the picky kid and his foodie mom (with tiny tummy) ride again... NEW! 3/21 CP PPO, CHH & WCC

[Lisa F]

Hey everyone.

I'm leaving for Disney on Thursday (technically Wednesday night after work to drive up to the airport) and rather than working, I'm reading food reviews. So I decided to get mine started. My last one was long and very detailed but I lost steam on the end of it after photobucket ate all of my photos and hard work. This trip is half parks/half cruise, so it will be a lot shorter. I will probably not review cruise food just because I don't think that many people are interested but if anyone is I'm sure I'll have some food porn in my phone from the cruise too.

If any of you remember me from before, I'm a single mom who travels solo with her son, who will be 9 at the time of this trip... which will be his last trip as a Disney kid. His dad and I bought into DVC in 1999 and are amicable enough to share the membership, and the even numbered years are mine, so here we go again! This is us from the first day of our last trip in December 2016:




My son is on the spectrum and because of that, has many food peculiarities. It can be a challenge to find meals that satisfy both of us as I tend to be anything BUT a plain eater, but I think I did a great job last time as we were both very happy with most of our choices.

Our trips to Disney have really expanded my son's palate a bit. My only regret is that filet mignon was the big addition last year and it's going to cost me a fortune this year. Oh well, not the first time I've regretted exposing him to something. It's good to see him enjoying food so much. He is very picky, but not picky in the "eats only kid food" way, so that helps. I'll comment more about that along the way and hope the parents of other picky kids get something out of it... but let's just say that I am now known at the mini golf place as the mom of the kid who asked for "smoked gouda" when he was asked what kind of cheese he wanted on his grilled cheese. Hey, she left it open ended!

He LOVES character meals as character lines are particularly challenging for him so we tend to do a lot of them. I like to stick to breakfast because it's less expensive and I prefer breakfast buffets to dinner buffets in general... even more now than ever because....

I had sleeve gastrectomy surgery back in July. Which, if you're keeping track, put my ADR booking time smack in the middle of the misery of recovery. It's been a great decision for me as I've lost 110 lbs (some before surgery) and feel better than I have in decades. But I won't lie... I still love food. If possible, I love food MORE now than before (I asked my surgeon if that was supposed to happen and he said it happens more than you'd think because people learn to slow down and savor their food.) I cook a ton at home (all kinds of delicious things!) and rarely eat out because I can't eat much and I am pretty careful about what I eat on a daily basis and can control what goes into it at home. But I eat delicious food every day and enjoy every bite and I plan to do that on vacation as well.

It is my sincere hope that other people who are considering the surgery or have had it will read this review and get something out of it. It is a HUGE adjustment and I'll admit that making my ADRs 6 months out were kind of emotional for me because I was in a world of misery post surgery and having a hard time seeing how I was going to ever enjoy food again. But now that I'm mostly adjusted, I'm glad I stuck with my plan and made my ADRs because I think it will be great!

I plan to employ 4 strategies during my trip:
1) order a kid meal when there is a small version of the adult meal I would have wanted available.
2) order an appetizer when it appeals
3) order a full size meal and just eat what I can and be ok with discarding the rest
4) go to the damn buffet and remember, it cost me $32 to be full and satisfied on breakfast before, it will cost me $32 to be full and satisfied on breakfast now, and no one really eats a true $32 worth of food at those things anyway so it's all really a matter of degree. I AM sticking with breakfast since they are less expensive and also have the most protein heavy choices.

Our trip is whirlwind and we are planning to go ppo or rope drop to close during a very busy time so we'll see how that goes... but I have nice long TS breaks built in. Here's our plan. Anything with an ** is new to us! My parents are joining us on our last night before our 4 night cruise on the Disney Dream when we'll move from the Poly to a 2br at Copper Creek (hence WCC x2) and also so mom can do our laundry (I am so not too proud to let her do that!) before getting on the cruise. It is sure helping with the packing as well!

CLICKABLE TABLE OF CONTENTS

Thursday: fly in at the crack of dawn
AK for a few hours (was originally just lunch and FoP but then I was able to move my SW flight 2.5 hours earlier so also Festival of the Lion King and Safari)
Lunch: Satu'li Canteen **
Snack: Tamu Tamu Refreshments **
Dinner: CA Grill (the kid's favorite)
Dessert: Tambu Lounge **

Friday: Epcot Day
Breakfast: PPO Garden Grill
Snacks: Popcorn Cart & L'Artisan des Glaces
Dinner: Le Cellier (kid's first time, old favorite of mine, haven't been in years)

Saturday: MK Day
Breakfast:Polynesian Private Dining
Snack:Aloha Isle
Lunch: Liberty Tree Tavern
Dinner: BoG **
Dessert: HEA Fireworks Dessert Party w/Plaza Viewing

Sunday: Half MK Day
Breakfast: Crystal Palace PPO Breakfast
Lunch: Columbia Harbor House
Dinner: Whispering Canyon Cafe **
HEA Fireworks Cruise with parents, will include some comments on that here as well

Monday:
Breakfast: Whispering Canyon Cafe **
then depart for CRUISE!

Monday - Friday is Disney Dream!

Friday: Epcot
we have decided to cancel our ADRs and just try out some of the F&G Booths. Pray for me.

Saturday: Departure day
Breakfast: 'Ohana

As you see, we have 3 character meals in like 2 full and 4 partial days, so we're a fan. Can't wait!

 

[MiracleCream]

Yay to be following along so early! I’m a big fan of yours since your awesome posts were one of the first I read when I joined! My kid is on the spectrum too. He’s very picky as well so I relate to that aspect. I used to eat small portions all the time when I was younger then when I started dating my now husband, I started eating as much as him which was not smart because he’s twice my size! So 60 lbs later, I’m thinking I need to get back to small portions and get used to it again. Your report is gonna help me out immensely!

 

[dnllmz]

Joining along! I’d be interested in some Dream food pics. We sail next November.

Your plans sound great. Congrats on the weight loss!

 

[Hettie]

Hi! Joining in! I enjoyed your last report immensely and am always impressed by how much research you do to make sure you choose places where your son will be able to eat and enjoy himself. If you do feel like reporting on the cruise any, I would certainly be interested as we are tentatively planning a cruise for 2019.

 

[olliesmom]

Joining in and would also love to read about the cruise food!

 

[luvmychaos]

I have a son a son with SPD and lots of food quirks. However, it was at WDW that he learned he loved “oak grilled steak” and literally just eats protein the whole time we’re there I have to order him(or procure from a buffet line) a massive plate of bacon for breakfast(only bacon), unless a steak was available. At every TS we do, he orders steak. And only steak. He doesn’t waste room with anything else He was DELIGHTED he turned 10 on our last trip and came home insisting he was an adult and wanted steak for every meal at home Sorry kid, no DxDP at home! I was so bummed we missed WCC our last trip, despite staying at BRV, especially breakfast so I loom forward to your reviews!

 

[Lisa F]

Yay to be following along so early! I’m a big fan of yours since your awesome posts were one of the first I read when I joined! My kid is on the spectrum too. He’s very picky as well so I relate to that aspect. I used to eat small portions all the time when I was younger then when I started dating my now husband, I started eating as much as him which was not smart because he’s twice my size! So 60 lbs later, I’m thinking I need to get back to small portions and get used to it again. Your report is gonna help me out immensely!

yeah, my whole idea about portions has changed completely! Eating with your partner is fun, my bf has decided he needs to lose about 30 lbs so now he is eating like I do but I keep him pretty happy with low carb stuff. I MOSTLY low carb (not entirely) but I am not planning to worry too much about it on Disney, I am going to assume that with the amount I can eat I still can't pack away thousands of calories and with the extra exercise it will take care of what I CAN put away... but my plan is to do protein first, then veggies, then a couple of bites of a starch or dessert. We'll see how that goes, I will let everyone know with brutal honesty!

Joining along! I’d be interested in some Dream food pics. We sail next November.

Your plans sound great. Congrats on the weight loss!

Oh well if people are interested I will definitely oblige and get pictures of what I can! Thanks, looking forward to how it feels to tour the parks with so much less extra weight! (I still have a bunch)

Hi! Joining in! I enjoyed your last report immensely and am always impressed by how much research you do to make sure you choose places where your son will be able to eat and enjoy himself. If you do feel like reporting on the cruise any, I would certainly be interested as we are tentatively planning a cruise for 2019.

Honestly the kid does a lot of it too, he is really engaged with it now. He is currently sitting on the couch watching disney food blog reviews on youtube planning where we are going to go on our next trip (his dad and I swapped points so I can get an AP for our next two trips and he can have 2 years worth of points to be there on the 50th anniversary which is also a few days earlier than his 50th birthday). I told him he's going to be a Disney adult so he is watching the "best bang for the buck" one and has plaza, beaches and cream and trail's end on his next list, lol.

Joining in and would also love to read about the cruise food!

Will definitely get some pics and post some opinions!

I have a son a son with SPD and lots of food quirks. However, it was at WDW that he learned he loved “oak grilled steak” and literally just eats protein the whole time we’re there I have to order him(or procure from a buffet line) a massive plate of bacon for breakfast(only bacon), unless a steak was available. At every TS we do, he orders steak. And only steak. He doesn’t waste room with anything else He was DELIGHTED he turned 10 on our last trip and came home insisting he was an adult and wanted steak for every meal at home Sorry kid, no DxDP at home! I was so bummed we missed WCC our last trip, despite staying at BRV, especially breakfast so I loom forward to your reviews!

there was a time when he would not touch any food "with lines" with a 10 foot pole. Then he had something grilled he liked and he wouldn't touch anything WITHOUT lines for a while because he decided it "wasn't cooked." Now he's chilled out about all of it. He loves steak too and filet is his favorite but he will eat other steaks too. Also loves meat with bbq sauce (my working mom go-to for dinner for him during a busy week is to get a rotisserie chicken on the weekend and pull all the meat and then mix it with some bbq sauce). He loves pulled pork, ribs, brisket... all that stuff.. I was SO on the fence about going to Artist Point that night vs. WCC... my parents are very plain eaters as well. Ultimately I decided on WCC because we could get an earlier dinner time and we have to report for our HEA cruise at 7:30.... I have heard reports of VERY slow service at AP and did not want to be stressing about getting there for 7:30 with a 5:30 ADR... also I have seen a lot of meh reports of AP lately. So decided to go more simple since my parents have very simple tastes as well. My parents have some mobility issues (both have ankle injuries, lord help me) so we won't get anywhere fast and so we ended up with two meals in the same restaurant. Not what I would typically do but I VERY much agonized over which to pick and ultimately went for the earlier dinner without worrying about them complaining about "weird" food. The kiddo plans to eat his weight in bbq and get an all you can drink milk shake so can't argue with that!

 

[NJlauren]

Joining in! Your last day in the park is my first!

 

[quandrea]

Hi Lisa!

Always love your reports. Congratulations on the weight loss. Looking forward to following along.

 

[Stacybaeasm]

I feel your struggle. I had gastric bypass surgery in 2013 and went to Disney about 9 months after having it. It was hard at first, until I got myself to the place that I was able to say "It's ok not to eat all of this. I'm full." I also was finally able to ditch the dining plan because I can't eat like that any more. I look forward to hearing your reviews.

 

[Raeven]

Following along!

 

[Lisa F]

Joining in! Your last day in the park is my first!

that will be a very sad day for me! lol. But today is my last day of work and heading off island and up to a room at the airport for park/sleep/fly tonight! So excited!

I feel your struggle. I had gastric bypass surgery in 2013 and went to Disney about 9 months after having it. It was hard at first, until I got myself to the place that I was able to say "It's ok not to eat all of this. I'm full." I also was finally able to ditch the dining plan because I can't eat like that any more. I look forward to hearing your reviews.

it is so hard to resign yourself to that, given how we are taught to value food. I mean, it's a good thing to not promote waste in general and as Americans we do waste so much. But I practice that at home and have gotten the groove of how much to buy on a weekly basis, on vacation I don't have that control and you either have to order things you don't want to waste less or be ok with the waste. I suspect at this point even the kid meals will be only half consumed (an adult meal will be a tiny fraction consumed). But I will enjoy every bite and not fret about it... it's been budgeted and that money is spent in my head and whatever I eat i will enjoy! (I hope. if not you'll hear about it!) For vacation.

But it took me a while to get here, and I've been working hard to adjust my attitude since I got the surgery. Food is a part of our vacation that we look forward to, and I am not ashamed of that just because my body wants to prepare for the next ice age! My hope is that someone who is searching for threads about sleeve surgery or any bariatric surgery will find this in addition to all of the "NO, they will NOT let you pay less at the buffet!!!!" threads. It's good to be prepared for that (our local chinese buffet allows me to weigh my food in a to go container and then sit and eat with my whole crew) but the squabbling about it doesn't exactly paint a picture of "the new normal after surgery" in regard to vacation. I'm really hoping this report can make at least one person realize they can be normal on vacation, just a new normal. Make some good choices, indulge in a few bad ones because it's vacation, adjust your perspective for some things, enjoy your food and life goes on.

Following along!

 

[NJlauren]

that will be a very sad day for me! lol. But today is my last day of work and heading off island and up to a room at the airport for park/sleep/fly tonight! So excited!

Jealous! Going to be an amazing trip! Trust me I get it! This is a short trip for us (they usually are) and I’m already dreading check out day !

 

[jltook]

Looking forward to reading about your experience!

 

[Texans_loyal]

I'm in! I am thinking about weight loss surgery, your reviews will help me get a different perspective.

 

[will5mom]

Following. Looking forward to hearing about your trip. I have a very picky ds who is also a Type1 diabetic. So, meals are challenging with a picky eater, counting carbs, and dosing insulin.

 

[ariane37]

Joining!

 

[Party.Of.4-NY>>>FL]

Looking forward to all (and I mean all! ) the details! Your dining reviews are always so much fun to read!

Hope you’re having a great time!

 

[AuroraMeansDawn]

Joining In - better late than never. I've traveled with a tiny tummy partner so I look forward to seeing how it works for you.

 

[fallonkendra]

Joining in!