DDP with Gastric Bypass member

[FancyBrat]

Hello this is my first time to post. We (DM-65, DN-15, DN-13 and myself 41) just booked for 8/14 - 8/25 at All-Star Music with the DDP. When I called for my ADR's I asked about dining at the All you can eat Buffet's with a Post Gastric Bypass person that won't be eating as it would be a waste of money. "she'll do a CS or S instead beforehand. The CM put me on hold and checked, when she came back she said it was no problem as long as they didn't eat. Has anyone had experience with this? Do they give you a hard time when you check in for your ADR? or did you get some kind of note maybe from Disney Dining explaining this so you can show it at the ADR's and not get a hassle?
The Girls have never been to Disneyworld and love the Character meals still even at their age. So as most are "All you can Eats" we are stuck. TY for any responses ahead of time.

We have ADR's for the following,
Garden Grill - Dinner
Donalds - Breakfast
Sci-Fi - Dinner
Liberty Tree - Dinner
Whispering Canyon - Dinner
CRT - Breakfast
Crystal palace - Dinner
Le Cellier - Dinner
Ohana - Breakfast
50's Prime Time - Lunch
Princess Storybook - Lunch
San Angel Inn - Dinner
Chef Mickey's - Breakfast

 

[FriendsOfEeyore]

I really can not answer the main question, but you do realize that if that individual is staying in the same room, you will need to buy the DDP for ALL members that are staying the in the room. So you will have extra credits to use at other TS.

 

[FancyBrat]

Yes we will have extra credits, CRT will use 2ea no matter if she eats or not, and we were thinking of adding possibly Mickeys Backyard BBQ which is also 2ea. possibly HDD. But this all depends on if we get a hard time about her not eating at the meals with us.

Right now counting CRT x2 we have 14 TS per person for 11 night/12 Days, so the extra she doesn't use will go for the extra sittings.

 

[Chuck S]

I don't do character meals, but I've heard there is small "entertainment charge" if someone isn't dining at character meals. Maybe they've discontinued it?

 

[FancyBrat]

I asked about the 'Entertainment Fee" which is listed on LTT's menu, The cast member I talked to said no there is no fee associated anywhere. Sounds strange to me, I'd think they'd charge like most stuff LOL

 

[Indy's Girl]

Maybe you could get a note from her doctor beforehand stating that she has had this surgery? That way you have documented proof that it is a medical reason she is not eating. They will probably accept that. You could also post this on the DISabilities board (not that it is a disability ) and they may be able to give you info about a card you can get for Guests with special needs, this may count as one I am not sure? I don't thinl Disney Dining can give you any written "note" or such to show, but a Dr.'s note could go a long way if you run into CM's who aren't being accomodating. Have a great trip!

 

[MALE*RN*777]

Maybe you could get a note from her doctor beforehand stating that she has had this surgery? That way you have documented proof that it is a medical reason she is not eating. They will probably accept that. You could also post this on the DISabilities board (not that it is a disability ) and they may be able to give you info about a card you can get for Guests with special needs, this may count as one I am not sure? I don't thinl Disney Dining can give you any written "note" or such to show, but a Dr.'s note could go a long way if you run into CM's who aren't being accomodating. Have a great trip!

The doctors note is a good idea and hopefully you won't have to use it. My son is a "PICKY" eater and sometimes we will go to a restaurant where there is nothing he likes so we bring something along for him from a take out. We never have gotten a hassle because they rather have the two customers who are paying then none at all. If we explain why before we sit down then it's usually "thats okay we understand".

 

[ryantab02]

We ran into the same situation with my MIL. She had GB a little over a year ago and she does not eat very much. We called Disney about it and a very nice CM told us that we had to include her in the dining plan because everyone in the room has to be on the same package.

I'm not sure what everyone else's responses have been. But, she's on the full dining plan like the rest of us. We're just going to have a ton of food! The good news is that we have two grown men who love to eat...we'll just have to starve them before we eat somewhere!

 

[Deb & Bill]

Hello this is my first time to post. We (DM-65, DN-15, DN-13 and myself 41) just booked for 8/14 - 8/25 at All-Star Music with the DDP. When I called for my ADR's I asked about dining at the All you can eat Buffet's with a Post Gastric Bypass person that won't be eating as it would be a waste of money. "she'll do a CS or S instead beforehand. The CM put me on hold and checked, when she came back she said it was no problem as long as they didn't eat. Has anyone had experience with this? Do they give you a hard time when you check in for your ADR? or did you get some kind of note maybe from Disney Dining explaining this so you can show it at the ADR's and not get a hassle?
The Girls have never been to Disneyworld and love the Character meals still even at their age. So as most are "All you can Eats" we are stuck. TY for any responses ahead of time.

We have ADR's for the following,
Garden Grill - Dinner
Donalds - Breakfast
Sci-Fi - Dinner
Liberty Tree - Dinner
Whispering Canyon - Dinner
CRT - Breakfast
Crystal palace - Dinner
Le Cellier - Dinner
Ohana - Breakfast
50's Prime Time - Lunch
Princess Storybook - Lunch
San Angel Inn - Dinner
Chef Mickey's - Breakfast

I would get something in writing on this before I shelled out money for the DDP for someone who would not be eating at all. You might be required to use a TS for this person even if they don't eat a bite.

 

[Susan555]

Why not just eat a small amount at the buffet? I guess I just don't "get" this at all. We'll be doing several restaurants and buffets, and I eat VERY low carb, and not much food at all in one sitting. At home I eat 6 small meals a day, so I'm not going to "pig out" by any means at a buffet, nor will I have dessert. I'm more than happy to use my dining credit, though, or pay OOP for a buffet meal for myself if the rest of my family wants to eat there. I don't feel it's appropriate to attend a buffet meal and not "pay" for it, whether OOP or with a DDP credit, no matter how little you will eat.

This whole mentality that people should gorge themselves at buffets to get their money's worth is one of the reasons so many people NEED gastric bypass surgery in this country.

 

[Pooh Bear Hugs]

I don't think everyone has the mentality that they need to gorge themselves at buffets or any other type of meal. I am also proud of the fact that the person described in the OP has made a decision to try to improve there life. Many people have eating disorders and shouldn't be judged for it.
It must be horrible to be massivly overweight, to not be able to walk around or live your life normaly. Who am I to judge sat here eating crisps even though I've had lunch. I'm lucky enough to be able to exercise and eat reasonably healthy yet I'm still larger than I'd like to be. I would like to send all the people going through this drastic surgery big hugs, tones of pixie dust and hope everything works out well for them.

 

[ryantab02]

I would like to send all the people going through this drastic surgery big hugs, tones of pixie dust and hope everything works out well for them.

That's so nice of you. God has really blessed our family through my MIL's surgery. I've never seen her as energetic and healthy since I became part of the family. Plus, there have not been any set backs or complications since the surgery. God is good!

 

[Katiebell]

I don't think everyone has the mentality that they need to gorge themselves at buffets or any other type of meal. I am also proud of the fact that the person described in the OP has made a decision to try to improve there life. Many people have eating disorders and shouldn't be judged for it.
It must be horrible to be massivly overweight, to not be able to walk around or live your life normaly. Who am I to judge sat here eating crisps even though I've had lunch. I'm lucky enough to be able to exercise and eat reasonably healthy yet I'm still larger than I'd like to be. I would like to send all the people going through this drastic surgery big hugs, tones of pixie dust and hope everything works out well for them.

Yay Pooh Bear Hugs! ITA, and that was an extremely kind and considerate post Definitely what I would expect from kindly Pooh Bear

For the OP FancyBrat: There are a lot of threads on here about Gastric Bypass patients eating at Disney. I just did a search for "gastric bypass" and found this one for example:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=992344&highlight=gastric+bypass

There is a lot of debate about this. Some CM's seem to be very accommodating if the GP patient chooses not to eat, like the one you spoke to on the phone; others say that if the GP patient is going to sit with their family at an all you can eat buffet, pris fixe dinner, Character Meal, or dinner show (like Hoop de Doo or the luau), they have to pay the same price as everyone else, especially when entertainment is part of the meal experience. If the GP patient does not want to use the TS credit to just sit with their family and not eat anything (and that's understandable, especially if there is no show or entertainment involved) but the restaurant insists, the GP patient could just shop, take in a ride or a show, or relax and enjoy their snack or CS meal nearby while their family is having the character meal.

I do know that if a GP patient is on the same room reservation with the rest of their family, everyone on that reservation is required to purchase the DDP. And everyone 10 and over, regardless of their appetite or the amount of food they can actually eat, will be charged the adult price for the plan.

At standard TS meals (not all you can eat, dinner shows, etc that I mentioned above), you should be able to use TS credits for everyone in your party, and the GP patient should be able to say they are not using their TS credit but would like to order something smaller off the menu (like an appetizer for their main course) and pay OOP. Some CM's may say it's fine if one member of the party just chooses not to order anything at all.

I would say, get a letter from the patient's doctor. Get something from Disney in writing -- at least an email, but even better, an actual letter on Disney letterhead. And then, just ask at the restaurant. Never hurts to ask, and Disney CM's are usually friendly and very helpful, and will do their best to accommodate guest requests, as long as they don't have to break any rules. The biggest problem is the "rules" on this aren't very clear!

 

[Susan555]

I certainly meant no disrespect to the OP or anyone who has undergone gastric bypass. I simply STRONGLY disagree that people should be able to bend the rules because of special dietary needs. The buffets at Disney cost the same for all people aged 10 and up - a gastric bypass patient might eat about the same as a small 10 year old, and the price is the same. For both cases, the family should decide if the buffet is worth the cost, and it either is or it isn't. If it's not, don't go - instead, choose TS locations where you can order from a menu - in that situation the person in question can stick with water or get just a small bite to eat, thus not wasting money or food.

I honestly think this is just one more example of the sense of entitelment people in this country feel about every aspect of life. Someone who has had gastric bypass shouldn't get special consideration at a buffet any more than a child who hardly eats a thing should. Once Disney, or any other company, has to start changing the rules for each type of situation, it becomes a slippery slope into chaos. Buffets have pretty standard rules - you pay a set fee to enter the restaurant and eat what you like. Period. If you don't feel it's worthwhile for you, then you shouldn't go.

 

[nurse.darcy]

I'll be at the ASMu the same time as you. I also underwent Gastric Bypass and am purchasing the DDP for my trip with my family. We have not made ADRs yet as its a little early for me to decide where we want to eat, but I am sure there will be buffets included. Of course I had my GB in 2003 and eat just very low carb. I will still go to the buffets and eat with my family. I have been told that there is a lot of food available with the DDP and am not worried about us running out of credits. JMHO

 

[Katiebell]

I certainly meant no disrespect to the OP or anyone who has undergone gastric bypass. I simply STRONGLY disagree that people should be able to bend the rules because of special dietary needs. The buffets at Disney cost the same for all people aged 10 and up - a gastric bypass patient might eat about the same as a small 10 year old, and the price is the same. For both cases, the family should decide if the buffet is worth the cost, and it either is or it isn't. If it's not, don't go - instead, choose TS locations where you can order from a menu - in that situation the person in question can stick with water or get just a small bite to eat, thus not wasting money or food.

I honestly think this is just one more example of the sense of entitelment people in this country feel about every aspect of life. Someone who has had gastric bypass shouldn't get special consideration at a buffet any more than a child who hardly eats a thing should. Once Disney, or any other company, has to start changing the rules for each type of situation, it becomes a slippery slope into chaos. Buffets have pretty standard rules - you pay a set fee to enter the restaurant and eat what you like. Period. If you don't feel it's worthwhile for you, then you shouldn't go.

I agree that exceptions can't be made for special diets; otherwise some people might expect a discounted buffet price because they are allergic to shellfish, or are vegan, or can't eat certain foods for religious reasons, or feel they just have a really small appetite, etc. But in this case, the OP wasn't talking about bending the rules -- she was saying that the family member who had the gastric bypass wasn't going to eat anything at the buffets, not that they were going to eat off of other's plates, or that they were asking to pay a lower price because they are limited on the amount they can eat. And they main reason they were going to buffets is because the kids in the group really wanted some character meals -- 8 of their 13 choices were character meals! And that's a big part of what Disney's all about, you know? It all started with a cartoon mouse...

I think the GP patient just wanted to sit with the rest of their family and enjoy their company while everyone else ate. And I can understand why that would be frowned on at a meal that includes entertainment like a dinner show or characters because your meal price includes that entertainment. But I feel it would be reasonable if they were eating at a straight buffet, like Boma. If a restaurant is serving a family of four, and a fifth person who isn't eating is just sitting with the group, they aren't costing the restaurant a thing, and the restaurant is building a good reputation and making a good impression on those customers. Which, in turn, builds good will , and generates good restaurant reviews on boards like this one So...it's all good

 

[englishrose47]

Just a thought from one who was going to be travelling with a GB. We have a child DDP why not have your GB pick from the kids menu and give a kid an adult choice??