Mom And Daughter; Animal Kingdom
  • On Apr 17, 2013
    Stacy Asked Note: This answer was provided prior to the change to planDisney and may still contain references to Disney Parks Moms Panel.

    Experiences, policies, pricing and other offerings are subject to change and may have changed since the date of this answer.

    Hi just my daughter and I coming to Disney in July, she will be 4 during our trip and she has type 1 diabetes so chicken fingers and fries are not high on our list. wondering if it would be better cost wise to just pay for meals or get the dinning plan?

    Hi, Stacy!

    I think you'll be pleasantly surprised to learn that Disney has worked hard over the past several years to improve the nutritional content of the kids' meals offered in the Disney Parks and beyond. These healthful choices for kids go way beyond the standard chicken nuggets (though these are still available for little ones who are "picky" eaters). For example, French fries are no longer automatically served as a side with a kids' entree. Instead, you'll see fresh vegetables (carrot sticks), fruit (grapes), and yogurt as accompaniments. You'll also notice far less deep fried foods and many more baked, roasted, grilled and broiled items.

    A really great tool to help parents identify healthier meal choices is the Mickey Check symbol (Mickey ears with a check through it). Be sure to look for the Mickey Check next to menu items that meet Disney Nutritional Guidelines for low fat, low saturated fat, low sodium, low sugar and reduced caloric content.

    To get a better idea of the actual food selections available, take a look at the menus for the restaurants where you may wish to dine. You can find the full restaurant menus (including kids' meals) here on the Walt Disney World website by viewing each individual restaurant's page. This should help you determine whether or not to add a Disney Dining Plan for your trip coming up in July. Either way, I recommend that you make Advanced Dining Reservations now at table-service restaurants where you'll enjoy a higher level of quality and more variety in terms of the cuisine offered. 

    Here's an extra tip: One of my favorite quick-service dining spots is Sunshine Seasons in the Land Pavilion at Epcot. There are lots of healthy choices - and the menu items are all freshly prepared to order! 
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Meet the Panelist: Kimberly, New Jersey

I'm a Disneyphile and Type A planner! I'm also a writer and editor, wife and mom to an amazing daughter, age 7. I love helping guests of all ages and abilities plan their "Disney time" and make magical vacation memories at Walt Disney World!
Learn More About Kimberly

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