disney dining and disney "adult" who has aspergers About This Page:

[phoebec]

My 9 year old has aspergers and when we return to disney next year he will be a disney "adult". I LOVE the dining plan because it takes all thinking out of our meals and bills. I don't like to have to budget and add meals up to see if we are on par or not. However, because of his aspergers, has very limited food choices he will eat. We are working on it, but its just the way he is right now and its very difficult to change these kids' eating habits. The only things he will eat at Disney is what is on the kids menu. If I do the dining plan, am I basically going to have to pay adult prices for him to eat off the kids menu? Would they at least give him bigger servings of kids menu items? Maybe we would be better off without the dining plan, but I really hate the thought of trying to figure out what we can spend at each meal to stay on budget, it would drive me crazy.

Anyone with experience with this and/or ideas and suggestions?

thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[JoanneS]

He will still be able to order off the kid's menu, but he will pay an adult price. When I've ordered off the kid's menu for myself, I've always gotten a much larger portion than the child's portion and it's always come on an adult plate. I understand that it kind of stinks that you have to pay for him as an adult, but that's just the Disney way, I guess.

[TuffyCO]

We have not had this situation yet, but will next year. My DS will turn 10 just a couple months before we go and he has high-functioning autism. He is very adventurous (thanks to Disney trips, more on that in a minute), but he in no way will be able to eat adult size portions during the whole trip.

From what I've seen Disney will let you order a kids meal using an adult dining credit, but the portions are no larger and it does mean you are paying adult prices for a kids meal. This can be a huge difference if the adult prices are $25-40 per item and the kids meal is $10-12.

Because of this and our experience at Disneyland in February, paying OOP is the best way to go. We are DVC members and plan to get a Tables in Wonderland card, but even without that we would save in the end using OOP, simply because of our kids eating styles. In Disneyland we found that my daughter almost always ordered a cup or bowl of soup and my DS mostly ordered from the kids menu (especially if they had salmon). He even at times just ate bread or rolls. We came out way under budget of what I figured we would spend on meals.

To stay on budget I did a lot of prep work and looked at menus online to get an idea of what each person might order. I wasn't always right, but my estimate was usually higher then the actual cost. I put the meal estimate for each restaurant in my phone, so it was easily accessible. I would just add the total bill to the note and could easily see what we had spent in each location. It really didn't take any more thinking then the keeping track of credits on the dining plan.

Back to the adventurous eating. My son was very much a kids menu kid and we had a hard time getting him to try anything new. Disney helped with that. When we went in 2007 my DD was 7 and he was 4. My DD wanted to try fish at Coral Reef but was afraid she wouldn't like it. We told her if she tried it and didn't like it we would pick up a burger or hot dog for her after the meal on the way back to the hotel. She ordered the fish and loved it! We decided this would be one of those "vacation rules". My DS picked up on this and has also tried many things in Disney - shrimp, calamari, salmon, steak, ribs, sushi etc. We have only had to buy the burger or hot dog one time and that was with my DD when she got a cream soup (she hates cream soups). My DS has never gotten something he didn't like. We don't use this method at home, and I think that helps that it is something special we do at Disney. However, they continue to eat the new foods at home.

Good luck on deciding on the dining plan. I'm still not 100% decided myself, but am really leaning away from it until my kids are able to eat adult size portions to make the cost difference worth it.

[jimmymac]

You'll pay an adult's price for a kid menu item, but he will receive a larger portion

[mechurchlady]

This is a problem for parents who do not have special needs kids. It is best to do out of pocket. You will pay the adult price for a kid that probably will not eat the appetizer for example. I have heard complaints from parents with 12 year old kids who cannot eat an adult portion and rather have a kid portion. Can your son eat an adult portion?

1. You get a large helping of kid food.
2. You get a kid sized meal at an adult price.

I have heard of both those options being used. It is time for you to put aside the DDP cost in gift cards to save the money. The DDP only works if everyone eats appetizers, desserts, and entrees with drinks. At Bongo's I ate a salad and entree with drink and had enough food for 2 more meals. At Raglan Road the appetizer and entree is satisfying. At home try eating out as if you were on the DDP and see if you could honestly eat that much food.

If you do use gift cards then make copies of receipts and keep the receipts separate from the gift cards. If lost they are not replaced without the receipts.

[TuffyCO]

Originally Posted by mechurchlady

If you do use gift cards then make copies of receipts and keep the receipts separate from the gift cards. If lost they are not replaced without the receipts.

I keep the receipts in the hotel as well as take pics with my cell phone so I have them on me.

[Sandra Bostwick]

Originally Posted by phoebec

My 9 year old has aspergers and when we return to disney next year he will be a disney "adult". I LOVE the dining plan because it takes all thinking out of our meals and bills. I don't like to have to budget and add meals up to see if we are on par or not. However, because of his aspergers, has very limited food choices he will eat. We are working on it, but its just the way he is right now and its very difficult to change these kids' eating habits. The only things he will eat at Disney is what is on the kids menu. If I do the dining plan, am I basically going to have to pay adult prices for him to eat off the kids menu? Would they at least give him bigger servings of kids menu items? Maybe we would be better off without the dining plan, but I really hate the thought of trying to figure out what we can spend at each meal to stay on budget, it would drive me crazy.

Anyone with experience with this and/or ideas and suggestions?

thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hi there! It looks lke the problem is that he is a picky eater? Dos he eat adult portions?

[phoebec]

Originally Posted by Sandra Bostwick

Hi there! It looks lke the problem is that he is a picky eater? Dos he eat adult portions?

Yes, he is extremely picky. The Aspergers cause his food aversions and finding food for him is an adventure. He sometimes can eat adult portions if he really likes it.

[Sandra Bostwick]

Originally Posted by phoebec

Yes, he is extremely picky. The Aspergers cause his food aversions and finding food for him is an adventure. He sometimes can eat adult portions if he really likes it.

Thanks for getting back to me!

So, in order for him to have enough, would the adult portion from the kids menu be best? I guess, then, you'd be asking for the adult portions of alternate selections, right?

[notjustamom]

From what I've seen Disney will let you order a kids meal using an adult dining credit, but the portions are no larger and it does mean you are paying adult prices for a kids meal.

When I was there in Oct. my 10 yo DD ordered off the kids menu and not once was she brought a larger protion. At Jiko, for instnace, she ordered the grilled chicken breast, inhaled it and asked for another. They brought it but also charged us (DP) for another meal.
I know where you're coming from, my DS (8) is an ASD kid and has a self-imposed limited diet. He does hot dogs or chicken nuggets for dinner, that's it, and it takes quite a bit of coaxing to get him to realize chicken FINGERS are the same foor as chicken NUGGETS We have decided, after last trip, that we will be paying OOP for meals. As wonderful as the DP is and the freedom it allows it just doesn't work for us anymore. If dogs or nuggets aren't on the menu, DS ends up with fries so hate paying for a whole meal. I did have some groceries delivered so DS could have an apple or banana, apllesauce, etc with his fires for dinner and that worked really well. I feel your pain you'd be surprised how many people are flabbergasted that I don't "make him" eat a wider variety.

[PamelaK]

It sounds like the whole larger portion vs regular portion from a kids menu will vary. Some have gotten larger portions, and some have not. This may be something you want to discuss with your server when you sit down. Also, buffets may be a better deal for you since he can choose what he wants to eat and how much. The "family style" dining is another option. He can get the children's menu, but it will be replenished as he wants more without any extra cost. If you choose to go with the dining plan, look into these two options.

[phoebec]

Originally Posted by Sandra Bostwick

Thanks for getting back to me!

So, in order for him to have enough, would the adult portion from the kids menu be best? I guess, then, you'd be asking for the adult portions of alternate selections, right?

Yes, I guess that is what would be best is to have an "adult" portion of items off the kids menu. Some people are saying this is possible and some say not.

I can see this being easier at TS than CS. Is there some procedure to make sure this could be done? Anyone to call ahead of time or to have a special diet noted on the reservation. Again, this isn't him just being a "picky eater" kid. This is self-imposed food aversions and limitations that come along with autism. I just hate to buy an adult priced dining plan for him if he is only going to get the kids sized meals off the kids menu.

[phoebec]

Originally Posted by notjustamom

When I was there in Oct. my 10 yo DD ordered off the kids menu and not once was she brought a larger protion. At Jiko, for instnace, she ordered the grilled chicken breast, inhaled it and asked for another. They brought it but also charged us (DP) for another meal.
I know where you're coming from, my DS (8) is an ASD kid and has a self-imposed limited diet. He does hot dogs or chicken nuggets for dinner, that's it, and it takes quite a bit of coaxing to get him to realize chicken FINGERS are the same foor as chicken NUGGETS We have decided, after last trip, that we will be paying OOP for meals. As wonderful as the DP is and the freedom it allows it just doesn't work for us anymore. If dogs or nuggets aren't on the menu, DS ends up with fries so hate paying for a whole meal. I did have some groceries delivered so DS could have an apple or banana, apllesauce, etc with his fires for dinner and that worked really well. I feel your pain you'd be surprised how many people are flabbergasted that I don't "make him" eat a wider variety.

It is frustrating. My son could easily eat 2 kids meals as long as it is something he likes. So I know that if he is served just a regular sized kids meal most of the time it won't be enough. However, he would rather starve (and I have no doubt he would) than eat anything that wasn't pizza, nuggets, mac n cheese or hot dogs. He won't even eat burgers. I also get the "well you just need to make him eat more" all the time. If they only knew..................

[Carousel96]

If you pay OOP, you should be able to order kids meals at kids meal prices CS places and tell your TS waiter whether you want a smaller or larger portion.

[mechurchlady]

It is up to management to decide if they will alllow a guest to eat the large serving of kid food. That is why I and others state both yes and no. Most restaurants are more than willing to help a special needs kid get a full sized kid meal.

special.diets@disney​world.com
that is the place to write, sorry that the link is not complete, copy and paste it.

I have my own sensory issues with food even when I know it tastes good. I recently forced myself to eat one of the best foods I ever had. Food issues is rather common in autistic persons. In some it is related to SID (Sensory) so that the person may not realize they are hungry, may be hypersensitive or hyposensitive to certain tastes, and react to visual stimulous. Disney does try hard to help such persons. The problem is that I know of no specific list of restaurants in WDW and DTD that will do full sized kid meals or even a list of all the vegan foods or diabetic friendly restaurants.