Food Allergies around the World

[disykat]

To all my fellow Dis'ers I would like to apologise that my obvious anger and resentment toward's LisaPooh's opinions on Peanut allergies are coming through as attacks. I will try to contain my fury better. If you are interested in the history behind this argument, please refer back to my original peanut question in the transportation forum.

 

[teachbrooks]

This is a very interesting thread. Allergies are so difficult for those dealing with them, and they are very hard for those never associatied with them to understand. Those of us with allergies look so normal. Unless we are in a full blown reaction, we look as healthy (generally) as the healthiest person around.
We found WDW easy to deal with during our last trip. Our sons extreme allergies to many chemicals,dyes, food dyes, and a few foods (thankfully not nuts) make it hard to deal at times. Our only surprise on the trip was that I, the 50 year old mother, applied some lotion without first checking the ingredients. So who do you think had the reaction on our trip. How stupid can a woman who has dealt with allergies her whole life be. My family does not let me forget it.
Anyway hang in there, and enjoy the world with your children.

 

[cinderella73]

I am new here . Never saw the old board. I cant even tell if this is a very old post. Is there a date listed somewhere? I searched for the topic with the search engine in the hopes I could wean some info before heading there myself with my 3 beautiful children. One of whom is deathly allergic to nuts. I live in horror everyday that the ignorance of others could harm him. It makes me angry and sad that people can be so cold and insensitive! Even though I never saw the other board I am understanding in the sense that I have dealt with it myself first hand when at resturants and even familys !!! My aunt says he will outgrow it. Which is false peanut is the only one u cant and gets worse with time. But my aunt knows better! My mom says that well then he should try almonds because they are not peanuts and she bets those would be fine and they have lots of protein! Alsp not true! While I agrue the point with them the fact that even my own family just " doesnt get it" is scary. Strangers are even worse. Seriously .. Someone needs to do a public awareness ad. Where are the allergy networks and org.'s and why arent they stepping up to the plate??? Maybe it will take a bunch of people like us to keep get it done? I have decided to write a book on food allergies and how to deal with family trips when u have them. Disney called me the other day and they were very nice. But in truth you can never be 100 percent safe. My heart breaks for all of you parents who are goiong through this as well. I heard that food allergys have been on the rise with peanut doubling in the last few years. And yet still not enough people even have a clue. I was planning on doing some planned meals at Disney. But I am not so sure. Problem is that not all your meals are sit down ones. Sometimes you have to stop at a pizza planet or snack stand. If its 3 in the afternoon and hot and your kids are hungry and you cant bring food in you are forced to. Snacks wont cut it. Its not exactly easy to take kids all the out of the park go eat and come back. About 2 hours of day gone not to mention difficult! I have a number they gave me the other day to get specifics. But I got the feeling that the one guy who although he was very very nice didnt undertand when I asked about ingredients at Pizza Planet that it was important to know about " possible cross contaminants" as well as ingrediants. As he was all to happy to say they have no nuts there. Did you know Pizza Hut has peanut warnings on their sauces!!! Boy I sure didnt for the longest time.. Unless they are just trying to cover themselves. Which so many companies are now. Its a whole different subject. But what a sad thing to take food out of a kids mouth like that by lying. Kudos to Disney though for trying as hard as they do! I mean its not a foolproof system . It needs improving. But I give it to them for being a bit more ahead of the game than anyone else. Maybe if group of moms got together and expressed concern they could help develop a system. Like I asked for a park map with the nut vendors shown on it so you could avoid airborn vapors. Little things.. If anyone would do this .. Disney would. Sorry about the typos.. No contacts in! lol

 

[Selket]

This is indeed a super-old thread - from 2001. Before my son who has peanut allergies was even born! There isn't a debate board (Officially anyway) anymore on the Disboards.

If you look in the FAQ http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=595713 on the 3rd post there is info on dining at WDW with food allergies.

We've dined in the parks many times with my peanut allergic son and had no problems. The folks at Crystal Palace (the place mentioned) have been especially great. I highly suggest talking to Brenda Bennett before going and ask them to send you email documents they keep of items in the park (at counter service and food stands) that could be a problem for those with peanut allergies (or other issues -depending on your need).

As for counter service - they are supposed to have binders with the ingredients listed. You can ask to see the binder when you get to the restaurant. Then you need to look through it yourself. Especially if you had multiple food allergies the book is cumbersome to deal with.

Also the date for the thread is in the upper left hand corner on the blue bar - above the name of the poster.

I think for the most part you should not have problems dining at WDW - especially with sit-down meals.

 

[Chuck S]

My mom and I both have some food allergies, though not to nuts/peanuts and nothing life threatening, but with very unpleasant effects. Residue contact isn't a problem for us, while we rarely eat at buffets, we have always asked the chefs about ingredients, and they have been very accommodating.

If I had a severe allergy that could be triggered by PBJ or other residue on tables/chairs I would definitely avoid buffets, and possibly counter service as well. Full service venues seem best equipped to handle the severe allergies. For character meals you may want to try pre-plated or full service restaurants, like Liberty Tree Tavern at MK or Akershus at the Norway Pavilion at EPCOT. However, I think residue is probably a bit of a problem at any restaurant, Disney or not.

 

[Talking Hands]

May I make a better character meal suggestion?? Garden Grill in the Land....

Its a sit down restaurant and the food is brought to your table so Im sure they would be more likely to help you on the spot!

Altho there are no princesses at this meal there IS..

• Mickey
• Pluto
• Chip
• Dale

They are all decked out in their BEST farmin' bib 'n' tucker!!

I also like this restaurant because its a revolving restaurant so you never look at the same view twice!

You would think but not true. I am diabetic and allergic to nutrasweet (Equal, aspartame) as well as mango. What was I offered for dessert. A Rice Krispie Treat!
Best experience I have had was at the Grand Floridian Princess Meal. A dessert you would not believe. sugar-free, aspartame-free and low-carb. Also had a good experience at Hoop Dee Doo and at Boma. Mama Melrose was not a good experience at all.

Some of these chefs don't take diabetes seriously as they have noncompliant family members.

 

[cinderella73]

Thank u everyone 4 ur help. I see now how old the thread was. I guess the whole food allergy topic fired me up. But I will say that Disney was really really helpful. I am actually considering cancelling my universal visits and just spending all week at wdw instead just because of this! My son loves Spidey but their policys at Universal studios are not to par with wdw. Maybe one day . Or next trip when I have longer and have time to leave the parks to eat and come back. Chuck , I agree residue is a issue but sit down or counter service is all the same. I am just avoiding places that serve and PB sandwiches as its a hard residue to wipe up. But thing is you just cant completly avoid it no matter where you go. I do bring anti bacterial wet wipes with me and wipe down the tables as best I can and usually pick ones in areas of less traffic. Brenda is calling me back monday and I will ask her about the places we thought might be ok. My son is sooo set on pizza planet so I hope its alright.

 

[grumpy.uncle]

I can't imagine having to deal w/ peanut allergies. When you think about how many children have PB&J as a staple in their daily diet, it would be quite easy to be exposed to peanut residue. When you have to deal w/ peanut allergies, do you have to travel w/ sanitary wipes and wipe down everything? I don't deal w/ severe food allergies but I am diabetic. When dining at WDW sit-down dining establishments, I found that they all asked when you were seated if you had any food allergies. That happened at every sit-down restaurant we went to. Counter service would be another matter. I guess you would have to really do your research beforehand to know what was safe to eat or not. Overall, I think Disney trys its best to accomodate the majority of their visitors. Considering how many people are there on a daily basis, I think they do a pretty good job. Unfortunately, it is a more serious matter when an error is made w/ someone who has life threatening food allergies.

 

[disneynewbeemom]

What is Brenda Bennett's email address? We have two sons with peanut, tree nut, fish, and corn allergies and will be going back to WDW in October. We had a terrific first experience last year. The chefs were wonderful! Thanks.

 

[lovetoscrap]

I just wanted to point out that you said that you are not allowed to bring food in but that is actually a huge misconception. There is no Disney policy against bringing food and drinks in. As long as you have a soft sided cooler (no wheels) you are free to bring in what you would like (except alcohol). Of course you have to keep up with it, but you can always rent a locker and if you have lots of ice packs or can come up with non perishible items it would be be just fine.

I traveled last year with family friends with peanut and milk allergies. Fortunately theirs are not as severe as most, but they were still extra vigilant. We had a plan for where we would eat each day for CS meals and we chose places that didn't serve PBJ and she had called ahead to make sure everything would be okay. She also scrubbed the tables and chairs down with Clorox wipes since you never knew if someone might have had a PBJ from home with them. She also talked to the manager/chef of each place and looked in the binder. Even at the buffet place (Chef Mickey's) the chef made up fresh plates of food for the allergic girls to ensure that there would be no cross contamination issues. We had a great week and no one was sick.

We carried with us lots of "safe" snack foods and juice boxes so that we knew that no one would be hungry and we would make it to the designated restaurants of the day. We didn't want to have to make "emergency" food stops at places we hadn't prearranged with.

Make sure you keep your epi pen handy at all times and any other meds. Sometimes with the lack of routine on a vacation and the rush, rush, rush, it can be easy to forget. I think at least one morning there was a dash back to the room for the bag with the inhalers, benadryl and epipens.

 

[cinderella73]

Yeah Pb is such a big staple and easy thing 2 pack that its so hard to avoid. And the oily residue is so hard to wipe up. They did a study of a kindergarden room not the cafeteria but the classroom and they found Pb residue all over! I actually homeschool because of this. I know not everyone can and god bless those of you that have to put ur kids on that bus everyday and worry. That is a hard thing to do. But yes defiantly bring any wipes and wipe everything! My son once had a reaction after touching a shopping cart handle in a graocery store. Some kid might have sat in cart with sticky residue left over on their hands. I even wipe my shopping cart handles now. Thank god for anti bacterial wipes! Clorex has travel size disinfecting wipes now. I have gotten some strange looks from people when they have seen me wiping cart handles and resturant tables. ( we dont eat out whenever possible but sometimes its unavoidable) .You always have to check the ground to.. Its crazy how much it can affect your life.

 

[Selket]

Everyone has a different comfort level with dealing with allergies. William is anaphylactic to peanuts/tree nuts and we do eat at buffets at WDW and have had great service for him. Crystal Palace is one of our favorites and they do serve peanut butter on one side of the buffet - we dine there every trip.

Sometimes your experience also depends on how good the chef is that you talk to - some really go out of their way and some just hand you the tofutti cause that must be what's in the fridge! Good service is the rule though and not the exception.

Brenda's contact info is:

Brenda Bennett
MAGIC KINGDOM Foods
407-824-5967
brenda.bennett@disney.com

 

[DVCDawn]

My DD8 is anaphylactic to peanuts and nuts and we have had many wonderful, reaction-free trips to WDW and VB. Regarding Cindy's Princess Breakfast specifically, we have eaten there twice with no problems. We let the CM know when we made our ADRs and reiterated the allergy situation at the front desk as well as with the waiter. He was sure to tell us that our daughter's meal was peanut- and nut-free as well as the fact that it was prepared in separate pans.

Hope this info helps!

DVCDawn