Allergic kids

[Princess Sleepy]

Two of the kids I would potentially be cruising with have severe allergies to milk, eggs, and all nuts. One reason we have been looking at a WDW vacation is because we know how accommodating the restaurants are for allergies. Dose this carry over to the DCL? They normally cannot go out to eat at all, so this would be a big deal. Thanks.

 

[atinkerbellmom]

Hey, you are from my neck of the woods... We have cruised DCL many many times. I will look for past threads for you. There is a group of us FAAN parents here on the DIS.... DCL works well with you and has gotton better over the years. When we first started cruising Disney, we had a milk, egg & peanut allergy.... So I think I can help. Helps that you are local too... I will look for past threads, but we may do even better over the phone or lunch.... Maybe we can meet at Tropics to prep for your cruise. There are some restricitions but if I find out what allergies and the severity of them, I can help you better. Do you belong to our local FAAN chapter here in the cities?

 

[kandeebunny]

DCL has been the BEST with my allergies, (gluten, corn, honey and dairy)!!! I know a lot of the gluten free products they give me are also nut free. It's why we love DCL so much

 

[targetmom]

I have 2 boys who are allergic to milk, egg and nuts too. They have a great time on the Magic. They have Silk soy milk for my boys, and deserts that is egg, milk and nuts free that my kids were able to enjoy. My kids understand that they can't have ice-cream but there are plenty of other foods for them to enjoy.

 

[kandeebunny]

On our last cruise they did have a dairy/egg free ice cream I just can't remember on the nuts. I couldn't have it because it had corn syrup solids, but Mom said it was pretty darn good.

 

[atinkerbellmom]

I have 2 boys who are allergic to milk, egg and nuts too. They have a great time on the Magic. They have Silk soy milk for my boys, and deserts that is egg, milk and nuts free that my kids were able to enjoy. My kids understand that they can't have ice-cream but there are plenty of other foods for them to enjoy.

How about the Rice Ice cream at dinner? That is what we do with Sprinkles... My DD loves her special treat... Something they carry on the ship anyway and she does not feel left out when the other kids get Mickey Bars with Sprinkles.

 

[Princess Sleepy]

Hey, you are from my neck of the woods... We have cruised DCL many many times. I will look for past threads for you. There is a group of us FAAN parents here on the DIS.... DCL works well with you and has gotton better over the years. When we first started cruising Disney, we had a milk, egg & peanut allergy.... So I think I can help. Helps that you are local too... I will look for past threads, but we may do even better over the phone or lunch.... Maybe we can meet at Tropics to prep for your cruise. There are some restricitions but if I find out what allergies and the severity of them, I can help you better. Do you belong to our local FAAN chapter here in the cities?

Wow! Thanks for the help. It is actually not my kids, but my nieces, who live in Denver. I am the organized one, so I am always doing the planning. We have had to abandon a couple of plans (national park-type vacations) because there were no cooking options for their family. I am really excited about being able to travel with them and not have my SIL and BIL be constantly stressed about the food. I am trying to get all the relevant information before I pitch the whole cruise idea to them. It's good to know that even at sea Disney is taking care of everyone.

 

[kandeebunny]

The parents and the kids Dr's will have to fill out a medical form. Just stating their allergies, and have this faxed to Disney so they are aware ahead of time. Also have it noted on the reservation.

We did this one cruise, and our servers still didn't know when we arrived, but it was NO problem!!! Theres always chicken, steak and some fish plain and grilled on the menu and plenty of fresh fruit on board!

So you know, the cruise line does not use peanut oil for frying! (Being allergic to corn I am super senesitve to oils so I always know who uses what lol)

My biggest recommendation though, if they have favorite pre-packaged snacks from home, bring them! That way if you are doing an excursion or are out and just want a snack there are no worries you have something safe.

 

[Cptjackandcrew]

My daughter and I had multiple allergies, primarily environmental, however, MSG in Chinese food almost killed me. Well anyways, we went through a process called NAET and neither of us take meds (or shots for me) any longer and I can safely enjoy Chinese food.

 

[Kris10luvsDisney]

The parents and the kids Dr's will have to fill out a medical form. Just stating their allergies, and have this faxed to Disney so they are aware ahead of time. Also have it noted on the reservation.

We did this one cruise, and our servers still didn't know when we arrived, but it was NO problem!!! Theres always chicken, steak and some fish plain and grilled on the menu and plenty of fresh fruit on board!

So you know, the cruise line does not use peanut oil for frying! (Being allergic to corn I am super senesitve to oils so I always know who uses what lol)

My biggest recommendation though, if they have favorite pre-packaged snacks from home, bring them! That way if you are doing an excursion or are out and just want a snack there are no worries you have something safe.

my DD has a severe peanut/tree nut allergy and we are cruising in Feb. '11. We can bring our own snacks on board with us? Just pack it in our suitcases? That would be a relief when we are off ship. Thanks for the heads up!

 

[Blueyed Girl]

Bumping this topic. I have questions too!

We took a DCL cruise last summer but it was BEFORE we were aware of DS's food allergies (pea's & peanuts...legumes basically). He had not ever had a reaction until the end of last summer. My point is, we haven't done a cruise since we've found out. We are thinking of going summer of 2011. The main reason I haven't booked yet is out of my fear of being stranded on the ship with something happening.

We have taken a WDW vacation in February of this year. I've gone through the process of faxing in the allergy form and speaking to the Chef's at each dinner. So, I'm in tune with that part. ( I will say that he ended up having a reaction at one meal anyway because they missed a detail.....the pasta contained chick pea flour. )

My main question is, what am I supposed to do for his lunch if we are on an excursion in say Nassau, etc. I'd like to pack him a lunch such as a sandwich made by ME. But how am I supposed to bring lunch meat on board the ship if there are no real refrigerators in the staterooms.

That brings me to another question..... are there still the "ice boxes" in the staterooms on the new ships or did they actually put mini-refrigerators this time?? My life would be so much easier if they'd just do that!!

 

[lilpooh108]

Hi,

I read elsewhere that Silk soy milk in containers are available---but my DD drinks rice milk instead...is Rice Dream (or similar type of rice milk) available rather than soy milk? Thanks!

 

[kcashner]

The only addition I can make to the above is that for allergy issues, the doc's signature is not required (they'll take mom's word for it!). COmplete the medical form available at the DCL site under online check in and fax it to the number on the form. This gives the dining staff a heads up as to your needs. When you arrive at the dining room, one of the head servers will actually walk thru the buffet with you advising you on safety. Your head server (and sometimes a chef as well) will meet with you the first evening and discuss your needs. They will then prepare special food as needed for your family. They will sometimes give you the next night's menu in advance so you can select something that they will prepare in an "allergy safe" variation for your kids.

They are truly the best--it's as close to "no worries" as a parent can ever get!

Each time you give your room number (on entering any dining room) it is red flagged already on their computer and one of the "allergy experts" is called to assist you. My friend asked if she could bring her "safe" brand of chocolate chips and have them make cookies for her kids; DCL asked her to provide them with the info and they would order the special foods her kids needed!

 

[Alexander]

DS (10) was diagnosed with Celiac Disease 2 weeks before we left for a cruise. I called and had them note it on our reservation and I submitted the medical information with our paperwork (online). I cannot express how wonderful the entire cruise was! From when we boarded with the group 1's and went right to Parrot Cay for lunch to our last breakfast on disembarkation day. Every chef would come out and ask DS what he would like. If we ate at a buffet the chef would come out and walk DS down the line to show him what he could/couldn't eat.

If there was something gluten free he wanted that wasn't prepared, but available onboard, they would make it for him. Every meal they brought him warm rolls and his own dish of butter. At the breakfast buffets, they would cook him gluten free pancakes or waffles on request, and the chef himself would deliver them to our table. My DH is not easily impressed, but he was in awe at how good they were in handling DS meals.

 

[Blueyed Girl]

But what does everyone do for lunch OFF of the ship? That's my biggest worry.

 

[kcashner]

I don't believe you told us which cruise you are considering, but my suggestion would be that the only place you eat off the ship should be Castaway Cay (which is essentially an extension of the ship with all the same services and special care.) I wouldn't chance eating on one of the excursions/islands, etc.

That said, you can have a SUPER time and be on the ship for all meals. Sure, people can choose to do an "all day" excursion and eat on their own. I took a group of teens, and you can bet we ate on the ship because the food was free there! We did 1/2 day excursions when we chose, but were on the ship for all meals.

The ship is a wonderful place to be when others are in port--the pools are not crowded and it's lots of fun. The kid programming runs while the ship is in port.

 

[DisneyAnytime]

As for lunch off the ship, pack a cooler bag with you and order something from room service, which will also be "allergy aware", before heading out for the day. Take your allergen free food from the ship to enjoy on your excursions. Saves $$ and hassle

There was a couple on our last cruise with a highly allergic child, who could not even enter the dining room. The chef (yes, chef -- not server) hand delivered the child's meals to mom and dad each night, explained everything and gave them a list of ingredients for each item.

It is very difficult to relax and enjoy the ride when you must be constantly vigilant about what a child is eating or exposed to, but DCL takes away as much of the worry as possible and from everything I have witnessed, will go beyond any reasonable expectation to keep you and your family safe and happy.

 

[kcashner]

The idea of a cooler bag is a good one. However, DCL does not sanction taking food off the ship as they can no longer be responsible for the storage/temperature control when that occurs. How that is different than me storing food in my room, I'm not sure, but that's their policy.

Obviously they might make an exception in this sort of situation, but I'd suggest that you not tell them you are packing food to take off. I know that when there are no allergy issues involved if you tell room service that you are ordering food for an excursion they will politely tell you that they are unable to honor the order.

 

[WhoDat]

We cruised in February. DS is allergic to milk and nuts. I filled out the form and faxed it in before boarding. I've experienced the Disney treatment at WDW regarding the allergy issues in restaurants but I've never seen anything like the treatment we got on the ship. The crew went above and beyond all expectations. On our Castaway Cay day the head server had the chef prepare a special meal to be served only to DS on the island. On our last night the chef made DS his very own, very first chocolate cake and escargot. It actually brought tears to my eyes to see DS dig into a "chocolate" dessert.

 

[kcashner]

We cruised in February. DS is allergic to milk and nuts. I filled out the form and faxed it in before boarding. I've experienced the Disney treatment at WDW regarding the allergy issues in restaurants but I've never seen anything like the treatment we got on the ship. The crew went above and beyond all expectations. On our Castaway Cay day the head server had the chef prepare a special meal to be served only to DS on the island. On our last night the chef made DS his very own, very first chocolate cake and escargot. It actually brought tears to my eyes to see DS dig into a "chocolate" dessert.

And THOSE are the moments that keep WDW and DCL in business! We've each had our special times when a CM went way beyond the "necessary to do the job" level. Hope you said something on your comment card or wrote to DCL after the fact--guest recognition strongly influences promotions, perks, etc. It can result in anything from an extra few hours off while in port to being the deciding factor in a promotion or raise.