Celiac Diners - Please be Careful

[ClareH37]

Firstly, I've had many trips to Disney and eaten at lots of the restaurants (from counter service to signature restaurants) and have never had any problems.

I ate at one of the signature restaurants last week - I'm not sure whether to post the name so if anyone would like to know please PM me - and was very unwell afterwards, I started to feel unwell a couple of hours later and it lasted nearly 24 hours (this is common for me if I eat gluten), I also have ulcerative colitis which can of course get aggravated if I eat gluten and suffer the consequences afterwards.

I was assured my meal was gluten free but I can tell you that from the symptoms afterwards it was most certainly not - I know what happens if I eat gluten and this was definitely it. I have since spoken with the restaurant who totally deny the meal contained gluten (it was a very strange conversation!).

I have also contacted Brenda Bennett to let her know and also Disney themselves.

I should have gone with my feelings from the very beginning that something wasn't right instead of just eating the meal.

I don't want to worry anyone but it's just to let you know of my one and only bad experience.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

I was assured my meal was gluten free but I can tell you that from the symptoms afterwards it was most certainly not

Were you assured by a chef or by the server?

The fact that you had a dietary problem should have been noted on your reservation, and a chef should have come out and told you what was safe for you and what was not, or what could be modified to make something otherwise unsafe into something you could eat.

 

[ClareH37]

Were you assured by a chef or by the server?

The fact that you had a dietary problem should have been noted on your reservation, and a chef should have come out and told you what was safe for you and what was not, or what could be modified to make something otherwise unsafe into something you could eat.

Everything was noted although I did point out again when I checked in, just to reconfirm. I was visited by the chef who assured me my meal choices were gluten free - I've eaten so many times at Disney and every time been very impressed and happy with the service, this time unfortunately there was definitely something wrong (I only get certain symptoms with my celiac disease so there's no mistaking it).

It was very disappointing to have this happen

 

[Selket]

I'm sorry this happened. I think it would be helpful to post the name of the restaurant - there is no reason not to do it. I've read other reviews of allergic reactions after eating at a WDW restaurant - or poor service, etc. My son has a severe peanut allergy so I'm curious what restaurant it is.

I know I had a chef at Biergarten tell me ALL of the desserts (except one) was safe for my son. I found it hard to believe and repeatedly questioned him (to the point it was probably going to be insulting). Since then every single other chef there (and we eat there every time we go) has told me that the desserts are not safe. I think it is possible to have a great and safe experience with most restaurants but run into the occasional chef who doesn't seem to "get it." I find it helpful to read reports like that and know what restaurant it is so I can be extra careful.

 

[mechurchlady]

There are other possible answers. It could be the product has changed ingredients such as they now use bacon with soy and wheat. There could have been accidental cross contamination which happens to often. I have had a manager at a local restaurant pick out the croutons, a chef scrape the breading off fish and a chef rip the bread off of a sandwich and then serve it to me.

Sometimes I have that reaction and do not stop. First find out if it was cross contamination, poor training, or maybe it was not their fault at all like ingredients changing. I am sorry you got sick.

 

[kandeebunny]

I have had a VERY difficult time at Disney as of late with my gluten and corn intolerance. There is one chef who has changed restaurants multiple times, who ALWAY makes me sick, I just stopped eating his food.

That said they have changed a LOT of ingredients as of late. I know the fries are now coated in corn starch, and the "pure" canola oil contains corn oil. Have them recheck all your labels.

I've had my best luck with, Ohana, Prime Time, Hoop Dee Doo, Boma's, Olivia's, and the food courts at the value and Port Orleans French Quarter resorts!

 

[ClareH37]

Selket - it was at Narcoossees It was the first time I'd eaten there and I was really looking forward to it as well.

kandeebunny/mechurchlady - thanks for the pointers, that's very helpful for my next trip. I've informed Disney and they are investigating, it will be interesting to see if they find out what actually happened.

 

[Selket]

Clare - I'm really glad you are following up on this with Disney. My younger son (with the peanut allergy) also has type 1 diabetes and celiac is more common among type 1 folks. I realize how serious it is to get "glutened" -

If they are dropping the ball with gluten free they might with other things too so I really appreciate you noting the restaurant and following up with them. I've noticed with the peanut allergy that sometimes the chef didn't get the idea of "cross contamination" and "may contains" - but fortunately that is a very rare occurance. I had a chef at Chef Mickey's pretty much refuse to give my son a dessert because he thought a type 1 kid shouldn't be eating any sugar (my son was 3 at the time). In hindsight I regret that I didn't complain about him but this was our first trip to WDW with my younger son after he was dx'd with the diabetes and peanut allergy so I wasn't used to speaking up.

Good for you - I hope that your inquiry into what happened will help them retrain the staff who served you something they shouldn't have.

 

[kandeebunny]

If you have allergies seriously think about heading to Prime Time the manager (whos card I can't find at the moment) is AMAZING and Chef NELSON is the BEST!!! He got me desserts from brown derby because I couldn't eat anything but fruit (I am celiac, and allergic to corn and honey which limits my options) and made the BEST fried chicken.

Chef TJ at Boma's is a godsend!!!

Chef Richard who USED to be at Prime Time and is now At Hollywood and Vine is also wonderful!

Chef Michael (All Star Sports), Chef Kristen (Pop Century), Chef Fern (POFQ), Sous Chef Mitch (Coronado), Sous Chef Les (Carribean) are all GREAT!!! Love them as well. Also if you eat at the Mara you can request Chef TJ and he will come down from Boma!

I have been glutened at WCC, Chef Mickey's (by chef Alan who now resides at Cape May Cafe), Cape May Cafe!

Had great experiences by calling the morning of going to Hoop De Doo (they sent someone out to buy me chicken breats from publix LOL!)

Last trip (the entire month of Sept!) I was sick for the first 2 weeks because NO ONE knew they added corn starch to the fries, until one day I ran in to chef Kristen asked her for fries and was promptly told NO I couldn't be eating those, they had corn!!! We thought I had a flu or bug! Make sure you always ask if in doubt, better to come off as paranoid than sick!

 

[zumbergc]

We just returned from disney on thursday. I can't do spices, black pepper, white pepper, causes some severe upper and lower digestive problems. I'm in pain for several days. In fact my esophogus is still burning and in pain. I haven't had this much pain in years before I had completely eliminated many things from my diet.

Thumbs down a big F for the restraunt in France. Chef de France. I talked to the chef, the waiter, etc, can't eat any spices, pepper, etc. They were all indifferent, and were acting like I was wasting there time. Next time I will take that as a warning. Well after a few bites my throat and esophogus were burning, and I new I had eaten pepper. Well, first we told the waiter, then a couple more people came out assuring me that they hadn't put any pepper or spices on it, and then finally they said things were cooked on a common grill. Ow, they just don't get it there. Most items are seasoned w/ salt and pepper, and well, if the grill isn't cleaned, I get sick. It was like talking to a wall when I was talking to these people, all I had was steak and green beans, I had to flat out tell them I eat these items all the time, I'm not allergic to beef or green beans. I was questioned about what appetizers or other stuff I had eaten, like I was lying to them and we didn't order any. The most insulting thing, was they wanted to prepare me something else. Like I'm going to trust them after they got it completely wrong. Be wary about eating there. If its not safe first try, how is it going to be better when they don't know how pepper got on my meal?

I will give a happy thums up to the 50's prime time cafe. I've eaten there many times, and they do a great job.

We ate at LTT, and got a terrific yummy and safe meal. A+ It was the first time I got gravy on my turkey at the world!
I was disappointed here for a different reason. It use to be at character meals, they had a character handler following the characters, so if you wanted (there was just 2 of us) w/ both me and dh, it wasn't a problem. No handler around so just a pic w/ me and the char or my dh and a character. Plus, it was horrible when a lady off the street was telling her children to go get w/ pluto to get a picture. Then after the CM told her no wait until they come to your table, the cm left the area. You see mom telling her kids to just go up to pluto. I was just sitting there, and waving my head no at the kids. What a bad teaching moment for the kids. Mom is telling them to sneak up, when people are telling them no.


We had problems at Le Celliar on a previous trip. (this was around star wars weekends). Sick as a dog. Plus, they weren't willing to do any substitutions when their side dishes all contained pepper. It was like I was telling them I don't like pepper. urgh. So they get and F too!

Anyone have an email address or snail mail address of an appropriate person to inform them about the poor service.

TIA, good luck to others its not fun being sick when your at the world.

 

[dj2]

There are other possible answers. It could be the product has changed ingredients such as they now use bacon with soy and wheat.

once i noticed that a brand of some kind of nut which i had been buying (might have been pecans, walnuts or almonds) came out with new packaging (old and new were both on the shelf), and the new packaging listed something corn-based as a preservative. i called the company to ask about it, and an interesting surprise i learned was that if the change in ingredients is considered minor, the company is legally allowed to used up whatever packaging they already have printed, even if it's not 100% accurately describing what is inside. i honestly don't know what to believe.

i'm very sorry you got sick. i've had my share of restaurant staff picking croutons off a salad and bringing it back out (you know, you can see the crumbs). i just wanted to point out that while indifference is a definite cause of contamination, there can be other inadvertent causes, too.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Anyone have an email address or snail mail address of an appropriate person to inform them about the poor service.

Send to WDW Guest Communications, PO Box 10,000, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830-1000. They process all general mail and will make sure that something like that gets to the correct management level.

When you write, it will help if you can leave a telephone number, they may contact you for further information.

 

[mechurchlady]

once i noticed that a brand of some kind of nut which i had been buying (might have been pecans, walnuts or almonds) came out with new packaging (old and new were both on the shelf), and the new packaging listed something corn-based as a preservative. i called the company to ask about it, and an interesting surprise i learned was that if the change in ingredients is considered minor, the company is legally allowed to used up whatever packaging they already have printed, even if it's not 100% accurately describing what is inside. i honestly don't know what to believe.

I read the labels and wonder how I could get sick then find out that now they are using a new ingredient. It is at times hard to get people to understand that no means no. It is shocking to hear also how a restaurant does not understand what no pepper means. I am sorry to hear you being treated so badly.

 

[jen2be2]

Note this post concerns Disneyland, not Disney World (added by CF)

I know it is so damned hard to have CD.

Another thing we watch out for is the type of papertowels that Disney has. They advertize at DL Sparkles and Brawny. They both contain gluten in them, so we bring our own towels from home for the kids to wipe their hands on after going to the restroom and we bring the papmpers clean wipes to wipe their hands before eating( they are GF).

We have been very impressed with the service that we have received from Storybook Teller Cafe and the Plaza Inn( unbirthday partys). I talk to both chefs prior to our arrival and they have always been so great. I wish that every place in DL had such wonderful and caring chefs( Thank you Chef Chris and Chef Mark).