Egg allergy!

[OlivePnut]

DCL just informed me that the only place onboard that is equipped to handle food allergies is the main dining room. I'm cruising my with 1 year old who is allergic to eggs. I had no idea that we would not be able to eat the food on deck or at the buffets! They told me we should avoid these areas and even room service! Does anyone have any tips about how to handle this?

 

[MunFam]

Well, I am happy to hear that they are finally saying no to the other food places. We had a horrible time on our Wonder cruise. We were on for 15 days and they served us unsafe food twice (IN THE MDR!!!) after specifically going over the allergy right before. Two others on our cruise ended up in medical for anaphylaxis for cross contamination. Disney is not as great as they used to be about food allergies. I read how people were made special desserts, etc. NOPE. And we were very nice about the whole thing, went with the flow...so I was surprised at the lack of service that I expected.

They did "let" us eat at the deck restaurants, but it would take about an hour for them to call up a manager, then prepare the kitchen, then prepare the food. It almost was not worth it. Same for the buffet...it would take about an hour for them to get a chef, walk us down the buffet and then make notes as to what our kiddo wanted to eat. It was not fun, nor relaxing. Just stressful.

Now, you all can still get food from deck...and your kiddo "could" still eat at the quick service restaurants, but that is a cross contamination gamble that you are taking. We did not worry about the fryer oil cooking the chicken tenders (egg) with the fries that our kiddo ate. We would get her a hot dog, no bun (egg) and fries and not say a word about the allergy, because sometimes you are just HUNGRY.

We also brought on a suitcase of food. Bagged potato chips, fruit cups, fruit snacks and leathers, popcorn for the theatre, candy, beef jerky, cans of tuna, safe crackers, etc. We also brought breakfast bars for the mornings we wanted breakfast but did not want to get to the dining room in time. We bought travel insurance and packed Benadryl and 8 Epi Pens.

Honestly, unless we are allergy-free...I will likely not cruise DCL again. For the price we paid, it is just too much of a hassle. We had better allergy service on Holland.

 

[lanejudy]

The only "restaurants" which will utilize the separate allergy safe kitchen are the MDRs. Therefore, DCL errs on the side of caution in recommending guests with allergies utilize the MDRs for all meals. Depending on your comfort level, you may opt to eat at Cabanas or the pool-side locations, or room-service; you can ask about items safe for your child but also be aware of cross-contamination risk. Those locations may not be able to modify a given menu item, though.

At the MDRs, you will be able to order her food the prior night so it can be prepared in the allergy safe kitchen.

Enjoy your cruise!

 

[Lilylogan]

Well, I am happy to hear that they are finally saying no to the other food places. We had a horrible time on our Wonder cruise. We were on for 15 days and they served us unsafe food twice (IN THE MDR!!!) after specifically going over the allergy right before. Two others on our cruise ended up in medical for anaphylaxis for cross contamination. Disney is not as great as they used to be about food allergies. I read how people were made special desserts, etc. NOPE. And we were very nice about the whole thing, went with the flow...so I was surprised at the lack of service that I expected.

Yikes I'm traveling with a child with a peanut allergy and now more nervous than ever. I'm thinking of avoiding the buffet for my dd but thinking a burger near the pool should be fine - they cook them right there right?

OP I wouldn't worry as much with a 1 year old - I have a 1 year old and they are super happy eating fruit/plain foods. I would bring pouches/goldfish/cheerios etc. At least at that age they aren't going to get upset if they can't have the creme brulee kwim? My oldest didn't really start noticing until she was 3ish.

 

[PurplePencil]

DCL just informed me that the only place onboard that is equipped to handle food allergies is the main dining room. I'm cruising my with 1 year old who is allergic to eggs. I had no idea that we would not be able to eat the food on deck or at the buffets! They told me we should avoid these areas and even room service! Does anyone have any tips about how to handle this?

Would simply fresh fruit from Cabana's be okay?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

they cook them right there right?

I'm not sure they do. Everytime I've gotten a burger, they pull the meat patty (cooked) out of a warming drawer to put on the bun.

 

[czmom]

Is this new? I've been on the Magic and Wonder and both were more than happy to help me on the buffet at lunch.

 

[MunFam]

Would simply fresh fruit from Cabana's be okay?

The trouble for people with food allergies is that even something as simple as fresh fruit could be cross contaminated. For example, if someone put eggs on their plate...and then the tongs happened to touch the eggs as they are getting fresh fruit, now that fresh fruit is cross contaminated and "dangerous" for my daughter. So we avoid self-serve style meals, mainly because of accidental cross contamination.

OP, they do have individual cereal bags in the buffet as well as individual yogurts and bananas still in the skin.

 

[OlivePnut]

OP I wouldn't worry as much with a 1 year old - I have a 1 year old and they are super happy eating fruit/plain foods. I would bring pouches/goldfish/cheerios etc. At least at that age they aren't going to get upset if they can't have the creme brulee kwim? My oldest didn't really start noticing until she was 3ish.

This is a very good point!

 

[OlivePnut]

Well, I am happy to hear that they are finally saying no to the other food places. We had a horrible time on our Wonder cruise. We were on for 15 days and they served us unsafe food twice (IN THE MDR!!!) after specifically going over the allergy right before. Two others on our cruise ended up in medical for anaphylaxis for cross contamination. Disney is not as great as they used to be about food allergies. I read how people were made special desserts, etc. NOPE. And we were very nice about the whole thing, went with the flow...so I was surprised at the lack of service that I expected.

They did "let" us eat at the deck restaurants, but it would take about an hour for them to call up a manager, then prepare the kitchen, then prepare the food. It almost was not worth it. Same for the buffet...it would take about an hour for them to get a chef, walk us down the buffet and then make notes as to what our kiddo wanted to eat. It was not fun, nor relaxing. Just stressful.

Now, you all can still get food from deck...and your kiddo "could" still eat at the quick service restaurants, but that is a cross contamination gamble that you are taking. We did not worry about the fryer oil cooking the chicken tenders (egg) with the fries that our kiddo ate. We would get her a hot dog, no bun (egg) and fries and not say a word about the allergy, because sometimes you are just HUNGRY.

We also brought on a suitcase of food. Bagged potato chips, fruit cups, fruit snacks and leathers, popcorn for the theatre, candy, beef jerky, cans of tuna, safe crackers, etc. We also brought breakfast bars for the mornings we wanted breakfast but did not want to get to the dining room in time. We bought travel insurance and packed Benadryl and 8 Epi Pens.

Honestly, unless we are allergy-free...I will likely not cruise DCL again. For the price we paid, it is just too much of a hassle. We had better allergy service on Holland.

Holy cow! We will DEFINITELY be boarding with Epipens and Benedryl at the ready!

 

[OlivePnut]

Is this new? I've been on the Magic and Wonder and both were more than happy to help me on the buffet at lunch.

Maybe. I just spoke with them today!

 

[PrincessShmoo]

The trouble for people with food allergies is that even something as simple as fresh fruit could be cross contaminated. For example, if someone put eggs on their plate...and then the tongs happened to touch the eggs as they are getting fresh fruit, now that fresh fruit is cross contaminated and "dangerous" for my daughter. So we avoid self-serve style meals, mainly because of accidental cross contamination.

OP, they do have individual cereal bags in the buffet as well as individual yogurts and bananas still in the skin.

Yes

 

[Maggie'sMom]

The trouble for people with food allergies is that even something as simple as fresh fruit could be cross contaminated. For example, if someone put eggs on their plate...and then the tongs happened to touch the eggs as they are getting fresh fruit, now that fresh fruit is cross contaminated and "dangerous" for my daughter. So we avoid self-serve style meals, mainly because of accidental cross contamination.

In my experience, the fresh fruit at Cabanas is not self-serve. It is kept in a case and you tell the CM what you want. They dish up the fresh fruit onto a clean plate and hand it to you. I would think this would significantly lessen the cross-contamination issue.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

In my experience, the fresh fruit at Cabanas is not self-serve. It is kept in a case and you tell the CM what you want. They dish up the fresh fruit onto a clean plate and hand it to you. I would think this would significantly lessen the cross-contamination issue.

Not in my experience You can see bananas here (upper left) on the hot cereal island:

 

[Maggie'sMom]

Not in my experience You can see bananas here (upper left) on the hot cereal island:

Thanks. I was thinking of the watermelon, pineapple, canteloup, and honeydew. Those are all behind the case and served by a CM.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Thanks. I was thinking of the watermelon, pineapple, canteloup, and honeydew. Those are all behind the case and served by a CM.

Well, they do that at Daisy's Delights (formerly Goofy's Galley), but in the buffet it's self serve.

 

[Maggie'sMom]

Well, they do that at Daisy's Delights (formerly Goofy's Galley), but in the buffet it's self serve.

View attachment 202925

The Wonder is the only ship I haven't been on. On the Dream, Fantasy, and Magic (post-reimagineering), the fresh fruit I listed has not been self-serve at Cabanas on any of my cruises. All have had those fruits behind the case and served by a CM. I've had to go up, tell them what I want, and they hand me a plate with the fruit I've requested. Now, maybe I've only gotten the fresh fruit at breakfast and it's only served by the CM then? I don't what to say other than that has been my experience every single time.

 

[MunFam]

The Wonder is the only ship I haven't been on. On the Dream, Fantasy, and Magic (post-reimagineering), the fresh fruit I listed has not been self-serve at Cabanas on any of my cruises. All have had those fruits behind the case and served by a CM. I've had to go up, tell them what I want, and they hand me a plate with the fruit I've requested. Now, maybe I've only gotten the fresh fruit at breakfast and it's only served by the CM then? I don't what to say other than that has been my experience every single time.

And Ive only ever cruised on the Wonder, so perhaps that is where the disconnect is. I just remember thinking...dang it! Even the fresh fruit is off limits for DD. Mind you, even in the case, there are sandwiches with sauce on them...with egg...so even then, if someone orders a sandwich, then fruit, the tongs may touch the sandwich. Its a scary world we allergy parents live in.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

The Wonder is the only ship I haven't been on. On the Dream, Fantasy, and Magic (post-reimagineering), the fresh fruit I listed has not been self-serve at Cabanas on any of my cruises. All have had those fruits behind the case and served by a CM. I've had to go up, tell them what I want, and they hand me a plate with the fruit I've requested. Now, maybe I've only gotten the fresh fruit at breakfast and it's only served by the CM then? I don't what to say other than that has been my experience every single time.

Well, on our recent EBTA, all I can say is that my plate at breakfast shows the fruit that I served up to myself. Not in a separate bowl:


And that's how I remember it on all my DCL cruises.

 

[MunFam]

Well, on our recent EBTA, all I can say is that my plate at breakfast shows the fruit that I served up to myself. Not in a separate bowl:
View attachment 202946

And that's how I remember it on all my DCL cruises.

but OMG...the hashbrowns. Now I need a hashbrown.