Dining at Disney post bariatric surgery

My take on eating post gastric is that I still enjoy food, so like some others in this thread, I still order what I want and simply eat less of it. If there is someone to share it with all the better. We eat at Signatures a lot, so I will order apps and entrees and share a dessert with DH (and maybe an entree if we can agree - we always share the app anyway). We will go to buffetd for the characters anythough to will be expensive. I've just resigned myself to the fact that I will "waste" food. No biggie - its worth it to continue to enjoy what is a big part of our vacations for me - disney dinning.
 
Seems Disney is not as accommodating of the needs for gastric bypass patients as they are for other dietary needs, but it is doable with planning and forethought.

How do you figure that Disney's not as accomodating? If your surgery results in you needing alterations to your food so that you can safely eat it then chefs will do so (this does happen for some). Those of us with a variety of special dietary needs still pay the same as (actually sometimes more than) everybody else. We do not EVER expect to pay less than anybody else even when the only side offered is a kids' package of grapes or apple sauce instead of a regular side or a small package of two tiny cookies instead of a big cake. We frequently get less than everybody else (there are occasions where we get something really special that others don't get but they are far outweighed by occasions where we get less like a scoop of sorbet instead of a decadent gooey dessert) but we always pay the same as or more than everybody else.

There are reports of issues with sharing meals or ordering from the kids' menu at non-Disney owned restaurants but Disney themselves are accomodating; they just won't change the price (for anybody).
 
Whatever you do, make sure you get a note from your doctor or surgeon explaining your situation. I went to WDW two weeks after having my Gallbladder removed and everyone was extremely sensitive to my needs. Mind you this was a few years ago, but hopefully this advice still applies.
 
We have e-mailed two different addresses at WDW and the Mom's panel and received very differing answers. Here's what we think--- no buffets will allow adult to eat for kid's price (except one Disney mom says The Biergarten did???)
no "take out" from any buffets for a person who eats only a few ounces for a later small meal. most kid's menus are not very friendly for gastric bypass patients-- lot's of fried food and high fat meats as well as sugary desserts. So buffets seem to be out unless you can live with paying full price and eating so very little. Table service seems better fit since one can order just an appetizer or share with another. WDW says no reduction in portion size nor cost. Of course, you can take out whatever you don't eat for later if it won't spoil and you want to carry left overs with you. Disney mom said character meet and greet buffets did allow her to pay only an entertainment fee and not eat nor pay for food. We received conflicting answers about one person ordering from the menu and the other eating something prepared and brought from outside the restaurant. No disney cast member can warm, microwave, or cook anything you might bring in. Also all agreed no adult can purchase and use child's DDP under any circumstances. Seems Disney is not as accommodating of the needs for gastric bypass patients as they are for other dietary needs, but it is doable with planning and forethought.:santa:
This is an exciting concept of the "entertainment fee". Akershus banquet is our family's must do every trip to see the princesses and for the breakfast. I dont relish spending $45 fr a few ounces of food but would be happy to pay a smaller fee to share the experience with my family. I can understand that this is a managers discretion thing, but would never have thought to ask.thanks!
 


One piece of advice from a family member of someone who had the surgery. Especially since you are so soon out from the surgery, be very careful not only of the amount you eat but of what you eat. I know others said, "I just order what I want and throw the rest away." This might work great for several years post-op, but if you are only 2-3 months post-op, be careful of the bites you take. My uncle ate the wrong things when he visited us (he was still eating small amounts then, but not closely watching what he ate), and he was in the bathroom what seemed like the whole visit. I would rather skip some of the eating at WDW then spend the whole trip in the bathroom (and WDW is FULL of food that would have sent him to the bathroom).

I would not use this as a time to try a bunch of new food. Stick to what you have been eating the past 2-3 months before your trip.
I am hoping that by the time we get there i will be fairly comfortable with what foods work best for me. The idea of an extended bathroom session is not very magical is it?Lol
 
Don't take this the wrong way, but shouldn't your doctor be the one to tell you what you can and can't eat, portion sizes, etc? Probably not too many medical degrees by those who are offering opinions on here..
Basically i have a list of foods to avoid, and guidelines for healthy eating with a focus on low fat protein...not much different than what a dietitian would give to any one. The trick is knowing which foods will be better handled by my unique physiology..while my pre-surgery self would have suffered a little indigestion from an overly fatty or seasoned food, my post-surgery stomach will react much more strongly to that same dish, causing extreme discomfort and major intestinalactivity. the restaurants as WDW use many different seasonings and cooking methods that i don't use at home, so i won't know how i handle it til i have it the first time. So that's why i asked here. between getting feedback about things like kids portions vs adult fees, knowing which restaurants may have more good selections over others,etc, there is always something to be learned on the DIS!
 
Basically i have a list of foods to avoid, and guidelines for healthy eating with a focus on low fat protein...not much different than what a dietitian would give to any one. The trick is knowing which foods will be better handled by my unique physiology..while my pre-surgery self would have suffered a little indigestion from an overly fatty or seasoned food, my post-surgery stomach will react much more strongly to that same dish, causing extreme discomfort and major intestinalactivity. the restaurants as WDW use many different seasonings and cooking methods that i don't use at home, so i won't know how i handle it til i have it the first time. So that's why i asked here. between getting feedback about things like kids portions vs adult fees, knowing which restaurants may have more good selections over others,etc, there is always something to be learned on the DIS!
Folks thanks for this great feedback. I dont respond to every post becase i use my nook to surf and itsa hassle. 8-)
 


Just got back yesterday and am 6 months out on the sleeve. All in all, things went well. We did le cellier and my wide and I split the mushroom filet. (Well I had 1/3 of it)

The other table serve we did was ohana. Delicious, but its too much to pay 30 dollars for a few bites. Sad, but is a small price to pay for being healthier than I used to be.

The rest of the trip, I ate off my wife's quick serves and all seemed to go well. I had some moments where I went overboard and paid the price, but it was still an awesome trip. Different though as we used to be deluxe dining plan people.
 
I am a year post gastric band. I have been to WDW several times since my surgery and every TS resturant has been great. I have ordered appetizers, shared entrees with DH, and ordered from the kid's menu.

We don't do the dining plan and tend to avoid buffets, but we did that prior to my surgery as well.

My band won't tolerate anything that is flour dense - bread, pasta, cakes, or pie crusts, dry/tough meats, or grape skins. Rather than ask for substitutions for things, I ask that they be left off my plate or just don't eat them.

I have never had a restaurant at WDW deny any accomodation. However, I have never requested a reduced price or child's price, either.

The best advice that I can offer is to talk with your server before your order.
 
Just got back yesterday and am 6 months out on the sleeve. All in all, things went well. We did le cellier and my wide and I split the mushroom filet. (Well I had 1/3 of it)

The other table serve we did was ohana. Delicious, but its too much to pay 30 dollars for a few bites. Sad, but is a small price to pay for being healthier than I used to be.

The rest of the trip, I ate off my wife's quick serves and all seemed to go well. I had some moments where I went overboard and paid the price, but it was still an awesome trip. Different though as we used to be deluxe dining plan people.

Did they have any issues with sharing a dish? We have a 9 YO, and she and I often choose the same thing, so I could see sharing a dish with her. Isn't Ohana where they serve you family style at the table? I have not eaten there before. I KWYM about the pricing but in the long run, well worth it!

I am a year post gastric band. I have been to WDW several times since my surgery and every TS resturant has been great. I have ordered appetizers, shared entrees with DH, and ordered from the kid's menu.

We don't do the dining plan and tend to avoid buffets, but we did that prior to my surgery as well.

My band won't tolerate anything that is flour dense - bread, pasta, cakes, or pie crusts, dry/tough meats, or grape skins. Rather than ask for substitutions for things, I ask that they be left off my plate or just don't eat them.

I have never had a restaurant at WDW deny any accomodation. However, I have never requested a reduced price or child's price, either.

The best advice that I can offer is to talk with your server before your order.

I am so excited that the newer kids menus seem to be "real" food as opposed to pizza and chicken nuggets everywhere.

I will have to waste at least one buffet when we go -- sadly its really the best way to have character interactions and I can't see a way around it till DD gets a little older. (well, who am I kidding? I LOVE the character interactions probably more than she does!!!)
 
Did they have any issues with sharing a dish? We have a 9 YO, and she and I often choose the same thing, so I could see sharing a dish with her. Isn't Ohana where they serve you family style at the table? I have not eaten there before. I KWYM about the pricing but in the long run, well worth it!...

Ohana is like buffets. You all pay to enter the space and they serve you familiy style. You don't order from the menu.
 
Did they have any issues with sharing a dish? We have a 9 YO, and she and I often choose the same thing, so I could see sharing a dish with her.

Not the poster you were asking, but I have often shared dishes, even at signature restaurants and CS, and have never had a problem with the restaurant.
 
Sharing a meal has never been a problem. In fact, some of restaurants split the meal in the kitchen and served it on two plates.
 
My DH is scheduled to have gastric bypass tomorrow. We are planning WDW over Thanksgiving week. We will not be doing any buffets and plan on sharing our meals. We also plan on bringing his protein shakes for breakfast and quick snacks for him.

This is a 5 year old thread. The information may no longer be current.
 
I don't do the buffets because of this. We actually have done the DDP and share an entree so pretty much eat 2 TS a day. My DH and I just share or I get like a soup or salad. I just refuse to pay for a buffet when I don't eat too much.
 
Thank you Slakk for the kind reply. He is two days post op and is doing well. We know this is a slow process but we are excited to see where this path leads him.
 
My 20 year old daughter is in the process of having this surgery. One of her concerns, is how am I going to go to Disney and still enjoy the eating experience? (as sill as it would be for others who wouldn't understand).
This thread has been very informative. Thank you everyone for your advice and information. I'm sure we will make it work with a combination of sharing, eating an appetizer or kids menu item... and being ok with some food waste while on vacation.
 
My 20 year old daughter is in the process of having this surgery. One of her concerns, is how am I going to go to Disney and still enjoy the eating experience? (as sill as it would be for others who wouldn't understand).
This thread has been very informative. Thank you everyone for your advice and information. I'm sure we will make it work with a combination of sharing, eating an appetizer or kids menu item... and being ok with some food waste while on vacation.

First, don't view the loss of food as a negativity. That mindset will drag you down. Yes there are plenty of food options that you might have to weigh if it is worth the price for so little food? I was sleeved 2+ years ago and have to make this call when booking dining reservations for my family. I try to not think of it negatively. Instead I remember if the food was decent and a good value. If not then no loss. If it was good food then I know that there may be waste and a high price, but it's for quality. Otherwise I share a meal with another member of my party when possible.

DH and I or DD and I often share meals at both QS and TS restaurants just like we do locally. We now skip most buffets where before we would be all over them, even if the food quality was low. Now if we do a buffet we think about which is the better option (characters and food options) and only do one if at all. WDW has so many great places to eat that even a small portion will suffice and not detract from the experience. I still indulge in snacks while at the parks, but not as many and again I share them. I don;t need the whole Mickey ice cream bar or box of popcorn.
 

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