Dining with a 4YO with Dairy Allergies

[froggymomma]

We are scheduled on the 4 day Wonder cruise on October 19, 2003. My 4YO DS is allergic to dairy. Not only can he not ingest it, he cannot touch it. I've reviewed the menus posted and only see milk listed. Does anyone know if soy milk is available?

Also, how would you arrange for dairy-free food? I would guess that when we are in our regular rotation restaurant, our server can communicate with the chef and (hopefully) food will be available - but what about all of the buffets? Especially since on the day we embark people keep raving about the buffets and all of the food available (I think it is the only food available) - I just see danger.

We're staying at the Poly for the first 3 days of our land/sea package and I've read that you need to notify restaurants 24 hours in advance, so I guess we'll make lots of reservations.

Has anyone dealt with this before and can they offer any insights or advice?

One of the reasons I chose WDW and DCL was that they are supposed to be "allergy friendly", but when I wonder about how everything will happen, I get very nervous.

Thanks in advance.

 

[gfolchick]

Hi Kim,
We are sailing in a month from now and my son has a milk and peanut/tree nut allergies. I would be happy to let you know of our experience when we return.

I can offer you this advice so far:
1. Get the medical form and fax or mail it to Disney. It will let them know ahead of time that you have an allergy. Your travel agent will be able to provide you with one.

2. They do have soy milk onboard. You just have to ask for it.

3. I've been told that the kitchen keeps a list posted of people with food restrictions and what meals to stay away from (I'll let you know when I get back)

4. Upon boarding the ship you can meet with the Head Server (the same place you would go to make dining changes, currently Rockin D Bar on Magic) and discuss your concerns. I plan to come prepared with a list of foods I know are available and they can tell me if it is safe or not, for instance the hot dog and hamburger rolls, or chicken strips.

As far as WDW goes, we've had wonderful experience with the chefs there. All were willing to make my son special versions of the food offered. We had PS about 50% of the time and the rest of the time we were treated the same. I cannot think of a better place to vacation when dealing with food allergies. I spoke with the executive chef (407) 824-5967 of WDW who offered suggestions and was able to answer questions for me.

Hope this helps!

 

[MNmom]

Hi Kim-

I don't have all the answers to your questions but I also have a DS (3) with severe allergy to milk, eggs and peanuts. We are cruising on the Magic 1/17/04 and have heard great things about DCL dealing with food allergies. These are some of the things I have heard....

You will need to fill out a medical information form and submit it to DCL.. I think about 2-3 months before your cruise.

You will be contacted by DCL to review your situation and ask any questions. I plan to look at the kids menus before that and ask about some specific things on the menu (hot dogs, chicken strips, pasta, and any bread products).

I have heard that they do provide soy milk and soy or rice ice cream as long as they are aware ahead of time.

I have always been afraid of buffets but we have become more daring recently (eating at restaurants and going to sporting events). I have two older DDs and our lives were completely obsessed with these allergies. We have since "mellowed out" and are very prepared for any problems. Our lives have become much more normal and fun...hence the cruise!!!

We will probably stick with fruit and carved meats at the buffets and I am sure I will bring some graham crackers and soy/juice boxes from home. Needless to say I am sure nobody will go hungry on this vacation!!!

I would love to hear how your cruise goes and your experience with DCL regarding allergies. Keep in touch

Happy Cruisin' MNmom

 

[disneyholic family]

as everyone said, you must notify DCL ahead of time (you can call them directly to get the medical form)....
also, even in buffets they will prepare special food for you if required...
they are really great about food problems...just make sure they know about it advance...then once you get on board you can reconfirm it with the head waiter (maitre d').....

 

[froggymomma]

Thanks so much for the input so far. I'll check with DCL on the medical form and make sure it is submitted in advance.

I'll post after the cruise on how if went - as well as how we fared at WDW.

If anyone else has actually gone through this already, any additional tips would be very welcome.

It seems many of the Kid's Club acitivities involve food - and when they speak of kids dining at the clubs they always list the pizza, mac-n-cheese, etc. cheese laden foods. Will the CMs make sure he has dairy free food, or is it better to always have him eat with us? If he has "his" food at the club, do all the other kids wash their hands after eating before playing? - or is cheese/dairy residue an issue?

Sorry if this sounds excessive, it's just my life and the things I think of automatically now.

Thanks again.


7 day land/sea Wonder 4 day 10/19

 

[motherhen17404]

We have a very close friend who has a son with this type of allergy. They asked us to get info for them when we were on our cruise. I talked with the head waiter on the Wonder and he told me about all the training they had to have with all allergy types and the chefs have to have even more training. He named a few foods that had milk in them that most people would not even think of. If you fill out the medical form and talk to the head waiter, I think things will go well for you.

I see you are also going to WDW. Our friend took her son to WDW for the first time last summer. She is the kind of mom who is very stern on this matter. She drills the waiters and managers every place they go to eat. Well she got a big suprise when they went to eat at Liberty Tree Tavern. When she started telling the waiter about the allergy, he went and got the chef. The chef came out and talked to her son and asked him what he liked to eat. They had never had a chef do that, to take that much time with their son and not act like it was this huge problem. He then went back to the kitchen and cooked all the boy's favorites! For once the kid felt like a normal kid.

I hope you have a great cruise.

 

[disneyholic family]

yes, from personal experience i can tell you that the head waiters (what normally would be called maitre d') are walking encyclopedias when it comes to what's in the food....
i'm trying to remember the name of the head waiter who helped us when we boarded the ship....i think it was CJ or PJ or something like that...i think he's austalian....anyway, the man was totally amazing...he knew every single ingredient in every single food on the ship...and he also had a binder with everything listed in it....he spent the longest time with us going over all the stuff we could eat....
and he was the nicest person you would ever want to meet...
we were very very very pleasantly surprised........
also....regardless of what restaurant we ate in, we could order whatever food we needed.....that is, there was a dish that was only served in tritons that my son could eat....and that he loved...so the head waiter went to get it for him every night....(even when we ate in animator's palate and parrot cay)...

as for the chefs at WDW.....we always eat at the prime time cafe in MGM at least 2 or 3 times each visit....i call the day before to order our food......they always prepare exactly what we order...if the chef has any questions, he waits until we arrive to make sure he doesn't make any mistakes and then prepares it then...
and we have food that's not on the prime time cafe menu...they bring it there special for us....so don't be shy about asking for special needs....they are only too happy to help....just like everyone else at WDW......(unrelated to food requirements, when my mom joined us this past summer at WDW on her 75th birthday, everyone was so incredibly sweet to her....in the restaurants we went to, all the waitresses hugged and kissed her...my mom had the greatest time.....)

 

[froggymomma]

Thank you so much for sharing your successes and advice. I feel a lot better - I will make sure I talk with the head server as advised when we board.

Also thanks for the input regarding WDW. I had looked at menus for Liberty Tree Tavern and hadn't seen anything that looked safe, knowing that they will prepare things off the menu as long as I let them know in advance is WONDERFUL. I'll have to try the Prime Time Cafe at MGM as well. We visited WDW in March 2002, but only stayed for the day at MK. This will be our son's first big trip and it sounds like with a little work I can make it a great one for him.

I saw that at o'hana's at the Poly food is served family style on a lazy susan - I assume the same advance notice, everything can be made safe would work there.

I'm starting to let myself get excited that this will work!

 

[ducklite]

I have tree nut allergies. I'm also allergic to scallops, water chestnuts, and coconut. (Just as an FYI, I'm NOT allergic to peanuts or iodine, and I can touch these foods without reactions)

I faxed the medical form over before we sailed.

I also made sure my server knew about it...she was great.

In all the dining rooms for dinner I never worried, our server informed me each night of what I "couldn't" eat.

At the buffets it was a different story. The dessert buffet was HORRIBLE! There are SOOOO many hidden allergens in those foods. I found a chef and walked through with him...but, he told me that white chocolate things were safe to eat...THEY AREN'T! White chocolate almost always has almond oil in it!

Likewise a guy cooking up lunches on Italian day told me there were no nuts in anything, as he ladled pesto sauce (walnuts) into a pan.

I played it very safe, and a couple of times skipped the lunch buffet and ate at Pluto's instead.

Anne

 

[gfolchick]

froggymomma,
The kids only eat in the clubs if you want them to. They are taken as a group up to Topsiders for lunch or dinner. There is no food in the club. There is one night that they make your own sundaes and I'm not sure where they do that. I personally, will insist that my son eats with us.

We ate at LTT and the chef made him his own plate of turkey, ham and mashed potatoes. They used the turkey drippings in place of butter and milk-they were delicious. For dessert they brought him a plate of fruit-red,white and blue of course. At Cindy's breakfast they made him oatmeal with apples and he could eat the bacon. At Crystal Palace he had ham, mashed potatoes and french fries (not the most nutritious combo, but he was thrilled).

 

[froggymomma]

I am really, really glad I found this board. You have no idea how much the replys have helped.

gfolchik, the meals you described are definitely something my son would enjoy.

I think I will take the advice on the buffets - stick with carved meats, fruit - check on the vegetables for hidden butter - but it sounds like DS could definitely get enough to keep him happy and tide him over until dinner.

By the way - my cruise was one of those changed from a day at sea to a stop at Freeport. Was a bit disappointed because with a 4YO I didn't see any great outings at Freeport and I really wanted our final day to relax on board and really experience the ship on the water. I am working with my TA to move the whole trip up a week so we get the day at sea. I booked it 9/2002 because I'm a planner (obviously ) and wanted a good room (we were in 6576). I expect a call from her shortly letting me know what is available for the 7 night land/sea starting 10/9. I know category 6 goes fast, so I may elect to eat the extra cost and upgrade to category 5. At least I am smarter after reading this board and know to look out for the laundry room!

If anyone is interested, I will let you know how it came out.

Thank you, thank you, thank you all.

 

[froggymomma]

In case anyone else was trying to get back their day-at-sea, I just heard back from my TA. She tried to move us from the 10/19 4-day Wonder cruise to the 10/12 sailing. The 10/12 had no early/main seating available - my TA said that told her that the room selection would not give us what we had before (6576 - has anyone staying/near that room to let me know if it "is" any good?) so her recommendation was to keep our existing reservations and stay on board when we dock at Freeport. She said she hadn't been there in 25 years, but at that time her impression wasn't great. Too bad I hadn't discovered and read the advice and trip reports on this board before I booked last fall!

I guess we were meant to be on the 10/12 sailing.

Now I can start worrying about what to pack and where/when I need to make reservations at WDW. ;-)

I told you I was a planner. Thanks to all of you again!

 

[disneyholic family]

except for lunch when you board the ship the first day, you don't ever have to eat at the buffets......
for breakfast and lunch you can go to the sit down meals at tritons (and order as much food as you want....my husband and kids would order about 5 different meals each....at every sitting)...
and i much prefer being served my meals to eating at a buffet....

you can also order food from room service.....my kids adored the tuna sandwiches from room service...