Do allergy meals have an extra surcharge?

[3prettyprincesses]

We're not doing the dining plan next trip so it never occured to me that there might be an extra charge for allergy safe food. Does anyone know if this is true? Both my DD and I have food allergies. Thanks!

 

[Talking Hands]

I never use the dining plan and have never been surcharged for allergy safe food. Neither have I had a discount for them leaving off an item I am allergic to. Example I had a salad that normally contains blue cheese. I am allergic to dairy so requested it be made without cheese. Same price as regular salad.

 

[BusyMom2Three]

We have never been charged extra. We always use the dining plan. They've given my DD Divvies, Lucy's, and Tofutti desserts and dairy-free waffles, and several chefs have made special dishes, and we've never been charged extra.

 

[DVC_Princess]

We never use the dining plan and I've never noticed a difference in price for my food. There is def no added cost at buffets or at table service if you need special bread, pasta, sauce, etc. If they have to make you something special because you can't have what's on the menu, they just charge a comparable price. We don't eat much counter service but I believe it's the dame as well. Special food like allery chicken tenders, pizza, mac & cheese, etc. Will prob all have their own set price. Hope that helps!

 

[SueM in MN]

Someone else will probably answer with first hand experience, but according to what has been posted in the past:

There is no charge if something can be made allergy safe by ommiting an ingredient, as happened to the previous poster.

If there is a substitute which is higher cost, the extra cost can be passed on. The example people have posted they were charged more for is allergy safe chicken nuggets/fingers. These are gluten free and are more expensive. The restaurant is allowed to pass that expense on.

 

[dclfun]

I think livndisney mentioned that she had recently been charged more for an allergy-safe, GF pizza at Pizza Planet at DHS. I do know that those on the dining plan are not charged more, just those paying oop as these items are prepackaged and more costly. You may want to contact Special Diets to ask what items are charged extra and what are the same.---Kathy

 

[clanmcculloch]

My experience has been that there is no line item on my receipt that says "allergy surcharge" or anything along those lines, but that the price of allergy safe premade foods such as chicken tenders or brownies are more expensive than their unsafe counterparts. I've only seen things listed as allergy items on my receipt for items that are premade such as the chicken tenders. I've only experienced this at CS restaurants.

At fixed price meals I've never been charged any kind of surcharge and at all other TS meals we typically order off the menu with chefs making modifications to make the items safe and we've never been charged anything but the regular menu prices. For desserts, I've actually been pleasantly surprised that they seem to typically charge us for kids sundaes when my kids order ice cream or brownie sundaes. I guess it kind of balances paying more for the items at CS locations. Note that I've never asked for this; it's just how they seem to ring the desserts into the computers. I don't know if it's just because it's my kids ordering desserts since I typically don't order one myself.

When using dining plans, while the CS items would show up on our receipts as allergy items we would not be charged any extra.

I actually believe I recall livndisney mentioniong at WCC (I think) not too long ago she was charged some kid of surcharge for switching an unsafe side for a safe one which would IMO is unacceptable. I'm hoping this is not a trend going forward and I would certainly ask for a manager if this happened to me (though if the manager agreed I'd begrudgingly pay and start questioning my future trips even more than I already am).

 

[3prettyprincesses]

Thank you everyone! This is exactly the information I was looking for. So it seems that if you're at a table service/buffet, there's no extra charge. At CS there might be an extra charge depending on what you get. GF allergy chicken tenders sound heavenly, I can't remember the last time I actually had that. I'd do CS just to get those!

As I said this will be our first time going without the dining plan so I was curious if I needed to budget more $ for our allergy meals. Thanks again!

 

[Traveliz]

My husband absolutely loves Disney's GF chicken tenders...so much so that we have a condo in the area and we sometimes drive over just so he can have that to eat. If there is a surcharge for them it sure isn't much. He just had them last week and I want to say he paid 8.99 for those with fries at Columbiar Harbor House. I don't save receipts though but it was just him and I and our whole bill was just over 20 and that included drinks.

Liz

Thank you everyone! This is exactly the information I was looking for. So it seems that if you're at a table service/buffet, there's no extra charge. At CS there might be an extra charge depending on what you get. GF allergy chicken tenders sound heavenly, I can't remember the last time I actually had that. I'd do CS just to get those!

As I said this will be our first time going without the dining plan so I was curious if I needed to budget more $ for our allergy meals. Thanks again!

 

[My2CrazyGirls]

My husband absolutely loves Disney's GF chicken tenders...so much so that we have a condo in the area and we sometimes drive over just so he can have that to eat. If there is a surcharge for them it sure isn't much. He just had them last week and I want to say he paid 8.99 for those with fries at Columbiar Harbor House. I don't save receipts though but it was just him and I and our whole bill was just over 20 and that included drinks.

Liz

Can you order those GF chicken tenders at Columbia Harbour House and have them made and done quickly or does it take forever? Thanks! Oh, and are their fries GF?

 

[livndisney]

Rather than being blasted again for my experiences with be charged more I will just post the email from Special Diets.


Good Morning,

Thank you for your email.

Due to the higher cost of dietary products, there may be an increased price. If you purchase the meal plan, it is considered a regular meal and you will not be charged for the difference.

Please let us know if we can be of any further assistance.



Sincerely,



Casey Sawyer

Guest Services Special Diets Team
Walt Disney World

 

[dclfun]

Rather than being blasted again for my experiences with be charged more I will just post the email from Special Diets.


Good Morning,

Thank you for your email.

Due to the higher cost of dietary products, there may be an increased price. If you purchase the meal plan, it is considered a regular meal and you will not be charged for the difference.

Please let us know if we can be of any further assistance.




Sincerely,



Casey Sawyer

Guest Services Special Diets Team
Walt Disney World

Gosh, I hope no one would blast you for being honest and sharing your experiences. You have a wealth of knowledge being in the parks so often.---Kathy

 

[dzorn]

Can you order those GF chicken tenders at Columbia Harbour House and have them made and done quickly or does it take forever? Thanks! Oh, and are their fries GF?

It does not take forever but it does take a little longer.

Denise in MI

 

[clanmcculloch]

Rather than being blasted again for my experiences with be charged more I will just post the email from Special Diets.

I for one am always grateful for info that you share. Even if I don't like the news, it's important to hear and if I've EVER shot the messenger (ie blasted you for telling us of your experience) then I'm truely sorry.

 

[Traveliz]

Can you order those GF chicken tenders at Columbia Harbour House and have them made and done quickly or does it take forever? Thanks! Oh, and are their fries GF?

We have had them tell us it could be up to thirty minutes - I know we have waited 20 before but last week it was really quick - usually they have us go sit down and bring it to us but we just waited in line and it was maybe ten minutes. The fries are GF with the meal.

Liz

 

[livndisney]

Can you order those GF chicken tenders at Columbia Harbour House and have them made and done quickly or does it take forever? Thanks! Oh, and are their fries GF?

According to the all the Chefs/Supervisors I have spoken too, the cooking time for the allergy free is about 15-20 minutes. It may vary if they are able to cook them in a dedicated fryer. Not every place has a dedicated fryer.

Some places can do GF fries. Most often they are baked which again takes time.

That being said, it is quite common for the non allergy people in my party to be done eating at CS locations before I even have my food. (We have found that if we place the allergy and non allergy orders together the non allergy food sits on the tray and gets cold, so we don't order together anymore).

 

[3prettyprincesses]

My husband absolutely loves Disney's GF chicken tenders...so much so that we have a condo in the area and we sometimes drive over just so he can have that to eat. If there is a surcharge for them it sure isn't much. He just had them last week and I want to say he paid 8.99 for those with fries at Columbiar Harbor House. I don't save receipts though but it was just him and I and our whole bill was just over 20 and that included drinks.

Liz

Thank you! I seriously have a craving now for chicken tenders. The only ones I've had since going gluten free (at home) are the Applegate Farms ones and they were just ok to me.

Rather than being blasted again for my experiences with be charged more I will just post the email from Special Diets.

Good grief, I can't imagine why anyone would blast you for sharing your experience. I would want to know the good, the bad and the ugly when it comes to allergy information! Thank you for sharing, it's extremely helpful to hear from someone who goes to Disney frequently. I'd love to live close enough to be able to say that!

Good Morning,

Thank you for your email.

Due to the higher cost of dietary products, there may be an increased price. If you purchase the meal plan, it is considered a regular meal and you will not be charged for the difference.

Please let us know if we can be of any further assistance.



Sincerely,



Casey Sawyer

Guest Services Special Diets Team
Walt Disney World

Again, thank you! This is good to know, I hate feeling unprepared at Disney.

Gosh, I hope no one would blast you for being honest and sharing your experiences. You have a wealth of knowledge being in the parks so often.---Kathy

I know, that's crazy, right?

It does not take forever but it does take a little longer.

Denise in MI

Excellent! I'm considering eating at Columbia Harbor House now since they serve them there. Is it wrong that I don't care what anyone else of family eats there, so long as I can get those chicken tenders?

I for one am always grateful for info that you share. Even if I don't like the news, it's important to hear and if I've EVER shot the messenger (ie blasted you for telling us of your experience) then I'm truely sorry.

My thoughts exactly. And thank you for always sharing your experience too, I've seen many of your posts and read your dining reviews too.

We have had them tell us it could be up to thirty minutes - I know we have waited 20 before but last week it was really quick - usually they have us go sit down and bring it to us but we just waited in line and it was maybe ten minutes. The fries are GF with the meal.

Liz

Nice! Good to know, thank you.

 

[3prettyprincesses]

According to the all the Chefs/Supervisors I have spoken too, the cooking time for the allergy free is about 15-20 minutes. It may vary if they are able to cook them in a dedicated fryer. Not every place has a dedicated fryer.

Some places can do GF fries. Most often they are baked which again takes time.

That being said, it is quite common for the non allergy people in my party to be done eating at CS locations before I even have my food. (We have found that if we place the allergy and non allergy orders together the non allergy food sits on the tray and gets cold, so we don't order together anymore).

Thanks for the great tip. I'm always willing to wait any extra time since it means my food will be safe and won't send me running to bathroom in the next 1/2 hour or so! Thanks for sharing.