Has dining with food allergies outside of top 8 improved?

[stargazertechie]

Hey all,

It's been awhile since I've been on the forums. We're planning a trip next spring with my kids' auntie who has multiple complex severe food allergies. When we took my son on his first trip in 2018, he had an anaphalacitc cinnamon allergy, and at the time they pretty much refused to accommodate. No chefs would speak to us, and none of the "allergy menus" were helpful to us. Luckily he was still mostly on baby food at the time, and we just fed him pouches galore on the trip.

We're hoping that my kids' auntie will be able to eat orally again by May (she's 95% tube fed currently) and if she is, we will be balancing multiple anaphalactic food allergies incluing apple, pineapple, chocolate, banana, and tree nuts.

I'm really wanting this to be a good trip for her, but I'm terrified we're not going to find any restaurants that can accommodate her food allergies.

 

[VGCgroupie]

Hopefully someone with direct experience will chime in, our allergy meals are preference not required so it is easy for us. With a somewhat recent death at Disney Springs due to a food allergy I think they would be even less accommodating than previously. Personally with that death happening I would not trust that protocols would be followed and I would bring my own food if a reaction would be severe, not worth the risk.

 

[theMoreDisneytheBetter]

There’s a massive difference between not having those ingredients in whatever you order and not even being able to accommodate trace amounts. As stated above, when allergies are that severe the safest course of action is to provide your own food. I’m not sure where you are staying but perhaps you might consider somewhere with a kitchen (DVC villas perhaps)? Otherwise she may be stuck with prepackaged foods.

 

[WLWildlife]

I found a website for an individual who has some helpful information. I use it as a starting place. I'm not sure if I can post it since it is not affiliated with the Dis Boards. If you Google "safe Disney food" her site should come up.
My experience is Disney only focuses on contains, not cross contamination, or shared lines. Their allergy friendly line of snacks are not very friendly, often only eliminating one allergy at a time. I don't know why they aren't partnering with better allergy companies.
You may be okay with quick service, but likely better off with sit down restaurants where you can get food with whole ingredients. Personally, we prefer staying DVC and providing our own food. I hate cooking, and I am really tired of doing it, but it is the only way to ensure my food is not going to make me sick. It is expensive, so we don't travel until we have saved the money to pay for it. There are forums on this board that you can check out to get more information on renting points if you don't want to book directly through Disney.
I hope this helps. Have a great trip!

 

[Miffy]

I feel that depending on someone else to accommodate multiple food allergies, particularly if cross-contamination is part of the situation, is asking for trouble.

As other posters have said, the fix for this is to stay in a place that has a full kitchen and prepare your own foods. DVC 1- and 2-bedroom villas have full kitchens and of course certain off-site rentals will as well. You can prepare food to bring to the parks with you as well. There's no restriction on supplying your own food.

And, as a side note, this is a problem you would have vacationing anywhere.

 

[bettertheangel]

I have a couple of fruit allergies and was basically told what to avoid ordering. Mine aren't as severe as some, but they did take me seriously. I declined offers to speak with the chef so I don't know what that is like. I also only ate table service meals so things might be different for quick service.

Overall, I think that the suggestions to provide your own food make sense if you feel that caution is necessary. Disney can only (or is only willing to) do so much.

 

[TwoMisfits]

From Disney:
"Guests should contact Special.Diets@DisneyWorld.com in advance if you or anyone in your party has either 4 or more allergy requests, requires pureed meals, or adheres to a medically-restrictive diet (such as very low protein).

Contact us after booking dining arrangements for your visit. We request that you don’t contact us any sooner than 14 days prior to your arrival. The Special Diets team will assist you in navigating the dining process, which may include providing the restaurants you intend to visit with your information and request in advance of your visit."

The "after booking dining arrangements" means they will only accommodate at their owner-owned sit down restaurants. So, if you want a safe meal, follow these steps to make it happen. To further help, I would also book places where it's easier to accommodate (if places have tree nuts all over the menu, since dust is possible, don't even try those sites - just go to the ones that don't).

 

[Evita_W]

Just be aware that cross-contamination is a real possibility at any of the restaurants, as they have share equipment. That being said, we have never had issues with the chefs not being willing to come out and speak with us about our issues, which are also not in the top 8.

 

[Bete]

Are there any chain restaurants that work back home? If yes, find those same restaurant locations outside of Disney proper. There are plenty of other eating places outside of Disney. In this case you will either have to have your own car or rental or use uber and such.

I think it would be safer doing your own meals for those who have special diets. The Disney resorts have restaurants if you don't want to cook for everyone.

If baby food works, then I would definitely use this at the parks. Then, those without allergies could enjoy Disney Dining. Hopefully, the restaurants would allow you to bring in the baby food or whatever.

You may want to practice a local outing like a zoo and see how it goes first with using baby food or whatever. Right now, you really don't know how well the aunt will do on any regular food.

 

[mistysue]

This thread is so different from what I would expect - it's completely normal for Disney to completely accommodate this, especially at table service.

At quick service, you need to speak to a manager who will show you ingredient lists.

At table service, you need to speak to a chef who will show you ingredient lists.

Then they will make you food, regardless of what the allergens are. We've never been turned down at a table service, and at quick service it happened a few times when my son had over a dozen allergens to manage but it was because he was allergic to everything they had. He has always had a history of anaphylaxis, so that doesn't make a difference.

I find it unusual that they completely refused to make food before- that is not the common experience even for people with long lists of anaphylactic allergies.

We do something like 30-60 meals on property each year, and I go to Disney so I won't have to cook. Over the years we have spanned the entire top 9, plus a number of uncommon allergens in sets between different people. You should be completely fine.

Maybe print yourself some little business cards that list the allergens and some preferred foods.

For the most part in parks and resorts you should have good luck, with those particular allergens I wouldn't think quick service will give you much difficultly if you steer clear of dessert and obvious fruit. (but talk to the manager EVERY TIME, and check on ingredients EVERY TIME) At EPCOT and Disney Springs you need to be more careful about where you go as some places are not Disney owned - in EPCOT maybe stick to outside the world showcase, or go to the pavilions for Germany, America, and Norway.

 

[elvispursley]

Agree with the above. I have a shellfish allergy and even when eating at a non-Disney owned restaurant (San Angel Inn) they made a special batch of tortilla chips for me that would not be in the same fryer as the shrimp would’ve been in. I can react with just cross contamination.

 

[MPD]

My allergy is not in the top 8 and I've never had an issue at Disney. At Table Service restaurants the chef comes to talk to me and had frequently made me items without my specific allergen. I do alert them when I make my reservation. At Quick Service they are more limited (some places) in being able to make items without the allergen but always are super helpful with ingredient lists and finding something tasty that I can safely eat.

 

[mistysue]

Agree with the above. I have a shellfish allergy and even when eating at a non-Disney owned restaurant (San Angel Inn) they made a special batch of tortilla chips for me that would not be in the same fryer as the shrimp would’ve been in. I can react with just cross contamination.

oh that's nice - we've been considering trying out San Angel Inn for years... my son who absolutely loves Mexican food outgrew a dairy allergy which was what we were hiding behind as an excuse, so it's good to know for Shellfish he should watch out for the chips and ask if he can get a special batch. The years of WDW special batches of fries are why I had to get a potato fry cutter tool because my kids won't accept the frozen ones anymore. It's funny as his allergen list has gotten shorter I'm having to learn places to avoid CC with shellfish for him because it used to be he was directly allergic to the foods that now are safe except the CC. (wheat, soy, egg, dairy, etc)

 

[DeeBee3]

We only have a severe peanut/tree nut allergy and we have never had an issue, especially with communication and helping us while we are there. Granted it's only 1 main allergy. We choose NOT to eat at non-Disney owned places such as certain ones in Epcot or at Disney Springs. We never eat there.

We have never been denied a chef or some sort of information. I agree with the other posts that bringing your food is the only 100% safe bet, especially when it comes down to spices like cinnamon. Cross-contamination risk is almost always there. Since our food is prepared separately, we are ok with that, just like we make decisions at home.

Honestly, we feel more safe eating at Disney than any other random places we come across where we live unless it's a franchise.

 

[Bethislucy]

I have a pineapple allergy too and a few other rare ones and I've never not been able to get the info I needed to make sure I stayed safe (even from festival booths) Now because I know pineapple is one of mine I don't go to Ohana because I know so much of it has pineapple in it from marinades to bread and they can't change somethings so there would be limited options for me. I wouldn't expect them to change either as that's part of the experience is being steeped in that culture of Hawaii.