I think I need this moved....please!?

[DizNee Luver]

So I don't know if there is anyone out there that has this problem & or any info to share on this subject........
I have a set of twins that will turn 3 in May. Our trip is in July which means we start paying for them. I called Disney Dining today to inquire about paying for character meals when one of the girls has feeding issues & only eats yogurt & applesauce (1/2 cup per meal) & the other girl doesn't eat ANYTHING orally. She's 100% tube fed. I was trying to find out if they had discounts for medical issues or free (for the tube-fed) on these meals. I was told NO!! I was told you were paying for the entertainment......ummmmm aren't we also paying for all the food as well??

I will pay for the one girl but paying for the other one really doesn't make any sense to me at all. On to the entertainment portion for this same child......she's autistic & cognatively that of a 6-8mth old.....she won't care about the characters. We are doing these meals for our 4 & 8 yr old who love going.

I'm a bit frustrated & this would financially be quite expensive to just see the characters for her (actually both girls), when we can see them for free in the parks......

Any input on this matter would be appreciated.

I started with Disney Dining who then transfered me to guest assistance who then transfered me back to Disney Dining mgmt....I was only able to leave a voice mail for the mgmt team.

 

[camouseketeer]

I would recommend posting this on the Disabilities board under the main Disboards menu. While most people posting on that board have questions regarding WDW, your concern is less park specific and more policy specific. Those with experience at WDW can certainly give you some advice for DLR.

I would suggest you change your post title to something specific like "Feeding tubes and character meal ?". That may draw more people with knowledge of your situation to your post.

Personally, I would argue that you shouldn't have to pay for both of your twins.

Best of luck at getting a satisfactory response!

 

[DisneyTravelers2008]

I hope it works out. Im really surprised they dont have a plan for that. I imagine you will hear back from the management on the voice mail that you left. I hope it works out and that your family has a wonderful trip.

 

[Peace.love.mickey]

I have no idea...but I would get a drs note to bring with you.

Good luck!

 

[DizNee Luver]

I don't know how to move this over to the DisAbilities thread......Help from the administrators!!!

Part of the reason I didn't start it there, was the last thread I started over there didn't get any responses (I got 1).....and it was dealing with autism. They tend to be very geared to WDW......but maybe this would get more responses.....I'm just feeling a bit overwhelmed at this moment.

 

[LavenderPeach]

Hi DizNee Luver! You may remember that our DS, who is 4, also has a feeding tube. He can eat by mouth but only small amounts and it has to be pureed. Anyway, we went to the Celebration BBQ last october which isn't a character meal but has a set price like the character meals and has a little bit of enterainment. I talked to the CM at the front before we went in because, like you, i didn't want to pay for a child who couldn't eat anything there. They were more than happy to accomdate us and they let DS in for free. It's probably not their official policy to let kids over 3 in for free but I bet the CMs at the restaurant would be more willing accomodate you once you get there. Not sure if they would do free for a character meal but they might at least give a discount. I think having the CMs at the restaurant see your girls in person will help.

So I guess there's no guarentee but I would be willing to bet they would let them in for free or discount, especially since they are 3 and not 16. (Although they should give a discount to a 16 yo who has a feeding tube too.)

Hope that helps and have a fun trip!

 

[Amy and kids]

I guess what I would do is just not pay for them and just say that they are 2, for one they are very close to 2 and they will be eating far less than any 1 or 2 year old anyway, especially considering one of them won't be eating ANYTHING. I guess maybe that's not the most honest way to go about it but I don't understand why you should have to pay for children who are 1) not eating anyway and 2) not interested in the characters.

 

[aussietravellers]

Gosh, I hope this works out for you. Surely there is somebody you can talk to as to make you pay is crazy! Its a medical issue and I would hope that if you don't have any success before going that when you are there, like the PP that they look at the individual situation and take it from there. I would also take a letter from your Dr with you just incase.

and I hope you have a wonderful trip

 

[DizNee Luver]

Neither girl acts like a 3 yr old......one is very, very delayed with autism & the other is probably more like a 18mth old. Their size will be the only thing that would say 3 yr old. One has no words at all while the other has about a dozen words.....so socially you could tell they're not their physical age. I would hate to lie about age (especially since I will be buying ParkHoppers for them)....but sheesh......this does seem a bit extreme!

 

[Peace.love.mickey]

Try to talk to them and then if not.....I think I would go with the saying they are younger...if someone asked, would either reply with their correct age?

 

[DizNee Luver]

Try to talk to them and then if not.....I think I would go with the saying they are younger...if someone asked, would either reply with their correct age?

No...one doesn't speak at all & the other has about a dozen words......they only look 3....nothing else about them is 3.

 

[Amy and kids]

I understand not wanting to lie but you aren't lying for something big like buying park tickets, it's a meal that they aren't able to enjoy anyway, you're not stealing anything by saying they are 2 since they are not eating. They are also only going to be two months over 3 years old, it's not like they are almost 4 and you're saying they are 2. I don't know, I don't avocate lying about a child's age to get a free meal but in your case you aren't lying to get a free meal, you would be lying to not have to pay rightfully for something you are not going to partake in in the first place.

 

[Monkey Monkey]

I guess what I would do is just not pay for them and just say that they are 2, for one they are very close to 2 and they will be eating far less than any 1 or 2 year old anyway, especially considering one of them won't be eating ANYTHING. I guess maybe that's not the most honest way to go about it but I don't understand why you should have to pay for children who are 1) not eating anyway and 2) not interested in the characters.

I agree. I normally wouldn't advocate lying, but in this case, I think the policy is unfair for your particular situation. Especially considering they will only have been 3 for two months, it seems silly to pay full price when they won't even be eating.

Good luck and I hope you have a wonderful time!

 

[bumbershoot]

Disney Dining...the CMs aren't even necessarily in the parks. They might not have ever BEEN to the parks.

And even if they gave you the answer you need, that won't mean a thing when you get to the restaurant. The hostesses I've talked to at character meals are generally fixing the problems that Disney Dining has caused by not giving enough info or giving wrong info, etc.

I would go early to the character meal and talk with the hostess and even a manager. Perhaps take the littles with you while DH and the oldest sibs have fun somewhere else, so that the manager can meet the little ones and really understand the situation.

I can't imagine that someone meeting the kids would continue forth having you guys pay for them. But don't try with Disney Dining again...this is beyond their knowledge, and they don't have any power to help you in the parks anyway.

 

[DizNee Luver]

I think talking with each individual restaurant is a good idea......I just think Disney needs to have special allowances in place for special needs.....so everyone is on the same page. I don't mind paying a little bit for the meals but full price doesn't make any sense at all.

I should hear back from Disney Dining Mgmt today....I'll let you all know what they have to say on this matter.

Thanx for the all input & help....mainly support!!!

 

[samkj]

Which meal are you doing? We have been to most of them with our daughter, now 11, who is not able to eat regular food and we have better luck with some than others. Goofy's was the least accomodating and absolutely refused to not let her pay. Minnie's, Ariel's(the hostess out front said yes she wold have to pay, but the watress thought that was rediculous and did not add her to the bill) and Lilo and Stitch (now Mickey's at PPH) did not make her pay. Storyteller's would probably be a good choice since they have the option of orderig off a menu, so there is no set price. It also is a bit quieter, so it may be good for your girls.

 

[DizNee Luver]

The plan was to do all of them.......we figured 2 meals a day....one big one (character meal) and then a counter service meal for dinner....
But this definately could change those plans.

 

[samkj]

We're going next week, I'll let you know how it goes with our daughter. I think we will be paying the child price (luckily she is very small for her age and can easily pass for 8) since she is now eating some, but I refuse to pay full adult price for applesauce and mashed potatoes!

 

[DizNee Luver]

We're going next week, I'll let you know how it goes with our daughter. I think we will be paying the child price (luckily she is very small for her age and can easily pass for 8) since she is now eating some, but I refuse to pay full adult price for applesauce and mashed potatoes!

Good luck & have fun!!