Food Allergies around the World

[erinch]

Hi--I posted this question on the restaurant board, and rather got flamed, so I thought I would try you more sympathetic folk here.

The Background--We have a 13yo DS with life-threatening anaphylactic food allergies to milk, egg, tree nut and peanut products. Also severe asthma. Also have a 5yo perfectly healthy drip-dry DD, who loves characters, and, particularly, princesses.

The Situation--We have always found the chefs at Disney to be very sympathetic to our predicament and go out of their way to give him a special meal he can eat. (All labels have to be checked for whey/sodium caseinate as well as the obvious culprits.) We have had restaurants send out for sorbet from a sister restaurant so he could have dessert like everyone else. Disney has always been our safe haven where our kid can feel "special" in a world which can be pretty miserable to live in if you're 13, and have food allergies.

But--last time we were at WDW--with a character-loving Princess in tow--we made reservations with some trepidation at the Crystal Palace, which is buffet rather than individually prepared entrees. I had talked with the restaurant when I made the ressie, which assured me it would not be a problem to order alternative food. I talked with a chef the day before to confirm, and we agreed upon what would be provided. (We're not talking fancy, mainly a chicken breast and potato without butter, and saving some jello without cool whip). When we arrived for our ressie my daughter fell in love with piglet, we were sucked in the door, and they had no record of the pre-order for my son. They even brought out sherbet, rather than sorbet, which would have killed him if he ate it. And they weren't in the least apologetic, which was a very new experience from the genuine concern we'd always experienced.

So--my questions:
1) Has WDW changed its policy regarding a commitment to special food preparation for food allergies?
2) Do they provide alternative foods at buffets, or only at individual serving restaurants?
3) If they will not do alternative food at buffets are there any character meals with individual food preparation which would give him safe food and keep the Princess of the Universe happy?
4) And the biggest question of all--my daughter wants more than anything on this planet to have breakfast at Cindy's. Has anyone had any success with ordering an alternate meal in that pre-plated environment?

thanks for your time,
Erin

 

[SueM in MN]

I don't have any answers for you, but just wanted to offer moral support.

I can't see why they would stop doing special food preparation for people with allergies, so I doubt that they have. your problem at Crystal Palace was probably just a bad communication problem.

 

[Wheelsie]

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!

 

[Michigan]

I try to only do the preplate character meals because it's eaiser then trying to get my 2 kids in their wheelchairs through the buffet. Artist Point used to be our favorite but they aren't doing pooh breakfast anymore. That being said we have also done Cindy's (I think the food stinks at the castle) but both places told me they would fix whatever I requested if my kids couldn't eat what they had on the regular preplate menu.

I wonder if you called the reservation number and asked for special guest assistance if they couldn't help you out.

 

[disykat]

erinch, I just want to write in support of another family with peanut allergies. The flaming posts this topic has brought up lately have been disheartening, to say the least. I think Disney's policy is to try to accomodate, but we have to be prepared for people who refuse or mistakes that are made. We leave tomorrow and are not planning any character meals so I have no advice on that issue. Best wishes!

I might not get back to check the boards again before leaving, but I am curious as whether other people with disabilities have experienced such negative comments from other DISers. Prior to this experience I had been so pleased with the friendliness and accepting attitude on this board.

 

[SueM in MN]

As anyplace, there are postitive and negative experiences. Many of the DIS posters with disabilities, come to the disABILTIES Board to discuss any special needs. It's sort of like a safe haven, where most people have "been there, done that". Because of that, I don't think I've ever even had to post a "play nice" warning on this board. I have done that and/or referred posts to the moderator on other boards.

 

[mummajea]

My DD also has a severe allergy to nuts and peanuts. So many people just do not understand these allergies it drives me nuts!!! (no pun intended).

we went to make ressies at the Wonderland tea party, but then found out that they serve PBJ's. as well as chicken sandiwches. We asked if they could only serve the chicken sandwiches the day we wanted to attend , and they said yes, but they couldn't guarentee us that the tables and chairs would be throughly cleaned. You know how kids are with sticky fingers and all!!! We decided that it wasn't worth the risk.

On the whole we avoid buffets, even at home. It just isn't worth it to us. I would rather spend the extra bucks and not have the emergencty room visit.

All in all though, when I have talked to Disney, they have assured me that they would make special accomadations for diets. We were told to check in with our hotel adn have them help us contyact restuarants, adn the main chefs to arrange special meals.

I am going to do a second post with the answer I recieved from WDW site when inquired about meals. hope it helps.

Jean

 

[mummajea]

Thank you for contacting WALT DISNEY WORLD!

We appreciate your interest in learning what arrangements might be possible in
our theme park and resort restaurants for guests with specific dietary
restrictions. First, please know that the chefs and managers in our
full-service restaurants are always happy to provide information regarding not
only the ingredients of menu selections, but also how items are prepared. In
many instances, food may be specially prepared to accommodate particular dietary
restrictions.

It is also sometimes possible for our restaurants to prepare food items using
special ingredients (gluten-free flour, for example). For this reason, we
encourage you to make your particular restriction known when booking priority
seating arrangements for our full-service restaurants, so that the appropriate
notation may be made. Priority seating may be arranged up to 120 days in
advance for selected restaurants by calling 407-WDW-DINE (407-939-3463).

You may also be interested to know that with very few exceptions, our
restaurants use only canola oil in the preparation of our food. According to
our Epcot Executive Chef, canola oil contains the lowest percentage of saturated
fat of all the commonly used cooking oils. Peanut oil, however, is used in our
restaurants featuring oriental cuisine, because of its higher smoke point. This
is an important consideration for items being stir-fried, for example, as other
oils tend to burn when used at such high temperatures.

If you have specific inquiries or would like recommendations regarding the food
served at the park restaurants, you are welcome to call the executive chefs or
Food and Beverage managers for our theme parks, at the telephone numbers listed
below. If no one is immediately available when you call, please be sure to
leave a message and a telephone number where you may be reached.

Magic Kingdom Park: 407-824-5967
Epcot: 407-560-7942
Disney-MGM Studios: 407-560-1347
Disney's Animal Kingdom: 407-939-7536 (Please note Walt Disney World Co operates
no full-service restaurants in this park.)

We would also like to mention that as an exception to our standard policy,
guests who have specific food allergies are welcome to bring their own small
snack items with them into the theme parks. However, picnic baskets, ice
chests, and coolers are not permitted.

We hope this information is helpful, and we look forward to future opportunities
to entertain you.

If you have questions or need further assistance, feel free to contact us.

Please include your full name, E-Mail address, and reservation number if
applicable on all correspondence, and allow up to 72 hours for response to
E-Mail.

Thank you - and have a DISNEY day!

Sincerely,

William Ferguson

On Line Guest Service
WALT DISNEY WORLD Reservations
P O Box 10,100
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830-0100

 

[sha_lyn]

mummajea..please check you prvate messages I sent you one concerning a post on peanut allergies. For anyone else interest I was outraged by the reactions some people were have toward the parents of children with peanut allergies. I posted on the debate board becasue I felt the post by the mothers of allergic kids were getting vey heated. I could not believe the insesitivity some of our own Dis'ers were having concernign a couple of simple questions concering what airlins have peanut free filghts or wraning other mothers that the pirate cruise menu was changed to include a peanutbutter and jelly sandwich.
Please check out the thread if you can stand to read some very nasty remarks about children with allergies should not be allowed out of their homes and inconvience the general public with their life threatening conditions. Debate board

 

[faeflora]

erinch and mummajea,

I have no information on disney's policy for adjusting meals other than what was discussed previously in this post however I would like to offer my support and understanding in this issue. I had no idea how serious peanut allergies were until I had first hand experience. My Dh and I were traveling to Wilmington NC to visit our closest friends, they have a daughter named Arielle and so we were going to visit the whole family and play at the beach. When we arrived at their home there was a note saying they had rushed to the hospital something was wrong with Arielle. Turns out they had chosen to serve peanut butter crackers as a snack that day, Arielle had gotten some on her finger and rubbed her eye, she started swelling up and had trouble breathing. They had no idea she was allergic to peanuts since neither the mom or dad were allergic. Now they know and there is always an epi kit ready, we take great precautions to insure that there are no peanut or peanut products in her area. They just enrolled her in a Montessori school who immediately banned all peanut items from the school.
I am amazed that in other posts regarding this subject there have been flames toward the parents of children with this life threatening allergy. I am so sorry that this has occured on what I feel is an overall infomative board.
I also welcome you to the disAbilities board, where I have never seen flames only support and understanding.

Sorry so long just felt I had to say something.....



Faeflora

30 days and counting until WDW

 

[mummajea]

Thanks for the support. I can't read the debate board thread. I started to and just got disgusted. It is beyaond anger. I just don't undertstand how people can be so self centered. What I try to remeber is the old adasge, "You really don't know how it feels till it happens to you!"

I refuse to get into a debate with people on this issue. My DD new by the time she was 3 years old never to eat anything she wasn't absolutely positive was SAFE!!!

She won't even eat special treats at school, even if she is reassured that the are safe. She doesn't like the feeling of being sick either!! Oh well I guess I will never have to worry about her taking candy from strangers.

 

[FergieTCat]

I just read in a magazine that nut allergies are particularly dangerous because nuts (or nut products) are found in foods that you'd never even dream of. Why would anyone adopt a blase attitude about that, especially if the end result would be a child being rushed to the emergency room in shock????

I read this board because I find the energy here so positive. I also found lots of hints regarding my various health problems (non-threatening, but Disney is no fun with tendonitis and a resulting back problem).

As I once told a friend of mine, everyone is handicapped. Some people's just aren't initially evident.

Donna

 

[rascalmom]

Gosh, I'm sorry your guy has to deal with so much! I have a sever seafood/fish allergy & just returned from a trip. My allergy is a little easier to avoid, but I do have to alway check on sauces, etc. (BBQ especially) because they often contain Worchestshire sauce which is made from anchovies (who knew). I went to the Polynesian Luau not realizing they were going to serve family style with Fried Rice containing shrimp. I informed my waitress & she immediately said she would bring me a completely "seafood free" meal. She even double checked w/ the chef on the BBQ ribs. She told me that Disney has done a lot of research in their menus & food contents & that I should always just inform my waitperson. For you Princess loving DD, I can highly recommend the Character Breakfast at Cinderella's Castle. Call a day or 2 before your reservation & make sure they are aware of your son's dietary needs. Good Luck!

 

[erinch]

thank you all for your support, and the information.

our little guy, who is the bravest person I know, has an amazing spirit.
the entire time he was in elementary school he had to eat in the nurse's office, because he was allergic to the food vapors. His milk allergy is so life-threatening that one time a kid sitting next to him laughed at a joke and accidently spit some milk into Graham's eye. He had to be rushed to the emergency room, and we feared he would lose his eyesight. When a babysitter ate cheese doritos, then touched his face without washing her hand, the hives and lesions took almost a month to heal. This last february he was in anaphylaxis because he got one shred of cheese mixed in with the lettuce on taco bar day.

The attitude of the folks on the debate board is incomprehensible to me. You can only hope they never have to face the same kind of impossible situation. Or maybe you hope that they do. Sigh.

Based on your feedback, I now feel ready to try to wend my way between the Princess and the Allergic DS. Hopefully the Crystal Palace experience was just an aberration.

thanks,
Erin

 

[mssocks]

Re: The Infamous Debate Board Peanut Thread

I was very disgusted myself with some of the posts on that thread. In fact, I stayed away from the board and put some DIS'ers on my ignore list because of it. If it makes you feel any better ( and I know it won't ) the people who were totally.....uuummmmm.....less than sympathetic? ( can't use another phrase without making it sound like a personal attack ).....are that way about ALL topics, not just peanuts. They seem to find pleasure in taking the unpopular view and heaven forbid if you choose to disagree. Or if you choose to use the phrase heaven forbid too! Everything turns into a bashfest of religion or weight. It's a shame because some of the posters have really good insights and I have enjoyed their presentations on their views. It's also a shame because I am a fat Christian who thinks that people should WANT to do whatever they can to protect a childs health. ( I'm not too popular over there.)

Please don't lump all the debate board people together. Some are wonderful, thoughtful caring people ( even when they disagree with me! ). I know you realize that and were only comments on the "not nice" people.
Gosh, it's hard to say what I mean without being nasty!
Hope I am making sense.....

 

[lisapooh]

There are many one the debate board that face that and much more every day.
I have to say that we have dealt with my daughter's peanut, shellfish, dairy and onion allergies without asking for a total ban on the products that are problems. She is 23 now and deals with them hereself. We have eaten at the Crystal Palace and have found them to be very accommodating to the point of the chef going and cooking her something she could have. They have also gone to other places to provide her with a fruit ice.
For me they have gone elsewhere to provide a sugar free low carb dessert. Their lovely cheesecake is off limits because just as my daughter I have a dairy allergy.
I use peanut butter crackers as a snack to keep my blood sugar from plummeting without warning. My dh always serves them to me on paper towels so that it never touches a plate.
Some people must balance allergies against other medical conditions in their families.

 

[SueM in MN]

I don't want this thread to turn into a debate, but I feel like I need to say something about the debate board and the discussions there.
One of the problems with communicating in writing is that all you get is the written words, not the tone of voice or facial expressions that might give the message a different meaning. When talking with someone, you can respond and clarify at the time, also cutting down on misunderstandings. Sometimes I write something that sounds really good to me, but I know what tone and feeling goes along with it. Someone who doesn't know that might read the message as something very different than what I think it says.
I do have to agree that most of the people on the debate board are very nice people; some are very passionate about their beliefs and want to get information out. I also have to agree that some people seem to post to the debate board because they do enjoy taking an unpopular view. Sometimes the best thing to do is leaving the debate before any feelings get hurt.

 

[mssocks]

Well stated, Sue!

 

[disykat]

Yes, Lisapooh, we all understand and sympathise with your situation. Once again I will reiterate that NOT ONCE HAVE I SEEN ANYONE HERE ASKING FOR A BAN! (There is a big difference between asking for a ban and checking beforehand to find which places are peanut free) We simply want a place to get questions and concerns addressed - please allow that.

We just got back from our trip and it was wonderful! We did have to worry a bit about sticky fingers because of all those PBJ sandwiches we saw (no different than any playground) but never had any problems with restaurants etc. We ate mostly fast food in the parks and had no problems finding safe foods. On the cruise the head waiter met with my son and personally double checked his meals - they really went above and beyond.

 

[lisapooh]

Glad your son was well treated at DIsney. They always do a first class job in my experience.
You may have never seen anyone ask for a ban but I have so don't yell at me. I don't appereciate being put down by you.
I will not discuss it agin with you. Any further comments by you and I will place you in my ignore file. I don't need your attacks.