WDW is charging more for special diets!

[livndisney]

I just got an email from Special diets confirming that "due to more people having allergies" WDW is charging more. However if you are on the dining plan they will not charge more. So for locals and people not on the plan you can expect to pay more.

The more I think about this the madder I get. So basically for my child to safely eat ice cream in the MK I have to pay MORE for already overpriced ice cream?

 

[bookwormde]

I think WDW is about to get themselves in a real mess. What if it is related to a disability covered under ADA. There have not been a "test case" for this because no one has tried to my knowledge. I guess Disney want to set precedent. Saying you cannot accommodate a disability need (due to it's unique nature and practical capability to do it) is quite different from saying you are going to charge extra for it.

bookwormde

 

[disneyandme]

It will be interesting to see what "extra" they are going to charge. Will it be to prepare food already on the menu separately, preparing food not on the menu, making food when a buffet is available? We have always paid regular price for buffets (character) even when my food allergic daughter was not eating and we paid a fair (regular menu) price for food made specially for her. I know a lot of people who travel exclusivley to Disney for their vacations before their child's food allergies can be accomodated. I am curious as to the response if these people are charged more and how that system is set up.

 

[a1tinkfans]

Hmmmmmmmmmmmm

Perhaps they are now charging extra for "making a separate meal" not on the menu to specifically meet a persons needs?? Well, I think that it is fair. It is what I would consider "extra" despite that in past, they just did it.

I think many people (NOT saying anyone posting here), often believe that they are somehow entitled to "extra's" without cost. Disney is a business after all, so perhaps now, they realize how much extra prep,extra cost etc it is and they are charging for that need. One still has the option of choosing to eat somewhere else after all.
I mean realistically, if someone chooses to go to an eatery (disney or elsewhere) and they could not find anything for their child/adult to eat because of restrictions, I would think that they had the responsibility to find out and be sure there was something to safely eat. If there is nothing on the menu to eat there, WHY go there in the first place?? It does not meet ones needs, right? Unfortunately my own family has experienced that at disney.
Please do not misinterpret what I am trying to say here. I have first hand knowledge of food allergies, and I also have first hand knowledge that it was MY responsibility to be sure that my family member Could safely eat. If I Choose to go somewhere and Choose to ask them to make something separate, not normally offered (and they are kind enough to do it) I would then Expect that I'd somehow be charged for that service.
I am doubting that disney is charging for , lets say, "No salt added" type restrictions, but I guess we'll just have to see.
In the meantime.....I think Disney has set it up in their marketing (precedence) ...so that people somehow feel they are entitled/expected to "extra's...whether it be towel animals, perfect rooms, perfect experiences...so I understand where many people will be even More annoyed....All that "Magical" experience is rather shoved down ones throat, seriously! Though I personally love every minute of it
I guess as a business owner, I also understand cost effectiveness, so it will be interesting to see if ANY of these alleged extra charges come to fruition.

As an aside, I do not find their prices any more expensive then where I live, so for us, its all relative.

 

[syko]

In Disneyland last year we had to pay extra to get allergy food.
In fact pasta was twice the price!!!

 

[disneyandme]

"One still has the option of choosing to eat somewhere else after all.
I mean realistically, if someone chooses to go to an eatery (disney or elsewhere) and they could not find anything for their child/adult to eat because of restrictions, I would think that they had the responsibility to find out and be sure there was something to safely eat. If there is nothing on the menu to eat there, WHY go there in the first place?? It does not meet ones needs, right? Unfortunately my own family has experienced that at disney. " by a1tinkfans


Unfortunately, under that scenerio my family could never eat out. My daughter has so many food allergies that unless they can made some thing specific, she would have nothing. For example, she can eat scrambeld eggs, which all restuarants have eggs on hand, but many not be a meal choice on a menu. I expect to pay a reasonable price for her meal- not comparing a $35 steak meal with sides to 2 eggs scrambled for a jacked up price.

 

[livndisney]

Hmmmmmmmmmmmm

Perhaps they are now charging extra for "making a separate meal" not on the menu to specifically meet a persons needs?? Well, I think that it is fair. It is what I would consider "extra" despite that in past, they just did it.

I think many people (NOT saying anyone posting here), often believe that they are somehow entitled to "extra's" without cost. Disney is a business after all, so perhaps now, they realize how much extra prep,extra cost etc it is and they are charging for that need. One still has the option of choosing to eat somewhere else after all.
I mean realistically, if someone chooses to go to an eatery (disney or elsewhere) and they could not find anything for their child/adult to eat because of restrictions, I would think that they had the responsibility to find out and be sure there was something to safely eat. If there is nothing on the menu to eat there, WHY go there in the first place?? It does not meet ones needs, right? Unfortunately my own family has experienced that at disney.
Please do not misinterpret what I am trying to say here. I have first hand knowledge of food allergies, and I also have first hand knowledge that it was MY responsibility to be sure that my family member Could safely eat. If I Choose to go somewhere and Choose to ask them to make something separate, not normally offered (and they are kind enough to do it) I would then Expect that I'd somehow be charged for that service.
I am doubting that disney is charging for , lets say, "No salt added" type restrictions, but I guess we'll just have to see.
In the meantime.....I think Disney has set it up in their marketing (precedence) ...so that people somehow feel they are entitled/expected to "extra's...whether it be towel animals, perfect rooms, perfect experiences...so I understand where many people will be even More annoyed....All that "Magical" experience is rather shoved down ones throat, seriously! Though I personally love every minute of it
I guess as a business owner, I also understand cost effectiveness, so it will be interesting to see if ANY of these alleged extra charges come to fruition.

As an aside, I do not find their prices any more expensive then where I live, so for us, its all relative.

Yes, the extra costs have come to fruition. I posted the other day about being charged extra for pizza. Which is what prompted me to ask the question to special diets in the first place.

The "extra steps" and "extra cost" is also involved in making special meals for those on the DDP. But they will not be charged more.
In our family WDW was just about the only place we could eat out "safely". As far as being "entitled to extras", I don't consider being able to safely order and eat food in a public place "extra".


I started this thread to give the information I have been given as it applies to alot of people on this thread. It was not my intent to start a debate.

 

[disneyandme]

I think they will have a backlash from this, especially since they are not charging dining plan people extra as well. What about people who want to leave off sauces, sides etc, but don't specifically say it's an allergy- will they be charged extra as well. I hope enough people contact Disney about this that they are at least reasonable in their application of the true costs of doing extra special meals.

 

[Schmeck]

I think WDW is about to get themselves in a real mess. What if it is related to a disability covered under ADA. There have not been a "test case" for this because no one has tried to my knowledge. I guess Disney want to set precedent. Saying you cannot accommodate a disability need (due to it's unique nature and practical capability to do it) is quite different from saying you are going to charge extra for it.

bookwormde

I'm sure they ran it past the Disney lawyers first. ADA requires only equal access, and since it was written way before the food allergy explosion, it most likely does not have clear-cut language dealing with all types of food allergies. If they are offering allergen free foods that cost more to purchase and maintain as allergen free, then they have the right to cover those costs.

If certain foods cost more to purchase and prepare, then of course those foods are going to cost more in the restaurant. If Disney hasn't been charging extra for specially prepared meals up to now, consider it a lucky situation.

 

[disneyandme]

It will be hard to justify high costs for prearing similar foods to what they already prepare. Also, with so many places to eat, they are going to have to consistant in what they charge. I have a feeling that this will be where they will run into trouble. They can't charge customer A for plain chicken grilled separately $12 and customer B for plain chicken grilled separately $20. The lawyers would have a field day.

 

[BillSears]

I suspect that if the lawyers get involved they may just change their policy to No Special Requests. I'm not sure if the ADA requires that restaurants prepare special dishes to accomodate any/all food allergies. Maybe one of you know if this is required.

 

[Schmeck]

It will be hard to justify high costs for prearing similar foods to what they already prepare. Also, with so many places to eat, they are going to have to consistant in what they charge. I have a feeling that this will be where they will run into trouble. They can't charge customer A for plain chicken grilled separately $12 and customer B for plain chicken grilled separately $20. The lawyers would have a field day.

Depends on what you mean by similar - if something prepackaged has to be processed in a nut free environment, then when purchased by Disney, Disney most likely has to pay more for it than the run-of-the mill stuff. If Disney is preparing food ahead of time, pretty much just reheating it for serving, then cooking something from scratch changes the fundamental structure of the business, putting a burden on the business, and the ADA allows for lack of accommodation in that situation.

We've always been very pleased with Disney's accommodation of our family's needs. They've gone above and beyond anything we've felt that they need to do. We've been willing to pay extra to get something that is not offered on the menu, but have never been charged extra for it. That is a service Disney was willing to offer, and now feels the need to charge for.

Think of it this way - do you go into any other place of business and ask/demand for something they don't have on the menu/on the shelf, and expect them to give it to you at less-than-profit cost?

 

[dclfun]

From what I have always understood, no restaurant is required to accomodate food allergies. It has been Disney's response to provide special preparation and special foods as it does seem that there is a proliferation of food allergies that impacts guests. I can see covering costs for special products and ingredients. For instance, my son can only have rice milk. At the least costly store locally, a small box of rice milk costs $2.50-a gallon equivalent would be $30.00. It also has a short shelf life. The prepackaged foods from Annie's cost far more than the equivalent regular food given to non-allergic guests and have to be heated separately from the food already prepared. I don't mind paying for a product that I know costs more or needs time and a chef's attention to specially prepare. I'm thinking of another example...ice cream- just being able to get a rice dream product is a real treat for us and we're happy to pay the additional costs for it. I feel quite fortunate that so many products are even provided! Anywhere else I would pay much more for a pint of rice dream than a pint of ice cream- if we could even find it. In this case I'm counting my blessings that so many food allergies ARE accommodated and special products available vs. griping that I might have to pay appropriately for what those products and preparation cost Disney to provide.---Kathy

 

[Hannathy]

I'm sure they ran it past the Disney lawyers first. ADA requires only equal access, and since it was written way before the food allergy explosion, it most likely does not have clear-cut language dealing with all types of food allergies. If they are offering allergen free foods that cost more to purchase and maintain as allergen free, then they have the right to cover those costs.

If certain foods cost more to purchase and prepare, then of course those foods are going to cost more in the restaurant. If Disney hasn't been charging extra for specially prepared meals up to now, consider it a lucky situation.

I agree with this, the special food costs shouldn't have to be absorbed by everyone else, they should charge what it costs. I hear on here that everyone wants the chef to come out every time and talk to them well that costs money-who should pay for it?

 

[livndisney]

I agree with this, the special food costs shouldn't have to be absorbed by everyone else, they should charge what it costs. I hear on here that everyone wants the chef to come out every time and talk to them well that costs money-who should pay for it?

But they are not charging "what it costs". They are only charging the people NOT on the DDP.

As far as a "wanting a Chef to come out". That is Disney's policy, not a request a guest makes.

 

[disneyandme]

I have no problem paying extra, I just want it to be consistant. If they want to include a labor cost as well, that's fine too. Also, how do you justify the dining plan including the cost, but out of pocket has to pay extra?

 

[Hannathy]

I have no problem paying extra, I just want it to be consistant. If they want to include a labor cost as well, that's fine too. Also, how do you justify the dining plan including the cost, but out of pocket has to pay extra?

Because Disney IS the dining plan! They would be charging themselves extra. They have decided to just round it in the dining plan costs and absorb it rather than trying to charge the dining plan folks extra when they designate a special needs diet. The "paperwork" manpower to handle that book keeping would cost them more than the extra food costs.

 

[Jeanieblue114]

I can see Disney charging extra for special requests. I believe that the food is created in mass quantities now due to the popularity of the dining plan and increased volume at restaurants. So, to adjust the smallest thing requires them to make something from scratch.
When I go to a local restaurant here they charge me for just getting olive oil and garlic on pasta instead of sauce...don't know why, but they do. It's their restaurant.

I also see a major increase (and have commented on this on a thread about a vegetarian dining review here and got slammed for it) in prices due to the time the chef takes to discuss special needs.

They don't charge extra for doing it when you have the dining plan because they want everyone to buy the dining plan. They want you to give them all the money up front. They know that a lot of people will leave with paid but unused credits. They also know that most people wouldn't invest as much money in dining if they paid OOP than if they pre-pay and enjoy the convenience (most people aren't ordering desserts multiple times a day, etc.).
So, it is in their best interest to offer you this 'incentive' as a 'convenience' for those who might have special dietary needs and don't want sticker shock on their meal.

But what it comes down to is many restaurants in the country charge for special requests. Whether it is choice or medically related really doesn't matter to them.
I have to use an ECV this trip to Disney and my special need it going to cost me several hundred dollars. I need a special service now related to a disability and Disney isn't going to accommodate me for free.

 

[robynchic]

I wonder what they'll do for "simple" allergies. For instance, I'm highly allergic to nuts (epi-pen), but only to the extent that I can't ingest them or having touched my food. I remember in June that I mentioned I was highly allergic to nuts when we were at the table and a chef came out to tell me which foods didn't contain nuts. So if I don't need any special food made (except for maybe minus nuts), would they charge me extra for having the chef come out and tell me what has nuts in it?

 

[disneyandme]

That's what I'm wondering too. There are so many different levels of need when it comes to food allergies. Who is going to set the pricing? Some people need special order food cooked in a special way, some need foods cooked separately, some just need regular items served without sauces, etc. Will the chef have to decide on pricing when they discuss meal choices with each table?