Extreme food allergies

[SPOERLX3]

We leave next Wednesday for 8 days.
My DGD is bringing a friend along on this trip and we have just found out that she allergic to EVERYTHING!
Seriously, she is gluten intolerant, lactose intolerant and she is allergic to every kind of nut to the point of her not even able to be around them without breaking out horribly and her throat starts closing up. Truly, she lives on fruits and simple lettuce and tomato salads or grilled chicken strips. She carries multiple epee pins but it scares the poo-willikers out of me when we go to enjoy our meals.

We are on the QS dining plan and I am hoping that someone can help us that may have had any experience with QS dining and extreme allergies. I have searched menu's to try and find some things she will be able to eat.I know that the TS restaurants have chefs that will come out and visit with anyone with allergies, but do they at a QS?

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
in advance!

 

[Betty Rohrer]

be prepared to find nuts anywhere in the parks as guests are allowed to bring food in with them so any thing she touches can cause her to break out. only thing I can help you with the counter serves is ask to look at book and most times manger will help you but you may end up having to go to a different one because the one you are at may not be able to help you

 

[Hopefully]

Most CS do not have actual "chefs" to come and help. All have allergy books to review, but you need to be knowledgeable about her needs. You can talk to a manager but they may not be able to help you.
As harsh as it sounds, I might hesitate to take her given this new, dangerous turn of events in her life.
Good Luck

 

[MiramarQE]

Even for QS - tell the castmember taking the order there are food allergies - a manager/chef/someone knowledgeable about the food in that restaurant WILL come out to talk to you about ingredients and options - DW had several allergies and this worked for us to the point where they would separately hand-assemble burgers/platters to make sure they stayed away from any potential contaminants - the burger had a little flag on it indicating it was for a person with allergies so there was less chance the castmembers serving would make a mistake and give us the wrong burger.

 

[SPOERLX3]

Thank you all so much for your info.
Hopefully.... You are soooo right, don't think for a minute that we haven't thought about it. Even to the point of talking to her parents about it. Unfortunately, there is no turning back now. Her trip and plane fare are paid for and her parents keep saying "if she doesn't go this time, she will never get to go since we can't afford to take our entire family".

Thank goodness she is 16 yrs old and has been battling this for several years so she has had several years of her eating experiences.

Wish us luck with this trip, this is an experience we have never had to deal with.

 

[SPOERLX3]

Even for QS - tell the castmember taking the order there are food allergies - a manager/chef/someone knowledgeable about the food in that restaurant WILL come out to talk to you about ingredients and options - DW had several allergies and this worked for us to the point where they would separately hand-assemble burgers/platters to make sure they stayed away from any potential contaminants - the burger had a little flag on it indicating it was for a person with allergies so there was less chance the castmembers serving would make a mistake and give us the wrong burger.

Thank you soooo much for this info. I have breathed a small sigh of relief. This was our plan, especially since hers are so extreme. If they can just make her a plain lettuce and tomato salad with a little grilled chicken on top, she would be fine.

It has gotten sad for her, when we sat down to talk to her and her parents about it she said "I don't even like food anymore, I just eat what I can to keep me alive". Can you imagine being 16 and having to feel that way

 

[Haygar2]

Thank you soooo much for this info. I have breathed a small sigh of relief. This was our plan, especially since hers are so extreme. If they can just make her a plain lettuce and tomato salad with a little grilled chicken on top, she would be fine.

It has gotten sad for her, when we sat down to talk to her and her parents about it she said "I don't even like food anymore, I just eat what I can to keep me alive". Can you imagine being 16 and having to feel that way

That breaks my heart. She will remember this trip for the rest of her life. It will work out. She is old enough to be aware also and that she knows what to eat or not eat.

 

[Chelley00]

I have multiple allergies and Disney is the only place we vacation any more because of it. Tell every person taking the order that you have multiple allergies and they will call for a manager/coordinator for you. (the binders are great for people with one or two allergies but not multiples) Make sure to let them know that she is anaphylactic.

She will love her trip. It's so exciting to go someplace where you can eat actual fun food and even get desserts (even if sometimes it's just fruit but still!)

 

[mollmoll4]

Disney also just released these snacks in the parks:

http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2015/...friendly-items-now-available-in-disney-parks/

They are called "Snacks with Character" and it looks like there are a few gluten, nut, and dairy-free options.

 

[SPOERLX3]

You have all made me feel soooo much better!
Yes, she will remember this trip. She is such an angel and I pray that some of the food she gets to eat at Disney will help her enjoy food a little better.
We are so excited to get to take her with us!

 

[MakiraMarlena]

due to the severity of her allergy, you MAY have issues with some QS that will not be able to prevent all cross-contamination. There should be someone to talk to at each one though, and you should ask to talk to somebody about cross-contamination. Also, they will not be able to prepare anything they don't have the ingredients for.

 

[disnut8]

Thank you soooo much for this info. I have breathed a small sigh of relief. This was our plan, especially since hers are so extreme. If they can just make her a plain lettuce and tomato salad with a little grilled chicken on top, she would be fine.

It has gotten sad for her, when we sat down to talk to her and her parents about it she said "I don't even like food anymore, I just eat what I can to keep me alive". Can you imagine being 16 and having to feel that way

What I would advise is for HER to be the one to talk to whoever wherever you go for HER meal needs. Not to give up on her but for her to feel comfortable talking to other people about what she's allergic to. She knows her body and her needs and what she can and cannot eat and she feels comfortable about doing. Also, it would help her with her future needs outside of this one vacation. I know this has nothing to do with allergies but my husband does not like vegetables so he avoided ordering ever a burger with a tomato on top because he didn't want to pull it off the sandwich. We went to Disney World and he ordered a burger at a quick service place without tomato and was so thrilled to get it that way that now he just orders anything, anywhere with what HE wants.

 

[Callie]

Are you staying on site? It might help if you eat quite a few meals at your home resort...find a manager who gets familiar with her allergies. Maybe they would even be able to make something for her to go?

 

[Hibiscus]

If her allergies are that severe, you might want to eat your meals outside the QS locations - preferably in your room. QS venues will be full of kids eating PB&J Uncrustables, families snacking on caramel popcorn with cashews & almonds, etc. They're not places I'd want to be if I had an airborne anaphylactic allergy.

 

[Stigsmom]

I just want to chime in that my oldest has "extreme food allergies" also and has had a very successful trip to WDW and on Disney Cruise Line. DCL with its allergy friendly food policies is actually the only way he is currently able to travel internationally as his anaphylaxis prevents us from flying. Anyway... We have had excellent experiences eating at WDW with him being able to eat desserts and even having the first chocolate candy of his life there. He remembers that experience more than anything. I feel fortunate that milk allergy isn't a concern for us but having dealt with the others I understand the fear of the unknown. I just want to thank you and your family for giving your friend this experience and reassure you that there are special foods available to be sure she gets to enjoy the excitement of eating out. This, to a person with allergies is an incredible treat and memory. Thanks for learning about and advocating for people with food allergies and being willing to watch out for her needs. Always bring in safe food just in case or keep something available in the room but I think you'll be pleasantly surprised by how they can accommodate her.

 

[kandb]

The child's parents just sprung this on you 8 days before the trip? To be honest, I find that incredibly inconsiderate. What if somehow she gets an allergy attack? Do you know what to look for and what to do? I feel bad for the child but I am not sure if I would want that responsibility. Perhaps have a meeting with her parents to know more about her condition.

 

[kandb]

Maybe bring some special foods for her? Snacks?

 

[njpyro]

Make sure you have a notarized letter from her parents granting permission for medical care in their absence and a copy of her insurance coverage, just in case.

 

[SPOERLX3]

due to the severity of her allergy, you MAY have issues with some QS that will not be able to prevent all cross-contamination. There should be someone to talk to at each one though, and you should ask to talk to somebody about cross-contamination. Also, they will not be able to prepare anything they don't have the ingredients for.

We definitely expected this and we will be prepared to go to a different QS if needed.

What I would advise is for HER to be the one to talk to whoever wherever you go for HER meal needs. Not to give up on her but for her to feel comfortable talking to other people about what she's allergic to. She knows her body and her needs and what she can and cannot eat and she feels comfortable about doing. Also, it would help her with her future needs outside of this one vacation. I know this has nothing to do with allergies but my husband does not like vegetables so he avoided ordering ever a burger with a tomato on top because he didn't want to pull it off the sandwich. We went to Disney World and he ordered a burger at a quick service place without tomato and was so thrilled to get it that way that now he just orders anything, anywhere with what HE wants.

I agree 100%. There is no way that we could convey all her needs. She is in drama at their school so she is very comfortable speaking and I know that she would be able to provide them with the correct information.

Are you staying on site? It might help if you eat quite a few meals at your home resort...find a manager who gets familiar with her allergies. Maybe they would even be able to make something for her to go?

Great idea! We will be at POP so we can definitely check it out.

If her allergies are that severe, you might want to eat your meals outside the QS locations - preferably in your room. QS venues will be full of kids eating PB&J Uncrustables, families snacking on caramel popcorn with cashews & almonds, etc. They're not places I'd want to be if I had an airborne anaphylactic allergy.

You are so right, we had discussed eating outside in an open area, possibly in a grassy area like a picnic.

The child's parents just sprung this on you 8 days before the trip? To be honest, I find that incredibly inconsiderate. What if somehow she gets an allergy attack? Do you know what to look for and what to do? I feel bad for the child but I am not sure if I would want that responsibility. Perhaps have a meeting with her parents to know more about her condition.

We knew she had food allergies since she has had sleepovers and spent a lot of time with my DGD but we only found out about a week ago how severe they were when we all sat down together with her parents to finalize everything and get all the info and consents taken care of. This was not our first meeting, with her parents, food was just never discussed. We are meeting again this weekend. This would never had stopped us from inviting her we really just want to be prepared so she can have a wonderful trip.

Maybe bring some special foods for her? Snacks?

Make sure you have a notarized letter from her parents granting permission for medical care in their absence and a copy of her insurance coverage, just in case.

Check and check! Snacks packed and letter and insurance prepared!

 

[SPOERLX3]

I just want to chime in that my oldest has "extreme food allergies" also and has had a very successful trip to WDW and on Disney Cruise Line. DCL with its allergy friendly food policies is actually the only way he is currently able to travel internationally as his anaphylaxis prevents us from flying. Anyway... We have had excellent experiences eating at WDW with him being able to eat desserts and even having the first chocolate candy of his life there. He remembers that experience more than anything. I feel fortunate that milk allergy isn't a concern for us but having dealt with the others I understand the fear of the unknown. I just want to thank you and your family for giving your friend this experience and reassure you that there are special foods available to be sure she gets to enjoy the excitement of eating out. This, to a person with allergies is an incredible treat and memory. Thanks for learning about and advocating for people with food allergies and being willing to watch out for her needs. Always bring in safe food just in case or keep something available in the room but I think you'll be pleasantly surprised by how they can accommodate her.

This makes me feel so much better! We are excited that she is getting to share our vacation with us and she is super excited!
Great memories for these 2 girls! Some they will never forget!