Autism & Eating disorder at WDW?

[princessjv]

I am planning a trip that includes a 11 year old, who is on the Autism Spectrum and is battling an eating disorder. How do I deal with making dining reservations for resturants who have a flat fee charge like CM, Boma, O'hana...? The child will eat not even eat 1/2 of an average "kids meal" and wouldn't eat more than 1/2 cup of macaroni at most of these resturants. Is there someone at WDW that I can speak to? I understand that this issue is not covered under the "GAC" card (which we thankfully don't need). The last trip the child was under the 10 year age, therefore we never had to pay more than a child's fee for his "joining" us, while we ate and he nibbled.

Any help on this situation would be greatly appreciated.

 

[crashbb]

Unfortunately, the standard answer is that you have to pay the normal cost for any buffet or all-you-can-eat. Some people have reported success with getting a reduced rate once at the restaurants (the managers seem to have some leeway), but some people have still had to pay the full fee even then.

 

[Tissa]

My ds is autistic and will not eat anything that comes off a buffet or in a cafeteria. When he was little we just paid the kids price as well but after he turned 10 we stopped doing the character or buffet places. One trip it was my other ds's birthday so we did eat at Ohana and Crystal Palace. I just brought food I knew he would eat( a to go bowl of cereal etc.) Crystal Palace the waitress realized that he did not eat anything and said she would not charge us for him. At Ohana the waitress charged us anyway and I paid it.

Ask when you sit down and they may not charge you but be prepared to pay if they do.

It is frustrating I know.

 

[Maggie'sMom]

Unfortunately, the standard answer is that you have to pay the normal cost for any buffet or all-you-can-eat. Some people have reported success with getting a reduced rate once at the restaurants (the managers seem to have some leeway), but some people have still had to pay the full fee even then.

This is correct. I don't think I've ever heard before of someone getting the charge reduced at a character meal or dinner show. The reasoning being you are there for the characters, not just the food. It's definitely up to the server and manager as Tissa stated above.

There have been people who have kids on feeding tubes that get charged at buffets. People who have had gastric bypass and can't eat much who have gotten charged full price at buffets. You can always explain the situation and ask to pay the children's price, but be prepared to pay full cost. If you really don't want to pay full price, then you may need to reconsider whether the buffet restaurants are a good value for you.

 

[dzorn]

Unfortunately, the standard answer is that you have to pay the normal cost for any buffet or all-you-can-eat. Some people have reported success with getting a reduced rate once at the restaurants (the managers seem to have some leeway), but some people have still had to pay the full fee even then.

This is correct you will pay full price if you do buffet.

We avoid the OPs problem by not doing buffets now that DD is a disney "adult" as far as dining goes.

Denise in MI