gastric by-pass/ DDP

[kbrase33]

my question is do i have to pay adult prices at all restuarants. I had gastric by-pass surgery in 2003. I now weigh around 130 and eat less than my four yr old. Not to mention I've looked at alot of menus and they're really fancy and I'm just as picky as my 4 yr old. I perfer the kids menus.

 

[winterman]

I haven't had a bypass but I don't have a big appetite. On our last visit I did not eat any entrees. At every TS restaurant I had an appetizer and a salad (and usually dessert). This worked great for me and appealed to my tastes. Perhaps you could just have an appetizer. I have a cousin who went to WDW after a gastric bypass. She and her DH split an entree and DH also had an appetizer.

I just can't see your being allowed to order from the kids menu at a TS restaurant. On the other hand you could order a kids meal at a CS since they wouldn't know who it was for.

What ever you do, do not go on the DDP. Way too much food.

 

[Tricia1972]

I am going to move this over to disABILITIES - they have a lot of information on Gastric Bypass and Disney.

I thought that there was a card that you can get that 'changes' rules for you slightly.

 

[PrinceCharmingsMom]

Hello there! I am a Florida Resident and an annual pass holder so we are there ALL the time, I too have had gastric bypass I had a RNY 2 years ago and the answer to your question is yes you do have to pay full price however you have lots of options at Disney with food.

1) You can buy your meal from the kid's menu. I do it all the time and so does my mother who hasn't had a bypass but is just watching her food intake.

2) You can order an entree and split it with someone else in your party.

3) You can order an appetizer and or soup instead of an entree which I do alot. I love the sticky wings at Kona cafe. Grilled Chicken wings and enough to share and only and appetizer.

4) You can bring in your own snacks for throughout the day to keep your protein up. I usually bring in some nuts and always 2 pre-frozen the night before waters. So I keep my fluids in.

5) Eat at counter service instead of the sit down restaurants.

You can take coolers and lunch boxes into Disney they just can't be oversize and have wheels.

My family and I do a combination of all those and it works well for us. I just think of it like this. All those years I paid full price and ate my share and then some I'm just catching up to it now.

I hope some of this helps you or someone else! Happy Disneying!

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Hi and to disABILITIES!

You have gotten some good advice already. I will add one other item which is not guaranteed but a lot of people says it works. If your group goes to a buffet talk to your server at the beginning and mention that you have had GB and will only be nibbling. As a general rule you may be charged only the child price for the buffet. It will work more often than not. Sometimes a manager approval may be required.

 

[CarolinaMomOf3boys]

I had gastric bypass a year ago and have been to disney 3 times, my husband and I share our meals with no problems

 

[MAGGIED]

I am having gastric bypass surgery next week..... we go to Disney at the end of January... so 7 weeks after my surgery.... not sure what I will be eating at that time but I to am concerned about if I will be charged at buffets... I don't think I will even be at childrens portions at that point.

 

[77SU]

I am having gastric bypass surgery next week..... we go to Disney at the end of January... so 7 weeks after my surgery.... not sure what I will be eating at that time but I to am concerned about if I will be charged at buffets... I don't think I will even be at childrens portions at that point.

I had surgery 27 May 08 and was at WDW in mid-July, a week before my 2-month check-up. I had a card from my Dr and I used it at CM for dinner and the Trails End for a breakfast to get the child's price. We weren't on the DDP for that 8 day trip, but will be this June. At seven weeks I was just eating protein and drinking water. We drove down so we took several cases of bottled water and took them in the parks in small insulated coolers. I also took my own food for breakfast (fat-free cottage cheese and turkey slices). At the CS I ordered either a Garden (Veggie) burger or grilled chicken and didn't eat the bun, just the protein. I really liked the Sunshine Seasons CS at The Land in Epcot to get the salmon and gave the sides to DW and DD. At the Wave I got the fish of the day entree, but specially requested no presentation sauce and to cook it with as little oil as possible. I was limited to 3-4 ounces of protein/meal at that time, so the CS portions were sufficient. The CM buffet would have been a complete waste if I had to pay for adult price.

Since I will be over a year out from my surgery when we go in June, my diet will be easier to cope with, but will still have to watch for fish entrees instead of steak at LeCellier We are planning our TS restaurants based on protein entrees and not the dessert menu. My DW and DD will probably be the getting an extra dessert to take back to the GF for an evening snack.

 

[codina818]

Couldn't you just order a drink and eat some of the food from your partner or other person?

While I think that Disney will try and accommadate you, I would think that the cheapest thing to do is just order one additional appetizer and share portions of the rest of the meal with someone else.

 

[mechurchlady]

Couldn't you just order a drink and eat some of the food from your partner or other person?

While I think that Disney will try and accommadate you, I would think that the cheapest thing to do is just order one additional appetizer and share portions of the rest of the meal with someone else.

There is no right or wrong answer as many factors are involved. Number of people, do they want to share, do you have hungry people who would eat 3 helpings of food, do you want your own plate, and do others who will share like the same food as you. One person may prefer to eat their own tiny mean while another person may prefer to share with the family then save up their dining credits to buy other family members a meal.

Are you on the dining plan? That is the key here to how I answer about gastric bypass surgery questions. The rules say that all members must be on the plan. if you have hungry people who scare buffet owners then go for the adult price and share off of others plates. The extra credits then go to the famished people. IF you prefer your own plate and special meal then do the kids price and get petite but adult type food.

Getting an appetizer is nice but what if you want that prime rib or grilled halibut. This is not so easy as people are different. Some do not care and others like myself go to WDW to pig out on fine dining and foods I cannot get at home.

 

[frkymcky]

Not sure if anyone out there can help me with this but here it goes:

I am considering purchasing the DDP and do understand the idea behind it. My husband is a gastric bypass patient and a few years ago we were going to purchase the DDP I spoke with someone (who/what department I forget) but they said I could purchase the DDP and they would charge him a child's rate with proper documentation from a doctor, not a problem. I thought from the research I did last time I found a few restaurants that had very nice child menu's for dinner (he would need to order off a child menu if available) also I thought there were restaurants that did not have a child's menu. Am I right or am I crazy. My idea would be if we purchase the DDP to try the restaurants with the better kid menus or no kid menu at all.

Before I go ahead with purchasing and going through the paperwork I wanted to have my research done, does anyone know what restaurants might work for this situation?

Thanks

 

[Chuck S]

I'm not so sure that DVC can unilaterally over-ride the DDP price for someone with gastric bypass surgery, as the DDP is made available through an agreement with WDWTC/CRO. If they do allow an adjustment, buffets would likely be a good bet for a nice selection of foods for someone in that situation.

I'm going to transfer this thread to the disABILITES forum, I'm sure there are others there that have had the surgery.

 

[77SU]

Are you on the dining plan? That is the key here to how I answer about gastric bypass surgery questions. The rules say that all members must be on the plan. if you have hungry people who scare buffet owners then go for the adult price and share off of others plates. The extra credits then go to the famished people. IF you prefer your own plate and special meal then do the kids price and get petite but adult type food.

If the guest is an adult, they have to pay the adult DDP price. They can't get a child's DDP price. The card/letter from the doctor is only good when paying OOP. Depending on how many months have passed since surgery, DDP may just not be a good idea. The new QSDP may be more reasonable, both food wise and money wise. Since gastric bypass patients are not supposed to drink with their meals, avoid soups, fats, carbs, and sugar, and eat only about 6 oz of food as a meal, I am hoping the TS portions are small.

 

[mechurchlady]

Persons who have had gastric bypass surgery can get the child price for their food. However they would eat off the adult menu. They would not be suck with the kiddie menu. The staff will help you with your diet whether it is allergies like me or something like gastric bypass surgery. As you said just present the card as proof and they will charge him as a child but he can still have his filet mignon though in kiddie sized portions.

However with the DDP you have to pay full price for the DDP. So if your husband wants the Dining Plan he will have to pay for it like an adult. If he wants to pay for kid priced but adult meals then it has to be not DDP. The DDP is for the whole party and they stipulate that all members must be on the DDP, Sorry.

 

[mechurchlady]

If the guest is an adult, they have to pay the adult DDP price. They can't get a child's DDP price. The card/letter from the doctor is only good when paying OOP. Depending on how many months have passed since surgery, DDP may just not be a good idea. The new QSDP may be more reasonable, both food wise and money wise. Since gastric bypass patients are not supposed to drink with their meals, avoid soups, fats, carbs, and sugar, and eat only about 6 oz of food as a meal, I am hoping the TS portions are small.

My statement was that there is not set answer to how to gastri bypass dining in WDW as there are so many factors involved. Sorry if I did not explain clearly myself.

Table service normally is normal sized meals such as fries and a burger or a taco salad. A lot of it is full of carbs, sugar, and/or fats.

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r17/wonderpup_photos/WDW November 2007/100_0899.jpg
"Turkey ciabatta sandwich and cheese fries from the Pop Century food court"

 

[dclfun]

Yes....the adult would have to pay the adult price for the DDP, not the child's price, so you might be better off to pay OOP vs purchasing any of the dining plans. Paying OOP there are many more options. There are no exceptions to pricing for the dining plan.---Kathy

 

[SueM in MN]

in the disABILITIES FAQs thread, there are some links to Contact Information for Special Diet information. I suggest contacting someone in that department because they would be most likely to have the information you need. I agree with the others though that you would have to pay for the DDP by age. If you paid for each meal, you could order from the children's menu and would probably be cheaper off.

In many cases purchasing DDP doesn't make economic sense. One of the reasons people buy it is because they want to have a set amount they are paying for their food. It usually doesn't end up to be cost effective unless you plan to eat a lot of big meals.

 

[77SU]

Last summer we were at WDW just 7 weeks after my gastric bypass surgery so I was very limited in what I could eat and the amount I could eat. We ate OOP for our 8 day trip. I didn't eat any child's meals because they were either fried or had carbs. I had good luck with ordering Veggie burgers or grilled chicken sandwiches and just eating the protein. I gave my family whatever sides came with the sandwich. One CS that was good was the Sunshine Seasons at The Land in EPCOT. I had the just the salmon and gave the sides to those in my party. I used my doctor-issued gastric bypass card at CM and the Trails End buffet, since I was eating very little at a meal. When we did TS I requested no starch on the plate to reduce temptation and to leave off any presentation sauce or put it on the side.

We are doing the DDP this June and I am being chargd as an adult. We never even thought about asking for child's prices. If we should do an OOP buffet meal, I would probably pull out the card again, but for the most part I will be ordering from the adult menu to get a grilled fish entree. My DW and DD will probably get my dessert as a take out. I will probably not get the most bang for my buck, but I should be able to get some nice fish dishes.

 

[SueM in MN]

There was an older thread about gastric bypass and a new thread about gastric bypass and DDP (Disney Dining Plan). Since both threads had good information on the similar subjects, I am combining them into one thread.