DD just diagnosed with tree nut allergies and others...

[3prettyprincesses]

My DD10 had her 1st ever allergy appt. today because she had a horrible reaction to pecans last week. They did the skin testing and she's positive for all tree nuts, coconut, and shellfish. The dr. said her reaction (from last week) is considered anaphylactic and now we have to carry an epipen with us. So, we're going to Disney in about 2 1/2 weeks and I'm already a nervous wreck! Any tips would be greatly appreciated, I'm nervous about eating out at Disney. I just faxed in a special diets allergy form noting it (I had just faxed mine in recently due to my gluten intolerance issues). Thanks!

 

[shinysparklybubbles]

My son was just recently diagnosed with the peanuts, tree nuts and eggs. I have yet to let him eat anything but what I have for him and I honestly almost had a panic attack at a play date because I was so scared he would pick something up that one of the kids dropped (he is only 20 months so he doesn't know better). Do you only have 1 epi pen? If so you need more. My allergist has me taking 4 on vacation because of the flight. If you are flying make sure to alert the airline. Even if you are driving make sure you have at least 2 pens.

Everyone says Disney is great with food allergies but to tell you the truth I am still scared about going!

 

[clanmcculloch]

Honestly, no need to worry (as a mom I know it's easier said than done). Here are a few tips.

1. Bring multiple epi pens and your antihistamines on the plane with you. You won't have access to a hospital mid-air if an emergency arises so you need enough to get her through the whole flight in case of emergency. This is fine with TSA; just put all the liquid and injectable medications in their own clear bag in the grey bins when going through security so the TSA agent can see them.

2. TS restaurants are very easy to eat at. They have all sorts of options for allergy safe alternate foods. Confirm the allergies when you check in (the person checking you in will likely bring it up before you do but if he doesn't then say something). A chef will come to your table and go through all your options with you. You'll never eat as well as you do at Disney TS restaurants.

3. I prefer to stick with restaurants owned by Disney. They have so many more options than non-Disney owned restaurants. The chefs will do their best to accomodate everywhere but the Disney owned places just have more allergy safe alternatives in stock at all times and are more willing to go elsewhere (as in a nearby restaurant) to get other ingredients that they may not have (yes chefs have done that for us; no we didn't ask them to, they just mentioned it would take a bit longer because they had to have somebody run to get something). With just a single allergy most places are fine but the longer the list, the harder it becomes for non-Disney owned restaurants to provide options.

4. For CS restaurants in the parks, carry a list of the restaurants that Special Diets tells you can accomodate you. Make sure this is where you choose for your CS meals.

5. The CS location in your resort will have many more options for you than the park CS locations. The resort locations will be as accomodating as TS locations. Park CS locations only have a very fixed set of allergy safe foods and do not have any additional ingredients to make anything else for you while the resort CS locations have as much stuff as the TS locations. We eat the majority of our CS meals at our resort but when we know we'll be in a park, I know ahead of time where we can eat which takes away a lot of stress.

6. Carry with you a list of safe snack foods available in the parks and where you can find them (this info will be found in the email attachments provided by Special Diets). This will take away a lot of stress when you just need to have a snack right now. I like knowing that I can walk up to a nearby food cart and purchase something easily without having to read through allergy books right then and there. I do all that reading ahead of time from home so when I'm at WDW I can just go with the flow.

7. Plan for all meals to take a good 40% longer than normal because you do have to wait for food to be specially prepared. It's worth the wait but you do need to budget your time for it.

{{{HUGS}}} It's so much harder when it's your child rather than you, isn't it? For yourself, you don't worry if you're having to eat cereal bars or having to obstain while everybody else buys great treats but when it's your child you worry that they'll feel left out or hurt. That doesn't even adress the worries for their safety. I really do get it. {{{HUGS}}} You'll get through this and you'll want to return to WDW after such an easy dining experience.

 

[MadiWI]

My child is also allergic to TN, coconut and we used to avoid shellfish. These allergies are actually generally easy for most chefs to deal with - they will usually be like "that's easy" and tell you that your child can eat almost anything except desserts or an occasional entree/side dish. You still need to ALWAYS ask at counter service or table service. If you are allergic to TN, you may also want to avoid peanut since there is almost always cross contamination (peanuts and tree nuts are generally processed on the same equipment - think Planter's nuts and all the things they sell). The only places that have a lot of peanuts are the African restaurants.

When flying, you can ask to board the plane early to wipe your child's seat down well with wipes. A (baby) crib sheet will cover the plane seat perfectly in case someone ate nuts there in an earlier flight which is very possible. They also sell special seat covers on the internet.

Good luck! It gets easier to deal with as time goes on. It is scary at first.

 

[sherabby]

If you are flying Southwest call the airlines and have the reservation noted. They serve peanuts on board. Check you airline anyway. They can refrain from serving them but they cannot tell passengers not to eat them. Southwests lets us preboard for medical reasons and we can wipe down the seats just incase.
No need to worry at Disney. Just make sure a chef comes to your table when ordering. We've had 5 trips in the last 4 years and never had one issue with my son. If you do not feel comfortable at a buffet ask them to prepare something for your child. They usually make my son his breakfast at a buffet but he has multiple allergies including dairy, peanuts, tree nuts and a super severe fish and shell fish allergy. You will even find salmon on the breakfast buffet at some locations.

 

[3prettyprincesses]

Oh thank you all!!! I have been trying to remain calm for my DD's sake but I am freaking out on the inside. Her reaction scared the tar out of me, she actually thought she was dying and kept telling me that she loved me. It was awful. Now we have to carry epipens that I pray I will never have to use on her.

Anyhow, I feel better about our Disney trip. From what you wonderful people here have told me and what I've read elsewhere, it seems Disney is the place to be if you need to eat with food allergies! Luckily she's old enough (10) to be able to ask about food ingredients as well as know she can't just eat something someone gives her. Actually, her allergic reaction was due to a lady in the deli department at our local grocery store who gave her a cookie.

Big thanks again to all of you! Your tips were very insightful and will help me and my DD on our trip! I was nearly in tears last night over this but I feel much better now.

 

[kahblue]

Two things:

1. We just flew Southwest with 2 boys with peanut/tree nut allergies. I called ahead and it was noted on our reservation. When their boarding passes were printed they also got a seperate one stating the allergy again. BUT......since they get people in and out so fast the plane is not cleaned. I wiped down the seats and trays but we still found peanuts all over the floor! So, make sure you check your seating area and clean it accordingly.

2. Disney is awesome when it comes any food allergies. Just ask! At the table restaurants the chef will come right out and go over the buffet or menu. They will even make something seperate and bring it out. For example, the waffles are peanut free but they may be next to a bowl of peanut butter. The chef will make you a batch and bring it right out to the table so there is no cross contamination. So, feel safe because you are.

You do have to get into the habit of mentioning the allergy where ever you go. We go out for ice cream here at home and I often forget that even though we aren't ordering anything with nuts, they may use the same scooper for several varieties of ice cream.

 

[3prettyprincesses]

Two things:

1. We just flew Southwest with 2 boys with peanut/tree nut allergies. I called ahead and it was noted on our reservation. When their boarding passes were printed they also got a seperate one stating the allergy again. BUT......since they get people in and out so fast the plane is not cleaned. I wiped down the seats and trays but we still found peanuts all over the floor! So, make sure you check your seating area and clean it accordingly.

2. Disney is awesome when it comes any food allergies. Just ask! At the table restaurants the chef will come right out and go over the buffet or menu. They will even make something seperate and bring it out. For example, the waffles are peanut free but they may be next to a bowl of peanut butter. The chef will make you a batch and bring it right out to the table so there is no cross contamination. So, feel safe because you are.

You do have to get into the habit of mentioning the allergy where ever you go. We go out for ice cream here at home and I often forget that even though we aren't ordering anything with nuts, they may use the same scooper for several varieties of ice cream.

Luckily we're driving but thanks for the plane info! Geez, I didn't even think about ice cream and the possibility of cross contamination. That's a great tip and perfect example of how to keep my DD safe! Thank you!

I'm so so glad to hear all these great things about Disney and food allergies. It's really putting my mind more at ease. Well, somewhat at ease I should say. I'm new to this world of allergies but nothing is more important than making sure my DD is safe. But I'm still scared to use that epipen even though the dr. showed me several times how to use it.

 

[HETRICKL]

My DD9 is also allergic to tree nuts, shellfish, sesame and peas. We avoid mango also because of the tree nut allergy.

After you get through your Disney trip, you will find a lot of useful information on allergy web sites. Start with www.foodallergy.org and www.kidswithfoodallergies.org

I was really scared when we were first diagnosed as well, but it does get easier. At least you won't be having panic attacks all the time.

I personally found the table service restaurants MUCH easier to deal with than the counter service. I usally avoided those and brought both of my kids lunch in the park in a cooler. They usually ate healthier and I knew it was safe.

I also pre-shipped a box of safe food to our resort, especially snacks. You can bring these into the parks as well and we did.

I believe the popcorn is safe for tree nuts (although I don't think peanuts) and so is the dole whip ice cream in MK.

Other than that, you can buy Divvies cookies in the bakery at MK and they serve them at most TS restaurants. They are made in a nut free bakery.

The mickey mouse ice cream bar is listed on the peanut safe treats, but when I contacted NEstle, they told me it was run on a same line with tree nuts, so we avoid it.

Good luck. Disney is truly the only place I am comfortable eating out at.

Feel free to PM me if you have any more questions.

 

[HETRICKL]

My DD9 is also allergic to tree nuts, shellfish, sesame and peas. We avoid mango also because of the tree nut allergy.

After you get through your Disney trip, you will find a lot of useful information on allergy web sites. Start with www.foodallergy.org and www.kidswithfoodallergies.org

I was really scared when we were first diagnosed as well, but it does get easier. At least you won't be having panic attacks all the time.

I personally found the table service restaurants MUCH easier to deal with than the counter service. I usally avoided those and brought both of my kids lunch in the park in a cooler. They usually ate healthier and I knew it was safe.

I also pre-shipped a box of safe food to our resort, especially snacks. You can bring these into the parks as well and we did.

I believe the popcorn is safe for tree nuts (although I don't think peanuts) and so is the dole whip ice cream in MK.

Other than that, you can buy Divvies cookies in the bakery at MK and they serve them at most TS restaurants. They are made in a nut free bakery.

The mickey mouse ice cream bar is listed on the peanut safe treats, but when I contacted NEstle, they told me it was run on a same line with tree nuts, so we avoid it.

Good luck. Disney is truly the only place I am comfortable eating out at.

Feel free to PM me if you have any more questions.

 

[shinysparklybubbles]

Mango? I didn't realize there was a connection with mango and tree nuts?

 

[sherabby]

My DD9 is also allergic to tree nuts, shellfish, sesame and peas. We avoid mango also because of the tree nut allergy.

After you get through your Disney trip, you will find a lot of useful information on allergy web sites. Start with www.foodallergy.org and www.kidswithfoodallergies.org

I was really scared when we were first diagnosed as well, but it does get easier. At least you won't be having panic attacks all the time.

I personally found the table service restaurants MUCH easier to deal with than the counter service. I usally avoided those and brought both of my kids lunch in the park in a cooler. They usually ate healthier and I knew it was safe.

I also pre-shipped a box of safe food to our resort, especially snacks. You can bring these into the parks as well and we did.

I believe the popcorn is safe for tree nuts (although I don't think peanuts) and so is the dole whip ice cream in MK.

Other than that, you can buy Divvies cookies in the bakery at MK and they serve them at most TS restaurants. They are made in a nut free bakery.

The mickey mouse ice cream bar is listed on the peanut safe treats, but when I contacted NEstle, they told me it was run on a same line with tree nuts, so we avoid it.

Good luck. Disney is truly the only place I am comfortable eating out at.

Feel free to PM me if you have any more questions.

We were told that the popcorn has a manufactured in the same facility type warning on it. I let my son have it and he was fine.

 

[3prettyprincesses]

Thanks again for the tips, my DD actually had the popcorn at Disney last year when we went (before she was diagnosed) and was fine.

I have another quick question. I picked up her epipens yesterday from the pharmacy and they were $144 for the 2 pack. I had no idea they were so expensive. Unfortunately we have a prescription dedcutible that we haven't met yet so I had to pay the entire amount. Are they normally this much money? And they expire in Dec. 2011? It did come with the test pen and I feel more comfortable now knowing how to use it. Thanks!

 

[shinysparklybubbles]

When you have to refil I would do it in person and ask them if they can look and give you the pens that they have with the farthest out experation date. The ones I got 2 weeks ago are good until oct 2011. Also if you need to get more go on the website for epipen they have a $5 coupon to use when you buy them.

 

[shinysparklybubbles]

Oh and yes they are that much. I just checked and my insurance paid $138 for ours.

 

[Gigi22]

Epipens are expensive here too. We're lucky, DH (56) only requires one epipen at a time. (I think it is largely that he has had a lot of experience in identifying problematic foods, and tends to be very conservative in his food choices). We do not accept any epipen that has an expiry date of less than a year out--we tear open the packaging at the pharmacy and check it to make sure.

OP, the downside of the tree nut/peanut allergy is that your DD may find that she has difficulties with chocolate. Over the years DH has experienced problems with chocolate to the degree that he refuses to eat any chocolate whatsoever. I think the issue is the result of cross-contamination in the factory. We have one company in Canada that advertises that it produces peanut-free chocolates, it is Nestle. Not sure if this will help.

 

[Music City Mama]

Epipens are expensive here too. We're lucky, DH (56) only requires one epipen at a time. (I think it is largely that he has had a lot of experience in identifying problematic foods, and tends to be very conservative in his food choices). We do not accept any epipen that has an expiry date of less than a year out--we tear open the packaging at the pharmacy and check it to make sure.

OP, the downside of the tree nut/peanut allergy is that your DD may find that she has difficulties with chocolate. Over the years DH has experienced problems with chocolate to the degree that he refuses to eat any chocolate whatsoever. I think the issue is the result of cross-contamination in the factory. We have one company in Canada that advertises that it produces peanut-free chocolates, it is Nestle. Not sure if this will help.

Nestle is a safe company in Canada, but it's not safe in the U.S. (not sure why there is a difference in their manufacturing practices in each country). Hershey's is actually the safest of the store-bought chocolate here (only certain items, though).

The first Mickey Bar we bought when we were there in June w/ my peanut-allergic DS, the snack kiosk had a binder outlining potential allergens for all of the products sold at the kiosk (btw, another kiosk that sold the same exact snack food in Epcot, did not have that binder). As a lot of us know, most ice creams don't state allergens unless they actually contain them -- most don't state: made in the same facility, made on the same equipment, etc. (and they're actually not required by law to include those statements). So, needless to say, there were no warnings on any of the ice cream/popsicle snacks packaging at that kiosk. HOWEVER, when looking at the binder, it stated that the Mickey Bar was made in the same facility w/ nuts -- the Mickey ice cream sandwich said it was made on the same equipment -- I was going to just opt for the Itzakadoodle (sp?) thing - since it's like a popsicle, but it also said made on the same equipment confused3), so we just opted for the regular Mickey Bar which is made in the same facility. I normally don't take those kinds of chances at home, but I did there. Fortunately, there was no reaction.

 

[bidnow5]

My granddaughter was just diagnosed with tree nut allergies as well as stone fruit allergies we have an epipen here for her they also had to have 2 at her school my daughter is lucky she has a good prescription plan.

It isn't fun but I have been doing a lot of research and I think we will be ok not sure I will be able to administer the epipen but don't have a choice if she has a reaction

 

[clanmcculloch]

OP, the downside of the tree nut/peanut allergy is that your DD may find that she has difficulties with chocolate. Over the years DH has experienced problems with chocolate to the degree that he refuses to eat any chocolate whatsoever. I think the issue is the result of cross-contamination in the factory. We have one company in Canada that advertises that it produces peanut-free chocolates, it is Nestle. Not sure if this will help.

We buy chocolate bars by Enjoy Life Foods. They're a lot more expensive than regular chocolate bars (on sale I pay around $1.70 each) but they're made in a nut free facility (we buy them because they're also free of other allergens so it's worth it for a gluten, milk, peanut and tree nut free chocolate bar). This company caters to allergy sufferers and really understands about cross contamination. We buy a lot of snacks from them.

You can get these particular chocolate bars in Sunshine Seasons at Epcot and we were offered them for dessert at Coral Reef (the chef there also used one to garnish DD10's tofutti ice cream sundae by shaving some on top and placing a few squares into the top between the brownie triangles he had cut; chefs at WDW are the BEST in case I haven't mentioned that before).

 

[3prettyprincesses]

Wow, so it seems the epipens really do cost that much. The good news is that we're changing insurances soon due to DH's new job so we'll have much better coverage. After I read (and read and read!) the instructions for the epipen, I took a good look at it and thought it looked discolored. Until I realized I was holding my thumb on the back of the little window! Duh! Anyhow, it came with a tester pen as well so I feel more relaxed about using it if it ever came to that.

Great tip on asking to see the epipen first to check it's expiration date too. Thanks!

I appreciate the tips about Mickey bars and other Disney snacks. She's had the chocolate Mickey bar, Itzakadoozie and the Mickey ice cream sandwich last year as well without incident.

Thanks clanmcculloch for the chocolate bar link too! I'm dealing with gluten intolerance as well and those sound like they'd be great for BOTH my DD and myself! I just can't tell you all how much better you're making me feel about this whole thing! Heck, I might even be able to enjoy myself at Disney!