Where to send a complaint/concern to WDW foodservice?

[quiltymom]

Like many people out there, DH & I are not thrilled about the sugar free jello option for kids meal deserts. No one in our family eats artificial sweetners due to medical reasons, but we would have no problem eating jello with sugar. And I'm concerned from a budgetary side that we'd not be getting our $$ worth if we passed on the jello if a non-applesauce substitution is not available.

I would like to bring this concern to WDW foodservice management. I have no idea if they would even care, but I want to do so anyway. Does anyone know of an address for them? Thanks!

 

[Amy&Dan]

I don't have the information you need but want to second not liking the sugar free option. My pediatrician has always told me aspartame is not good for kids, and thats what sugar free jello contains I believe. So I am not sure how they came up with this option as being some healthy alternative to maybe just a good old scoop of ice cream or a cookie. When they revamped the kids menu, I was suddenly glad my 10 year old had to order off the adult menu. Costs more but at least she isn't having to eat some of those weird options they have come up with. Good luck, definitely write to them, if enough people do they might listen!

 

[SnwflkCts]

I can understand your concern. Maybe you can share one of the desserts that adults get. I would think sugar free jello is offered as a choice for those children who can't tolerate the sugar (diabetic). I noted the children's meals do come with fruit too.

 

[3for Me]

I can't help you with the address, but I can tell you that I had the same concerns when we used the DDP in February, and maybe it was dumb luck but not once did my kids HAVE to get the jello. It may just be where we ate, but that was our experience. Others may have had different dealings.

 

[patsal]

While I understand the desire to not feed children foods with artificial sweetners, the money's worth thing is not really affected by the jello thing when you are working with the kids DDP. You are paying $10.99 per child per day withthat you get a childs CS, Childs TS and snack the value of which can vary but should be somewhere around the following #'s:

TS Lunch at LTT at MK $7.49 plus tax and tip
CS at Pinocchios at MK 3.99 plus $1.19 (jello) plus tax
Snack $2.50-$4.00 depending upon what you choose
The total without the jello is around $15.50 before taxes and tips--so it really doesn't efect your $$'s worth.
Now choose the buffet at CP as the TS for dinner and that is $12.99 for the child before tax and tip--you've better than broken even with only the TS.

 

[bicker]

FWIW, you can send your concerns to:

Walt Disney World Guest Communications
P.O. Box 10040
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830-0040

 

[bicker]

In most CS eateries, now, there is an alternative to the gelatin, typically applesauce. Along with what patsal said, given how incredibly inexpensive the child meals are, it's really still a great deal even with only those choices.

 

[goofydad621]

I sent an email a few weeks ago about that very subject and kids menu's in general and I got a call 2-3 weeks later by a very nice woman from guest services, we chatted for a but, and she said that they were getting allot of negative feedback, that it was being passed along but she was not sure if it would do any good or not.

It is a wait and see thing I am afraid.

Good luck
Dave Goofydad Dionne

 

[quiltymom]

Thanks, everyone, for your comments. I'll be sure to write WDW a letter - a nice letter! - about my concerns. Although there may not be changes forthcoming at all or in the near future, at least the more people who bring it to their attention, the better.

We'll have no problems with applesauce being a substitute since my kids adore it. In fact, DS would be thrilled with it! That and mac & cheese are his two favorite foods!

I'll also let you know if I get a response.

Thanks again!

 

[bicker]

The best thing you can do is forward your concerns when you are solicited by Disney as part of their normalized survey program. Nothing holds as much weight as the feedback they know is coming from an unbiased sample of their entire customer-base.

 

[dsnymomof4]

Just wanted to add that we were there last week and my kids did not have to get the sugar-free jello. At Tusker House, they could substitute grapes, at Cosmic Rays, they were able to order any dessert from the menu and at WP Express, they could choose from the cookies/brownies. We always had desserts left over. The grapes were great because we stuck them in our bag and snacked on them later. I think it also helps to write to them - the more people they hear from, the more likely they are to address the situation. Good luck!

 

[Chloesmom]

I'm just wondering with all of this artificial sweetener talk if anyone has actually confirmed that it is sweetened with an artificial sweetener. Sugar free simply means it has not had sugar added but it can be sweetened with fruit juice concentrate, etc. The reason I ask is because DD is diabetic and we have been the past 2 years and the only jello we found had carbs in it and was not sweetened with artificial sweeteners.
I do give DD sugar free jello but I think its an odd choice to add to a kids meal in the hopes of making it healthier. Sugar free jello is basically flavored goo and has no positive nutritional value and we all know it does not fill you up. There's always room for jello...
I had a friend return last week and she said they never had the jello. The CMs all let them pick another dessert. I think a few people have had bad luck but overall there are choices.

 

[bicker]

Ingredients: Water, carrageenan, natural strawberry flavor with other natural flavors, adipic acid, potassium citrate, aspartame sweetener, fumaric acid, artificial color (red #40).

 

[Cookie Princess]

Ingredients: Water, carrageenan, natural strawberry flavor with other natural flavors, adipic acid, potassium citrate, aspartame sweetener, fumaric acid, artificial color (red #40).

Well...that certainly sounds healthy ...ha-ha!

 

[bicker]

It's pretty healthy, for gelatin. The better stuff isn't much different:

Ingredients: Water, sugar, apple juice concentrate, natural flavors, carrageenan, citric acid, potassium citrate, fumaric acid, blue #1.

 

[TheDisneyBunch]

I am highly mad over it all. I did not realize they had all done this til recently when I was looking at menus and I just do not get it. WHO is Disney to decide what I feed my kids while on vacation? I mean really! It irks me. I want to compain too. There is another new study out now too about aspartame and it being so bad for you yet Disney says we should feed it to our kids at lunch every single day we are there?? Come on Disney, you can do better than this!!

I am not pleased either over the table service crappy choices now. None of them seem to have meals themed for the resturaunt like the adults get. Why do kids not deserve a good meal?? They really get crapped on here. I am so mad over Le Cellier taking away the kids deserts and places like Kona and Spoodles taking away the kids Chicken which my son loved last year and all I could slap whoever made these choices!

To me it boils down to Disney being cheap and wanting to give the kids whatever is cheapest for them! How sad when they aim so much at children in the first place.


Sorry to sound so sour but it has all rubbed me wrong once I started noticing it on every menu. My son does not eat jello, applesauce, salad or carott sticks and I am not happy with knowing these will be his choices every day.

I have never really complained about Disney before this either. All I can hope is that it will change before September.

 

[bicker]

WHO is Disney to decide what I feed my kids while on vacation?

They're not. The parents decide. Disney only decides what they're willing to sell, and for how much they're willing to sell it. That's their right, as the seller.

I am not pleased either over the table service crappy choices now. None of them seem to have meals themed for the resturaunt like the adults get.

I blame the guests. As a group, guests seem to be unwilling to reward better choices. It's always that maniacal focus on getting the lowest price, regardless of the ramifications on quality and service.

Why do kids not deserve a good meal??

Parents always have the option to purchase an adult meal for their child. It really comes down to how much parents feel their children are worth paying for.

To me it boils down to Disney being cheap and wanting to give the kids whatever is cheapest for them!

Again, Disney will sell you whatever the parents willing to pay for. So the ball is in the parents' court.

 

[TheDisneyBunch]

Yes but Disney knows many people are there on the dining plan now.. so what should I do with my childs credits if I pay for adult meals for him which at 4 years old he would never eat?

Disney flat out needs to give better CHILD options not expect parents to pay for a large adult meal for a 4 year old just b/c the childrens choices are horrible!

 

[bicker]

Yes but Disney knows many people are there on the dining plan now.. so what should I do with my childs credits if I pay for adult meals for him which at 4 years old he would never eat?

For so many parents, the option Disney provides are excellent -- it's affordability that's the most important parameter for many young families. My younger brother, for example, would be totally pleased with the choices, given the price-point. Parents who want better, and are willing to pay for it of course shouldn't purchase the Dining Plan.

Disney flat out needs to give better CHILD options not expect parents to pay for a large adult meal for a 4 year old just b/c the childrens choices are horrible!

They need to satisfy their obligations; and their first-and-foremost obligation is to their owners. Sometimes, it feels frustrating to guests, no question about that. Hopefully, that frustration is short-lived -- that we guests can realize that they're just providing us what we're rewarding them for providing us.

 

[TheDisneyBunch]

Trust me, the whole affordability factor is a huge thing for us. We are a young family and LOVE going to Disney more than anything! I am just so bothered by the changes b/c they were so nice the past 2 years we have been. We are not foodies..quite picky meat/potato and junk food people actually..lol My son loved the grilled chicken at some of the ts places and and the cookies and things and cs places. Not to mention he was so excited over the cool deserts at places like Le Cellier such as the Moose and Smores. I am sad he will not get any of those this year. I have a picky child and these options are just not things he will eat much less enjoy and there just are not any other options other than loosing the dining credits for him and buying him adult meals.

Again, I just really hope they make changes before September. I don't expect fine cuisine but at least give more choices for picky kids and dress up the deserts a little..they look foward to that.