multiple food allergies & resort dining

[girls]

What resort restaurants would you recommend for a family with 2 small children, one of whom has multiple ana food allergies? Any to avoid? The resort restaurants seem better than the other options so we're thinking to do our 1 sit down a meal there for the most part. Thanks.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Hi and to both DisBoards and disABILITIES!

If you click on where it says "disABILTIES" at the top of this page it will take you to the Index. One of the top items is the "disABILTIES FAQ" which will gives lots of useful information. Go especially to Post #3 and look for the section about Dietary Restrictions.

Or, if you want an easier route to the FAQs, click on the link in my signature.

 

[girls]

Thanks so much for the link. I've read them all thoroughly and have found them helpful, but I noticed several of the dates were very old (years in some cases.) I know things can change frequently with restaurants, so I wanted to see if there were any more recent experiences.

Thanks!

 

[mommatomase]

For seven years we have been going to Disney for the simple fact that Disney is the Safest Place on Earth for a child with food allergies to eat!! The chefs come out (specifically trained for food allergies) and talk to you and your child... they will tailor a meal to your child's needs!

We have no worries at Disney what-so-ever... this is the one place that we truly feel safe eating in any restaurant. Each restaurant has a designated area to prepare foods for allergic guests...

We have an restaurant allergy card that we show at any restaurant we go to... makes life easier on everyone...

GO.... HAVE FUN... AND EAT UP!!!

We found the meal plan to be a life saver for us (no pun intended)...

 

[casjen]

I just had HORRIBLE service there. I asked to speak to a chef, and when she came ot, told me everything they served has dairy in it. I guess it's in the sauce? She told me I could have chicken but I can't eat chicken. So she told me there was nothing for me to eat there.

I was completely shcoked, as every chef I have ever met at Disney have been amazing. I asked he nicely if I could just have a plate of plain noodles with nothign on it and she replied "If you want something special, you need to go the sit down restaurant next door." When I told her I didn't want to do that, she again said there was nothing she could do. So I said "You're telling me I can't have a plate of plain noodles?" Well, this ticked her off. She said "look, I don't have to make anything special for you. It's not my problem. But because you keep insisting I do, I'll do it this one time. Do you understand, this one time. Don't come back here expecting me to do it again, and don't come back here saying I did it before." Then she stormed off. I was shocked. When she came out she had made me a special stir fry with no dairy in it.

I'll never eat there again. I have since heard that restaurant isn't owned by Disney and that may be why the service was so bad.

I have a friend who is veegtarian, no allergies, and she had a horrible experience at Tutto in Italy trying to get just pasta and sauce with veggies. Also not owned by Disney. My MIL who is celiac had a great experience at Teppan Edo. I have had no problems at Crystal Palace, Boma, Chef Mickeys, Le Cellier, California Grill and Teppan Edo.

Your best bet is to get the ingredients info from Brenda Bennett and then go on Allears or the Dis and look at menus for counter service places. Only pick places that have something you can eat that they can easily modify. I would never go to Pizzafari expecting cheeseless pizza b/c I think that isn't possible. I always make up a quick list of "safe" counter service options so we're not trudging around the park looking for soemthing I can eat. I just carry it with me in my bag.

Table service restaurants are amazing. They'll go out of their way to create something you can eat. But counter service can be tricky.

I was just at ASMU for the Princess marathon and had a fabulous experience at the food court there. The chef made me plain pasta with sauce on the side at the pasta station. At breakfast the chef made me delicious gluten free/dairy free panckaes that were so so good. At lunch they made my veggie burger separate, even though i was not worried about cross contamination.

At the MK I got tofutti ice cream and the manager has to come out and talk to you, then scoop it from a special case in the back. So it takes longer. But, you know it's clean and uncontaminated. A few years ago I got an amazing, specially made sundae at Beaches and cream.

Just an FYI, when you order something with an allergy, an entire procedure has to be followed. It will take twice as long (if not longer) at a counter service to get your meal. If it is crazy busy they are less likely to go out of thier way to accomodate you.

B/c counter service places can be long I will often just bring lunch with me. I usually pack hummus in a small cooler with rice crackers and then I don't need to worry about eating.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Y&Y is not Disney owned or operated.

 

[ekatiel]

Hands down, the BEST food allergy dining experience we had at Disney was at 'Ohana with Chef TJ. He is ABSOLUTELY THE BEST!!! He will make your child the most amazing meal of his or her little life. Do not let the fact that they serve peanut sauce at the restaurant scare you off. They will clean your table twice for you (and even offered to clean it in front of me) so there's no risk of cross contamination from the table/chairs (and of course, all of us jsut skipped the peanut sauce!). Chef TJ treated my son so well, it actually made me cry. Seeing my little guy, who always has to bring his own cupcake to birthday parties and never seems to get the coolest snacks, have the BEST looking AND tasting dessert in the entire restaurant totally made me tear up. Chef TJ is awesome.

We also had a great experience at Pop-- the chef there actually called us before we left to ask us what flavor of cookies my DS would like to have while he was there. Sure enough, when we got there, the cookies were available for us in the food court. Disney is the best place to eat with food allergies. They will take really good care of you. Like a PP said, it does take a little longer to get your food in most CS places, but we were always ok with that, since we knew they were making it especially for DS. BTW-- at the time of our trip DS was allergic to wheat, barley, rye, eggs, peanuts, and tree nuts, and had had previous anaphylactic reactions to wheat, barley and eggs (he's never eaten peanuts, but gets hives from touching peanut butter, so we're pretty sure he's ANA to peanuts, too). He has since outgrown the wheat, barley, and rye allergies. Have a wonderful trip! --Katie

 

[Minnie]

Y&Y is not Disney owned or operated.

The customer service of a restaurant on WDW property should be held to the same standards no matter if they are owned by WDW or not. casjen - I really hope you reported the terrible rudeness of that chef to WDW

OP - I have multiple food allergies due to HFI. Not just the day but the week can be ruined if I eat food containing fructose... Many foods unfortunately convert to fructose and explaning this can be difficult. On my trip last year I listed - food allergies - on all of my sit down ressies and after a few tries realized that I just needed to tell the Chef what I wanted to eat that was within the possible options and in most cases this was no problem

The counter service places were the most difficult due to the limitted options. French fries were my meal once or twice....

I would highly recommend emailing Brenda Bennett with your allergy concerns. She or the staff is more than willing to check specific foods for possible allergens... (chicken nuggets at WDW have sugar ) for example.

I can highly recommend Grand Floridian Cafe and Kona Cafe for chefs that really go out of their way to make you a very nice meal in the resort restaurants. For in the parks - Coral Reef was by far the best

Also don't forget that in the mod / deluxe resorts you have an in room dorm size fridge and I highly recommend stocking up on "safe snacks"

 

[nfceagles]

What does your child like to eat? My milk, egg, and nut allergic DS really likes meat, so we looked for restaurants that had bbq and steaks and such. WE had good experiences with all of the following, in order of preference.

1) Ohana
2) Le Cellier
3) Liberty Tree Tavern
4) Whispering Canyon Cafe
5) Biergarten

 

[WeLoveLilo05]

I just wanted to add about Ohana's that if you are traveling with younger children than be aware of the games that they play throughout the meal. I had ressies here, but canceled them (not just b/c I felt out of my comfort zone, but a few members of my party are not adventurous eaters lol). Another DISer mentioned that there are hula hoop games, maracas and something else. So if one child touches the hula hoop and had peanut sauce all over her fingers than your child touched the same hoop and puts her hand in her mouth or rubs her eyes then there is a risk. If your children are not interested in those games then you don't have to worry about it. But I know my DD would run up and take the hoop, maracas, etc lol.

We have dined at LE Cellier, Chef Mickeys for breakfast (great experience here!), Crystal Palace, Tusker House, Ohana's (but for breakfast), Mama Melrose (won't do again, chef never came out), Cape May Cafe for breakfast, Whispering Canyon Cafe, and 1900 Park Fare without a problem (although I Have seen on allears that the menu has changed and there's pbnj sandwiches which they did not have on our last 2 trips).
Although, now if at a buffet I will ask for something straight from the kitchen, as cross contamination may occur at any buffet (someone using tongs on a meal with nuts on a nut free meal accidentally). The chef at chef mickey's did this for us and now I plan on doing it at each one.

The manager at our food court (ASMo) was also very helpful with counter service, as well and the manager at the backlot studio (I think that was the name of it) @ DHS.

 

[jesshirecat]

WDW sets the gold standard for food allergies.

I would advise against Yak and Yeti.

I would recommend

1. Crystal Palace
2. Le Cellier
3. 1900 Park Fare

Staying on property we found the food courts to have Divvies Chocolate Chip Cookies (Port Orleans French Quarter) and Divvies Jelly Beans and Pop Corn (Caribbean Beach). Also they had Van's Waffles for breakfast at Port Orleans French Quarter.

I'd say with counter service, just make sure to allocate yourself enough time, i.e., don't wait until everyone is hungry to actually order, try to start your order before everyone is at the point of hunger meltdown.

Wish me luck, we're headed to Disneyland Paris in May with food allergies...

 

[girls]

Thanks for all the responses. We're staying in a villa, and should be able to avoid CS. Le Cellier was on our list of places to try, as was the 1900 Park with Mary Poppins. Maybe we'll have to look into Ohana. Raglan Road in dd is still Disney owned, right?

Defintely avoid Yak & Yeti it sounds like!

 

[PJB71]

Hi

My DD has a dairy and wheat allergy.

We have eaten at most of the Disney Charactor Restaurants over the years and the chefs have always gone out of there way to accomodate her, even with special treats such as "Rice Ice Cream" etc, etc

 

[clanmcculloch]

Also they had Van's Waffles for breakfast at Port Orleans French Quarter.

They made us Mickey waffles at POFQ in December. We eat Van's at home. I'm not paying WDW prices just to get those. Ask them to make the waffles for you. They have an allergy dedicated Mickey waffle press.

Wish me luck, we're headed to Disneyland Paris in May with food allergies...

Please fill us in on how that goes. I'd love to some day go to every Disney park around the world but I'm nervous about the food issues.