Need advice on feeding my mother...

[Tinkerspell]

I know Disney makes accommodations for food allergies or special dietary needs. I've got a rather unique one with my mother though. She had a gastic band put in last fall, so she's only allowed to eat like half a cup of food at a time.

We've decided not to even bother getting the dining plan in light of the fact it's not worth it for her. But... there's other things to consider. My kids love Garden Grill and the Storybook Princess Dinner. If it was just us going, we'd take them in a heartbeat. But I know my mother, and she's going to have a kicking, screaming fit at paying for the meal by the head when she can't really eat all that much at all.

I called Disney Dining to see if they could let her order children's meals instead, and was told it'd be done on a case by case basis. I'm guessing with any of the character dining or buffets that the answer is going to be no.

So, I need some ideas for places to take her. She can't do breads, rice or salads, and has to eat protein first. It's all so complicated keeping up with yes and no that I'm struggling.

I should add in too that she's the world's worst penny-pincher and she's going to freak over the food prices. Which makes me nervous about taking her anywhere that we really are interested in. Heck, meals are a big part of the joy of the vacation for us.

So, connesieurs of Disney dining, any restaurant suggestions of where to feed her without having the rest of us feel cheated?

 

[Cheshire Figment]

I have heard that often people with GBB are only charged the children's price at buffets and other AYCE locations. Generally all that it would involve is asking the server and making sure the server notes, when passing by, that your mother is not eating much. Sometimes it may be necessary to discuss this with the manager.

I'm not sure how it would be handled at locations where you pay in advance, such as CRT.

 

[Tinkerspell]

I have heard that often people with GBB are only charged the children's price at buffets and other AYCE locations.

That's a good thing to know. Thanks!

If I sound whiney and/or desperate about this, let me give you an example...

My dad is super excited at the idea of one particular restaurant. I gave him the link to the menu so he can get an idea of what they have, if he really wants it. Next time I talk to her, she's pooh-poohing "some place your dad mentioned" and having a fuss fit over "it's all got rice and I can't eat that." But the way she carried on, you'd think we went out of our way to find the very thing she can't eat. I was nearly in tears by the time she finished ranting about it. *sighs* It's a wonder I don't have a drinking problem.

I'm not the one that had the surgery darn it! I want to get my risotto and eat it too!

 

[Tink06170]

I know someone who had this procedure done. She should get her doctor to write her a note and prescription that she takes around with her that allows her to order from the children's menu.

If it were me, I would go ahead and fax Disney a copy of the letter, along with faxing it to the individual restaurants and keep the letter with her when there. With enough notice and understanding I do not think that it would be right of Disney to not let her order form the children's menu.

 

[ang]

How about prime time...is she aloud to eat soups?
Maybe she can just order side dishes...
Plan your vacation..Let her pick one, dad pick one and you pick one...and so on...that way everyone happy.

 

[Laurabearz]

I have read that there is a card GBB patients can get from their Doctor...

On a side note, it's awesome your mother took the steps she needed to lose weight, but at the same time you all should not be punished for it, and there are things at every restraunt she could eat, if she was a sport about it.

((hugs))

 

[bumbershoot]

Over on the Disneyland boards, it's mentioned quite often that those having this sort of surgery get a card stating so, and at Disneyland they are charged the kid's price at buffets.

If it happens at DLR I would imagine it would happen at WDW!

 

[msukar]

I had gastric bypass surgery 7 months ago- which is even more restrictive than the gastric band. I have lost 110 pounds and looking forward to my first trip to the World as a thinner person! That being said, I often eat out at restaurants with my family. I have 2 dds ages 6 & 7, and a dh who enjoys his food.

I have a card given to me by my doctor that says: "This person has had surgery and is required by Doctor's orders to restrict the quantity and type of food consumed. Please allow her to order a smaller portion or make a selection from the children's menu. Thank you for your cooperation."

That being said, I have never used the card in a restaurant. There is something that I can order from ANY restaurant. And since children's choices aren't generally healthy, I usually order from the adult menu. I eat what I can and I either box up the rest to eat as leftovers for the next several days, or if I can't take it with me, so be it. We will be on the dining plan for our trip. We will be visiting the character meals my dds want to go to, and the restaurants my dh will enjoy. And there are things that I can eat there. Will I gorge myself like I used to? No, but I will certainly enjoy what I can select and sample. I can order the filet mignon, and eat a couple ounces and bites of salad or veggies. Just because someone puts rice or potatoes on your plate doesn't mean you have to eat it.

This is going to sound harsh but your mother is just being difficult plain and simple. Tell her to grow up and stop ruining everyone's vacation.

Karen

 

[cruising spud]

I'll just mention this. When our youngest daughter was between the ages of two and six, she would eat a grand total of about ten different food items. When she was five, we went to Disney and I brought a small suitcase of food for her. When we went to eat, I simply got her food out, put it on my bread plate, and she ate. No one bothered us about this. Could your mom bring her own food for some meals? Maybe she could eat her breakfast in the room and just sit at your table for breakfast, bring something for lunch, and order a meal for dinner.

 

[Tinkerspell]

This is going to sound harsh but your mother is just being difficult plain and simple. Tell her to grow up and stop ruining everyone's vacation.

Karen

I love you! Wanna adopt me? I come with grandkids! No really, thank you for the perspective. I thought maybe I was being unreasonable or something or missing something key in this whole process.

Mind if I ask where are some of the places you plan on going? I think it will give me some ideas of places to choose.

 

[msukar]

I love you! Wanna adopt me? I come with grandkids! No really, thank you for the perspective. I thought maybe I was being unreasonable or something or missing something key in this whole process.

Mind if I ask where are some of the places you plan on going? I think it will give me some ideas of places to choose.

Okay, so here is where we have ADRs for. Keep in mind that we are on the deluxe dining plan (I know, pretty ridiculous for the amount of food that I eat but I have more options at a table service. I really do not eat fast food.)

Hollywood Brown Derby Fantasmic pkg
Kona breakfast
Cinderella's Royal Table dinner
Princess Storybook Breakfast
Le Cellier dinner
Donald's Safari Breakfast
Teppan Edo
Cape May Cafe Breakfast
Ohana dinner
Sci Fi lunch (strictly for the atmosphere for the kids)
Spirit of Aloha luau
Whispering Canyon breakfast
Coral Reef dinner
Crystal Palace breakfast

At the breakfasts I will probably have a scoop of scrambled eggs and fruit or yogurt. We chose a lot of character meals for the girls since they are still little and it is magical for them.

For the other meals I will choose beef, chicken or fish and a salad or vegetable. I am able to eat about a cup of food, depending on what it is. I can eat more salad than chicken for example.

I don't know if that'll help you at all. Like I said, I eat at normal places. Just in small amounts. Good luck with your mom, she sounds like a pistol.

Karen

 

[kaytieeldr]

This is going to sound harsh but your mother is just being difficult plain and simple. Tell her to grow up and stop ruining everyone's vacation.

Yeah! You want one (or more) of us to deal with her for you? I'm estimating that your mom and I are in the same general age group - I've got no problem speaking my mind to her if you want.

When she was five, we went to Disney and I brought a small suitcase of food for her. When we went to eat, I simply got her food out, put it on my bread plate, and she ate. No one bothered us about this. Could your mom bring her own food for some meals?

Most likely much more tolerated (by the restaurants) when it's a five year old, vs. a fifty year old.

 

[disnut8]

I'd still plan on the two dinners your kids really like. And tell your mother that is what you are doing FOR THE KIDS. For those two meals, she can either come along and eat what she can but if she's going to pout about it, then she can decide what she, and only she, wants to do. The vacation is for everyone, not just for her. And these are her grandkids!

For the other meals, I would suggest menu served places. And have her share with people. She wouldn't have to pay for the meal and she can eat from others' plates. The only problem there is that she would have to agree with what others are having. And she will never have to eat rice at the restaurant your father is wanting to go to. I can't imagine some Disney Cast Member is going to make her clean her plate (they don't even do that at 50s Prime Time anymore).

I would think that the money she saves on sharing meals with the rest of the family would offset the buffets your kids want to go to.

My last suggestion would be to just tell her, "Mother, you are being so difficult about this and it's getting me frustrated. I'm going to have you eat on your own. It's just not worth the hassles."

 

[lastminutemom]

You can't share at buffets, but if you want to do them, so be it. Disney is expensive -- does she really want to go? I know people who are so cheap, that even though they can afford it, they simply can't vacation at Disney.

She really needs to view the cost of eating as just part of the vacation -- and the meals as part of the whole Disney experience.