dining with nut allergies

[babyruth]

Is there/does anyone have a list or index of restaurants where peanut/tree nut allergies are more of a risk?

Until yesterday we thought we were only peanut ana but turns out almonds are going on the list after the anaphylactic reaction my 2 year old had last night. She's going straight to the allergist today for more testing.

I know the chefs are accommodating and I know Disney has a good allergy reputation - but for my daughter's contact/airborne/ingestion allergy I personally prefer not to take her into places with a high cross contamination risk. (ie please don't tell me that Ohana is perfectly safe and I feel bad even having to say that!) She gets a rash standing in the nut aisle at the grocery store.

 

[Selket]

My son is anaphylactic to peanut and to many tree nuts - they actually just say "avoid all tree nuts" as - at least for young kids - they wouldn't test for each nut.
He's also allergic to shellfish. He's 14 and it's been this way for 12 years now so....

Overall, we've eaten at lots of the WDW restaurants as we go to WDW often. What seems to matter the most is what chef you get. I've been told completely different things by different chefs about the same item (that it was completely safe vs. may be cross contaminated). I don't think the way they made the item changed in the space of a few months - it was really just the chef's opinion. Sometimes a chef will declare almost all of a buffet safe and other chefs will want to make all his food separately (I'm looking at you chefs in Crystal Palace). I think in the past few years that Disney has tried to really get a handle on what has nuts and what doesn't. They seem to have eliminated a lot of the nuts in the buffet other than desserts. Lately Chef Mickey's has been one of the few restaurants where he can eat most of the desserts. He is allowed to have things "made in a facility" but not things that "may contain" or "contain."

So....that being said - your best bet is to stick with Disney owned and operated places and ones that typically do not have a lot of nuts on the menu. I would ask chefs to make items specifically for her at buffets if there is ANYTHING that makes you uncomfortable. She is just 2 years old and - if she was anything like my son when he was 2 - he just wanted hot dogs, noodles, and black olives (or some weird combo of things that was simple to provide). We've had great service at T-Rex btw...the chefs have always been great.

The only place I would stay FAR away from is Raglan Road. It is the one place EVER that my child was served a nut (slivered almonds). It was in a dessert and the restaurant manager tried to tell me is was a large piece of oat. He later (after I kept protesting) finally came back and said it was almonds and a chef had added almonds to that dessert. The only good thing of that mess was that he didn't have a reaction to it - so it's possible he isn't as highly allergic to almonds as peanut or other nuts. The restaurant was horrible in admitting their mistake. To this day I can't walk by that place without thinking how I wish it would sink in the lake.

 

[Betty Rohrer]

Is there/does anyone have a list or index of restaurants where peanut/tree nut allergies are more of a risk?

Until yesterday we thought we were only peanut ana but turns out almonds are going on the list after the anaphylactic reaction my 2 year old had last night. She's going straight to the allergist today for more testing.

I know the chefs are accommodating and I know Disney has a good allergy reputation - but for my daughter's contact/airborne/ingestion allergy I personally prefer not to take her into places with a high cross contamination risk. (ie please don't tell me that Ohana is perfectly safe and I feel bad even having to say that!) She gets a rash standing in the nut aisle at the grocery store.

Is there/does anyone have a list or index of restaurants where peanut/tree nut allergies are more of a risk?

Until yesterday we thought we were only peanut ana but turns out almonds are going on the list after the anaphylactic reaction my 2 year old had last night. She's going straight to the allergist today for more testing.

I know the chefs are accommodating and I know Disney has a good allergy reputa I personally prefer not to take her into places with a high cross contamination risk. (ie please don't tell me that Ohana is perfectly safe and I feel to say that!) She gets a rash standing in the nut aisle at the grocery store.

cant remem

 

[Mum23]

You can email special diets for a listing of PN/TN safe alternatives that are safe for PN/TN. There are the allergy menus that also have a PN/TN listing for most places.

 

[Starwind]

There are many websites that have copies of the allergy menus available. Many of them will have a statement that they do not have any products the have X as an ingredient -- the most common X being seafood or peanuts/tree nuts. The ones without peanuts/tree nuts will be your safest.

Likewise you can look at the normal menus and allergy menus to get a sense of where would be worse from an allergy POV because of foods containing 'em on the menu.

SW

 

[Betty Rohrer]

cant remember if I responded to you in another post but be prepared for nuts all over the parks as food is allowed to be brought into parks and sold outside restaurants. only reaction a grandson had was much later than a meal and in line for attraction. granted he is not ana but was an ER visit

 

[DisneyOma]

Not sure how anyone can protect against airborne reactions in an enclosed area, but perhaps ask to be seated as far as possible from the doors to the kitchens, buffet areas, etc. Don't do Garden Grill - it rotates so you could pass by the kitchen doors and be exposed to anything nut being cooked and nut-based cooking oil.

Avoid contact with the characters - no hugging, as that could transfer allergens from previous diners.

 

[Thing 1]

We are just peanut so easier and we do not avoid all nuts....but are very careful with cross contamination. WDW is good...very good. We do avoid Ohana and all Asian as we do all the time. We avoid Pinocchio House because they serve PBJ AND they have that big window that tends to get PBJ finger prints all over it. We find sit down easier than counter service. Im trying to remember if there were roasted almond carts last trip or not but that is something to avoid. Honestly our biggest issues has been people eating peanut butter crackers in lines. We have often let a few people go ahead of us to help create a buffer between us and them. Keeping fingers away from her face is going to be huge! Take extra epis, be aware of your surroundings at all times and inform everyone in every restaurant of her allergy. The only other thing is that the BEST place on property we have ever ate with the PA kid is Rainforest Cafe, a non WDW place. They have always been so attentive and did tons of substitutions and additions they did not have to do. Never had an issue anywhere, but have not had a lot of the over the top out of the way service a lot of people seem to have.

 

[babyruth]

My son is anaphylactic to peanut and to many tree nuts - they actually just say "avoid all tree nuts" as - at least for young kids - they wouldn't test for each nut.
He's also allergic to shellfish. He's 14 and it's been this way for 12 years now so....

Overall, we've eaten at lots of the WDW restaurants as we go to WDW often. What seems to matter the most is what chef you get. I've been told completely different things by different chefs about the same item (that it was completely safe vs. may be cross contaminated). I don't think the way they made the item changed in the space of a few months - it was really just the chef's opinion. Sometimes a chef will declare almost all of a buffet safe and other chefs will want to make all his food separately (I'm looking at you chefs in Crystal Palace). I think in the past few years that Disney has tried to really get a handle on what has nuts and what doesn't. They seem to have eliminated a lot of the nuts in the buffet other than desserts. Lately Chef Mickey's has been one of the few restaurants where he can eat most of the desserts. He is allowed to have things "made in a facility" but not things that "may contain" or "contain."

So....that being said - your best bet is to stick with Disney owned and operated places and ones that typically do not have a lot of nuts on the menu. I would ask chefs to make items specifically for her at buffets if there is ANYTHING that makes you uncomfortable. She is just 2 years old and - if she was anything like my son when he was 2 - he just wanted hot dogs, noodles, and black olives (or some weird combo of things that was simple to provide). We've had great service at T-Rex btw...the chefs have always been great.

The only place I would stay FAR away from is Raglan Road. It is the one place EVER that my child was served a nut (slivered almonds). It was in a dessert and the restaurant manager tried to tell me is was a large piece of oat. He later (after I kept protesting) finally came back and said it was almonds and a chef had added almonds to that dessert. The only good thing of that mess was that he didn't have a reaction to it - so it's possible he isn't as highly allergic to almonds as peanut or other nuts. The restaurant was horrible in admitting their mistake. To this day I can't walk by that place without thinking how I wish it would sink in the lake.

oh gosh thanks for your response! Yes after our visit to the allergist on Friday, she is getting bloodwork done for more than 1 type of tree nut but he did say just avoid the whole category. And Raglan Road was on my list to do! I will check out TRex instead. DS was on my trip plan after AK anyway so maybe I can just swap! Throwing allergies into the mix of 180 day ADRs is a new type of "fun challenge" for me. My daughter loves olives too for some reason, that is funny. When she was newly diagnosed with the peanut allergy she was around 19-20 months old. She did have a reaction to a "may contain" muffin. Her "numbers" were relatively low on the component scale so people always say "she's not severely allergic then" and I know they just don't get it. The numbers don't mean anything for her! And I'm sure that managing this will get easier as she gets older. Right now at the age of stick everything in her mouth it is not that easy in restaurants. I wipe everything down that she could possibly touch and get the "oh look at the germaphobe mom" looks from people.

 

[babyruth]

We are just peanut so easier and we do not avoid all nuts....but are very careful with cross contamination. WDW is good...very good. We do avoid Ohana and all Asian as we do all the time. We avoid Pinocchio House because they serve PBJ AND they have that big window that tends to get PBJ finger prints all over it. We find sit down easier than counter service. Im trying to remember if there were roasted almond carts last trip or not but that is something to avoid. Honestly our biggest issues has been people eating peanut butter crackers in lines. We have often let a few people go ahead of us to help create a buffer between us and them. Keeping fingers away from her face is going to be huge! Take extra epis, be aware of your surroundings at all times and inform everyone in every restaurant of her allergy. The only other thing is that the BEST place on property we have ever ate with the PA kid is Rainforest Cafe, a non WDW place. They have always been so attentive and did tons of substitutions and additions they did not have to do. Never had an issue anywhere, but have not had a lot of the over the top out of the way service a lot of people seem to have.

this is my biggest fear, the peanut butter fingerprints and dust around. which definitely is everywhere not just a vacation issue. Adding tree nut to the peanut opens a whole new world! Glad to hear about RFC and Pinocchio that's exactly the type of info I need. Trying to avoid having anxiety when we walk into restaurants by researching ahead as much as possible!

 

[babyruth]

Not sure how anyone can protect against airborne reactions in an enclosed area, but perhaps ask to be seated as far as possible from the doors to the kitchens, buffet areas, etc. Don't do Garden Grill - it rotates so you could pass by the kitchen doors and be exposed to anything nut being cooked and nut-based cooking oil.

Avoid contact with the characters - no hugging, as that could transfer allergens from previous diners.

yeah I know we can't protect fully, it's more avoid as much as we can. For example on a regular basis we just don't go to Five Guys, Texas Roadhouse etc anywhere they serve peanuts out in the open.

 

[Dis703]

I've been told completely different things by different chefs about the same item (that it was completely safe vs. may be cross contaminated). I don't think the way they made the item changed in the space of a few months - it was really just the chef's opinion. Sometimes a chef will declare almost all of a buffet safe and other chefs will want to make all his food separately (I'm looking at you chefs in Crystal Palace).

Actually, it is entirely possible that things changed in only a few months. The restaurants frequently change vendors for the foods they receive. It's not likely a matter of changing specific recipes but where they are getting their ingredients. We've seen that happen first hand, especially at QS locations where I read the ingredients, and even for something as simple as a French fry, it can change dramatically. At Tusker House once my son couldn't have any of the desserts because just that week they had changed vendors for their cookies/pastries and the new ones used tapioca starch (one of his allergies). The ones they had prior would have been safe.

 

[Music City Mama]

What seems to matter the most is what chef you get. I've been told completely different things by different chefs about the same item (that it was completely safe vs. may be cross contaminated). I don't think the way they made the item changed in the space of a few months - it was really just the chef's opinion.

I completely agree with this. I do think WDW does a better job than most places, but I don't trust them completely because of inconsistencies I've encountered.

Your story about Raglan Road reminded me of two things. One, we had an excellent experience there -- sorry you didn't. The other thing it reminded me of was eating at an out Outback where we live (which is has a very good reputation of being allergy aware) and my DS also had slivered almonds in his dessert. Weird coincidence.

 

[AggieRach99]

Is there/does anyone have a list or index of restaurants where peanut/tree nut allergies are more of a risk?

Until yesterday we thought we were only peanut ana but turns out almonds are going on the list after the anaphylactic reaction my 2 year old had last night. She's going straight to the allergist today for more testing.

I know the chefs are accommodating and I know Disney has a good allergy reputation - but for my daughter's contact/airborne/ingestion allergy I personally prefer not to take her into places with a high cross contamination risk. (ie please don't tell me that Ohana is perfectly safe and I feel bad even having to say that!) She gets a rash standing in the nut aisle at the grocery store.

My DD has an anaphylactic tree nut allergy, and we have had great success with a long list of WDW restaurants over the past 6 years (5 trips). Like others have said, a lot of it does depend on the chef, and knowledge of your server. I am extra cautious when we get a server who clearly doesn't understand allergies. In our case, the biggest issue is that she cannot have any standard bread products baked at WDW. Last year however, we noticed a huge improvement in the number of restaurants that offered allergen-safe bread products.

One tip at any Italian restaurant that we have learned, always ask if their sauces contain pesto, many people don't think about the pine nuts in most pesto. Also, we learned that meatballs are not safe because of bread crumbs.

She and I both frequently read reviews on allergyeats.com before heading off to WDW. It will give you a good snapshot of restaurants that are really good at handling allergies and also tell you where recent incidents have occurred. Hope this helps!

 

[mamabunny]

Is there/does anyone have a list or index of restaurants where peanut/tree nut allergies are more of a risk?

Until yesterday we thought we were only peanut ana but turns out almonds are going on the list after the anaphylactic reaction my 2 year old had last night. She's going straight to the allergist today for more testing.

I know the chefs are accommodating and I know Disney has a good allergy reputation - but for my daughter's contact/airborne/ingestion allergy I personally prefer not to take her into places with a high cross contamination risk. (ie please don't tell me that Ohana is perfectly safe and I feel bad even having to say that!) She gets a rash standing in the nut aisle at the grocery store.

Disney has a comprehensive web page for just this topic: Special Diets

Have a great trip!

 

[TheRustyScupper]

1) As mentioned, let the SEATER (aka, host/hostess) at the Podium know of your allergy.
. . . They will text a message to the ASSIGNER and SERVER.
. . . The chef will come out and discuss options with you.
2) Please note that at QS locations, the manager or supervisor comes out, as there is no chef.

NOTE: Some people are so allergic that even nut essences "floating" in the air can cause problems. The is no way to stop this at WDW, nor can you halt people walking around in the parks eating nuts, let alone when these folks then touch railings-tables-chairs-rides which you might touch afterward. You, also, cannot demand people near your table to not eat nuts which might waft to your table.

 

[Dina]

've been travelling with with peanut allergic son to wdw for 12 years. I used to email Brenda Bennett and wdw food wervices before our trips, but then stopped as we really knew where to go. Not sure if she is still there. The only place we avoid is Ohana.....peanut sauce on the table (we have doen it twice without problem, but I wasn't comfortable so we stopped). They will avoid putting it on your table, but the fact that everyone else is dipping in peanut sauce and then touching door handles etc....or the chair he's sitting in....it just wasn't worth it to me, but that's the only place we really had a bit of a problem. I was also told to avoid the funnel cake stand in epcot (but this was many years ago)

 

[Tattylou]

I have an ana peanut allergy as well as walnut, pecan, pistachios,hazelnuts. I seem to be the only adult in my age group with one, born in 77. Be warned that at hoop deep doo pb and J isn't on the menu, but it is served as an alternative for kids who don't like the meal. So, it could be around or have been around your table even though it isn't on the menu.

 

[Betty Rohrer]

oh gosh thanks for your response! Yes after our visit to the allergist on Friday, she is getting bloodwork done for more than 1 type of tree nut but he did say just avoid the whole category. And Raglan Road was on my list to do! I will check out TRex instead. DS was on my trip plan after AK anyway so maybe I can just swap! Throwing allergies into the mix of 180 day ADRs is a new type of "fun challenge" for me. My daughter loves olives too for some reason, that is funny. When she was newly diagnosed with the peanut allergy she was around 19-20 months old. She did have a reaction to a "may contain" muffin. Her "numbers" were relatively low on the component scale so people always say "she's not severely allergic then" and I know they just don't get it. The numbers don't mean anything for her! And I'm sure that managing this will get easier as she gets older. Right now at the age of stick everything in her mouth it is not that easy in restaurants. I wipe everything down that she could possibly touch and get the "oh look at the germaphobe mom" looks from people.

just remember nuts can be anywhere in the parks at any time not just at meal times

 

[Aletha]

We are just peanut so easier and we do not avoid all nuts....but are very careful with cross contamination. WDW is good...very good. We do avoid Ohana and all Asian as we do all the time. We avoid Pinocchio House because they serve PBJ AND they have that big window that tends to get PBJ finger prints all over it. We find sit down easier than counter service. Im trying to remember if there were roasted almond carts last trip or not but that is something to avoid. Honestly our biggest issues has been people eating peanut butter crackers in lines. We have often let a few people go ahead of us to help create a buffer between us and them. Keeping fingers away from her face is going to be huge! Take extra epis, be aware of your surroundings at all times and inform everyone in every restaurant of her allergy. The only other thing is that the BEST place on property we have ever ate with the PA kid is Rainforest Cafe, a non WDW place. They have always been so attentive and did tons of substitutions and additions they did not have to do. Never had an issue anywhere, but have not had a lot of the over the top out of the way service a lot of people seem to have.

I've had a peanut allergy all my life and it definitely complicates things! Also looking for info on places to avoid in WDW as I'm planning our first trip. I live in the NW so restaurants never cook in peanut oil but last year in Texas it was a real issue finding restaurants that don't. Have you run into that problem? Do you know if there is a common oil that is used?