dining for special needs "kids" over 10

[debm]

I'm hoping not to be flamed here--- I just want to know if anyone else is or has faced this and did you have a good solution.

We have 4 children ranging in age from 12 to 3. Our 10 year old has Down syndrome and the last AP we bought for him had to be an adult one now. The only way he even reached 48 inches to ride the rides he wanted to (Aerosmith and the dino coaster) is if we put "taller" shoes on him, because sometimes they would say he was "good to go" and the next time we would walk thru the line they would say he was too small. It all depended on how he stood--we couldn't get him to understand to stand up straight and tall. Then he would throw a fit when they wouldn't let him ride. I think he has grown about a half inch since our last trip so there shouldn't be any question now.

Anyhow....my question is about dining. Honestly, how do people handle a 10 year old that is small, doesn't eat anything but hot dogs, chicken and french fries, and not in large quantitites by any means. Do you really pay a full adult price for a buffet dinner? I mean, I know it is what you are expected to do, but is there any leeway for any of our "special kids." Anyone I can write to and ask? Last time we asked the wait staff at the 2 places that we went and they were able to charge him the child's. But I hate always asking and not knowing what they will say until the end of the meal. To make matters worse our 12 year old son has Crohn's disease that is not under control yet. He eats even less than our 10 year old and is smaller than he is weight-wise. He is now just 60 pounds at almost 13 and is only a tiny bit taller than his 7 year old sister. So we really have 2 children with "issues" that are very small eaters. I know that people will suggest that we just skip the character meals but that is what Aaron loves so much. We've always done them for years! I can't see that it is fair that I pay for 4 adult meals. Do you think there be anyone willing to discuss this with me at WDW? For example, we went to a breakfast buffet last August and my 12 year old son had ONE sausage for breakfast and a glass of water!!!! Luckily the waitress realized that that was all he had eaten and only charged us the child price. I was very thankful.

Anyway.....sorry for the long post but does anyone else have this problem with their special needs kids? I definitely don't have boys that eat me out of house and home. I guess my day will come---at least I hope it does. Some people don't realize what they are blessed with.

 

[Linda Bell]

I have a tiny disabled daughter. She is 5'2" and 72# and now 30!! We have been doing Disney parks for 22 years. So her age varied. Things by age I pay by age. At sit down places I always asked for a child's menu and got it. Likewise at full adult prices I have asked for the child's menu and never been refused. Sometimes I had to pay adult prices even though she ordered from the child' menu. Sometimes I just order the adult meal if it has things she likes. We generally only do the adult price stuff when there is entertainment involved. It has to be worth the price. With her we are not buying the meal but the amusement.

Full price on admission too and she can ride very little due mostly to her MD and sometimes to her wheelchair. We average one or two rides per park and all the shows. It's worth the price. Goofy loves her. Mickey hugs her, CMs go out of their way to be kind and chatty. She glows when they do that.

We get our moneys worth for sure. We buy magic.

Linda

 

[debm]

Thanks, Linda. That's true---we do "buy" magic. It's just that I spend SO much on it!!!

It gives me a different perspective though. Thanks!!

Debi

 

[SueM in MN]

I have a tiny disabled daughter. She is 5'2" and 72# and now 30!! We have been doing Disney parks for 22 years. So her age varied. Things by age I pay by age. At sit down places I always asked for a child's menu and got it. Likewise at full adult prices I have asked for the child's menu and never been refused. Sometimes I had to pay adult prices even though she ordered from the child' menu. Sometimes I just order the adult meal if it has things she likes. We generally only do the adult price stuff when there is entertainment involved. It has to be worth the price. With her we are not buying the meal but the amusement.

Full price on admission too and she can ride very little due mostly to her MD and sometimes to her wheelchair. We average one or two rides per park and all the shows. It's worth the price. Goofy loves her. Mickey hugs her, CMs go out of their way to be kind and chatty. She glows when they do that.

We get our moneys worth for sure. We buy magic.

Linda

You said it very well.
We are buying magic.

Luckily, we don't buy magic every day, because that would be very expensive.
But, for a few times a year, magic is pretty good bargain