Anyone NOT eat at a buffet?

[budafam]

Yes, I've looked at the menus on allears but some of the buffets are kind of vague and they don't list everything.

I'm not saying Disney should accommodate him, heck, I don't accommodate him! lol... I'm just trying to make this as easy as I can for our family to enjoy a meal (even DH).

 

[psac]

They will definitely let him look before you commit to sitting (and getting charged.) Also you could say he's allergic to cheese and I'm sure they would make him scrambled eggs without them. Plus at some of the breakfast buffets (1900 PF, Crystal Palace, but not Cape May), they have omlete stations where everyone can get fried eggs or fresh scrambled eggs.

 

[worm761]

I am a a fairly picky eater. The breakfast buffets that I have been to have all had regular scrambled eggs. I don't like cheese (or anything else) on my eggs either. there are always cereals, muffins, bagels, and toast. Some type of potato and plenty of meats. Biscuits and gravy. Fruit. There is a very large variety.

 

[snykymom]

I'm wondering if he'll have the option of leaving and not being charged if there's nothing he'll eat. There are character meals that I'd like my children to be able to attend. We're not about to center all of our meals around DH but I'd like to know his options, that's all.

I understand. I'd guess, as others have said, that they will let him look around before being seated, and then allow him to leave if there's nothing he'll eat. But once you're all seated, you're done - he'll have to pay. Particularly at a character meal.

Of course, all of this begs the question - if he doesn't find something he'll eat at a buffet, what will he do? It's not like there will be any other TS restaurants he can just walk into. And it's much more likely that he'll find something at a buffet than he would if he were simply left to the QS options in a park.

 

[Cherinva]

My DBF is the worst when it comes to eating...I've never seen someone so picky !!! However, he was able to find something to eat at every buffet....

 

[cajunprincess]

My husband is the pickiest man on earth and he can always find something to eat at the buffets, sometimes it is even something from the children's section. I don't think they will ask you to leave if just one person isn't eating. I wouldn't think they would charge you if he isn't eating, just don't let him eat off your plate. He could just order a drink.

I agree that it shouldn't be a problem. I'm not a buffet person, personally, but this would probably be the best place for your DH to find something to eat b/c there is a lot of choices. If he doesn't eat and he's the only one not eating, I wouldn't think it would be a problem. I might would confirm this with disney dining though.

 

[loveshak22]

Has anyone ever clicked the button on the online reservation system that says "I have a special request or food allergy"? I wonder what options it gives you?

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

Has anyone ever clicked the button on the online reservation system that says "I have a special request or food allergy"? I wonder what options it gives you?

I think it gives you options of listing foods that you have allergies to, I have partially seen it, but never clicked on it.

 

[amystevekai&bump]

What sort of things does you DH like to eat for dinner? - I might be able to tell you whether I saw some of those things at the dinnet buffet at Park Fare, but I can't remember well enough to list everything that was there - If that makes sense?!

 

[budafam]

What sort of things does you DH like to eat for dinner? - I might be able to tell you whether I saw some of those things at the dinnet buffet at Park Fare, but I can't remember well enough to list everything that was there - If that makes sense?!

His "norm" is a cheese pizza daily. Otherwise he'll eat grilled cheeses, mozzarella sticks, mac & cheese (only yellow with elbow noodles), garlic bread, french fries... I think that's it. He likes spaghetti but never eats it outside of our house (he has to have Ragu traditional sauce with long spaghetti noodles and no extras in it). Ugh... lol...

 

[budafam]

Has anyone ever clicked the button on the online reservation system that says "I have a special request or food allergy"? I wonder what options it gives you?

I did this on our last trip. I wrote Disney an email 2 weeks prior with all of the foods DH would eat. Disney wrote me back that he would have no problems at our reserved places to eat. We ended up having a few issues and no one catered to him (I'm not complaining, I really don't think they should have to but I don't know why they offer the option if they don't do anything about it when the option is chosen) I think just because it's not a health problem, they won't do anything about it but really, DH will not eat if they don't have something he eats on a normal basis. I would think that's a health issue. He's not just saying he doesn't like onions on his burger

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

I did this on our last trip. I wrote Disney an email 2 weeks prior with all of the foods DH would eat. Disney wrote me back that he would have no problems at our reserved places to eat. We ended up having a few issues and no one catered to him (I'm not complaining, I really don't think they should have to but I don't know why they offer the option if they don't do anything about it when the option is chosen) I think just because it's not a health problem, they won't do anything about it but really, DH will not eat if they don't have something he eats on a normal basis. I would think that's a health issue. He's not just saying he doesn't like onions on his burger

Did you let the server know that you needed to speak with the chef directly after you were seated? That is what the family I observed did, the chef came out a few minutes later, went back to the kitchen and later came back with whatever he fixed. If I remember correctly this was at WCC

 

[2binak]

I think just because it's not a health problem, they won't do anything about it but really, DH will not eat if they don't have something he eats on a normal basis. I would think that's a health issue. He's not just saying he doesn't like onions on his burger

(bolding is mine) It isn't a health issue, it's a preference issue.

I agree with others that a buffet should have at least one item that he will eat, but it may be best to ask if he can look around when you check in at the host podium.

 

[amystevekai&bump]

His "norm" is a cheese pizza daily. Otherwise he'll eat grilled cheeses, mozzarella sticks, mac & cheese (only yellow with elbow noodles), garlic bread, french fries... I think that's it. He likes spaghetti but never eats it outside of our house (he has to have Ragu traditional sauce with long spaghetti noodles and no extras in it). Ugh... lol...

They definitely had cheese pizza and also the yellow mac n cheese on the kids section, but can't remember the other things (Although mozzerella cheese sticks are my most favourite thing in the whole world, so I'm sure I would have remembered them if they had been there!!!)

I don't remember ever seeing mozzerella cheese, grilled cheese, garlic bread or even fries (it tends to be mashed potatoes or wedge type) on any of the buffets we have done at WDW, but I think the pizza and mac n cheese are regulars on the kids sections at most.

I think if it were me, I would probably skip the dinner buffets as I think it will be an expensive way for your DH to eat - unless of course it is all about a character experience and the food is secondary.

Hope that helps a little

 

[budafam]

(bolding is mine) It isn't a health issue, it's a preference issue.

I agree with others that a buffet should have at least one item that he will eat, but it may be best to ask if he can look around when you check in at the host podium.

It's actually not. He physically cannot eat other things. I have seen him seriously try multiple times and he gags on the texture. It's far beyond being just a "picky" eater but a lot of people don't believe us till they see it for themselves.

 

[budafam]

They definitely had cheese pizza and also the yellow mac n cheese on the kids section, but can't remember the other things (Although mozzerella cheese sticks are my most favourite thing in the whole world, so I'm sure I would have remembered them if they had been there!!!)

I don't remember ever seeing mozzerella cheese, grilled cheese, garlic bread or even fries (it tends to be mashed potatoes or wedge type) on any of the buffets we have done at WDW, but I think the pizza and mac n cheese are regulars on the kids sections at most.

I think if it were me, I would probably skip the dinner buffets as I think it will be an expensive way for your DH to eat - unless of course it is all about a character experience and the food is secondary.

Hope that helps a little

Thanks! I think we will just have to do that

 

[tinkerbellnsnowwhite]

They will charge him at buffets. You need to stick to regular table service if you don't want him to be charged.

 

[2binak]

It's actually not. He physically cannot eat other things. I have seen him seriously try multiple times and he gags on the texture. It's far beyond being just a "picky" eater but a lot of people don't believe us till they see it for themselves.

If he truly has a gag reflex problem, then he needs to be diagnosed & present that diagnosis to have meals specially prepared for him while at WDW. Like others have said, simply ask to talk to the chef when you arrive at your table. We have friends whose DD is lactose intolerant and they love dining at WDW because they are so well taken care of by the chefs.

 

[cerilene]

It's actually not. He physically cannot eat other things. I have seen him seriously try multiple times and he gags on the texture. It's far beyond being just a "picky" eater but a lot of people don't believe us till they see it for themselves.

I have a friend whose DS has an eating disorder that sounds very similar to what you DH has. They have to SLOWLY introduce new food into his diet. They talk about it for a month, he picks the new food and then it takes him a while before his body will accept the new food. I can't imagine going through that with an adult where introducing a new food is probably next to impossible. But perhaps you could work on slowly introducing something like chicken nuggets into his diet in preparations for Disney. They always have those on the kids menu.

My friend goes to Disney every year and her DS does very well with his diet while there. I'm sure if you explain when making your dining reservations that your DH has an eating disorder they will be more likely to accommodate than if you say he's picky. My dad can't eat bell peppers and the chef at Play N Dine took away his plate that he had already started fixing and walked through the buffet telling him what all fell into the safe category. He then went back to the kitchen and prepared one of the foods without peppers so he could eat that as well.

Good luck! What your DH has is a true eating disorder and it's very hard to understand unless you know someone who has it. (I happen to know 2 people!)

 

[Princesca]

I think you are an angel for caring enough to think about all this. I am, perhaps, a bad wife, but I think I would probably beat my DH senseless with a frying pan if he was that picky. LOL.

Sorry, I just read the part about the eating disorder. My DH does have some sensory issues, but they thankfully don't extend to food preferences.