BOG Pastries and Allergy

[princessjadesmom]

If you list a wheat allergy on your reservation will you still get pastries? My daughter is not allergic to wheat, but I listed it because she wants the millet bread for her breakfast sandwich. Will she still get pastries? Also, has anyone had the millet bread? Is it good? Thanks!

 

[gonzalj1]

Instead of listing the allergy why not just ask for the bread you want?

 

[DisneyMomx7]

I don't think you should ever lie about food allergies. You should have just requested the other bread when you got thete

 

[Nancyg56]

Counter service restaurants do not have all of the latitude TS have for addressing allergies.

I cannot understand the need to lie about allergies. Once you say there is an allergy, how can you expect the chef to give you something that you just said you cannot have. This is a terrible position to place that restaurant in. Next time ask for what you want.

 

[princessjadesmom]

Well, I wasn't expecting to be attacked by asking this question! I didn't see any other way to request the millet bread! But thanks for making me feel like dirt anyway!

 

[MakiraMarlena]

If you're going to state that there is an allergy in order to get a preference met, then you have to anticipate that it's going to be treated like an allergy.

Once I told a restaurant that I didn't want eggs, meaning that I didn't want anything topped with fried eggs or hardboiled or poached eggs which is something a lot of restaurants do these days. They misunderstood that as an egg allergy and refused to give me anything MADE with eggs. Even after I realized they had misunderstood me, they would not deviate from the "no egg" items. I would bet that once you say there is an allergy involved, they are going to do whatever they can to meet the allergy specifications. It might be just a lot easier to ask for the bread you want. It might mean you either don't pre-order or you spend some time on arrival putting in the request for the bread, but it won't take much time.

Claiming you have an allergy just to get a preference met seems to turn out unfair to either the restaurant or to those with actual allergies.

 

[Nancyg56]

Well, I wasn't expecting to be attacked by asking this question! I didn't see any other way to request the millet bread! But thanks for making me feel like dirt anyway!

The problem with your solution to a problem is that every time people abuse the disability accommodations, there is a possibility that some will be removed.

You could easily have waited til you arrived at BOG to place your order, request the bread your daughter wanted, and no harm no foul. Once you say allergy, Disney goes into prevention mode. They are trained in 40 different food borne allergies, and use safe areas and utensils. The work you created in order to get bread is indefensible and that is why you got the negative feedback.

Next time, simply ask for what you want. You may not be able to order ahead, but many times neither can those people who legitimately need accommodations.

 

[princessjadesmom]

MakiraMarlena, thank you for giving your advice in a friendly way.

I cancelled the order and reordered without the allergy. I hope they'll still give her the bread now.

 

[sharonabe]

MakiraMarlena, thank you for giving your advice in a friendly way.

I cancelled the order and reordered without the allergy. I hope they'll still give her the bread now.

If I understand what others are saying, you need to not pre-order at all if you would like to have the millet bread AND pastries. You cannot pre-order special requests, so your pre-order will come the way it is listed on the menu. If you wait until you're at the restaurant, you MIGHT be able to ask for the millet bread as a special request.

 

[jsantini]

I imagine they would accomodate the millet bread as a special request once you are there if you do not pre-order. I do have a serious allergy to wheat and I've had the millet bread at BOG. It's really not all that good compared to regular bread; although, I am very happy to have a wheat free option so that I can eat safely. I'd happily trade the millet bread for gluten-full pastries any day, but if your daughter is wanting to try millet bread, Udi's gluten free brand makes millet bread you can get at most grocery stores and Target.

It's not my intention to make anyone feel bad about their food preferences, but as someone with a horrible food allergy, it is extremely hard when people indicate an allergy and then eat something at that restaurant they claim to be allergic to. The result is that food service professionals no longer take our allergies seriously and think we are being difficult or exaggerating. I've had this happen in multiple restaurants and I've gotten very sick--as in missed two weeks of work-- as a result. It's also embarrassing to have to explain to a server that "it's a real allergy that must be taken very seriously and no, they cannot just pick a crouton off and give me the same salad" at a business meal, for example. Just in case anyone can learn from reading this thread, please know that if you have a preference, you should just order accordingly--as a preference, not an allergy, as it really does impact people more than you might guess. I imagine that's why there were some terse replies--it's a hard thing to live with when there's no choice. OP, I appreciate that you plan to do that and I hope your daughter is able to order everything she wants--Disney is usually great about those kinds of things!

 

[Nancyg56]

I imagine they would accomodate the millet bread as a special request once you are there if you do not pre-order. I do have a serious allergy to wheat and I've had the millet bread at BOG. It's really not all that good compared to regular bread; although, I am very happy to have a wheat free option so that I can eat safely. I'd happily trade the millet bread for gluten-full pastries any day, but if your daughter is wanting to try millet bread, Udi's gluten free brand makes millet bread you can get at most grocery stores and Target.

It's not my intention to make anyone feel bad about their food preferences, but as someone with a horrible food allergy, it is extremely hard when people indicate an allergy and then eat something at that restaurant they claim to be allergic to. The result is that food service professionals no longer take our allergies seriously and think we are being difficult or exaggerating. I've had this happen in multiple restaurants and I've gotten very sick--as in missed two weeks of work-- as a result. It's also embarrassing to have to explain to a server that "it's a real allergy that must be taken very seriously and no, they cannot just pick a crouton off and give me the same salad" at a business meal, for example. Just in case anyone can learn from reading this thread, please know that if you have a preference, you should just order accordingly--as a preference, not an allergy, as it really does impact people more than you might guess. I imagine that's why there were some terse replies--it's a hard thing to live with when there's no choice. OP, I appreciate that you plan to do that and I hope your daughter is able to order everything she wants--Disney is usually great about those kinds of things!

You were much more eloquent than I when you explained what the issue was. My DGD was diagnosed with an allergy to dairy and egg when she was 6 years old. WE were forced to learn so much more about food allergies than we would have ever though would be possible, and in doing so, we also learned that there are many people who just do not understand that a food allergy is not like hay fever. Her own graandmother would offer her food she could nto eat and tell her it was okay to "cheat" once in a while, as if her allergy was a diet that she could choose to ignore.

WDW is one of the only places where people whose food allergies are treated so respectfully, and that people with very serious allergy can safely eat. A Chef there told me te precautions that are in place in every kitchen and what they d in order to safely feed their guests. WHat looked like a simple substitution may not be the case once inside the kitchen. Likely every aspect of that one sandwich was moved to a sanitized area to be made, and that area would be sanitized after the meal was served. Not cleaned.....sanitized. This is an entirely different level of clean and entails more work.

Perhaps we were a bit harsher than need be, but we all know that when a procedure gets abused, it tends to go away. The VIP cleanings that Disney offered for those people whose immune systems were compromised have been abused terribly and many fear that they will be only available for those who are willing to pay a high price. We all just want WDW to reamin a safe environment for all.

 

[Madteaparty001]

I understand why those with deathly allergies get annoyed with people who, in their eyes, are wishy washy on whether or not they have an actual allergy. I think the disconnect comes with the fact that nobody's body works exactly the same way, just like people can be on a spectrum for autism, people can be on a spectrum for allergies.

That's why we have the word intolerance, lactose intolerance for example, my parents can't drink regular milk, but Lactaid and regular cheese is fine for them. My mother has Chron's disease, if she has more than 2 servings of gluten a day she's in immense pain, so if we order the gluten free pastries but she also has a regular piece of toast people make a big fuss, she must be faking it right! How dare she not be 100% gluten free! Does anyone see where I'm getting with this? I'm not even sure how I should handle this with my ADRs, do I list both 'allergies' for them? Disney doesn't have an intolerance option.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

Well, I wasn't expecting to be attacked by asking this question!

{FLAME PROOF CAPE FROM DRAWER TO SHOUDERS, and RED "S" for Scupper onto chest}
1) Then, one should not have asked how to lie and cheat.
2) How could a chef serve food for which she claims to have an allergy?
3) Many of us do not agree with giving advice to folks trying to "game" the system.
4) There are far too many people who have REALL ALLERGIES to be concerned with people declaring FAKE ALLERGIES.
{FLAME PROOF SUIT BACK TO STORAGE}

 

[jsantini]

I understand why those with deathly allergies get annoyed with people who, in their eyes, are wishy washy on whether or not they have an actual allergy. I think the disconnect comes with the fact that nobody's body works exactly the same way, just like people can be on a spectrum for autism, people can be on a spectrum for allergies.

That's why we have the word intolerance, lactose intolerance for example, my parents can't drink regular milk, but Lactaid and regular cheese is fine for them. My mother has Chron's disease, if she has more than 2 servings of gluten a day she's in immense pain, so if we order the gluten free pastries but she also has a regular piece of toast people make a big fuss, she must be faking it right! How dare she not be 100% gluten free! Does anyone see where I'm getting with this? I'm not even sure how I should handle this with my ADRs, do I list both 'allergies' for them? Disney doesn't have an intolerance option.

I can understand that. My

I understand why those with deathly allergies get annoyed with people who, in their eyes, are wishy washy on whether or not they have an actual allergy. I think the disconnect comes with the fact that nobody's body works exactly the same way, just like people can be on a spectrum for autism, people can be on a spectrum for allergies.

That's why we have the word intolerance, lactose intolerance for example, my parents can't drink regular milk, but Lactaid and regular cheese is fine for them. My mother has Chron's disease, if she has more than 2 servings of gluten a day she's in immense pain, so if we order the gluten free pastries but she also has a regular piece of toast people make a big fuss, she must be faking it right! How dare she not be 100% gluten free! Does anyone see where I'm getting with this? I'm not even sure how I should handle this with my ADRs, do I list both 'allergies' for them? Disney doesn't have an intolerance option.

I see what you are saying. If I were in this situation, I would only order for an allergy at the meals I planned to eat special gluten free food. Otherwise, I would just not eat gluten in that meal (since cross contamination likely isn't a concern) or ask for gluten free toast at the meal when I ordered at the table. I would not order for an allergy and then eat some gluten and some allergy food at the same meal, but that's coming from my perspective which is sensitized to the problems it creates for people with Celiac or allergies. At the same time, I understand the dilemma your mom faces and the problems gluten causes for her health too!

 

[jsantini]

I think there's not an option for checking intolerances because they don't require the same sanitizing practices that allergies or Celiac do. You would be able to simply ask for the substitution at the table without needing the meal cooked in special pans, etc.

 

[Madteaparty001]

I see what you are saying. If I were in this situation, I would only order for an allergy at the meals I planned to eat special gluten free food. Otherwise, I would just not eat gluten in that meal (since cross contamination likely isn't a concern) or ask for gluten free toast at the meal when I ordered at the table. I would not order for an allergy and then eat some gluten and some allergy food at the same meal, but that's coming from my perspective which is sensitized to the problems it creates for people with Celiac or allergies. At the same time, I understand the dilemma your mom faces and the problems gluten causes for her health too!

I think there's not an option for checking intolerances because they don't require the same sanitizing practices that allergies or Celiac do. You would be able to simply ask for the substitution at the table without needing the meal cooked in special pans, etc.

Thanks for the advice you guys! I know she's really stressed about it (which makes me really stressed) because you usually get an eye roll when you ask for the bread/pasta part of the meal to be gluten free but anything cooked with gluten is fine. When she finally stopped eating gluten she said it was the first time in years she hadn't had pain but not eating it made her feel lethargic, her IVs weren't helping enough so the doctor had her slowly re-introduce it into her diet, that's how we found out the magical 2 servings number. But we really don't want to have to explain that at every meal!

I've heard about the allergy friendly menus being introduced in the restaurants, does anyone know if they are on the regular menu or do you have to ask specifically to see it?

 

[kandb]

{FLAME PROOF CAPE FROM DRAWER TO SHOUDERS, and RED "S" for Scupper onto chest}
1) Then, one should not have asked how to lie and cheat.
2) How could a chef serve food for which she claims to have an allergy?
3) Many of us do not agree with giving advice to folks trying to "game" the system.
4) There are far too many people who have REALL ALLERGIES to be concerned with people declaring FAKE ALLERGIES.
{FLAME PROOF SUIT BACK TO STORAGE}

Come on, the OP was not trying to "game" the system, she was just looking for a way to replace the type of bread her daughter wanted. It wasn't a federal offense, maybe people just need to explain why that wasn't a good idea, in a kinder way!

 

[TheRustyScupper]

OP was not trying to "game" the system

Sorry, but claiming/faking an allergy when there is not one sure seems like gaming, at least to me.

 

[Mrsktbrown]

As someone who actually HAS Celiac, it's not something I would ever exaggerate or fake. If I could choose to eat 'real' bread and pastries, I would in a nanosecond. I get sick for days with any crossncontamination; my family only eats gluten free because of me. I've been in too many situations where I wasn't taken seriously, and it's due to people using a 'preference' as a real health issue. I'm so glad the op changed her order, and, like other people have mentioned, I imagine that Disney would accommodate a request for millet bread. Hopefully your daughter can get both the awesome pastries (and not the questionable Udi's blueberry muffin) and the bread she prefers!

 

[Nancyg56]

Sorry, but claiming/faking an allergy when there is not one sure seems like gaming, at least to me.

Exactly. I know that the OP accepted th feedback and has made changes, so at this point, my comments do not pertain to her.

The reason people reacted to the "scheme" was because it was not at all necessary. It may have been inconvenient to wait until arrival to place an order, but if that is what one needs to do in order to make changes to a menu item, well.......then wait. WDW was the only place we could safely take Kady for any extended period of time. Her allergy was not life threatening (that we knew of, we never chanced a "cheat") but when one chef explained all of the precautions they set into place once they are advised of an allergy, we were beyond relieved. For many people whose food allergies are more profound, WDW is their only vacation destination because they are not only safe, they are respected. If it becomes common practice to lie about an allergy in order to expedite food preferences, it will only be a matter of time before we see WDW chefs removing manyof the courtesies that they now provide to those whose allergies restrict their choices.

In the case of declaring an allergy to replace the bread, how do you then explain to the chef....who will personally come out to speak to you......that you cannot eat the sandwich bread, but are miraculously able to digest safely danish pastry and croissants? The time the Chef puts into carefully preparing you plate is now for nothing.

DIsney used to provide VIP cleaning for those whose immune system is compromised, and they still do, but after having read so many people gleefully detailing how they scammed Disney into that service, it is only a mater of time when the mousekeepers charged with this arduous task skip steps and refuse to take the requests seriously. The level of clean is indeed dfferent than the normal standard. It is time consuming and expensive, but has always been a service that is available to those who normally would not be able to visit.

So yes, even though "gaming" may seem to be harsh, to those who must rely on the honestly of others in order to continue to safely eat in WDW restaurants, this was a big deal.