Have free dining but have food allergies too!!!

[disbudd]

Is anyone aware of how well set-up Disney is to deal with food allergies...we are traveling with a party with two members having nut and shellfish allergies and we did end up qualifying for free dining...any suggestions

 

[TDC Nala]

Note all allergies on your reservations, and contact Disney Special Diets. Their contact information is available on the DisABILITIES board. Special Diets may be able to help with information about counter service.

 

[iamadisneynut]

I have a friend who is celiac and travelled to Disney on the Dining plan. She said they were fantastic, she didn't get sick at all and in fact, it may be one of the only places she is able to vacation because of the care they took with her dietary needs! Good luck!

 

[OhThePain]

My girlfriend has a pretty bad peanut and treenut allergy. I just list it when I make ADR's and mention it to our server if they don't mention it first (which usually the host/hostess or server will say something about it before we have to). Many times a chef will come out and speak to her about her options, what to have, what to stay away from and if there is anything special they can cook for her (the chef at 'Ohana even cleared off our table last time before dessert because our waiter was beyond awful, but that's a seperate story for a different thread).

She has always been very pleased with the way Disney goes above and beyond to accomodate her.

 

[clanmcculloch]

You should pop over to the disABILITIES! board and look around. You'll find LOTS of threads discussing all kinds of food allergies. The summary is that WDW is the best place in the world to travel with food allergies. You'll never eat as well.

About the only way that food allergies and DDP really have any connection is the following.
1. When paying OOP some of the allergy specific premade foods like chicken tenders have an upcharge but when using a dining plan they cost the same credit as regular food would cost. This is definitely to your benefit.
2. With allergies, sometimes chefs will prepare meals that aren't on the menu. When using dining credits it's not really important how the meal gets entered into the computers since you're just paying with a credit. Meals will generally get run up as whatever menu item seems to be closest (ex. my daughter's had chicken tenders with mac & cheese made for her and it gets rung up as chicken alfredo because it's chicken with pasta). You're just paying 1 credit regardless when using a dining plan so it really doesn't make a difference as a guest.
3. Here's the one that's frustrating. Desserts are often limitted to the same desserts everywhere and some places don't even have those meaning you only get a scoop of ice cream or sorbet or fruit. With dining plans, desserts are included. You can't get the dessert elsewhere. When we ate at CHH it was extremely frustrating for us because there wasn't a single dessert that my kids could eat so we had to get them a bag of chips but unfortunately they don't like kettle chips and that's all they had. We couldn't even go outside to the attached fruit cart and get something there as our dessert option for that meal. We ended up using a snack credit each to get them dessert later on and DH and I just ate their chips. Most places will have cookies and/or brownies and can make a nice sundae and with only nut and shellfish allergies there should actually be other options as well (our allergies are more restricting than yours) so you really won't be in this situation often if at all but it is something to be aware of.

 

[chartle]

My wife is allergic to turkey and we pretty much only do CS. At each CS location there is a binder they pull out and it has all the info about whats in everything.

She was OK with the meat balls but someone else wasn't because of milk issues.

At a TS they can be more flexible since most items are prepared and cooked to order. At CS you pretty much just have to order something else. The only substitute that I know of is soy cheese pizza (yum) that some one in our band group ordered.

I think at CS you will more have issues with the nut allergies since shellfish is only served at few (can't really think of any besides Columbia Harbor house).

 

[AlohaAnnie]

My DH has a slight shellfish allergy and everyone is wonderful at WDW about it. We list it on our ADR. So far he has never had an issue and we have been there 8 times now.

Good Luck!

 

[333disneymom]

In my experience, Disney is wonderful with food allergies. Here are my suggestions...

1) Contact Disney Special Diets at wdw.special.diets@disney.com
and let them know about your specific needs. They will send you attachments with general information and a form to fill out when you make your reservations.

2) When you make your reservations, either online or on the phone, make sure you check (or mention) the food allergy and check which allergies you have.

3) Fill out the form with your dining plans and email it back to Special Diets. They will then contact all the locations where you will be dining.

4) When you check in at the restaurant, make sure the reservation notes your allergy.

5) Usually your server will send the chef out to speak to you about specifics. If not, request that the chef come talk with you.

I think you will find Disney is one of the easiest places to dine with allergies. I hope you have as good an experience as we did.

 

[disbudd]

Wow...Thanks everyone for all the info...this is our first time going so I was a little concerned about the allergies....my mind is at ease now...cant wait for our trip!!!!