Dining with food allergies?

[heatherfeather24]

Does anyone have any experiences dining in or around DL wit food allergies? DS (3) is severely allergic to milk and eggs, but any allergy info/experiences would be most appreciated.

 

[mechurchlady]

Chef Chris can be contacted at 714-781-3569 or chris.justesen@disney.com if you have additional questions.

At sit down restaurants the chefs are very good at dealing with allergies usually especially Ariel's Grotto. Sometimes the selections can be limited depending on the allergies. it is nothing like WDW though and at times I have had to make suggestions and ask questions about items on menus. I am no soy, gluten and eggs and should not have dairy or chocolate.

The bakeries have a very thick book with the ingredients for each item they sell. I bought a tigger tail at Pooh Corner and the CM showed me the ingredients. You do have to watch for cross contamination on the hand made candy. I watched a CM bang the ladle of hot fudge on a waffle cone and did not understand that she was cross contaminating. I watched a CM dipping marshmallows with chocolate and then banging the excess off thus the risk of cross contamination if they were using something with allergens.

Dole whips contain casein but no lactose.

 

[YellowMickeyPonchos]

There are lots of wonderful folks on this board that can help you with further information, but the most important thing for you to do when ordering food or making reservations is to tell the person what allergies are in your dining party when they take your order/reservation and when you check in at the restaurant.

DL is extremely friendly to those with allergies and will often make special meals for diners (especially at the sit-down dining locations).

We have folks on the boards here with special needs like celiac (gluten), corn syrup, diabetic, vegan, dairy, and egg, so I know they will tell you what kinds of special meals they have been able to get.

 

[TheZue]

I'm allergic to egg whites and DS is allergic to sesame. A lot of it is common sense, like I know that pasta & marinara sauce isn't going to be a problem for me. I also know that Bengal BBQ is going to be out for DS. I also generally just avoid bakery things with the egg allergy. You kinda get a feel after a while kwim? But I'd ask just in case.

I think it also depends on the severity and type of food allergies. We aren't deathly allergic, but will have really painful lower abdominal cramps and diarhea for a couple hours if we eat something we shouldn't...definitely enough to ruin a day or two of the vacation. Cross contamination has never been an issue for us since it isn't enough to trigger a reaction in our case...I can even eat the middle of a fried egg no problem. We are lucky I know, and if we were dealing with life threatening allergies we'd be a lot more careful. Your level of vigilance really will depend on your level of danger with the foods.

 

[bumbershoot]

Definitely contact Chef Chris. FWIW, I wasn't able to get ahold of him through the direct number that is listed on celiac sites (that I assume is the same as was posted here). It never went through. So I called Disney Dining and asked to be contacted by the "chef in charge of helping with food allergies". A day or two later Chef Chris called me and we had a great talk.

Even let him know that Uncrustables are chock full of high fructose corn syrup and corn syrup, which he didn't know (so even the chefs in charge of it don't read ingredient lists!).

If you are prompted to leave a message, BE SPECIFIC as to what you need, so that he can be prepared when he calls you back.

Lastly, don't be afraid to bring in food. If you need to bring in "fixings" for food, you'll probably need to leave it in a locker outside of the park, and of course you'll need a cooler. If you can just bring in prepared food, get a small soft-sided cooler and that should be fine.

 

[WonkaKid]

I've got several dietary restrictions: I don't eat meat, sugar, eggs or wheat. When I've dined at both Zocalo and Blue Bayou, the chefs have come out and discussed with me exactly how they could accommodate me. They truly seemed to understand how important my restrictions were and had options at the ready. I was more than pleased with their attention, help and pleasant attitude.

As an aside, I think the last thing DL wants is for a guest to require medical attention after eating at one of their restaurants, especially because a chef gave them something to which they're allergic.

Rob

 

[pixiewings71]

My BFF has Celiac's, she is able to get gluten free anything as long as she asks first. I know when we were there together she was able to get rice pastas and gluten free buns, at BB she got fries instead of the super yummy potatoes they normally serve. Just be sure to tell your server/host/ess when you are first arriving so they can accommodate your allergies or chosen dietery restrictions.

 

[mechurchlady]

I have celiac ans am no soy and eggs plus avoid chocolate and dairy. It is at times very hard to get a descent meal. The next time I am at Blue Bayou I will have to bring my own rolls and potatos. I loved the rice pasta with ketchup. At Ariel's I had to bring my cornbread and a piece of cherry pie so I could have a real dessert and bread with my meal.

Best places are Pizza Oom Mow Mow which gave me gluten free barbecue chicken pizza, done died an gone to heaven. Plaza Inn serves bland chicken but I actually would go back again but have ketchup ready, sensory thing with chicken. ARiel's Grotto has spoiled me. Coke Corner has the best hot dog on gluten free bun. Taste Pilot Gril is heaven.

I love eating burgers with no bun just as much as I love eating plain pasta, ptui.

 

[bumbershoot]

As an aside, I think the last thing DL wants is for a guest to require medical attention after eating at one of their restaurants, especially because a chef gave them something to which they're allergic.

Rob

That is the EXACT thing Chef Chris told me. They want to please as many people as possible and not make people sick.

So the refried beans at the Mexican restaurants are vegetarian, so dieters, veggies, and various religious groups can eat them. And they don't fry meat along with french fries (and now that McDs is gone from the parks I don't have to make a caveat for their non-vegetarian fries). Etc.

They still need to work on the corn syrup issue, but then again, there are plenty of people without that issue (or who don't yet realize that their issues are due to corn syrup) so until Smuckers stops it with the HFCS and CS in their products I doubt much will change. (obviously Tigger Tails are forevermore OUT for our family, LOL)