Dining Issues??

[Tinkerbellerella84]

Ok so here goes....my son is special needs in a wheelchair can not walk, talk, has to eat puréed foods, can only drink from bottles, etc. We usually are never able to get restaurants to help with this so we are use to bringing a cooler and feeding him what we bring for him. Since we had to place him on the same plan as everyone else going (3 adults and 1 other child) we were going to use his credits for other things, etc. I'm now being told on another board that even if he's sitting at the table with us at table service restaurants, character dining, etc will we still be charged a credit??? He'll be 7 years old at the time of travel. We are on the free dining plan if this needs to be known as well. I just wanted us all to be ale to sit and eat as a family but I just think it's crazy that they will be charging us for a meal that he isn't even getting? Has anyone had any experience with this?? Thanks so much for any help you can provide

 

[aaarcher86]

Yes, he will be charged. Character meals are more about the experience than the food. Plenty of folks who are on feeding tubes, etc have still been charged. On a few very rare occasions I've seen the charge removed or discounted to an entertainment fee, but I haven't seen that in a very long time.

Knowing that going in, it'd up to you to decide if it's worth it or not. With free dining, you won't really miss the credit.

If it's an a la carte TS restaurant you won't be charged if you don't order him anything. It's just buffets or family style meals which all the character meals are. You can see all the characters at the meals at the I out various parks, so you aren't forced into them.

 

[Tinkerbellerella84]

But in the same sense they are making us put him on a food plan when I didn't want to from the start b/c I knew he couldn't eat the food there, plus we are paying for it in a sense with paying fill price for the room, etc. Logan developmentally is only about 4 months of age so I don't even know how much he'll get from the character experience but I want us all to be together as a family. I just don't understand why they are per say penalizing special needs parents in this manner when they are obviously not trying to abuse the system per say.

 

[lanejudy]

If you plan to eat at character meals or dinner shows, then yes he will likely be "charged" a TS credit even if he doesn't eat. You can ask for it to be waived, or it could be reduced to an "entertainment" charge, but I haven't heard of that happening much at all recently. It's best to consider these experiences as "entertainment that includes food" rather than "a meal that includes entertainment."

If your ADRs are more traditional sit-down order-off-the-menu meals, he won't be charged. You'll only be charged the number of actual meals ordered.

Regardless...I don't believe you can "convert" a child's TS to an adult's TS at all. You might be able to use it for a QS meal, but again not sure about the child TS used by an adult QS. Or a few extra snacks at a resort.

Enjoy your vacation!

 

[lanejudy]

But in the same sense they are making us put him on a food plan when I didn't want to from the start b/c I knew he couldn't eat the food there, plus we are paying for it in a sense with paying fill price for the room, etc. Logan developmentally is only about 4 months of age so I don't even know how much he'll get from the character experience but I want us all to be together as a family. I just don't understand why they are per say penalizing special needs parents in this manner when they are obviously not trying to abuse the system per say.

Everyone must have the same package components if purchasing a package (hotel, dining, tickets). None of those parts are required individually to experience WDW. You can purchase all individually -- room-only or offsite, separate tickets of differing lengths, pay out of pocket for meals. These issues impact many individuals, not just those with special needs.

I see your frustration and completely understand. You might want to re-work the numbers and decide if the dining plan is really the best option for your family (you are paying rack-rate for the room to get free dining). You might find a room-only discount and paying for meals is actually better financially. There are other options for seeing characters.

 

[Gracie09]

But in the same sense they are making us put him on a food plan when I didn't want to from the start b/c I knew he couldn't eat the food there, plus we are paying for it in a sense with paying fill price for the room, etc. Logan developmentally is only about 4 months of age so I don't even know how much he'll get from the character experience but I want us all to be together as a family. I just don't understand why they are per say penalizing special needs parents in this manner when they are obviously not trying to abuse the system per say.

They are not making you use the food plan. Free dining was offered as a discount available to everyone. You choose to book under that discount as opposed to a different discount or no discount. You may want to look for other discount offers and see if it makes sense to switch to a room only discount. Depending on how many buffet or all you can eat meals you are planning it may be cheaper to take a room discount and pay out of pocket.

 

[Tinkerbellerella84]

Understand, I just put a call into the disabilities help line at WDW so I'll see what suggestion they make when they call back. We did the free dining plan bc it seemed like the best deal per say. Your right maybe I need to rework how we are doing things :/

Here' are the restaurant's we are doing. We have never been so I don't know which it will effect and which they won't.

Chef Mickey, The crystal palace , Hollywood and Vine, Akershus Royal Banquet Hall (breakfast), 'Ohana (breakfast), Tusker house lunch, Cinderella's round table (dinner and only my mom, my daughter and myself are going it's a 'girls night dinner' hubby and son are going to do something different), Le Cellier Steakhouse

Which of these will be the problems?

 

[Dis703]

But in the same sense they are making us put him on a food plan when I didn't want to from the start b/c I knew he couldn't eat the food there, plus we are paying for it in a sense with paying fill price for the room, etc. Logan developmentally is only about 4 months of age so I don't even know how much he'll get from the character experience but I want us all to be together as a family. I just don't understand why they are per say penalizing special needs parents in this manner when they are obviously not trying to abuse the system per say.

They aren't really making you. You get to decide of the dining plan is worth it for your family given your dining needs. My 3 children have multiple severe food allergies and some oral aversions. Given their allergens it's almost impossible to find a well rounded counter service meal and given that it's not worth it for us to have the dining plan. It may be if it was free but definitely not if paying for it. And since all 5 of us would have to have it we skip it. Even with TS they eat so little this trip we limited buffets and did more TS meals where it's cheaper OOP than dining plan as well. We bring a cooler and an entire suitcase of food to feed them 2 meals a day as well. Run the numbers and decide if the plan is worth it. At buffets everyone over age 3 is charged but if you do TS meals that are not buffet/family style and no dining plan you won't be charged for him being there.

 

[Dis703]

Understand, I just put a call into the disabilities help line at WDW so I'll see what suggestion they make when they call back. We did the free dining plan bc it seemed like the best deal per say. Your right maybe I need to rework how we are doing things :/

Here' are the restaurant's we are doing. We have never been so I don't know which it will effect and which they won't.

Chef Mickey, The crystal palace , Hollywood and Vine, Akershus Royal Banquet Hall (breakfast), 'Ohana (breakfast), Tusker house lunch, Cinderella's round table (dinner and only my mom, my daughter and myself are going it's a 'girls night dinner' hubby and son are going to do something different), Le Cellier Steakhouse

Which of these will be the problems?

Everyone of those except for Le Cellier are buffets where everyone 3 and up will be charged if they eat or not.

 

[JustCallMeMommy]

Understand, I just put a call into the disabilities help line at WDW so I'll see what suggestion they make when they call back. We did the free dining plan bc it seemed like the best deal per say. Your right maybe I need to rework how we are doing things :/

Here' are the restaurant's we are doing. We have never been so I don't know which it will effect and which they won't.

Chef Mickey, The crystal palace , Hollywood and Vine, Akershus Royal Banquet Hall (breakfast), 'Ohana (breakfast), Tusker house lunch, Cinderella's round table (dinner and only my mom, my daughter and myself are going it's a 'girls night dinner' hubby and son are going to do something different), Le Cellier Steakhouse

Which of these will be the problems?

All except Le Cellier, unfortunately, whether you are on the meal plan or paying cash. The rest are all buffets/family style dining. The meal plan may still save money since you would be paying for DS either way, but keep an eye on the discounts between now and then. There very well may be another % off the room discount offered once the current one is over.

 

[Flipper]

I agree with PPs. Run the numbers with a room only discount and OOP meals and compare to free dinining offer with rack rate room. For us the room only discount, plus orbitz 15% is a better deal than free dining because we do not like to have too many TS meals, but that's just our touring style. You may find free dining works out better for you. Good luck!

 

[Betty Rohrer]

all but the steakhouse are either buffets or family style where everyone over 3 are charged. this will be true if you pay out of pocket or use dining credits. no difference

 

[cornflkgrl]

I think you should try re-running the numbers with a RO discount. You might be paying more here with the "free dining" plan, especially considering your situation. If you booked through Disney, go through the modify button online and check out the other deals and see what you come up with.

 

[HopperFan]

Chef Mickey, The crystal palace , Hollywood and Vine, Akershus Royal Banquet Hall (breakfast), 'Ohana (breakfast), Tusker house lunch, Cinderella's round table (dinner and only my mom, my daughter and myself are going it's a 'girls night dinner' hubby and son are going to do something different), Le Cellier Steakhouse

Which of these will be the problems?

If you wish to keep these ADRs then it really doesn't matter if you are on the DDP or paying OOP, these are restaurants where everyone must pay. There are many folks who don't want to eat the food on the menu, are on strict portion diets etc that would like to sit with family and not pay. Disney just decided years ago to say everyone pays at character/buffet restaurants. I'm sure restaurant managers have made rare exceptions in person (although not sure if you are on DDP they will) but I have never heard of anyone arranging in advance to not pay.

My question is these are TS credits. So assume you decide to not eat at those restaurants and go to ones where you only pay for what you order (non character, non buffet) ...... you would have say 8 child credits not used. I can see where you would want to use 2 of his credits for your DD 2 Credit meals at CRT and LeCellier (and with current plan still get one extra for CRT if he takes him somewhere non-mandatory and use his at LC) but how were you going to use the other 6 credits? Only your DD could use them so would you then be paying OOP for everyone else at those 6 TS?

I think if you crunch the numbers given you have 3 adults and an additional child, even if you use his credit, I think it would still be the bigger savings than getting a room only discount. You are getting @ $220 a day in DDP value off your room ($200 without his). Even with a big room discount, you would lose dining so you have to add that back. Best to do is see what discounts you can get on the room, add up your potential dining bill and see which works out better.

 

[Tinkerbellerella84]

Very true....I also called the reservations line again and spoke with a AWESOME person who also had a special needs child. She was so helpful and actually made the suggestion of bringing a mini chopper with us to the restaurant so we can get things for him to eat and blend for him right there just incase they aren't able to do it themselves. She also gave me the email address of the special diets to ask them as well if the restaurants are accommodating etc. So I think we may actually have a game plan lol!

 

[HopperFan]

Very true....I also called the reservations line again and spoke with a AWESOME person who also had a special needs child. She was so helpful and actually made the suggestion of bringing a mini chopper with us to the restaurant so we can get things for him to eat and blend for him right there just incase they aren't able to do it themselves. She also gave me the email address of the special diets to ask them as well if the restaurants are accommodating etc. So I think we may actually have a game plan lol!

Great suggestion, guess I was thinking his diet was special made since you were bringing all in. We traveled with a food chopper and worked great. Would order, grind it, drop grinder in ziploc. After meal I'd go in to bathroom and wash with mini dish soap, blow dry and ready to go again. If they agree to purée even better. Am sure you'll have a great time!

PS If someone mentioned sorry, but if you bring your own food in, note they can not handle it, warm it up or take to cook areas. You would have to serve it as is.

 

[aaarcher86]

Unfortunately, this is just the way it goes with special needs dieters sometimes.

It's our choice to get the DDP and to eat at these restaurants. It's not a personal dig or anything, but like I said, people aren't going to character meals for the food. They go for the atmosphere. It's just easier to have a hard an fast rule than to try's be distinguish who gets charged and who doesn't.

Since the DP is "free" you're likely still getting a deal with the size and make up of your group, but definitely run the numbers since you'll still be charged the price of the buffet if you pay OOP versus a credit.

 

[Betty Rohrer]

the chopper is the way to go if you can use, not Disney at the time but use one when our daughters were little. again not they were not special needs. glad you were able to find something that will work for you

 

[clanmcculloch]

Something to keep in mind is that with the free dining promotion, you'd be paying the same price whether you have a dining plan included for him or not so it's not costing you any more for them to "charge" you the dining credit at all of those fixed price restaurants than if they don't charge you, other than the increased tip. Try not to let it bother you. I can see how I would be frustrated if I was paying OOP for the meals or I paid for the dining plan but your cost is the same for you either way based on the package you book.

Chefs should be able to blend food for him. They won't be able to blend food that you bring but they can blend food that they have in the kitchen.

 

[ttintagel]

The mini chopper is a great idea - never would have thought of that!

Yeah, the Dining plan is one of those things where every family absolutely has to run the numbers for where they're staying, where they want to eat, what kind of meals they like, how many in their party, ratio of under tens to over tens, and decide if it makes sense for them. It usually does for our group (two or three adults staying in a Value or Moderate resort), but it's getting closer to the border each time.