Sugar free dining?

[sadiwest]

Has anyone been to WDW recently enough to have experience in this arena:

DH and I are going to WDW in May, and neither one of us is able to eat sugar (in quantity/added sugars). Items with 'natural' sugars are fine...but I'm wondering if WDW even has these types of items on their menus. I've looked over alot of menus on this site & NONE of them have permanent 'no sugar added' desserts.

We've gone with the dining plan & I almost feel like it's a waste to not eat desserts LOL when we've got it coming to us. I've spoken on the phone to WDW DINE and they all tell me to mention it when we're THERE...but will that be too late?...do they need to know in advance?....I feel like this is something that maybe they don't get asked too often because they all had to 'double check' on the sugar-specific requests.
Anyone run into this before?
Thanks, in advance, to anyone with input.
Sandi

 

[cornflkgrl]

If you are diabetic or have a food allergy I would call CM and insist they put a note or something on my reservations that says so and if not, call the restaurant itself and talk to someone the morning of your reservation and the day before. If you simply do not want to eat sugar for dietary reasons then you will have a harder time getting what you want.
When I am dieting (like always) and there are certain foods that I try to stay away from I just don't eat those foods or if all they have is stuff I should not have, I eat smaller portions.
Personally, I am on WW and when I go to Disney I am just going to order the best I can while on vacation (grilled stuff, share entrees with hubby, etc.) and relax because I'll be getting a lot of exercise on vacation anyway.

 

[Rhonda]

Most of the sit-down restaurants have sugar-free cheesecake, even if it's not listed on the menu. Even the buffets, they just don't have it sitting out on the buffet. You have to ask for it. Be sure to ask when you first order, because sometimes they have it frozen and they need to thaw it out for you back in the kitchen!

 

[Hugpug]

I am Diabetic also and when I made all my ADR'S it was noted and you can call each place 72 hours (now) before and talk to the chef about your needs.I had no problems at all. I even had the Tonga toast at Kona's They did not coat it with the sugar and served it with warm sugar free syurp on the side. At 50's PT I had Pot roast and a Sugar Free cheese cake YUMEEEEEEE! Most places will work with you as lone as you let them know in advance. I even got sugar free Ice Cream at DTD. Just make sure you are aware of what foods have high sugar contents naturaly (high carbs are the worst) and you will be fine. If your going in the summer drink plenty of water.

 

[Rai's Mommy]

We went with my mother last May who was newly diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes. While I mentioned this when making our reservations, I was told to tell the server when we arrive. All restaurants were happy to have the chef come out and chat with my mother for a minute and come up with a meal plan that suited her needs. I was honestly amazed at how helpful they were, having been a bit concerned about this approach since Disney restaurants are so busy.
Most of the time her food looked more tempting than the rest of ours

 

[mickeyluv'r]

I'm not diabetic, but I have tried the low carb diet thing at WDW, and I've been there many times with a vegetarian diner. I agree that if you tell places ahead of time, this will help the restaurants prepare ahead of time. The places we told ahead of time really went out of their way to have several delicious vegetarian meal options!

One of my favorite places to dine is Boma. The head chef there is amazing!!!! If you ask, a chef will walk down the line with you and point out which foods you should avoid if you have dietary concerns. He really took care of us! Where else can you find that kind of service! This restaurant also has fresh fruit, so if that's an option, you'll have quite a few choices (another place that has fresh fruit is the Marketplace at CSR.)

One of my all-time favorite Disney Desserts is the sugar-free chocolate mousse at the Kringra la Bakery (Norway; Epcot)!

They also used to have a sugar free brownie at a couple of places (Ray's in MK). It comes in a package, and doesn't look that impressive, but it was really quite good.

The last time we were at WDW, we saw more places that had sugar free options. I don't recall any other specifics, but I know I saw more places that had no-sugar items. I do know that many places now have sugar free lemonade as a drink option (no sugar; no caffeine!) So that is a big plus, IMHO. I just wish they served diet ginger ale!

 

[kparc]

My sister is diabetic and had to carry her shots with her. We had them note that she was a diabetic when we made our ADR's not so that she would have some sugar free choices (although our server at 50's PrimeTime did ask her about dessert as soon as we sat down and there were sugar free brownies offered the night we went to Chef Mickey's) but because she has to eat with in a certain amount of time after recieving her shot. We thought they needed to know so we would be seated and served in a timely fashion.

 

[larry's girl]

I have diabetes, so I have to be careful about not eating added sugar during my meals. About a week before we left on each of our last several trips, I called Brenda Bennett at 407-824-5967 (this was a tip I got from these boards). I told her what my dietary needs were, and she sent a notice to all the restaurants where we had ADR's. I have had chefs call me at home or e-mail me before we left to ask if I had any special requests. The rest of the time, when the server would come to the table, I would mention that I was diabetic and they would be aware of who I was and what I needed. I never had any problems with having anything modified that I asked for - Disney takes great care of those of us who have dietary restrictions!

So don't hesitate to eat anywhere on Disney property - they will take great care of you!!

 

[sadiwest]

I have diabetes, so I have to be careful about not eating added sugar during my meals. About a week before we left on each of our last several trips, I called Brenda Bennett at 407-824-5967 (this was a tip I got from these boards). I told her what my dietary needs were, and she sent a notice to all the restaurants where we had ADR's. I have had chefs call me at home or e-mail me before we left to ask if I had any special requests. The rest of the time, when the server would come to the table, I would mention that I was diabetic and they would be aware of who I was and what I needed. I never had any problems with having anything modified that I asked for - Disney takes great care of those of us who have dietary restrictions!

So don't hesitate to eat anywhere on Disney property - they will take great care of you!!

If I may ask....who is Brenda Bennett?

 

[larry's girl]

Brenda Bennett is the head of food services for WDW. She works in a central area that services all the restaurants on Disney property. I prefer to call her when I am about a week away from a trip because she is much more knowledgeable about the options available for those with allergies or other dietary restrictions than many of the CM's that answer when you call 407-WDW-DINE. Once I contact her, she contacts each of the chefs at all of the table service restaurants I plan to have meals in on my trip, and my dietary restrictions are noted on each ADR before I get there. That way, the chef has plenty of time to prepare a no sugar added dessert (or any other menu item that I might need to have modified, such as a sauce for an entree prepared with no added sugar). If I want to have something specific, I tell Brenda and she contacts the appropriate person to see if they can make what I asked for. Then I usually hear from them either by phone or e-mail to finalize the details.

For instance, on our last trip we were planning to eat at Artist Point at Wilderness Lodge one evening. I asked Brenda if I could have a no sugar added berry cobbler prepared for dessert. About two days later, I received an e-mail from the chef at Artist Point informing me that it was no problem to prepare this dessert for me and to let my server know about my request when I arrived so that he could put it in the oven at the appropriate time. It was served with no sugar added ice cream and it was AWESOME!! When I returned home, I e-mailed him to thank him for such a delicious dish and he graciously responded that it was no problem and to contact him in the future when we eat at Artist Point again.

I hope you enjoy your meals at WDW as much as I enjoy mine - have a great trip!

Susan

 

[jonimce]

My SIL has type 1 diabetes and we ate lunch and dinner at TS restrants every day for 11 days. Every one had some kind of dessert for him. Well, OK so he did cheat a couple of times but they still had sugar free choices for him.

 

[slk537]

The sugar free chocolate mousse at Kringla is really, really good. Also, if you are looking for an ice cream type treat in the parks, just ask at the places that sell the Mickey bars. They have (or can get) sf ice cream cups and sf fruit frozen bars.

There are lots of us diabetics out there and WDW does a fantastic job of taking care of us.

 

[disneychrista]

Going to WDW & DL both as a vegetarian I have learned one thing, ASK!! I am sure the same thing could apply to diabetics and those with other limitations. Just ask your server what they have. I am sure most/all will have something that they can offer, but be warned I suspect it will be the same one or two things at all the places.

 

[Biff46]

IDK as a diabetic I find Disney dining a challenge I try to eat sugar and starch free it is almost impossible to archive this without meeting with the chef so far I have had mixed results the best was at the Hawiian Luau the chef was awsome and knew what foods should be offered. It seems most places will work with you but your going to have to know what you can and can not eat. I was surprised at a counter service the tomato basil soup had lots of sugars including glucose and varrious syrups, most sauces and salad dressing are of limits.
Considering the number of diabetics out there and every restroom at Disney Properties having needle bins that they do not consider Diabetics as needing a special menu.