Why all the removal of favorites?

[CJ]

Okay, the Strawberry Swirl at MK is gone. Figaro Fries gone. Starboard Sandwich gone. Fiesta Margarita kiwi flavor gone. Macadamia Chocolate Torte at Kona gone. Maple Filet at Le Cellier gone. Fried Cheese at Prime Time gone.

I understand menus need to updated occasionally, but it seems very strange how all of a sudden many many favorites are being taken out of restaurants!?

 

[karrit2000]

Disney has decided to remove "unhealthy" foods from all their menus. This means that everyones favorites have been disappearing. I'd like someone to explain to me how chicken nuggets formed out of fillers and who knows what can possibly be healthier than the chicken breast strips they replaced. I'm surprised we can still get hamburgers & hot dogs. And what is healthy about those awful smoked, salty turkey legs they still sell?

 

[TDC Nala]

According to reports, the chicken nuggets served at most CS are just smaller pieces of chicken breast, not made of fillers. They've just in effect cut the portion size by offering nuggets.

You can still get hamburgers and hot dogs but apparently they will be served on wheat buns.

 

[dawgsgirl]

I'm not a WDW Foodie, but come on this board from time to time to keep up with things. Lately, all I read about is what food is gone and how the menus have less offerings. Seems that the food situation at WDW is in a sad state. This is mostly based on the postings here. I guess we all have opinions on why, but who really knows???

 

[SnwflkCts]

$$$$$$

OK, that's my opinion.

I saw that the fingers became nuggets. DH and I used to share a chicken finger at Electric Umbrella and get a fruit salad on the side. But not if there are three tiny strips instead of larger ones! People will be inclined to buy more.

And I'm not saying that WDW is out to scam us - some of it is cost savings I think. If you serve all the same things at all the same places, you can move workers around more easily. A serving of fries and a burger at DHS would be the same as a burger and fries somewhere in MK. Food distributers might discount more if you are buying a BAZILLION burgers and fries, right?

It's just hard to eat the same thing for a week! BLEH!! I like a little variety please!

 

[TheRustyScupper]

Ddp.

 

[TinkRBel_In_Training]

It all boils down to the Benjamins. I don't think it has anything to do with updating the menus or being "healthy". They are taking away or changing items that are no longer making them as much money as possible. Perhaps its the cost of the item vs. how much of it they sell is no longer turning a profit, or the vendors they are purchasing their food from raised the prices of certain ingredients. As for the wheat buns and chicken nuggets, they are probably cheaper to purchase and more cost effective for Disney. Pretty soon all of the Disney restaurants will be serving the same food. One big Disney "chain" restaurant.

 

[TDC Nala]

I think some of it is money and some of it is the health thing...they replaced the fried cheese at Prime Time with a crab cake. Crab is much more expensive than fried cheese. Of course they are charging 3 bucks more for it.

 

[cymbaldiva]

I think some of it is money and some of it is the health thing...they replaced the fried cheese at Prime Time with a crab cake.

Seriously? That's a real shame -I really liked their fried cheese!

I mean, I like a really good crab cake as much as the next girl; I just have a feeling that they're probably not serving a spectacular crab cake ...

 

[BelleLovesTheBeast]

There are no more Figaro Fries?!

 

[nenner1]

There are no more Figaro Fries?!

They took the lettuce & tomato away.

Agreed with many above. Mainly to save money and increased uniformity/convenience (for THEM). I think if they can get a shout out to "healthier choices" at the same time (see crab cake/cheese....white/wheat) the they will.

IMO it does have a lot to do with the DDP...

 

[TDC Nala]

There are no more Figaro Fries?!

They have fries with bacon and cheese. They don't come with lettuce, tomato or ranch dressing anymore.

 

[ToddyLu]

So I will have to get my Casey's hot dog on a wheat bun?!? Can I request a white bun?!? I have to keep up my girlish figure.

 

[DisneycrazedX6]

Could someone please confirm the wheat bun thing....this is the first I am hearing of this. Not good IMHO....my kids will not eat it. YIKES

 

[quixoticvalue]

Don't forget that here on the Disboards, we are just a small percentage of people who go to disney world every year. What we call favorites does not mean that it is a favorite to the rest of Disney's visiters.

Also, I believe it is money, plain and simple. If it were to be about health, then explain why they took the healthiest things of the figaro fries off (lettuce and tomato)?

Or why did they make the chicken strips into chicken nuggets (which, by the way, are NOT formed or pressed, they are simply small pieces of whole chicken breast) which actually makes it MORE unhealthier because of the increase of breading on smaller but more in quantity pieces. This actually tricks the consumer into thinking that he/she is getting the same. But in fact, you are getting more breading, less meat.

Or why their food prices have been steadily rising. And how they are constantly changing food buyers to get the best of their money. If an ingredient becomes more hefty in price, they nix the ingredient, which nixes that item.

 

[java]

We got back last Sunday-
So I can report that yes they are whole wheat buns- not totally though I would say it is a 50/50 kind of bun. My kids didn't notice the difference. I did because I was looking. It was just kind of dryer- if that makes sense. But still ok. (the dog seemed different though???? More ball parky)

And on the Figaro Fries- they are now just cheese and bacon- and you can snag the ranch over on the condiments bar- We had them for the first time and they seemed pretty good to us.

I was bummed that they took off my favorite Macadamia Mahi mahi off Kona's menu so bummed that we didn't go this time. I am assuming that was a case of it getting too expensive to make vs. popularity because I always saw people getting it.
But I took the changes as a chance to find some new favs. And we did! Think positive- there are other goodies out there to win you over. Change is good.

 

[bicker]

Expect that most changes are made due to the disparity between how much things cost and how much people are willing to pay for them. Where such changes make things healthier, they're likely to highlight that fact. Where it doesn't, they're not likely to do so.

 

[Mackey Mouse]

I agree with Bicker here... thud

It is dollars and cents people.....and I think if they can pass it off as healthier than that is a bonus for them and maybe we, the public, will think isn't that great that Disney cares so much about our food choices..

 

[Cheshire Figment]

These disappearances are all due to the existence of the Disney Dining Plan. A restaurant or counter service gets a fixed dollar amount per meal, no matter what is ordered. Normally in the restaurant business the actual cost of the food is about 1/3 of the total expenses. So the higher the food quality or quantity the higher the selling price.

It is often human nature to, if there is no difference in their payment, order the highest price items. Which is why both the restaurants and the quick service locations are removing their highest priced items.

If DDP, as we know it, goes away watch and see some of the higher end items coming back.

 

[thumperbelle3]

I just found out about Figaro Fries and now they've changed them. I guess I'll just have to try and create them at home from the pictures I've seen. At least they kept the bacon and cheese!