Dining at WDW after Gastric Sleeve Surgery

[pumpkin_tx1]

Hello All! Last year I had vertical gastric sleeve surgery and in June we will be doing our first trip back to WDW since. With this surgery I can barely eat much at all, meaning my lifestyle has changed drastically since my last Disney trip. Has anyone visited WDW after having weight loss surgery? Any idea if restaurants are accommodating in this aspect? Is there any way we could get the dining plan and they would leave me off of it? Just wondering about experiences you might have had regarding. I also have a medical card outlining my situation.

Thank you all!

 

[holden]

WDW seems to be very accommodating to all medical and dietary needs. It wouldn’t hurt to ask about leaving you off of the dining plan.

At restaurants you could order a soup or appetizer as your meal. You can also order a kids meal if you want. Some places might be willing to make a kids size portion of an adult meal. I bet if you show your documentation and speak with the chef at the restaurant they would be happy to help with whatever you need.

Have a nice trip!

 

[Hopefully]

I have never heard of them altering the rules of the Dining Plan and leaving someone off. They usually do not look at medical documentation. You can order off the child’s menu which will be a small portion. @Lisa F has had weight loss surgery and has posted about her experiences, including being on the Dining Plan after. She has a great attitude about it.

 

[ENJDisneyFan]

As @Hopefully said, highly unlikely they will leave you off the DP. You will also be charged the full price for AYTCE / buffet meals. If you want to order kids meals and/or appetizers as meals I would not do the DP and also stick to restaurants with a la carte menus.

 

[evlaina]

It's my understanding that 1, you cannot be left off the dining plan, everyone in the room needs it; 2, you will still have to pay full adult price on buffets and prix-fixe restaurants, so if you go to table service that allow you to order a la carte or any QS you will be okay to order kids meals.

 

[epcotobsessed]

I have traveled with someone who had gastric bypass and the answer is no, they won't leave you off the plan if your party wants to get it, nor will they charge you a child's rate if you go to a buffet. Your best bet is to not do the dining plan and to order from the kids' menus, which anyone can do (and be charged the kids rate if you are not on the dining plan).

 

[gwynne]

I have traveled with someone who had gastric bypass and the answer is no, they won't leave you off the plan if your party wants to get it, nor will they charge you a child's rate if you go to a buffet. Your best bet is to not do the dining plan and to order from the kids' menus, which anyone can do (and be charged the kids rate if you are not on the dining plan).

I've ordered from the kids menu at various WDW restaurants now and then. Sometimes I get charged the kid's menu amount, sometimes I'm charged what they call the adult price for the kids menu. It's usually not that much more than the kids price.

 

[Dakota731]

Not sure why Disney would have to accommodate you. THe friends I’ve known who had the surgery just eat smaller portions. It’s not different then someone who is trying to lose weight by any other method. Though you’re probably better off paying out of pocket so you can get what you want

 

[Lisa F]

I have been to WDW twice since having that surgery and disney is accommodating to dietary restrictions but not in a monetary aspect.

For one week of the year I suspend my value calculations and eat what I want where I want to eat it. I do the dining plan sometimes and usually as part of a split stay and do the expensive character meals under ddp and less expensive places cash. If you want to stay flexible just skip the DDP for everyone.

I sometimes order appetizers, I sometimes order kid meals (only if something appeals never just due to portion size), I sometimes order full meals and pitch a bunch, I sometimes go to aycte and don't eat a whole lot, but I o sometimes share with my son. I just have a good time and do my thing and don't try to be efficient with money vs. dining. I figure I used to spend a certain amount on dining to have fun on vacation and I am still willing to spend the same to enjoy dining on vacation. I never ate huge portions before and never got value out of huge portions anyway.

I have my last year trip linked and another one going though I've been sick and haven't updated lately!

 

[Hi Pluto]

You could get the dining plan and use your credits toward other people's meals. Then you could pay out of pocket for a smaller meal (or split the meal with someone else).

If you can't make it work that way, then maybe pay OOP for everyone.

 

[pumpkin_tx1]

Not sure why Disney would have to accommodate you. THe friends I’ve known who had the surgery just eat smaller portions. It’s not different then someone who is trying to lose weight by any other method. Though you’re probably better off paying out of pocket so you can get what you want

Just wondering and not demanding to be accommodated

 

[pumpkin_tx1]

You could get the dining plan and use your credits toward other people's meals. Then you could pay out of pocket for a smaller meal (or split the meal with someone else).

If you can't make it work that way, then maybe pay OOP for everyone.

This is what I’m leaning towards...using my credits for others while I eat what I want (usually healthier and much smaller portions).

 

[pumpkin_tx1]

I have traveled with someone who had gastric bypass and the answer is no, they won't leave you off the plan if your party wants to get it, nor will they charge you a child's rate if you go to a buffet. Your best bet is to not do the dining plan and to order from the kids' menus, which anyone can do (and be charged the kids rate if you are not on the dining plan).

Thank you!

 

[bumbershoot]

While I think that gastric surgery is a bit different than simply dieting or being light eater, I think that the same thought process for the dining plan is there. “Is the total amount worth it for the family to dine?”

If the total cost makes sense, go forward. If it doesn’t, pay OOP.

Especially with the cost being so high, if you’re using credits on other people and then paying OOP, at some point it’s going to stop being financially worth it. I think it’s important to know at what point that happens.

 

[pumpkin_tx1]

While I think that gastric surgery is a bit different than simply dieting or being light eater, I think that the same thought process for the dining plan is there. “Is the total amount worth it for the family to dine?”

If the total cost makes sense, go forward. If it doesn’t, pay OOP.

Especially with the cost being so high, if you’re using credits on other people and then paying OOP, at some point it’s going to stop being financially worth it. I think it’s important to know at what point that happens.

Exactly my thoughts. I physically cannot eat much at all. Not just dieting, but my body literally can only take in so much food.

I’m going to plan out dining plan vs OOP tonight to see where we might stand. I’d love to do all club level and not even worry about eating out and about, but unfortunately my DH and DS don’t agree. I think the hardest paying OOP will be the sticker shock...the only reason we ever do dining plan. Even though it would probably cost less than the dining plan...I guess with it you don’t think about the price as much.

Thank you for your answer and I really appreciate it!

 

[Hi Pluto]

Exactly my thoughts. I physically cannot eat much at all. Not just dieting, but my body literally can only take in so much food.

I’m going to plan out dining plan vs OOP tonight to see where we might stand. I’d love to do all club level and not even worry about eating out and about, but unfortunately my DH and DS don’t agree. I think the hardest paying OOP will be the sticker shock...the only reason we ever do dining plan. Even though it would probably cost less than the dining plan...I guess with it you don’t think about the price as much.

Thank you for your answer and I really appreciate it!

I did the math and with my DS10 now being a Disney adult we couldn't quite make the DDP work for us (especially because of all of the restrictions of what we could/should order). I'm loading up gift cards with the same amount the dining plan would cost, plus a bit more, and we're going to use that like the "money doesn't matter" mantra. The bonus is that if we return home without using all the money we can use it for our next trip. You can combine cards to make each one hold up to $1000 so it won't be difficult.

 

[Nancyg56]

I know it is not an easy task but I would cost out what you all would likely choose, and look at the total cost. I do this with our vacations in general to see the overall cost, but I think that when it comes to budgeting food money it is even more important. For many the dining plans are not cost effective to start with, so if you are plannign to order from the childrens menus or stick to appetizers etc, you may not come close to breaking even. For my family, part of the value is in the snacks that we enjoy, but I bet you will not be eating them. There goes about $10 per day just on that portion.

 

[clutter]

I did the math and with my DS10 now being a Disney adult we couldn't quite make the DDP work for us (especially because of all of the restrictions of what we could/should order). I'm loading up gift cards with the same amount the dining plan would cost, plus a bit more, and we're going to use that like the "money doesn't matter" mantra. The bonus is that if we return home without using all the money we can use it for our next trip. You can combine cards to make each one hold up to $1000 so it won't be difficult.

I just did the same this past summer with no diet restrictions. We paid less OOP than on the dining plan primarily because we ordered less entrees - often purchasing two for three of us so we could try some appetizers - and because we aren't soft drink drinkers. Although with a couple newly minted 21 year olds, we did drink a lot of drinks! We did find a lot of good lounge food, and often ate there instead of CS meals.

Bonus was that I had about $100 left on a gift card, so when I was back a couple months later for a conference at the swan, it was a no brainer to buy a park ticket!