Nutrition Info Needed for Son with T1D

[April Prevost]

Hi! We are headed to WDW + Cruise at the end of Sept. My 5 year old was just diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. I am trying to plan ahead a little bit so that I can minimize time spent trying to track down nutritional info for his insulin dosage, and maxamize our fun family time on this MUCH needed vaca . I have called the cruise line a few times to try to see if there is easy access for ANY nutritional info on the food in the restaurants, etc... and they have no idea what I am even asking. They tell me to ask our servers. Is there any links online or someone I can call who manages this sort of info for Disney? I am really shocked that there's not more resources for diabetics at Disney! Am I just not looking or asking the right people? And especially since Disney is partnered up with Lilly Diabetes to help educate the public on T1D?! They have incorporated a character into Mickey Mouse Clubhouse with T1D and everything (Coco) --- and no one can tell me how to find out the carbs in the kids meals in the restaurants? ANY info for better resources would be SO greatly appreciated. We have a had a really hard summer ...(well, a hard couple years - actually it's been terrible since our last Disney vaca almost 3 years ago so maybe this is was a sign we need to spend more time there haha!) and I am so looking forward to this trip. We need it to be great - not super stressful. TIA!!!

 

[bumbershoot]

Unfortunately this just isn't available as far as i know. People just estimate from what I've read.

Even with the binders of ingredients at CS they don't copy the nutrition info panel, just the ingredients.

 

[Hopefully]

Hi! We are headed to WDW + Cruise at the end of Sept. My 5 year old was just diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. I am trying to plan ahead a little bit so that I can minimize time spent trying to track down nutritional info for his insulin dosage, and maxamize our fun family time on this MUCH needed vaca . I have called the cruise line a few times to try to see if there is easy access for ANY nutritional info on the food in the restaurants, etc... and they have no idea what I am even asking. They tell me to ask our servers. Is there any links online or someone I can call who manages this sort of info for Disney? I am really shocked that there's not more resources for diabetics at Disney! Am I just not looking or asking the right people? And especially since Disney is partnered up with Lilly Diabetes to help educate the public on T1D?! They have incorporated a character into Mickey Mouse Clubhouse with T1D and everything (Coco) --- and no one can tell me how to find out the carbs in the kids meals in the restaurants? ANY info for better resources would be SO greatly appreciated. We have a had a really hard summer ...(well, a hard couple years - actually it's been terrible since our last Disney vaca almost 3 years ago so maybe this is was a sign we need to spend more time there haha!) and I am so looking forward to this trip. We need it to be great - not super stressful. TIA!!!

You should post this question on the disABILITIES Forum. There are great resources there.
But I agree with @bumbershoot, many have posted similar questions and the answer seems to be that Disney does not provide this information.

 

[April Prevost]

Sucha bummer. I just didn't think this would have been such a challenge. Maybe this is a dumb question - are the menus for all the restaurants online? I made reservations for us for Paddlefish for first night at WDW and I was pretty sure there were some menus items posted on the restaurants website... I am thinking I will have to do research using whatever info I can get on the menus? I haven't found any menus for cruise food though. This is our first cruise too! (And also new to these forums)

 

[April Prevost]

You should post this question on the disABILITIES Forum. There are great resources there.
But I agree with @bumbershoot, many have posted similar questions and the answer seems to be that Disney does not provide this information.

I will repost there - thank you! I read some posts there but they were mostly tips about how to avoid lows while venturing through the parks all day in the FL heat

 

[maxiesmom]

Menus are subject to change, and chefs may tweak things a bit. Unfortunately the best advice you have already received. Ask at the restaurant.

 

[April Prevost]

Menus are subject to change, and chefs may tweak things a bit. Unfortunately the best advice you have already received. Ask at the restaurant.

He will likely not venture off from an kid's menu items since he is super picky... it drives me crazy when I get this response at restaurants! Most of the "kids" food is definitely not chef made, and they generally don't "tweak" kids menus. There are almost always standard items on all menus. Restaurants could at least provide carbs counts on kids menus that don't change, and those few standard items that are always available. I just don't get it. We are talking about ppls health here - and aren't they supposed to be providing a magical experience. Not much magical about me have to worry and spend time on my phone trying to giggle home many carbs might lurking in my kids food.

 

[maxiesmom]

Have you asked on the cruise board?

I do want to say I sympathize. My dad is now on a low salt diet, and he is going with me to WDW in the fall. We will just ask that things be cooked with as little salt as possible.

I think maybe Disney doesn't release that sort of info in part because it couldn't be exact. And someone would probably sue if things were a little off.

 

[April Prevost]

Have you asked on the cruise board?

Not yet - will copy there too. If Disney doesn't provide this service maybe I could start a thread that lists places and menu items that ppl do know about. Or maybe someone has done that already and I just need to find lol

 

[Pumbaa_]

Head over to the DISabilities board. I know we have many T1 families. They can over assistance and share w you their strategies for managing in the parks and cruise

You can do this Mom, T1 moms are true warriors and advocates for their kids

 

[bumbershoot]

I think maybe Disney doesn't release that sort of info in part because it couldn't be exact. And someone would probably sue if things were a little off.

No doubt.

 

[April Prevost]

No doubt.

I wouldn't sue - I appreciate the guidance. That very sad if that's they case.

 

[April Prevost]

Head over to the DISabilities board. I know we have many T1 families. They can over assistance and share w you their strategies for managing in the parks and cruise

You can do this Mom, T1 moms are true warriors and advocates for their kids

I haven't gotten any response on the disabilities board yet :/ you'd think there'd be more resources. It's kinda disappointing - expect more from Disney. I don't get it!

 

[Dis703]

He will likely not venture off from an kid's menu items since he is super picky... it drives me crazy when I get this response at restaurants! Most of the "kids" food is definitely not chef made, and they generally don't "tweak" kids menus. There are almost always standard items on all menus. Restaurants could at least provide carbs counts on kids menus that don't change, and those few standard items that are always available. I just don't get it. We are talking about ppls health here - and aren't they supposed to be providing a magical experience. Not much magical about me have to worry and spend time on my phone trying to giggle home many carbs might lurking in my kids food.

From experience I can say they definitely do change and tweak kids meals as well. We have to go through ingredient lists for all three of my boys because of extensive allergies. It's not at all uncommon for us to find a meal completely changed or individual parts of it changed or simple things like ingredients added. One trip I can get a plain chicken at a QS stand and the next they pre marinated them all in sauces we can't have. One trip the french fries are just potatoes cooked in oil and the next trip they are coated in various grains. Potatoes were dairy free once and then they weren't. Some places we easily found a safe meal they were gone the next time we were there. Even a change of vendor (which happens a lot) can mean a significant difference. Something as simple as a burger bun can have a pretty large range of calories/carbs. With each restaurant handling their own menus, vendors, etc. maintaining info on all the meals would be extremely hard to do.

But much like they have a few dedicated allergy meals it might be something they could try for carb counts as well. The question would be whether people would stick with just those meals or use their own estimates and eat something else anyhow. Its worth mentioning to them as if they think there is a call for it they might give it a try.

 

[April Prevost]

From experience I can say they definitely do change and tweak kids meals as well. We have to go through ingredient lists for all three of my boys because of extensive allergies. It's not at all uncommon for us to find a meal completely changed or individual parts of it changed or simple things like ingredients added. One trip I can get a plain chicken at a QS stand and the next they pre marinated them all in sauces we can't have. One trip the french fries are just potatoes cooked in oil and the next trip they are coated in various grains. Potatoes were dairy free once and then they weren't. Some places we easily found a safe meal they were gone the next time we were there. Even a change of vendor (which happens a lot) can mean a significant difference. Something as simple as a burger bun can have a pretty large range of calories/carbs. With each restaurant handling their own menus, vendors, etc. maintaining info on all the meals would be extremely hard to do.

But much like they have a few dedicated allergy meals it might be something they could try for carb counts as well. The question would be whether people would stick with just those meals or use their own estimates and eat something else anyhow. Its worth mentioning to them as if they think there is a call for it they might give it a try.

I feel like could definitely have some dedicated meals, like you say. It would be nice if they did, at least. It's just crazy to me - seems like something very simple. Vendors would have to provide it as part of thier contract. They have options for low sugar diet and gluten free diet when I went to disabilities screen for the cruise but NOTHING for T1D... I guess I thought it wouldn't be this hard with Disney since they have the partnership with LillyDiabetes - thought they'd have some more T1D friendly options/resources. :/

 

[April Prevost]

I feel like could definitely have some dedicated meals, like you say. It would be nice if they did, at least. It's just crazy to me - seems like something very simple. Vendors would have to provide it as part of thier contract. They have options for low sugar diet and gluten free diet when I went to disabilities screen for the cruise but NOTHING for T1D... I guess I thought it wouldn't be this hard with Disney since they have the partnership with LillyDiabetes - thought they'd have some more T1D friendly options/resources. :/

* there's definitely a need here that needs to be addressed in any case - like across the board

 

[Betty Rohrer]

He will likely not venture off from an kid's menu items since he is super picky... it drives me crazy when I get this response at restaurants! Most of the "kids" food is definitely not chef made, and they generally don't "tweak" kids menus. There are almost always standard items on all menus. Restaurants could at least provide carbs counts on kids menus that don't change, and those few standard items that are always available. I just don't get it. We are talking about ppls health here - and aren't they supposed to be providing a magical experience. Not much magical about me have to worry and spend time on my phone trying to giggle home many carbs might lurking in my kids food.

kids meals could change brands which could change the numbers. yes it does happen when supply company is out of normal brand and has to sub a different one

 

[wdhinn89]

My son was diagnosed with Type 1 a little over 10 years ago. We have been on multiple cruises and vacations since then and have never been able to get carb counts. This book was a life saver for us while eating out and at home. https://www.amazon.com/CalorieKing-Calorie-Carbohydrate-Counter-2017/dp/1930448678

Here is a menu link http://allears.net/dining/menu

Test often and don't let the eating stress you out and take away from your vacation. The heat and exercise will have an affect on BG's too so do not feel you are counting carbs wrong because of highs or lows. Just test often and have a great family vacation.

 

[MaryLovesPoohBear]

kids meals could change brands which could change the numbers. yes it does happen when supply company is out of normal brand and has to sub a different one

It happens with the breaded chicken fingers on the allergy friendly menu. It has happened at least 3 times, since I started going.

You never know which one they might have.

And I agree with @maxiesmom , people would sue in a second.

 

[maxiesmom]

* there's definitely a need here that needs to be addressed in any case - like across the board

There is no way to do it and make it 100% correct. A list could be a guide at best, with the understanding that meals may not be the same once you are at that restaurant.