Allium intolerance…any hope for me ?

[Tinkaboo]

I have allergy to both onion and garlic…in any form. We plan to go to Prime Time Cafe first day…what are my chances of getting regular mash instead of the garlic? I also have lactose intolerance but there are pills for that. I think the fried chicken will do, I eat it at Plaza Inn at DL but they just have plain mashed potatoes.

IS IT TRUE ADULTS CAN’T ORDER OFF KIDS MENU AT TABLE SERVICE? Cause that would solve a lot of my issues.

We don’t have that many table service rezzies and the ones I’ve picked, I perused the menu closely and also let them know I had allergies. Hopefully, I will run across some accommodating chefs. This PTC was a last minute switch but we’ve eaten there many other trips…I just didn’t have these issues 15 years ago

CS isn’t such an issue. Man, I hate getting (being) old…

 

[soniam]

Adults order off the kids menu all the time. Occasionally, a place may get weird about it. Explain your allergies. They may want you to order and pay for an adult portion. I would definitely try it. Our 17 year old son orders off the kids menu all the time.

 

[erinch]

Note your allergies on your ADR and ask your server to talk with a chef before you order. Our DS had anaphylactic food allergies to any trace of milk products, including whey or sodiummcaseinate, plus eggs, tree nuts and peanut. Disney was the only place we could vacation safely.

 

[Tinkaboo]

Thanks to both of you…I’m just a little freaky about WDW since it’s been so long since I’ve been there…now, DL, like the back of my hand, my total comfort zone. Plus, gonna be with DH and he lIkes to have regular meals

Give me a mocha frap and Mickey beignets and I’m GOOD!

 

[Jasper&Bowie]

I am 50+ and still order from the kids menu a lot due to stomach issues. Citrico's asked if I wanted a child or adult portion and no questions asked from other places.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

Thanks to both of you…I’m just a little freaky about WDW since it’s been so long since I’ve been there…now, DL, like the back of my hand, my total comfort zone. Plus, gonna be with DH and he lIkes to have regular meals

Give me a mocha frap and Mickey beignets and I’m GOOD!

My general advice is to let every restaurant know of the allergy. You can call WDW, and tell them in advance. they will connect you to Special Diets. I don't know the direct number anymore, but I found the email: Special.Diets@DisneyWorld.com

So maybe start there. They ask that you contact them 14 days ahead of your arrival if possible.

The DISABILITES section of this forum is also a great resource.

I will give you a small heads up though that prepping allergen-free meals will take a little extra time to get your food at the QS. They prep your food to order though, so it is helpful, you just have to allow a little extra time.

 

[CynBeth]

My DH has a dairy allergy and also can’t have spices that are hot like black pepper plus has to limit salt and Disney does a great job at accommodating. We can eat at almost any TS restaurant including buffets like Boma where they walk you around the buffet and can make things in the back and AYCTE places like Liberty Tree Tavern. Usually when making ADRs we select dairy and other and when we check in the CM says there is an allergy noted and the ticket going to the table gets stamped so when the server comes sees it and asks questions and gets the chef. A lot of times the chef will come back out later to make sure everything was ok and asks if he needs anything else.

 

[Tinkaboo]

That’s exactly what I did - checked dairy and other. I hope they do their due diligence and that all goes well. We are leaving on Sunday so that’s cutting it a little close but honestly, I had not been having serious issues, I’m pretty careful about what I eat. But my hubby bought some Irish stew at Costco that he had read about and WHEW..just about did me in! So it was a good reminder to make sure there is NO ONION or GARLIC of any kind…I honestly don’t care if I have to eat mac and cheese all week.

iwould love to have the chicken pot pie but I’m sssuming it’s all premixed and the onion is already in it.

Sorry, I don’t mean to go on about this..,it’s nothing compared to those who have many allergies, especially ones that are life threatening. i’m just an old lady who is sad she can’t eat like she did 15 years ago

 

[BeachMouse1]

That’s exactly what I did - checked dairy and other. I hope they do their due diligence and that all goes well. We are leaving on Sunday so that’s cutting it a little close but honestly, I had not been having serious issues, I’m pretty careful about what I eat. But my hubby bought some Irish stew at Costco that he had read about and WHEW..just about did me in! So it was a good reminder to make sure there is NO ONION or GARLIC of any kind…I honestly don’t care if I have to eat mac and cheese all week.

iwould love to have the chicken pot pie but I’m sssuming it’s all premixed and the onion is already in it.

Sorry, I don’t mean to go on about this..,it’s nothing compared to those who have many allergies, especially ones that are life threatening. i’m just an old lady who is sad she can’t eat like she did 15 years ago

So my wife has a salt allergy (intolerance really but she has menieres and if she has a lot of salt she gets dizzy and ringing in the ears) we have found most even quick service places will cook fresh for you. One time in sunshine seasons we were talking to a cast member and she called the chef over and he grilled her fresh chicken with no salt. Sit down restaurants are easy ask to speak to a chef. They will always accommodate. Even Hoop DeeDoo made her chicken and vegetables with no salt. The hard thing is we always try and explain no salt doesn’t mean no flavor they can use other spices for her and they are always so helpful. We wanted to go to Boma and asked about her allergies checking in. A chef came over and made her salmon and chicken with all these African spices and no salt. Plenty of fresh grilled vegetables and honestly it was her best meal of the trip so flavorful. It does take longer for the food but on the plus side her food is always freshly made. We always get the chefs name and leave a cast compliment. Even in the Italian restaurants they boil her pasta in unsalted water. Disney is the best we have ever seen at accommodating allergies. Yes a few places just can’t because of their set up and they will tell you up front but there is no shortage of places that will help. The chef at Boma came over to check on her food and asked how it was and he was thrilled. He said it allows him to get creative as he cooks the same things all the time.
Good luck

 

[kiford]

I have an allergy to sunflower, which is found in a multitude of food items and isn't always obvious, in addition to spinach and kiwi fruit. I click off the "other" in the allergy section, and they always ask me what the other is, and I then explain it to them. I also have an allergy to seafood but there's a checkbox for that and for shellfish. They do usually confirm that I mean all seafood, not just shellfish. Sometimes they just then flag for me what I can't have or may substitute an ingredient or provide a side that's on another dish that I can have or sometimes modify how it's cooked. It depends on the restaurant, the chef, the menu items, what they have and what they can do. I've occasionally ordered something and then have had them come back and say that I can't have that because it's something that can't be modified because it's pre-prepared, it contains something that's packaged that either has sunflower or they can't guarantee that it doesn't, or they've just done a final check to confirm and one of the items has or may have sunflower and there just isn't a way to modify the dish or substitute without completely changing it or they don't have the ingredients to do that.

You do still have to remain vigilant yourself, and I find that it works best if you specifically ask if there is something in a particular menu item first, then see if they can modify or substitute it if you can't have it rather than just saying you can't have something and leave it to them to say what you can or can't have or suggest a substitute.

 

[Tinkaboo]

So my wife has a salt allergy (intolerance really but she has menieres and if she has a lot of salt she gets dizzy and ringing in the ears) we have found most even quick service places will cook fresh for you. One time in sunshine seasons we were talking to a cast member and she called the chef over and he grilled her fresh chicken with no salt. Sit down restaurants are easy ask to speak to a chef. They will always accommodate. Even Hoop DeeDoo made her chicken and vegetables with no salt. The hard thing is we always try and explain no salt doesn’t mean no flavor they can use other spices for her and they are always so helpful. We wanted to go to Boma and asked about her allergies checking in. A chef came over and made her salmon and chicken with all these African spices and no salt. Plenty of fresh grilled vegetables and honestly it was her best meal of the trip so flavorful. It does take longer for the food but on the plus side her food is always freshly made. We always get the chefs name and leave a cast compliment. Even in the Italian restaurants they boil her pasta in unsalted water. Disney is the best we have ever seen at accommodating allergies. Yes a few places just can’t because of their set up and they will tell you up front but there is no shortage of places that will help. The chef at Boma came over to check on her food and asked how it was and he was thrilled. He said it allows him to get creative as he cooks the same things all the time.
Good luck

I, too, have menieres! I’m going to remember about the salt, too! Especially on burgers/fries at CS…AAAHHHHH!!!!! So many things…

I am so pleased, though, to hear all the positive experiences people are having with the chef. I had two very pleasant encounters at DL awhile back…one at Hungry Bear and one at Smokejumpers, the chefs were extremely accommodating.

 

[Lady Hiss]

I have the exact issues you do and it’s really changed my life. Weird how these things manifest themselves later in life, isn’t it?
Disney restaurants have risen to the occasion and I’ve always had great experiences with understanding, diligent chefs and waitstaff. Just make them aware and watch what they can do - I‘ve been pleasantly surprised.
That said, Ive found that the various EPCOT festival food booths can be very challenging, which is understandable as ingred are limited. So I just skip most of those, sadly.
Good luck,

 

[Tinkaboo]

I have the exact issues you do and it’s really changed my life. Weird how these things manifest themselves later in life, isn’t it?
Disney restaurants have risen to the occasion and I’ve always had great experiences with understanding, diligent chefs and waitstaff. Just make them aware and watch what they can do - I‘ve been pleasantly surprised.
That said, Ive found that the various EPCOT festival food booths can be very challenging, which is understandable as ingred are limited. So I just skip most of those, sadly.
Good luck,

Yes, aging is DEFINITELY not for the faint of heart. I’ve had menieres for about 7 years, the food issues are more recent. I don’t go anywhere near those food booths at CA when they have them, usually at Christmas and then in spring.

I accept the not eating certain things just like I accept not being able to ride RNRC, GOTG, TOT, etc. I’m ever so thankful I was able to experience it and have the memories that I do. I look forward to each day, knowing it’ll bring a new memory (ah, a better one, as Captain Jack would say).

Thanks to all who have responded…I appreciate you all and don’t know what I’d do without my DISBoard friends!

 

[Donald - my hero]

I wish I only had those dietary restrictions to deal with, my list is considerably more complicated. Here's what I deal with, how I handle it and my successful meals!
I print these off on card stock, hand them to the chef and then watch them ponder for a moment before they start offering suggestions. I do contact Special Diets ahead of time but have had inconsistent results from that, last trip I heard from 3 out of 12 places before the trip and only 4 acknowledged that they read the form sent to them. I note on all of our reservations "other" for my allergies and that will alert them when we arrive - noticed last trip that every single location asked before they seated us.

Look at menus to see what the kitchen has in stock and go from there - easiest way is to look at the children's menu since it will show all of the basic proteins and sides they have on hand. I know there is NO WAY I would even consider going to certain places because of the amount of pre-meal prep that's done - buffets, family style meals and anything that serves BBQ foods since my food needs to be freshly prepared with minimal ingredients.

I do NOT go to quick service locations in parks but have had great luck at resorts, from the Value up to Deluxe, they all have a special area to order where they will call a chef over to talk with you. If you're going to Disney Springs you can hit up D'Luxe burgers - they are AWESOME with our restrictions, you can get a plain burger and fries with no seasonings. Don't forget that garlic and onion hide under "natural flavours"

Don't go into great detail as to the "whys" behind your restrictions, don't downplay them either. All they need to know is that this is a medical issue, not food preferences.

 

[Tinkaboo]

I wish I only had those dietary restrictions to deal with, my list is considerably more complicated. Here's what I deal with, how I handle it and my successful meals!
I print these off on card stock, hand them to the chef and then watch them ponder for a moment before they start offering suggestions. I do contact Special Diets ahead of time but have had inconsistent results from that, last trip I heard from 3 out of 12 places before the trip and only 4 acknowledged that they read the form sent to them. I note on all of our reservations "other" for my allergies and that will alert them when we arrive - noticed last trip that every single location asked before they seated us.

Look at menus to see what the kitchen has in stock and go from there - easiest way is to look at the children's menu since it will show all of the basic proteins and sides they have on hand. I know there is NO WAY I would even consider going to certain places because of the amount of pre-meal prep that's done - buffets, family style meals and anything that serves BBQ foods since my food needs to be freshly prepared with minimal ingredients.

I do NOT go to quick service locations in parks but have had great luck at resorts, from the Value up to Deluxe, they all have a special area to order where they will call a chef over to talk with you. If you're going to Disney Springs you can hit up D'Luxe burgers - they are AWESOME with our restrictions, you can get a plain burger and fries with no seasonings. Don't forget that garlic and onion hide under "natural flavours"

Don't go into great detail as to the "whys" behind your restrictions, don't downplay them either. All they need to know is that this is a medical issue, not food preferences.


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This is awesome…I love how YOU take care of YOU! Direct, straightforward and with a list…no chance of forgetting to mention something! I may steal your idea….

speaking of forgetting…I didn’t mention CILANTRO…the first bane of my existence. I have had this allergy for years, since my late twenties. First time I had it was when visiting a friend in San Dieg, this was years before the rest of the country started using it. She said, here try this on your taco…within an hour, I was doubled over in excruciating pain. Luckily I had some IBS medication that took care of it. We laugh about it to this day…

So, I have pretty much have given up on eating out at any Mexican restaurant. I cook my own and it’s usually better anyway.

As a matter of fact …I KNOW. I’m going to steal your idea! I’m gonna go up to the computer and make my own little card as soon as I finish my mocha ! THANKS!

 

[Donald - my hero]

This is awesome…I love how YOU take care of YOU! Direct, straightforward and with a list…no chance of forgetting to mention something! I may steal your idea….

speaking of forgetting…I didn’t mention CILANTRO…the first bane of my existence. I have had this allergy for years, since my late twenties. First time I had it was when visiting a friend in San Dieg, this was years before the rest of the country started using it. She said, here try this on your taco…within an hour, I was doubled over in excruciating pain. Luckily I had some IBS medication that took care of it. We laugh about it to this day…

So, I have pretty much have given up on eating out at any Mexican restaurant. I cook my own and it’s usually better anyway.

As a matter of fact …I KNOW. I’m going to steal your idea! I’m gonna go up to the computer and make my own little card as soon as I finish my mocha ! THANKS!

I print out a ton of them and the culinary teams love them! They are able to staple/tape it to my order and it just gives more creditability to my restrictions. I tell them they can keep it. I carry a couple that are laminated as well that I will pull out for my own reference (so many things to keep track of) I just use a simple Word document - nothing special.

ETA - one of the WORST meals I have ever had was at Prime Time Cafe BTW, they were not able to accommodate me at all and the chef was downright rude about the whole thing. The potatoes specifically are all made up pre-service, unless things have changed drastically your wish of plain mashies won't come true, sorry.

 

[CarolynFH]

one of the WORST meals I have ever had was at Prime Time Cafe BTW, they were not able to accommodate me at all and the chef was downright rude about the whole thing.

I hope you reported this - to the Prime Time manager and to Guest Relations. Disney generally goes to such lengths to accommodate allergies that this particular chef may not be a good fit for the job.

 

[Donald - my hero]

I hope you reported this - to the Prime Time manager and to Guest Relations. Disney generally goes to such lengths to accommodate allergies that this particular chef may not be a good fit for the job.

Yes I did, I don't complain very often, but this was an exception. I commented to the manager on the way out the door, stopped in at Guest Services on the way out of the park and sent an email to Special Diets. I got a phone call within an hour of that email and spoke with a great CM who deals with allergies herself.

I also make sure to give praises to those who do meet the standards (and mine are very low - can I eat it without getting sick), start with the leaving a thank-you card for the chef, use the feature in the App and will send an email after our trip highlighting those who did a stellar job. Those things are better than a tip since it will end up in their employee file and help during evaluations.

 

[Sunshine11]

Same same allergies - onion and garlic in any form and dairy (really milk and soft cheeses), and also high fructose corn syrup.

That being said, Disney is amazing. Letting them know there is an allergy is key and the chef will come to any table service meal to discuss what you can and can't have. I have some good ole standby items I choose, so I will say, can I have this with that? I have found Brown Derby, Steakhouse 71 and Yak and Yeti a few table service meals that jump out at me for consistently serving me a safe meal! I have never tried Prime Time but after pp's experience, I may never brave up to it.

I agree with what pp said about resort quick serves and have had the same awesome experience with chefs taking my order and making me a safe quick serve meal too.

One word of caution, I got comfortable and didn't mention the allergy at quick serve Contempo Cafe at the CR and after tasting a few fries I knew there was garlic on them. I confirmed same with CM and was surprised as most qs's I've ate at at WDW seem to only have salt on their fries.

All that to say, I enjoy eating out at WDW more than most other places because of how serious they take the allergies!

Enjoy.

 

[Tinkaboo]

Brown Derby today was absolutely FANTASTIC! Fixed me a special Cobb salad and the grapefruit cake…OMG!!! Most fabulous cake ever. Javier, our server,was quite nice. Best meal yet.