Dinner Pkg and non-eater? No judgment please!

[Jenny-Bell]

Hi everyone....a couple of questions...

We are a family of 4 (the kids are 4 and 6). My six year old has Autism and some serious food aversions. We normally pack his food with us wherever we go, because he won't eat restaurant food. Basically he will eat Pb&J (not the uncrustables), spaghetti O's and Pizza (but it has to be frozen totinos) and Eggo Waffles with Aunt jemima Lite syrup. (He has super taste buds and can taste slight variations in syrup and the such....as part of his diagnosis he has an extreme fear of changes like this...

His brother on the other hand will eat anything.

Anyways..we have considered the dining plan but haven't done it because I cant see paying for a dining plan for a kid that wont eat anything. When making reservations, the CM on the phone told me to book the room as a family of 3 and then add him when we check in at the Resort and we won't have to add him to the dining plan. But this seems off to me, what do you think?

Also, I made a reservation for the Garden Grill (character meal) and will have to pay $20 for him? (Is this non-negotiable?)

Also, I would like to do a Fantasmic Dinning package, but do I have to pay for his dinner too even though he is not eating or is there a way I could pay just for the reservation hold not the food? or maybe I can hold a child in my lap for the show...is this allowed?

Any help regarding dinning and not having to pay for someone who won't be eating would be helpful.

I know that there is a number to request specific foods at the Restaurant reservations...but will they make it exactly how I say? Even then, I'm not sure it's reasonable to pay $20 for a simple pb&J or can of spaghetti O's...?

Thanks in advance.
jenny

 

[minnie mum]

I'm really sorry, and I understand where you're coming from, but I think your'e out of luck on this one.

You will be charged the going rate for each person (3 yrs or older) for a meal at any buffet or family style restaurant. This includes Garden Grill. I believe it would also apply to the dinner shows. I don't think it would apply at restaurants where you order from the menu (except for Fantasmic packages), but I can't think of any a la carte Character meals off the top of my head.

The Fantasmic Package is a set price per person for a meal + guaranteed seating at the show. You can't just pay for the seating part of the package.

While this will no doubt be very disappointing for you, you can see how it would be very difficult for Disney to make exceptions for this. I can just see the requests flowing in: I/my family member has _________. I/my family member promisesnot to eat a single bite from the meals everyone else is enjoying. Could't we please have a table for 5 but only get charged for 4? See the potential for rampant abuse here? Not in your case, of course; but in general.

 

[niccikatie]

I think it's worth a shot asking when you get to the restaurants. When we had lunch at Biergarten (a buffet; but not character meal) the family next to us had three people but only two were eating. They were only charged for two people. I'd expect to have to pay, but would absolutely ask when I got there.

 

[jking6]

So sorry but I think as far as the dinner shows you will be out of luck as it is a show. At your TS meals I think you should be ok as you can have some people sitting pay out of pocket and the rest on the DDP.
Good Luck

 

[mom2brooke76]

Why don't you also go post the question on the DISabilities section of the board? They may have a better idea of what to expect, what can be done, etc....

 

[snykymom]

I don't mean to pry, but does your DS have other issues that might make it difficult for your family to keep their TS ADRs? If so, even if you could buy the DDP for only 3 of you, might not be a good idea for any of you. If you prepay for TS meals, but don't use those credits for whatever reason, you're "leaving money on the table" - you will not get a refund.

Unless you're sure that you will be able to use all your credits, you may not want the DDP at all.

 

[dalt01]

you may not want the DDP at all.

ITA......you have to many moving parts...it will comsume your whole trip worrying about it

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

I'd suggest not getting the DDP for your family. The DDP can be a good value for some, but it doesn't sound like a good value for your family.

If you are eating at a buffet or family-style meal, it is very likely that everyone will have to pay. They may be willing to make an exception, but I wouldn't count on it.

There are many other character meals that are not as expensive as Garden Grill - it seems to be really expensive. It is a good value on the DDP, but if you decide to pay out of pocket, you might consider a character breakfast.

For the F! Dinner package, you are paying more for the voucher that allows you to enter the reserved seating area than for the food. When we have used the F! dinner package, we travelled with a large group and the CM at the package entrance to F! separated us into groups to make sure the number of people on the vouchers matched the number of people in our group. You are paying for the convenience and the privilege of the alternative entrance - it wouldn't matter if your DS sat on your lap or not.

Have you looked at the menus on allears.net to see if there are places your DS would eat?

 

[brenalexacamp]

I know it stinks- but I just kind of suck it up- we wanted to go to Coral Reef- they don't have any spaghetti sauce! I had to pay for a dish of plain pasta-regular price- and I took my own jarred sauce to pour over-the chef wouldn't do it in his kitchen- that's ok- killed me to pay 15 bucks for plain pasta! at the Crystal Palace- I asked the waitress to make a dish of pasta and sauce- the chef saw my son- I don[t know where he went-probably Tony's- and showed me a picture of his son with down's too! I have a ressie for Chef Mickey coming up- I know I will be asking for a dish of spaghetti!

 

[mb_uh]

I think you will either have to pay 12 bucks a day for his meals and use his credits for things he will not eat (gardengrill, shows) or not do ddp. I understand that this is frustrating but your family could easily use his cs meals and snacks and I am sure that any ts meals that he would not need to use concierge would probably switch to cs or snacks for you so you could get something for you. Because the children's plan is so cheap compared to adults if you want to do TS it may still be cheaper. The BIGGER question is how will he react to the characters?

 

[gigi1313]

i feel for you... ds has (had? he's outgrowing them as a teen) sensory issues and has food allergies and that's enough of a complex situation... a non-eater is even more complex...

personally, i'd do the DDP... the child's price is reasonable enough that it's worth it even if you/dh/ds4 uses his CS and snack credits... plus you get the character interaction and F! seating...

the recommendation to add DS6 at check in is a very complex one and not advisable if you are planning to do Magical Express... if he's not on the ressie in advance, he can (and likely will) be denied DME...

oh, and jftr, my dd (16) was not feeling well at 1900 PF in Jan and all she had was a soda and a few grapes off her bro's plate and our server did not charge us for her... we didn't ask, she just took note that dd had only ordered ginger ale and never went up to the buffet and offered to let her be there gratis!

 

[kchughes]

I know Biergarten will only charge you for the number of people eating, but I don't know if this is their policy or a Disney policy. Either way, I think your son's issues would fall under the American's with Disabilities Act and will need to be accomodated. You may want to contact Disney Guest Services to clarify what the policy is. Good Luck!

 

[DaisyMaisie]

It has been years, but I thought that when LTT had characters they had a note on the menu that there was an "entertainment" charge for anyone not eating. It was a lot less than a meal. Definitely would not hurt to ask. I would go in with the attitude that at character meals you know you have to pay something...

 

[brymolmom]

I, too, would recommend not getting the DDP for your family. My brother has a 5 year old with Down Syndrome who only eats non-solids (apple sauce, baby food, yogurt). He and his family just returned from WDW yesterday - THEY had a GREAT time!!!!! We sat down and tried to figure out whether or not the DP would be good for his family - and it ended up NOT being the best deal. OOP worked out great though. They got groceries delivered and brought in my nephew's food everywhere. They sometimes supplemented and just bought a side of apple sauce or similar.

They ended up with one character meal - because my nephew LOVES Mickey - they went to O'hana. And my brother just told me that even though the food was not great and nephew didn't eat a thing (at least from the restaurant, they did bring him stuff) - it was worth EVERY PENNY for the character meal. My nephew loved it!

Honestly, I don't think I would try to get out of paying it - if you want to go to a character meal, it is your choice. Most people don't go for the food, many people can't eat a lot of the food (vegetarians, etc.), some people can't eat any of the food for whatever reason - but if you still want to go - you're going for the characters.

Good luck!

 

[crashbb]

Another point is that you son will not be able to use DME if he is not on the reservation. I'm not sure if you were planning on taking the DME or not, but it might be an issue.

 

[MSSANDRA]

I would just go ahead, get the DDP. The kids price is so good that you really are coming our just as good to get it as to pay out of pocket for your other son.

His Counter service credits can be used for breakfast for your other son,or if you split a few meals, as we always do, maybe get breakfast for everyone a few mornings. You can always use the counter service as well if your older son is extra hungry one meal or for a snack for one of you.

At sit downs, order his meal any way and let your other son have a choice of both plates and a n extra dessert or take it back to the room for a later snack !!!

You never know when your DS might decide to take a bit or two of something off a buffet either, disney magic is pretty strong!!!

His snack credit will be easy to use and you can even take a few with you if you have extra!!!

 

[las3888]

You could always try asking to speak to the Manager (in a friendly way ) if they really do try to charge you at a TS meal if he eats nothing. I am sure they would try to accommodate you.

Also, isn't there a check box when we make online dining ressies that says I have a food allergy or something like that. I am not sure what happens when you check that box but maybe there's a way to add a comment about your situation????

Good luck and enjoy your trip!!!!

 

[Jenny-Bell]

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
I love the response I get on the Disboards.

To answer a few questions....
We are driving, so no Magical Express.
He actually loves the characters, so no issue there.
I wouldn't think that there would be any issue with keeping reservations, as he doesn't really have any behavioral challenges, but then again...there is a first time for everything.

I figured as far as character meals go...we were out of luck, and I wanted that meal with those specific characters as those are ones he has really enjoyed before and we plan on doing that meal on his birthday (so I stick to "no cake for breakfast" even at Disney).

I wasn't sure about Fantasmic, so I guess i just thought I'd ask...

As far as the DDP...that is a good point about his brother eating all the food as I'm sure he would love that...and I do often order food for him in the hopes that he might try something new...(it has happened before..twice..so lets cross our fingers).

I was just looking for some other input as my husband just says "huh?" and "I don't know" and "Whatever you want", and I can be incredibly indecisive sometimes...so it's nice to have people talk me through it all.

Thanks again everyone! I really appreciate the support!

jenny

 

[DCDisney]

WDW is very consistent on the DDP. Even families with a family member who is tube fed and doesn't eat anything at all have to pay for the plan. The best way to not pay would be like the agent said waiting and adding him at check in which works totally fine as long as you aren't using magic express. They stopped doing the entertainment fee at character meals so you would have to pay full price for those. We have not been charged once when my child ate 2 bites and fell asleep but that's really unusual. You can email special diets and they will try and accommodate when they can but it's not normally down to specific brands of syrup. They also can not heat up items you bring with you as there is some legal liability so if you bring the pizza or spaghettios to a restaurant he would have to eat them room temp.

 

[sharonabe]

I say go with the DDP. Even if he doesn't eat ANYTHING, you can just consider that a small price to pay for him to have some great interaction with his favorite characters!