Dining Option and tube feeding ??

[mlong2004]

We will be going to WDW in November of this year "renting" points and staying at a DVC at BWV. Anyway, I have read that when we make our reservations (actually when the DVC owner makes our reservations) that we have to make the Dining Option reservations at that time, as well. There will be 5 of us, but my son is tube fed and will not need the Dining Option. Will this be a problem to only get 4 Dining Options even though there are 5 of us? I have read that everyone in the party has to get the same option ... all or none. Is this correct?

 

[MAKHayes-DisneyDiva]

We will be going to WDW in November of this year "renting" points and staying at a DVC at BWV. Anyway, I have read that when we make our reservations (actually when the DVC owner makes our reservations) that we have to make the Dining Option reservations at that time, as well. There will be 5 of us, but my son is tube fed and will not need the Dining Option. Will this be a problem to only get 4 Dining Options even though there are 5 of us? I have read that everyone in the party has to get the same option ... all or none. Is this correct?

I don't have an answer, but I seriously can't imagine that they will charge you for your son. Certainly there is someone you can talk to at WDW who will bend that rule in your case. Good luck. I hope it works out, and that you have a magical time!

 

[RxforDisney]

First, you can go ahead and have the DVC member make the reservation for the room, and don't have to decide on the dining plan until the week before. The DVC member can call member services any time up to 48 hours prior to check in and add the dining plan. You don't pay for it until you get there. You will not pay the DVC member for the dining plan. (unless this has recently changed and I am unaware)

I have no personal experience with this issue, but I would think that they would make an exception for your son. Disney has been so accomidating with my food allergic son in the past, I can see them waving the "everyone has to participate" rule.

When we rented points in 2006 before we became members, we were able to call member services ourselves and make the arrangements for the dining plan after the reservation was made. This would help you do the research yourself rather than depending on the information the DVC member gets for you. (I am not sure how well you know them.)

Good luck! I know your trip will be magical no matter what you decide!!!

 

[Mason7AK]

My friend and I did the dining plan in February last year. Disney gave us the option at that time to list her son and my daughter (both 100% tube fed) as infants on the reservation, so they would not be charged for. They were both 6 years old at the time). When you are getting ready to add the dining plan, just explain the situation and I imagine they will offer you the same option. If they don't - ask for a supervisor. It CAN be done. They were very nice about it for us, once we explained that the children did not eat orally at all. It was also done for our family in December of this year, when we did the Hoop De Doo. They simply listed DD as an infant, so they had the proper number of seats for us, but she wasn't charged for the meal. They did not even charge us an entertainment fee for her.
Good luck and hope you have as good an experience as we did!
Angela

 

[dclfun]

Actually no, there is no exception to the dining plan for those who cannot eat however you can do what was mentioned and list the child as under age 3 so that there wouldn't be a charge for it. If you give the proper age then you'll be charged regardless of whether or not the child will actually use the credits. Others have left their child(ren) or the tube-fed adult off their ressie and then once at the resort have still been able to get a room card for them to use for EMH. The only issue here would be for passes if you have a package. In that case people have still left the tube fed guest off the ressie, purchased a separate pass for them and then just gotten the room key. The alternative would be for someone else in the party to use the credits however they are separated into adult and child credits for everything except the snack. They will absolutely not just allow someone on a res who is over age 3 to not pay for dining if everyone else has it, hence the "work-arounds". ---Kathy

 

[mlong2004]

Thanks for all of the great information. I was especially excited to hear the we can add the Dining Option up to 48 hours prior to arrival. I am going back and forth on it, and it's great to know that I still have 10 MONTHS to toss it around!