Can a non-eater sit w/o buying a buffet?

[airis]

My husband doesn't eat breakfast and we have a couple of breakfast buffet ADRs. Are we going to have any problem with not paying for a buffet he's not going to eat? Can he bring coffee in?

 

[SirDuff]

Yes, you are going to have trouble. They will charge your husband.

The official rule is that everyone pays - even people who cannot eat (e.g. someone tub-fed). Occasionally, a manager can override this (on a case-by-case basis) at the time of the meal, but I've this cannot be relied on, and usually happens when it is obvious that people couldn't eat (e.g. the aforementioned tub-fed guest or a child who slept through the meal).

 

[maxiesmom]

Unfortunately if he sits, he pays. Disney does not allow for non paying guests at any buffet or family style meals.

 

[airis]

Thanks. I guess I'll wrangle the kids by myself.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

. . . Are we going to have any problem with not paying for a buffet he's not going to eat? Can he bring coffee in?

1) If you enter, you must pay.
2) And, you pay full price.
3) I have seen lots of folks trying to get full/partial discounts and it doesn't work.
. . . tube-fed folks who cannot take any buffet food/drink
. . . gastric bypass folks who can only eat 4-5 ounces, total
. . . those who prefer to not eat at all

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

My husband doesn't eat breakfast and we have a couple of breakfast buffet ADRs. Are we going to have any problem with not paying for a buffet he's not going to eat? Can he bring coffee in?

He will be charged.

We lucked out recently when our 4yo slept through dinner at the Biergarten. We asked to have her meal price removed, explaining we understood completely if it was not permitted. The waiter did not have discretion to do this but said he would ask his manager. They did go ahead and remove it by changing her to an infant. But it was very much an exception and a rare circumstance of it being allowed. And we were okay with paying. We did tip on the amount she would have been charged.

No way will they permit an alert adult Male who doesn't want to eat to sit for free. He could wait outside and enjoy his coffee or your party can select a different restaurant.

I can offer. Ohana's character dining--they have family style. But they might I have an a la carte menu meaning your husband might be able to order just coffee.

WCC, same set up, but no characters, and definitely has a separate menu and he could order just coffee and be charged accordingly.

 

[BigAlsGal]

You know. I always thought you would be charged but SOMETIMES depending on the server you might get lucky. We ate at whispering canyon which is a family style restaurant similar to buffet rules. We got the all you eat skillet. One of my DD was being a poop and refused to eat even though we made her a plate and proceeded to fall asleep on the floor under the table. I never even considered asking the server to not charge even though she didn't touch a bite. I just knew we'd be charged.

She came over later and told us she didn't charge her cause she didn't eat and she even gave us a to-go box. She was so kind. Theres always a chance you could get lucky. I believe if you just sit there quietly and don't push the issue you have a better chance. Your experience may vary.

 

[airis]

Is there somewhere to easily identify what places are family style or buffet vs a LA carte? So far I've been reading through each restaurant description but even then sometimes it's not very clear.

And paying for uneaten food is pretty usual for us ... Our older son has sensory issues and frequently eats only a few bites or not at all. He comes by it from his dad who also skips meals regularly. Last time we were at wdw our younger son was free and he pretty much ate our older son's portion. This time I'm hoping to minimize the amount we pay for people not eating.

 

[minnie mum]

Is there somewhere to easily identify what places are family style or buffet vs a LA carte? So far I've been reading through each restaurant description but even then sometimes it's not very clear.

On the Disney website, click on All Dining. Click on the Filter button on the right. Select "Type" and "Done". The list of restaurants will then be sorted as to type of restaurants. All of the buffets and family style places are grouped together as the first grouping.

 

[airis]

On the Disney website, click on All Dining. Click on the Filter button on the right. Select "Type" and "Done". The list of restaurants will then be sorted as to type of restaurants. All of the buffets and family style places are grouped together as the first grouping.

I don't see a filter button. I see a "Filter By" banner that will let me filter FOR buffet/family style, but I don't see anything that will let me sort by type or filter against buffet/family style.

Oh nevermind ... there's the sort button. Thanks!

 

[Allison]

You know. I always thought you would be charged but SOMETIMES depending on the server you might get lucky. We ate at whispering canyon which is a family style restaurant similar to buffet rules. We got the all you eat skillet. One of my DD was being a poop and refused to eat even though we made her a plate and proceeded to fall asleep on the floor under the table. I never even considered asking the server to not charge even though she didn't touch a bite. I just knew we'd be charged.

She came over later and told us she didn't charge her cause she didn't eat and she even gave us a to-go box. She was so kind. Theres always a chance you could get lucky. I believe if you just sit there quietly and don't push the issue you have a better chance. Your experience may vary.

They didn't charge at Whispering Canyon because only one item on the menu is all you can eat. That is a different situation and not like a buffet or a true all you can eat place.

 

[tjmw2727]

Unless its a "must see" character event we have never found buffets to be a good value for our family. On the rare occasion when we have done it we just chalk it up to entertainment value rather than food choices as even when someone eats lightly or not at all you will likely be charged.

Especially for breakfast we find a regular menu to be a better choice as some of us eat much lighter for breakfast than others. Even at dinner or lunch my kids will opt for an appetizer or salad rather than a big meal so its nice to have the option to purchase what you want to eat. Also a reason why we don't opt for the dining plan!

 

[BigAlsGal]

They didn't charge at Whispering Canyon because only one item on the menu is all you can eat. That is a different situation and not like a buffet or a true all you can eat place.

I know but we all ordered the all you can eat. I'm sure she could have charged us if she wanted to. We did make her a plate after all.

 

[airis]

Unless its a "must see" character event we have never found buffets to be a good value for our family. On the rare occasion when we have done it we just chalk it up to entertainment value rather than food choices as even when someone eats lightly or not at all you will likely be charged.

Especially for breakfast we find a regular menu to be a better choice as some of us eat much lighter for breakfast than others. Even at dinner or lunch my kids will opt for an appetizer or salad rather than a big meal so its nice to have the option to purchase what you want to eat. Also a reason why we don't opt for the dining plan!

Yeah ... We're doing a late breakfast / brunch at Crystal Palace for the characters (and breakfast is the one thing where we can always find something my older son will eat). I might just send DH to enjoy some time alone for that. But we're paying through the nose for the Star Wars bfast at Sci Fi Dine-In ... because it's, well, Star Wars. And Darth Vader. And I'm saving the headache of standing in character lines at HS.

I have a rezzie for the Jedi dinner at Hollywood & Vine, but I might just cancel it. I think the kids will be less into the characters and omg it's so expensive. We might just bail on HS in the early evening and leave Disney or go to DTD for dinner.

I'm potentially going to Orlando solo in April for technical training and my rezzies look completely different. LOL

 

[Marthasor]

Yeah ... We're doing a late breakfast / brunch at Crystal Palace for the characters (and breakfast is the one thing where we can always find something my older son will eat). I might just send DH to enjoy some time alone for that. But we're paying through the nose for the Star Wars bfast at Sci Fi Dine-In ... because it's, well, Star Wars. And Darth Vader. And I'm saving the headache of standing in character lines at HS.

I have a rezzie for the Jedi dinner at Hollywood & Vine, but I might just cancel it. I think the kids will be less into the characters and omg it's so expensive. We might just bail on HS in the early evening and leave Disney or go to DTD for dinner.

I'm potentially going to Orlando solo in April for technical training and my rezzies look completely different. LOL

Does your DH not like breakfast foods? Or he doesn't like eating early in the am? We did the Sci-Fi Star Wars "breakfast" at the latest time possible last year - I think it was past 11 am - because it was all we could get! It really became our lunch. Would he want to eat if it were more around lunch time?

For what it's worth, we sat next to a family at Biergarten last spring who talked the manager into not charging for the DH, however, the family was being quite difficult the whole meal and I think they just wanted them to leave. It was pretty unpleasant for everyone at the table!

 

[airis]

Does your DH not like breakfast foods? Or he doesn't like eating early in the am? We did the Sci-Fi Star Wars "breakfast" at the latest time possible last year - I think it was past 11 am - because it was all we could get! It really became our lunch. Would he want to eat if it were more around lunch time?

For what it's worth, we sat next to a family at Biergarten last spring who talked the manager into not charging for the DH, however, the family was being quite difficult the whole meal and I think they just wanted them to leave. It was pretty unpleasant for everyone at the table!

He doesn't like to eat in the morning. I wasn't thinking about doing more of a brunch when I made reservations, so we have 8:20a. Looking again, the latest available is 9:25, so probably not worth the change. At least he might want to eat at Crystal Palace .. we have 10:15a there.

 

[mom2of2]

Does he plan on not eating at the Sci Fi breakfast? Since it's a specialty meal he will be charged whether he eats or not..just a heads up if you didn't know that

 

[airis]

Does he plan on not eating at the Sci Fi breakfast? Since it's a specialty meal he will be charged whether he eats or not..just a heads up if you didn't know that

Yes .. I understand that. I might end up just taking the kids by myself but that's less fun for them. Or DH has a $50 cup of coffee. Well, he will probably have a little bit but all things being equal, he doesn't really do breakfast.

 

[trl1717]

They're pretty hardcore about the no non-paying eaters going into a buffet. A few years ago I was in a car accident on Disney property (other driver pulled a U-turn straight into me on a busy road.) I was pregnant and taken by ambulance to the hospital for observation. I made my husband and kids keep their Chef Mickey's reservation and told them I'd take a cab back when discharged (was just for observation, so this was permitted.) I finally got back to CM as they had just left dinner. I walked up to the manager with my hospital bands on, tired, hungry and pregnant and distressed after an accident on their property that totaled the car I was driving. Told the manager everything and how I'd missed the kids special character meal and could I take my youngest in (he JUST finished eating 10 minutes ago) for company so I could use my table service credit and watch him seeing Mickey again. She told me no, as he might eat something while he was there. She wouldn't relent for the longest time and said that if he went in, she would be ok with him having a paper cup of m&m's but no ice cream or anything else. I wasn't even asking for him to eat. It was very upsetting after a big accident mid-pregnancy and losing an afternoon/evening of Disney to have a manager freak out about the idea that a little kid that just ate and paid 10 minutes before might eat more.

 

[BugsDaddy]

They're pretty hardcore about the no non-paying eaters going into a buffet. A few years ago I was in a car accident on Disney property (other driver pulled a U-turn straight into me on a busy road.) I was pregnant and taken by ambulance to the hospital for observation. I made my husband and kids keep their Chef Mickey's reservation and told them I'd take a cab back when discharged (was just for observation, so this was permitted.) I finally got back to CM as they had just left dinner. I walked up to the manager with my hospital bands on, tired, hungry and pregnant and distressed after an accident on their property that totaled the car I was driving. Told the manager everything and how I'd missed the kids special character meal and could I take my youngest in (he JUST finished eating 10 minutes ago) for company so I could use my table service credit and watch him seeing Mickey again. She told me no, as he might eat something while he was there. She wouldn't relent for the longest time and said that if he went in, she would be ok with him having a paper cup of m&m's but no ice cream or anything else. I wasn't even asking for him to eat. It was very upsetting after a big accident mid-pregnancy and losing an afternoon/evening of Disney to have a manager freak out about the idea that a little kid that just ate and paid 10 minutes before might eat more.

Not a great situation for anyone involved but I think the manager was just following procedure. I think she finally relented to avoid making a scene.

No offense, but I cannot imagine a scenerio where I would leave my pregnant wife in a hospital after a big accident to make a Chef' Mickey's reservation. Even if she was just there for observation. The reason they keep you there for observation is that there is always a slight chance that they missed something on the initial observation. I am glad that was not the case.