Allergies and WDW???

[Minnie]

Hi everyone

I know my issue is very minor compared to what many of you deal with but I'm hoping that someone might be able to give me some advise

A few months ago I was diagnosed with fructose intollerance - which is basically an allergy to sugar or anything that breaks to down to sugar (all fruits, many vegetables (corn, tomatoes, carrots to name a couple) and many commercial sweetners (Splenda is a no go).

If I inadvertently eat something with sugar I end up with severe chest pains, nausia, and other "fun" issues.

My main concern is that I just returned from a work trip overseas. I was told in a restaurant that the roll was safe. Very shortly after eating I had the symptoms... The roll ended up having sun dried tomatoes that I didn't notice - very high content of sugar

So how do I manage to eat safely in WDW

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Hi and to disABILITIES!

If you click on where it says "disABILTIES" at the top of this page it will take you to the Index. One of the top items is the "disABILTIES FAQ" which will gives lots of useful information. Look at Post #3. There is a large section in that post dealing with special dietary needs, as well as many related links.

Or, if you want an easier route, click on the link in my signature.

 

[Mary976]

We have eaten many times with DD's milk allergy, and many other people here have reported positive experiences with allergy dining. Once you email WDW (see sticky post for address) they will send you a form to help them plan your table service dining. They will also send a list of common allergens in some of the CS food. However, your needs sound a little more complicated than, say, a milk allergy, so it would probably be helpful if you can think of things that you can and cannot eat. Sometimes if you give the chefs an idea ("I can have ______ chicken/pasta/whatever, but need to avoid_______) they have an easier time making something.

Mary

 

[mechurchlady]

You have a rare and complex allergy so you may want to make a list and explanation on an index card. You can print them out then give it to the chef so he can look and see what specifically you cannot have. Telling them no tomatos, corn and carrots might lead the chef to think that something like yams is safe when it is not. Normally you just contact WDW and Joan Bennet and everything would be fine as cards and lists are not required but since you react so strongly extra care is needed. Go to onsite info for restaurants and you will see info for the top 10 allergens but not for the other 100s of allergens out there.

I go through that too often where I say gluten free and no bread then the person suggests something that is full of wheat. You have to say peanuts and beans instead of legumes. The biggest obstacle for people with dietary limitations is that the employee does not quite understand what is being said or does not understand the ramifications of cross contamination.

 

[BeckyScott]

We did fine last year, and DS has multiple food allergies, and to some kinda wierd stuff.

Make your reservations, email Brenda so she gets you in the system. Making a note card like mechurchlady suggests is a good idea- I didn't do that because I can run through DS's allergies very quickly, and the chefs have a notepad with them- When you email Brenda and she gets you in the computer system, when you check in at the restaurants they will know you're coming and mark your paperwork. The chef will come out and talk to you.

I was sort of surprised, and don't believe I've mentioned this before, but last year when we were at POP I ended up chatting with one of the chefs one day while the other chef was prepping DS's food. I asked the usual "so where are you from?" sort of thing, and found out she had gone to a good culinary school. It sort of surprised me. I mean, it shouldn't have, but I'm used to around here a "chef" not necessarily being formally trained, especially in a food court situation. Then again, I'm sure that Disney has a bit more competition for jobs and a bit higher standard than the Hardee's down the street from my house. So yes, even at some place like the cheap-hotel food court they have real chefs.

Counter service is going to be trickier. They do have a notebook listing ingredients of everything. You'll be better off going at a slow time, not right at noon or 5:00. The chef will still come out. But it's just harder at counter-service, it's more hectic and you feel more like an inconvenience. We tended to head back to the hotel for an afternoon break anyway, so we used the food court often. That worked for us because the chefs recognized us and sort of got used to what we needed.

I would suggest for the table service that you pick restaurants that are regular menu places. Not buffets, and not family-style fixed menu places. They will all try to accomodate you, but I got the impression they don't have as much extra stuff in stock in the kitchen and can't "punt" a meal as easily as a regular menu place. You might also have a list of suggestions prepared in your head (and you could include those in your email to Brenda) of the sorts of foods that are safe for you to eat. You might just make a list- I am thinking most plainly-prepared meats are okay? Write that. And here are a couple of vegetables that work for me. If there are breads you can eat, specific brands, list those. Suggest an option for dessert if you have found anything you can eat. If it were me, seeing a few options of what I could prepare would be very helpful.

 

[kaffinito]

You have gotten some really great advice here from the people on the DISabilities boards! I have a tree nut allergy and did e-mail Brenda Scott. The people I dealt with were very helpful. I figured out which CS places I would be eating at and then received a list of "safe" foods from them. While at TS places I go over the menu before the chef comes out to see what I would like to eat, and then the chef takes it from there.

With your allergy you might have to have special foods prepared, but again, at most non buffet places the chefs will prepare "special" meals for you.

The people at WDW are absolutely wonderful about food allergies. Mine is life threatening, so I have to be extra careful, and I have never had to worry a smidge while at WDW.

 

[Minnie]

Wow thanks for all the great advise

I really don't like to put anyone out with this stupid allergy I just don't want to get sick at WDW

If I do decide to contact WDW I have a couple questions:

1 - How early should I make contact?
2 - Do I need to have the trip booked first?

 

[monkey68]

I have a tree nut allergy, not severe, but enough that I would be uncomfortable. I had no idea about needing to email anybody beforehand, or figuring where I wanted to eat because my allergy is not that severe that I need special plates or anything, as long as there is not an actual nut in the food, I'm fine. But we ate once at the restaurant in the Polynesian hotel, I think, and I wanted some sandwich, and it was served with multigrain bread. I asked if the bread had nuts in it, and she said it did. When I asked for a different bread, she asked if I had an allergy and I said yes. She said she wasn't allowed to serve me anything and I had to talk to the chef first. I felt bad because I didn't want anyone going out of their way, but the chef comes out, asks what I'm allergic to, and gives me the sandwich on a different bread. Then he bought it out himself. Not sure if the waitress wasn't allowed to, or if he did it because the restaurant was pretty empty, only a few other people were there, but I'll admit, I was kind of embarrassed since those few people were looking at us.

But I was shocked at how seriously they take allergies. I tried telling them I didn't need all this special stuff, because my allergy is not that severe, but to them, an allergy is an allergy, and they treat them all seriously.

 

[BeckyScott]

If I do decide to contact WDW I have a couple questions:

1 - How early should I make contact?
2 - Do I need to have the trip booked first?

I believe it's 72 hours ahead of time. I did it earlier than that, like a month out, but I had the restaurant reservations already made etc. So we did have the trip booked first, although I don't think you'd need to. I imagine there are plenty of people, maybe locals just going for one day, things like that, where the trip isn't already booked.

 

[Selket]

Because your allergy is unusual and perhaps a bit complex I would definitely note the allergy on your ADR's and take the phone numbers to call about food allergies. I would start working on getting in touch with chefs perhaps 2-3 weeks before you go - or do the paperwork or whatever they require. I suppose you would have the trip booked at that time frame. I am not sure it does any good to call them too far in advance. I have booked and cancelled trips before - so I always wait until closer to the time of the trip to make any special arrangements.

Disney chefs are excellent with the major allergens "on the fly" if they were not notified but with complex issues you are likely to have better service and a better meal if you do some pre-planning with them. Do not feel like you are "putting them out" - I'm sure they would be happier accommodating you than inadvertently making you ill.

 

[mechurchlady]

Call them now and talk to them as the worst they can do is to tell you to come back later. You can be our tester and boldly go where nobody has gone before. It is a new department dedicated to special diets like reigious, medical, and vegan. That is al they will be doing is working on special diets.

Chefs can learn what is safe and not safe for people with common allergies but for your complex case they might not know what to serve you. It also adds to their database a new type of allergen.

Also you need the information to plan your trip. Why make an ADR when you will not be happy with the restaurant. I would never make an ADR for certain restaurants or include them in places I want to stop to eat because of my celiac and other reactions.

 

[pudge the fish]

I do many,many day trips to Disney and even with making an ADR the night before I haven't had any problems with my new allergy to Wheat and Gluten.
I have only known about this problem for 2-3 months now but even the counter service places are helpful.

as PP stated you may want to email the special diets team and get a list of what is in the foods and where they serve foods that are safe for you.

Planning in advance is the key. I carry the papers that lists safe foods and places to eat that they emailed me when I am in the parks . This way I can go to a food stand, cosmic rays or the backlot express and know what I can eat.

I am going to try a review of my experience yesterday at the crystal palace to share what they do for those of us who have allergies. It was quite nice