Help! Friend with Bariatric Surgery

[Cdn Gal]

Hi everybody- I need some help! A friend of mine will be going down to the World over Easter and has recently had bariatric surgery. They will be doing several character breakfasts and dinner buffets since they are going with young children. If she brings a note from her doctor, could she eat under the children's menu/plan since she will only be able to eat about 1 small handful of food? Her stomach pouch will be healed by that time and she will have to be careful about what she eats, but it doesn't make any sense for her to pay full price when she is just eating 2- 3 ounces at the most. Any thoughts or suggestions to pass along to her? Thanks!

 

[Cheshire Figment]

This is a subject that is discussed occasionally in the disABILITIES Forum. There are several answers, all are correct.

1. There is no discount on any Dining Plan.

2. Any person can order a children's meal when paying out of pocket.

3. People are allowed to share meals at Disney restaurants without additional charges.

4. At a buffet or other all-you-can-eat (such as Liberty Tree Tavern, Garden Grill or Whispering Canyon Skillet) you may be charged the child price and not the adult price. This is actually up to either the server or manager. They should be alerted and asked in advance. There is no official rule about it, but is on a case by case basis.

 

[Cdn Gal]

Thank you so much for your promptness! It is very overwhelming for my friend and she is trying to plan. I told her to call ahead and let them know and bring a letter from her Dr. just in case. Hopefully they won't charge her for adult price at a buffet! Thanks!

 

[Andrea73]

I do not think she should. She should eat and pay as everyone else does. Yeah, Dr's give out little cards where you can ask to be given the choice of the kids menu, but I would never use it.

I had bariatric surgery myself in Nov (gastric banding)

Here is the reasoning for my answer.

1. The food on the children's menu at most places is junk. She should not be eating it and her dietitian would agree. Honestly, I did buffet heavy ADR's specifically because I don't want my kids eating that junk. Nuggets, Mac & cheese....not anything that she or I should be eating. I saw a few places with grilled fish for kids, but for the most part, the kids menu entrees are processed carbs on a plate from the menus I have read.

2. At places like buffets, we did not pay more when we ate more? Why should we expect pay less now? If I came a year ago and ate until I was stuffed, I did not pay more. I chose to have surgery, and they should not have to take a loss because of it.

3. She should plan on eating healthy. Maybe schedule non-buffet ADR's and share a meal with someone. Or order a healthy appetizer like a non cream soup. She can have a taste of dessert, just not entire desserts daily. I plan to eat with a balance of healthy choices and small indulgences. I can tell you one thing,......I WILL be tasting a zebra dome band or not!

 

[Cdn Gal]

You make good points...now to tell her that in a nice way so she won't be offended!

 

[Andrea73]

I would tell her to look at the children's menus and see if they include things that her dietitian recommends. (In most cases the answer will be heck no!)

Then focus on #3 suggesting she split meals or go with soups or healthy apps.

I would not mention #2 if I were you, she may not take that one very well and it's more my opinion that anything. Someone like me who is fat/was fat and has had bariatric surgery could be "real" like that with her, but she may not take it well from someone who has not been there.

 

[mb_uh]

DH and I are both 10 years past the old stomach stapling. We can still only eat very small portions. We also still enjoy gourmet food and what our kids to have character menus. We are doing the deluxe dining plan because we wnt to eat at better restaurants and stay away from chicken strips and fries. At buffets the healthier food is more expensive then fattening waffles. We will pay full price because it is a choice to eat their. These places are based on age nothing more. My 1 year old will eat almost as much as my 6 year old but one costs us and one is free. Buffets are all you care to eat not all you can eat.

 

[trekkie2]

I will be post RNY by 12 weeks when we go in May, I have been worried about eating, we have the dining plan and I hate the idea of using a dining credit to eat 1/4 cup of food, I plan to share and redistribute my credits so the family can add a few breakfasts to our trip.

I am also taking protein powder packets and some portable snacks in my bag incase I can't find something to eat.

You might have your friend talk with her NUT, mine offered to look over the menus at our restaurants and help me decide on a dish. perhaps hers will do the same.

Hope you have a blast!