Best restaurants for food allergies

[HeatherL]

Thanks for the heads up about CS.

 

[Tosie]

Funny...dd (my food allergic child) and I were playing the "what's your favorite" game the other day and this subject came up.

Her top 3 are (in order) Tusker House, LTT and Boma (mainly for breakfast but she likes dinner there too). Her least favorite (and ours as well) was Wolfgang Puck. She also loves Earl of Sandwich.

We've eaten at LTT at least once during every trip since 2006 (sometimes even 2x) and she's always enjoyed her meals (she is milk, peanut and tree nut allergic).

 

[clanmcculloch]

Just so you are aware (I wasn't until this last trip), when planning for CS, you need to be aware of what time you are going.

Both at Flametree BBQ and Pizza Planet, we waited almost an hour from the time we got in line. At Flame tree it was particularly bad...I had to wait in the queue, then when I got to the cashier to order, they made me go up to the counter and flag down a chef (more waiting) we decided what my son could eat, then they sent me back to the cashier for which I had to wait again for two more people, then get dirty looks from the people who thought I was cutting.

Pizza Planet was only slightly better because I was able to glad down a mgr while in line to ask if they even had options. So while I was waiting, he took my order early and got it started. EVen then, it was another full 20 minutes from the time I paid.

And the hold your entire order.

Don't get me wrong, I appreciate the care they took to avoid cross contamination, but I will certainly plan our meal times to off peak, kwim?

What happened to you is exactly why I prepare a chart of what foods I can find at which locations and carry it with me around the parks. I know before I even enter the CS location just what allergy safe foods they carry. It does take extra time for them to prepare the food so I really don't want to have to spend extra time figuring out just what is safe and what isn't. We also eat at off peak times so the line will be short resulting in as little of a wait as possible since we're guaranteed a wait once our order is placed (it also helps keep us out of crowds in general which is important for our autistic daughter). It works really well for us. It does mean extra time planning up front but since I'm a self-proclaimed OCDD (Obsessive Compulsive Disney Disorder) sufferer (or is that enthusiest?), I enjoy it.

 

[snorris49]

I'm glad to help! I enjoy this a lot. I've been told I should write a blog. LOL

Clanmcculloch, you really should do a blog! You have soooo much information that has helped me in the past

 

[shelby101301]

That certainly is an excellent idea about the chart. Glad you enjoy it - that's great. For me, I look at the 20+ odd papers of documentation they sent me and was immediately overwhelmed. It only made me have more questions/confusion.

Caution, too, about pre-conceived choices. Disney admits that due to their huge volume their ingredients can change almost daily. This happens in my regular grocery store! So even if you know what you want, I still recommend you checking the allergy book *every time*.

And if you want to order an allergy meal, you still have to go through the chef or mgr., and they still hold your entire order - even the non allergy meals. Figuring out what we could eat was not the time saving issue - that happened pretty quickly actually. It was waiting for the chef and/or mgr, having to re-wait in lines (somewhat) and then the extra prep time because they make it fresh.

If you have three small hungry children, you have to be prepared for that wait and plan ahead. If you want to eat around noon, you may have to start ordering at 11.

Or maybe, just one of you go early to get the allergy meal and then someone else in your party can go for the rest of the crew? We have 5 so it's really hard for one person to get all the food and drinks alone (we've learned to bring our own drinks now) but we could certainly take turns. Don't know. Will try that next maybe.

Again, not trying to bash anything at Disney. I think it's great that they try to accommodate guests with allergies and I certainly appreciate what they have. Just trying to let people know this can happen.

TS seems to be an easier process the few times we used them. (In general, we choose not to use TS very much for multiple reasons)

 

[720L]

My DD is allergic to tree nuts, clams & coconut. The coconut is the problem, it is in so many things you wouldn't think of. I'm really disappointed their popcorn is popped in coconut oil combo........what is wrong with veg oil??!! Or canola??

We always eat CS and have never had a rude encounter. We are always shown the ingredient list and usually the manager comes and talks to us. Always very nice and helpful. Yak and Yeti was one of the nicer ones and El Pirata y El Perico went out of their way to make sure everything was safe for her. The best part is she feels safe eating at Disney.......not so much anywhere else, so we don't go out to eat very much .

I haven't noticed it taking much longer to get the food, usually the only wait is for the manager to come out and talk to us.