Multiple food allergies at WDW...need some advice please!

[bangzoom6877]

We've taken our kids to WDW 3 times (every other year we go) and our next trip is next July. I'm booking in a couple of weeks (11 months out, DVC members). On past trips, we had known that DS8 is allergic to shellfish and it was very easy eating at the WDW restaurants, and the CMs were always very accommodating. In November 2012, we found out that DS8 is also allergic to tree nuts, peanuts and coconut. He tried a pecan for the first time and had a mild reaction, so I took him back to the allergist and they ran some blood tests...sure enough, tree nuts and peanuts as well as coconut. We have adjusted well to this at home, and every restaurant we have been to since then has been great (calling and speaking to the manager in advance, speaking to the chef, etc.). We just came off a Carnival cruise and they were also great and couldn't do enough for him. I know WDW handles food allergies very well and we feel comfortable going there as well.

For anyone with experience with nut allergies...how was the trip for you at WDW? Were the people with the allergies very limited in where and what they could eat? We eat mostly table service, but occasionally CS too and I need to make sure he is safe. Are there any desserts he could actually eat, or should we be prepared to bring our own? We eat at character meals, resort TS restaurants and we love the different countries in Epcot. Any advice or info would be greatly appreciated!

 

[hildarumpole]

We just got back a few days ago. My kids are allergic to peanuts, treenuts, and shellfish. This year, there were more dessert options than in the past. They usually had to settle for a fruit cup or vanilla ice cream, but more of he regular options are now deemed safe. At Tokyo Dining, my DD15 had veggie sushi and green tea soft serve for dessert. DS11 had the kids tempura chicken meal w/o crab rolls. We were a little concerned, because of all the shellfish they serve, but they were fantastic and very helpful. The chef at Biergarten was awesome. He brought the kids a platter full of safe desserts, since the only safe one on the buffet was a berrry compote. The desserts at Be Our Guest are all made in-house and don't contain nuts. They had to get sprinkle-free versions from the kitchen rather than being served from the cart, because the sprinkles came from an outside vendor and the chef didn't want to take a chance. DD15 was finally able to try the grapefruit cake at Brown Derby this year and my son got the Buried Treasures with an Enjoy Life cookie instead of the regular Nestle one. Breads continue to be hit or miss. Biergarten and Brown Derby were o.k., but BOG was not. The only CS we ate at was breakfast at the food court at our resort, POR. The kids stuck to Mickey waffles and pancakes. Last year we had very good, safe meals at Tutto Italia, Marrakesh, Flying Fish, Coral Reef, and Teppan Edo. We've never had any awful experiences or reactions. Some chefs seem happier to help than others. Have a wonderful trip!

 

[bangzoom6877]

We just got back a few days ago. My kids are allergic to peanuts, treenuts, and shellfish. This year, there were more dessert options than in the past. They usually had to settle for a fruit cup or vanilla ice cream, but more of he regular options are now deemed safe. At Tokyo Dining, my DD15 had veggie sushi and green tea soft serve for dessert. DS11 had the kids tempura chicken meal w/o crab rolls. We were a little concerned, because of all the shellfish they serve, but they were fantastic and very helpful. The chef at Biergarten was awesome. He brought the kids a platter full of safe desserts, since the only safe one on the buffet was a berrry compote. The desserts at Be Our Guest are all made in-house and don't contain nuts. They had to get sprinkle-free versions from the kitchen rather than being served from the cart, because the sprinkles came from an outside vendor and the chef didn't want to take a chance. DD15 was finally able to try the grapefruit cake at Brown Derby this year and my son got the Buried Treasures with an Enjoy Life cookie instead of the regular Nestle one. Breads continue to be hit or miss. Biergarten and Brown Derby were o.k., but BOG was not. The only CS we ate at was breakfast at the food court at our resort, POR. The kids stuck to Mickey waffles and pancakes. Last year we had very good, safe meals at Tutto Italia, Marrakesh, Flying Fish, Coral Reef, and Teppan Edo. We've never had any awful experiences or reactions. Some chefs seem happier to help than others. Have a wonderful trip!

Thank you, this is all great to know! Biergarten is our favorite WDW restaurant, and the kids really enjoy the music and they like to dance there. Glad to know they were so accommodating. My son would be plenty happy with ice cream for dessert. I'm also glad BOG was good for dessert, as we would like to try that restaurant on our next trip. DS8 would love to be able to enjoy a cupcake...usually bakery desserts are out of the question for him. We're also thinking of trying FLying Fish since BWV is our home resort and it looks like such a nice place. Are your kids' allergies airborne? DS8 can't breathe in steam from shellfish cooking, so I had wondered if Flying Fish is safe or not. He had a mild reaction in 2010 when we had just walked into Cape May Café and we had to dine somewhere else. That was how we discovered his allergy is airborne and not just from ingesting shellfish.

We are also planning on Brown Derby for the Fantasmic! dinner package, so good to know they're accommodating as well. Thanks again for all the info!

 

[Betty Rohrer]

you did not mention doing, in case you did not think of, add all allergries on your ressies and remind when you check in. at counter serves ask to see the lists.

 

[bangzoom6877]

you did not mention doing, in case you did not think of, add all allergries on your ressies and remind when you check in. at counter serves ask to see the lists.

Oh yes, I was already planning to add the allergies to our ADRs, thanks! I forgot that the CS locations have lists...I read that on here a few years ago when he was first diagnosed with the shellfish allergy. Thanks for reminding me!

 

[Betty Rohrer]

I work at a small local park and have to get our list for guests all the time. read your post just after I got home from work

 

[disfan07]

We just went to WDW this past December and June. I am allergic to: peanuts, tree nuts, eggs, shellfish, wheat, dairy, soy, coconut, oats, sesame, sunflower seeds, broccoli, bananas, cherries, ginger, thyme and honey.

We did mostly TS this time but we did a few CS meals as well and they were always able to accommodate me. I did not get to have any desserts this time except the enjoy life cookies because of the extent of my allergies but I knew that going in so I wasn't really disappointed. I brought some desserts with me from home.

We ate at:
crystal palace
The plaza
Liberty tree tavern
Sci Fi dine in
50s prime time
Citricos
The Wave
The Turf Club
1900 park fare
Contempo Cafe
POP food court
Columbia harbor house
Cosmic rays
Studio catering company
Liberty inn
Electric umbrella
Garden grill

We only had 1 bad experience and that was at Garden Grill. The chef was horrendous and I ended up having a delayed reaction after that meal...most likely from cross contamination. Luckily it wasn't too serious, just some Benadryl and prednisone to combat the reaction but I was pretty miserable the next day. Luckily it was a planned down day at the resort so it didn't mess things up too much.

But in all of our trips since I was diagnosed with my peanut, shellfish, and egg allergies in 2008, that has been the only reaction and only bad meal so all in all, our experiences have been pretty awesome.