Info for Peanut Allergy Sufferers

[gregger77]

We just completed a vacation at WDW with a peanut-allergic boy, aged 9.

In general, we found the restaurant staffs to be fairly well prepared for our constant question, "Do items on your menu contain peanuts?" Here were just a few of the answers:

At Columbia Harbor House in the Magic Kingdom, the order-taker produced a binder with laminated pages showing the ingredients in each menu item, allowing us to flip through it. This was very helpful, and the best example of allergy information we received during our stay. (I will say this: All food served at Columbia Harbor House is highly processed, pre-prepared food, as the ingredient sheets make obvious. Just about everything on the menu is cooked or thawed from frozen! I suppose this is true of much WDW fare.)

At the Hoop Dee Doo Revue in Pioneer Hall, Ft. Wilderness, our server told us confidently that everything on the menu was nut-free. We trusted her.

At Liberty Tree Tavern in Magic Kingdom, our server told us he would ask the Chef to visit our table. To our pleasant surprise, the chef did just that, and told us that everything on the menu EXCEPT the bread--which was basically a dark brown bread--was nut free. Since the bread did not have any obvious nut flavors, we are assuming the bread's bakery has warned of the possibility of cross-contamination from other products.

At Marrakesh in Morocco, Epcot, we had a very unsatisfactory experience. The server appeared very flustered and said "Everything on the menu" has nuts in it, except for the cous cous plate on the children's menu which the 9-year-old had already announced he wanted. This seemed a rather strange coincidence. Others in the party proceeded to order various soups, chicken and lamb, and when considering sharing, our waiter confirmed, "Everything on the menu" had nuts in it.

For those of us with peanut-allergic children, we know a "blanket" cross-contamination disclaimer when we hear it, and we always hate to hear them because they are about as useful as an "orange alert" from the Bush Administration. However, we didn't expect to hear one at WDW where surely there are hundreds of well-educated parents of peanut-allergic children visiting each year. We are still puzzled why this restaurant did not provide more specific and accurate information, rather than hide under a blanket disclaimer that put a real damper on dinner time at EPCOT.

 

[Ms.Mouse]

When I made dining reservations for my family, I told WDW and they noted it in the computer. It's a good idea so they can specially prepare food for the allergic person.At each TS restaurant we went to, the host/hostess greeted us and mentioned to us that they knew about the peanut allergies (Grown daughter & grandson). The chefs came out and talked with my daughter and when it was a buffet meal, brought her through the whole buffet to show her what was "safe" and not. At the counter services, most of them were knowledgable about the foods or had papers with ingredients. We went to the bakery at Norway to eat and the child option was PB&J's so we talked to them and they made my grandson up a child-sized sandwich of his choice (turkey and cheese). Everyone was sooo accomadating fo us.

 

[DeeCeeSW]

Our DS is allergic to peanuts, tree nuts and eggs. I always call and have the allergies noted in our ressie and also meet with the chefs, however, when we go to buffets we always ask the chefs to prepare all of our DS's food in the kitchen (this includes items offered on and off of the buffet). This makes us feel more comfortable and we worry less about cross-contamination. We have had only one incident in WDW in 5 years and, unfortunately, it was at a buffet. Overall, the chefs at WDW restaurants are very helpful.

 

[Priorityonecb]

We too have a peanut allergic child...has anyone reading this thread attempted Ohana's? I worry about the peanut dipping sauce...even if it's not brought to the table...I am sure there has to be cross contamination issues. Just curiuos.

 

[DeeCeeSW]

We eat at Ohana every time we are in Orlando. Never had a problem with cross-contamination ever. In fact, the first time we ate there, our chef (Bubba, who is no longer there) introduced us to wheat-free soy sauce when DS had a wheat/gluten allergy and it changed our lives! I found the chefs at Ohana, Crystal Palace and the Cape May Cafe to be the most helpful. They go above and beyond!

 

[Priorityonecb]

Thank you! That is great news! I wanted to do all three of those resturaunts!

 

[MinnieMom]

Thanks for posting this. We leave in 2 weeks and ds and my nephew both have nut, berry, and dairy allergies. It is very stressful worrying about what we will be able to feed them.

I did have it noted on all of my ADRs that they have multiple food allergies, but I'm concerned about what we will feed them at counter service restaurants. There's not enough time in the day to go to table service restaurants for every meal!

It sounds like most of you have had good experiences, so I feel a bit more at ease after reading your posts. Thanks!

 

[Selket]

Thanks for the report! Here is a link to my report of dining with my son (age 3 at the time) who is a type 1 diabetic and severly allergic to peanuts and tree nuts: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=818591&highlight=peanut+allergy+diabetic

Do you have any more info about counter service places you ate? For our last trips I made lots of dining reservations at sit-downs. We may go again in April and I'd like to do a few more CS places to save $$$.

 

[Schmeck]

Most Moroccan traditional food contains nuts. That's what the server was trying to let you know. I don't know what else you were expecting? If you needed alternative food, all you had to do was ask if they could get you something.

 

[lenshanem]

We had a bad experience at Morocco, too a few years back. (My DD, now almost 8, is allergic to peanuts and tree nuts.)

I was actually sent an email from WDW that warned against Epcot's international restaurants stating they could not guarantee their food since many use ingredients from their own nation. Since that email we no longer eat at any of the restaurants there with exception to Garden Grill. We usually don't spend too much time at Epcot anyway unless we're on a trip w/o the kids. Regardless, that email kinda freaked me out.

We've always had excellent experiences, give or take a few not so helpful over the years. Personally, I don't think you can beat WDW when it comes to food allergy awareness. It is a great place to vacation if you have a food allergy! The chefs really are on it!

 

[Selket]

I think of all the World Showcase restaurants the Morrocan one has the worst reputation for dealing with those with allergies. The food sounds good but I've never read anything good about their willingness to help substitute food or anything else.

We've had a great experience at Le Cellier and they were probably the MOST careful of any of the WDW restaurants in making sure everything was peanut/nut free. They made sure to steer us clear of anything they weren't sure about due to labeling and were willing to make my son about anything he wanted to eat - they made him a gorgeous dessert as well. The chef at the Biergarten had a "regular" hot dog sent over for my son (he didn't like the German versions) and it was this gigantic thing - my son couldn't believe it (he was 3 at the time). I think he ate the whole thing! LOL!

I'd still like more info on CS places if anyone has it!

 

[CamColt]

Thanks for the info.

We have eaten at OHana a few times, with no problems from the peanut sauce (or anything else). My DS with the allergy has always gotten a kids meal (from Kona Cafe), but he did try the rice too with no problem.

 

[liznboys]

Thanks for the report. We've actually been avoiding a lot of the World Showcase dining since we learned of our 4 yr olds peanut allergy (we avoid all nuts as well as shellfish with him too)...and your review of Morocco confirms my concern. Does anyone else not eat in Morroco, Japan and China, as well as the bakeries in France and Norway? Those are the places I feel are the most risky, any thoughts? What World Showcase dining DO you feel comfortable with?

 

[kyirish25]

Thanks for the report. We've actually been avoiding a lot of the World Showcase dining since we learned of our 4 yr olds peanut allergy (we avoid all nuts as well as shellfish with him too)...and your review of Morocco confirms my concern. Does anyone else not eat in Morroco, Japan and China, as well as the bakeries in France and Norway? Those are the places I feel are the most risky, any thoughts? What World Showcase dining DO you feel comfortable with?

We also avoid most of World Showcase. Le Cellier however was wonderful in dealing with peanut allergies for DS. We have also done counter service at the Yorkshire Fish & Chips.

We avoid Morroco, Japan & China along with all bakeries and ice cream shops. O'Hana is another place I have avoided for dinner due to the peanut sauce and being served family style. Not comfortable that the skewer of meat didn't touch another persons plate with peanut sauce and then comes to my plate. Just not risks I'm willing to take.

Overall though WDW is the best place ever on dealing with food allergies. Top notch service from the chefs and wait staff as well.

 

[gregger77]

Thanks for the report! Here is a link to my report of dining with my son (age 3 at the time) who is a type 1 diabetic and severly allergic to peanuts and tree nuts:

Do you have any more info about counter service places you ate? For our last trips I made lots of dining reservations at sit-downs. We may go again in April and I'd like to do a few more CS places to save $$$.

We ate at counter service restaurants every day, and never had any issues. (My list of dining experiences was not exhaustive...merely a sampling of the type of assistance/information we received overall. I would concur with another poster...WDW probably tops the list of establishments we have dealt with, certainly in terms of awareness of allergy issues, and readiness to answer questions about ingredients and preparation. We didn't ask for any special accommodations or alternate foods, but it's great to hear from others that many WDW restaurants will provide them!)

At MK, we ate CS lunch at Columbia Harbor House. At EPCOT, we ate CS lunch in Mexico. At MGM/Disney, we ate CS lunch at Sunset Ranch Market (which, by the way, was a hit with all of us...a food court setting offering hamburgers, hot dogs, smoked turkey legs, veggie burgers, and pizza). And at Animal Kingdom, it was Flame Tree BBQ. The only CS restaurants where we needed information were Columbia Harbor House and at Mexico, where we wanted to ensure the fried foods were not cooked in peanut oil. (Frankly, when ordering hamburger, hot dogs or cheese pizza, we do not question the ingredients...but we always have the Epi Pen on hand!)

My observation was that you will have plenty of CS options in all parks, and that information will be made readily available to you.

Have a great trip!

 

[gregger77]

Thanks for the report. We've actually been avoiding a lot of the World Showcase dining since we learned of our 4 yr olds peanut allergy (we avoid all nuts as well as shellfish with him too)...and your review of Morocco confirms my concern. Does anyone else not eat in Morroco, Japan and China, as well as the bakeries in France and Norway? Those are the places I feel are the most risky, any thoughts? What World Showcase dining DO you feel comfortable with?

Our instincts were the same as yours...avoid baked goods in general, and avoid Asian food in general--the same guidelines we follow when eating out in our home city. However, it appears that based on some posts here, certain Epcot TS establishments will be prepared to provide detailed ingredient information. That was not the case at Morocco, but certainly we would ask in the future.

 

[gregger77]

Our DS is allergic to peanuts, tree nuts and eggs....We have had only one incident in WDW in 5 years and, unfortunately, it was at a buffet. Overall, the chefs at WDW restaurants are very helpful.

You're the first buffet user I've heard from to have had an incident. Hope all went well. It certainly confirms the worries we have when eating at buffets (not at WDW, but in general...i.e., Country Buffet or Sweet Tomatoes chains and others). These places lose control of cross contamination risks, and place them in the hands of the general public. It's a neat idea to ask for in-kitchen preparation...then, you're only at the mercy of a 16-year-old wearing a hairnet! (Sorry...at some point you have to laugh about this...)

 

[gregger77]

Most Moroccan traditional food contains nuts. That's what the server was trying to let you know. I don't know what else you were expecting? If you needed alternative food, all you had to do was ask if they could get you something.

In my view, the server wasn't trying to let me know anything other than "everything on the menu" had nuts--except for the dish my son had thought about ordering. I don't have specific knowledge, but based on what I saw and ate, I doubted the server.

Anyway, I'm not trying to be argumentative but merely to share my observations. I guess if I had any expectation at all, it was that a restaurant with an extensive menu in a family-oriented resort would be prepared to accommodate common allergies. At the time, I did not know that some WDW establishments offer alternative foods or I would have asked. I might also have asked if it was not for the server's very clear opinion that we had no options. He was otherwise very friendly and the speed of service was outstanding (what can I say...Groundhog's Day is a "magic" time at WDW...no waiting for anything, anywhere, at any time!)

All of this said...I've eaten at many EPCOT TS restaurants, and the menu at Marrakesh truly is one of the best at EPCOT (assuming you enjoy ethinc foods), and if you have an opportunity to eat there without nut-allergic companions, by all means do so! (The kids were not as enthralled as my wife and I were with the intricate ceramic tile and plaster work, all done by Morroccan craftsmen.) Morocco is the only pavilion at EPCOT that is operated by a government vs. a corporate entity and the authenticity--right down to nuts in the food--is felt throughout.

 

[gigi1313]

we also have a peanut/tree nut allergy in our family and overall we were very well accommodated... the only epcot restaurant that makes me nervous is morocco, mainly because it's my understanding that a lot of their foods are not prepared there and the cross-contamination issue on the food they import is high... we've had great experiences at china, mexico (counter service), canada, america (LOL), norway and garden grill...

we also experienced a problem at boma for breakfast... after having been warned for a week about any and all baked goods w/minimal exception, the apparently ill-informed chef at boma approved a few baked goods for ds and like clockwork, he suffered a reaction... it was awful, but disney did their best to make up for it...

we've also had special desserts made for us (at chef mickey's the banana split w/a hidden mickey made out of whipped cream was the best!) as well as itzakadoozie pops artfully presented to the whole family at garden grill... we've met with chefs and gotten their picture and autograph and had the waiter at lecellier tell us although he has to say that all the breads are not safe, he has a friend w/a nut allergy and he eats the pretzel bread all the time... ds opted not to try his luck!

 

[lenshanem]

gigi, my DD also had a mild reaction at Boma's breakfast - broke out in a few hives around her mouth (Benadryl did the trick.) . I'm sure it was a cross contamination issue! Regardless, we haven't been back. The chef did come out and talk to us, too BTW.