Food allergies and dining plan substitutions

[MrsPook]

So I am starting to freak myself out a bit and get all confused. Background - DS (age 5) is allergic to wheat, eggs, milk, oats, shellfish, peanuts, and is soy sensitive (can have products cooked in vegetable oil for example but can not tolerate soy milk). This is our third trip to WDW and so far things have always gone great. I mean - I feel bad that he is eating the same things over and over again, but luckily he is 5 and does not seem to mind too much. Anyway this is our first time on the DDP. My questions are: it says he must order off the kids menu when available. But that does not always work with his allergies. Will they let us substitute and not charge me a fee? Like for examply, let him have a hot dog (hot dog is on the menu for adults meals but not kids ) instead of the chicken nuggets and still give him the grapes/apples/whatever sides and just take his kids CS credit? I am assuming TS is more accomodating than CS? Any helpful hints for us would be much appreciated! For example, we always just eat at Cosmic Rays CS at MK because it has the biggest selection and DS can find something there - grilled chicken, hamburger, rotissiere chicken, or hot dog but I would love to try Pecos Bills or Columbia House.

Thanks for your advice!

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Hi and to disABILITIES!

If you click on where it says "disABILTIES" at the top of this page it will take you to the Index. One of the top items is the "disABILTIES FAQ" which will gives lots of useful information. Look in Post #3 and scroll down to the Dietary Restrictions section. There you will find links to information and reporting threads which will help a lot.

Or, if you want an easier route to the FAQs, click on the link in my signature.

But basically on all of your reservations indicate there is a person with food allergies, and remind them of this when you check in at the podium. A Chef will come out and talk to you. If it is a buffet the chef will walk the buffet with you and indicate what is or is not safe. They are set up in all kitchens with special equipment to prevent cross-contamination. They will prepare special dishes, if needed.

If you are using quick service they have an ingredients list book at each location, as well as the manager will have training on special dietary needs and restrictions and will be able to advise you and also have food cooked in such a way as to avoid cross-contamination.

And you will see, in the links from the FAQs, that many people say they go back to Disney because they can eat comfortably and know they are eating safely.

 

[DCDisney]

There are 1 or 2 CS places in each park that have special allergy foods and they will have the most flexibility in getting him things he wants and can eat. Columbia Harbor House is not one of those but I think Pecos Bills is (we always skip it because of the PB dessert). Cosmic Rays is our go to in Mk and Sunshine Season for Epcot. They will do a kids portion for him that will be covered on the DDP. The only thing I have heard of them not covering is a special gluten free pizza that is large and very expensive. The resort CS places are also usually great options because they have kitchens and more ingredients to work with.

 

[krisnchris]

We just got back and were on the DDP. We got the gluten-free/DF pizza at Pizza Planet for my DS on the plan. Actually, he's 2, so he wasn't even on the plan - we used an extra QS point for his meal. It was huge - adult-sized, with an adult sized drink, even.

 

[clanmcculloch]

Oh boy, I'm trying to remember back when DD11 was still a kid by Disney standards. Hmmmmm..... What I remember is just basically telling the chef that she needed a kid's meal and he'd put together her food and we'd get charged a credit. At the parks, the same manager who puts together your food also rings in your order so he/she will know how to ring in your food. I would think that most likely the manager will let your son have a hot dog but you might want to be prepared to just order an adult hot dog meal a kid's meal that will appeal to you and you can then just swap the hot dog for his entree. Another option is to just get an a la carte hot dog for him and pay OOP. Ask of course since most likely the manager will allow the hot dog since it's for allergy reasons. Just be prepared to pay OOP if the manager says no.

We plan our meals (even our CS meals) around places that DO carry foods that our kids can eat. We also try to arrange for the majority of our CS meals to be at our resort since the resort food courts seem to have so many more options than the park CS locations (OMG were we spoiled at Pop). These days there are even some very tasty allergy chicken strips at many CS locations around the parks. Have you been in touch with Brenda from Special Diets? Have you seen that many park CS locations now carry Enjoy Life products? Many places also have Rice Dream ice cream (if he can tollerate it and you trust it; it doesn't sit well for either of my kids).

This will be the first time we've gone since DD9 has been diagnosed with food allergies so we'll be in your same boat again.

 

[chell]

I bet Brenda at Special Diets could answer your question. Or at least she would check on it and get you an answer. I would send her an email. Surely this is something they deal with often so I bet they have a plan in place.