CSR with dietary restrictions???

[dwsandy]

We are planning a trip to WDW next November. We have booked CSR and I have just become aware that the restaurants on site are not owned or run by Disney. This raised a huge red flag for me since my son has severe allergies to almost everything under the sun. During our last stay in WDW (Oct '08) we stayed at ASMo and the chefs and kitchen staff were extremely helpful and accommodating. I spoke with the sous chef quite a few times prior to our visit and again once we arrived.

My son needed some specially prepared lamb/pork burgers every few days and the kitchen staff at ASMo were all aware of this. The sous chef was able to order and prepare the meat ahead of time. She stored them in the freezer so they were ready to be cooked when needed. We just had to speak to any chef that was working and they prepared it for us.

Now my concern is this : Will we get that same type of experience staying at a resort whose resaurants are not "disney" operated? Has anyone had any experiences, good or bad, at this resort with dietary restrictions??? I am very nervous and seriously considering changing my reservation

 

[hematite153]

I can't really say how you'll fair at CSR, but, when I've eaten at the Pepper Market they weren't willing to modify dishes and make them safe for me to eat--I had to go to the one station where they already had a dish that I could eat. I didn't persist and ask for a manager, so, I don't know whether I would have gotten a better response from them. The layout doesn't give the impression that they have a whole lot of clean cooking spaces.

 

[Selket]

Is it a new thing that the CSR restaurants are not Disney operated anymore?

We stay there every other year for a conference and I've had excellent service from the Pepper Market for my son who has severe food allergies and diabetes. The chef prepared whatever he wanted to eat and even got him some sugar-free drink he liked at the time that wasn't usually found in the soda machines. They also offered to make him a "box lunch" to take to the park. I dealt directly with the chef(s) - usually a particular one. The staff at the stations are nice but cannot really do anything to help me (other than getting a chef) so I don't recommend trying to get what you need from them (as you probably know). Last time I stayed there was the summer of 2007 - we plan to go back this coming summer ('09).

 

[dwsandy]

Is it a new thing that the CSR restaurants are not Disney operated anymore?

We stay there every other year for a conference and I've had excellent service from the Pepper Market for my son who has severe food allergies and diabetes. The chef prepared whatever he wanted to eat and even got him some sugar-free drink he liked at the time that wasn't usually found in the soda machines. They also offered to make him a "box lunch" to take to the park. I dealt directly with the chef(s) - usually a particular one. The staff at the stations are nice but cannot really do anything to help me (other than getting a chef) so I don't recommend trying to get what you need from them (as you probably know). Last time I stayed there was the summer of 2007 - we plan to go back this coming summer ('09).

I'm not sure if it's new or if has always been that way but that makes me feel a lot better. Maybe all these stories I'm hearing are when people are dealing with the stations rather than the chef. Thank you so much for responding.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

The food service locations at Coronado (Maya Grill and Pepper Market) are not Disney but are operated by the same Mexican company that does San Angel Inn at Epcot.