Pepper Market and food allergies

[HeatherL]

I also posted this in the disabilities board. Anyone have experience with Pepper Market at CSR with food allergies? I read that it's not owned by Disney so may not be as allergy friendly. We are booked to stay there in march, but I don't have a problem switching to POR or POFQ. thoughts? TIA

 

[Ziggie]

My reply is not about food allergies, but it is about how much we hate The Pepper Market.

We've eaten there several times. The last few times the service and food were horrible. Two months ago they sat us at a table and then exactly 5 minutes later (no joke, it was literally 5 minutes) told us they were "closing early" (the place was empty). I asked, "then why did you take our money and seat us?" I got a gruff look and was told "oh, alright. But let us know as soon as you're done".

The waitress delivered the wrong drinks (time and time again) including putting an alcoholic drink in front of a 4 year old. (It didn't matter that no one had ordered it I guess). The 4 year old reached for the drink but we intervened quickly. We told the waitress and she said "oh". (Nothing else, just "oh"). Then, she continued to deliver other drinks our table never ordered including 2 that were in hotel mugs. I finally asked her what was going on, she said "oh, these not yours?" By this time, the 4 year old had the colorful mug nearly up to her lips (talk about germs!)

The food was so awful that we were all a little sick shortly afterwards. And no, we didn't all eat the same things.

Bleh, I could go on and on but suffice it to say my entire family will never eat there again. Not even if it were free.

 

[HeatherL]

Isn't Pepper Market a food court? How come their are waiters?

 

[Ziggie]

Isn't Pepper Market a food court? How come their are waiters?

It's different than it used to be. Were you there when they used tickets? They don't do that anymore. Wait staff bring you your drinks, condiments, etc.

 

[Tinkerbell1989]

We only went to Pepper Market once this last holiday (last week) and for a CS, we thought it was nice! We were handed a ticket which lowed us to go upto the different food stations and choose what we wanted. So its kind of like a CS, but they seat you and bring out drinks etc.

Its all made to order so Im sure allergys would be accommodated. Maybe call the hotel for peace of mind to check?
X

 

[Ziggie]

We only went to Pepper Market once this last holiday (last week) and for a CS, we thought it was nice! We were handed a ticket which lowed us to go upto the different food stations and choose what we wanted. So its kind of like a CS, but they seat you and bring out drinks etc.

Its all made to order so Im sure allergys would be accommodated. Maybe call the hotel for peace of mind to check?
X

We were there at 2ish in the afternoon and were not given any sort of ticket. Most of the food was pre-made (there were some made-to-order stations). It seems the "style" changes according to the time you're there to dine.

Imo, I wouldn't recommend it for someone who has food allergies. DH can't eat certain foods and he had a difficult time selecting items that would fit in with his diet.

 

[minniebeth]

I think it could depend on what type of food allergies you have, but our personal experience is that we would not eat there again. DD has a severe peanut and tree nut allergy. This is just our personal experience, but they were not accommodating at all to us. It was very difficult to get any confident answers as to what is safe or not especially with all the different stations. Getting food at different places was hard enough. There was a definite language barrier at some if the stations and seemingly no manager around to help us. We felt like there was a real indifference to our serious need for correct information. We even had a worker laugh at us mockingly saying "it's just a churro... It's not going to kill you..." Yeah well, I want to know that for sure, not take your word on it.
Definitely not the wonderful Disney food allergy concerns/standards/protocol we were used to, and why we choose to vacation at Disney.
We loved CSR as a resort but will most not likely stay again because of not wanting to use PM anymore. We've stayed at CBR, POR and POFQ and have had great help there with food allergies. POFQ probably being the best followed by POR. Don't love CBR's foodcourt but that's more of a personal choice.

 

[HeatherL]

I think it could depend on what type of food allergies you have, but our personal experience is that we would not eat there again. DD has a severe peanut and tree nut allergy. This is just our personal experience, but they were not accommodating at all to us. It was very difficult to get any confident answers as to what is safe or not especially with all the different stations. Getting food at different places was hard enough. There was a definite language barrier at some if the stations and seemingly no manager around to help us. We felt like there was a real indifference to our serious need for correct information. We even had a worker laugh at us mockingly saying "it's just a churro... It's not going to kill you..." Yeah well, I want to know that for sure, not take your word on it.
Definitely not the wonderful Disney food allergy concerns/standards/protocol we were used to, and why we choose to vacation at Disney.
We loved CSR as a resort but will most not likely stay again because of not wanting to use PM anymore. We've stayed at CBR, POR and POFQ and have had great help there with food allergies. POFQ probably being the best followed by POR. Don't love CBR's foodcourt but that's more of a personal choice.

Thanks. This is the type of feedback I was looking for. My ds9 is peanut/tree nut allergic and my mom is gluten free. I had no idea when I booked that Pepper Market was not Disney owned. I just assumed it was like every other food court . I thought CSR looked like the best moderate. We have stayed at CB and didn't love it. So I guess we may be switching to POR or POFQ. Now to decide which one...lol.

 

[RedPanda]

We even had a worker laugh at us mockingly saying "it's just a churro... It's not going to kill you..."

Well, looks like we're never eating at Pepper Market! That's outrageous! My daughter has a peanut allergy as well, which hadn't been diagnosed yet the last time we were at Disney (she was 14 mos and hadn't been intro'd to peanuts).

OP, we really loved POR when we stayed there in spring 2010. Great food court (although I can't speak to it regarding allergies), great pool, beautiful grounds. We'll be at SOG with extended family next time, but if not we'd likely be returning to POR.

 

[HeatherL]

Is POR the one with the "bigger" pool? I get confused lol. When I get a few minutes ill be calling to switch. As much as I was looking forward to CSR, it's just not worth the risk

 

[RedPanda]

I don't know if the pool is bigger, but it's certainly plenty big. The theming is fun, IMO, whereas I kind of thought the theming of the POFQ pool (which we only saw while passing by on the DTD boat) was a little creepy -- Mardi Gras floats! There are also several quiet pools scattered around the POR grounds, so you're never far from a pool. PFQ is smaller and easier to walk around, as I understand it, but we're a mobile group (and had a stroller for my daughter), so we had no problem at all with POR. We were in one of the mansions, but I can't remember the name. The walks were really pleasant because of the beautiful grounds, so they were part of my enjoyment of the resort.

 

[minniebeth]

Well, looks like we're never eating at Pepper Market! That's outrageous! My daughter has a peanut allergy as well, which hadn't been diagnosed yet the last time we were at Disney (she was 14 mos and hadn't been intro'd to peanuts).

OP, we really loved POR when we stayed there in spring 2010. Great food court (although I can't speak to it regarding allergies), great pool, beautiful grounds. We'll be at SOG with extended family next time, but if not we'd likely be returning to POR.

Like I said, that's just our experience and I don't know how others have had their allergy issues addressed at PM. It made me upset enough to really never want to book at CSR again, but I don't like slamming it because it is a nice resort and everyone has different experiences. I did let Disney know of our experience through their survey. I didn't let Disney Special Dining Services know, which I probably should have. I just figured there are plenty of other resorts I can stay at where I know we'll be taken care of properly.

 

[DCDisney]

We've had good allergy experiences at POR. If it's just a nut allergy that is easy there but if there are multiple allergies it's good to contact a chef ahead to make sure they have what you need. ON my last trip they were out of a bunch of the normal allergy safe products which made life a bit more complicated. I still got good food but had to make major compromises. I wasn't staying there so hadn't called ahead but know now that I need to do so. Pepper Market is a no way situation for me. They don't have any of the same allergy training or products. There are a few non-WDW owned places in Epcot I avoid for the same reasons.