Downtown Disney: Anyone have experience with Ghirdelli's - peanut allergy ?

[Zoebear]

I'm good on our TS choices, and know the chef will come out etc.
I've had correspondence with Brenda Bennet, but still don't know if Ghirdelli's can provide anything safe for DS -
Same goes for Goofy's candy company...............

Any ideas anyone ??

 

[Ms_Butterfly]

How bad is the allergy? I'm pretty sure that Ghir. has peanut/peanut butter items.

Your best bet is to find the number for the actual stores and give them a call.

 

[hildarumpole]

Here is a link from Ghiradelli's website FAQ:

http://www.ghirardelli.com/about/faq_products_allergy.aspx

I was curious also, because my kids have peanut and tree nut allergies. Looks like it's a no-go for us.

 

[SueM in MN]

When we left WDW on our last trip on 4/14/08, Ghirdelli's was being renovated. We heard the renovation was going to involve re-doing the lines - it sounded like they would be more like the queues at the park fast food places, with individual lines that you enter and then stay in the same line from the time you enter until you get your food.
The way the lines were before, everyone waited in a 'snaking line' and when you got to the front, you went to one of the order spots. The people who took the orders gave the order to the people who make the ice cream treats.
My thought is that is looked rather chaotic and since some people order their ice cream with nuts on and others order without nuts, the chances of getting some nuts/contact with nuts is pretty large. We don't order nuts on DD's sundae because she doesn't really chew them, but we have already received a sundae for her nuts that were not ordered.

 

[sorul82?]

For Goofy's, the prepackaged items may be ok but of course check the label. I wouldn't trust the other items to be nut free, especially the pretzel/rice crispy area. Sometimes nuts are flying all over the place. Seems like they keep a huge tub of crushed peanuts on the counter for dunking caramel apples and the lid may or may not be on. Also when they refill items, if something falls in the wrong bin, it probably doesn't get picked out.

 

[livndisney]

I'm good on our TS choices, and know the chef will come out etc.
I've had correspondence with Brenda Bennet, but still don't know if Ghirdelli's can provide anything safe for DS -
Same goes for Goofy's candy company...............

Any ideas anyone ??

It is a shame some people don't realize how serious allergies can be. I personally would not take a peanut allergy person into Ghirdelli's. We have several (life threatening allergies) and Ghirdelli's is not "safe" for us.

If the allergy is airborne, please be aware in the middle of Goofy's candy company is a large open tray of chopped peanuts. I would think the risk for cross contamination to be very high as they custom make candies.

You may want to ask Brenda if they sell Divies at Goofy's Candy company. Otherwise I would stay away from both places. Also the West side has The Candy Cauldron, which I would avoid.

A lot of the prepacked stuff is prepared in a factory that also processes nuts.

 

[Zoebear]

Thanks all for your comments.
This is consistent with what I remembered but I guess I was hoping there would be some safer aspect I didn't notice last time, or that had been added.
We'll be avoiding both G's and Goofy's on our upcoming trip
No choice really.

Anyone know of ANY safe ice cream in Downtown D???
It is our stop for the first night.............................

 

[livndisney]

Thanks all for your comments.
This is consistent with what I remembered but I guess I was hoping there would be some safer aspect I didn't notice last time, or that had been added.
We'll be avoiding both G's and Goofy's on our upcoming trip
No choice really.

Anyone know of ANY safe ice cream in Downtown D???
It is our stop for the first night.............................

How about an Italian Ice or a frozen Lemonade? There is a outdoor stand that sells the Italian Ice (many flavors). There is also a stand near The World of Disney store that sells Icee type drinks.

 

[SueM in MN]

There's a McDonalds at DTD that sells sundaes with soft serve ice cream. I have no idea how McD's is with peanut allergies though.

 

[Selket]

We also avoid both those places (Ghiradelli's and the Goofy Candy Co). I guess even if there were a few things in there he could eat at Goofy's there is so much he could not that I'd think it would be depressing for him! (he is 6). He is also touch allergic to peanut. I gotta say I've never even cracked the door on that place!

Why do I think there is a booth/cart that sells ice cream treats like you'd find at the parks but in DtD? (like Itskadoozies and the Mickey bars) Seems like we are there for lunch so not doing ice cream but that sticks in my head - it isn't far from Ghiradelli's.

I think the sundae's at McD's should be safe as the peanuts are supposed to be in little packages (last I recall) - he has never had the McD's ice cream though so I can't be sure about that.

 

[Zoebear]

Thanks...
This is consistent with my thoughts... I was just hoping someone would have a great revelation to the contrary

I think we'll either get him the Mickey bar or McDonalds ice cream. He eats it here in Canada no problem; peanuts are isolated in packs.

We may skip the G's ice cream too (secret is I"M dying for it !!)

Goofy's the other children would love, but you are right. Probably depressing for him and /or frustrating (he is 3). May skip that too. Good to know these things ahead of time !!

 

[livndisney]

Thanks...
This is consistent with my thoughts... I was just hoping someone would have a great revelation to the contrary

I think we'll either get him the Mickey bar or McDonalds ice cream. He eats it here in Canada no problem; peanuts are isolated in packs.

We may skip the G's ice cream too (secret is I"M dying for it !!)

Goofy's the other children would love, but you are right. Probably depressing for him and /or frustrating (he is 3). May skip that too. Good to know these things ahead of time !!

There is a little merry go round in front of Goofy's-perhaps the older children could go to Goofy's with an adult and the 3 year old could ride(with the other parent)-there is also a little train nearby. That way no one "misses" anything.

 

[bumbershoot]

I think we'll either get him the Mickey bar or McDonalds ice cream. He eats it here in Canada no problem; peanuts are isolated in packs.

I've read on the Dis that at least one person has found a bit of peanut on their Mickey bar. They are made by Nestle, and Nestle certainly uses peanuts, so I would probably write Nestle about that.

In fact I would email Ghirardelhi, but if my recent email to Haagen Dasz (owned by Nestle, sigh) is an indication, they'll probably tell you to talk to the stores about peanut issues. HD wasn't able to tell me what ice creams in their Anaheim DTD store had corn syrup or high fructose corn syrup so we could avoid problems for my son (not life threatening, of course), told me to ask at the store...I imagine it might be the same sort of answer, if you're looking into what ice creams have it.

If you're not worried about that but only the environment, maybe send someone in who doesn't have a problem, find out what ice creams are safe if any, and bring it out?

Of course if residue on the ice cream is dangerous to your kiddo, none of the above would matter.

 

[Selket]

I've read on the Dis that at least one person has found a bit of peanut on their Mickey bar. They are made by Nestle, and Nestle certainly uses peanuts, so I would probably write Nestle about that.

I think that happened a long time ago if I remember the post correctly. The Mickey bars used to be off-limits as "may contains" - the most recent info I had from Brenda Bennett(she works at WDW - email is in the FAQ here) said they were safe (no warnings of any type for nuts) but I always encourage people to check with her each time to find out. Do not just go by what I say or what you read here of course!

More places are doing a CYA approach and putting a warning on stuff. Some of it is for real and some things I really believe are just CYA (cover your backside) but we avoid it anyway.

 

[disfan07]

I think a lot of it depends on how severe the peanut allergy is.
I am only allergic to peanuts if i eat them but it is not airborne or touch induced allergy
in december i ate a ghiradellis and had no problems and i also went to goofys candy company

I think in the end it really depends on the severity of the allergy adn a personal choice of whether you want to take the chance or not....basically, i would say, if the allergy is extremely severe (eat, touch adn airborne induced) than i would play it safe adn stay away form both places

 

[mechurchlady]

There is a difference between I want and I cannot have. Last night I ate about 10 jelly beans that had dextrose in them. About 15 minutes later i started getting agitated and hyper. At the restaurant I got some food to go and while waiting I started chewing on a plastic iced tea lid and shredded part of it. It was scary.

I want them jelly beans, oh they are so yummy and tasty but I know that the I cannot have reminds me of last night and me thrashing that drink lid and the reaction I had. They cost money and there are kids in need around the world, oh the guilt but the I cannot have again reminds me of the consequences.

I loved Subway for mom and ate their salads as a meal until I saw them contaminate food and then I cannot have kicked me hard. With wheat it is absolutely no risks taken. With eggs I hae had a salad with chicken lightly done in mayo but it is much stronger than soy.

If I was eating at an ice cream parlour I would find out ahead of time what is safe and then talk to management so that for example an ice cream scooper has not been dipped in something with wheat. In this case I would rather skip the ice cream and have fun elsewhere as the I cannot have is banging drums, tooting horns and flashing in neon warnings.