Did you get a response after sending special diets form back?

shinysparklybubbles

DIS Veteran
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Feb 1, 2010
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Just wondering if I should expect to hear back from special diets after sending my form in? I also included on my email I would like to speak to someone about what the resort will have. It has only been 2 business days, how long would you wait before following up?

Thanks!
 
If I have specific questions then I hear back but otherwise I don't. They send me all my attachments in the same email as the form to fill out so there's nothing more for them to contact me about unless as I said I have questions.

Did you have any specific questions about products at the resort or just a general "what will they have"? If you had specific questions then Special Diets is likely waiting for an email back from a chef at the resort so that they can respond to you with the most accurate answer. If it was a general question then I'm really not sure since I've always asked specific questions. I do sometimes get calls or emails from a resort chef but again, it depends on if they need additional information or want to get into more detail about my questions but these days they seem to email before calling since most things can be taken care of via email. I think it generally is up to 2 weeks to get answers from chefs.

Things have slowed down in general since Brenda left. I miss Brenda.
 
If I have specific questions then I hear back but otherwise I don't. They send me all my attachments in the same email as the form to fill out so there's nothing more for them to contact me about unless as I said I have questions.

Did you have any specific questions about products at the resort or just a general "what will they have"? If you had specific questions then Special Diets is likely waiting for an email back from a chef at the resort so that they can respond to you with the most accurate answer. If it was a general question then I'm really not sure since I've always asked specific questions. I do sometimes get calls or emails from a resort chef but again, it depends on if they need additional information or want to get into more detail about my questions but these days they seem to email before calling since most things can be taken care of via email. I think it generally is up to 2 weeks to get answers from chefs.

Things have slowed down in general since Brenda left. I miss Brenda.[/QUOTE]

Me too! I now have to send 2-3 emails to get an actual answer to a question. They seem to like to send "form" reply emails that don't answer the question.
 
i never heard anything, and this year i even put a special request on it based on a problem i had last year and got no feedback on it. i convinced the form is a waste of time and paper.
 

i never heard anything, and this year i even put a special request on it based on a problem i had last year and got no feedback on it. i convinced the form is a waste of time and paper.

For our August trip, I made notes on the form about some things the chefs at our resort did for our girls in the past and how much they appreciated it. I never heard from a chef at the resort. When we arrived, they had prepared these same items ahead of time. Just because you don't hear doesn't mean that the form is useless and that nobody's reading them. They do read them.

For that same trip, we switched resorts to a Poly CL stay. I had emailed IPO and also filled out the form. IPO was completely useless and told us to order food from Garden Grocer believe it or not. I didn't hear from any chefs from the lounge though I did hear from a chef at Kona Island Sushi Bar because I asked a very specific question about the sushi there. When we arrived, the CM checking us in at the CL desk saw the note on our reservation about the allergies and dialed the resort CL chef as that's what her instructions said to do. The chef was expecting us and went over our allergies and options. She was prepared. Those forms do get read.

I have a specific question about their allergy free pancake/waffle mix. I guess I will just give them a call.

Depending on the location, it's either Bob's Red Mill gluten free mix or Namaste mix. Different places use different ingredients to add in. At POFQ the chefs told us they use apple juice instead of milk and apple sauce instead of eggs. At 1900PF they told us they use Ener-G egg replacer instead of eggs and I can't remember what they use instead of milk.

If you include a specific question in your email you should get a response. It may take a week or two but you will get some kind of answer.
 
Bob's red mill is actually produced in a plant that process tree nuts and I am wondering if Disney knows that? Or if it doesn't fall under the category of peanut/nut safe.
 
For our August trip, I made notes on the form about some things the chefs at our resort did for our girls in the past and how much they appreciated it. I never heard from a chef at the resort. When we arrived, they had prepared these same items ahead of time. Just because you don't hear doesn't mean that the form is useless and that nobody's reading them. They do read them.

For that same trip, we switched resorts to a Poly CL stay. I had emailed IPO and also filled out the form. IPO was completely useless and told us to order food from Garden Grocer believe it or not. I didn't hear from any chefs from the lounge though I did hear from a chef at Kona Island Sushi Bar because I asked a very specific question about the sushi there. When we arrived, the CM checking us in at the CL desk saw the note on our reservation about the allergies and dialed the resort CL chef as that's what her instructions said to do. The chef was expecting us and went over our allergies and options. She was prepared. Those forms do get read.



Depending on the location, it's either Bob's Red Mill gluten free mix or Namaste mix. Different places use different ingredients to add in. At POFQ the chefs told us they use apple juice instead of milk and apple sauce instead of eggs. At 1900PF they told us they use Ener-G egg replacer instead of eggs and I can't remember what they use instead of milk.

If you include a specific question in your email you should get a response. It may take a week or two but you will get some kind of answer.

i say that because there were times when i showed up and they seemed surprised and did not have things on hand. last year i put specifics on the form and no one ever contacted me or had notes of it when i arrived. i also requested desserts this year b/c its disappointing when you are paying for deluxe dining and as an adult you get served a pre-package brownie at a signature dining restaurant. i still got lots of brownies this year but i guess there is only so much you can do to fight them on that one. :confused3

i did get the recipe for the meatballs on tony's so we will consider that a victory.:banana:
 
I got an email this mornin saying someone would contact me and within an hour Chef Dan At pop called. I have to say he was the nicest person ever and was incredibly helpful and I am looking forward to meeting him!
 
i say that because there were times when i showed up and they seemed surprised and did not have things on hand. last year i put specifics on the form and no one ever contacted me or had notes of it when i arrived. i also requested desserts this year b/c its disappointing when you are paying for deluxe dining and as an adult you get served a pre-package brownie at a signature dining restaurant. i still got lots of brownies this year but i guess there is only so much you can do to fight them on that one. :confused3

i did get the recipe for the meatballs on tony's so we will consider that a victory.:banana:

We've had that happen before where our ADR didn't have any note about our allergies. I finally figured out that it was ADRs I added after I initially sent my form to Special Diets. I did send an update even stating in the email that I had added some ADR but they didn't seem to forward the info to those restaurants. What I learned from this is to wait until closer to my trip to send the form. I actually also like to do this so that I'll get the lists of what foods can be found where closer to my trip because those things can change at any time. I was surprised that things even changed between when I received my info for my June trip and when I received my info for my August trip. Things can and do change that fast.

We've learned not to expect desserts for DD12 beyond Tofutti ice cream. DD12 can't even eat the packaged cookies or brownies other than Enjoy Life cookies which are only carried at a few places. Chefs at resorts have made things for us because I make a point of saying that we'll be eating there a lot (which we do) but otherwise, chefs at restaurants do not actually do anything special. I had been told by a chef at 1900PF that he was going to make apple turnovers for her (she's never tried one so this would be a super special treat) but he didn't come through. I've learned on this board that he's done this to lots of people.

I got an email this mornin saying someone would contact me and within an hour Chef Dan At pop called. I have to say he was the nicest person ever and was incredibly helpful and I am looking forward to meeting him!

I ADORE Chef Dan! He's made it difficult to try other resorts because he took such great care of us. He actually searched out a type of bread DD12 could eat and now we buy that kind at home because it's so much better than what she was already in.
 
I ADORE Chef Dan! He's made it difficult to try other resorts because he took such great care of us. He actually searched out a type of bread DD12 could eat and now we buy that kind at home because it's so much better than what she was already in.
that is good to hear! Its nice to know he is not just all talk like some people are! I plan on writing a letter about him just based on my phone call today!
 
Things have slowed down in general since Brenda left. I miss Brenda.

Me too! Though the special diets department still does a good job, it's not as efficient as it was when Brenda was there. She was so fab. I tend to get more of the pre-done letters when I ask specific questions or ask to be referred to specific restaurants. It can be a little frustrating at times. :sad2:

I had been told by a chef at 1900PF that he was going to make apple turnovers for her (she's never tried one so this would be a super special treat) but he didn't come through. I've learned on this board that he's done this to lots of people.

I'm so sorry this didn't come through for your DD. This chef really needs to 1) step and follow through with his commitments or 2) stop making such statements b/c he promises yet never comes through. I had a horrible experience with the same chef when I dined at the Garden View Tea Lounge. It's one thing to flake on an adult, but with kids--that can be doubly disappointing. I am hoping with Chef TJ over at 1900PF he'll help improve the allergy awareness and show them how it's done! (I sure miss him at Ohana--my meal definitely wasn't as memorable or tasty as it was with him)!
Sorry to hear about the turnovers--I hope your DDs meal was good otherwise!
 
I'm so sorry this didn't come through for your DD. This chef really needs to 1) step and follow through with his commitments or 2) stop making such statements b/c he promises yet never comes through. I had a horrible experience with the same chef when I dined at the Garden View Tea Lounge. It's one thing to flake on an adult, but with kids--that can be doubly disappointing. I am hoping with Chef TJ over at 1900PF he'll help improve the allergy awareness and show them how it's done! (I sure miss him at Ohana--my meal definitely wasn't as memorable or tasty as it was with him)!
Sorry to hear about the turnovers--I hope your DDs meal was good otherwise!

I was glad that you had mentioned that this same chef made promises to you that he didn't follow through on so at least I knew it might be a possibility that he wouldn't do anything for my kids. Expectations are so important.

I agree that 'Ohana wasn't as special as I had read about with Chef TJ. I was hoping that they would keep up what he established since I had read that when he was there, even if he was off for the night that whomever was working did similar things but nope, that's not how it worked. It was still good but nothing like I've read with Chef TJ. The chef made up a dish with small skewers of various meats laid over a huge heap of white rice (the rice was their request because they LOVE plain white rice for some reason). He tried to make them a nice meal but I would have loved for them to experience some of Chef TJ's special treatment.

I was hoping Chef TJ would have been there for our 1900PF breakfast in August but he wasn't. I was actually surprised that for DD10's birthday they brought out a regular cupcake which she couldn't eat and the chef tried to tell me that Divvies cookies would be safe for DD12 even though she's gluten free. It's a good thing I do my homework ahead of time or I might have let her eat them. I'm hoping he'll be there when we return in February. Crossing my fingers!
 
I was glad that you had mentioned that this same chef made promises to you that he didn't follow through on so at least I knew it might be a possibility that he wouldn't do anything for my kids. Expectations are so important.

I agree that 'Ohana wasn't as special as I had read about with Chef TJ. I was hoping that they would keep up what he established since I had read that when he was there, even if he was off for the night that whomever was working did similar things but nope, that's not how it worked. It was still good but nothing like I've read with Chef TJ. The chef made up a dish with small skewers of various meats laid over a huge heap of white rice (the rice was their request because they LOVE plain white rice for some reason). He tried to make them a nice meal but I would have loved for them to experience some of Chef TJ's special treatment.

I was hoping Chef TJ would have been there for our 1900PF breakfast in August but he wasn't. I was actually surprised that for DD10's birthday they brought out a regular cupcake which she couldn't eat and the chef tried to tell me that Divvies cookies would be safe for DD12 even though she's gluten free. It's a good thing I do my homework ahead of time or I might have let her eat them. I'm hoping he'll be there when we return in February. Crossing my fingers!

Holy moly! I can't believe they brought out a regular cupcake and then tried to convince you that divvies are safe! egads! :eek:

It's definitely important to be proactive about your health and be vigilant about ingredients and asking! You make a great point that it's important to do your homework and be on top of things b/c not all the chefs are!

To be honest, I'm hesitant to make any trips to 1900 PF for meals until I hear some improvements are made. I haven't heard any first hand reports of Chef TJ there yet--so I'm patiently waiting :)
I don't feel like the GF is as good with special diets as other places, but maybe I've just had some poor experiences. Here's hoping TJ is there for you in February!

Expectations are definitely important and it's great when chefs follow through. I had some great experiences this last trip at Boma for breakfast and 50's PT--both chefs went above and beyond! I even rearranged my ADRs so I could eat at 50's PT again in January--that GF fried chicken and dairy free mashed potatoes are beyond amazing!!
 
Just when checking in at the podium mention that you are ther more for the food than for taking part in activities, and politely tell your server the same thing. But please make it clear if this applies to you only or to your entire group.
 














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