weight loss surgery

[lorli]

I'm not sure where to ask this, but having weight loss surgery shortly and gong to Disney in October. I will have a card that request I be allowed to order off the children's menu. Can any one tell me how disney handlesthis at their restraunts?

If this is not the right place to post this question, please move it to the appropriate board.

Thanks for any help!

 

[3BoysRDisneyFreaks]

No answer, but I wanted to wish you good luck.


Sarah

 

[texaslady22]

You may be best not ordering a kids menu

In a CS restaurant, you can order whatever you want. Anyone can order a kids meal if they want to. However, the kids meals aren't necessarily healthy--mac and cheese, chicken fingers, sometimes pizza. That's not what you need to be eating!!

At a TS restaurant:
At a buffet, you'll have to pay full buffet price regardless. I've read of people who COULDN'T eat solids (tube fed) that still had to pay at some buffets. So don't count on a cheaper price.
At a restaurant with a menu, you might be able to order off the kids menu but, again, it's not healthy. Kids will be eating mac and cheese, chicken fingers, etc.

Look at menus on allears.net

 

[lorli]

No answer, but I wanted to wish you good luck.


Sarah

Thanks for the well wishes toward my roller coaster ride called life.

 

[kaytieeldr]

You can generally order from the childrens' menu by choice, i.e. no note needed. However, as stated above, you probably won't want to

Instead, consider appetizers as/for your meal.

 

[ngneer98]

I had lap-band surgery in dec. of '04 and have been to WDW and DL several times since. I carry my surgery card and at any of the buffets, I pay the kids' price. At TS restaurants, I either ask for a smaller portion (that sometimes works, sometimes it doesn't) of the adult entree, or I share with someone in my group (if they're willing)......or I box up my leftovers or DH will eat it! for me, it just depends on what the menu options are.....at CRT, even though I can't finish it, i'd rather have the prime rib or major domo's pie vs. the kiddie food, kwim??

I wouldn't recommend the "kid food" either. I've never had a problem paying the kids' price except for the times I've forgotten my card (those times I had to pay adult price), so hang onto that card! Otherwise, I found all the restaurants very accomodating. Once, at the Cinderella buffet at GF, I wasn't finding much I could tolerate, so the chef came out and asked me what he could make FOR me. Very nice!

As long as you're not afraid to pipe up and ask for what you want/need, I don't think you'll have any problems. And good luck on the upcoming surgery!

diana

 

[Mickey527]

I am having my surgery AFTER my trip to WDW, but I do love reading the tips here. I am having a lap band and can't wait.
My sister had bypass a few years ago and she would order an appetizer for her meal. Make sure you tell them it will be your meal, otherwise they will bring it first and you will be done when the others get their meals.
things I learned from her surgery.
Do not eat and drink at the same time. You should eat your meal first and drink fluids 20-30 minutes after. The fluids will fill you and you won't eat.
Avoid fried anything. The grease will make you queasy and you will either vomit or dump. People who have been through this will know about dumping. Kids meals at WDW are mainly chicken fingers and mac and cheese. How much mac and cheese can you really eat?

 

[77SU]

I'm not sure where to ask this, but having weight loss surgery shortly and gong to Disney in October. I will have a card that request I be allowed to order off the children's menu. Can any one tell me how disney handlesthis at their restraunts?

I had my gastric bypass 27 May 2008 and we were at WDW in July, so I was very limited in what I could eat. During our trip this month, I was a bit more adventuresome. In 2008 we only ate at two buffets, Chef Mickey's and Trails End, and I only paid the child's rate for those meals. This year we were on the DDP, so I ordered a lot of fish for our TS meals and had the sauces on the side and asked that the starches be replaced with veggies. Hopefully you will not be on the DDP.

You may be best not ordering a kids menu

In a CS restaurant, you can order whatever you want. Anyone can order a kids meal if they want to. However, the kids meals aren't necessarily healthy--mac and cheese, chicken fingers, sometimes pizza. That's not what you need to be eating!!

At a TS restaurant:
At a buffet, you'll have to pay full buffet price regardless. I've read of people who COULDN'T eat solids (tube fed) that still had to pay at some buffets. So don't count on a cheaper price.
At a restaurant with a menu, you might be able to order off the kids menu but, again, it's not healthy. Kids will be eating mac and cheese, chicken fingers, etc.

Look at menus on allears.net

As I said this was not my experience with the buffets at WDW. I've heard that is not true necessarily in the real world, especially at places like Ryan's. I would not recommend the garden burgers at the CS restaurant since they are no longer Bocca Burgers. They now have something like 20g of carbs and only 4g of protein. They contain rice and corn. Look for the grilled chicken at the CS restaurants. I enjoyed Sunshine Seasons at EPCOT because I ate the salmon, which was just the right size serving. I gave the sides to family members.

I had lap-band surgery in dec. of '04 and have been to WDW and DL several times since. I carry my surgery card and at any of the buffets, I pay the kids' price. At TS restaurants, I either ask for a smaller portion (that sometimes works, sometimes it doesn't) of the adult entree, or I share with someone in my group (if they're willing)......or I box up my leftovers or DH will eat it! for me, it just depends on what the menu options are.....at CRT, even though I can't finish it, i'd rather have the prime rib or major domo's pie vs. the kiddie food, kwim??

I wouldn't recommend the "kid food" either. I've never had a problem paying the kids' price except for the times I've forgotten my card (those times I had to pay adult price), so hang onto that card! Otherwise, I found all the restaurants very accomodating. Once, at the Cinderella buffet at GF, I wasn't finding much I could tolerate, so the chef came out and asked me what he could make FOR me. Very nice!

As long as you're not afraid to pipe up and ask for what you want/need, I don't think you'll have any problems. And good luck on the upcoming surgery!

diana

We ate at 1900 PF this year and I was very limited in finding legal food. Most everything had a cream sauce or butter. Thank goodness there was turkey at the carving station. Most of the buffets have boiled shrimp too.

 

[darose1234]

Good Morning,

My husband and I both had the gastric bypass surgery in June 2005 and we also lived in Orlando during that time and went to Disney ALOT!

We have never had any trouble with any CM's asking for the card nor did we ever carry it. We would always share a meal or eat off the kids menu.

As far as buffets we only ever went to character ones and we just paid full price because we were really there for the characters and not the food.

Hope this helps and good luck

 

[lorli]

Thank you for all the replies, they have been helpful and informative. See you in Disney skinnier!!!

 

[Cupcake88]

I was curious about this too since I had bypass 4 weeks ago. We're headed to WDW in January and I expect to be eating "normally" by then. My DH thinks we should do the DDP since our 16 yo must be fed frequently He thinks I can give sides to him that I can't eat. I wish that in the case of a bypasser that the DDP would allow me to opt out while the DH and kiddo opt in - then I could order appetizers for dinner and be relatively happy.

Sharon

 

[jef]

I had lap-band surgery in dec. of '04 and have been to WDW and DL several times since. I carry my surgery card and at any of the buffets, I pay the kids' price.
diana

Hi.
I'm planning my trip for December and I had a gastric bypass in March. I know some of the folks in my group want to go to buffets, and I would like not to pay full price because I know I can't get full value. So I wanted to ask more specifics about this ---- what card was it that you carried? Was it something from your surgeon or from DisneyWorld? Did you have this noted on your dining Priority Seating Reservations? Did anyone hassle you about it?

Thanks!
jef

 

[Cupcake88]

Some surgeons have it or you can also find it online. Try asking at obesityhelp.com.

I figured out the solution to my own problem. My DH and DS will use the dining plan and I will order from the appetizer menu or try to get the children's price for a buffet (I think the only one we're eating at is Chef Mickeys.) Some restaurants like the Wave I may spend a credit for Anyway, with the "extra" TS credits we'll accumulate, we'll be able to spend some on breakfast or lunch for DH and DS. I think this will be really cool. Kind of like getting the Deluxe but not really

Sharon

 

[lunapnp]

I was curious about this too since I had bypass 4 weeks ago. We're headed to WDW in January and I expect to be eating "normally" by then. My DH thinks we should do the DDP since our 16 yo must be fed frequently He thinks I can give sides to him that I can't eat. I wish that in the case of a bypasser that the DDP would allow me to opt out while the DH and kiddo opt in - then I could order appetizers for dinner and be relatively happy.

Sharon

Well, it would also be nice for disney to allow people who can't eat solids EVER to opt out of the dining plan...but everyone in the party has to be on the dining plan. Makes no sense.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Well, it would also be nice for disney to allow people who can't eat solids EVER to opt out of the dining plan...but everyone in the party has to be on the dining plan. Makes no sense.

{Ducking for cover}

1. Under the ADA Disney cannot ask for proof of a disability.

2. Even if a person provides "proof", there is no way that Disney could validate this proof. Was the doctor who appears to have signed the letter actually the one who signed it, and is the person shown on the letterhead even a licensed physician?

3. Taking the Dining Plan is not mandatory for visiting WDW. It is only intended to simplify an individual's bookkeeping. My personal opinion at this point is that if Disney was not making money on the Dining Plan it would not be offered.

4. So Disney says everyone on a reservation must have the same package. And especially where I have seen on other threads people figure they can share meals; Disney does not really want this done by people on the Dining Plan.

 

[princessjane]

I had Gastric Bypass 5 years ago and I can tell you from experience...chuck the child's meal card in the trash. Most restaurants don't even need to see them, some will not even honor them. Do not pick food on Quantity/size , look for quality and things you know you can have. You should have a approved listing of foods from your doctor or nutritionist. I went to Disney about 2 years after my surgery and did pretty good. Of course by that time, I was able to eat a "Skinny Woman's" meal. Was I able to eat everything? No. But that's ok. I ate what I wanted that fell in my diet choices. I did splurge a few times and still lost about 6 lbs while there.

The children's meals at disney are not the best choices for a gastric bypass patient and are not nutritious in many ways. Your choices will be extremely limited. I suggest ordering off the appetizer menu or sharing a small portion off someone else's plate.

Your diet will most likely follow the basic rules, but every doctor is different. Mine was Liquids for 10 days, Soft Foods 3 weeks and then the experimental phase. I was allowed to eat what I wanted as long as I was comfortable trying something. One thing at a time, see how it sat with me.

Early out the things that seem to give people the most trouble is Greasy food, Pasta, sweet food (Which is a no-no anyway), Stringy/Tough Meat and uncooked veggies. Some things might bother you one day but then later you will be ok with.

I taught a Early-out Surgery Eating class at a convention a few years ago and those were the culprits that led to dumping syndrome and stuck food with the majority of the attendees of my class.

I suggest Soups, small appetizers of lower fat fare, Cooked veggies (Gravy and sauces on the side to control how much you intake), Marinated meats that are very tender. I was good with salads by 6 weeks out but I skipped over stuff like Raw broccoli and peppers and onions until much later down the road. Don't be afraid to ask to speak to the chef about ingredients, fat content, sugar content etc. Most do not mind making modifications. I think sharing adult food would be better for you. I know at 2 months out, I could still only eat a bowl of soup and maybe half a small salad at one sitting.

Please make sure you bring some food with you. Or have the garden grocer deliver to your room. Yogurt, SF Puddings, Protein shakes, peanut butter crackers, oatmeal are all good at the early stages.

Please also drink tons of water and if you like them bring those Crystal Light to go packs! I still carry them with me everywhere!

 

[lunapnp]

{Ducking for cover}

1. Under the ADA Disney cannot ask for proof of a disability.

2. Even if a person provides "proof", there is no way that Disney could validate this proof. Was the doctor who appears to have signed the letter actually the one who signed it, and is the person shown on the letterhead even a licensed physician?

3. Taking the Dining Plan is not mandatory for visiting WDW. It is only intended to simplify an individual's bookkeeping. My personal opinion at this point is that if Disney was not making money on the Dining Plan it would not be offered.

4. So Disney says everyone on a reservation must have the same package. And especially where I have seen on other threads people figure they can share meals; Disney does not really want this done by people on the Dining Plan.

You won't receive any flames from me, Cheshire. I think your post is matter-of-fact and I don't take offense with it. I guess I should have clarified my point a little more. But, I was referring to people who are tube fed. I understand that Disney can't ask for proof of disability, and I also understand that the dining plan is not required. I just think it's unfair to families who have a tube fed child (or other family member) and they possibly can't participate in the dining plan because they would be paying for a child who can't even eat the food. (And, for what it's worth, I don't even have a child who is tube fed!) I guess what struck me the wrong way was taking a card to state that you've had gastric bypass so you can order off the kid's menus and get buffets at a child's price. I do, however, have a 13 yo DD who does have a disability and would in no shape or form ever eat enough off of a buffet to constitute paying an adult price. But, at Disney, she is an adult. I know that's just a Disney policy. I'm just venting a little!

 

[Withacy]

I had gastric bypass last August (almost a year ago - 99 pounds and still counting), and went to Disney World in March (for the Royal Family 5k). I had absolutely no desire to eat off the children's menu - with so many incredible things on the menus, why would you? I mostly stuck with the protein (I love salmon - and had a lot of it! Relatively speaking, of course) in what I was served - but I'll admit to a bite or two of the sides.

I just accepted the fact that I would be wasting a lot of food. The unintended side effect, though, was that my (very normal sized) friend ended up eating a LOT more than she intended, because she ended up eating a lot off of my plate!

"That looks good/interesting" or "How's your meal?"

"Please - help yourself - you know I'll never finish it!"

"Well...maybe a bite...or two...it's a shame to waste it..."