Buffet or Family Style Meals - Child (adult at disney) on medication pricing question

[summerrluvv]

Answer has been covered, thanks!!!


My son is an adult at Disney (he's 13). We no longer do the character meals because the medication he is on makes him have no appetite. I can't justify paying $50 for dinner for him to eat two bites of something. Someone told me that if your child (or adult) has a medical issue such as what I stated above, that they will offer the meal at the child's price. Has anyone found this to be true? If so, how do you go about arranging this? Just at check in? I assume I need to bring our doctor's note as well. Thanks for any help.

[Nevada Jen]

I was wondering the same thing. My DD is 14. The size and look of a 5 year old and post feeding tube. She won't even eat as much as a child, let alone an adult. I have considered lying about her age but I think that's a bad karma thing to do on a wish trip! I will be interested to hear what others have to say!

[crashbb]

The official answer is that you still have to pay full price (or use the appropriate dining credit). However, some people have had luck getting a reduced charge (or no charge) when actually at the restaurant by talking with the manager.

[Schmeck]

For the character meals, the standard Disney line is that you are paying not only for food, but for the character experience. I second the idea of speaking to a manager at the restaurant, but I'd also have the mindset that I would have to pay full price.

[summerrluvv]

Originally Posted by Schmeck

For the character meals, the standard Disney line is that you are paying not only for food, but for the character experience. I second the idea of speaking to a manager at the restaurant, but I'd also have the mindset that I would have to pay full price.

I get that, but children aren't free and are interacting with the characters, you are still paying for them (well 3-9 anyway).

It sounds like there is no policy on it. No biggie. I feel a little bad for my daughter to be missing out, but it's not worth the price now. Especially since my DS is VERY timid around the characters anyway. So to pay $50 for him to eat 2 chicken nuggets and not even want to look at the characters is just silly lol. We will happily stick with counter service meals and non character Thanks for your help!

[lanejudy]

If you are talking about the dining plan, you will have to purchase the adult dining plan for him. There is no way around it. If you are paying out-of-pocket, at a non-buffet most restaurants will allow anybody to order off the children's menu. I've heard some say the non-Disney-owned restaurants may not allow this, but no problem with adults of any age ordering a kids meal. At the buffets or dinner shows where it's a per-person charge, as others have stated, you can try to ask a manager when you are there. Some people report having the charge reduced or not charged, others have reported being charged an "entertainment" fee. But this is usually only if the child truly cannot eat (tube fed, etc.). Consider it pixie-dust if this happens, though, as many people also report having to pay full price.

I'd suggest looking for restaurants where you can order from the menu. If you wish to do the character buffets or dinner shows, just consider it the cost of a ticket for the show (or character interaction) rather than focusing on the food.

Enjoy your vacation!

[SueM in MN]

Originally Posted by summerrluvv

I get that, but children aren't free and are interacting with the characters, you are still paying for them (well 3-9 anyway).

It sounds like there is no policy on it. No biggie. I feel a little bad for my daughter to be missing out, but it's not worth the price now. Especially since my DS is VERY timid around the characters anyway. So to pay $50 for him to eat 2 chicken nuggets and not even want to look at the characters is just silly lol. We will happily stick with counter service meals and non character Thanks for your help!

There is a policy - it is that each person is charged the price for their age, depending on what the charge is for that particular location.

Servers have the discretion to lower a rate or not charged, but you can't count on it and can't arrange it ahead of time. It is pixie dust that may or may not happen.

When someone is totally tube fed and doesn't eat anything, they MAY charge an entertainment fee for that person that is less than the total. Again, not something you can count on.

If one child doesn't really like the characters anyway, you could book a meal for you and your daughter and have other members of your family eat somewhere else. We just look at it as the rest of us are eating and assume DD wont eat her money's worth.

[summerrluvv]

Originally Posted by SueM in MN

There is a policy - it is that each person is charged the price for their age, depending on what the charge is for that particular location.

Servers have the discretion to lower a rate or not charged, but you can't count on it and can't arrange it ahead of time. It is pixie dust that may or may not happen.

When someone is totally tube fed and doesn't eat anything, they MAY charge an entertainment fee for that person that is less than the total. Again, not something you can count on.

If one child doesn't really like the characters anyway, you could book a meal for you and your daughter and have other members of your family eat somewhere else. We just look at it as the rest of us are eating and assume DD wont eat her money's worth.

Yes I get it.

I'm traveling alone with my children.

Thanks for your help.