Magic Kingdom Bigtop- peanuts in walkways and allergies

[leighi123]

I just read an article about the new big top at magic kingdom. One of the "features" is "peanuts embedded in the walkways"

http://wdwnews.com/releases/2012/12...sts-in-classic-disney-stories-magical-places/


Are these REAL peanuts? If so, what on earth were they thinking?!?!!? SO many kids we know have severe peanut allergies, they can't even be in the same room as a peanut without literally dying.

What about parents who don't realize that there will be peanuts there? It could be very dangerous!

Even if they aren't real peanuts, or if they are 'sealed in' or whatever, the whole idea as a parent of a food allergy child makes me very nervous to go there.

 

[Sandy Mouse]

They are not real peanuts.

 

[NHKristy76]

They are NOT actual peanuts! They are simply peanut shapes pressed into the ground.

 

[larryz]

Real peanuts would never stand up to the kind of sanitation they do overnight.

Not to worry -- if they HAD used real peanuts, within a couple of weeks of them being partially encased in the walkway, they'd only have peanut-shaped impressions in the walkway... any peanut would have been long-ago washed out and drained away.

And if they were completely encased in the walkway, there'd be no threat to any allergy sufferers. But there wouldn't be any value in doing that, since it's all about the "circus" atmosphere.

 

[leighi123]

Ok that makes me feel better. BUT reading the article, if my kid had severe allergies to peanuts, I wouldn't run out and go there. Why can't they specify? Heck even fake ones would make me nervous.


My son is very very allergic to other things, and even the 'fake' versions freak me out, allergies are just so scary.

 

[GatorMommy2007]

I just read an article about the new big top at magic kingdom. One of the "features" is "peanuts embedded in the walkways"


Even if they aren't real peanuts, or if they are 'sealed in' or whatever, the whole idea as a parent of a food allergy child makes me very nervous to go there.

I understand your overall concern about peanuts for allergy reasons, but why would you be nervous to go there, even if they aren't real?

And, Disney is quite aware of allergy issues and the safety of their guests. They wouldn't put something in the park that could knowingly harm people. They are one of the most "everything" friendly areas in the country.

 

[disnut8]

Even if they aren't real peanuts, or if they are 'sealed in' or whatever, the whole idea as a parent of a food allergy child makes me very nervous to go there.

Mom - if *you* are nervous to go there, then your child will feed (no pun intended) off that fear. But you if don't make a big deal over it, your child won't either.

You could go and say something like "wow Johnny, isn't Disney great?! They made fake peanuts so you can enjoy these!!!!"

Turn a negative into a positive and have a great trip.

 

[TDC Nala]

If fake peanuts frighten you, then it is likely you will be skipping this area. But rest assured, and be able to assure your child, that the peanuts in the sidewalks are NOT real peanuts.

It was my understanding that a peanut allergy of the severity where a child cannot be in the same room with a peanut without risking their life (much less in an outdoor area where there may be peanuts nearby) was not common, in fact they were rather rare. Most are like my nephew, they cannot ingest peanuts, but peanuts on the next table in a restaurant are of no consequence. If a child has an allergy of this severity it's likely they can't enter many of the restaurants at all.

 

[Mariep26]

Ok that makes me feel better. BUT reading the article, if my kid had severe allergies to peanuts, I wouldn't run out and go there. Why can't they specify? Heck even fake ones would make me nervous.

My son is very very allergic to other things, and even the 'fake' versions freak me out, allergies are just so scary.

So is he allergic to metal or coated foam? These are the materials (most likely) that these "peanuts" are made of. I guess I am confused when you say you are afraid of the fake ones...like do you mean peanut alternatives that he would ingest of handle like sunbutter? I guess I just see these as decorations and since they are imbedded into the ground, I wouldn't let that stop me from going.

 

[Gorechick]

I think the fear could be that if the child gets used to handling/touching fake peanuts what is to stop them from handling a real one.

 

[seashoreCM]

The peanut decorations are not from real peanuts. But it is not possible to avoid occasional dropped real peanuts, peanut shells, fluffed and unpopped popcorn granules, turkey leg bits of meat and grease dripping, and shards of chocolate from Mickey ice cream bars that quickly melt into a gooey mess on walkways.

In Frontierland there is a section of walkway with a yellowish colored center "lane" representing a swale that behaves as a drainage channel for dishwater, horse urine, etc. Of course it's fake.

The Rick Schroder version of Little Lord Fauntleroy (not a Disney movie) has a scene, about 2/3 of the way in, including such a swale, flowing water and all, in the middle of a village thoroughfare.

 

[TDC Nala]

You can't handle these. They're embedded in the walkway. I suppose I can understand in a way - people are frightened of things they are told could kill their child - but there isn't any real reason to be frightened of the IMAGE of a peanut.

If they look real, and the concern is that people will think they ARE real and panic, I suppose that could be a concern.

 

[mesaboy2]

You can't handle these. They're embedded in the walkway. I suppose I can understand in a way - people are frightened of things they are told could kill their child - but there isn't any real reason to be frightened of the IMAGE of a peanut.

I dunno, that Planters dude is kinda creepy.

The last one of these fake peanut threads I saw got ridiculous after a short while.

 

[disney1990]

I just read an article about the new big top at magic kingdom. One of the "features" is "peanuts embedded in the walkways"

http://wdwnews.com/releases/2012/12...sts-in-classic-disney-stories-magical-places/


Are these REAL peanuts? If so, what on earth were they thinking?!?!!? SO many kids we know have severe peanut allergies, they can't even be in the same room as a peanut without literally dying.

What about parents who don't realize that there will be peanuts there? It could be very dangerous!

Even if they aren't real peanuts, or if they are 'sealed in' or whatever, the whole idea as a parent of a food allergy child makes me very nervous to go there.

As others have said, the peanuts are not real. I am not making light of your child's allergies. But, rather than freak out, you need to educate your child to live in the real world and how to be proactive to protect them self. The world has all kinds of dangers and peanuts are just one of them.

 

[delmar411]

They are fake impressions (those aren't real elephant footprints either I'm sorry to tell you) and why are you worried about fake peanuts when the entire park serves PB&J sandwiches??? Likely every single surface in the park is covered in some sort of peanut residue. My kids ate bagged peanuts over our entire trip. In lines for rides, while walking around, at tables, etc. I saw TONS of people eating peanuts and other nuts. They serve roasted nuts at the carts in all the parks too.

Someone who could die from the mere exposure to peanut/tree nut residue would not be visiting WDW unless they were in a hazmat suit. I'm not making light of the peanut allergy just being very realistic.

 

[Allison]

I just read an article about the new big top at magic kingdom. One of the "features" is "peanuts embedded in the walkways"

http://wdwnews.com/releases/2012/12...sts-in-classic-disney-stories-magical-places/


Are these REAL peanuts? If so, what on earth were they thinking?!?!!? SO many kids we know have severe peanut allergies, they can't even be in the same room as a peanut without literally dying.

What about parents who don't realize that there will be peanuts there? It could be very dangerous!

Even if they aren't real peanuts, or if they are 'sealed in' or whatever, the whole idea as a parent of a food allergy child makes me very nervous to go there.

How could a child who would literally die being in the same room as a peanut even be able to go to Disney? How could they go anywhere?

 

[NHKristy76]

They are fake impressions (those aren't real elephant footprints either I'm sorry to tell you) and why are you worried about fake peanuts when the entire park serves PB&J sandwiches??? Likely every single surface in the park is covered in some sort of peanut residue. My kids ate bagged peanuts over our entire trip. In lines for rides, while walking around, at tables, etc. I saw TONS of people eating peanuts and other nuts. They serve roasted nuts at the carts in all the parks too.

Someone who could die from the mere exposure to peanut/tree nut residue would not be visiting WDW unless they were in a hazmat suit. I'm not making light of the peanut allergy just being very realistic.

I was wondering the same thing... There is peanut "stuff" all over the place.. All over the world in fact.

 

[WEDWDW]

Here is a picture of the famous Peanuts and another interesting Thread for anyone interested.
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2937043

 

[ohboyx3]

I just can't help but shake my head at this post. Seriously?????

 

[minnie mum]

The last one of these fake peanut threads I saw got ridiculous after a short while.

Sorry, but this was ridiculous from the get go. A parent who has a child with a severe allergy should make some effort to educate herself. Really, who would actually think that real peanuts would be embedded in pavement that would see thousands of people walking over them daily? And who really thinks there is any reason to 'freak out' over fake peanuts? A small degree of common sense and reasoning goes a long way.

Overreacting is doing a disservice to both the parent and the child. Doing some serious reading and then educating herself and her child in a responsible way would seem a much more productive avenue to pursue.