Disney with food Allergies...

[Miller9568]

Going to Disney with 3 year old that has multiple food allergies (dairy, eggs, oats, pinapple, , peanuts, tree nuts, shellfish). Would love advice from other parents. How hard is it to find vegan treats?

 

[DisneyOma]

Check out the restaurant and disAbilities forums - lots of helpful people there

 

[happymommy]

It's much easier than most places! My son was allergic to milk, eggs, sesame, and peanuts the first few times I took him. He since outgrew peanuts and sesame luckily!

I agree to check out disAbilities.

Also read menus ahead of time to get a general idea of offerings.

At table service meals, a chef will come talk to you to go over what the person with allergies can or cannot eat. If it's a buffet, they will walk you through the buffet. At Boma they did this, then made him a special meal of salmon on skewers of sugar cane with rice.

Counter service is good with providing a list of ingredients. The only issues we've had is some of the countries in Epcot are not quite as helpful, but my son loves rice so we always go to the one in Japan.

When he was young, I always brought safe foods along or ordered from Garden Grocer for the room.

 

[Fosteringaprincess]

We have had several trip with food allergies. Our 1st trip my daughter had been diagnosed with milk and egg allergy 2 weeks before we left for Disney. So I was clueless! We went to the plaza our 1st meal there and started crying when they asked what would she like to eat. It was horrible I felt like the worst parent ever bc I had no clue what she could eat. They sent the chef over to us and he brought her tons of foods to try and ending up making her an awesome grilled cheese and fruit. But then he brought out his allergy book and walked me through how to read all the ingredients and words to avoid and brought her several snack to eat and try later. He was so amazing. Sat with our family most of the meal just helping teach me! Told me to save all wrappers so I could find them once we returned home! He was so amazing and my family will never forget his kindness! We've had many great experiences with many chefs there! Table serves is alot easier than quick serve but they should have someone trained at all places. Not all quick serve have options that will work for your child but there are many options within the park! Do lots of research on what restaurant offer what. There are allergy friendly menus to read beforehand. Good luck!

 

[happymommy]

You just responded as to why Disney has gotten thousands of my vacation dollars.

 

[chris31997]

We have friends with allergies and my Sis has severe food allergies. Disney has been the best when it comes to working with them.

Like others suggested: look up restaurants and menus, the better informed you are the easier it will go for you. Definitely check out the DisAbilities forum and the Dining Forum

 

[monorailsilver]

My son has gone 3 times with no issues. He is dairy (can now eat cooked dairy, aka in a muffin, etc...), peanut, tree nut and egg white (can also eat that cooked).

We only did a maximum of 2 sit downs per trip but never had a hard time finding a treat for him....but he isn't a big cookie/cake eater...ok he hates most cookies and cake!

At the Poly, they opened a brand new package of Oreos for him and gave him a handful..for free! They also gave him a sample, a huge sample of the pineapple dole whip which he loved. I asked for ice cream for him and the chef told me he could have a dole whip! Ok that won't work for you.

He ate the popcorn and pretzels. He only had ice cream at our 2 sit downs. We never made it to the Main Street ice cream parlor.

All the kiosks have/had books and they let you read thru as do all the CS. The chef in Germany gave me the recipe on how to make pretzels....I wish I saved it! They mark the food at an allergy so it's cooked separate.

He had slushies from different places.

I did bring his butter as I know WDW did not carry earth balance and i brought marshmallows and Rice Krispies as well as bowls and parchment paper and we had a microwave so I made him Rice Krispie treats (he loves those).

He got pizza at a few places as well. Since he can eat cooked dairy (cooked cheese challenge is in February) now we just get him a pizza with out cheese when we go out and he likes pepperoni, sausage and bacon..aka a heart attack waiting to happen! Anyways, the last time we went was in 2013, We went in April to my sisters but we drove so we stopped for lunch on the way to her house (we live in CT, she lives in ft. Myers). We ate at Wolfgang pucks and he got a cheese less pizza...we were worried then but he tolerated it just fine and he loved it. We had a trip to Disney planned for that August so we went to WGP again and didn't even think about twice about the pizza as he just has it a few months before. Well they told us with in the next month the dough was going to have dairy in it. We were so upset just thinking of the future, but now he can eat that dough if it does have dairy.

The only problems we had and they weren't problems per say, were at chef mickeys in 2013 when it took them a very long time to bring him out ice cream and when I asked at WCC if they could make him a milk shake as I knew they had soy milk and dairy free ice cream and they said now. Heck, throw some milk in a cup and plop some ice cream in, give me a spoon and I will stir it! Ghiradelli didn't have any non dairy options of ice cream and there was some burger place in the then downtown Disney that didn't even have a diary free bun!

My dh who hates how inflated everything is and isn't the biggest Disney fan said it is the easiest trip to go on because we don't need to worry about feeding him.

I know by the 3rd trip it was much easier then the first because he was 22 months that first trip and we were still new at foods and rarely went out to eat. By the later trips he was eating his favs...ribs, fish, chicken nuggets and chicken legs!

We also bring our own breakfast and eat in the room so that is one less hassle and expense plus it saves oodles of time.

 

[Dis703]

My boys have a ton of food allergies and they eat very well at Disney. As for vegan treats, most restaurants offer Enjoy Life cookies and/or Enjoy Life chocolate crisps. They are top 8 allergen free and last I checked they didn't have oats in them either. My boys can't even have those so they are a bit more limited. They have had sorbet in a couple places as well as lollipops, cotton candy, and popcorn. Ingredients can vary from place to place though so be sure to always ask to check.

 

[DisneyWorldbuff]

My son, age 9, has been going to WDW with us since he was born. He has anaphylactic peanut and tree nut allergies. Our yearly Disney vacations allow me to relax, not cook, and not stress about his "food" safety. It is a truly wonderful place. Note your allergies on all dining reservations, ask for the allergy book and don't be afraid to disclose your issues. You will keep returning year after year! Have fun, enjoy,relax and focus on the fun and not the food.

 

[Kaleea]

My boys have a ton of food allergies and they eat very well at Disney. As for vegan treats, most restaurants offer Enjoy Life cookies and/or Enjoy Life chocolate crisps. They are top 8 allergen free and last I checked they didn't have oats in them either. My boys can't even have those so they are a bit more limited. They have had sorbet in a couple places as well as lollipops, cotton candy, and popcorn. Ingredients can vary from place to place though so be sure to always ask to check.

Yes Enjoy Life cookies are oat free. My DD had Dairy, Wheat, Oat, and Potato. Thankfully she just passed her food challenges for all but the dairy, so life got a little easier but we are also looking forward to Disney for this exact reason.

 

[Accident]

Disney is great on allergies, you can ask for any chef to come out and tell them exactly what you have to avoid and they can mostly accommodate you. i'm allergic to a much larger list than that.. They also have allergy menus to reduce the time the chef needs to speak to people but it's always available to speak to the chef.

Quick Service can be a little limited on substitutions but disney does offer a lot of healthy alternative sides if you ask (and many of the counter services has things like carrot sticks and similar on the menu), just know that you can substitute things like fries and chips for something heathlier (and should fit in with that allergy list).

Even MNSSHP has a way for him to trick or treat and then you can hand pick from a list including none food items at the end of the night that is safe.

Don't forget the disabilities forum for much more indepth information but my strange list of allergies never had an issue so I never got more into the discussion.

This blog can sometimes be useful as well: http://www.allergyfreemouse.com/

 

[Nancyg56]

You just responded as to why Disney has gotten thousands of my vacation dollars.

Mine as well. My DGD was diagnosed with a dairy and egg allergy. Where else can you go and know your family is safe when it comes to meals?

The Chef at Shutters came out to wish her a Happy 6th Birthday and gave us pointers so she should have a pancake. Really???? My precious little DGD used to go with her Pa for breakfast, and the one thing the child really missed was the waffles and pancakes he would get for her. I swear, the next morning when the Chef at CBR not only made her Mickey waffles, but came out to tell me how to make them, I cried. I called my DH and told him that moment alone was worth every penny spent on that trip. I had not been able to sub both dairy and egg to get them right for her, so this was a gift!!

I also suggest the DISabilities Forum. Those folks are really helpful so you can enjoy your trip to the fullest.

 

[jrdgtr]

I have multiple food allergies and find that Disney is the easiest place to eat. I wish I could get my meals at Disney 365 days a year. When eating at quick service, once you inform them that you have an allergy they call for a manager. The manager asks what you would like and presents you with the ingredients to read. Then they follow the order through the entire process to ensure it is free of the allergens you are allergic to and bring it out on a different color tray then the rest of the meals. It really is a great place to vacation with allergies.

 

[mousehockey37]

Disney is one of THE best vacation spots for people of all ages with ANY kind of allergies. If you make reservations online, just make sure to fill out the allergy portion before you book. Also, make sure when you get where you are going that you kindly remind them and they'll have the chef come out and speak with you directly.

 

[MaryLovesPoohBear]

You just responded as to why Disney has gotten thousands of my vacation dollars.

Mine too.

Disney is one place that I don't feel like I have to do all of the cooking.

 

[eeyoreandtink]

My DH has a shellfish allergy, and we have always been well taken care of at Disney. His is quite a bit easier than some other things, but when needed the chefs have always gone over and above to make sure he was taken care of.

 

[DrunkJam]

yes, I am feeling more confident going to Disney than elsewhere in USA because DD is allergic (like, go directly to ER allergic) to something that is not legally required to be listed as an ingredient in USA (it is here, as well as in Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the rest of Europe, but not in USA) but, I am assured that the chefs at WDW (and we are booking DXDP to avoid country service where they might not be able to know whether food contains this) can still assure her safety.

 

[DisneyOma]

yes, I am feeling more confident going to Disney than elsewhere in USA because DD is allergic (like, go directly to ER allergic) to something that is not legally required to be listed as an ingredient in USA (it is here, as well as in Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the rest of Europe, but not in USA) but, I am assured that the chefs at WDW (and we are booking DXDP to avoid country service where they might not be able to know whether food contains this) can still assure her safety.

Just and FYI - counter service, with it's prepared foods, has a book that lists all ingredients.

 

[DrunkJam]

Just and FYI - counter service, with it's prepared foods, has a book that lists all ingredients.

Even mustard? Because mustard is not always listed as an ingredient at all, over there, so, would they be able to list it in EVERY instance? I was warned that counter service would be unlikely to be able to do that, because anything bought in pre made would not specify it as an ingredient, as it is not legally required.