full charge for not eating at chef mickey's

[Wendydagny]

I can't believe I am reading this stuff...

Character meals are MEALS!!!! If you want to see characters go to the parks. I am pretty sure you can find them around.

The whole idea of an entertainment fee only at a character meal is absurd.

This really bothers me.

Some of us with disabled children have OTHER children who enjoy character dining and shouldn't have to miss out.

The big difference between my severely disabled child and a baby at Chef Mickey's is that the baby will eat. Yet the infant is free, and no one has a problem with that.

 

[SueM in MN]

This really bothers me.

Some of us with disabled children have OTHER children who enjoy character dining and shouldn't have to miss out.

The big difference between my severely disabled child and a baby at Chef Mickey's is that the baby will eat. Yet the infant is free, and no one has a problem with that.

Agree.

The people who are going are going to the character meals are not there just because of the person who can't eat.

I can't believe I am reading this stuff...

Character meals are MEALS!!!! If you want to see characters go to the parks. I am pretty sure you can find them around.

The whole idea of an entertainment fee only at a character meal is absurd.

I should mention that my younger DD is visibly disabled.
Some of the meals we go to were not character meals previously - Hollywood & Vine, Askerhus, Tusker House.
Those are now character meals, but we go there because we enjoy the food there, have a higher chance that somewhere on the buffet there will be omething DD will eat, and being able to get small portions of many different foods. Because of her disabilities, sometimes she is able/interested in eating and sometimes not.

We expect to (and usually do) pay full price for her. The few times that we haven't have been a nice sprinkling of pixie dust from a CM who noticed DD was having a particularly bad day. Pixie dust - not expectation.
The idea of an entertainment fee was to make some allowance for people who CAN'T eat (like tube fed) but enjoy the character interaction or just the social aspects if eating out - even if they are not ble to eat.

It takes us a long time to eat because we have to feed DD at least part of her meal. I'm always surprised at the number of people with children who don't appear disabled in any way who seem to be there much more for the characters than for the food.
We've seen people who came in the same time as we did leave as soon as all the characters had visited their table - sometimes they didn't eat at all!

My favorite was when older DD and I were at rope drop at MK and were waiting behind the rope at the entry inside the castle where we could see people arriving for their castle breakfast. (We were there quite a while due to thinking it was n early open day when it was not)

Most had little girls dressed in their best princess gear, but one family was kind of puzzling - mom, dad, and 3 boys - until we heard some of their conversation about how eating at the castle would give them a head start getting into the park.

We saw them go in and in an almost impossibly short time, come back out, past the check in area on the other side of the rope fom those of us waiting. The boys were doing 'Nanner-nanner. We are inside and you are not' to the people waiting, while the parents were discussing what to go on first.
At that point, a CM came from inside the park and said they had come out the wrong exit for the breakfast and did not belong on the open side of the rope.
They got sent to the BACK of the rope drop line and we had to listen to the kids whining and the parents arguing about how they had just spent a large amount of money for a breakfast that none of them ate PLUS they were at the back of the line.

 

[jmartinez1895]

They got sent to the BACK of the rope drop line and we had to listen to the kids whining and the parents arguing about how they had just spent a large amount of money for a breakfast that none of them ate PLUS they were at the back of the line.

I really enjoy it when people with "entitlement" issues get themselves into these sort of situations.

 

[Mrsjvb]

I can't believe I am reading this stuff...

Character meals are MEALS!!!! If you want to see characters go to the parks. I am pretty sure you can find them around.

The whole idea of an entertainment fee only at a character meal is absurd.

I may be wrong but some of these meals are the ONLY place to find a certain Character. That's why some one who really wants to see that one, they should expect to pay full price regardless of their individual needs.

and FTR most people I know all agree that that the meal itself is meh at best. your basic boring standard buffet. they gop for the character interaction

 

[Joanna71985]

I may be wrong but some of these meals are the ONLY place to find a certain Character. That's why some one who really wants to see that one, they should expect to pay full price regardless of their individual needs.

and FTR most people I know all agree that that the meal itself is meh at best. your basic boring standard buffet. they gop for the character interaction

The only one is Play and Dine (as it's the only place in the parks that you can meet Oso), and CP (with Eeyore and Piglet, outside of special events) Otherwise, the characters in the restaurants you can meet in the parks

 

[Disney_Princess83]

The only one is Play and Dine (as it's the only place in the parks that you can meet Oso), and CP (with Eeyore and Piglet, outside of special events) Otherwise, the characters in the restaurants you can meet in the parks

1900 at dinner as Prince Charming, 1900 for breakfast has the Mad Hatter, BOG (not strictly character mean) has Beast at dinner, Lilo at Ohana.

 

[mistysue]

The only one is Play and Dine (as it's the only place in the parks that you can meet Oso), and CP (with Eeyore and Piglet, outside of special events) Otherwise, the characters in the restaurants you can meet in the parks

Can I add how annoyed I am that you can't get those playhouse Disney characters outside of Hollywood and Vine easily? We went for the character interaction which was amazing, but they offered NOTHING my son could eat. It was the only TS place we went to in two whole weeks that did nothing for his allergies and just can't justify the price if one of us goes hungry. But he isn't free and it's not just him being unable the eat- they are actually refusing to give him food but requiring money to be paid.

 

[Mama Who]

Can I add how annoyed I am that you can't get those playhouse Disney characters outside of Hollywood and Vine easily? We went for the character interaction which was amazing, but they offered NOTHING my son could eat. It was the only TS place we went to in two whole weeks that did nothing for his allergies and just can't justify the price if one of us goes hungry. But he isn't free and it's not just him being unable the eat- they are actually refusing to give him food but requiring money to be paid.

That's so strange. Everyone else seems to do really well with Disney and allergies- did they tell you when you called ahead that they would not accommodate him?

 

[Talking Hands]

Can I add how annoyed I am that you can't get those playhouse Disney characters outside of Hollywood and Vine easily? We went for the character interaction which was amazing, but they offered NOTHING my son could eat. It was the only TS place we went to in two whole weeks that did nothing for his allergies and just can't justify the price if one of us goes hungry. But he isn't free and it's not just him being unable the eat- they are actually refusing to give him food but requiring money to be paid.

I've gone there with friends with some very specific dietary needs and they have been accommodated. No charge for the daughter who is exclusively tube fed. Both the mother's and my allergies accommodated along with their not eating pork at all. We feasted. Sorry your son could not be accommodated. He must have considerable allergies or some unusual ones.

 

[Joanna71985]

1900 at dinner as Prince Charming, 1900 for breakfast has the Mad Hatter, BOG (not strictly character mean) has Beast at dinner, Lilo at Ohana.

Oh right! I can't believe I forgot about those

Can I add how annoyed I am that you can't get those playhouse Disney characters outside of Hollywood and Vine easily? We went for the character interaction which was amazing, but they offered NOTHING my son could eat. It was the only TS place we went to in two whole weeks that did nothing for his allergies and just can't justify the price if one of us goes hungry. But he isn't free and it's not just him being unable the eat- they are actually refusing to give him food but requiring money to be paid.

But Jake and Handy Manny can be met outside the restaurant

 

[mistysue]

That's so strange. Everyone else seems to do really well with Disney and allergies- did they tell you when you called ahead that they would not accommodate him?

I've gone there with friends with some very specific dietary needs and they have been accommodated. No charge for the daughter who is exclusively tube fed. Both the mother's and my allergies accommodated along with their not eating pork at all. We feasted. Sorry your son could not be accommodated. He must have considerable allergies or some unusual ones.

The surprising part is that his needs aren't that extreme- my son can't have wheat, soy, egg, dairy, shellfish, peanuts, treenuts, sesame and buckwheat. The chef told us nothing out on the table was safe. He was offered Van's waffles, which are made with soy flour, and sausage which contained both soy and dairy. Most of our meals were table service and this was THE chef who just didn't get it. I wrote to special diets about the experience and they seemed surprised at the experience.

My son wasn't too worried about it as he was dressed like Jake and the place was nearly empty so Jake hung out at our table with us. I was just taking the moment to vent again because out in real life I get strange looks and comments like "why would you expect anything other than the buffet?" Disney doesn't have to do extras, but they do, otherwise I would pay all my money to somebody else.

 

[disfan07]

The surprising part is that his needs aren't that extreme- my son can't have wheat, soy, egg, dairy, shellfish, peanuts, treenuts, sesame and buckwheat. The chef told us nothing out on the table was safe. He was offered Van's waffles, which are made with soy flour, and sausage which contained both soy and dairy. Most of our meals were table service and this was THE chef who just didn't get it. I wrote to special diets about the experience and they seemed surprised at the experience.

My son wasn't too worried about it as he was dressed like Jake and the place was nearly empty so Jake hung out at our table with us. I was just taking the moment to vent again because out in real life I get strange looks and comments like "why would you expect anything other than the buffet?" Disney doesn't have to do extras, but they do, otherwise I would pay all my money to somebody else.

That sounds pretty much like our garden grill experience. I really had to push to get any food at all..and everything I got was inedible.

I have the same allergies as your son (minus the buckwheat) plus coconut, sunflower seeds, broccoli, bananas, cherries, oats, honey, ginger, raw fruits (except grapes), and raw vegetables.

At garden grill I got overlooked tilapia with no seasoning at all (no salt, pepper...nothing), an overlooked bake potato (seriously....HOW does a Che over cook a potato??), raw carrots (did he not hear the part where I can't have raw veggies?) and completely undercooked inedible beef. I had like one bite of the fish and potato and ate nothing else. He was the ONLY chef we had issues with during our 7 days there.

I don't know if you are heading back soon but this is where we ate with wonderful service and meals:

Liberty tree tavern- lunch
1900 park fare- dinner
The turf club- dinner
Crystal palace- lunch and dinner
The wave - 2 lunches and 1 dinner
Citricos- dinner
Contempo cafe- breakfast, lunch and dinner
Cosmic rays cafe
American pavilion

All were wonderful with my allergies. I always left stuffed!

 

[joanchris]

My daughter is on a ventilator, and actually doesn't even HAVE most of her digestive tract and is fed with an IV. We have eaten at almost every character buffet and CRT, and have never been charged for her.

My daughter is multiply disabled, very visibly and is clearly not eating at any meals, we've never been charged.

 

[nydancemom]

I have multiple food allergies and have not eaten in a restaurant for at least 15 years, including my many trips to Disney. I have never been charged for not eating. I am there with my family. I have not been to a character event in many many years since my kids are all well into adulthood. We were not able to get reservations two years ago when our grandchildren were at Disney with us, but it never would have occurred to me that with a party of 12, 11 of them paying, that I would have to pay to NOT eat! I would have been there to enjoy the experience with my grandchildren. I have been to Germany restaurant more than once, which is buffet, and have never been charged to NOT eat even though there is entertainment there. I could see if someone just randomly asked to sit in to watch the show they should be charged, but when a person has a medical condition which makes it impossible to eat in a restaurant, yet they are with family or friends who are paying customers, what would they be expected to do? Sit outside waiting for the rest of their party? That's just ridiculous.

 

[snarlingcoyote]

The thing is. . .at buffets that are of the "come on" and entertainment sort, at least where I've worked, the cost of the actual food is a very small (almost miniscule) portion of the cost of meal. The facility, wait staff and the entertainers are the biggest portion of the cost of the meal.

If you're there, taking up a seat, you are costing the buffet just about what you would cost if you ate.

I'm glad Disney allows its waiters to sprinkle some pixie dust at character meals and I hope they're allowed to continue doing this but the cost of the meal isn't the food; it's the characters that are costing so much. Would anyone at all pay $$$$ to eat at Golden Corral for breakfast? Heck no. You're paying so much for encounters with the characters. The food just keeps you occupied while the characters aren't at your table.

 

[Gracie09]

I have multiple food allergies and have not eaten in a restaurant for at least 15 years, including my many trips to Disney. I have never been charged for not eating. I am there with my family. I have not been to a character event in many many years since my kids are all well into adulthood. We were not able to get reservations two years ago when our grandchildren were at Disney with us, but it never would have occurred to me that with a party of 12, 11 of them paying, that I would have to pay to NOT eat! I would have been there to enjoy the experience with my grandchildren. I have been to Germany restaurant more than once, which is buffet, and have never been charged to NOT eat even though there is entertainment there. I could see if someone just randomly asked to sit in to watch the show they should be charged, but when a person has a medical condition which makes it impossible to eat in a restaurant, yet they are with family or friends who are paying customers, what would they be expected to do? Sit outside waiting for the rest of their party? That's just ridiculous.

I think the important phrase here is that you haven't been to a character meal. Yes Germany is a buffet and there is entertainment but its not a character meal. You probably would be charged something at a character meal whether its for the full meal or an entertainment fee.

 

[SueM in MN]

I think the important phrase here is that you haven't been to a character meal. Yes Germany is a buffet and there is entertainment but its not a character meal. You probably would be charged something at a character meal whether its for the full meal or an entertainment fee.

And, it is unusual to not be charged in Germany, so the previous poster's experience with not being charged may happen, but should not be expected .
Its posible that things like time of day or how busy the restaurant is at the time may make a difference.
Other people have been told that they must pay there, whether they ate or not. So, you might b a recipient of pixie dust and not be charged, but it's safer to assume you will pay and be surprised to not pay than assume you will not charged and be surprised to pay.