Crystal Palace allergy report - bad bad bad

[Amyhoff]

We booked a dinner at Crystal Palace for dinner with my 2 year old daughter and myself not eating dairy. She is allergic (not intolerant, but allergic) and I nurse her, so we are both dairy free.

They were horrible! First of all, I filled out all the proper paperwork weeks ago, notified my waitress of our allergy and spoke to the chef. The chef brought me up to the buffet and pointed about about three things for us to eat. I kept asking questions about different items, and found out there were a bunch of things on the buffet that we could eat, but he didn't think a two year old would eat them, so he didn't mention them. That really annoyed me, because I don't want anyone to assume my child only eats pasta and chicken fingers, and I was also eating!!

So anyway, we sit down and start eating and the chef brought over some salad type items as well as some meat entrees. I was eating happily and having my daughter eat them and I notice that her face is breaking out in rash. I started to get upset and then said, well, maybe I just rubbed her face with the napkin too hard. Well, don't you know that the chef runs over to the table and says, oh no, this is not for you two to eat. ***??? He says that three of the dishes that he brought over have cheese in them. I about threw up right then and there.

THANK GOD that my daughter has started to outgrow her allergy and it is no longer as severe as it was a year ago. She did not go into anaphylactic shock, so we didn't have to use the epi.

So our meal was comped and they invited us back to breakfast on them and did a great job for breakfast. I was glad that they tried to fix their error, but the truth is that I was nervous for every other meal we had. It was terribly stressful and unfortunate. I know that mistakes happen, but this is the life of my child, so I was not happy.

Sorry for the bad review, but I feel like people that have children with allergies should be aware that even though this is Disney... you must always check and double check everything. I had this false sense of security because I had done everything that I was supposed to do and felt like Disney is just wonderful that I didn't act in my normal way and I really regret it.

 

[MEK]

That's pretty scary stuff. What did you do for her allergy symptoms if you didn't have to give her epi?

I would imagine that life with an highly allergic child is very stressful under any circumstances. That has too be very scary to eat an offending food and that was a huge mistake on their part. I am very glad she wasn't seriously hurt.

I am just curious - do you continue to breast feed her because of her allergy?

 

[jmartinez1895]

WOW, I understand that the chefs are busy and they have many guest with different needs, but if you know that 2 people at a table have issues with a specific food item then why send taht item to the table at all. I would have taken the stance that if someone who is nonallergic wants something with dairy, they can get it themselves, but I'm not sending it. I'm happy they tried to make it up to you and I do hope that they will take this as a lesson learned and NEVER do somethign like that again. I'm glade your daughter is ok.

 

[Amyhoff]

That's pretty scary stuff. What did you do for her allergy symptoms if you didn't have to give her epi?

I would imagine that life with an highly allergic child is very stressful under any circumstances. That has too be very scary to eat an offending food and that was a huge mistake on their part. I am very glad she wasn't seriously hurt.

I am just curious - do you continue to breast feed her because of her allergy?

I just waited it out and made sure she was okay. She is really growing out of it and we will be challenging the allergy shortly, so as long as she wasn't having breathing issues, I didn't do anything.

I sometimes use her allergy as an excuse for breastfeeding when people give me that disgusted look that I'm still nursing a two year old... but the truth is that I just really believe in extended nursing. She only nurses about once or twice a day now, always at night or only if we're home. I totally believe in attachment parenting and extended nursing is part of that... to each their own.

 

[Amyhoff]

WOW, I understand that the chefs are busy and they have many guest with different needs, but if you know that 2 people at a table have issues with a specific food item then why send taht item to the table at all. I would have taken the stance that if someone who is nonallergic wants something with dairy, they can get it themselves, but I'm not sending it. I'm happy they tried to make it up to you and I do hope that they will take this as a lesson learned and NEVER do somethign like that again. I'm glade your daughter is ok.

See that's the thing! It is a buffet, so anything the chef brought to the table was supposed to be for my daughter and I and free of dairy!!! So frustrating!!

 

[clanmcculloch]

We've only eaten there once and the chef made me REALLY nervous. DD12 (at the time 9yo) at the time was identified as intollerant to gluten, milk, yeast, citrus and MSG (none are true allergies and she's never had an anaphylactic reaction; worst is throwing up or hives or autistic issues). The chef was walking us through the buffet and was pointed out some things that I knew she clearly could not eat as safe foods. FOr example, he showed us a dish with lemon in the name and lemon slices across the top but somehow even an untrained person show know it's clearly not safe for somebody who can't consume citrus. He also didn't seem to understand about cross contamination either. He was telling us we could take our food off the buffet including deli meats that were partially resting on top of sliced cheese and salad where the tongs were resting on the buns (yes that's not the chef's fault but he just didn't get the problem with it). I did insist that the food be brought fresh from the kitchen but boy was I nervous the whole time. He did go to another restaurant (I believe Caseys?) to get DD a hot dog which was nice of him and she didn't get sick (because I kept correcting him and questioning him like crazy) but I was a bundle of nerves.

I've read so many great things about crystal palace but I haven't been able to bring myself to return. I suppose if my kids actually cared about Pooh and friends we might try again but for now they're on our no list.

 

[livndisney]

I am sorry you were given the wrong food. I know this is not a popular opinion on here but it is happening more and more. Last March my DD was given milk at GF. In October we were given the wrong food at Cosmic Rays. and ended up in First Aid.

We have not been to Crystal Palace in years due to less than acceptable service.

For what it is worth, we seem to do better eating at the resorts. Several Chefs "know" us and do a great job preparing "safe" food.

We just recently had a good experience at Trails End-the Chef was even more concerned that I was LOL.

 

[Beccabunny]

Now I'm really worried. We're eating there in May. DD has a peanut allergy. Not only am I worried about cross-contamination, but also the chef's lack of knowledge on food allergies. We've never had a problem anywhere else at WDW.

 

[starnightstarsky2000]

Okay I have something to report to those who have young family members with tree nut allergies. See in 2007 my ENTIRE family (13 total) did a trip to the world and as we were going over my birthday I asked for Ohana for my birthday dinner. No problems we got our ADVs in 180 days cause they were doing that far out then and each of the adults in our family (there are 8 adults) called Ohana and asked that due to my niece extreme peanut allergy that they NOT put there peanut sauce on the table, we were insure each and every time that it wouldn't be . Well we show up at the very crowd restaurant waited for our table confirm yet again with the hostess and waitress that there is to be NO peanut sauce brought to the table. Was again insured that there wouldn't be so we are enjoying our dinner passing things family style as more and more dishes were put down around the table, then they start the coconut round up game all the kids ran from the table and at time with our very crowd tabled cleared out of 5 little kids when my sister looks over and lowers her finger into a light brown sauce and yep you guessed it peanut sauce not one bowl, not two bowls BUT THREE bowls were scattered all over the tables some had even been spilled a bit due to be putting down on the table. Needless to stay this caused a HUGE panic in our family as one of the sauces that has spilled were right next to my niece. Which caused a HUGE family argument thank the Gods my niece had managed to avoid getting any on her which is a HUGE relief as she is asmatic allergic to it even if it just touches her skin. Needless to say we called and confirmed that none of the rest of our ADRs had anything peanut in them so as to not have a repeat.

 

[kaffinito]

To the OP, Wow - that's some scary stuff! It's hard when we have allergies and have to depend on someone else to tell us what the ingredients are in the foods we eat.

So far I haven't had trouble with CP, O'hana, or Boma with my tree nut allergy. fortunately it's a fairly obvious ingredient to pick out on a menu, and I always let the server know that I need to speak to a chef when we eat out. I can't think what I'd do if I had an unknowledgeable chef!

 

[disfan07]

And teh funny things is that in the past three years I have had nothing but exceptional service at CP regarding my allergies.

We're eating there again in july.

I am anaphylxis (cross-contamination) allergic to peanuts, and allergic to eggs and shellfish and teh chef there has always been awesome.

I think unfortunately, this is something that can happen anywhere when talking about food allergies. Unfortuantely it happened at disney.
Anytime I am brought something that is supposed to be for me, I always ask...more than once if it is really safe for me to eat.

 

[girls]

yikes that's scary. I'm glad she's okay. We are going to Disney specifically because of their food allergy reputation. I hope it's a good decision.

 

[momsavealot]

Okay I have something to report to those who have young family members with tree nut allergies. See in 2007 my ENTIRE family (13 total) did a trip to the world and as we were going over my birthday I asked for Ohana for my birthday dinner. No problems we got our ADVs in 180 days cause they were doing that far out then and each of the adults in our family (there are 8 adults) called Ohana and asked that due to my niece extreme peanut allergy that they NOT put there peanut sauce on the table, we were insure each and every time that it wouldn't be . Well we show up at the very crowd restaurant waited for our table confirm yet again with the hostess and waitress that there is to be NO peanut sauce brought to the table. Was again insured that there wouldn't be so we are enjoying our dinner passing things family style as more and more dishes were put down around the table, then they start the coconut round up game all the kids ran from the table and at time with our very crowd tabled cleared out of 5 little kids when my sister looks over and lowers her finger into a light brown sauce and yep you guessed it peanut sauce not one bowl, not two bowls BUT THREE bowls were scattered all over the tables some had even been spilled a bit due to be putting down on the table. Needless to stay this caused a HUGE panic in our family as one of the sauces that has spilled were right next to my niece. Which caused a HUGE family argument thank the Gods my niece had managed to avoid getting any on her which is a HUGE relief as she is asmatic allergic to it even if it just touches her skin. Needless to say we called and confirmed that none of the rest of our ADRs had anything peanut in them so as to not have a repeat.

Thanks for posting. This confirms why we haven't gone there despite the amazing food reviews on these boards. Just the fact that a mistake could so easily be made there with peanut sauce floating around the restaurant. I was always concerned that some kid with peanut sauce touches one of the limbo sticks or brooms and then my dd touches it. Ugh!

 

[minniejack]

yikes that's scary. I'm glad she's okay. We are going to Disney specifically because of their food allergy reputation. I hope it's a good decision.

ditto

 

[aussietravellers]

WOW OP I am glad your DD is ok. Something like that happened to me years ago (not at Disney though) were there were rolls on the table with pesto in them (I'm anaphylactic to pine nuts as well as peanuts), I asked for some plain rolls (explained my allergy, could die etc), the server said they didn't have any. I said Oh surely you have some plain bread or something (it was a set menu that night only so I thought they would have something from their regular menu), if you could find something that would be great. Next thing he comes out and places the rolls not just right in front of me, but actually moved my glass so they were partially on my placemat. I said, "oh you are wonderful, thank you so much", took a bite and they were the pesto ones (lesson learned, now I always check even when supposed safe food is placed down for me). I spat it out but it was too late, ambulance was called, off I went to hospital with an anaphylactic reaction! It's when they know you have the allergy and place it down in front of you, I am so glad your DD was ok in the end.

We haven't been to Ohana for dinner before, breakfast but not dinner, the peanut sauce just makes me a little nervous even though they can leave it off the table, as the PP explained from experience it can still arrive on the table. I guess that's a risk those of us take with LT allergies every day, that someone will not be told and errors made, its just scary when the error can kill you!

 

[Bete]

but if I had the same issues I would stay away from buffets and family style eating. It's just not worth the risk.

In fact, I would go as far as making sure we had food in our room that I know is safe that came from home, grocery store, etc.

 

[PJB71]

OMG I cannot believe that.

My DD also has a dairy/wheat/gluten Allergy and thankfully we have always had great service in the Disney Restaurants (other than a few years ago when she was given a cup of milk at chef mickeys but thankfully I relised before she had drunk any)

I think it was a disgrace for them to of only offered you breakfast the next morning, (please dont shoot me, im not one of those people who jumps on the bandwagon and wants something for nothing) but dont they relise that the whole of your holiday could of been rouined though what could of been in some peoples allergys "a fatal mistake".

As a mother of a child with such allergys we worry enough and this should not of been allowed to happen IMO

Rant over!!!!!!!

 

[Amyhoff]

..

 

[Cindyrellablue]

I'm so happy she is alright.

It's horrible that more care on Disney's part wasn't taken to keep your daughter safe from her allergy.

Last year on the Disney Cruise, after informing our server and our head server that I am highly allergic to mangos and joking about it for a week straight...I was brought a chocolate cake with mango sauce on the last night. Luckily, I noticed the color and asked before taking a bite. Over the years, I've noticed more and more mangos on Disney menus too...

I was planning on filling out the paperwork to alert them of my allergy, I guess I'll also have to keep an eye out for it as well.

Hopefully, with time, your daughter's allergy will be well behind her!

 

[MeLaNie9]

Oh - so scary! We either vacation at WDW due to past good experiences with their handing of our son's allergy or take a trip where we bring and prepare all of our own food. DS3 has milk-protein-induced-enterocolitis syndrome. We have not had problems at CP but have only been there for breakfast where the chef has brought special waffles and he eats fruit and breakfast meat. We have not had any problems anywhere in WDW but this a good reminder to not become complacent - we are religious about checking and double checking at CS places but are reliant on the chefs at the TS places, who typically have been very helpful. I am very glad she is ok!