Allergy surcharge?

[ZPT1022]

Does anyone know if this was ever put into effect? I remember hearing a few months ago that Disney might be changing their policy and charging more for the special allergy friendly meals they prepare. If I recall, they were not going to add an additional charge if you were already using the dining plan though. I'm curious if this change ever happened, we're trying to plan for next year.

 

[Keri]

We were on the dining plan, but nothing was ever said. The chefs were awesome about the kids' allergies and even prepared a special plate for my 1 year old at Garden Grill, and she got egg free waffles at Chef Mickeys and Crystal Palace.

 

[EEyorelover22]

Goodness...I hope not. Most places there is nothing on the menu that I could eat!

 

[livndisney]

Does anyone know if this was ever put into effect? I remember hearing a few months ago that Disney might be changing their policy and charging more for the special allergy friendly meals they prepare. If I recall, they were not going to add an additional charge if you were already using the dining plan though. I'm curious if this change ever happened, we're trying to plan for next year.

Yes, it is effect per "Special diets"@ WDW (Also confirmed by higher charge at Pizza Planet). HOWEVER if you are on the dining plan they do not charge you more.

 

[ZPT1022]

We were on the dining plan, but nothing was ever said. The chefs were awesome about the kids' allergies and even prepared a special plate for my 1 year old at Garden Grill, and she got egg free waffles at Chef Mickeys and Crystal Palace.

They are so awesome about allergies, it's really nice to relax and know that everything is taken care of. It's really a highlight of vacationing there. That and being able to eat a normal meal while everyone else does, and not just sitting there and then eating some dry GF cereal later

Goodness...I hope not. Most places there is nothing on the menu that I could eat!

It stinks, I know, but it's well worth paying for a safe meal. I'd just rather know ahead of time then when I get down there

Yes, it is effect per "Special diets"@ WDW (Also confirmed by higher charge at Pizza Planet). HOWEVER if you are on the dining plan they do not charge you more.

Thank you! We're debating offsite vs. onsite and this is part of the consideration. I'm just not willing to cook all my own meals on vacation, that's not really relaxing for me to have to rush back to the room and cook.

 

[EEyorelover22]

I am not sure I can get one...I have developed an allergy to citric acid along with all my other allergies. I may have to eat in my room...breakfast seems easier, but dinner will not be.

 

[chell]

Yes, it is effect per "Special diets"@ WDW (Also confirmed by higher charge at Pizza Planet). HOWEVER if you are on the dining plan they do not charge you more.

What did Special Diets tell you? They have said nothing to me about this.

I can understand the pizza at Pizza Planet costing more than the pizza on their regular meal if you are referring to the GF pizza. It is larger and is very expensive.

I hope they don't do this because I'll have to adjust my budget. I don't want to have to do that this late in the game. Anything now will have to come out of my spending money. And I'm not ready to give up any more of it! Car repairs and meds are already taking their toll on it.

 

[livndisney]

Sent you a PM.

What did Special Diets tell you? They have said nothing to me about this.

I can understand the pizza at Pizza Planet costing more than the pizza on their regular meal if you are referring to the GF pizza. It is larger and is very expensive.

I hope they don't do this because I'll have to adjust my budget. I don't want to have to do that this late in the game. Anything now will have to come out of my spending money. And I'm not ready to give up any more of it! Car repairs and meds are already taking their toll on it.

 

[tiredsigh]

Wow. I am trying to figure out how this will play out. Food allergies should be considered a disability under the ADA. Can they really charge extra to those with a disability?

Let me use an example: They need to build a ramp for wheelchair access. Can they charge the users a surcharge for that?

You may say that eating on site is optional, but so is going to the resort. That hasn't stopped federal law from requiring the parks to be accessible.

I'm just glad I am on the DxDDP. We have the chef come out for every meal at WDW due to my food allergies. While we would pay it, since I do not worry about eating while at WDW, I think that it is a slippery slope.

 

[turkeymama]

I've been watching this thread, because we were considering dropping the DDP next visit. DD will be 10 and we were thinking it would be more cost-effective since she will be a Disney adult by then. This may change everything.

 

[vicki_c]

Yes, it is effect per "Special diets"@ WDW (Also confirmed by higher charge at Pizza Planet). HOWEVER if you are on the dining plan they do not charge you more.

I would check into this further before accepting as fact. I just checked with a friend who is the Special Needs moderator on another Disney touring site -- and she just returned a few weeks ago from a trip with her DH who has allergies -- and said she never has heard anything about any kind of surcharge - OOP or DDP.

I would ask the question in the DISabilities forum here -- those are the folks that would know the best, or perhaps one of the moderators here has the facts on it if something is changing.

 

[livndisney]

I have the email from Brenda @ Special diets and have been charged more.

I would check into this further before accepting as fact. I just checked with a friend who is the Special Needs moderator on another Disney touring site -- and she just returned a few weeks ago from a trip with her DH who has allergies -- and said she never has heard anything about any kind of surcharge - OOP or DDP.

I would ask the question in the DISabilities forum here -- those are the folks that would know the best, or perhaps one of the moderators here has the facts on it if something is changing.

 

[Micca]

But...what if you're allergic to surcharges???

 

[chell]

Sent you a PM.

Thank you. I wonder what items are included in this. I'm going to send her an email this evening to see what she says about my trip. I really need to know so I can adjust the budget accordingly.

 

[Tricia1972]

I think that this subject would be better suited to our disABILITIES forum, as they have much more experience in this area than the average Disney restaurant patron.

Moving it over there now

 

[Hannathy]

If the special food costs more and most of it really does cost a lot more-why shouldn't you be charged more? Why should others be asked to pay for it?

 

[vicki_c]

livndisney - it would be helpful if you would share more of what information is in the e-mail you received from Disney instead of sharing it by PM. Obviously no one is asking you to share any personal information, but I'm just curious as to what they are saying the policy or charges are.

Please don't take my question the wrong way - I am not questioning that you were told/charged what you said - I'm sure you were. But I can't find anyone else to say the same - I've asked a few of my Disney visitors / allergy sufferers and no one else has ever heard that., even people that were just there. So if they have started some surcharge, it would be good to know what Disney is saying.

 

[turkeymama]

If the special food costs more and most of it really does cost a lot more-why shouldn't you be charged more? Why should others be asked to pay for it?

I can only speak for us, but not all of DD's special foods cost more necessarily. Sometimes it is just a matter of ordering a separate side of vegetables that haven't been simmered in butter. That wouldn't cost any more to make and I wouldn't expect to pay more for that.

 

[ZPT1022]

livndisney - it would be helpful if you would share more of what information is in the e-mail you received from Disney instead of sharing it by PM. Obviously no one is asking you to share any personal information, but I'm just curious as to what they are saying the policy or charges are.

Please don't take my question the wrong way - I am not questioning that you were told/charged what you said - I'm sure you were. But I can't find anyone else to say the same - I've asked a few of my Disney visitors / allergy sufferers and no one else has ever heard that., even people that were just there. So if they have started some surcharge, it would be good to know what Disney is saying.

I'd love to see it too. Again, not because I don't believe you but it would just be nice to know for planning. I've heard that this is the new policy but no specifics as to what it will actually mean or any idea what the surcharge will be

 

[ZPT1022]

I can only speak for us, but not all of DD's special foods cost more necessarily. Sometimes it is just a matter of ordering a separate side of vegetables that haven't been simmered in butter. That wouldn't cost any more to make and I wouldn't expect to pay more for that.

Exactly- leaving a sauce off is a different thing entirely than a specially made something. I'm just curious how this all works- is it an extra dollar amount per person, a percentage, just the cost of the special product used if any?