Food Allergy Questions

[dizcrazee]

Hi everyone, I'm just wondering how far in advance I should send in my food allergy form? Also, how far in advance do you call the number given for FA by the dining reservation service?

Also, these are the places we are planning to eat for our upcoming trip - please share any thoughts/experiences that you have had with them. My dd has peanut and tree nut allergies.

1900 Park Fare (dinner)
California Grill (dinner)
Liberty Tree Tavern (dinner)
Trail's End (breakfast and dinner)
Rose and Crown Pub (dinner)
Pecos Bill's (lunch)
Casey's hot dogs (lunch)
Dole Whip
Turkey legs

What other snacks do you recommend for peanut/tree nut? What about safe soft serve ice cream (no nuts in stand/restaurant)? Also, are the divvies products good?

We've been to WDW several times, but we are always excited (and nervous) because we don't eat in restaurants at home due to FA.

Thanks for sharing your experience!

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Hi and to disABILITIES!

If you click on where it says "disABILTIES" at the top of this page it will take you to the Index. One of the top items is the "disABILTIES FAQ" which will gives lots of useful information. Post #3 has a lot of information and links in the section on Dietary Needs.

Or, if you want an easier route, click on the link in my signature.

Also, I would just make sure that your resaervations indicate allergies.

For quick service locations your best bet is immediately ask for a manager. There will not be one, however, at the Dole Whip stand, and probably not at the Turkey Leg locations.

1900 Park Fare and (I think) Trail's End have soft-serve machines as part of the buffet. You would just want to makes sure the dishes are not near the nuts.

 

[dizcrazee]

Thanks for your response, Cheshire Figment! This is always such a great place for information.

 

[pudge the fish]

I can respond to the Divies Question
The Cookies are not good IMO very dry and I like a chewy cookie
Jelly beans YUM
the brownies are to DIE for IMO

I am only allowed to have half of one but they are soo good

please email the special diets team and they will send you info on foods they feel are "safe " for your allergy. You need to check a lot because what may be good on Monday may not be safe on Tuesday.

WDW rocks when it comes to food allergies
I feel safe eating there

 

[mechurchlady]

How severe is your daughter's allergies? There is touch, inhalation, severe reactions, and moderate to mild reactions.

For inhalation I would avoid any place that has lots of nuts like ice cream parlours.
For touch you should bring wipes and scour tables and any furniture the kid might touch in a restaurant.

The chefs at WDW restaurants, except for a couple that are not on your list, are outstanding and will help you out. They can get you a fresh container of ice cream to serve from. They will come to your table and talk you through the menu or bufftet. You can get a list of items that are nut free. Also know what you can eat that are nut free as there are lots of prepackaged foods available in the parks like chips, drinks and ice cream bars.

I have celiac so it is NO wheat at all. For buffets the chef can make special dishes if the person cannot partake in the buffet. The problem with the buffets is cross contamination. In San Antonio at a buffet line I cringed and was about to throttle an old man who took something from the pan and then banged over and over and over the spoon onto a flour tortilla. As he put the spoon back all I could see was that ladle with wheat on it. People do not understand cross contamination or sometimes they are cLumsy and drop a crouton into a salad bowl or walnut salad into the beans. The WDW staff will make sure you get nut free food at buffets.

 

[Selket]

We've done most of these places and had no problems.

We personally love the Divvies stuff - especially the cookies and caramel corn. I have not seen a Divvies brownie at WDW but they did have another packaged brownie that was gluten free and peanut free too I think. It has a fudge like consistency so I liked it (but it is my ds who has the allergy - he likes them too).

Last time we were there (Sept. '08) the dole whips and turkey legs were safe - but the new "allergy office" should be able to tell you beforehand rather than having to drag out a manager wouldn't you think? Brenda Bennett used to send out these food lists for all the parks with info like that for the fast food and carts. We do *NOT* avoid coconut - if you do then the dole whips and other things could be out. (see this FAAN article on coconut: http://www.foodallergy.org/allergens/treenut.html)

Good luck!

 

[BeckyScott]

My DS really liked the Divvies jellybeans.

What we did often was-- we were on dining plan and we'd do counter-service lunch at POP and he would get the jellybeans as his dessert. But we'd save them for snack later.

 

[dizcrazee]

Thanks for your responses, everyone! I can't wait to try the divvies! It just means so much to us that dd can actually eat in a restaurant safely at WDW. We don't trust any restaurants at home (except Domino's Pizza) because of past scares (pecan hidden in a stack of pancakes, for instance). I love WDW!

 

[sorul82?]

How severe is your daughter's allergies? There is touch, inhalation, severe reactions, and moderate to mild reactions.

For inhalation I would avoid any place that has lots of nuts like ice cream parlours.

and Goofy's at DTD.

 

[dizcrazee]

She is contact/inhalation reactive, so we will avoid the ice cream parlors. We are also trying to avoid places that serve PBJ. Just too scary!

 

[Selket]

She is contact/inhalation reactive, so we will avoid the ice cream parlors. We are also trying to avoid places that serve PBJ. Just too scary!

My younger son is contact allergic too and we've had no problems in the places that serve PB&J - so many places do that it is hard to avoid. I think they've taken it off the buffet at CP. Many of the counter service places have the pocket PB&J ones (uncrustables). We've been going to WDW with the peanut allergy since he was 3 - a younger kid could be under the tables, high chairs, etc. I'd be more concerned.

My son isn't inhalation allergic - I'm curious how you found that out and what situations she reacts? I always wonder if he just hasn't been exposed to it in the air or if he really isn't inhalation sensitive.

 

[mechurchlady]

http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/dining/diningmain.cfm
You can search where it says "buffet" for anything you want like buffet, peanut, or cookies for example.

I always ask how severe the reaction is. When you enter a restaurant tell the greeter that your child is inhalant allergic to peanuts and tree nuts. Tell her that you can not have those within a certain distance of your child. Someone brought place mats and definitely bring wipes to scrub the table. Some parents bring their own lunch for the kids so you never know what you will be touching. She should be careful with what she touches in parks as well since she is so sensitive. Most like she will not be in line and touch a railing that a kid touches and he had peanuts for lunch. I have read one too many playground contamination story is why my concern.

Big hugs and chocolates
Laurie

 

[dizcrazee]

We know about the contact reactivity from a severe reaction she had after playing with a pine cone, believe it or not. We are less sure about airborne sensitivity, but she can't stand the smell of PB or nuts and leaves the area immediately when she smells it. I would only be concerned about the airborne situation if we were in a small enclosed area with open PB or nuts close at hand (speaking only for us, of course).

 

[DVCDawn]

Quote: Last time we were there (Sept. '08) the dole whips and turkey legs were safe - but the new "allergy office" should be able to tell you beforehand rather than having to drag out a manager wouldn't you think?

"Allergy office" -- What?! Do tell This might be the greatest news yet!

DVCDawn

 

[mechurchlady]

Quote: Last time we were there (Sept. '08) the dole whips and turkey legs were safe - but the new "allergy office" should be able to tell you beforehand rather than having to drag out a manager wouldn't you think?

"Allergy office" -- What?! Do tell This might be the greatest news yet!

DVCDawn

Yep, Sue posted the info a while back and it is in the FAQs. There is now a department dedicated to special diets.

 

[Selket]

We know about the contact reactivity from a severe reaction she had after playing with a pine cone, believe it or not. We are less sure about airborne sensitivity, but she can't stand the smell of PB or nuts and leaves the area immediately when she smells it.

Interesting! Is there something about pine cones that I don't know? My son has handled them without a problem. He had a reaction to touching peanut butter so that is how we found out. He has never noticed the smell of peanut butter so I'm hoping that is a non-issue for him - I still would not feel safe in an airplane with everyone eating peanuts and having the peanut dust in a confined area like that, etc.

 

[dizcrazee]

Selket, she's allergic to pine nuts, so that's why the reaction after playing with a pine cone. Strange, but true.

 

[hopefor4]

Having just returned with a son with special needs, and a daughter with peanut/milk allergy...this trip was amazing! The service we recieved from Disney was incredible, and it was over Christmas when everyone was super busy! Walt would be proud!

We had ADR and at the time of booking I told the CM about my DD allergies. Before we left I got a call from the Luau staff, and while we were on site, the Hoop Dee Do Revue people called with our menu options. At each restuarant (we did a lot over 12 days!) the chef came out to talk to me about what they could make for my DD. Being 2, she would tend to have pasta with oil and garlic, fruit, tapioca roll etc. for dinner, with Gelato for dessert. Breakfast they made her special waffles, or we would just do Cereal (mini box) and soy milk.

The standards they have are incredible, and I felt very safe. The only concern I would have had was buffets, and I was amazed that the chef made her plate for her in the back!

So just let them know, and enjoy!

We are already saving for our next vacation! It is the first time I can say my family relaxed and enjoyed every moment of being a kids!

Michelle

 

[dizcrazee]

Hi Michelle, thanks for the great report - I'm glad everything went well for your family!

 

[IllumFan]

Is Brenda Bennett still available to contact for help with food allergies (I've read she's fantastic) or do you know need to contact the special email address SpecialDiets@DisneyWorld.com for help?

TIA