rare medical problem..would disney help?

[mapa2smjn]

We are taking my mom and dad for a trip to WDW and my mother has several medical issues, most we have delt with on vacation...her oxygen and her scooter are no problem most places. She also has gastroparisis...this condition prevents her from eating normally. She can only eat very very small portions and only certain food items(no fresh fruit or veggies,no red meats, etc)
Her doctor gave her a card that states that she should be permitted to order from the childrens menu. However, she denied that option so many times that she has stopped showing it. This is not a problem in 'order off the menu" restaurants she usually just gets an appetizer or soup. But at buffets it is killer!!! To pay $20 for a few bites of food! My 7 year old can eat 3x more than she does.
I just wondered if you thought Disney would honor this or not. We have kids and would like to do a buffet or 2..maybe a character one and maybe biergarten or something.

thanks
K

 

[Talking Hands]

Just wanted to say that gastroparesis is not that rare. It is a fairly common complication of diabetes. I have it myself but it is not severe at this point. I have never asked for a reduced price on what I eat even on the days I can't eat a lot. At the buffets I am there to enjoy the characters and the company of my family and friends so I don't worry about the cost of the meal that much. For me it really depends on what I eat. Some things really give me problems and other things not.

 

[ducklite]

At the character meals and places like the Biergarten you are paying mostly for the "entertainment" factor. *Some* managers will allow a person with a medical card to be charged the children's fee, but this is a case by case and not an overall WDW policy.

In all honesty, I think you need to be prepared to pay the adult fee, and be pleased if she's only charged a childs fee.

Anne

 

[clkelley]

I have read that some of the character buffets also have a $5 "entertainment" fee for those not eating. Maybe your mom could have a small bite before you go to the buffet at a counter service, then ask about the "entertainment" fee.

Carol

 

[SueM in MN]

Charging a lower fee is up to the discretion of the server at the buffets, so if she wants to show her card, that's who she would show it to.
As the other posters already noted, if you look at it as entertainment and not as a restaurant, it is easier to see the value of it. If you plan on paying the whole fee and then get the entertainment fee, you got the benefit of some WDW magic.

 

[mapa2smjn]

Just wanted to say that my mother's form of gastroparesis IS rare due to the extent and cause of it, also the damage is has done to her in the last several years. She has a gastric pacemaker which has stopped her endlessly constant vomiting. She is not trying to get something for nothing...and I understand there is an entertainment value to these buffets. I just wondered if it was worth her bringing her card because the prices are so high for what she is getting. I appreciate the info about the entertainment fee...this is perfect..I will look into it. She often can only drink protien/vitamin drinks and often will sit at a buffet so she can visit with us(we have several popular ones in our area) and not even eat anything. It just seems a waste. But a $9 hometown buffet is a far cry from $20+ wdw buffet price.

K

 

[SueM in MN]

Ask about the entertainmewnt fee when you make your reservations (I guess they call them "advance seatings, now).
For the restaurants that are not buffets or character interactions, she can order whatever she wants, or nothing or share with someone else in your party. At the counter service, I often share with my youngest DD or she will have a child's meal - no one will question it (or probably not even know since many people are ordering for children who are waiting out of the line).
For the full service restaurants, she could order an appetizer or share a meal. They will even bring an extra plate if they know someone is sharing. My youngest DD has ordered off the children's menu (even though she is an adult), but unless your mom likes chicken fingers, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches or mac and cheese, she might not find anything she likes/can eat from the children's menu.
Here's a link to some menu databases:
DIS Boards dining menus. To get all the menus, just click on Submit without entering any information.
Deb Wills' sites dining menus

 

[alohacousin]

I would email WDW ahead of time. and keep a copy of their response if needed.

I have a daughter that has a gtube and can eat very little orally. we never were charged for her at any of the disney all you can eat character breakfasts. I politely told the server my daughter cannot eat this food blah blah. no problem. The only place in the USA so far to make us pay full price for her was a pizza fun place "Gattitown" made us pay for her - they do not make exceptions. so I paid the price so my other kids could have fun for a very costly lunch. As soon as we sat down I cried
not because I had to pay but what I would give to see my daughter eat a pizza. I did complain but it did no good. If I had inquired ahead of time I would of avoided this place. Live n learn.

[/IMG]

 

[dj2]

i had been to dinner at 1900 PF and Liberty Tree Tavern (both all you can eat places with characters visiting your tables). Each time i was with only one daughter. neither time did i eat anything, since i have extensive food allergies and did not arrange a special meal in advance (not that they wouldn't have accomodated me on the fly, but i just didn't feel like going through all that at the time). neither place charged me anything for me - no entertainment fee.

if she chooses to visit during the meal w/o eating, i would suggest NOT asking about the entertainment fee. why remind them about it?

if she wants to nibble a little, my recommendation would be to show the card and ask the server to be charged the child's rate. and if the server says no, ask to speak to the supervisor. it can't hurt to keep asking (as long as your using "honey" and not "vinegar"), and might say you some $$.

actually, the only way it might "hurt" is if you let it disappoint you and ruin your mood if in the end they do say no.

still, i think they'll say yes far more often than no. disney is so magical.

IMHO
-dj

 

[seashoreCM]

For those hometown restaurants that gave your mom a hard time about the child menu, how about having your mom order nothing and other family members share their orders with your mom?

At Disney, have a child menu notation put on a GAC for your mom and do the same thing, share. Or buy something outside the restaurant for your mom to bring in and eat particularly if nothing on the menu is suitable.

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

 

[SueM in MN]

At Disney, have a child menu notation put on a GAC for your mom and do the same thing, share. Or buy something outside the restaurant for your mom to bring in and eat particularly if nothing on the menu is suitable.

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

GACs are not used in restaurants. You won't have any problem with ordering off the child's menu at the counter service places. We have not had a problem with the full service restaurants; they will generally even bring extra plates so you don't have to eat off the same plate.
The only ones that might have a problem with it would be the buffets or character meals.

 

[shoes99]

I'm taking my 54 yo sister to WDW in October. She has a frozen stomach and is on IV infusion for 12 hours a day. She trys to eat a few morsals but it takes her a long time. This is going to be an R&R trip for her after a very stressful year. Her son is getting married 9/16 and our trip is 10/9.
I am trying to get her to agree to sharing meals with me. I also told her that at food courts she can order kids meals. I was not going to get a GAC pass but will just go with the flow. When she goes to restaurants she orders her own meal, eats one shrimp then takes the rest home. I am just so happy that she is alive, I will eat what and wherever she wants. We will be getting a medical refrigerator for her IV bags. We are staying at POP.