Food Allergies - who takes care of it best

[mom2fivecs]

We have had some really great experiences dealing with ds's peanut allergy and then some so-so ones as well. Chef Mickeys was one the top, along with Pop Century Food Court and Biergarten. So-so would be O'hanas breakfast, would not feel comfortable there for dinner, and Chefs de France, made us feel we were bothering them. But overall, I would say the restaurants at Disney are far more accomadating than some of our places here at home.

 

[gigi1313]

Chef Mickey's (Allan is wonderful, he has a child with food allergies so he really understands!)

i agree, and mentioned Chef Allan in my previous post as well... he's the BEST!! he was great fun too and even gave us his autograph (in ds' autograph book) and we snapped a photo, which we sent to him w/our thank you note!

 

[Cupmom]

I think all our chefs were great last summer when we went. My husband is allergic to pine nuts and at each TS the chef came out and let him know what was safe. We ate at WWC,CM,CS,Tepp.MM,Ohana and CP each time the chef came out and was very helpful.

 

[Scornelius]

My husband has an allergy to fish, and we only had a problem with it once. At almost every restaurant the chef would come out and explain the menu to us. When we were at the Garden Grill, we knew the platter came with fish so we asked for chicken fingers instead. Dh's allergy was on the reservation, we mentioned it to the podium attendant, and again to our waiter. He assured us that he would take care of it. This was the one place the chef didn't personally talk with us. And wouldn't you know, it was the one time they screwed up! You guessed it, they brought out the fish! That irritated me enough, but then when I pointed it out to the waiter, he tried to tell me it was chicken. No, I can tell the difference between chicken and fish, thank you very much. Especially after I saw a kid getting the classic, seen every where in WDW chicken fingers-- they didn't look a thing like the fish!

 

[CPM]

I have always had great attention given to my food allergies at WDW. We tend to eat in the same restaurants while there, Spoodles, flying Fish, Boma and Kona.
I think it's great the chef comes out, he/she is the one ultimately responsible, so I'm sure they are just making sure.

The only place I remember having a problem was the Concourse Steakhouse, I asked if there was garlic in the french onion soup and the server said no, when I got it I could smell and see the large chunks of garlic in it
Servers really should know what is in the food! And, if they don't they should ask.

I remember a case in Ma. where a pizza chain was sued because the server told a guest that was allergic to nuts, that the sauce didn't contain any. The guest died from that allergy. It should be up to the management to well train the staff on menu items. It's a serious matter.

 

[Starr_DJ]

I agree that it is wonderful that WDW is so concerned about food allergies. However, most people (adults at least) know what they can and cannot eat. I am allergic to many foods (nothing life-threatening thank goodness, just enough to make my life miserable), so I am always cautious when we go out to eat. I don't usually let the people know I have allergies, but I do ask for plain items. When we were at Yachtsman Steakhouse last summer I asked the waiter for a plain chicken breast with nothing on it (spices, seasonings, etc.). The chef came out and made a big deal about it, asking what my allergies were, and actually forbidding me from eating a dessert I wanted to have since they could not guarantee what was in it. It was nice of them to be so concerned, but I think they went a little overboard with me. For those of you with life-threatening allergies, don't worry about eating at WDW - they will definitely look after you!

 

[nephthys43]

i have a peanut allergy and the chef at the brown derby came out and personally spoke with me and informed me that the entire restaurant was peanut-free for me that day. i was seriously impressed.

 

[LuckyMamaInDE]

DD12 has developed food allergies in the past six months. We were at WDW 30 days after her initial diagnosis and I had NO idea what to expect. I was prepared with information from Brenda Bennett and from online searching.

DD is allergic to soy, sesame, peanut, hazelnut and watermelon. Soy is in everything (it's like corn). Sesame is still not required to be on labels (it can be hidden in "natural flavoring" for example). We were very dependent on the chefs at the various table service restaurants AND on the ingredient binders at every counterservice location.

We ate at Boma, Crystal Palace, Akershus, Kona, 50s Prime Time, Marrakesh and Raglan Road. We had very good experiences with the chefs coming out to talk directly with dd12 (and not just dh and I---made her feel more normal than she had in the previous month) at all restaurants but Marrakesh and Raglan Road. At those two restaurants, just the server talked to us. That didn't make me feel very comfortable.

I was so impressed with Cosmic Ray's that we ate there twice. Both times the manager personally got freshly steamed carrots (they're tossed with a dressing containing sesame and soy) and stood over the rest of our food, watching it while holding the carrots, then carried the trays over to me. I almost cried the first time because I had been so stressed about the food issue.

 

[Cindy's Mom]

Yea but as good as WDW is with treating food allergies - I still CAN NOT believe that they conduct those pirate cruise for CHILDREN and they serve Peanut Butter. There is NO WAY in the world I am sending DD6.5 out there when there is peanut dust in the air. I've called several times and they say my DD would get a plain jelly sandwich, but they're missing the point. Why do they have to serve peanuts when children can die from contact of the nut?

 

[DeeCeeSW]

Yea but as good as WDW is with treating food allergies - I still CAN NOT believe that they conduct those pirate cruise for CHILDREN and they serve Peanut Butter. There is NO WAY in the world I am sending DD6.5 out there when there is peanut dust in the air. I've called several times and they say my DD would get a plain jelly sandwich, but they're missing the point. Why do they have to serve peanuts when children can die from contact of the nut?

Ooops, be careful when you bring up peanuts and the Pirate Cruise on these boards, Cindy's Mom. I did once and it caused quite an uproar...get your flame retardant suit on!

 

[disneynewbeemom]

Yea but as good as WDW is with treating food allergies - I still CAN NOT believe that they conduct those pirate cruise for CHILDREN and they serve Peanut Butter. There is NO WAY in the world I am sending DD6.5 out there when there is peanut dust in the air. I've called several times and they say my DD would get a plain jelly sandwich, but they're missing the point. Why do they have to serve peanuts when children can die from contact of the nut?

I completely agree with you! I have two boys who would love the pirates cruise, but there is no way I would even consider sending them on a boat where peanuts are served. I too am so surprised that Disney just doesn't stop serving PBJ sandwiches on these cruises. Or at least have one boat that is completely peanut free.

 

[MeLaNie9]

DD12 has developed food allergies in the past six months. We were at WDW 30 days after her initial diagnosis and I had NO idea what to expect. I was prepared with information from Brenda Bennett and from online searching.

DD is allergic to soy, sesame, peanut, hazelnut and watermelon. Soy is in everything (it's like corn). Sesame is still not required to be on labels (it can be hidden in "natural flavoring" for example). We were very dependent on the chefs at the various table service restaurants AND on the ingredient binders at every counterservice location.

We ate at Boma, Crystal Palace, Akershus, Kona, 50s Prime Time, Marrakesh and Raglan Road. We had very good experiences with the chefs coming out to talk directly with dd12 (and not just dh and I---made her feel more normal than she had in the previous month) at all restaurants but Marrakesh and Raglan Road. At those two restaurants, just the server talked to us. That didn't make me feel very comfortable.

I was so impressed with Cosmic Ray's that we ate there twice. Both times the manager personally got freshly steamed carrots (they're tossed with a dressing containing sesame and soy) and stood over the rest of our food, watching it while holding the carrots, then carried the trays over to me. I almost cried the first time because I had been so stressed about the food issue.

OMG I am so happy to read this - our DS is 8 months and is severely allergic to milk and also allergic to eggs. He was officially diagnosed right around the time we booked our upcoming trip. He will be 1 year old by then and I have been just terrified, confused, etc. about feeding him on this trip (and at home for that matter because at this point he's just eating baby food and soy formula so I haven't had to prepare anything for him). We have been in contact with Brenda Bennett and the head WDW chef, but hearing about real experiences is just so helpful. I have been so stressed about his, specifically for CS places (we are going to be on the DDP) so it is great to hear that efforts are made of allergic folks at those places as well! Frankly, I will be so so happy to have chefs come out to talk with me about what I can feed him!

 

[kyirish25]

Yea but as good as WDW is with treating food allergies - I still CAN NOT believe that they conduct those pirate cruise for CHILDREN and they serve Peanut Butter. There is NO WAY in the world I am sending DD6.5 out there when there is peanut dust in the air. I've called several times and they say my DD would get a plain jelly sandwich, but they're missing the point. Why do they have to serve peanuts when children can die from contact of the nut?

I'm with you on this! Not like they would allow a gun to be on board and for our children peanuts are exactly the same. Maybe we have taught them well enough not to touch it, but just maybe they will pick it up and take a closer look. Maybe they will lay it back down and nothing happen or maybe they pull the trigger (eat the peanut) and end up dead.

Using the gun theory is about the only way I have gotten others to realize how serious this is.

 

[DeeCeeSW]

Wow, I wish you guys were around when I was being belittled and told to not to be so "selfish" when I brought up the issue of peanuts and the GF Pirate Cruise last year.

But this is not about me...OP, WDW handles food allergies VERY well (with the exception of their policies regarding the pirate cruises). We have brought our DS (allergic to peanuts, eggs and shellfish, and at one time, wheat and gluten, now resolved) for the past 6 years and felt completely comfortable with him eating at the parks and restaurants. Every establishment has a book with a complete list of allergens/ingredients found in the food they serve and the CMs (at least the majority I've dealt with) are more than happy to assist you.

I've had GREAT experiences with the chefs at 'Ohana, Cape May, Chef Mickey's and Boma in particular.

Have a great trip!

 

[yasmina]

I completely agree with you! I have two boys who would love the pirates cruise, but there is no way I would even consider sending them on a boat where peanuts are served. I too am so surprised that Disney just doesn't stop serving PBJ sandwiches on these cruises. Or at least have one boat that is completely peanut free.

I paid almost $400 2 years ago for my dds (at the time 7 & 9 yo) to attend. My husband had to take them, as I have an airborn allergy to peanuts and other tree nuts. It broke my heart not to go with them, I cried the whole time they were there (although DH loved being the only guy in the room - except for the piano player ). When we got home from the trip, I got an survey email from Disney. I responded that everything was wonderful, but suggested that they could perhaps make one day a week at the tea party w/o PBJ. Never heard back from them.

Last year, our younger daughter was diagnosed with peanut allergy also. She had been in Sunday school making peanut butter pine cones to feed the birds. She didn't eat any, but just being in the room, she blew up like a balloon. Thank goodness she got to do the tea party before that.

Ohana's was the only restaurant where the chef came out. I was very impressed, as I've never seen that before. As a 40-something adult, I've lived with this allergy all my life and don't expect any special accomodations, but ask for clarification on food ingredients if I suspect any nut products at all. I am glad, however, that most airlines no longer serve peanuts for snacks. I once got sick just being on a plane where people were eating them. I'm teaching my daughter the same attitude also.

I love the gun analogy. I'm also very glad that schools have started to make accomodations for allergies. If anyone is interested (I won't go into it here), I can tell you a story about the home ec. teacher from you-know-where.

Two weeks from today we'll be on our way to the happiest place on earth. Yippee!

 

[Cindy's Mom]

Wow, I wish you guys were around when I was being belittled and told to not to be so "selfish" when I brought up the issue of peanuts and the GF Pirate Cruise last year.

I can't believe that people would call you selfish. I have taken the PB&J on the pirate cruises as my personal crusade. If you EVER find yourself in a thread about this topic and people aren't kind. PM me and I'll be there in a flash to defend our lefe threatend peanut allergy children. Sorry you had to be flamed back then.