Food allergies and WDW???

[Minnie]

We are planning a trip to WDW in August

The scary part is that this will be my first trip to WDW after being diagnosed with HFI (fructose intollerence) basically I'm allergic to sugar or anything that converts to sugar - most fruits, many veggies (corn, tomatoes, ect) and most artifical sweatners (Splenda)

I took the suggestion on the FAQ thread and emailed Brenda Bennett and to be honest I'm more confused than ever????

I thought it might be possible to get a list of ingredients for food items but instead I got a list of what is safe for other types of allergies and a form to fill out for ADRs. Is this what normally happens?

Any suggestions on how to have a safe trip to WDW?

 

[clanmcculloch]

Since you're not travelling until August, you've got a bit of time to sift through information and come up with a plan.

PLEASE fill out the form. I would also suggest that you have Brenda make a note that you would like a chef from each of the restaurants where you have an ADR call you. You can then speak with a chef to get a better feel for just what kind of accomodations they can make for you. What you've received is the starting point. It's kind of generic and will get more specific as you go.

If you continue your dialogue with Brenda, she will send you nutritional information including ingredients for any food items you request. It would be impossible for her to give you the ingredients list of every single food at WDW so she really does need to know what foods you're interested in.

Have you done any research into the Specific Carbohydrate Diet (SCD)? It only allows foods that contain monosaccharides which means no fructose, sucrose or anything else like that. It might be a helpful guide for you for how to eat, both at home and at WDW. If it does work for you then you can even specify to chefs that you must strictly adhere to SCD and most will likely already even know what that is and those that don't will do their homework. The chefs at WDW really are the greatest!!!

I would also take some time to look at the different counter service restaurants to get a feel for which places are most likely to have the types of foods that you'd enjoy. Then you can discuss safe options at those locations with Brenda or ask her to have a chef from those locations call you as well. On our last trip, I knew we'd be eating many meals at our hotel so I definitely wanted to talk with a chef at the food court at our resort. He was so wonderful and even brought in some foods that he doesn't normally carry, just for us.

 

[hopefor4]

Wow, I just popped in on your conversation because I have a DD with Peanut and Milk Allergy...I LOVE the response Clanmcculloch gave you! Isn't it nice to hear from people with ideas for you, to help put your mind at ease and realize the most magical experience is possible?! Good luck, and Brenda is GREAT, I am sure she will help guide you along...

 

[Minnie]

Have you done any research into the Specific Carbohydrate Diet (SCD)? It only allows foods that contain monosaccharides which means no fructose, sucrose or anything else like that. It might be a helpful guide for you for how to eat, both at home and at WDW. If it does work for you then you can even specify to chefs that you must strictly adhere to SCD and most will likely already even know what that is and those that don't will do their homework. The chefs at WDW really are the greatest!!!

HFI is even more limitted in options than SCD - for example carrots, and apples are both absolutely not allowed - full of sugar

I end up with chest pains and get extremely ill digesting any type of food that converts into fructose (sugar).

The main reason I'm so scared is that on my last business trip the hotel tried to make food available that I could eat but didn't really understand - for example they provided a fruit tray for desert (no fruits are allowed) and said the rolls were safe (I got sick then found out they had sundried tomatoes - full of sugar)

I'm just not quite sure how to make this work

 

[pudge the fish]

if you have your ADR's you can contact the Special diets team and fax them back the forms saying what you can and CAN NOT eat-make a list of foods that are ok for you- ask to have chefs contact you and they will.

I would suggest that you look at menus on here and on allears to see what may be ok for you

if you plan on doing counter services you need to see the menu in advance and see what is available. that way you know you can eat at one place and not another.
Like I know I can't eat at Casey's but I can eat at Cosmic Rays or Pecos Bill-
I can't eat at flame tree but I can eat at pizzafari

MOST table services will be able to assist you in meal planning. some are not as allergy friendly as others.

You won't get the "NOTEBOOK" sent online- it is huge- it's full of ingredients -
if you don't get the answer you want call the diets team-or email with very plain wording and tell them you are worried.

 

[clanmcculloch]

HFI is even more limitted in options than SCD - for example carrots, and apples are both absolutely not allowed - full of sugar

I end up with chest pains and get extremely ill digesting any type of food that converts into fructose (sugar).

The body doesn't convert sugars into fructose. Fructose is a type of sugar on it's own. The body can't take a monosaccharide (single molecule sugar) into a complex sugar with multiple molecules (like sucrose or fructose). I really like the book Breaking the Vicious Cycle as it has much more scientific information than the website and it explains all this about the sugars, but the website (link is in my previous post to you) has some decent lists of safe foods. The book also has some recipes as well. For more recipes, check out http://pecanbread.com/. Ignore the stuff relating to autism. It's another great site for SCD support and has some of my favourite recipes.

Take another look at SCD. Carrots and apples aren't permitted on SCD because of the sugar. SCD automatically excludes all fructose. It really does list foods that have no sugars at all as well as foods with only monosaccarides.

 

[allyphoe]

Carrots and apples aren't permitted on SCD because of the sugar. SCD automatically excludes all fructose.

http://breakingtheviciouscycle.info/legal/legal_illegal_a-c.htm

Apples and carrots are both shown as fine on that list.

Also, fructose isn't a polysaccharide - it's a monosaccharide. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monosaccharide) Sucrose (table sugar) is essentially a fructose stuck to a glucose, and the digestive process splits them apart (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fructose).

OP, I think you'd be better off taking a list of "known safe" foods than expecting the chefs to know what will work for you.

 

[WeLoveLilo05]

I would def. fill out that form and make a list of foods that you know to be safe for you. I did fill out that form for DD (who is allergic to tree nuts and peanuts) but for the most part, the chef just came to the table. The only chef that came to the table with the form was the chef at Whispering Canyon Cafe. I also have to agree with a previous poster, at some places the chefs are more accommodating. Like for example @ Chef Mickey's the chef was bringing food out for DD that was not offered on the buffet line, I actually had people coming to my table asking me where she got some of the foods that were on her plate haha. But then at Crystal Palace the Chef did not say to stay away from fruit area, but I went to go get Dd strawberries and right next to the strawberries was the granola (which was the ONLY thing I recall the chef saying was unsafe) so I did not feel safe getting her strawberries, maybe someone used the spoons from the granola on the strawberries? so I asked the chef to bring her out some fruit. But at chef mickey's, the chef offered to bring DD a plate from the kitchen b/c there were a few things on the buffet line that were unsafe and the fear of cross contamination was there (well I was a little nervous, so he just did anything and everything to make my stay as stress free as possible, and dd enjoyed it.)
Also, when I made my ADRs, (I called I think 3 times) on one occasion the CM gave me a phone # to call for special diets, so maybe you can request that number? I was also thinking maybe you should make a copy of that list so you could keep it on you at all times, just so you have something to easily refer back to. I would also keep in touch with Brenda, she sent me so much info on our last trip and is very good about getting back to you. Good luck, let us know how it goes.

 

[Minnie]

I'm still trying to figure out what to do about this situation

What happens when u make an ADR this early and then decide closer or heck even during your trip that you don't want to keep the ADR?

Sometimes we get hot, tired, decide to do something different and cancel the ADR. Would this still be okay or would the restaurant have something special ready???

This condition makes it very difficult to eat in restaurants at home so I'm really worried about Disney

 

[Cheshire Figment]

They will not have made anything special for you in advance.

The normal procedure when a reservation indicates "food allergies" is a chef will come out to speak with you. At that point you will be told what is safe that is on the menue, or what can be done for you, ot both.

However, if you will not be making the ADR please cancel it so somebody else can get the time slot.

 

[LuckyMamaInDE]

Just back from our third trip since dd14 was diagnosed with multiple food allergies in 2007. She's allergic to soy and a bunch of fruits. I filled out the form Brenda sent, listing the two soy-based items dd can eat (soybean oil and soy lecithin) since that's always a source of confusion. At Sanaa and at Chefs de France, both chefs came to our table with a copy of that form! That didn't happen last year and made me very happy to know that the form DOES get read

Our other ADRs were at places where dd already knew what she wanted to eat and we just needed to confirm that those items were still safe for her.

 

[SueM in MN]

We are planning a trip to WDW in August

The scary part is that this will be my first trip to WDW after being diagnosed with HFI (fructose intollerence) basically I'm allergic to sugar or anything that converts to sugar - most fruits, many veggies (corn, tomatoes, ect) and most artifical sweatners (Splenda)

ALL carbohydrates are broken down into the smallest 'piece' for use by the body. The smallest piece carbohydrates break down into is glucose - which is the main energy source for the body. (Sucrose is broken down into glucose + fructose).
Here is a link to good general resource on how digestion works. This part is probably pertinent to you:
"The digestible carbohydrates—starch and sugar—are broken into simpler molecules by enzymes in the saliva, in juice produced by the pancreas, and in the lining of the small intestine. Starch is digested in two steps. First, an enzyme in the saliva and pancreatic juice breaks the starch into molecules called maltose. Then an enzyme in the lining of the small intestine splits the maltose into glucose molecules that can be absorbed into the blood. Glucose is carried through the bloodstream to the liver, where it is stored or used to provide energy for the work of the body.

Sugars are digested in one step. An enzyme in the lining of the small intestine digests sucrose, also known as table sugar, into glucose and fructose, which are absorbed through the intestine into the blood. Milk contains another type of sugar, lactose, which is changed into absorbable molecules by another enzyme in the intestinal lining."

I would suggest that you look at menus on here and on allears to see what may be ok for you

There are links to menus from both of those in the disABILITIES FAQs thread, in post #3.

You won't get the "NOTEBOOK" sent online- it is huge- it's full of ingredients -
if you don't get the answer you want call the diets team-or email with very plain wording and tell them you are worried.

:yes::
It is a large book kept at each restaurant that lists the ingredients for menu items at that restaurant.

Also, when I made my ADRs, (I called I think 3 times) on one occasion the CM gave me a phone # to call for special diets, so maybe you can request that number?

I'm not sure what number was given to you, but there are a number of ways to contact WDW about diets. I'm guessing that the number you were given is probably one of the ones listed in post #3 of the disABILITIES FAQs thread.
I agree with other posters that it's very important for you to provide a list of foods that are safe and not safe for you. That avoids any confusion and interpretation of the chefs about what might be safe.

 

[jlr9882]

Just back from our third trip since dd14 was diagnosed with multiple food allergies in 2007. She's allergic to soy and a bunch of fruits. I filled out the form Brenda sent, listing the two soy-based items dd can eat (soybean oil and soy lecithin) since that's always a source of confusion. At Sanaa and at Chefs de France, both chefs came to our table with a copy of that form! That didn't happen last year and made me very happy to know that the form DOES get read

Our other ADRs were at places where dd already knew what she wanted to eat and we just needed to confirm that those items were still safe for her.

I am worried about this as well. My DS will still be 2 when we leave Aug 1 for Disney. We have an ADR at Chef Mickey for breakfast and Rainforest in DTD for dinner another night. He has 20+ food allergies on the trip that cause chronic diarrhea, colds, and make his asthma act up. If the colds get bad enough and he has high fever, he will have seizures. Among these allergies are milk, peanut & tree nuts, rice, and soy (even soy oil and lecithin). I normally always have snacks and food with me when we go out to eat. I know I will do that, but it would be nice if he could eat something that I don't have to provide. Will they charge me a kid's price at Chef Mickey if they bring something special out for him?

 

[Cheshire Figment]

At Chef Mickey as he is under three they will prepare special foods for him and charge what they normally charge for children under three - nothing! Or they will show you what is safe on the buffet. Usually they will prepare items that are on the buffet specially so there is no cross-contamination.

I don't know about RFC as they are neither owned nor operated by Disney and they may not do the same as at the Disney owned and operated restaurants.

 

[Chuck S]

It has been our experience with the Landry operated restaurants (RFC/Y&Y/T-Rex) that they are not particularly allergy friendly. But I'm sure that depends upon the specific needs of the diner.

 

[djblu883]

do you happen to know if lactose free milk is possible to get???

They will not have made anything special for you in advance.

The normal procedure when a reservation indicates "food allergies" is a chef will come out to speak with you. At that point you will be told what is safe that is on the menue, or what can be done for you, ot both.

However, if you will not be making the ADR please cancel it so somebody else can get the time slot.

 

[livndisney]

do you happen to know if lactose free milk is possible to get???

We have been able to get silk soymilk at most places and in the food courts. Also some places serve rice dream and/or tofutti ice cream.

 

[djblu883]

We have been able to get silk soymilk at most places and in the food courts. Also some places serve rice dream and/or tofutti ice cream.

thanks but I'm allregic to soy as well as lactose intolerant...i use lactose free milk at home as I don't care for the rice alternative...was just hoping

 

[momejay]

My son has a simliar diet. He eats no gluten, no added sugar, no corn, white potato, no dairy, no artifical sugars...He can eat fruit juice sweetened things, but not if it is apple juice sweetened. (It must be too much sugar?)

My advice is to tell them what you can eat or what you like to eat.
My son loves sausage, a specific chicken sausage. The restaurant found the sausage & made it for him. They made him pancakes & waffles. They made him gluten free pasta. (with no corn) He had steak & baked sweet potato. They made his chicken grilled in olive oil. I got steamed vegetables without butter or seasoning. He even got a gluten free brownie for dessert. We haven't had any problems.
I would search the menus & think about what you would do at home in a restaurant. If you are that scared bring food from home.

 

[DCDisney]

You won't have any problem at TS places if you are happy eating simply prepared foods. In many cases the chef just asked what I wanted and I usually stuck to things like steak or grilled fish and they would tell me what veggies they had in the kitchen to pick from. If there are special items you prefer to have available faxing ahead is pretty vital. They were great about verifying what oil and what spices if any I desired. Things that are processed are much more complicated of course but for those they will have ingredients. For CS I mostly ate back at our resort where they had a kitchen and more flexibility about ingredients available. The allergy safe processed foods (mostly gluten free) they stock like breads, waffle mix, pizza crust, etc I mostly couldn't have because they contained fruit juice. If you tell them what works for you though and fax ahead generally they can do it particularly if you want some type of dessert option (maybe a cheese plate?) that they don't commonly stock.