ALLERGY PARENTS....Beware....2 year olds w/allergies have to pay!

[mrsnj91]

That can work for us! Delaney is a toddler and a nibbler. If she eats something good in the hotel room when we are getting ready before we leave for the day and maybe in the evening sometime, I will be happy. Then she can snack and nibble at the resturants. KWIM? I am going to try and contact the hotel to confirm the micro.

And two miles isn't bad for a cab trip if need be. At least I know there is that option.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

From POR the nearest full-line grocery store is over ten miles away, which is more than a $20 taxi ride each way.

 

[RxforDisney]

I am not sure what all the abbrevs are....DVC, etc

Sorry, DVC is Disney Vacation Club, and the DVC rent/trade board is one of the forums on DISboards.com.

But, if you have already booked, it is a non-issue.

Sorry to have gotton off topic. Just trying to share what worked for me.

 

[mrsnj91]

Thanks!!

I just contacted Brenda to see if she can answer any questions. Waiting for a reply. Thanks for the link guys!

 

[ducklite]

From POR the nearest full-line grocery store is over ten miles away, which is more than a $20 taxi ride each way.

But if you take WDW transportation to the AKL and catch a cab from there to the Orange Lakes Publix, it's only about two miles each way.

Anne

 

[disneyandme]

Why not rent a microwave for your room? I believe www.abbf.com has them.

 

[mrsnj91]

OMG I could kiss you right now! What an awesome site!! I just reserved the microwave and some toys too for Delaney! What a life saver!!!!!

 

[dawnball]

At counter service locations, you will normaly need to talk to a manager to find out about food the child can eat. Again, the charge, if any, should not exceed the price for a child's meal.

I know this thread is old, but I stumbled across it and thought I would add a little first-hand information.

This is true for *most* items, but not all. In particular gluten free macaroni and cheese. It's not available as a child's meal, and it's $6.50. I had been anticipating that I could get my DD macaroni and cheese with carrot sticks, grapes and a milk for around $4. It was more like $11, which really annoyed me - mostly because I wasn't expecting it and because she's reached the age to understand that she doesn't get a cool mickey-shaped plate.

I've learned to ask what the charge for things is before I order them. Special meals at the food courts often have very strange pricing also, and I've had several gluten free items determined not to be on the dining plan because they don't have a "normal" counterpart.

 

[mrsnj91]

Wow thanks for the heads up. See I was told we would be spending around $4-5. I would be in a bit of shock! Althought Delaney hardly ever gets to order from kids menus anyway and I should have been prepared. I hear ya on the special plates. Delaney would notice too. Can't you ask for one?

Can I find GF/WF items at counter services? I am not talking fruit. I am talking replacements.

 

[Selket]

I've had the CS places substitute items for things that William could not eat. I think one kid's meal had these mickey mouse shaped goldfish crackers and a cookie that was "may contains" peanuts - we got to pick what would work for him (he is also a type 1 diabetic - I think I got a bag of chips and some fruit) and they charged us the regular kid's meal price.

I did talk to a chef and not just the workers behind the counter though! This was at a hotel food court and not the parks. I generally avoid CS at the parks still.

If you call Brenda Bennett for her emails on allergen free (whatever your allergy - like gluten) foods ask her about whether if your child needs the gluten free pasta if you're charged the kid's price or adult's, etc. Perhaps a specific example of a restaurant that would serve it would help.

 

[dawnball]

My DD and I are both gluten free (and I'm dairy free). The mac and cheese is the only substitute I've found in the parks that is higher priced. The mac and cheese was at Liberty Inn, where they serve it frequently enough that it's programmed into the cash register. I had the same experience at the resort food courts though. Mac and cheese is considered an adult entree. That's in part because they only have one size of mac and cheese. It's a 9 or 10oz Amy's frozen mac and cheese and it comes with no side items at all. That is my one major complaint about gluten free foods in the parks.

As for regular counter service - you should really contact Brenda because you know your child's preferences better than I would. My child won't eat anything that's gluten free and on the children's menu besides carrot sticks, grapes, pudding and chocolate milk. When we have the dining plan she and I just split adult meals. When we don't have the dining plan I just expect to pay more out of pocket, and I buy her a lot of snack-foods.

You can pre-arrange CS meals (you order them in the morning and tell the manager when you'll come back) and you may be able to get a custom children's meal at a children's meal price that way, but I've never tried it. Apparently there are chicken nuggets/tenders and similar items available that way. I've never had enough faith that it would work well to try it. It's just hard to time your arrival with the prep of hot, fresh food.

As far as substitutes being available - they are available to varying degrees. GF buns are somewhat common now, and there are a few specific places you can get gluten free macaroni and cheese, pizza, gluten free cookies or brownies, etc. Some of it requires advance notice, none of it is ever guaranteed - but they do a fairly good job of keeping stock. Substitutes do take a long time, and you should be prepared for that. I ordered a GF mac and cheese and a GF hamburger at Liberty Inn. It took 15 minutes and that was very fast. My average wait for specialty substitutes was usually around 30 minutes. The resort food courts at least have buzzers so that you can go and sit until your food is ready.

I've had to send food back as many as 3 times before I got something that wasn't obviously contaminated - but that is the exception more than the rule, and it was at the end of what I'm sure was a very long day for the CMs involved.

You can ask for a mickey plate, and I've done that. Then I just move all the macaroni to the center of the plate and put the side items that I purchased separately in the ears and she's happy. It just helps to know that's what you need to do.

Another thing to be aware of is that the lists of GF items Brenda sends out are not all-encompassing. They are usually entree only, and you'll need to check ingredients for side dishes at a CS location.

Honestly, I've had very, very mixed experiences with gluten free meals at WDW. They do a great job, and they try really hard, but it makes things a lot easier if you stay as alert as you would anywhere else.

 

[Foxes Den]

As a mother of an allergic child (21months) I would like to pipe in that I would never let my daughter eat from a buffet. We go out to dinner once in a while - other then McD and we always pay for her meal. The last time we went out it was $35.00 plus a very large tip for the Chef. She had sliced cucumbers, chicken, veg, and a pear. Worth every penny to me. When we go to Disney, Em will be on a meal plan - but she will be three years old at the time.


Taylor

 

[mrs.elliott]

It makes sense that Disney would charge you for a seperate meal for your daughter - most 2 year olds pick off their parents plates, which costs Disney no more.

I don't know if you've thought about it, but you or your spouse could order 'allergy free foods' and your daughter could eat off those. Maybe that's what the CM thought when you called.

Good Luck

 

[queenof3]

Two of my kids are gluten free and Brenda did send us a lot of information. Be sure to tell her the hotel you are staying at (we are at POR too!) and she'll send your info there as well. This is our first time so I don't have any experience first hand but I did ask Brenda if they didnt' have an exact substitute for a kids meal what would happen. She said they would make a special meal. My kids are all over 3 but she never mentioned any extra charge. Her lists that she emailed also included snacks.

 

[agnes!]

I know I've come in late to this discussion, but I think that AllEarsNet.Com has a section on touring with Celiac-Sprue Disease.

agnes!

 

[DisneyLvr5]

We too traveled to Disney World with a child who has food allergies. and I have to say they really went out of their way to accomodate him I also did not pay any extra for his meals and found a lot of places to feed him. We also made advance reservations and they were great.

WE are looking forward to our first Disney Cruise in October and are wondering how this experience will be for us.

 

[DisneyLvr5]

gluten free counter parts were hard for us, but I do have to say my son did eat his best while we were there. The do serve gluten free pizza in MGM at Pizza Planet. You need to speak to the manager and it takes a little longer, but it was worth the wait, my son loved it.

 

[Dina]

I have not read all of the replies. But, when my son was 2yo--- even though he was "free" we did have to pay for his meals because he did not eat what I ate, so we would get him a child's meal. I suggest going to buffets, where you won't have to pay for your 2yo. This isn't just about allergies, but it's the same for anyone who has a 2yo who won't be eating off of their plate (my 2yo and I had different tastes--- he wanted a hot dog, and I didn't). I'm sorry you weren't given that info as soon as you booked though.

As far as the allergies go, we've travelled to Disney 4 times (about to go on our 5th trip) with my peanut/treenut allergic son--- there is nowhere better to go with allergies. Get in touch with Brenda Bennett.

 

[rdevine10]

This thread has been a wealth of info. Thank you! I'll be traveling to Disney in Sept for the free dining promo as well, with my DD, who will be almost 21 months. She cannot have wheat, dairy or egg (or ground beef, nuts, shellfish, or chocolate). Ive been stressing about how I can trust Disney to make a safe meal for her (even if I paid OOP for it). Im going to email Brenda for some good info. Thank you!

Im finding this trip has been harder, sicne our last trip to Disney, our DD was still eating baby food and our last vacation we drove to (and were easily able to bring her allergy safe foods with us).

Thanks again!

 

[DisneyLvr5]

I traveled with my family last summer and our son has a gluten allergy. You might want to contact the hotel and see if you can ship some food items before your trip. We were allowed and you can request a small refridgerator if need be. Just a thought.