Gastric Bypass and eating at Disney

[Tarheel girl 1975]

I'm hoping that this is a good place to post this since I thought I had seen some posts here about bypass surgery some time ago. We're taking my mom to Disney with us in May. She had bypass surgery about 5 or 6 years ago. I thought that I had read somewhere that she would be able to pay the child's price at buffets as long as she had a card. I've read somewhere recently that she will have to pay the adult price. Does anyone know which is true? I already made our ADRs but I need to know if I've done my math right. I don't want any surprises. Thanks.

 

[mechurchlady]

The dining plan is adult only price.
If she is paying for the meal away from the dining plan then she would get an adult meal at a kid price if she has that card.

Back from DLR and kids baked chicken is tasty with enough ketchup but bland looking and the kid chicken taco is tiny and not yummy like the adult meals. Just ask for adult foods in smaller portions or share with family. You can save the dining plan adult meals for special meals where you turn in 2 to get a special dinner site by sharing off another person's plate or by eating a la carte or paying for your own meal at kid's prices.

 

[Tarheel girl 1975]

We weren't planning on getting the DDP. We plan on buying a TIW card, but I did all my calculations assuming my mom will be able to pay the children's price at the buffets. If she has to pay full price we might be better off with the DDP. Although at other table and counter service I'm sure we'll share entrees.

 

[mechurchlady]

http://www.wdwinfo.com/disneydiningexperience.htm
TABLES IN WONDERLAND

You pay $65 for passholders and $85 for nonpassholder or seasonal Floridians to save 20% on meals. One would have to spend $325 to break even if they are a passholder and did not include any of the 10% discounted resort and Epcot restaurants.

She is better off with the kids price than paying for the adult TIW. At the Biergarten she would get dinner for about $16.00 with the card but the kids is only about $12. Chefs de France is $7 and $8 for a child but for a ham and cheese sandwich (cheapest lunch item for adults) with the TIW it would be about $10.

 

[diesel]

Tables in Wonderland has now gone up to $75

 

[Tarheel girl 1975]

As a group we will spend enough to make it worth buying a TIW card even at the new price. I have 10 ADRs made and becuase of my kids several of them are Character buffets. We didn't go with the DDP for several reasons -my mom's bypass surgery, some meals are at inexpensive TS (like the Plaza, Kona breakfast,) and one is for tea at the GF which would be OOP anyway. We're also staying club level and I just don't think we'll eat that many counter service meals. I just need to know if I should budget for my mom to pay a child's price or adult price at the buffets. Maybe I'm just overthinking this.

 

[mechurchlady]

It is better to over plan a trip than to regret not knowing something or having done something. I went to DLR this past week 4 days and studied everything from ride closures to food. I knew which restaurants could deal best with my needs. I had one CM tell me that the restaurant could not meet my gluten free/soy free diet. I knew they could and stood my ground while another CM checked. I got chicken drumettes with skin on them and two scoops of mashed taters without gravy. It was lots of work but I was too full for a dole whip. I also used lots of ketchup, a sensory issue, lol. I knew and got what I wanted because of overplanning the trip.

I have had post trip regrets many times and not so many recently because I had so many options available. I was getting sick on one trip so I opted for an easy day and still had lots of fun. Last trip I was heading to Innoventions and saw the fireworks. I headed for Buzz, hopped out of the ECV and got in a no wait line for Buzz that after fireworks was over 30 minutes. I knew my options and got a quick line. YES, WOOT.

 

[Eeyore'sthebest]

I do not believe that they honor a card that comes from your surgeon. I've been to Disney twice since I've had GBP surgery and I'm only 15 months out. We tried not to hit the buffets but when we did, I paid full price.
I was able to order off the children's menu at the table service restaurants if I found something I liked. Otherwise I either shared a meal or ordered an adult meal and just left what I couldn't eat.

At the buffets a staff member may have to monitor how many plates of food your DM takes. I know I wouldn't want that. I would call Disney Dining directly and ask them.

 

[77SU]

We were there in July 2008 and I was only 6 weeks out of surgery, so I was very limited in how much and what I could eat; basically my 3 to 4 ounces of protein was it. We only did two buffets: Chef Mickey and Trails End. At both locations I showed the CM the card and was only charged the child's price with no problem. No one seemed to monitor my plate (one salad plate with boiled shrimp, baked chicken, and salmon). At the CS locations I either ordered grilled chicken or the Boca burger, which I understand has now been changed to a true veggie patty that includes rice, which is not allowed until you get to maintenance. Since your DM had surgery such a long time ago, she is probably able to eat most anything, just in limited quantities.

We are returning in June and we just made our ADR's last Friday. We are staying club level at the GF. I will be taking my own deli-sliced turkey and fat-free cottage cheese to have for breakfast while DW and DD enjoy the club breakfast goodies. There is no protein at the club level for breakfast that I have seen. We are using the regular DP and using our TS for dinners. I have already reviewed menus and will pretty much be ordering fish, with no presentation sauce, at each location. My DW and DD will be able to take my dessert back to the room. We have thought about going to Trails End again on our last day for an OOP breakfast and I was planning on using my card then.

Let us know what you find out if you call Disney Dining and if you have any problems in May.

 

[Schmeck]

One thing to note - if you are going to a Character Buffet, in the past Disney has considered that the food is secondary to the character interaction. It has been reported here on the Dis that at some point, children on feeding tubes were still charged the child's price for the buffet, as the main focus was that the kids got to meet the characters.