Dining plan exceptions for someone with "too many" allergies possible?

[cathicool]

What about a kid with multiple, multiple food allergies who cannot possibly participate in the dining plan? Even with the disney chef's trying to help, it would really be impossible and super scary to let someone else prepare a meal for this child. Anyone know of any exceptions made to the dining plan rule of everyone or noone?


thanks!

 

[Cheshire Figment]

The Dining Plan rule is firm, everyone on the reservation (age 3 and up) must be on the dining plan. The peole at WDTC have very specific rules to follow and they are not allowed to bend them.

How old is this child? What does the child eat now, and what special preparations are needed? And you would be pleasantly surprised about what the Disney chefs can do.

 

[cathicool]

My son is just 3 and cannot eat gluten, casein (dairy), eggs, butter, soy, beef, lamb, lettuce, citrus, soy, quinoa or corn. he is dye free, and cannot tolerate artificial colors or preservatives well. he eats 90+% organic food.
we limit his garlic intake as well (lower allergy).

He eats rice, millet, tomatoes, potatoes, chicken, pork, turkey, all veggies (no corn), all fruit (no citrus), all nuts. and it's all organic only to limit his exposure to colors, preservaties and chemicals he can't tolerate.

so unless the chef's are going to go to the WholeFoods Market, I just can't imagine how they can accomodate him.

 

[taximomfor4]

I would seriously weigh the options...I think in your situation I would talk to the chefs in advance, and if you are still uncomfortable, SKIP the dining plan. Are you staying in a villa or cabin? If so you have the option of making meals there. I know several others that for health reasons were not truly good candidates for the dining plan (this or previous versions) and they just skip it altogether for their families. These include severe Cystic Fibrosis and recent gastric bypass surgery. I have never heard of any of them ever getting an exception made, so I doubt it can be done.

 

[dclfun]

As has been said before, they will not make exceptions to the dining plan. You are able though to exclude that person from the reservation and then add them upon arrival at the resort, purchasing their pass separately. Other than that, I agree that the Disney Chef's are amazing and they have been known to prepare organic meals with special attention to allergies. You might want to write ahead to Guest Communications about the specific needs to be sure the child can be accomodated but my guess is yes, they will bend over backwards to provide something delicious, safe, and appropriate as long as there is advance notice. ---Kathy

 

[Selket]

I think you might be surprised at what accomodations the chefs are willing to make. Some restaurants are better than others but it seems many of the chefs really enjoy the challenge of food allergies. I've had chefs offer to purchase certain products and prepare them for my son. You are not allowed to bring food for them to prepare but you can give them specific items or brands and they can obtain and prepare it for you.

I suggest talking to Brenda Bennett who works for MK foods about the food allergies/restrictions and the dining plan and ask her if the chefs at both table service and fast food spots can accomodate you. I've had chefs offer to make "bag lunches" for William so it might be that something like that could be arranged for the fast food meals on your plan. Brenda's number is: 407-824-5967 and she is a wonderful help.

My son is 4 yrs old now and extremely allergic to peanuts/tree nuts and a type 1 diabetic - so I know how you feel about letting others prepare food. WDW is the best place to go for kids with special needs of all types. Give Brenda a call and see what she says!

 

[Mickey'snewestfan]

Depending on the size of your party, I think you might still find the dining plan worthwhile. His credits would only cost you about $10 a day, and I think many people find that their savings on the plan come to more than that. Also you could use it a few ways

-- use his snack credits and counter service meals for bottled water in the park -- if you get 2 bottles a day you're already saving $4 or so right there.

-- use his credits to get him into a character meal. Even though he wouldn't be able to eat the food he would probably enjoy the atmosphere and you'd get some priceless pictures. If you called the chef they might be able to have a few things for him -- not a whole meal, but something like a plate of organic fruit, a baked organic potato, a piece of plain grilled organic chicken, or a "juice box" of something he can drink (rice milk? organic juice?) then you could supplement that to make it "complete". I would have in mind some ideas of what to ask for when you call.

-- use his credits to get extra meals for you and anyone else traveling with you -- e.g. for an extra dinner the night you arrive, or to have a CS breakfast and lunch on the same day.

-- use his credits to upgrade you to a "signature" dining experience -- like watching the fireworks from the California grill.

I know there are people who will tell you that the last two options are "unethical" unless you are using the credits for another child. I don't think they're unethical since Disney basically tells you to use them that way. However, even if I did have concerns in a typical situation, I think that if Disney is going to force you to buy something you can't possibly use because of your son's special needs, it makes sense to use them any way you legally can.

BTW I can understand a little of what you're going through -- as a toddler DS was very restricted as far as the textures and ingredients he could put in his mouth -- nothing with any protein, nothing you really had to chew, no liquids or foods from which a liquid might emerge if you chewed it (so basically no fruit except berries and babyfood), etc . . . because of aspiration issues. We were very lucky in that the issues were temporary.

 

[cathicool]

Selket,
thanks for the contact anme and number. I've called and left a message. Keeping my fingers crossed. Wow! What a vacation it would be forme not to have to worry 24/7 aboutwhat my son is eating! And for him to actually eat food at the "correct" temperature????? That would really be amazing! We always cart around food with us for my son, but most places won't heat anything up, so he eats it at the temperature it is....usually cold.

Thanks for the tip.....

cathicool

 

[Mickey'snewestfan]

Here's another thought. Could you put him down as under 3 on your ressie (therefore he doesn't need the dining plan) and then just buy him a ticket separately? If he's barely 3 it's very unlikely that the front desk staff would question him about his age.

If you did this you couldn't use his ticket for early entry, but you could just buy the right number of days and then let them expire. That way you're still paying for the right # of days.

Just an idea.

Having said that -- can your son eat non-organic rice, potatoes, meat, veggies and fruit? You mentioned that you get organic only to avoid preservatives, colors etc . . . but there shouldn't be any of those in those foods -- or are antibiotics and pesticides a concern as well?

If not I bet they would be willing to prepare a plain chicken breast (cooked separately, probably on a piece of foil), with a sliced apple and some plain rice or baked potato (cooked separately) , for example and a box of organic rice milk?

 

[Selket]

Cathi,

When is your trip? I've never had a problem with Brenda calling me back but if you don't hear from her in a couple of days try again (unless you are going really soon!).

I think it can't hurt to run the whole food thing by her and ask if he can be accomodated and how and what your options are with the meal plan otherwise. I think they could do the avoidance of ingredients but not sure about the organic food issue.

Do report back and let us know what she says!