Why get so worked up?

[MrsJackSparrow]

Per Deb's site, the following are offering chicken strips:

50's Prime Time
Backlot Express
Mama Melrose
Rosie's All American Cave
Electric Umbrella
Chefs de France
Liberty Inn
Restaurant Marrakesh
Columbia Harbor House
Crystal Palace
Pinocchio Village Haus
End Zone Food Court
Intermission Food Court
World Premiere Food Court
Mara
Hurricane Hanna's Grill
ESPN Club
Old Port Royale
Pepper Market
Picabu Buffeteria
Narcoosee's
Good's to Go
Olivia's Cafe
Captain Cook's
Everything Pop
Boatwright's
Riverside Mill
Sassagoula Floatworks
Graden Grove Cafe
Gulliver's Grill
Whispering Canyon Cafe
Captain's Grille
Yachtsman Steakhouse
Fulton's Crab House
Wolfgang Puck Express
Cooke's of Dublin
Planet Hollywood
Food Quest
House of Blues
Wolfgang Puck Cafe

But I digress. Foods that you want are available if you do some research.

I live with a grilled cheese freak. I feel your pain, really I do. Coke Rewards has free Avis rentals for something like 1400 points per day. You can get a cab from anywhere on property. It just seems like people are not interested in investing effort in fulfilling wants. The restaurants offsite would not exist if they did not have an audience so apparently someone is driving offsite to take in a meal.

Seriously, grilled cheese has become a casualty on most menus. Will I change my dining plans? No. My kid can adapt. My vacation is not dictated by a child's dining preferences. Will I stop going to WDW? Absolutely not. Frankly, I am not there for the food.

WDW is a place that takes you out of the reality of life. If that means I have to exert a little effort to find DS a grilled cheese, or we happen to come upon one by chance, our day is that much better. It's Disney World, for crying out loud! Lighten up!

 

[Mermaid_Ariel]

We each do what we WANT to do...if you WANT to eat off site, by all means do it...it is YOUR vacation and YOUR honeymoon...do not let anyone persuade you to do otherwise... enjoy you time & have a safe fun trip!

I appreciate it! Hopefully, things will settle down and Disney will be able to compromise so everybody could be happy. I would much rather do what I did last year and stay on property and enjoy as much time in the Disney Bubble as possible!

 

[mkycrzy1971]

I appreciate it! Hopefully, things will settle down and Disney will be able to compromise so everybody could be happy. I would much rather do what I did last year and stay on property and enjoy as much time in the Disney Bubble as possible!

My thoughts exactly...it is not me throwing the fit over food, it is the other 3 adults that will be with me...they do not share the love for Disney

 

[MadamMim]

When I go to WDW I do not want to spend the extra money to rent a car, nor do I want to leave the resort or parks to go eat.

My DS12 is a picky eater and does not eat everything that WDW offers with regard to meals. I agree there is plenty of junk at disney for snacks. That is not the issue. The issue is meal options, but if my DS will only eat chicken strips over pasta, I would rather him eat the chicken strips. With pasta he eats it plain, no sauce. He hates mac n cheese, and only eats pizza with cheese.

He does like raw veggies, and cooked brocolli and green beans but if he's not going to eat the meal that comes with the veggies, then why am I gonna wast my $? At least with the chicken strips he's getting protein. The ones at WDW from what I could tell were white meat, and DS does not like nuggets anymore since he tried the strips at WDw. Go figure.

So while for myself there are still lots of choices, for my DS picky eater that he is there is not. At home he eats alot more variety but he is used to the way I prepare food. And I am not prepared to pay $$ to find out he doesn't like the way something tastes, so to be sure he eats I'd rather give him the chicken strips.

My DS does not eat alot of meat, or pasta, his main diet is chicken. So now that limits him to plain pasta, plain pizza, and maybe a burger thrown in if I can find a white bun. And rotisserie chicken if they still have it.

At home he eats alot of veggies, cucumber, carrots, brocolli green beans but really the only one I've seen at WDW is carrots. At home I go through about 6 cucumbers or more a week.

So my point is, why not give a choice. McD's still offers choice between their old menu and new healthier menu. Sub places offer you a choice of your bun. So why not WDW?

Stephanie

This is slightly off topic and I do apologize, but I think I've dated your DS's adult self! I had a boyfriend who would only eat pasta, toast, cheese, Cheerios, cheese pizza, some vegetables (not even all veggies were his friends apparently) and occasionaly he would have some rice. It was so frustrating trying to go anywhere with him because he was constantly worried that the restaurants either wouldn't have anything he liked or would make it in a way he didn't like, poor thing. It was like pulling teeth but I eventually got him to try some new things which made it slightly better (for him, he hated being so picky because he knew it made things awkward, and for our friends who, unlike me, never knew why he was being so 'weird'). So here's a happy banana hoping that your DS grows up to be as lovely and wonderful a person as my ex and that he does try some new things now and then.

And since I should probably write something that is on topic... I'm all for healthy options, but I'm a pretty go-with-the-flow sort of eater and I enjoy the healthy things just as much as the non-healthy things. I can see how it would bother other people especially if, like my ex and Stephanie's DS, they've only got a limited number of things they can eat. Disney's caught between a rock and hard place trying to satisfy everybody all the time, so they're just doing their best.

 

[Lowell317]

This is slightly off topic and I do apologize, but I think I've dated your DS's adult self! I had a boyfriend who would only eat pasta, toast, cheese, Cheerios, cheese pizza, some vegetables (not even all veggies were his friends apparently) and occasionaly he would have some rice. It was so frustrating trying to go anywhere with him because he was constantly worried that the restaurants either wouldn't have anything he liked or would make it in a way he didn't like, poor thing. It was like pulling teeth but I eventually got him to try some new things which made it slightly better (for him, he hated being so picky because he knew it made things awkward, and for our friends who, unlike me, never knew why he was being so 'weird').

MadamMim,

did you and I used to date? You just described my life up until a year or two ago. It's tough being "that guy".

As to the "healthy" food options at disney: I am a heavy guy. I've been working HARD to lose weight for this trip so I don't look like my second or fourth chin is going to eat my fiance or friends in pictures. I haven't had fried chicken in at least 6 months. I was and am looking forward to letting myself go a little bit crazy with the food on the trip. If disney wants to give me bad wheat buns, that's fine. I'd prefer white bread and more choice but I certainly wouldn't get upset over it.

my two cents

 

[Mermaid_Ariel]

If disney wants to give me bad wheat buns, that's fine. I'd prefer white bread and more choice but I certainly wouldn't get upset over it.

I think it's moreso the principal of the matter. Like, where will they draw the line, you know?

 

[tlens]

If people can't find something to eat on property (healthy or not) that is appealing to them I think there is something very wrong with these people. Disney has more diversity in food offerings than ANY other theme park I've ever visited.

Disney has every right to offer whatever food choices they want to offer. It's their business. If they believe they will please a greater number of people by offering healthier choices....more power to them. I certainly won't let food make of break my vacation.

 

[mkycrzy1971]

I think it's moreso the principal of the matter. Like, where will they draw the line, you know?

I agree! Let them try to take my Mickey Ice cream bars away.....then you will see my evil side come out

 

[MadamMim]

MadamMim,

did you and I used to date? You just described my life up until a year or two ago. It's tough being "that guy".

And did you also have a super-fantastic girlfriend who lovingly forced you to try new things? Or did you just do it on your own?

 

[Mermaid_Ariel]

If people can't find something to eat on property (healthy or not) that is appealing to them I think there is something very wrong with these people.

Why do you have to be insulting about it? If I don't like the food choices, I'll just eat somewhere else! What's wrong with that?

 

[jodifla]

There's restaurants no more than 5-10min away from the Disney Bubble. People used to do it, now all of a sudden it's a bad thing? Give me a break.

Sorry, been going to WDW since it opened, and it's NEVER been standard to leave the park for lunch. Back in 1973, there wasn't anything within miles of the Magic Kingdom.

By the time you hike back to your car, get out of the park, wait in line, eat, and reverse, you are talking one hour minimum, more like 1.5 or 2 hours.

 

[brighteyes]

This is slightly off topic and I do apologize, but I think I've dated your DS's adult self! I had a boyfriend who would only eat pasta, toast, cheese, Cheerios, cheese pizza, some vegetables (not even all veggies were his friends apparently) and occasionaly he would have some rice. It was so frustrating trying to go anywhere with him because he was constantly worried that the restaurants either wouldn't have anything he liked or would make it in a way he didn't like, poor thing. It was like pulling teeth but I eventually got him to try some new things which made it slightly better (for him, he hated being so picky because he knew it made things awkward, and for our friends who, unlike me, never knew why he was being so 'weird'). So here's a happy banana hoping that your DS grows up to be as lovely and wonderful a person as my ex and that he does try some new things now and then.

And since I should probably write something that is on topic... I'm all for healthy options, but I'm a pretty go-with-the-flow sort of eater and I enjoy the healthy things just as much as the non-healthy things. I can see how it would bother other people especially if, like my ex and Stephanie's DS, they've only got a limited number of things they can eat. Disney's caught between a rock and hard place trying to satisfy everybody all the time, so they're just doing their best.

Sounds exactly like him. He does eat a few more things than I've listed like rice. Everything has to be plain, nothing can be mixed... Everything plain...which is a pain in the royal butt. He used to eat everything, stir fry, casseroles, etc. but all that changed. And the more I nag, the less he eats. So I just go with it. My point is, my DS TRYING the chicken strips was a victory, my DS TRYING the double hamburger when it wasn't the kind I make was victory, my DS TRYING the potroast at Sci-fi was victory. Used to hate ribs, then loved grandpa's ribs, then wouldn't eat them for years. Tried them at a restaurant the other day and loves them, but will he eat grandpa's ribs? Probably not.

It is just difficult to feed a picky eater and yes, he branched out a little but is still picky. And one day he will like something and the next he won't touch it for two years.

Yes I could rent a car and go offsite, or I could spend more money on a villa or a suite with a kitchen and cook, but I am on vacation and don't want to drive, don't want to cook. I am a single mom, and when I finally get to save enough $$ to go on vacation I don't want to do anything that resembles my life at home.

So yes, when we go back it looks like DS will be hungry or forced to try something new, maybe miracles will happen.

Stephanie

 

[Lowell317]

And did you also have a super-fantastic girlfriend who lovingly forced you to try new things? Or did you just do it on your own?

It was about 50% a girl and 50% my family. I was sick of my sister making fun of me and I wanted to impress a girl. Thankfully the sister stopped making fun of me and the girl is gonna marry me. Go Figure!





As to "where to draw the line", I totally understand that. However my Dad always taught me to pick my battles. I'm not saying that it's wrong to be upset over this, everyone picks their own battles. Just to me, chicken strips or wheat buns wont affect my trip. I certainly wouldn't attack anyone for being upset by the changes though.

 

[DisMN]

So many times I read that people are upset that Disney is "forcing" us to eat healthy. Have these people forgotten that there are TONS of offsite restaurants that are more than happy to fill you on high fat, low fit foods?

If you don't like what Disney is serving, go offsite. You are not going to get them to change, much like McDonald's is not going to start deep frying their menu again.

Embrace the change, people!

Might I suggest instead that those who want the healthy stuff be the people that go thru the bother of driving offsite to find their foods?
Have you forgotten that there are TONS of offsite restaurants that are more than happy to fill you on spinach soy milkshakes, eggwhite quiches and high fiber, low sodium, sugarless tofu brownies?

Disney is a vacation destination...... the word "vacation" means recess or hiatus. It's time AWAY from their usual schedule of activity which usually also means time AWAY from their usual diets.

 

[cheshire1013]

I didn't read every single post on this thread, but I did read quite a few. Now I just have to give my opinion since I worry about the food that goes into mine and my families bellies.
The last time i was at WDW was in oct. and I didn't think that there were soo many "healthy" items that they out weighed the non healthy ones. There are plenty of fried things for you to order and if you really want something unhealthy, try a turkey leg. You can get a whole days worth of calories and 3 days of sodium from that sucker. yuck. If your not happy with the food wdw provides then too bad! Disney cannot please everyone! If your kid only eats "such and such" and its not provided then I guess hes going to be one hungry kid. At my house, I make 1 meal and if you don't like it, too bad, eat at the next meal. My 16 month old eats whatever I put in front of her and shes survived 3 trips to wdw. Unfortunately that "whole wheat" bun, is not really whole anything. Its still over processed and probably not any healthier than that white bun. Its just brown in color. Unless the first ingredient is "whole wheat flour" not unbleached wheat flour then its not much better. Funny what a little color will do to some people. I don't go to wdw for the food, no way. I usually don't even think about it until Im there. I go for the mouse and the memories with my family. If something like not having chicken strips ruins your vacation then Im so sorry for you.

 

[MrsJackSparrow]

Might I suggest instead that those who want the healthy stuff be the people that go thru the bother of driving offsite to find their foods?
Have you forgotten that there are TONS of offsite restaurants that are more than happy to fill you on spinach soy milkshakes, eggwhite quiches and high fiber, low sodium, sugarless tofu brownies?

I haven't forgotten anything about offsite restaurants and my family does go offsite, as I stated, to Chili's or Giordano's when we want those types of foods.

There is an entire world outside the World!

 

[Mike N Kathy]

I didn't read every single post on this thread, but I did read quite a few. Now I just have to give my opinion since I worry about the food that goes into mine and my families bellies.
The last time i was at WDW was in oct. and I didn't think that there were soo many "healthy" items that they out weighed the non healthy ones. There are plenty of fried things for you to order and if you really want something unhealthy, try a turkey leg. You can get a whole days worth of calories and 3 days of sodium from that sucker. yuck. If your not happy with the food wdw provides then too bad! Disney cannot please everyone! If your kid only eats "such and such" and its not provided then I guess hes going to be one hungry kid. At my house, I make 1 meal and if you don't like it, too bad, eat at the next meal. My 16 month old eats whatever I put in front of her and shes survived 3 trips to wdw. Unfortunately that "whole wheat" bun, is not really whole anything. Its still over processed and probably not any healthier than that white bun. Its just brown in color. Unless the first ingredient is "whole wheat flour" not unbleached wheat flour then its not much better. Funny what a little color will do to some people. I don't go to wdw for the food, no way. I usually don't even think about it until Im there. I go for the mouse and the memories with my family. If something like not having chicken strips ruins your vacation then Im so sorry for you.

Im going to have to agree with everything the OP Said except i do love to vacation for food as well as other things..I think disney trying to make things more healthy is great...

 

[KorieDWnut]

Im going to have to agree with everything the OP Said except i do love to vacation for food as well as other things..I think disney trying to make things more healthy is great...

I do too, actually. I am actually pretty happy that fries don't automatically come with every kids meal anymore. When I was there last August you had to ask for them if you wanted them instead of grapes or carrots or whatever. Sometimes we got them for dd, sometimes not. If I got them every meal, then she would have eaten fries nearly 2 times a day for 5 days. Unnecessary. I like the new options.

 

[Tricia1972]

Might I suggest instead that those who want the healthy stuff be the people that go thru the bother of driving offsite to find their foods?
Have you forgotten that there are TONS of offsite restaurants that are more than happy to fill you on spinach soy milkshakes, eggwhite quiches and high fiber, low sodium, sugarless tofu brownies?

Disney is a vacation destination...... the word "vacation" means recess or hiatus. It's time AWAY from their usual schedule of activity which usually also means time AWAY from their usual diets.

This is tongue in cheek, and only because it struck my funny bone....

It's YOUR turn to drive off site, driving off site for healthy options is something that the other side has done since Disney opened!


(Please don't attack me - I am JUST KIDDING as was the PP that I quoted, indicated from the wink - if you don't get the humor, maybe it's a midwest thing. I see that the poster I am quoting is from Minnesota. I personally don't drive offsite for healthy or unhealthy food - I am happy where I am and will find something to enjoy for a meal)

Ok, back to our regularly scheduled griping about the menu changes...

 

[mamazaz]

Goodness - what a discussion!! I have 8 children - two are grown and I have 4 grandchildren. Disney is about magic and imagination. Sorry to say it is not about food. I highly doubt that Walt's vision was centered around the food that people would eat.

I'm just so happy to be able to spend time with my family, and spending it at Disney World is that much better!

If you've gone through an experience that makes you just happy to be alive, then the least of your worries or concerns would be what's on the menu at Disney. Make your trip about laughter and smiles and take lots of photos. Nobody is going to starve - trust me!!

For the memories I make with my children and family, I'd eat cardboard for the entire trip!