Multiple allergies? How to deal with ddp?

[mself145]

I have been in the past with only an allergy to mushrooms,dd. And everything went great. But now I am worried, myself with multiple known allergies and about quick service restaurants, or should I only try ts meals as this way I can speak to the chef?

I am planning a trip in September of next year. Any help from other allergy sufferers and their experience with both qs and ts, will be appreciated.

Between dd and myself we are allergic to mushrooms, all dairy, wheat, gluten, yeast, corn, almonds, chocolate, and coffee. Severe reaction to bananas, mango and papaya.

Also taking recommendations for best restaurants to fit our needs. Thanks.

 

[AngiTN]

Have you considered not doing the dining plan? I personally would not. I would prefer to do TS only, where it's easier to access the chef and get a custom meal prepared, have more options. With that many restrictions I just think it's going to take a lot of creativity that QS may not have easily at hand

 

[Iowamomof4]

My friend who has a son with multiple allergies tends to stick with ts restaurants for that reason.

 

[rosetava]

I have multiple allergies myself. Every time I’ve gone I get the deluxe dining plan. I do one TS and one signature dining each day. The chefs are extremely accommodating. WDW is the one place I feel comfortable dining out.

 

[quandrea]

Don’t do the dining plan. You will probably be shut out of many snacks and desserts. Better to just pay out of pocket for food you can eat. If you want treats, order a few fun foods that are safe from Garden Grocer.

 

[mself145]

We were thinking about doing the deluxe dining plan when we go. I do know O’Hana was amazing when we went a few years ago with dd allergies. She loves broccoli, so they made a whole pan just for her. She ate about half of it being almost 3 at the time, she said it was the best broccoli ever!

I just don’t know if they would have gluten free pasta choices, or other options readily available

 

[gypsy_at_heart]

I can't have gluten or soy and previously I couldn't have dairy - luckily I'm on a new medication that make some small amounts dairy tolerable now. The gluten and dairy weren't an issue for wdw - they have milk alternatives at most places and tons of GF options. As for the rest of your list of allergies... honestly, I'd email special diets and plan out where you want to go and ask them for options.

I never do the dining plan. Partly because I think it's too much food and I never could get my $ worth. But also partly because, due to my dietary restrictions, I often find more things I can eat and like to eat in appetizer sections of the sides section of the menu. Eating like just isn't compatible with the DDP.

 

[CynBeth]

I have family members with food allergies and we make ADRs at TS for all 3 meals every day of the trip. We do not do the DP but instead get gift cards in the amount we think we will spend.

 

[Nancyg56]

I agree, skip the dining plan or go DxDDP. You will be able to have more control over your food choices.

 

[AngiTN]

I agree, skip the dining plan or go DxDDP. You will be able to have more control over your food choices.

Just know that is 3! meals a day. You can find yourself spending more time eating than you do riding rides. I know, we made the mistake of doing it the first trip (when they still offered it with a Deluxe stay). We never did eat all our credits, and DH and I can eat! And the snacks, my Lord the snacks...............

 

[Nancyg56]

Just know that is 3! meals a day. You can find yourself spending more time eating than you do riding rides. I know, we made the mistake of doing it the first trip (when they still offered it with a Deluxe stay). We never did eat all our credits, and DH and I can eat! And the snacks, my Lord the snacks...............

It can be be 2 if you book a signature. The op and family have multiple allergies so counter service will probably not be safe. Depending on dining preferences either oop or a fining plan that does not force them into counter service would be safer and offer more choices.

I know the DxDDP can be a lot of food, but if they need to avoid cs and don’t want to pay oop it is an option.

 

[AngiTN]

It can be be 2 if you book a signature. The op and family have multiple allergies so counter service will probably not be safe. Depending on dining preferences either oop or a fining plan that does not force them into counter service would be safer and offer more choices.

I know the DxDDP can be a lot of food, but if they need to avoid cs and don’t want to pay oop it is an option.

Oh, I know, I posted that in the 2nd post.

 

[E_Bec]

TS will definitely be easiest/safest for multiple allergies. Also, with more than 4 allergies, I recommend you contact the special diets department 30 days before your trip. All TS are great for allergies, but the chef’s at Crystal Palace (chef Jen) Chef Mickey (chef Kenny), and Ohana (chef Boone) were beyond! Oh and Chef Angel at H&V. Prepped special, delicious, and safe dishes, and they were all so kind!

To keep it simple, also try to order dishes that are safe for both of you- doesn’t include any allergens that either of you can’t have.

QS can be done, if you’re patient. Don’t wait until you’re hangry! Take time to study the menus before you go, and there’s usually a CM that can guide you too. With my son’s 6 allergies, Some places, like COlumbia harbor house, can’t accommodate my family. But Pecos Bill is perfect! BOG lunch and Satulli are other alleegy friendly favorites!

 

[quandrea]

TS will definitely be easiest/safest for multiple allergies. Also, with more than 4 allergies, I recommend you contact the special diets department 30 days before your trip. All TS are great for allergies, but the chef’s at Crystal Palace (chef Jen) Chef Mickey (chef Kenny), and Ohana (chef Boone) were beyond! Oh and Chef Angel at H&V. Prepped special, delicious, and safe dishes, and they were all so kind!

To keep it simple, also try to order dishes that are safe for both of you- doesn’t include any allergens that either of you can’t have.

QS can be done, if you’re patient. Don’t wait until you’re hangry! Take time to study the menus before you go, and there’s usually a CM that can guide you too. With my son’s 6 allergies, Some places, like COlumbia harbor house, can’t accommodate my family. But Pecos Bill is perfect! BOG lunch and Satulli are other alleegy friendly favorites!

Agreed. We eat safely at many counter service.

 

[CarrieR]

I have an allergenic group of friends -

Me: Vegetarian, allergies to mushrooms, mangoes, and limited milk (sometimes dairy-free)
Friend 1: Allergy to latex (plates need rewashed due to dishwashing gloves), cross-reactive to banana, avocado, kiwi, chestnut, mango, cashew, one other tropical fruit (forget which - she had a longer list but cleared most of them) - and, at Disney, precut apples (long story)
Friend 2: Allergic to strawberries, peanuts, tree nuts, eggs in large quantities, fresh fish, shellfish, etc, etc.

We ensure 1TS/day, occasionally 2. We do eat some leftovers, but we can usually eat well enough through QS that with the guarantee of one "solid" meal at TS, we do fine. I have actually learned NOT to utter the word "allergy" at a QS if I can help it at all - I have visited enough to know what I can eat and my needs typically do not need chef oversight. Once you tell the QS order-taker person that you have an allergy, they will call a chef or coordinator (and maybe hand you an ingredient binder) and will not order until the chef has come out. I will say I have noticed that they have loosened up a little bit and will sometimes agree to just give me the binder, especially when I mention, "I just need to know if there are mushrooms in the veggie burger, it's an allergy but not anaphylactic or cross-contamination sensitive." However, if we are in a situation where there are worries where we need to see a chef, it is ALWAYS accommodated. One single top-8 allergy is usually very easy to handle, but when you get into combos, it does get a bit more complex. Just pack your patience and know that if they determine you need something specially prepped, it may take a little while extra.

(I have also gone and eaten almost entirely QS and been okay - but we find we are much happier with some TS to break up the day!)

I also might consider not doing a dining plan, so that you can start out with one TS a day, but if you find you need a little extra "support" you can add some towards the end of the trip. (And, honestly, you'll probably come out ahead in the $$ category anyways.) I would avoid buffets and seek out places with menus - and ensure that the menus have dishes you feel are likely to be safe or easily modified to be safe.

(I can tell you that of your tropical fruits, you will encounter banana frequently, but rarely run into mango and papaya. Do you have issues with meat tenderizer? I've been told it is sometimes somehow derived from papaya/enzymes. If so, that would be the only thing to be aware of there. Mushrooms are usually "called out" on the menu with the exception of occasionally being hidden in some veggie dishes - esp veg burgers - and also mushroom soy sauce at yak & yeti. They do have regular soy sauce available. The rest of your list is, of course, much more common and going to cause you more issues.

Another tip - we have also found that when I travel with both of these friends, providing chefs with an index card or similar that has a list of who is allergic to which is most appreciative... especially if you make a copy for each restaurant so the chef can make notes and take it with him. With my group, for example, it saves the chef from doing a double-take when Friend 1 orders mushroom risotto!)

HTH!

 

[mself145]

I have an allergenic group of friends -

Me: Vegetarian, allergies to mushrooms, mangoes, and limited milk (sometimes dairy-free)
Friend 1: Allergy to latex (plates need rewashed due to dishwashing gloves), cross-reactive to banana, avocado, kiwi, chestnut, mango, cashew, one other tropical fruit (forget which - she had a longer list but cleared most of them) - and, at Disney, precut apples (long story)
Friend 2: Allergic to strawberries, peanuts, tree nuts, eggs in large quantities, fresh fish, shellfish, etc, etc.

We ensure 1TS/day, occasionally 2. We do eat some leftovers, but we can usually eat well enough through QS that with the guarantee of one "solid" meal at TS, we do fine. I have actually learned NOT to utter the word "allergy" at a QS if I can help it at all - I have visited enough to know what I can eat and my needs typically do not need chef oversight. Once you tell the QS order-taker person that you have an allergy, they will call a chef or coordinator (and maybe hand you an ingredient binder) and will not order until the chef has come out. I will say I have noticed that they have loosened up a little bit and will sometimes agree to just give me the binder, especially when I mention, "I just need to know if there are mushrooms in the veggie burger, it's an allergy but not anaphylactic or cross-contamination sensitive." However, if we are in a situation where there are worries where we need to see a chef, it is ALWAYS accommodated. One single top-8 allergy is usually very easy to handle, but when you get into combos, it does get a bit more complex. Just pack your patience and know that if they determine you need something specially prepped, it may take a little while extra.

(I have also gone and eaten almost entirely QS and been okay - but we find we are much happier with some TS to break up the day!)

I also might consider not doing a dining plan, so that you can start out with one TS a day, but if you find you need a little extra "support" you can add some towards the end of the trip. (And, honestly, you'll probably come out ahead in the $$ category anyways.) I would avoid buffets and seek out places with menus - and ensure that the menus have dishes you feel are likely to be safe or easily modified to be safe.

(I can tell you that of your tropical fruits, you will encounter banana frequently, but rarely run into mango and papaya. Do you have issues with meat tenderizer? I've been told it is sometimes somehow derived from papaya/enzymes. If so, that would be the only thing to be aware of there. Mushrooms are usually "called out" on the menu with the exception of occasionally being hidden in some veggie dishes - esp veg burgers - and also mushroom soy sauce at yak & yeti. They do have regular soy sauce available. The rest of your list is, of course, much more common and going to cause you more issues.

Another tip - we have also found that when I travel with both of these friends, providing chefs with an index card or similar that has a list of who is allergic to which is most appreciative... especially if you make a copy for each restaurant so the chef can make notes and take it with him. With my group, for example, it saves the chef from doing a double-take when Friend 1 orders mushroom risotto!)

HTH!

To mangos, I burn from inside out, lots of bladder issues and the skin of my bladder and kidney get very irritated, and Inflamed. I feel as if there are razor blades when I pee and constant stabbing and sharp pains all in my back where my kidneys are. Starts about 30 mins after I eat them and takes forever to go away. Kiwi, my mouth goes numb and tingle, and swell a bit.

Banana and papaya I had hives. Banana artificial and natural had me not able to close my eyes couldn’t close and my whole body was itching like crazy. It also caused a really bad asthma flare up. Banana I would label anaphylactic as that is why they prescribed me my epi pen, as each exposure only 2, the reaction got worse and involved more body systems. I was admitted for 4 days in the hospital for my second reaction to banana. Papaya it is like a chemical burn to my skin it I applied it (it’s in a lot of face products) and I had itchy hives immediately. I never invested it.

My daughter gets a severe burning rash from mushrooms, it looks like a chemical burn with peeling on her bottom. This was when she was still in diapers. 2 exposures months apart and same reaction almost immediately.

Everything else so far is if eaten directly makes me nauseas, weak, and sometimes itchy (no hives or swelling yet) with wheezing not always improved with rescue inhaler and scratchy throat. I need to take mega doses of hydroxizine and other antihistamines but so far they work well for accidental exposure. I broke out in hives a month ago with no cause so my doctor Ordered allergy testing and told me to avoid all of the above due to the high results and the reaction I had.

Thank you for all he help so far. Sorry I am complicated.

 

[CarrieR]

Girl. Did you READ my list? Complicated is what we do

My mushrooms are GI anaphylaxis. 0/10 would not recommend

Mango is usually pretty obvious in things. The only thing I can recall that surprised me is the “wild berry foam” on the LeFou’s Brew (and on an apple something-or-other drink in Carsland in California.)

Looking at your list, I have to ask, how are you with avocado? Have you ever considered/been tested for a latex allergy?

 

[mself145]

Girl. Did you READ my list? Complicated is what we do

My mushrooms are GI anaphylaxis. 0/10 would not recommend

Mango is usually pretty obvious in things. The only thing I can recall that surprised me is the “wild berry foam” on the LeFou’s Brew (and on an apple something-or-other drink in Carsland in California.)

Looking at your list, I have to ask, how are you with avocado? Have you ever considered/been tested for a latex allergy?

I don’t do Avacado due to texture. I have tasted it, and no reaction that I can remember.
I do get hives and itching with latex, skin gets very raw to put it nicely. I am a nurse and have to make sure I double check before grabbing a pair of gloves out a box.

 

[Chelley00]

DH and I just did the dining plan for 7 days two weeks ago. I’m allergic to wheat, egg, peanut and tomato and I limit dairy and soy. The dining plan works well if you go in with a plan. Research the menus, make a list and ask for a chef. Buffets are harder but usually doable. And always double check the info before you eat.

I ageee with the above poster who said you can eat safely at counter services. Be patient because it can take forever. Ask to see the binder and talk to the coordinator. Be careful in the countries in Epcot. Not all of those restaurants are owned by Disney and their allergy protocol may not be up to standard.

 

[CarrieR]

I don’t do Avacado due to texture. I have tasted it, and no reaction that I can remember.
I do get hives and itching with latex, skin gets very raw to put it nicely. I am a nurse and have to make sure I double check before grabbing a pair of gloves out a box.

I asked about those based on your mentions of reactions to kiwi and banana. Banana, avocado, kiwi, and chestnut are the “big four” but I know my latex-allergic bestie also has issues with mango and papaya.

The food prep gloves are latex free, but the dishwashers do use the heavy rubber (latex) gloves when pulling hot dishes out of the industrial dishwashers. The chefs just usually rewash her dishes by hand (latex is a sticky protein so being touched by those gloves has the potential to cause a reaction for her.) If latex is a concern for you, this is something you might wish to consider. Only an issue at the TSes.

(Only other latex issue is apples - apparently Disney buys them pre-cut from an outside facility ... we think they must use latex gloves in that facility as that’s the only reaction she’s ever had at Disney. Apple pie. Who knew?!)

...side note: your medical facility still uses latex?! Yikes!