How does disney handle multiple food allergies- any past experiences?

[cathicool]

I have an autistic son with multiple food allergies.

My son is allergic to: gluten, casein (dairy), egg, soy, corn, beef, lamb and lettuce. He also cannot tolerate artificial colors or preservatives and eats 90% organic food at home and school. So unless the disney chefs are willing to go to the WholeFoods Market, I can't imagine them feeding him quite honestly.

PLUS, I think I'd be a nervous wreck worrying about cross-contamination or an honest mistake by a food prep person. It's an awesome task even for me to feed him without a mistake. 1 or 2 allergies, I could see them preparing a special dish....but I can't believe they would have organic rice pasta with organic tomato sauce (allergic to garlic too- forgot that above!). Or antibiotic and hormone free pork sausages without lambs casing. OR a dessert without flour or eggs or butter or milk.

Anyone have experience with this many allergies and the chef's at disney?


thanks

 

[gshumaker]

When you make you ADRs tell them about the allergies and you will get a number directly to the resturant to call a few days before the meal to discuss your options with the chef.

From everything I've seen they will do anything possible to accomodate you and the allergies!!

 

[TheDisneyGirl02]

Disney chefs are great with food allergies. My mom can't eat gluton either and they are wonderful when it comes to preparing food for her. At most of the quick services restaruants, they have a book with all of the ingredients listed (at least they did in the past) so you can check and see what is ok to eat and what is not. When we make priority seating, we always ask that it be noted that my mom is a celiac to give the restaurant a heads up.

Hope that helped!

 

[Selket]

Did you get a call back from Brenda?

I really think you're going to have to talk to her about it (or someone there). I've posted a long time here and I don't recall anyone dining with so many allergies. Perhaps as many allergies but not the requirement for organic foods. I've done a search (seems like I recall someone asking if the chefs would prepare organic as that is all the person could eat also) but I didn't find that thread.

You are staying on-site right? I think it is important to find out if the hotel chefs can prepare food for your son there (and perhaps brown bag lunches in lieu of doing the counter service at the park - I really don't think you're going to be able to deal with that big old book of food ingredients with all of the allergies PLUS the organic requirement probably itself takes most things off the table). I know you wanted to do the meal plan so figuring out if he can use it is an option. And as someone said you could use the credits to upgrade your other meals (so it seems - I don't really know personally!). But that would be odd I think - eating out every day without your son along or him sitting there not eating anything.

Anyway - curious what Brenda Bennett says!

 

[cathicool]

i have not heard from brenda.....yet? i called yesterday, but did not get a call back today. maybe tomorrow, i hope. we are staying on site at a DVC, 1 bedroom. so there is a full kitchen in our villa. i've also called guest services and they said they do make exceptions on a case-by-case basis regarding everyone on the meal plan. so if i can't work it out with brenda, then i think i'm going to go for the exemption.

i'll let you know what happens......

 

[gshumaker]

I've got some of the phone numbers if you want them for the following so you can call them yourself and ask....

Donald's Breakfastosaurus - Hollywood & Vine - LeCellier - Chef Mickey's Buffet 50's PTC - Coral Reef - Spirit of Aloha - WCC​

Like I mentioned above, my autistic son has mutlipe food alergies too!! Sound like they may be on the same diet!!

Let me know which ones you want and I'll look them up for you!!

 

[Selket]

Perhaps leave another message for Brenda. This is around the busy 4th of July weekend so she is probably swamped. I'm still not sure I caught when you are leaving. If you have a month or more before your trip I wouldn't worry as much.

We had excellent service at Le Cellier - they probably went the most out of their way - the Chefs there were the nicest.

Please do post back when you get an answer!

 

[spiceycat]

type all your son allergies on a list - then make several copies. then take it the first day around to the places where you have reservations and ask to speak to a chef.

tell them the extra time and day you will be eating with them. If they aren't there they will pass your list along.

since you have a chef there - ask him what he thinks your son can eat that is on the menu.... if he nothing then come prepared - but I doubt that - these guys/gals really, really try their darnest....

don't give your list to anyone but a chef.... also on the day of your meal bring another list and talk to the chef again. believe me these guys are good and will come up for something for your son....

however that say I would also buy groceries for him. they are some organic food stores in the Orlando area - ask about it on the DVC board - they were refering to them there. You can also ask on the Orlando/attractions lots of locals reply there.

 

[cathicool]

ok
i spoke to a woman covering for Brenda. Brenda is on vacation and will be back after the 4th. About an hour later I got a call from the executive chef for the magic kingdom. He was very nice and seemed to really understand my issues with my son. I have to email him a list of what he can't eat specifically and what he does (specifically). He will then go thru it and tell me what can be done. Also, Brenda will go over all the dining res. I have made and speak to all the chefs to see what they will prepare for my son as well, with the help of the list I provide and the input of the executive chef.

I have to say I am pleasantly surprised!

Cathicool

 

[Selket]

Cathi,

That is great - you will love Brenda as well. She is smart to get out of town over the 4th

Are you still doing the dining plan? I am curious as to how they will handle the counter service meals both in the parks and your resort.

I hope they can make it work for you!

 

[PixieintheCity]

My son has several food allergies as well (Gluten, Casein, Soy, Eggs), and we are traveling to WDW in August on the dining plan. I will be calling for my ADR's soon, but after reading these posts it seems that there are other people I might need to talk to (like Brenda?).

Any names or numbers anyone could provide would be greatly appreciated. We are staying at the All Star Sports.

Good luck.

 

[Selket]

Pixie,

Note the allergies on your ADR's and also give Brenda Bennett a call. She works for MK foods and deals with food allergies/restrictions. Brenda's number is: 407-824-5967 and she is a wonderful help. She can email you some documents with info on what may and may not be safe in some fast food places and food carts. With several allergies you might want to ask questions about what counter service may be safe.

The CS places have books of ingredients but I can tell you that it is a HUGE hassle for everyone to have to wait in line to get to the person taking the order - who is the one with the book - and then have to get the book and stand there and pick through all the millions of details of all the ingredients! I just didn't find a way to make that work for us too well. I couldn't get to the book before we got up to the counter cause then I'd have to cut in line which didn't seem appropriate either. Yet waiting in line until I got to the front meant everyone behind me was stuck waiting while I looked at the book. I'd think with multiple food allergies (ours is just peanut/tree nut) it could take awhile to go through the book. Needless to say, we didn't do counter service in the parks much!

 

[PixieintheCity]

Carol G.,

Thank you so much for Brenda's number. I will give her a call right after the holiday.

I am so grateful for all of the people who take the time to post helpful advice on this board (like you Carol G.). Hopefully after my trip, I might have some tips to add, too.

Have a great day!

 

[Selket]

Pixie - you are most welcome. Everyone here is quite helpful I've found and there are many of us who have children with food allergies.

My son is also a type 1 diabetic (and 4 years old) so that might explain some of my previous rant on the difficulty of doing counter service. I make a lot of sit-down meal reservations just to help minimize the wait time and assure there is safe food waiting in a cool place.

If you are going in August go ahead and make your ADR's soon! You might find them harder to make the longer you wait as with the dining plan (especially if you are going during the free dining period) the ADR's book fast.

Good luck!