Need some input re:allergies

[disneyshakeygirl]

I'm asking this on behalf of a friend, as we share similar food allergies and they asked me if I would share it here to receive input.

My friend recently went to WDW (severe food allergies - all nuts and soy). She made the group's reservations, and filled out the necessary items for her allergies. My friend phoned several times before she left for the trip to confirm that the allergies were on file for every reservation etc, and filled out all the paperwork that was sent from Dining and sent it back.

According to my friend, every restaurant was ready for my friend except for one (ie chefs came to see her, allergy books were brought to her etc). It was confirmed at the front desk, however, when she confirmed the allergies with the waiter,neither the waiter nor the kitchen had any idea. The waiter went to the kitchen, got it sorted and my friend was able to enjoy her meal but was left feeling a little worried. The waiter was very apologetic. She checked with front desk to see if she had entered her allergies on the day that she made her reservation and she had.

She is wondering if she should write to Disney to tell them what happened, as she doesn't want this to happen to anyone else. She's made it very clear that she doesn't want anything from this, other than to make sure it does not happen to anyone else.

 

[antree]

My son has a Peanut/tree nut allergy. When I make our reservations I let them know to mark it on the ressies. I never called the restaurants before hand, when we get to the restaurant we let the waiter/waitress know about the allergies then, they go and get the Chef. The Chefs have all came to our table talked to us went over the menu and then made whatever he wanted, even if it wasn't on the menu. We never had a problem.

Disney is great with allergies, I understand all the other restaurants where ready with food for her, if she had ordered a certain meal and they had no clue what it was about then I would be upset. The chefs are trained and ready for any allergy and can accommodate with little notice.

Once I did call for my Mothers allergy to wheat and I was told by calling ahead they can make her any meal she wanted, they asked what her favorite dish was and they would make it. that was the benefit of calling ahead.

She had a good experience I would leave it at that, unless she was not treated right or if there was no food for her to eat.
But she needs to do what feels right to her.

 

[laughinplace199]

I guess I'm not really understanding the problem. Did the chef come out and talk to her at the restaurant (the place where they did not have her allergy info)? It sounds like everything got sorted out and she was able to eat there.

My DD also has food allergies. I do all the same things you mentioned, have it noted on ADR's, fill out dining info and send it back to WDW, etc. However, there have been a few times where we have decided to eat somewhere spur of the moment, so these places did not have her allergy info in advance. The chef came out to talk to us and DD was able to eat with no issues.

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

You can, but they'll probably tell you that on all of the paperwork that is filled out ahead of time, they ALWAYS tell you to speak with the wait staff and chef at where ever you eat (CS/TS/snack) as ingredients gets changed up all of the time and may not adhere to any paperwork that was previously provided.

I'm glad that everything worked out for her. That's why it's so important to double check!

 

[disneyshakeygirl]

Thank you for all the responses. Everything was sorted in the end, and she did enjoy her meal. Personally, I think her main problem was was that the chef, nor the waiter had been notified that she was coming. I've always found Disney to be great with allergies too. kwitcherkicken99, I agree, it is always important to double check!

I guess I'm not really understanding the problem. Did the chef come out and talk to her at the restaurant (the place where they did not have her allergy info)? It sounds like everything got sorted out and she was able to eat there.

I sat down and talked to her to ensure that I understood what her problem exactly was. She told me again what had happened.
- Arrived at restaurant
- Checked in, front desk confirmed allergies (she had previously called, sent in paper work etc).
- When mentioning allergies to the waiter, neither waiter, nor the chef, had been notified.
- It was sorted in the end, she was able to have a lovely meal.

The chef did not come out to talk to her, I had to clarify this with her. However, the waiter did go and check, and she did enjoy her meal and was left satisfied. Her question is - should she call Disney and tell them what happened?

 

[laughinplace199]

Sorry, I guess I misunderstood. I thought that the chef did eventually come out to talk to her.

Once she realized that the kitchen was unaware of her allergies, did she ask the waiter to send the chef out? If she wanted to speak with the chef and the chef would not come to the table, I would certainly complain. I remember at Le Cellier several years ago, the server wanted to handle our order herself. I told her I'd be more comfortable speaking to the chef and the server got him for us. I would definitely be uncomfortable with DD eating at a place where I hadn't personally spoken to the chef to make sure he/she was aware of her specific allergies.

If she did not request that the chef come out and talk to her, I think that she has nothing to complain about since she did end up with a nice, safe meal.

Was this a Disney owned restaurant? We usually stick with those. Perhaps if it was a non-Disney owned place, they don't follow the same procedures?