407) 824-6461 The lunch menu here has more potential for good options than some of our others, so I am hopeful.

12/18 Dinner at Le Cellier at 6:00pm
(407) 560-5282 This is the last big meal and hopefully our best of our stay. I am expecting a Christmas miracle.

More contact data for Disney Dining special dietary needs.....
General for WDW: Brenda.Bennett@disney.com
Animal Kingdom 407-938-3288 wdwakspecialdiets@email.disney.com
Hollywood Studios 407-560-3551 wdwstspecialdiets@email.disney.com
Epcot 407-560-6395 wdwecspecialdiets@email.disney.com
Magic Kingdom 407-824-5967 wdwmkspecialdiets@email.disney.com

 

[MissMinnie]

TnT, I have CHF also and I know what a challenge finding low sodium meals can be. That said, WDW will accomodate you if you notify them in advance and remind the host at the check in desk at TS meals. The chefs are very creative with the dishes using different herbs and things to make the food taste good. My family tends to stay away from CS meals for this reason, however, I have been told that CS chefs can accomodate you if you ask. My strategy was to go to whatever restaurant we wanted and just be smart about it. I ate a few steaks without salt or sauce, chicken dishes that were not in sauces, salads with vinegar and oil, steamed veggies, fruit, etc. You seem to have handled it ok the last time. It is very challenging eating out low sodium because not many people seem to understand how much hidden salt there is in food. The info you will find about food challenges at WDW seems to only address allergies. There is hardly any info about low sodium at WDW, so don't go crazy looking for it.

Not to be gross, but I figure with the sweating I do at WDW, there is no way I'll be retaining any extra water!!

 

[HelenParr]

I agree with the other posters that calling ahead makes good sense. But I can attest from personal experience with the low sodium issue that, even if you do not call ahead, the signature dining restaurants will accomodate you. You will need to talk to your waitstaff who will almost certainly have kitchen staff come to speak with you. It is important to clarify your tolerance level in unequivocal terms -- I explained it allergy level, or salt free. As another poster indicated, not everyone sees "low sodium" in the same terms -- but with allergy level, or "salt free," the kitchen staff will go out of its way to make it salt free.

The Flying Fish was the best -- the chefs cooked up an entirely new dish for me, and showed me each cooking step to add assurance that it was salt free, going to the steps of using a part of the grill no other food had touched. (We were at the bar are near at the kitchen so that was extra fun and easy to interact with them as they created the meal.) They were fabulous about it and gave my great attention. Similar experience at California Grill and Yachtsman Steakhouse. If you don't call ahead you are somewhat at their creative mercy based on their available ingredients and staff...which for me worked out well. Have a great trip!

 

[crisi]

SOMETIMES you get accomodated.

Sometimes Disney bends over backwards - the chef comes out, there is a lot of discussion, something is made particularly for you.

Sometimes you get an odd blank look from the waiter, the dietary note doesn't show up on the reservation, the phone number Dining gave you gets answered with "we'll deal with that when you get here" and it becomes blindingly obvious that you need to take care of yourself and order sensibly.

(My sister is low sodium (hepatitis), I'm gluten intolerent. I've had far more of the less than completely helpful waitstaff than the bend over backwards waitstaff - even at signature places - and Flying Fish was my worst - a complete blank stare and a waiter who didn't bother to check the ingredient list. I LOVE Flying Fish and will go back again, but you do need to be your own advocate)

 

[Timon-n-Pumbaa Fan]

That is exactly why I am taking the reins on this one. My MIL would be 100% bad and end up in the hospital afterwards if I wasn't willing to drive myself crazy in order to make sure that everything runs smoothly. The last thing that would ever want to have happen is for her to get sick on my watch. OMG, the worst would be if she were to die because of bad choices that she made at WDW and to know that I could have done something more and didn't.

 

[TandT]

My MIL has CHF, COPD, Diabetes and is at the begining stages of renal failure. When I called for our ADR's, I had them make a note about this and my partner's severe seafood allergies. I was given phone numbers for each of the restaurants for me to call roughly a week in advance to arrange the special menus for my MIL. You can see what we set up below.

12/11 Lunch at the Rose & Crown at 1:00pm
(407) 560-6395 I can't even begin to understand how they are going to make potato leek soup low sodium and tasty, but I am really hoping that they can work some magic.

12/12 Breakfast at Tusker House at 10:15am
(407) 938-3243. It's an expensive character breakfast buffet, just don't salt the egg whites and bring out the whole wheat toast.

12/13 Lunch at the Biergarten at 1:45pm for CP
(407) 560-6674 - Honestly how much are they going to be able to do for her at a German buffet?

12/14 Breakfast at Kona Cafe at 10:00am
It's breakfast....see Tusker House...lol (407) 824-1152

Dinner at Liberty Tree Tavern @ 5:20pm for MVMCP
(407) 824-6461 This should be interesting to try to work out. Thanksgiving food is never low sodium.

12/15 Afternoon Tea at GF at 3:40pm
(407) 824-2351 *2 I might not even call on this one. Finger sandwiches and pastries. This is a guilty pleasure experience. I might just let her have this one, but I will probably call just in case.

12/16 Lunch Mama Melrose at 12:00pm
It's pasta and probably premade sauces. I can't imagine what they are going to be able to do, but I am praying for pixie dust. (407) 560-3650

12/17 Lunch at Liberty Tree Tavern at 12:00pm
(407) 824-6461 The lunch menu here has more potential for good options than some of our others, so I am hopeful.

12/18 Dinner at Le Cellier at 6:00pm
(407) 560-5282 This is the last big meal and hopefully our best of our stay. I am expecting a Christmas miracle.

More contact data for Disney Dining special dietary needs.....
General for WDW: Brenda.Bennett@disney.com
Animal Kingdom 407-938-3288 wdwakspecialdiets@email.disney.com
Hollywood Studios 407-560-3551 wdwstspecialdiets@email.disney.com
Epcot 407-560-6395 wdwecspecialdiets@email.disney.com
Magic Kingdom 407-824-5967 wdwmkspecialdiets@email.disney.com

Thank you sooo much for your opinions and taking the time to include your dining plans with the phone numbers!!!
Your observations cracked me up

 

[TandT]

SOMETIMES you get accomodated.

Sometimes Disney bends over backwards - the chef comes out, there is a lot of discussion, something is made particularly for you.

Sometimes you get an odd blank look from the waiter, the dietary note doesn't show up on the reservation, the phone number Dining gave you gets answered with "we'll deal with that when you get here" and it becomes blindingly obvious that you need to take care of yourself and order sensibly.

(My sister is low sodium (hepatitis), I'm gluten intolerent. I've had far more of the less than completely helpful waitstaff than the bend over backwards waitstaff - even at signature places - and Flying Fish was my worst - a complete blank stare and a waiter who didn't bother to check the ingredient list. I LOVE Flying Fish and will go back again, but you do need to be your own advocate)

I am sooo used to those blank stares whenever I request ANYTHING low sodium at a restaurant. My BIG thing is I ALWAYS request NO SALT on my french fries. They always give this look .........Then they tell me it's going to take longer....NO problem.... It's not like I haven't heard that line before

Anyway......thanks for your input!!

 

[TandT]

That is exactly why I am taking the reins on this one. My MIL would be 100% bad and end up in the hospital afterwards if I wasn't willing to drive myself crazy in order to make sure that everything runs smoothly. The last thing that would ever want to have happen is for her to get sick on my watch. OMG, the worst would be if she were to die because of bad choices that she made at WDW and to know that I could have done something more and didn't.

CHF is a VERY sensitive illness. Any salty indulgence could send you right back in the hospital with 10-15 lbs of water retention. I used to make those mistakes with a certain type of food....PIZZA. My fave!! We cook most of our food at home.....fresh....no salt added. But anytime I would indulge I just knew a trip to the ER was inevitable. 10 lbs of water weight on my tummy and I'm looking 7 months pregnant...........UGH.

It's great of you to be so aware of your MIL'S condition and help her make smart choices. I am thankful for my husband in that dept.
He keeps me in line. AND YES that would be terrible if something happened to the "MIL" from eating all those goodies at WDW and YOU were supposed to be taking care of her........I think that would look supsicious...... But seriously, I know what you mean.....it's a hard diet to stick to and people DO cheat

 

[TandT]

TnT, I have CHF also and I know what a challenge finding low sodium meals can be. That said, WDW will accomodate you if you notify them in advance and remind the host at the check in desk at TS meals. The chefs are very creative with the dishes using different herbs and things to make the food taste good. My family tends to stay away from CS meals for this reason, however, I have been told that CS chefs can accomodate you if you ask. My strategy was to go to whatever restaurant we wanted and just be smart about it. I ate a few steaks without salt or sauce, chicken dishes that were not in sauces, salads with vinegar and oil, steamed veggies, fruit, etc. You seem to have handled it ok the last time. It is very challenging eating out low sodium because not many people seem to understand how much hidden salt there is in food. The info you will find about food challenges at WDW seems to only address allergies. There is hardly any info about low sodium at WDW, so don't go crazy looking for it.

Not to be gross, but I figure with the sweating I do at WDW, there is no way I'll be retaining any extra water!!

Those are some great choices you made!! I am soooo familiar with those foods!! I always end up requesting my steaks and even my burgers with no salt. I actually cannot taste the difference but on the other hand, I am VERY used to eating low sodium foods so I guess I am used to the "BLAND" taste

If I eat something that is very salty, I have to stop eating it..YUCK. It's tastes like there is a GALLON of salt in my mouth

AND YES there is soooo much hidden salt in food!!! OMG.....I crack up when I hear someone say that a Lean Cuisine or frozen meals that are similar are healthy I've looked on the labels of some of those foods.....800mg-1000mg of sodium....YIKES And don't get me started on Deli meats
Thanks for your input!!!!!!

 

[TandT]

Thank you everyone for all of your thoughtful and helpful replies!!!!