Custom Counter Service Meals for Dietary Intolerances?

[dawnball]

I have several food intolerances (gluten, dairy, nightshade, most legumes, food coloring, etc) and one of the options that Brenda Bennett gave me for Counter Service meals was to stop by the Main Street Bake Shop in the morning and talk to a manger. I can apparently pre-order an allergen free lunch to be picked up at a CS restaurant later in the day. A chef would make it in accordance with my needs and have it ready at the agreed-upon time.

Has anyone done this? Does it work well? How long does it take to arrange it in the morning? Is the meal usually ready and easy to pick up when you get to the CS counter? If this works well I might see if I can do something similar at the resort food court.

Thanks!

 

[Cheshire Figment]

You should be able to do it at any food court. Just tell one of the CMs there that you need to talk to a manager. They have a book at each location of what is in everything they sell.

I know that you can get gluten free bakery-type items at every CS location, including buns. I am not familiar with the other restictions, but I know that just about any dietary problem can be handled at all the CS locations.

 

[dawnball]

The problem isn't gluten free. I did just fine talking to a manager when all I needed was gluten free. But I've reached the point where I have more foods I need to avoid than are easily accomodated by CS.

I have very limited choices, and my DD has even more limited choices when you combine the choices that are available with her dietary restrictions with the foods she will actually consume. Currently she lives on grapes, carrot sticks and ice cream at MK.

However, if I'm willing to do this thing with going to the Bakery in the morning then I have more options. I can get chicken. I can say "Can you take the tuna salad (which I can eat) you put on this sandwich and use it to replace the chicken (which I can't eat) on this salad (which I can eat if you leave off X, Y, Z). " I can specially request GF macaroni and cheese for my 3 year old (there's nowhere in the MK that normally has it in the freezer, but it can be obtained with a few hours notice). Heck, I might be able to get a dessert that isn't grapes!

I anticipate being at MK for 5 CS meals on our 7 day trip. If it isn't too time consuming/frustrating to arrange - it would add a lot of variety to those 5 meals.

 

[SueM in MN]

Currently she lives on grapes, carrot sticks and ice cream at MK.

Those are available at most of the CS restaurants (or at least were in April) because most of the kids meals have a choice of grapes and carrot sticks.

As far as I know, no one has posted about ordering food ahead from the bakery, but if Brenda Bennett suggested it, I'm sure it will work. People have reported very good success in general with her suggestions.

I don't know if this would be helpful, but here are links to menus from
the DIS site and
allearsnet

Another thing, if you are staying at one of the moderate or deluxe resorts, there will be a refrigerator in your room. It is possible to order groceries delivered to your room so that you could maybe have a little more variety eating in your room and also bringing items along to supplement your CS meal.

 

[dclfun]

Brenda also gave us that suggestion but for a renal diet that my son is on due to kidney failure. He is also very restricted-no sodium, calcium, low potassium and phosphorus...so really he can only have plain meats, certain breads with low sodium, lettuce and some veggies without sauces or dressings, plain rice or noodles ( no potatoes), grapes, a small amt. of apple, and certain hard candies. It really didn't work well for us. We kept getting a person saying that the chef had to "use just a little salt" for instance, or he'd get a plain bowl of cold noodles with a slab of unsalted butter on the side that was very unappealing. Because something had to be prepared in advance it either wasn't ready right when we got there or was prepared with a piece of saran wrap on top and was cold. We ended up doing a bit better at TS locations and his favorite was the chef at O'Hana's who managed to prepare a delicious meal for him with a variety of choices. The worst was Boma. It seemed like the chef at Boma was doing better for people with allergies but was really stumped with my son. He couldn't even eat the fatty cold piece of meat she gave him and the cold noodles which was ALL she gave him.. They didn't even offer a fruit or a dessert option although he would've loved a few grapes. Meanwhile everyone else in the party was feasting on all the buffet selections and it only highlighted my son's differences which made him have an emotional meltdown later that evening. I wish you luck and hopefully your restrictions are easier to accomodate. I can't imagine your child existing on grapes, carrots, and ice cream for a 7 day trip. ---Kathy

 

[dawnball]

Those are available at most of the CS restaurants (or at least were in April) because most of the kids meals have a choice of grapes and carrot sticks.

Yup, that's why she eats it! She has a much more varied diet at home, but you can't get most of the things she will eat at CS restaurants.

 

[dawnball]

Brenda also gave us that suggestion but for a renal diet that my son is on due to kidney failure.<snip> It really didn't work well for us. We kept getting a person saying that the chef had to "use just a little salt" for instance, or he'd get a plain bowl of cold noodles with a slab of unsalted butter on the side that was very unappealing. Because something had to be prepared in advance it either wasn't ready right when we got there or was prepared with a piece of saran wrap on top and was cold.

Yes, that was my concern. I've found that CS restaurants have a hard time with special requests and I wasn't sure how well the timing issue would work. If we decide to do it I'll make sure to order things that would be acceptable to me at room temp or fridge temp.

I've sort of rearranged my days so that I have the option of a TS for lunch most days and my CS meals aren't in the parks so much. It just makes me a little sad and cranky. I was fine when I had one option that wasn't a bunless hot dog/hamburger with limited/no toppings.

I see many ADRs at the Plaza in my future.

 

[dzorn]

I have several food intolerances (gluten, dairy, nightshade, most legumes, food coloring, etc) and one of the options that Brenda Bennett gave me for Counter Service meals was to stop by the Main Street Bake Shop in the morning and talk to a manger. I can apparently pre-order an allergen free lunch to be picked up at a CS restaurant later in the day. A chef would make it in accordance with my needs and have it ready at the agreed-upon time.

Has anyone done this? Does it work well? How long does it take to arrange it in the morning? Is the meal usually ready and easy to pick up when you get to the CS counter? If this works well I might see if I can do something similar at the resort food court.

Thanks!

If you try this could you please let us know how it worked out after your trip. Counter Service is always difficult for us also. DD is gluten free but have very limited diet due to her texture issues and autism.

Denise in MI