Buffet Question for our little guy

[Gabrielsbigtrip]

Okay, so he isn't so little anymore ......

We are planning a trip to Disney in May for our guys b-day. He is turning 11. In the past we used the Dining Plan because in the 3-9 age group it really wasn't that pricey and we were able to deal with our picky little one (severe food aversion.....Autsim).

Now that he is out of that price range and is getting priced as we would....it makes no sense to pay an adult price for him and I wanted to pay out of pocket this trip.

My question is: If we go to Boma for Breakfast and Dinner....is it possible to pay for the buffet for me and the hubby and then order a plate for our son. For example an order of pancakes or mac and cheese only? I know I can tell them he isn't eating at all but I will need to plan on getting him fed prior to our meal if that is the case.

I just can't see paying $40 for a plate of mac and cheese or $25 for pancakes only.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Pakey]

No. Even if he doesn't eat at all, you'd have to pay for him. OOP, buffets are a terrible value at WDW so we try to avoid them.

 

[Gabrielsbigtrip]

I am positive when we were on the dining plan we asked them to only use two credits and they did. I assumed they would do the same if you were paying out of pocket. We did this alot I am sure but it was a few years ago. I know because we had weird credits left over at the end of our trip.

I don't mind paying for him at the Crystal Palace for breakfast because I can get him to eat pancakes - plain, waffles - plain, grapes and a blueberry muffin....the rest of the price I can chalk up to seeing his face when he sees the characters. But Boma is a favorite of ours and I can't see spending adult buffet price for our son to eat a plate of mac and cheese (IF he will even eat that).

I can understand why they would have a policy to charge anyway because I know there are people who would take advantage of it and feed their kiddo anyway. I just want to order a meal and not the whole buffet.

Seriously, I would pay $1000 to see my kid eat things from the buffet but that just isn't going to happen

 

[jodywgirl]

Why not try to go to something that isn't a buffet so you can order something small for him. I was thinking Sanaa or Jiko at AKL still kind of the same foods.
If you are not huge eaters the cost of the buffets especially the dinner ones just don't compute especially if you have a kid over nine who is a picky eater.

 

[tarheelmjfan]

I am positive when we were on the dining plan we asked them to only use two credits and they did. I assumed they would do the same if you were paying out of pocket. We did this alot I am sure but it was a few years ago. I know because we had weird credits left over at the end of our trip.

I don't mind paying for him at the Crystal Palace for breakfast because I can get him to eat pancakes - plain, waffles - plain, grapes and a blueberry muffin....the rest of the price I can chalk up to seeing his face when he sees the characters. But Boma is a favorite of ours and I can't see spending adult buffet price for our son to eat a plate of mac and cheese (IF he will even eat that).

I can understand why they would have a policy to charge anyway because I know there are people who would take advantage of it and feed their kiddo anyway. I just want to order a meal and not the whole buffet.

Seriously, I would pay $1000 to see my kid eat things from the buffet but that just isn't going to happen

Did you have 3 at the table & only had to pay for 2 on those occasions? If so, you were extremely lucky to have so many buffets allow the 3rd person to sit & not be charged. That's really not common. Unfortunately, I've never heard of a WDW restaurant that is buffet only* that allows you to order a la carte & be charged for the value of that meal. I've read of them making a special meal for a guest, but they were still charged the buffet price. I hope you all are able to find a non-buffet favorite, that will work better for all of you.

*Captain's Grill has both buffet & a la carte breakfast.

 

[Gabrielsbigtrip]

Well my husband really enjoys Boma and Ohana so I want to keep those on our plan.

I did just look at my Trip Report and I see that my husband brought our son Mac and Cheese - We had free dining that trip and would have used a child credit if he actually ate something so now I think I am either crazy or getting trips mixed up.

I am positive in 2007 we had weird credits left over.....

Anyway, I am thinking I may have to call each one and explain the situation. If at the very least he is not allowed to sit with us at no charge while we eat.....then we won't eat there I guess.

 

[minnie mum]

Unfortunately you really have only 2 choices when it comes to any WDW buffet or family-style meal. You either pay for every person at the table, whether they eat the meal or not; or you dont' go, and restrict your ADR's to a la carte restaurants where you can order a childs' meal for you DS.

You are not alone in this situation, but Disney's position on this is understandable, I think. One other possibility that you could consider is to book one of these ADRs for yourself and DH, feed your son earlier, and put him in the Neverland Club while you dine.

 

[Eliza32]

Can you not get an exception because of his autism on disability grounds? If you can show he won't/can't eat (doctors letter in advance maybe) then surely they can help you somehow.

 

[Gabrielsbigtrip]

We tried the kids club one time when we dined at Artist Pointe...it lasted about 5 minutes before they called me. He said he missed his best friend Mom.... I just can't leave him.....he's special so it's sort of hard to explain.

If I have to pay full price for the little guy just to make my big guy happy I will but I will do my best to explain the situation and see if they can help. Sadly he won't even eat a kids meal. His food selection is so limited.......

 

[HiHoOffWeGo]

Germany has to have something on those tables - They have everything.

 

[minnie mum]

Germany has to have something on those tables - They have everything.

You might want to re-read the other posts. And she is particularly talking about wanting to eat at Ohana and Boma. It is the price of the meal compared to what her son will eat, not just the menu.

It is very difficult for Disney to grant any kind of exception for these types of meals. You can imagine the precident this sets. It is a very steep, slippery slope that can lead to all kinds of abuse. If they give the OP an exemption, then they have to give it to the next person too, and so on.

As hard as it is, I'm afraid that for now at least, buffets and family style meals will either be extremely expensive as far as food/value goes, or just not on your list until your DS will eat a less restricted diet.

 

[momtwoboys]

We have the same situation as you. Younger DS 11. Will your son eat french fries? They have those on the buffet at Boma in addition to the Mac n cheese, and tons of grapes! That in itself makes a meal to me My son won't touch Mac n cheese, will actually vomit if he sees it or sees someone else eating it He eats grapes/watermelon french fries, a few cut up meatballs, and one of those little muffins (corn maybe?) We eat there because the rest of the family loves the other choices. But we have found we are essentially paying to be able to make him a plate right away. and Not having to wait forever is priceless. Good luck! We have eaten at lots of places too if you have any other questions

 

[Cheshire Figment]

The buffet restaurants do not have menus. It is an all or nothing situation, and each person who is physically present (age 3 and up) pays for the meal.

 

[chartle]

We have the same situation as you. Younger DS 11. Will your son eat french fries? They have those on the buffet at Boma in addition to the Mac n cheese, and tons of grapes! That in itself makes a meal to me My son won't touch Mac n cheese, will actually vomit if he sees it or sees someone else eating it He eats grapes/watermelon french fries, a few cut up meatballs, and one of those little muffins (corn maybe?) We eat there because the rest of the family loves the other choices. But we have found we are essentially paying to be able to make him a plate right away. and Not having to wait forever is priceless. Good luck! We have eaten at lots of places too if you have any other questions

But I think the issue is that they don't want to pay $40 for some fries and mac and cheese for a 11 year old adult.

OP I very much know what you are going through as my son is the same way (but now 21). We just stopped going to buffets like Boma even for breakfast because my son would only get a bagel or 2 and milk.

Last time for breakfast we did Whispering Canyon Cafe because my wife, other son and I could get the skillet and he could get regular pancakes.

Its tough because every place we want to go to eat anywhere (he commutes to college*) I have to make sure there is something he will eat. We keep telling him he is going to have to start sometime because if/no when he graduates and is a Chemical Engineer he is going to be having meals with others and he's not always going to get pizza or a burgher or chicken fingers.

I can't even imagine him traveling to other countries.

Also like others have posted its a buffet, there is no menu just the buffet.

* University of Pittsburgh

 

[chartle]

Can you not get an exception because of his autism on disability grounds? If you can show he won't/can't eat (doctors letter in advance maybe) then surely they can help you somehow.

I'm 100% sure they way they would help is to make him something to he would eat not modify the price. I don't think ADA comes into play here.