Quick Service... issue

[ashlansmom]

We just returned from our trip and I have 2 things that I want to make people aware of with the quick service portion of the DDP.

For kids, age 3-9 the brochure just says in general for all people- doesn't break out kids separately... that for lunch and dinner on quick service meal you get a beverage, entree and dessert.

Be fore- warned.... kids DO NOT get a dessert!! I was really enraged over this since the advertising does not state differently. I wanted to shove the brochure right in the faces of the staff. I'm sorry to be so rude, but please understand as well.... my daughter has an egg allergy. We found it nearly impossible to feed her in quick service on the dining plan. There were limited choices to begin with, then on top of that they were more limited by her allergy, the "sides" they are offered are not things my daughter likes.... I was ok with that because I could feed those to my littlest who was eating "free".... but the dessert thing annoyed me. Every where I went I got a difrferent story. One place they said dessert has to be one of their sides, the other said ABSOLUTELY NOT.... grapes, carrots, applesauce. In fine print it said a soft drink or cookie could be a side.... I pointed out that my DD couldn't have the cookie because of her allergy... but that she would like a Mickey Bar.... NOPE! So I had to use a snack credit or pay OOP for my daughter's dessert so that she wasn't stuck watching us= who got it automatically with our meal- eat dessert while she had none. (I was even more enraged when after bringing up said cookie issue with manager, I realized after the fact they had the Divvies cookies at that location and he did not even offer as a sub!)

Please be aware that dessert is not included in kids quick service, only adults. AND PLEASE, if you have a child with an allergy.... be sure to do a lot of homework before hand because otherwise you may find yourself very stuck on options at quick service.

ALSO kudos to the amazing chefs at Boma and Biergarten TS who went WAY out of their way to provide my DD with 2 of the most well balanced meals she received on our trip. They were amazing!

 

[clanmcculloch]

We've been able to get the Divvies or Enjoy Life cookies for my DD10 (back when she was under 10) because of allergies. Sometimes she'd take that and sometimes we'd get fruit (grapes, apple sauce) and we'd just order an allergy safe adult dessert for one of us adults and we'd share and an adult would do without (I frequently don't want dessert) or eat the fruit. Sometimes we'd use a snack credit to get something else. Even kids without allergies are limitted to what they list on the kids menu and have this same type of dilema. The brochure does say that kids have to order off the kids menu where available. The desserts on the kids menu are just as limitted as the entrees. I think that's a huge frustration for lots of people in general.

When dealing with allergies, I ABSOLUTELY agree that planning is important. Knowing what places carry what kinds of foods is a huge help. That being said, WDW really is the best place for us to travel with allergies.

 

[ashlansmom]

Oh I definitely do still agree that Disney is the best place to travel when you have a child with allergies. I was just frustrated by the quick service issue. The table service restaurants bent over backwards for her both for her meals and dessert! I was incredibly impressed esp. with Boma and then the dear chef at Biergarten made her a plate of totally different food that she liked and could eat. I had e mailed the allergy form in and had put in comments some of the foods she especially likes- he showed up with a plate of grilled meats, mashed potatoes, steamed broccolli and green beans...He was awesome. Talk about above and beyond.

My main issue was that I guess, had I known that she would be as limited as she was on the quick service plan, and had I known she wasn't getting a dessert...we may not have even done the dining plan. my fault for not researching more. Though, I did research a lot. The brochure (as you said) DOES say they have to order off the kids menu where available... it DOES NOT say for quick service, that a child DOES NOT get a dessert. It makes it look the same for adults and kids, with the note that they have to order off the kids menu.

I should have been prepared with more snacks in my bag for her. Instead we were paying OOP or using snack credits for sides she could have and would eat, and for dessert for her.

Disney was awesome for allergies other than the limited selection she had at quick service.

 

[havoc315]

A child can get dessert on the QSDP.... Just not necessarily things that your child can enjoy or can even eat. A cookie is a dessert, and I feel your frustration as my son has overcome milk and egg allergies as well. Grapes/fruit can also easily be considered a dessert.

But you have hit on 1 of the reasons I don't consider the QSDP to be a value. As an adult, I have no interest in the QSDP desserts. So if I were in your shoes, I would simply give my child the adult dessert.