Allergy Dietary Request Form - Questions

[viluvsdisney]

Hi - I'm not sure if I can should post this here?? I also posted under the DL thread.

I've tried to call DL dining and no one could answer my questions and i'm looking for some help

I've contacted DL Guest Services Special Diet Team (via email) due to several (many) food allergies for myself. They told me to fill out an Allergy Dietary Request form. Can anyone give me some pros, cons, suggestions and feedback on this? I'm hoping to be able to eat my "safe foods" at a DL restaurant with my kiddos (who not on allergy food eaters).

For example: when we book at a Disney restaurant (in advance and submit my allergy form), will the place we select to dine know in advance what my foods are and therefore be available for my meal?

Thanks

 

[Fuhnuh]

I've found DLR dining to be a little less accommodating than WDW when dealing with allergies. I usually list the allergies on the ADR when I make it on the webpage and then have to go through them again when we get to the restaurant. I still do it because it at least lets the server know that allergies are an issue. Also, it is more likely that a chef won't come out to talk to you. I think you could probably request it though. That being said, the server has usually had a good idea of what DD15 (egg, dairy, tree nut, peanut) could have, although the gluten free options seem to have confused many CMs at all Disney properties, so if you have any concerns, you should speak up. There have been many times that we have been offered gluten-free options that have egg or dairy in them. It's nice that DLR now seems to have ingredient lists at counter service establishments. I have never contacted the DL Guest Services Special Diet Team, mainly because I've never found it to help during our WDW trips, except for the snack and ingredient location sheets I've received a couple times. When touring either coast, I have had the best luck in trying to choose restaurants that would most likely be able to accommodate and searching this site and asking questions listing DD15's specific allergies. This helps me know what to expect and go to places that have more options or ones my daughter would prefer. Have a safe and wonderful trip!

 

[viluvsdisney]

Thank you!

I'm wondering if they can even accommodate my food list. I have a list of about 15 things I CAN eat. Usually chicken breast/steak and potato with a squash is what I expect to eat when I'm out.

 

[Fuhnuh]

Thank you!

I'm wondering if they can even accommodate my food list. I have a list of about 15 things I CAN eat. Usually chicken breast/steak and potato with a squash is what I expect to eat when I'm out.

You may still be able to eat. DD15 is allergic to egg, dairy, tree nut, peanut which made eating out pretty difficult at home (Seattle), we usually have eaten Japanese and Korean food. She has developed a taste for very plain western food. When at Disney, she usually has plain chicken breast or steak with just salt, a starch (potato in its various forms, pasta (gluten free and not), or rice), and a steamed vegetable (usually 2 or 3 choices). I don't know what your allergies are but you may be able to find something. Also, if you feel comfortable sharing the list of your allergies, I think you'd be surprised with the number of people with numerous or non-top-7 allergies lurking on this board. I have been using this board for years to make are trips go a little easier. Most importantly, my answer was tailored for someone with a top 7 allergy. Disney seems pretty comfortable wit their ability to deal with these on site. Reading this board over the years, I think that communication with special diets has been the most help with people with many allergies, like you, and with people who have special requests (dishes, deserts).

Having said all of that, my response has changed to "I'd definitely fill out the forms and find out what they can do to accommodate you. If I was still worried, I'd make ADRs and contact the restaurants specifically. I would also consider packing some food, so you could at least skip a meal a day, so you do get bogged down with all the details. We pack food for breakfast and a snack, and usually just have one table service meal a day. It's not ideal, but makes touring the parks a breeze."

I hope you and your kids are able to have a wonderful and safe trip!

Edit: I just noticed that you're Disneyland forum query became much more active. I'll keep this up just in case it has any useful information, but it looks like you are in good hands over there.

 

[Dis703]

Thank you!

I'm wondering if they can even accommodate my food list. I have a list of about 15 things I CAN eat. Usually chicken breast/steak and potato with a squash is what I expect to eat when I'm out.

I've been in the same boat with my kids. I have no experience with DL but can tell you what I do with WDW. With extreme limitations for my boys I send in the form, explain a little about their condition (it's not standard allergies) and ask that a chef contact us in advance so we can be certain they can accommodate them. We usually also start by going over the menus and try to select restaurants that seem to at least have most of their options on the menu. 99% of the time the chefs do call us and go through their options. In our case it's not unusual they may have to order something special or set something aside before normal preparation which is why talking to someone ahead of time is ideal.

I just went down for 3 days with one of my boys and sent in the form but it was such short notice I explained his needs, what we were looking to eat and just asked that they contact us if they couldn't prepare what he needed. Went to T-Rex on Friday and they never got the form. They also had no safe potatoes for him to eat which is a big deal because it's his one and only safe carbohydrate so it's a huge part of his diet. The chef was extremely nice and when I explained things he said he'd try to call over to Fulton's and see if they have just potatoes laying around. Luckily, they did. It took longer than normal though because he had to go get them and prepare them from scratch.

Even with talking to chefs in advance it's happened to us occasionally where they weren't entirely prepared and had to grab something from another location but for the most part we have far better experiences when we do reach out to them.

Again, that's with WDW so I'm not sure if it would work the same with DL, but I'd give it a try.

Good luck!

ETA: You should be fine with chicken/steak and potato at TS locations but as with our own kids they may have to get potatoes for you without dairy/soy, etc. In DW though squash was not easy to come by. In the fall I've seen more of it though on seasonal menus.

 

[viluvsdisney]

I've been in the same boat with my kids. I have no experience with DL but can tell you what I do with WDW. With extreme limitations for my boys I send in the form, explain a little about their condition (it's not standard allergies) and ask that a chef contact us in advance so we can be certain they can accommodate them. We usually also start by going over the menus and try to select restaurants that seem to at least have most of their options on the menu. 99% of the time the chefs do call us and go through their options. In our case it's not unusual they may have to order something special or set something aside before normal preparation which is why talking to someone ahead of time is ideal.

I just went down for 3 days with one of my boys and sent in the form but it was such short notice I explained his needs, what we were looking to eat and just asked that they contact us if they couldn't prepare what he needed. Went to T-Rex on Friday and they never got the form. They also had no safe potatoes for him to eat which is a big deal because it's his one and only safe carbohydrate so it's a huge part of his diet. The chef was extremely nice and when I explained things he said he'd try to call over to Fulton's and see if they have just potatoes laying around. Luckily, they did. It took longer than normal though because he had to go get them and prepare them from scratch.

Even with talking to chefs in advance it's happened to us occasionally where they weren't entirely prepared and had to grab something from another location but for the most part we have far better experiences when we do reach out to them.

Again, that's with WDW so I'm not sure if it would work the same with DL, but I'd give it a try.

Good luck!

ETA: You should be fine with chicken/steak and potato at TS locations but as with our own kids they may have to get potatoes for you without dairy/soy, etc. In DW though squash was not easy to come by. In the fall I've seen more of it though on seasonal menus.

Thanks so much! This is a relief to hear the upside and very good to know about the potatoes and how they dealt with it there

Thanks again - I really appreciate it