Food allergy at USF/IOA? Forget it!

[Eric Julie and Hailey]

I must take a moment to report the HORRIBLE manner in which allergies to food are treated at USF and IOA. The food folks at these parks really need to learn something from the folks at Disney about this issue.

We had both gluten and dairy allergies in our group. Finding a satisfactory counter service meal was a joke. The counter service folks were polite, but very unknowledgeable ("what's gluten?"). They had no ingredient lists handy. And, each time we wanted to eat - it took 15 minutes of finding someone with the proper knowledge before we could make any purchase. Gluten allergies were limited to one item - usually a plain salad with grilled chicken.

Consider this, too: The all you can eat deal is worthless with food allergies -- because the choices are so limited. For example, the child in our group with a dairy allergy had zero options available to her. That's just absurd in my opinion.

We won't be back to Universal or IOA for a long time because of this issue.

By way of comparison: ANY food service at Disney has a policy for food allergies. The cashier gets a manager (who arrives in seconds). The manager is armed with an organized notebook of all ingredients in every food product they serve at the location. Most locations also had a quick reference guide, too. Our dairy-free child was able to choose from lots of options (i.e. hot dog on a dairy free roll - instead of regular roll). Tofutti ice cream instead of dairy ice cream. Etc. She felt "normal" -- as opposed to isolated at USF/IOA. Moreover, her parents were able to enjoy the day and relax knowing her food needs were covered. IOA/USF became stressful for all not knowing when or if food decent could be found. (Thank goodness for Sweet Tomatoes nearby!)

 

[oliver200137724]

I must take a moment to report the HORRIBLE manner in which allergies to food are treated at USF and IOA. The food folks at these parks really need to learn something from the folks at Disney about this issue.

We had both gluten and dairy allergies in our group. Finding a satisfactory counter service meal was a joke. The counter service folks were polite, but very unknowledgeable ("what's gluten?"). They had no ingredient lists handy. And, each time we wanted to eat - it took 15 minutes of finding someone with the proper knowledge before we could make any purchase. Gluten allergies were limited to one item - usually a plain salad with grilled chicken.

Consider this, too: The all you can eat deal is worthless with food allergies -- because the choices are so limited. For example, the child in our group with a dairy allergy had zero options available to her. That's just absurd in my opinion.

We won't be back to Universal or IOA for a long time because of this issue.

By way of comparison: ANY food service at Disney has a policy for food allergies. The cashier gets a manager (who arrives in seconds). The manager is armed with an organized notebook of all ingredients in every food product they serve at the location. Most locations also had a quick reference guide, too. Our dairy-free child was able to choose from lots of options (i.e. hot dog on a dairy free roll - instead of regular roll). Tofutti ice cream instead of dairy ice cream. Etc. She felt "normal" -- as opposed to isolated at USF/IOA. Moreover, her parents were able to enjoy the day and relax knowing her food needs were covered. IOA/USF became stressful for all not knowing when or if food decent could be found. (Thank goodness for Sweet Tomatoes nearby!)

Im sorry that your trip to Universal and IOA was so stressful. The only suggestion that i could give is that with all the allergy problems that you had in your group, you could have called universal and asked them for a list of resturants that had special menu's for special needs. and they could have probably told you then before the trip of if any resturant that could serve you. And if there wasnt then you could have brought things in for the ones that couldn't eat in the park. I know that US and IOA wants everyones trip to be as stressfree as possible. But it sounds like to me that you are a die hard Disney fan and that no other park will stand up to what you experience at Disney. Again i hate that you didn't enjoy your time at US and IOA but these parks are so much more than what they serve.

 

[Planogirl]

I don't like the meal deal either and we have no allergies. It's way too limited.

I think that the Citywalk and hotel restaurants might be the best if a person has allergies. I don't think that the parks are geared for that but hopefully that will change as time goes on.

 

[damo]

If you would have contacted the resort in advance you would have found that the park will bend over backwards to accommodate you. There have even been reports here of the chefs at the restaurants personally calling the visitor to arrange special dining for the guest in need. Stopping at guest services at the front of the park would have helped as well. Universal doesn't deal with the quantity of people that WDW does and so its availability of specialty foods is done on a personal level.

 

[Eric Julie and Hailey]

If you would have contacted the resort in advance you would have found that the park will bend over backwards to accommodate you. There have even been reports here of the chefs at the restaurants personally calling the visitor to arrange special dining for the guest in need. Stopping at guest services at the front of the park would have helped as well. Universal doesn't deal with the quantity of people that WDW does and so its availability of specialty foods is done on a personal level.

IMHO, it should not require an advance call to handle counter service dining. Sit-down dining -- yes. Counter service -- no.

Yes, I am a die hard Disney fan. But, I was not anti-Universal until this trip. In fact, I worked there long ago!

 

[damo]

IMHO, it should not require an advance call to handle counter service dining. Sit-down dining -- yes. Counter service -- no.

Yes, I am a die hard Disney fan. But, I was not anti-Universal until this trip. In fact, I worked there long ago!

I still think you should have checked out the dining possibilities before you went. It would have saved you a lot of anguish. There are many places to eat at the parks for people with food allergies. I'm actually surprised that you wouldn't have checked. We get inquiries about it here all the time. It seems to be the first thing on the agenda for people with special requirements.

 

[livndisney]

If you would have contacted the resort in advance you would have found that the park will bend over backwards to accommodate you. There have even been reports here of the chefs at the restaurants personally calling the visitor to arrange special dining for the guest in need. Stopping at guest services at the front of the park would have helped as well. Universal doesn't deal with the quantity of people that WDW does and so its availability of specialty foods is done on a personal level.

I'm sorry, this is not our experience in going to Universal/IOA. We have been told on more than one occasion that Universal/IOA does not have to provide any assistance in dining with allergies and they have not. We have called and been told to ask when we arrive. We arrive and ask and they look at us as if we have two heads. First Aid did once offer to store our lunch for us (brought from home), but according to what we were told we could not bring our lunch in. So we stopped going to Universal/IOA.

 

[damo]

This is what I came up with in a google search:

Thank you for contacting Universal Orlando®.
It was a pleasure speaking to you via telephone. As we discussed, we offer a variety of fresh, delicious food for our guests to enjoy. For the convenience of our guests with special dietary needs, we have chefs in residence at each of our full-service restaurants (Lombard’s Seafood Grille and Finnegan’s Bar & Grill in Universal Studios Florida®, and Mythos Restaurant® and Confisco Grille® in Universal’s Islands of Adventure®) who can create meals customized to suit individual tastes and needs. In addition, the managers at any of our quick-service restaurants can assist with specific menu questions to help you select appropriate items during your visit.

For the convenience of our guests with gluten allergies, Monsters Café in Universal Studios Florida®, and the Thunder Falls Terrace in Islands of Adventure®, offer the following gluten-free options: roasted chicken; smoked chicken; smoked ribs; smoked turkey legs; roasted potatoes with onions, fresh herbs, salt, and pepper; roasted corn; baked potatoes; french fries cooked in canola oil; and salads.

In addition, our full-service restaurants serve gluten-free pasta, and food carts throughout the parks serve apples, oranges, grapes, watermelon slices. The lemon slush drinks and turkey legs available throughout the parks are also gluten-free.

I hope this information is helpful. If you have any other questions or concerns, please feel free to call us at (407) 224-4233, option nine (9).

 

[damo]

I'm sorry, this is not our experience in going to Universal/IOA. We have been told on more than one occasion that Universal/IOA does not have to provide any assistance in dining with allergies and they have not. We have called and been told to ask when we arrive. We arrive and ask and they look at us as if we have two heads. First Aid did once offer to store our lunch for us (brought from home), but according to what we were told we could not bring our lunch in. So we stopped going to Universal/IOA.

Lots of people bring their own lunch.

Personally, I have never had to deal with this issue but am just reporting on what people have posted here.

 

[livndisney]

Lots of people bring their own lunch.

Personally, I have never had to deal with this issue but am just reporting on what people have posted here.

We deal with allergies everyday and have found Universal/IOA to be less than helpful when it comes to dealing with allergies. We actually had GS on the phone tell me that with HP opening they did not need our business. LOL

 

[dizcrazee]

I'm glad to see this thread because we are planning a trip to US in November and my daughter has severe, anaphylactic food allergies. We have been thinking that maybe we could bring in sandwiches and just buy fruit, chips, and drinks there. I need to know the answers to these questions...any help is appreciated!

1. Will they stop me from bringing in an insulated "lunch box" size cooler with sandwiches in it? I will have a doctor's note with me.

2. Do they have sealed bags of chips like you can get at a convenience store there? If so, where are in the park are they sold?

3. Where can you find the fruit?

This is our first visit and I don't want us to be wondering all over the park in a desperate search for chips and fruit to go with our turkey sandwiches.

 

[fairyprincess88]

It's funny that I had quite the different experience at Universal this July when it came to food allergies. We spent 3 days at the parks, with a gluten free/no dairy allergy and we had no issues whatsoever in finding help with it.

For example at the Three Broomsticks during an extremely busy lunch time(wait times over an hour), my cousin simply asked the cashier if she had any knowledge on gluten free/dairy free foods. The cashier immediately went and got a cook who came out right away and talked with us. He explained what she could have/not have and took her order himself to make so as not to have any cross-contamination issues, then told us to pay and have a seat and he'd bring the meals out. Not too long later it all came hot and fresh and complete with a free Divvies brownie for dessert. It was amazing service and we were very thankful for it as we are both huge Potter fans and eating at the Three Broomsticks was a big deal for us.

We also had no issues with anywhere else we ate that trip, counter service or table. We never went to one place where if the cashier/waiter could not provide us with correct information, that they didnt find someone who could. All we had to do was ask. Im sorry you didnt have the same experience as we did.

 

[yankeepenny]

I had no problem with having food allergies getting any help at any sit down or counter service at U. When I go in a couple of weeks , I already informed the resort on the reservation onsite, and I will let the TS folks know. I have already checked some menus.

I have always had a good experience with U and this issue. I am sorry your experience was not better, but in my opinion i do believe a little more work is required of us with the issue beforehand.

 

[damo]

I'm glad to see this thread because we are planning a trip to US in November and my daughter has severe, anaphylactic food allergies. We have been thinking that maybe we could bring in sandwiches and just buy fruit, chips, and drinks there. I need to know the answers to these questions...any help is appreciated!

1. Will they stop me from bringing in an insulated "lunch box" size cooler with sandwiches in it? I will have a doctor's note with me.

2. Do they have sealed bags of chips like you can get at a convenience store there? If so, where are in the park are they sold?

3. Where can you find the fruit?

This is our first visit and I don't want us to be wondering all over the park in a desperate search for chips and fruit to go with our turkey sandwiches.

No, they won't stop you from bringing in a soft sided cooler. Fruit is all over the park, you won't have any trouble finding it. Several carts carry a really nice selection. There is a large one in the Wizarding World. I'm not sure about chips but someone else will let you know.

 

[SharkyGoddess]

This is what I came up with in a google search:

Thank you for contacting Universal Orlando®.
It was a pleasure speaking to you via telephone. As we discussed, we offer a variety of fresh, delicious food for our guests to enjoy. For the convenience of our guests with special dietary needs, we have chefs in residence at each of our full-service restaurants (Lombard’s Seafood Grille and Finnegan’s Bar & Grill in Universal Studios Florida®, and Mythos Restaurant® and Confisco Grille® in Universal’s Islands of Adventure®) who can create meals customized to suit individual tastes and needs. In addition, the managers at any of our quick-service restaurants can assist with specific menu questions to help you select appropriate items during your visit.

For the convenience of our guests with gluten allergies, Monsters Café in Universal Studios Florida®, and the Thunder Falls Terrace in Islands of Adventure®, offer the following gluten-free options: roasted chicken; smoked chicken; smoked ribs; smoked turkey legs; roasted potatoes with onions, fresh herbs, salt, and pepper; roasted corn; baked potatoes; french fries cooked in canola oil; and salads.

In addition, our full-service restaurants serve gluten-free pasta, and food carts throughout the parks serve apples, oranges, grapes, watermelon slices. The lemon slush drinks and turkey legs available throughout the parks are also gluten-free.

I hope this information is helpful. If you have any other questions or concerns, please feel free to call us at (407) 224-4233, option nine (9).

EXCELLENT information Damo!!!

Hopefully those with food issues will take a little time to do some research and save themselves the aggravation. I know when ever I venture out of my comfort zone of travel places I always spend time researching the area and making plans to take the stress off of my trip

 

[Babboo]

IMHO, it should not require an advance call to handle counter service dining. Sit-down dining -- yes. Counter service -- no.

Yes, I am a die hard Disney fan. But, I was not anti-Universal until this trip. In fact, I worked there long ago!

You're right - it should not require advance calls but seeing as it's YOUR allergies you are dealing with and it's YOUR family you are taking care of it's YOUR responsibility to check first.

Let me ask, do you throw a hissy when you go to a restaurant near your home and they have gluten or dairy products on the menu? Hopefully not (but I get a feeling you probably do). Most sane people would simply take their allergies into consideration and order something else. Knowing that counter service is exactly no different @ USIOA / US as it is any ANY disney park you will know it's a set menu per station and there's nothing the counter-service employees can do but apologize to you for something they cannot control.

Better suggestion for the future - PLAN AHEAD. If you are unsure what a counter service or any other restaurant will have on the menu check it in advance.

Second suggestion - you are not a special case. They are accommodating to MILLIONS of people at both parks each year and a fair-good number of those people have food allergies. The parks DO have alternate menus available and other choices available through the park. You boast you are a former US employee and therefore likely knew / know what is available where so you are really just trying your best to create a mountain out of a molehill.

The parks are for having fun and unfortunately you did not even try to plan ahead. The onus of having a bad time rests solely with you.

 

[bubba's mom]

I still think you should have checked out the dining possibilities before you went. It would have saved you a lot of anguish. There are many places to eat at the parks for people with food allergies. I'm actually surprised that you wouldn't have checked. We get inquiries about it here all the time. It seems to be the first thing on the agenda for people with special requirements.

i don't think the OP asked over on this side. he/she only have a few posts on this side of the DIS....mostly a Disney poster.

There are a LOT of food allergy posts on this side....the OP could have posted a new thread asking or asked where to find his/her answers. Then they would have been better prepared for their trip and not felt so isolated while they were there.

 

[dizcrazee]

Thanks, Damo! You are a terrific resource person for US trip-planners! Thanks also for the phone number you posted; I'm going to call to see what else might be available for persons dealing with our particular allergies.

 

[Eric Julie and Hailey]

There is quite a loyal -- and somewhat hostile US following on this side on the boards, isn't there?

Yes, I agree -- I should have done more advance research on USF/IOA. The full story is that we planned to eat at Mythos on our IOA day -- and offsite on our USF day. We changed plans at the last minute on both days. I did not research plan Bs for the allergies in our group. My bad.

My initial comment was directed at the difference we experienced at the Universal parks versus the Disney parks. At Disney - the word "allergy" set off a protocol whereby those with food allergies are very well cared for -- virtually everywhere. No advance planning required. We walked into a counter service at Disney and the children's allergy needs were cheerfully met. At Universal, when we said "allergy" we experienced confused and uneducated or undereducated employees and very limited options. It's not hard to have dairy free or gluten free hamburger or hot dog rolls stocked at counter service restaurants, for example. If Disney does it, why is it so hard for their direct competitor?

We don't expect our allergies to be accommodated in the "outside world". We usually select restaurants that we know can meet our needs. When we travel, we lower our expectations and sometimes are pleasantly surprised -- other times not. As I said, the issue here is that in our experience (which apparently is not the same as everyone else's) one set of theme parks handled the issue beautifully -- the other did not.

 

[WWEDUDE]

The way I look at it, you have to plan for everything else at Disney.. this is just about the only thing that you have to plan in advance at Universal.