WDW is charging more for special diets!

[Hannathy]

I would guess if it could come right out of the line and just not have the sauce added it wouldn't be a special charge as in any restaurant BUT if it required an entire new batch made or an entire new product opened or a special item like soy milk or rice milk or gluten free etc then there would be a special charge. Possibly if the chef needs to consult that may make it a special needs charge, a chef wouldn't need to confer just to leave a sauce or condiment off.

 

[livndisney]

I would guess if it could come right out of the line and just not have the sauce added it wouldn't be a special charge as in any restaurant BUT if it required an entire new batch made or an entire new product opened or a special item like soy milk or rice milk or gluten free etc then there would be a special charge. Possibly if the chef needs to consult that may make it a special needs charge, a chef wouldn't need to confer just to leave a sauce or condiment off.

Actually according to WDW policy if you mention allergies, a Chef or Manager MUST speak with you.

As far as what the charge will be, no one seems to know. It is not listed on any of the menus, nor is it mentioned in conversations with Managers prior to ordering.

 

[livndisney]

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.

Clearly "anyone" can rent an ECV. But everyone can't buy the Dining plan, you must be staying on site. When renting an ECV you are told the terms and cost prior to renting. With this change, you have no idea what the charge will be until after you have ordered/eaten.

I wonder how accepting people would be if WDW started charging for other accomidations.

 

[Hannathy]

Clearly "anyone" can rent an ECV. But everyone can't buy the Dining plan, you must be staying on site. When renting an ECV you are told the terms and cost prior to renting. With this change, you have no idea what the charge will be until after you have ordered/eaten.

I wonder how accepting people would be if WDW started charging for other accomidations.

But it is not an accommodation it is a special service.

 

[Jeanieblue114]

Clearly "anyone" can rent an ECV. But everyone can't buy the Dining plan, you must be staying on site. When renting an ECV you are told the terms and cost prior to renting. With this change, you have no idea what the charge will be until after you have ordered/eaten.

I wonder how accepting people would be if WDW started charging for other accomidations.

yes, everyone can buy the plan. But like you said you have to be staying on property, etc. It's an incentive by Disney. It's all in the marketing (i'm not defending any of it btw, i'm just pointing this out).

The idea is to make you stay there and not have to 'worry'.

I really think the upcharges will be similar to any other restaurant in the country where you would make a special request for something different.
And just like learning the terms and costs with an ECV, you have to research rental options before hand or show up and be stuck paying whatever they want if you need it.
With the restaurants you would have to contact their dietary special needs department and get price information before you choose a restaurant.

I think it's all just a sign of Disney financially hurting.

 

[livndisney]

But it is not an accommodation it is a special service.

No, it is an accommidation for someone with severe allergies.

From the ADA:

Does the ADA Apply to People with Asthma and Allergies?
Yes. In both the ADA and Section 504, a person with a disability is described as someone who has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, or is regarded as having such impairments. Breathing, eating, working and going to school are "major life activities." Asthma and allergies are still considered disabilities under the ADA, even if symptoms are controlled by medication.

Choosing to not have sauce on your noodles is a special request.

 

[livndisney]

yes, everyone can buy the plan. But like you said you have to be staying on property, etc. It's an incentive by Disney. It's all in the marketing (i'm not defending any of it btw, i'm just pointing this out).

The idea is to make you stay there and not have to 'worry'.

I really think the upcharges will be similar to any other restaurant in the country where you would make a special request for something different.
And just like learning the terms and costs with an ECV, you have to research rental options before hand or show up and be stuck paying whatever they want if you need it.
With the restaurants you would have to contact their dietary special needs department and get price information before you choose a restaurant.

I think it's all just a sign of Disney financially hurting.

The special diets department does not know the charges for each restaurant.

If it was about cost or Disney hurting, they would charge EVERYONE with "special requests". That is not the case here.

 

[Hannathy]

I'm not an expert but I don't think it is a requirement of the act that restaurants have to provide special meals for allergy people. If it were then every rest would have to have special meals and they don't.

Disney went out of their way for years but they have been over run with special meals that add to the cost and so they can not any longer absorb the cost. After all Disney is a business that needs to make money 1rst and foremost it is not a charity. They must answer to their stockholders. I would rather see them charge those who need the special meals what it costs rather than simply quit providing them.

 

[Jeanieblue114]

The special diets department does not know the charges for each restaurant.

If it was about cost or Disney hurting, they would charge EVERYONE with "special requests". That is not the case here.

The special diets department will have to learn the information eventually or at least give some general estimates.

Disney isn't getting all this extra money by charging a couple dollars extra for special diet requests. They are getting the extra money by giving people one more reason to be motivated to stay on property and give Disney their money for hotel, tickets, and dining plans.
People will feel more necessity to stay there instead of a more affordable off-property location or buy into the dining plan even if it isn't as usable for them. It is a convenience thing and Disney will count on that and provide it free to those people as an extra service to DISNEY DDP patrons.
Once again, I don't necessarily agree with it. I just figured that if Disney had to do a lot of special requests like they have been, they would just raise prices across the board, which they have been doing.

I have never seen any restaurant or vacation location be as accommodating with special requests as Disney is. If you have major dietary concerns, where else can you get such constant attention to your needs so that you don't have to worry? Eventually all that extra effort will be reflected in prices somehow. I think more people would complain if the costs involved keep raising the prices for everyone as apposed to putting some of the cost on those using the service.

I would be shocked if there is an upcharge for just leaving a sauce off.

 

[livndisney]

I'm not an expert but I don't think it is a requirement of the act that restaurants have to provide special meals for allergy people. If it were then every rest would have to have special meals and they don't.

Disney went out of their way for years but they have been over run with special meals that add to the cost and so they can not any longer absorb the cost. After all Disney is a business that needs to make money 1rst and foremost it is not a charity. They must answer to their stockholders. I would rather see them charge those who need the special meals what it costs rather than simply quit providing them.

I understand this-but they are not charging everyone for the meals, just the ones without the DDP. So I can't see how this is about cost.

 

[Hannathy]

I understand this-but they are not charging everyone for the meals, just the ones without the DDP. So I can't see how this is about cost.

Yes they are it is included in the dining plan, you just don't see it like you do when paying OOP. Just like when you are on the dining plan and get the cheapest entree and your spouse gets the most expensive, you don't pay any difference because it is in the plan. I'm sure it will be rung up at the new charge. Like someone said they are working on averages and using your money ahead of time and hoping you don't eat all your credits, that's how they make money. That and hoping you buy a few drinks with your meal and a few extras along the way because you are on property more.

 

[MaumeeMom]

I understand this-but they are not charging everyone for the meals, just the ones without the DDP. So I can't see how this is about cost.

Yes they are it is included in the dining plan, you just don't see it like you do when paying OOP. Just like when you are on the dining plan and get the cheapest entree and your spouse gets the most expensive, you don't pay any difference because it is in the plan. I'm sure it will be rung up at the new charge. Like someone said they are working on averages and using your money ahead of time and hoping you don't eat all your credits, that's how they make money. That and hoping you buy a few drinks with your meal and a few extras along the way because you are on property more.

Right! On the DDP an entrée is an entrée. The specially prepared meal is covered as a dinner just as any other dinner. The cost of the specially made dinner is higher, it is not a surcharge; therefore, a person paying OOP will have to pay more for that made-to-order meal.

 

[LuckyMamaInDE]

Interesting to see how this plays out. Sometimes dd14 needs a special meal made, sometimes she needs a substitution, and sometimes we just need to talk to the chef about what is safe. We aren't planning on getting the DDP in the future since youngest dd will be a WDW "adult" but doesn't yet eat that way (plus we're DVC so have more options).

 

[clanmcculloch]

Special Diets should in no way be responsible for knowing the menus and corresponding costs at each restaurant. Today, they have lists of all the specialty allergy foods available around the parks and act as a hub for contact with all the restaurants. They put us folks with food allergies in contact with the restaurants in order to discuss our allergy needs. It is the responsibility of the chefs at the restaurant to be up to date on what they can and can not prepare.

I do understand charging more for premade foods that cost more to buy. I was the person who responded to the OP in another thread about being shocked that he was charged more for his gluten free pizzas. I was shocked not because I think it's wrong but because I've never heard of this. It costs Disney pennies to make the regular pizza crusts and dollars to make the gluten free ones so I do understand, just like it costs them pennies to make regular pasta and dollars for the gluten free stuff so it does make sense to charge extra. I think that they need to make it know BEFORE ordering. Most of use would be willing to pay more but we really need to know ahead of time how to budget and what to expect. It needs to be clearly spelled out just what kinds of services and which foods will result in what charges. Up front information and clearly defined costs is the only way this will work smoothly.

I'll pretty much always get a DDP for the convenience (unless I get a really amazing rate from Magical Vacations and can't buy it) so it doesn't affect me as much as it does others. It'll slightly increase my tips since I tip based on cost, but that's a negligible amount.

I doubt that Disney will ever do away with their amazing accomodations for food allergies because they know they've cornered the market on the food allergy crowd. We're among those that choose to vacation repeatedly at WDW because we know that we can eat safely. There are many, many people like us. If they do away with this service (yes it is a service and not a requirement), they'll lose business. Charging a premium based on an their higher cost to provide this service is something most of us understand. Again, information up front and then consisten implementation is what we require. I don't think this is asking a lot from a business. Businesses should always have clear policies in order for those policies to work.

 

[Jeanieblue114]

I think you really defined the issue well.

What it does come down to is Disney being consistant and informing everyone easily.

That is a constant problem with Disney. Random changes and no information provided. The website is severely lacking, CM's aren't trained like they used to be, and changes happen daily in their policies instead of having set times of year for 'updates'. (nobody even knows from day to day what snack you can get with a snack credit at MYO at Goofy's and nothing is in writing!)

I mean, is it really even CONFIRMED that Disney is doing an extra charge for this service everywhere? I haven't seen anything on any dining reports of people experiencing this yet and many of the reports are with vegans or people with some dietary restrictions. If anything, it has made me want to say I'm a vegan at Ohana so Chef TJ will make me that BEAUTIFUL 7 course custom made meal!

It will definitely be interesting to see what happens with all of this.

 

[livndisney]

I think you really defined the issue well.

What it does come down to is Disney being consistant and informing everyone easily.

That is a constant problem with Disney. Random changes and no information provided. The website is severely lacking, CM's aren't trained like they used to be, and changes happen daily in their policies instead of having set times of year for 'updates'. (nobody even knows from day to day what snack you can get with a snack credit at MYO at Goofy's and nothing is in writing!)

I mean, is it really even CONFIRMED that Disney is doing an extra charge for this service everywhere? I haven't seen anything on any dining reports of people experiencing this yet and many of the reports are with vegans or people with some dietary restrictions. If anything, it has made me want to say I'm a vegan at Ohana so Chef TJ will make me that BEAUTIFUL 7 course custom made meal!

It will definitely be interesting to see what happens with all of this.[/QUOTE


I have a bill showing the higher charge and emails from Brenda at Special diets
explaining the increase/policy change. That sounds "confirmed" to me.

 

[clanmcculloch]

If anything, it has made me want to say I'm a vegan at Ohana so Chef TJ will make me that BEAUTIFUL 7 course custom made meal!

Yes we do get some amazing food, but there are drawbacks. It take us significantly longer than most people to get our meals. My DH regularly notices people who walk in after us paying their bills while we're just getting our food delivered or even while we're waiting for our meals. At buffets, we take at least twice as long since most people can go up and grab their meals while we have to wait for a chef to come talk to us and then wait for meals to be prepared. This is a hefty chunk of time. We go on and on with our glowing reviews because WDW is the ONLY place some of us have ever been able to eat so well. Most people can have such amazing meals anywhere. We also can't eat all of the amazing foods that we see. Most people have plenty of options at restaurants and especially at buffets, but our options are significantly more limitted. Yes, WDW is amazing and we eat better there than anywhere else but it's still not the same options that everybody else has. I'm not trying to minimize what WDW does for us. I sing their praises regarding food at every opportunity (IRL I drive people nuts ). I'm trying to point out that claiming to have a special dietary need when you don't isn't a wise thing to do. I think that most of us would gladly eat the regular offerings at any restaurant if we could.

I realize that you were just kidding around, but people reading this thread might take it as an idea for a way to get something that they perceive as extra. It really isn't an extra (well, compared to our norm it is, but it's not an extra compared to what everybody else gets) or something I would advise for those who don't need it.

 

[clanmcculloch]

I have a bill showing the higher charge and emails from Brenda at Special diets explaining the increase/policy change. That sounds "confirmed" to me.

How did she word the policy? Any chance you could copy and paste that portion of her email? I'm sure I'll get a similar email at some point but I'd like to know how it's described. I'm sure others would like to know more as well.

Thank you for bringing this to our attention BTW. I don't think I said that earlier.

 

[Jeanieblue114]

Yes we do get some amazing food, but there are drawbacks. It take us significantly longer than most people to get our meals. My DH regularly notices people who walk in after us paying their bills while we're just getting our food delivered or even while we're waiting for our meals. At buffets, we take at least twice as long since most people can go up and grab their meals while we have to wait for a chef to come talk to us and then wait for meals to be prepared. This is a hefty chunk of time. We go on and on with our glowing reviews because WDW is the ONLY place some of us have ever been able to eat so well. Most people can have such amazing meals anywhere. We also can't eat all of the amazing foods that we see. Most people have plenty of options at restaurants and especially at buffets, but our options are significantly more limitted. Yes, WDW is amazing and we eat better there than anywhere else but it's still not the same options that everybody else has. I'm not trying to minimize what WDW does for us. I sing their praises regarding food at every opportunity (IRL I drive people nuts ). I'm trying to point out that claiming to have a special dietary need when you don't isn't a wise thing to do. I think that most of us would gladly eat the regular offerings at any restaurant if we could.

I realize that you were just kidding around, but people reading this thread might take it as an idea for a way to get something that they perceive as extra. It really isn't an extra (well, compared to our norm it is, but it's not an extra compared to what everybody else gets) or something I would advise for those who don't need it.

I get your point.
I was only half joking though.
I'm not vegetarian per se anymore, but I can't digest red meat and have several other dietary issues, so at Ohana, I AM tempted to just say I am vegetarian to simplify the issue. (Just like I've seen some vegans say that they have food allergies to simplify the issue). I tend to just pick off the menus what I can eat though and research where I can go and where there aren't really any good menu options for me. But, I've never had a chef come out because I've never mentioned my needs and I do my own thing.

 

[pudge the fish]

I wonder when this is supposed to happen as we were just there last weekend and my bill was the same as everyone else in the party.
of course we had a chef come out and tell me what was safe and I didn't get anything special made.
I emailed to ask about the food and most was safe.

Amy's gluten free pizzas are 13.00 (almost died the first time I saw that

But at the CS my burger and apples were the same $ as the regular one.

I am going the 27th too and we have reservations at a TS so I will update if I get charged extra .

I pay more for my gluten free pasta & other foods so while I may not like it, I understand it.