Are restaurants still accommodating?

Jadyreen1282 · Sep 28, 2015

The wife has banding and you know what...we don't worry about pricing or special exclusions at Disney. It's just too much stress. Budget a full meal price and enjoy your stay. Argue with CM's over pricing and you're in no man's land. My 2p.

ms.yt · Sep 28, 2015

Let me clarify about what I was intending to ask about in my OP. I remember reading in the past that you could just order entree items without sides at most cs restaurants. I'm not that worried about getting charged less for a chicken sandwich with no bun, for example, but I was hoping that if I only order the sandwich with no sides I would be charged less. If not, it won't be the end if the world. Since my surgery my husband and/or kids and I usually share meals, but on this trip I'll just be traveling with seven high school kids. They might think its weird to share meals with me, so I was just trying to do a little extra planning. I went on a similar trip to Washington DC last year, but my son was one of the students in the trip, so it worked out that he shared with me at restaurants where I still had to order large portions.
When we're at Epcot, I plan to just eat at the Food and Wine booths, which will be perfect portion sizes for me!

aaarcher86 · Sep 28, 2015

jacinda824 said:
The cupcake analogy makes perfect sense - they are both medical conditions. Not very hard to understand...

.

Sorry no. If you're diabetic you don't buy the cupcake, or you pay for it and choose not to eat it. You don't get charged less because you want to scoop off the frosting.

That logic mirrored at a buffet is to either skip it or pay the price and eat what you'd like.

Comparing Disney forcing you to eat a cupcake with paying full price at a buffet makes zero sense. Disney isn't forcing you to eat at a buffet as a gastric patient.

wilkeliza · Sep 28, 2015

ms.yt said:
Let me clarify about what I was intending to ask about in my OP. I remember reading in the past that you could just order entree items without sides at most cs restaurants. I'm not that worried about getting charged less for a chicken sandwich with no bun, for example, but I was hoping that if I only order the sandwich with no sides I would be charged less. If not, it won't be the end if the world. Since my surgery my husband and/or kids and I usually share meals, but on this trip I'll just be traveling with seven high school kids. They might think its weird to share meals with me, so I was just trying to do a little extra planning. I went on a similar trip to Washington DC last year, but my son was one of the students in the trip, so it worked out that he shared with me at restaurants where I still had to order large portions.
When we're at Epcot, I plan to just eat at the Food and Wine booths, which will be perfect portion sizes for me!

I haven't tried recently but you are correct they use to do this. I would ask and see what happens. We always just substitute for fruit then carry it around for later.

disnut8 · Sep 28, 2015

jacinda824 said:
Just trying to be helpful and share my experiences having had the same surgery. This was based on my experience. Why is it that if I share my experience on here, there is such a commotion about ordering a darn kids meal????????????? How does a fast food place know that my kid is not outside with his dad and I just needed a meal for him??? How many times have people at Disney lied about their kid being under three to get free admission or 9 and under so they can order a kids meal??? Its a medical condition, if I was diabetic, can Disney make me eat a cupcake?? NOT!!!!!!!! I HIGHLY doubt they would charge someone with a feeding tube. That is outrageously ridiculous. I was trying to help someone out with the information that I know to be true in my experience. I have NEVER been charged a full price for a buffet. Maybe cause I explain very well why and am actually very polite about it. If others cannot do the same and are charged full price, that is not my problem. Good grief, thanks for attacking me. When you have had the same surgery and can comment 11 years after about your experiences, then feel free to tell me I am wrong. Until then, not so much.

Wow - I was one who responded after your first post on this thread and I said that I agreed that Disney usually does not reduce buffet meals for adults down to kids' prices so the OP should not expect that to happen. You had it happen which was nice for you but too many people can read something on a thread and believe it happens all the time and then get disappointed when Disney tells them "no".

I am a 5' foot nothing woman with a small appetite. While you may have a medical condition with your surgery, I could use your post as an example of wanting to get a child's meal price on a buffet just because I don't eat a lot. So could a lot of people. Then, where would Disney be? Disney does not require anyone with a medical condition (except for the pass, I know) to prove anything so there could be hundreds of people who just said, "I don't eat that much, let me have the kids price" and then eat more than a regular adult. And if a manager had to be called out each time, well, that would also be a problem.

kashzan · Sep 28, 2015

jacinda824 said:
Just trying to be helpful and share my experiences having had the same surgery. This was based on my experience. Why is it that if I share my experience on here, there is such a commotion about ordering a darn kids meal????????????? How does a fast food place know that my kid is not outside with his dad and I just needed a meal for him??? How many times have people at Disney lied about their kid being under three to get free admission or 9 and under so they can order a kids meal??? Its a medical condition, if I was diabetic, can Disney make me eat a cupcake?? NOT!!!!!!!! I HIGHLY doubt they would charge someone with a feeding tube. That is outrageously ridiculous. I was trying to help someone out with the information that I know to be true in my experience. I have NEVER been charged a full price for a buffet. Maybe cause I explain very well why and am actually very polite about it. If others cannot do the same and are charged full price, that is not my problem. Good grief, thanks for attacking me. When you have had the same surgery and can comment 11 years after about your experiences, then feel free to tell me I am wrong. Until then, not so much.

I really find comparing yourself to a person with a feeding tube offensive. And yes, if a person adult or child with a feeding tube sits with their family at a character buffet they are charged the buffet price. I think that calling a gastric bypass a medical condition is a bit silly. The bypass is the correction for the medical condition. Measles is a medical condition, the vaccine you get to ward off the measles is not !!!

Pally · Oct 4, 2015

I suppose other options you have if you have had bi-pass surgery is 1.) take your own food into the parks which would accommodate your needs. Many people have to do this. I know it can be a bummer with all the different restaurants but it is what it is 2.) If you are eating at a restaurant only order appetizers one m come when the mains are being served. At counter service order extra side and share a protein. I really don't think it is a restaurants obligation to deal with how much you can or cannot eat.

When I go to a buffet I do not over indulge. I eat what I would normally eat and not any more. There is no fast rule that you have to over indulge to make sure you get your "moneys worth". We have such flawed ideas or notions when eating at a buffet or restaurant. I know a lot of seniors that eat very little at meals. I have not seen any accommodation there unless it was a small local diner. I have son who is in his early 20s and eats very little. We have never asked for an accommodation. He will usually look at the menu and order something accordingly.

TheRustyScupper · Oct 5, 2015

jacinda824 said:
I HIGHLY doubt they would charge someone with a feeding tube. That is outrageously ridiculous

1) Not so.
2) They do charge full price at buffets for kids with tubes.
3) ONCE IN A WHILE, the local manager will let the kid go, but not very often.
4) It is not ridiculous as the guest has the option of not going to that meal location.

NOTE: You might not have been charged full price at buffets, but it is wrong for that to occur and you have been VERY lucky. In most every case, bariatric surgery folks should pay full price. After all, how can the CM know how much you did or did not eat? Some try to present a "courtesy card" they get from a doctor, but how can a CM know whether the card is real or not? And, yes, I DO know this for certain.

Nancyg56 · Oct 5, 2015

TheRustyScupper said:
1) Not so.
2) They do charge full price at buffets for kids with tubes.
3) ONCE IN A WHILE, the local manager will let the kid go, but not very often.
4) It is not ridiculous as the guest has the option of not going to that meal location.

I think that the mistake some people are making is that they think character meals are about the food. No. You are paying for food, but the real draw is the ability to meet the characters on your own terms. We booked a bunch in August and when one of our traveling companions said she was not hungry but would come watch, I told her to either come in and use a credit (we had plenty) or go back to the room and wait. I was taking the girls to meet Alice, and was willing to pay. No way was I asking for her to be exempted because she was not eating.

If folks choose not to pay for the experience, they can stand in line. The characters are available, but you go to them, not the other way around.

Pumbaa_ · Oct 5, 2015

Thank you Rusty for weighing in

After being on the boards for a very long time, this is also the very first time I have ever heard of an accomodation for bariatic surgery.

OP, I hope you can still order without the side of fries, or substitute something better. let us know when you get back.

Not going to address the over-reaction here. Sorry you felt attacked, you were not. People are sharing their very different experiences

As someone else mentioned, we hear all the time about folks with kids that turn 10 that they can't justify an adult price for a child that eats like a bird. They stop going to the buffets. They do not ask for accomation because their child still eats like a 5 yo.

Thank you all for posting your different experiences. Appreciate it!

SonicGuy · Oct 5, 2015

I have had bariatric surgery AND I have a daughter on a feeding tube. In December the official word from Disney about my daughter was that she was to be charged at any restaurant that was not a la carte. In reality, not one actually charged us for her - but we never once asked.

Interestingly the answer that Disney gave us (prior to taking her) was because of folks that have had bariatric surgery asking for a reduced price. When I eat at a non a la carte Disney restaurant rather than feeling like Im getting taken advantage of by Disney, I just think back to all of the meals prior to my surgery (I've lost 200 pounds) that I surely eat more than my fair share!

TheRustyScupper · Oct 6, 2015

SonicGuy said:
I have had bariatric surgery AND I have a daughter on a feeding tube. In December the official word from Disney about my daughter was that she was to be charged at any restaurant that was not a la carte. In reality, not one actually charged us for her - but we never once asked.

1) As mentioned above . . .
. . . ONCE IN A WHILE, the local manager will let the kid go, but not very often.
2) Although the policy is no price break, the local manager does have authority to not charge or charge less.
3) You were fortunate to find kinder managers, and not even charge for the entertainment value.

Nancyg56 · Oct 6, 2015

TheRustyScupper said:
1) As mentioned above . . .
. . . ONCE IN A WHILE, the local manager will let the kid go, but not very often.
2) Although the policy is no price break, the local manager does have authority to not charge or charge less.
3) You were fortunate to find kinder managers, and not even charge for the entertainment value.

Bet you a buck it was because the poster did not even ask for special treatment. AS most of us have explained, this kind of treatment is a gift and if it happens, treasure it. If not, well......

TheRustyScupper · Oct 6, 2015

Nancyg56 said:
Bet you a buck it was because the poster did not even ask for special treatment. AS most of us have explained, this kind of treatment is a gift and if it happens, treasure it. If not, well......

1) As I have stated in MANY postings, if people do not ask for something special, I frequently give it out.
2) As a Concierge, we have lots of "special" powers and can grant Pixie Dust.
3) I have been known to give away, at Disney expense,
. . . major room upgrades,
. . . fruit baskets (LOTS of these),
. . . wine & cheese baskets (more than I can count - although I am sure WDW does),
. . . fast passes.
4) It all depends upon how you act toward us and the mood we are in at that time.
5) Of course, there are those guests for whom I would do absolutely nothing involving personal initiative.

NOTE: I seldom get a second glance from managers when I request Freebies (which they must approve). I get more Fantastic comments from guests and other CM's than any other Concierge at my two resorts, so they trust my opinion. OR, they just get tired of my requests and pleadings.

Nancyg56 · Oct 6, 2015

TheRustyScupper said:
1) As I have stated in MANY postings, if people do not ask for something special, I frequently give it out.
2) As a Concierge, we have lots of "special" powers and can grant Pixie Dust.
3) I have been known to give away, at Disney expense,
. . . major room upgrades,
. . . fruit baskets (LOTS of these),
. . . wine & cheese baskets (more than I can count - although I am sure WDW does),
. . . fast passes.
4) It all depends upon how you act toward us and the mood we are in at that time.
5) Of course, there are those guests for whom I would do absolutely nothing involving personal initiative.

NOTE: I seldom get a second glance from managers when I request Freebies (which they must approve). I get more Fantastic comments from guests and other CM's than any other Concierge at my two resorts, so they trust my opinion. OR, they just get tired of my requests and pleadings.

And you have no idea how you impact those folks with the kindnesses. A concierge at the GF trackedtwo handmade autograph books down that the two young Princesses left behins when they went to visit Tink. I know that you do not work in a vacuum but he did not need to go to go to the lengths he did to get them mailed to us. The nice extras that you all do, not just at the Concierge level, but all of the CM's that do give those little things that make people feel so special can be the difference between a nice trip and a wonderful respite from whatever they left behnd at home.

DisBuckMan · Oct 6, 2015

TheRustyScupper said:
1) As I have stated in MANY postings, if people do not ask for something special, I frequently give it out.
2) As a Concierge, we have lots of "special" powers and can grant Pixie Dust.
3) I have been known to give away, at Disney expense,
. . . major room upgrades,
. . . fruit baskets (LOTS of these),
. . . wine & cheese baskets (more than I can count - although I am sure WDW does),
. . . fast passes.
4) It all depends upon how you act toward us and the mood we are in at that time.
5) Of course, there are those guests for whom I would do absolutely nothing involving personal initiative.

NOTE: I seldom get a second glance from managers when I request Freebies (which they must approve). I get more Fantastic comments from guests and other CM's than any other Concierge at my two resorts, so they trust my opinion. OR, they just get tired of my requests and pleadings.

I don't have any idea of which resorts you Concierge at, but if you were the one who upgraded us from a studio to a 1BR Villa at AKL a week and a half ago. it was incredibly appreciated.

Nancyg56 · Oct 6, 2015

DisBuckMan said:
I don't have any idea of which resorts you Concierge at, but if you were the one who upgraded us from a studio to a 1BR Villa at AKL a week and a half ago. it was incredibly appreciated.

I know! I have also been gifted and now I wonder if I shoud thank Mr Scupper! LOL! I know my magic was very much appreciated as well.

Are restaurants still accommodating?

Jadyreen1282

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ms.yt

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aaarcher86

Registered

wilkeliza

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disnut8

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kashzan

Mouseketeer

Pally

Mouseketeer

TheRustyScupper

Everyone Is Responsible For Everyone.

Nancyg56

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Pumbaa_

>Hakuna Matata!<

SonicGuy

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TheRustyScupper

Everyone Is Responsible For Everyone.

Nancyg56

DIS Veteran

TheRustyScupper

Everyone Is Responsible For Everyone.

Nancyg56

DIS Veteran

DisBuckMan

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Nancyg56

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