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

[Aurora0427]

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.

I get that there are rules, but that manager was being douchy. Sometimes eschewing procedure and just doing the right thing is the right thing to do.

 

[davedmaine]

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.

Big car accident while pregnant, totaled car, taken by ambulance to the hospital and the rest of the family goes to Chef Mickey's?

 

[minnie mum]

I get that there are rules, but that manager was being douchy. Sometimes eschewing procedure and just doing the right thing is the right thing to do.

While I have no doubt that your story about your accident is absolutely true, I cannot fault the manager. The same "douchy" manager that no doubt has to listen to stories all day long from guests who want her to make a policy exception because THEIR situation is so special and unique and deserving. Dare I make the claim that a fair portion of these guests wanting exceptions and special consideration are either exaggerating or flat out lying just to get what they want ? Why is it that rules are rules except when it doesn't suit you ( the general you, not the specific you)

 

[trl1717]

Lots of front side damage that the rental car company considered "totaled" in that it was undriveable. It was not a major car accident. In reality, the car hit swiped the front of my car and pushed me off road that way. It was not fast enough or enough of an impact that the air bags deployed. No one hit a steering wheel or a dash. It felt more like a fender bender. All were ok. Rather a little bump that I didn't even register as a hit (kind of like the jolt when a It's a Small World boat hits the one in front of it.) It did unfortunately make the car undriveable and since the husband and 3 small kids were in front of the hotel and had to give all information to the patrolman and had no transport to sit around a hospital, I took a ride in to the local hospital and hung out for a couple hours and was sent on my way. No one at OB was at all worried.

I will say Disney Corporate was very apologetic after the fact and the Disney guy who called me was pretty shocked. So, was the front desk manager at the hotel. He was the one who originally sent me up there when I returned and said he'd be sure given the circumstances there'd be no issue. I think when someone's been in an accident on your property, you want to go above and beyond to help them out. Apparently that area (according to the front desk manager) was a known danger area for accidents as there had been a number there.

 

[maxiesmom]

Lots of front side damage that the rental car company considered "totaled" in that it was undriveable. It was not a major car accident. In reality, the car hit swiped the front of my car and pushed me off road that way. It was not fast enough or enough of an impact that the air bags deployed. No one hit a steering wheel or a dash. It felt more like a fender bender. All were ok. Rather a little bump that I didn't even register as a hit (kind of like the jolt when a It's a Small World boat hits the one in front of it.) It did unfortunately make the car undriveable and since the husband and 3 small kids were in front of the hotel and had to give all information to the patrolman and had no transport to sit around a hospital, I took a ride in to the local hospital and hung out for a couple hours and was sent on my way. No one at OB was at all worried.

I will say Disney Corporate was very apologetic after the fact and the Disney guy who called me was pretty shocked. So, was the front desk manager at the hotel. He was the one who originally sent me up there when I returned and said he'd be sure given the circumstances there'd be no issue. I think when someone's been in an accident on your property, you want to go above and beyond to help them out. Apparently that area (according to the front desk manager) was a known danger area for accidents as there had been a number there.

So you were in a fender bender (not the BIG ACCIDENT you stated it was at first) on a public road, so now Disney should make all sorts of exceptions to policy for you? The accident was not Disney's fault from what you are posting. Their property encompasses miles and miles of roadway. No way should they be giving out perks or making exceptions to their rules for every fender bender that happens on a road on their property.

If you think so, than my sister being hauled away from our resort in an ambulance should have resulted in huge perks. But I wouldn't think to use a scary incident as a way to get something extra on my vacation. I totally understand being upset and out of sorts. My sister was very much not herself when she was released from the hospital the next day. But if they made an exception for you, then hundreds of other people would want an exception made for them. You could always have made another ADR for another time, or another restaurant to see your child play with Mickey, and enjoy a meal as a family.

 

[Disneymother3]

No, could you imagine all the dishonest people claiming "they don't eat"...I would just have him meet you after or just suck it up and tell him he has to eat..

 

[MakiraMarlena]

I've heard of them removing the charge for a child who sleeps throughout the meal, but that's it (except maybe in situations where the restaurant staff was browbeaten into not charging for someone as mentioned in the Biergarten example above). Otherwise, you can't just sit without paying. They can't police the table to see whether the non-paying person is eating anything or not.