Special diets and dining at the World

[torian]

My mom will be joining us on a trip in December and she is both a type 1 diabetic and has just had surgery that excludes certain types of food in her system (citrus, salt, for starters).

Would buffets be the best way to go to get her food she could eat? or are TS establishments able to provide food geared to her diet easily?

tori

 

[FlightlessDuck]

You can certainly try buffets, but also when you make your dining reservations, make sure to note what your mother's dining restrictions are. Often times the chef's will make something special (possibly even come out and talk to your mother).

I don't know this from experience, but other people have said this on the boards.

 

[tami82]

does your mom do shots or on an insulin pump? . As far as the buffets, there are plenty of healthy choices, plenty of proteins, veges, good carbs. I would say the buffets would be great for her. Also there are plenty of places to get a great chicken salad for counter service or even roast chicken, etc....
There are things on the menu which can be low carb but i would suggest doing mostly buffets so she can pick & choose whatever she likes.
For myself last year it was great because i tried to load up mostly on good stuff so i didnt gain weight too quickly, and the buffet allowed me to have salmon, chicken & whatever other protein was available. i loaded up on veges, etc.....
I dont foresee any problem in Disney the choices are so many and really cater to people watching their diets. My 5 year old daughter has type 1 and i didnt really try to change her diet (she is 5 and try to make life as normal as possible for her - she is on a pump so can graze all day. She gets a bolus for everything she eats and the pump has been a lifesaver for the past 3 years.

 

[TDC Nala]

On the DISabilities board there is contact information for Disney Special Diets.

 

[U2_rocks!]

TS and buffets are both OK. At the buffet the chef may actually come out and point out what is "safe", and even make a special meal if there isn't enough safe stuff - that's what they did at Boma for my dad. He can'r eat any kind of seasoning at all (except for salt), so most meats and mixed up dishes were out for him, but they made special stuff. They could do the same for your mom. Dad just asked them to grill a piece of fish or steak with olive oil and a little salt, and they gave him a slice of lime on the side for the fish. You mom could ask for the same, but substitute garlic or herbs for the salt - whatever she's accustomed to eating at home.

 

[Forever Fairy]

I have an allergy to Mushrooms, so I always ask/inform the server. At some restaurants, like the Flying Fish or Victoria & Albert's, the chef has even come to my table to discuss meal options. For example, just because a dish doesn't have mushrooms in it doesn't mean they didn't use a stock made from mushrooms.

If attending a TS dinner, you might also call the restaurant a day ahead of when you are going to discuss possible menu options. That way they can be prepared for your arrival and have all necessary ingredients to make that special meal.

 

[CrabbyPatty]

When we went last year, I sent some special request forms into WDW Special Diets - our TS information and the places I thought we might be eating CS meals. I'm gluten-free (GF).

WDW provided lists of ingredients and all the places where GF items were available as far as snacks and CS meals. For the TS meals, before each meal, the chef came out and told me which items I could eat - either on a buffet or the menu - and in a few cases, made me a special item. At Tusker House, I got GF mickey waffles, and at WCC, the chef made my BBQ Egg's Benedict with a GF bun, etc.

It was a fantastic experience and if you start by contacting the folks at Special Diets, you'll get a lot of information and a lot of help. Good luck!

 

[Cheshire Figment]

I would suggest going to the disABILITIES Forum and look at Post #3 of the disABILITIES FAQs. There is a large section in that post dealing with special dietary needs, as well as many related links. You can get directly to the disABILITIES FAQs by following the link in my signature.

This is a very common topic of discussion in the disABILITIES Forum.