Mobile Ordering and Food Allergies

[Choirmom]

For those that have recent experience with mobile ordering with food allergies, what was your experience? I will be visiting in July (Yeah! OOS guests welcome!), and I have Celiac Disease (gluten free). I have never had a problem getting food. We had no problem at WDW in October, but it sounds like Disneyland and CA are more of a problem. Any advice would be helpful. We are staying VGC for 7 nights (5 park days). We will be doing a grocery order, but I really prefer to not have to prepare meals in the room.

 

[avalon451]

We are also GF due to kids' celiac and DH and I are both somewhat (though not terribly) sensitive. We never had an issue in our previous visits; they've always been quite accommodating, but it seems like it'll be a different ball game this time. I'm interested also, to see if anyone has had recent mobile ordering experience with this. It looks like slim pickins as far as I can tell.

 

[StormyCA]

Watching with interest. Another thread ("DL needs to rethink their mobile...") indicated that people with allergies who try to walk up are directed away to other places as (apparently) not all DL CS/QS places will accept walk up orders.

I just got back from WDW and was advised by more than one CM NOT to use WDW's mobile order for 'allergy orders' (Celiac isn't an allergy, but whatever right?) as it was safer to order in person. I ordered in person at many eateries and never had a problem. No one blinked an eye when I said I felt safer ordering in person.

 

[DLgal]

There is not an option to walk up or speak to anyone before ordering at most places. There literally is not a register or a person you can talk to. There are a couple that you can do this at. Flo's, Plaza Inn, Jolly Holiday (I think). Otherwise you have to make do with the mobile order option, some of which have allergy options on the menu.

It's a major issue right now that Disney has yet to address in any meaningful way. Even the Guest Relations CMs don't know which places offer walk up ordering, so it's up to you to sleuth it out before you go.

Bring food from home or eat in DtD.

 

[amandajustinee]

I would say best option is to reserve table service if you want a variety of choices and accommodations. I'm celiac as well and a frequent visitor of Disneyland and user of mobile order and just visited the parks a week ago. Currently I would say the gluten free offerings are definitely less and the quality is less than before.

-GF Buns are dryer(previously they were the best ones I've ever tasted)
-vendor changes on items like the gf blueberry muffin at jolly holiday(and a mini size instead of a full size)
-lots of restaurants aren't open yet I think due to staffing, so you'll naturally have less variety available
-some of the mobile order products are not marked gluten free when they are(I had to patiently wait to speak with a cast member about confirming that a product I use to eat was gf, and turned out it still is but in the mobile order it wasn't showing in the allergy section anymore - this was both the milkshakes at Flo's and the Asian Street Tacos which show on the menu but can't be mobile ordered GF)

Overall I'd say the best tip that helped me keep sanity was to at least reserve restaurants for dinner because if you don't you'll end up eating burgers because most offerings(not just for us gf people) were removed and lots of places are only doing typical theme park food(i.e. flo's cafe didn't have their tuna sandwich or BLT anymore, just burgers).

 

[Choirmom]

Thanks for the helpful responses. This is what I feared. Something Disneyland did so well in the past and WDW continues to do. I have made a few table service reservations for late lunches. This is one thing we learned at WDW in October. We were ready for a sit down break in the afternoon and a table service lunch (around 1:30 to 2) worked well for us. I will be bring a backpack to the parks (something we never did pre-COVID, and learned to do at WDW), so I will have some snacks with me. One thing I loved about vacationing at Disneyland was the ease of finding food options. I hope they get this figured out soon. Celiacs is such a pain when vacationing!

 

[flowergleam1211]

We are also GF due to kids' celiac and DH and I are both somewhat (though not terribly) sensitive. We never had an issue in our previous visits; they've always been quite accommodating, but it seems like it'll be a different ball game this time. I'm interested also, to see if anyone has had recent mobile ordering experience with this. It looks like slim pickins as far as I can tell.

I've been doing a ton of research on food allergies. I plan on foregoing mobile ordering, making peace with longer wait times, and simply talking to the manager to ensure that the food is allergen free.

Here is what the Special Diets person (Special.Diets@disneyworld.com) at Disney wrote this week:

May 24, 2021, 11:26 AM EDT Thank you for contacting the Special Diets Team at the Walt Disney World Resort. All of our Quick Service locations have Designated Trained Cast Members that are happy to discuss and attempt to accommodate all dietary requests once you arrive in the location in which you plan to dine. In order to ensure the safety of our Guests, at each Quick Service location there are specific people who have been trained to take and fill special dietary orders. Each of these Cast Members has taken extensive training to better understand and handle special dietary needs. Because of menu changes, availability of special dietary products, and possible cross-contamination of which the cashiers and front of line Cast Members might not be aware; each location has specific people on hand to give the safest service possible. The larger Quick Service locations tend to have more items on hand and a Designated Trained Cast Member is generally more readily available. We encourage our Guests with special dietary needs to not get in the line to order food at quick service locations until they have spoken with the Cast Member who has been specially trained in the special dietary process. The easiest way to facilitate this process is to find any Cast Member that can walk around, so preferably not a cashier, and alert them of your dietary request. We also recommend dining earlier or later than the normal lunch hours in order to avoid the longest wait time. The Quick Service locations listed below have menu items or products that, upon request, may accommodate common food allergy or intolerance requirements. Please know that based on guidance from government officials and health agencies, dining options may be modified and not all locations may be operating on the date of your visit. We recommend consulting our website or the My Disney Experience mobile app for further details regarding hours of operation for individual location. As these are subject to change without notice, we recommend confirming this information just prior to your visit. Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park: - Restaurantosaurus * - Flame Tree Barbecue * - Pizzafari * Disney's Hollywood Studios: - Backlot Express * - ABC Commissary * Epcot: - Sunshine Seasons - Regal Eagle Smokehouse : Craft Drafts & Barbecue * Magic Kingdom Park: - Be Our Guest (Breakfast and Lunch Only) - Cosmic Ray's Starlight Café * - Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn & Café * - Columbia Harbour House * - The Pinocchio Village Haus * - Casey’s Corner * Locations have allergy-friendly menus available online at https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/dining/ Please know that some Quick Service dining locations currently offer primarily Mobile Order service. At this time, Mobile Order service does not have the functionality to indicate multiple allergens or accommodate all special dietary requests. If the meals available at these locations through Mobile Order do not meet your needs or you require additional information prior to ordering, please advise upon arrival that you have a special dietary request so that our Cast Members may assist you with ordering in person. You may also request to speak with a Chef, Manager, or Special Diets Trained Cast Member at that time. The majority of restaurants in our Theme Parks and Resorts are owned and operated by the Walt Disney World Company. Our Chefs are trained to handle dietary requests and take every precaution against any cross contact. However, the majority of restaurants at Epcot are Operating Participants which are not Disney-owned and operated locations. With that said, the Operating Participant restaurants do uphold by the Disney standard in addition to the service we provide, but they also abide by their own dietary restrictions for all Guests. In Epcot, the pavilions that are owned and operated by the Walt Disney World Resort are Norway, Germany, The American Adventure, Morocco, United Kingdom and Canada. The pavilions that are Operating Participants are Mexico, China, Italy, Japan, and France. We encourage you to alert a Cast Member of your special dietary need when you arrive at the location.

 

[Skyegirl1999]

I've been doing a ton of research on food allergies. I plan on foregoing mobile ordering, making peace with longer wait times, and simply talking to the manager to ensure that the food is allergen free.

Here is what the Special Diets person (Special.Diets@disneyworld.com) at Disney wrote this week:

May 24, 2021, 11:26 AM EDT Thank you for contacting the Special Diets Team at the Walt Disney World Resort. All of our Quick Service locations have Designated Trained Cast Members that are happy to discuss and attempt to accommodate all dietary requests once you arrive in the location in which you plan to dine. In order to ensure the safety of our Guests, at each Quick Service location there are specific people who have been trained to take and fill special dietary orders. Each of these Cast Members has taken extensive training to better understand and handle special dietary needs. Because of menu changes, availability of special dietary products, and possible cross-contamination of which the cashiers and front of line Cast Members might not be aware; each location has specific people on hand to give the safest service possible. The larger Quick Service locations tend to have more items on hand and a Designated Trained Cast Member is generally more readily available. We encourage our Guests with special dietary needs to not get in the line to order food at quick service locations until they have spoken with the Cast Member who has been specially trained in the special dietary process. The easiest way to facilitate this process is to find any Cast Member that can walk around, so preferably not a cashier, and alert them of your dietary request. We also recommend dining earlier or later than the normal lunch hours in order to avoid the longest wait time. The Quick Service locations listed below have menu items or products that, upon request, may accommodate common food allergy or intolerance requirements. Please know that based on guidance from government officials and health agencies, dining options may be modified and not all locations may be operating on the date of your visit. We recommend consulting our website or the My Disney Experience mobile app for further details regarding hours of operation for individual location. As these are subject to change without notice, we recommend confirming this information just prior to your visit. Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park: - Restaurantosaurus * - Flame Tree Barbecue * - Pizzafari * Disney's Hollywood Studios: - Backlot Express * - ABC Commissary * Epcot: - Sunshine Seasons - Regal Eagle Smokehouse : Craft Drafts & Barbecue * Magic Kingdom Park: - Be Our Guest (Breakfast and Lunch Only) - Cosmic Ray's Starlight Café * - Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn & Café * - Columbia Harbour House * - The Pinocchio Village Haus * - Casey’s Corner * Locations have allergy-friendly menus available online at https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/dining/ Please know that some Quick Service dining locations currently offer primarily Mobile Order service. At this time, Mobile Order service does not have the functionality to indicate multiple allergens or accommodate all special dietary requests. If the meals available at these locations through Mobile Order do not meet your needs or you require additional information prior to ordering, please advise upon arrival that you have a special dietary request so that our Cast Members may assist you with ordering in person. You may also request to speak with a Chef, Manager, or Special Diets Trained Cast Member at that time. The majority of restaurants in our Theme Parks and Resorts are owned and operated by the Walt Disney World Company. Our Chefs are trained to handle dietary requests and take every precaution against any cross contact. However, the majority of restaurants at Epcot are Operating Participants which are not Disney-owned and operated locations. With that said, the Operating Participant restaurants do uphold by the Disney standard in addition to the service we provide, but they also abide by their own dietary restrictions for all Guests. In Epcot, the pavilions that are owned and operated by the Walt Disney World Resort are Norway, Germany, The American Adventure, Morocco, United Kingdom and Canada. The pavilions that are Operating Participants are Mexico, China, Italy, Japan, and France. We encourage you to alert a Cast Member of your special dietary need when you arrive at the location.

That is referencing WDW - this post is about Disneyland CA, where unfortunately things are not going the same way.

 

[flowergleam1211]

Sorry, I missed earlier messages in this thread. It sounds like it's not possible to talk to anyone at the quick service locations?

 

[DLgal]

Sorry, I missed earlier messages in this thread. It sounds like it's not possible to talk to anyone at the quick service locations?

No, it's usually not possible. You can't even step foot in some locations or even approach unless you flash your mobile order screen. The people out front are just managing the line of people coming to pick up ready orders. The people behind the counter are just filling orders. I never saw a manager over the 2 days and about 7 different locations we visited. It's a cluster, to put it mildly.

 

[DLgal]

So, here is an easy way to figure out which places you can walk up to: In the mobile order menu, there will NOT be an "allergy friendly" category.

If a restaurant has this category to choose from, you can order from those selections, but you will not be able to speak to anyone before ordering.

It means going into the app and pretending to place an order while you check each individual location, but at least you will get a feel for what is available at the locations that DO have allergy menus.

 

[EpcotNerd]

So, here is an easy way to figure out which places you can walk up to: In the mobile order menu, there will NOT be an "allergy friendly" category.

If a restaurant has this category to choose from, you can order from those selections, but you will not be able to speak to anyone before ordering.

It means going into the app and pretending to place an order while you check each individual location, but at least you will get a feel for what is available at the locations that DO have allergy menus.

Silly question.. if it doesn't have that category, how do you know what allergy-friendly options would be available and if it's even worth it to go there to place a customized in-person order?

 

[StormyCA]

Silly question.. if it doesn't have that category, how do you know what allergy-friendly options would be available and if it's even worth it to go there to place a customized in-person order?

I'm not the poster you tagged but my method in the past (before allergy menus & mobile ordering) was to review the posted menu and pick 2 or 3 dishes that appeared to be easily adapted to gluten free. I found that normally at least one of the dishes I'd picked was available GF. These days I'd probably look at the mobile menu and do the same thing before traipsing across DL.

Also, a lot of the allergy menus are available online using Google. When traveling with special food needs it's good to do a lot of advance planning. Research the available eateries then google 'X eatery allergy menu' and you'll probably be able to figure out ahead of time where you want to eat and what's 'safe' for you. I did this for our recent trip to WDW. Used the WDW website to figure what eateries were open, then looked at the menu to see if the GF options were listed. If not I did a google search and found either a website or an image of the allergy menu. By the time we went I had a list on my phone of where and what I felt 'safe' to eat. Was doing all this a hassle? Sorta. But it was worth it to insure I wasn't walking around WDW 'hangry'.

 

[DLgal]

Silly question.. if it doesn't have that category, how do you know what allergy-friendly options would be available and if it's even worth it to go there to place a customized in-person order?

You don't. But at least there will be a kiosk outside that is easily accessible for you to ask about allergy options. This isn't a perfect system, because Flo's, for example, does have allergy options but they also have walk up ordering there. But it will at least give you an idea of what the options are using mobile order.

The biggest issue is going to be when your allergies don't fall under the main allergy categories. Like, if you are allergic to peppers or something, that isn't something you can manage using the mobile order system.

 

[Katiebird]

DH has celiac and we found there wasn’t much selection when we went a couple of weeks ago. DCA had mostly burgers, and there were a few more options at DL. It’s definitely something they can improve.

We reviewed the menus ahead of time, and also brought extra snacks and he was totally fine. He’s an adult and not picky and has had celiac for 40 years, so he’s used to limited or no options and doesn’t really care.

He’s easier than most probably, but reviewing options ahead of time and having some level of plan is probably for the best. Our back up plans was stopping at in n out on the way home.

 

[amandajustinee]

I'm hoping all these are just "growing pains" from re-opening and that they'll get relationships with their old suppliers back again once more restaurants open back up. I have a feeling they don't want to over-order on inventory since there is such little offered, but it's at the expense of the experience of their customers with allergies.

 

[wowsmom]

The biggest issue is going to be when your allergies don't fall under the main allergy categories. Like, if you are allergic to peppers or something, that isn't something you can manage using the mobile order system.

This is a big part of why I haven't yet visited since the reopening, even though I live in Anaheim. Most of my allergies fall outside the top 8 allergens and I figured it would be difficult at best. This thread makes me feel better about not going yet.

We did have dinner at Catal last Monday night and it was amazing - great service, food and drinks. They were totally able to accommodate my allergies.