Attending Disney buffets with a g-tube fed adult?

[aristocatz]

Just gathering info for a friend. If you have a family member or guest in your party who is g-tube fed and obviously cannot eat table food, does that adult guest still need to pay to join their party at a WDW buffet restaurant?

They clearly would not be eating, just joining their party at dinner.

Thanks!

 

[nugov2]

It doesn't matter if they are eating or not, WDW policy is typically to charge. You may have the price comped when you get there, but I would plan on paying just to be safe.

 

[aaarcher86]

Typically full price is still charged, particularly if it's a character meal or somewhere that there is entertainment put into the cost.

 

[aristocatz]

Thank you-I will pass that info along. Seems like a ridiculous policy, in my opinion, but it is what it is I guess.

 

[mistysue]

Thank you-I will pass that info along. Seems like a ridiculous policy, in my opinion, but it is what it is I guess.

The idea is that the character meals are charging for entertainment. Of course it's a ridiculous policy for a g-tube situation, but if you think about it they really have to have an official policy that everybody pays because if they don't half of the tables would have "non eaters" to save money. I watched a woman once try to negotiate a lower rate because she was "only there for the kids to eat" and she was "only having dessert". So officially everybody pays, but especially with a medical situation ask.

 

[aristocatz]

The idea is that the character meals are charging for entertainment. Of course it's a ridiculous policy for a g-tube situation, but if you think about it they really have to have an official policy that everybody pays because if they don't half of the tables would have "non eaters" to save money. I watched a woman once try to negotiate a lower rate because she was "only there for the kids to eat" and she was "only having dessert". So officially everybody pays, but especially with a medical situation ask.

I can completely understand charging people who are physically capable of eating, but I cannot understand charging someone full price (or any price) who cannot physically eat a morsel of anything on that buffet, through no choice of their own. & I could understand the entertainment piece, except for that fact that my DD (17 months at the time) was at all character buffets fully accessing and enjoying the entertainment, and eating food from the buffet, yet she was free. The adult I mentioned in the original post is not really going to be getting much out of the entertainment. The family just wants her to be included in their mealtime.

I'm going to recommend to this family that they show up early & speak to a manager, in hopes that the manager will be reasonable enough to not charge them.

 

[OurBigTrip]

I can completely understand charging people who are physically capable of eating, but I cannot understand charging someone full price (or any price) who cannot physically eat a morsel of anything on that buffet, through no choice of their own. & I could understand the entertainment piece, except for that fact that my DD (17 months at the time) was at all character buffets fully accessing and enjoying the entertainment, and eating food from the buffet, yet she was free. The adult I mentioned in the original post is not really going to be getting much out of the entertainment. The family just wants her to be included in their mealtime.

I'm going to recommend to this family that they show up early & speak to a manager, in hopes that the manager will be reasonable enough to not charge them.

No reason they shouldn't ask, but they should be prepared to pay, as results of such requests have been mixed.

 

[Ham2000]

I have had gastric bypass and I usually speak with the manager when I get there and explain my situation and show my medical card. We have not had much of a problem once we arrive of them helping us out! This has been at both sit down and character meals. Good luck!

 

[aristocatz]

Thank you The question was actually for a friend of mine, not me. I'm really hoping the manager is reasonable when they talk to them before their meal. They are a lovely family & will do whatever needs to be done. To me, it just seems like a slap in the face to make someone pay for a meal who doesn't have the physical ability to even take one bite.

 

[SueM in MN]

Thank you The question was actually for a friend of mine, not me. I'm really hoping the manager is reasonable when they talk to them before their meal. They are a lovely family & will do whatever needs to be done. To me, it just seems like a slap in the face to make someone pay for a meal who doesn't have the physical ability to even take one bite.

They will not arrange it ahead of time because, unfortunately, there are people who would lie to avoid paying. So, it may seem silly to you, but the reason is they don't want to get stuck having promised not to charge someone who actually ends up eating.

The servers and managers have discretion to charge a lower rate or not charge at all, based on what they observe.

In some cases, people have reported they were charged full price, sometimes not charged at all, sometimes adult charged child price and sometimes an entertainment fee.

So, I would go in expecting to pay full price and then explain the situation nicely to the server and ask for a discount for someone who is not capable of eating.

 

[aristocatz]

They will not arrange it ahead of time because, unfortunately, there are people who would lie to avoid paying. So, it may seem silly to you, but the reason is they don't want to get stuck having promised not to charge someone who actually ends up eating.

The servers and managers have discretion to charge a lower rate or not charge at all, based on what they observe.

In some cases, people have reported they were charged full price, sometimes not charged at all, sometimes adult charged child price and sometimes an entertainment fee.

So, I would go in expecting to pay full price and then explain the situation nicely to the server and ask for a discount for someone who is not capable of eating.

Thank you What I advised them to do is show up a few minutes before they open and ask to speak to a manager. I hope this does not come off as disrespectful, but the person in mind is quite impaired physically. It would appear quite believable that she may not be able to eat by mouth. Again, I hope I worded that correctly. I know there are alot of twisted people in this world, but I think it is beyond disgusting that anyone would try to fake such a thing. This family would give anything to pay full price and have their family member enjoy real food. I just hope they end up with an understanding manager.

 

[Mrsjvb]

Just gathering info for a friend. If you have a family member or guest in your party who is g-tube fed and obviously cannot eat table food, does that adult guest still need to pay to join their party at a WDW buffet restaurant?

They clearly would not be eating, just joining their party at dinner.

Thanks!

short answer: yes.

Long answer: they will either be charged full price, or a smaller 'entertainment fee' in the case off character buffets or shows.

it doesn't matter whether they eat nothing, or go back through the line 8 times loading their plate 3 feet high. I rarely do these buffets for exactly this reason.. I don't eat enough to justify the price and the entertainment is really the main reason most people go. and I can quite happily skip that altogether.

 

[Mrsjvb]

Thank you What I advised them to do is show up a few minutes before they open and ask to speak to a manager. I hope this does not come off as disrespectful, but the person in mind is quite impaired physically. It would appear quite believable that she may not be able to eat by mouth. Again, I hope I worded that correctly. I know there are alot of twisted people in this world, but I think it is beyond disgusting that anyone would try to fake such a thing. This family would give anything to pay full price and have their family member enjoy real food. I just hope they end up with an understanding manager.

the whole point of the ADA is to provide EQUALITY. not give someone special dispensation. it really does't matter that the person 'won't get anything out of it'.

I don't get anything out of them either, so I just plain do not go. if the family wants to do a buffet for other reasons then they need to to expect that everyone will be charged accordingly.

 

[quamyjim]

We have gone TWICE to hoopdeedo review and not been charged for me gtube fed daughter (age 10&12 when we went). I called Disney dining in advance when booking and explained. They were very helpful. Another time they charged the child price instead of adult because it was a character meal. Totally worth a call and speaking to manager.