adjustable gastric band About This Page:

[EmpressLizBunny]

i have heard some people say that they have gotten a letter from their surgon that entitles them to a gac card that alows them to order off the kids menu and pay the kids prices for buffets i was wondering if anyone here had done this of heard of it

i had lapband surgery done in jan and at the moment im able to eat only about 1.5 cups of food at a time

i dont know if this maybe belongs in the feasting section instead

btw the band doesent cause "dumping syndrome" if i eat fatty/hi carb meals so mac and cheese and chicken nugets are ok(actualy since these tend to be moist foods they are good for "bandits")

[B.M.]

I haven't heard of Disney doing that. Hopefully someone will come along with more info! Hope it works out!

[Laughaholic]

I haven't heard of this, but hopefully someone can come along and give you the help you need!

However, I personally order off the kids menu sometimes and have never had a problem. I hate seafood, but I like the atmosphere of certain places on property. I just explain to them I don't eat the food and can I order off the kids menu and that is usually okay. I'm sure if you quietly explained your situation they would not have a problem at all!

You definitely won't have a problem at fast food locations. You can order anything and they won't question you. Think about it, how many adults go up and order kids meals for the rest of the family sitting at thew table? If they questioned who the kids meals were for, the lines would be 50 people long.

The only thing I don't know about is the buffet. I've asked for the kids substitute at the Garden Grill, but offered to pay the adult price. You could always call the restaurant directly and speak to a manager. That's what I would recommend. If you try and ask someone over the phone, chances are (and working at one of the WDW restaurants I can attest to this) they will say it's okay, and it might not be, and put you in a VERY awkward situation at the restaurant. With any special requests, especially dietary, I ALWAYS recommend calling the restaurant directly!

I hope that helps!

[iamgrumpy]

You could also try calling Disney's line for those with Special Dietary Needs at 407-824-5967 and ask them what the protocol would be for your situation. I'm sure its been asked before and if it hasn't they would hopefully try and find out for you.

[eff051102]

Yes I also have the lapband and I ordered off the kids menu with a card from my
Dr. with no problem. Most places didn't even ask to see it. I would bring the
card/letter just in case but you might not need it.

Most lapbands don't give you that "dumping syndrome" for fatty or high carb
foods in general, it's really food specific. I can eat pasta (not much) but I can't
eat bread. Some people can eat bread but not pasta. I can't handle soda of any
kind (because of the carbination which irritates the band) but some people can.
And I haven't had steak in the 4 years that I've had this band.

According to my Dr. it really does depend on the person.

[EmpressLizBunny]

Originally Posted by eff051102

Yes I also have the lapband and I ordered off the kids menu with a card from my
Dr. with no problem. Most places didn't even ask to see it. I would bring the
card/letter just in case but you might not need it.

Most lapbands don't give you that "dumping syndrome" for fatty or high carb
foods in general, it's really food specific. I can eat pasta (not much) but I can't
eat bread. Some people can eat bread but not pasta. I can't handle soda of any
kind (because of the carbination which irritates the band) but some people can.
And I haven't had steak in the 4 years that I've had this band.

According to my Dr. it really does depend on the person.

i just talked about dumping syndrome as manny people group all bariactric procidures together and they always have a friend of a friend who had gastric bypass

[wvugrrrl]

I just listened to a DIS Unplugged Email podcast where they talked about this very thing. First, you need to get a GAC card from Guest Services. You do not have to have a doctor's note (they cannot, by law, require you to show them "proof" of your problem), but you will probably have to tell them what you're using the GAC for so they can give you the right one.

Second, most restaurants in WDW will let you order off the kid's menu, no questions asked. If you do have a waiter that gives you trouble, then you can show them the GAC. But one of the Podcast team member's mother almost always orders off the kid's menu, and to this date, I don't think they've ever even had to get her a GAC.

Third - they were in agreement that you absolutely DO have to have a GAC to order the kid's buffet.

I'm looking for the podcast on my computer; I'll edit this post when I find it so you can hear for yourself.

Edit: Here's the podcast: http://www.wdwinfo.com/podcast/round...2309-email.mp3
The info you're looking for is about halfway through the podcast.

[iamgrumpy]

Thanks for the update Molly that is great to know!

[EmpressLizBunny]

thanks so much i have subcribed to that pod cast but i havent listened to it for a long time cuse i dont have much of a comute any more
i downloaded it to my iphone to listen to on the train up to my brothers house tommarrow

[Eeyore Tattoo]

I usually eat the kids menu for breakfast, They do serve way too much food even for me!
Great info here.. Thanks everyone.

[EmpressLizBunny]

looks like if im going by kids prices its $200 less and for the most part i can find something i can/will eat

i was reading on anothe board that people thought this was unfair/cheating to do and was afraid that some one would react the same here

i alway try to eat more than i can i keep picking at my food so having small portions is VERRY important for me
does anyone know even if i order an adult item will i be able to get no more than a salad plate sized portion if i request it?

[EmpressLizBunny]

in these particular cases price isnt the problem
the probem is i will try not to but i always continue to pick at my food if its in front of me wich can cause umm "problems"

[Sandra Bostwick]

Originally Posted by EmpressLizBunny

looks like if im going by kids prices its $200 less and for the most part i can find something i can/will eat

i was reading on anothe board that people thought this was unfair/cheating to do and was afraid that some one would react the same here

i alway try to eat more than i can i keep picking at my food so having small portions is VERRY important for me
does anyone know even if i order an adult item will i be able to get no more than a salad plate sized portion if i request it?

I was actually trying to do a little research on this for you last night, and I saw the threads where there were some pretty rude remarks. I hadn't posted yet, because I could not find any definitive answer, which wvrgrrl seems to have managed with the podcast.

My only comment, which is nothing more to offer on this topic, is I can see why Jennifer and Dave run such a tight ship around here when it comes to mean, because YIKES!!! That other thread was pretty hurtful for no good reason!

Anyway, Liz, hope your trip is magical whatever you manage to do.

[Laughaholic]

Originally Posted by wvugrrrl

I just listened to a DIS Unplugged Email podcast where they talked about this very thing. First, you need to get a GAC card from Guest Services. You do not have to have a doctor's note (they cannot, by law, require you to show them "proof" of your problem), but you will probably have to tell them what you're using the GAC for so they can give you the right one.

Second, most restaurants in WDW will let you order off the kid's menu, no questions asked. If you do have a waiter that gives you trouble, then you can show them the GAC. But one of the Podcast team member's mother almost always orders off the kid's menu, and to this date, I don't think they've ever even had to get her a GAC.

Third - they were in agreement that you absolutely DO have to have a GAC to order the kid's buffet.

I'm looking for the podcast on my computer; I'll edit this post when I find it so you can hear for yourself.

Edit: Here's the podcast: http://www.wdwinfo.com/podcast/round...2309-email.mp3
The info you're looking for is about halfway through the podcast.

Great information!

BTW, I love that you have the flamingo croquet to match your costume

[lbodenheimer]

Liz
I am VERY proud of you and what you have done to have a healther life! I also had the band - it will be a year on 8/19/09 - down 70pounds. My DH & I will be heading to Disney for our 10yr Anniversary on 8/23/09 and I can't wait until I can DO ALL the things that I was to big for or I just was to TIRED to do. I was wondering the same things about meals - so THANKS for asking! All the answers have helped me as well.