Peanut allergy and restaurants

[momofsamandeden]

I just got an email back that we will have to cancel Ohana for dinner because of our daughters peanut allergy. We also will have to be careful at Les Chef but that was mainly salad options. The Dietary is waiting for our other res' to get back to her. I am bummed about Ohana as we made the res to eat and then watch wishes from there. Has anyone dealt with the peanut allergy? She is two and will be eating off our plates but now I am wondering if Teppan Edo uses peanut oil.....

 

[sherabby]

I just got an email back that we will have to cancel Ohana for dinner because of our daughters peanut allergy. We also will have to be careful at Les Chef but that was mainly salad options. The Dietary is waiting for our other res' to get back to her. I am bummed about Ohana as we made the res to eat and then watch wishes from there. Has anyone dealt with the peanut allergy? She is two and will be eating off our plates but now I am wondering if Teppan Edo uses peanut oil.....

My son has a peanut allergy (fish and dairy as well). I try and avoid places like Coral Reef. We are going to Ohana's for breakfast. His allergy to peanuts is not as severe as his fish allergy. Just make sure to note all of your dining reservations and the chef's will take great care of your order.

 

[OhThePain]

My girlfriend has a very bad peanut allergy. When we make reservations we let it be known of her allergies and in most cases the head chef of each restaurant has come to our table and explain the things that are safe for her to eat. We have never had a problem at 'Ohana since the sauces are served on the side.

I understand that a 22 year old is different from a 2 year old, but my advse if you don't want to start canceling everything, is to let it be known that someone in your party has a peanut allergy (either at the time of making your ADR or at the restaurant itself when you check in). Then just make sure that someone in your party is willing to go the meal without any peanut products and have your daughter eat off of that persons plate for that meal.

Disney does seem to go out of their way to make sure that everyone has a safe visit. This includes dining expereinces.

 

[livndisney]

I just got an email back that we will have to cancel Ohana for dinner because of our daughters peanut allergy. We also will have to be careful at Les Chef but that was mainly salad options. The Dietary is waiting for our other res' to get back to her. I am bummed about Ohana as we made the res to eat and then watch wishes from there. Has anyone dealt with the peanut allergy? She is two and will be eating off our plates but now I am wondering if Teppan Edo uses peanut oil.....

Is it an airborne allergy? The reason I ask is we got a call telling us not to come to Ohana(the day of my ressies) due to one of my allergies (which is airborne).

Les Chef and Teppan Edo are not Disney run places so may have different "practices" than Disney.
You may want to read on the Disabilities thread here on the Dis. There are lots of tips for eating at Disney with allergies.

 

[momofsamandeden]

We did link the allergy with the reservation. So far Everyone but Crystal Palace, Le Cellier and Teppan Edo has gotten back to us. What I am worried about at Ohana is the interaction with the children in parades and such, I will really have to watch to make sure that no peanut sauce is anywhere with in her reach. I still have the reservation though and since we are staying club level we planning on letting her eat the appetizers at the hotel before we go anyway since she is more into things like that.

 

[momsavealot]

OP - One of the sauces they serve on every table at Ohana is a peanut sauce. Having said that, I have read on the disability board that families with kids with a peanut allergy have eaten there successfully and the chef has been very good. You are better off posting your concerns about specific restaurants on the disability thread as a pp pointed out. Personally, my dd has a peanut allergy and I won't risk it, but other families do and it works out fine. But do be careful of interaction w/ the parade/brooms/etc. since other kids may be dipping their fingers in the peanut sauce, etc. My dd had a reaction in Pinocchio's Village Haus when she touched the window overlooking It's a SMall World. Other kids who had eaten PB& J there had smeared their hands on the window and that's how she got it. Good Luck!

 

[nfceagles]

I'm shocked you were told to cancel your res. We ate there 8 days ago and after noting the allergy (milk, egg, peanut, treenut) on the ADR and submitting the food allergy form to Special Diets, no one called us about any restaurants being unacceptable.

That said there is reason for concern and I can understand some families choosing not to go there. After reading rave reviews from other families with allergies we decided to try it. It was, from an allergy perspective, the best dining experience of the week.

My DS (4.5) didn't even have to get special, separate food (except for dessert) like at other places. Chef TJ talked with us personally. He suggested, as we'd already planned, to skip the peanut sauce for the entire table. Other than that, DS was able to eat everything BUT the pork dumplings and bread (and those may have been due to his milk and egg allergies). We also skipped shrimp at our table because DH is shellfish allergic. The salad was safe, the brocolli and noodles (egg free!!!) were safe. All the skewered meats and the other two sauces served were safe.
For dessert, Chef TJ brought DS the most amazing tower of goodness. I almost cried.

 

[nfceagles]

I forgot to add my thoughts on the games. My DS didn't play the games or care much. My 21 month old non-allergic DD was IMO too young. So I'm not sure you'd send your 2 yr old DD out to do the games regardless of her allergies.

 

[bedell32]

We just ate at Ohana's on 2/6. They made my peanut allergy son a special plate of mac and cheese and a special dessert. They also pointed out that he could have all the meats minus the sauces. We had a good meal there and my ds was very happy!

 

[momofsamandeden]

Thank you for all your advice. Chef TJ emailed me and said that we should still enjoy the experience. It is not airborne for her for now. I am just wondering what they will do since she will be eating off our plate. I may just get my DS that mac and cheese and he can share it with her just to be on the safe side.
Also I will make sure dd avoids the Small World windows

 

[DisneyFamily123]

Our DS4 has egg and peanut allergies. The egg allergy is more severe - he cannot eat any egg ingredients or foods cooked on same pan/grill/oil as egg items. The peanut allergy is mild shown in testing only but he never eats anything with peanuts... definitely not airborne.

Ohana's was fine for us, he just didn't eat the peanut sauce (he would not have wanted it anyway being picky about trying new foods!). Chef TJ made DS a very wonderful dessert towered high with ice cream and goodies.

I found all of the table service restaurants to be wonderful with the egg allergies. We met with the chef before ordering (standard Disney practice). Some of the buffet places like Crystal Palace just pointed out what he could have and offered some minor adjustments.

Non-buffet places were VERY accommodating. Most chefs came to the table with the waiter and simply asked about what he likes to eat and then made wonderful meals regardless of the menu. The BEST restaurant was Restaurant Marrakesh. They were very flexible, very personable and emphasized their desire for DS to enjoy his food and experience. I wish I could remember the waiter's name because he was awesome - playfully interactive and talkative with DS. Then the belly dancer came to our table!

This is why we do almost all our meals at table service restaurants. Counter service is much more work to figure out what foods are OK and there are less choices. As you found out, Disney will have the chef call you before you arrive/make your reservation to answer questions. The chef from Yak and Yeti was most helpful.

 

[nfceagles]

Because this meal is served family style and most things will be safe I think Chef TJ will just explain what she can and can't have. It may just be the peanut sauce and bread that she can't have (I think most of the breads served throughout the park have x-cont warnings). I suspect your whole table will be expected to skip the peanut sauce. She will have her own plate just like any buffet or family style restaurant. There really isn't a menu at Ohana dinner. She will be able to eat almost everything.

Her age will be more of an issue at menu-based restaurants since she's not technically entitled to her own meal. I think you will get one of the following solutions and it will probably vary from place to place.
1) A safe separate meal will be prepared for her and you will be charged for it, just like any other family that decides to order a meal for their 2 year old.

2) A safe separate meal will be prepared for her, but they won't charge you for it since it's due to her allergies.

3) A safe separate meal will be prepared for one of the adults and they will be expected to share that meal with her.

 

[TDC Nala]

I'm shocked you were told to cancel your res. We ate there 8 days ago and after noting the allergy (milk, egg, peanut, treenut) on the ADR and submitting the food allergy form to Special Diets, no one called us about any restaurants being unacceptable.

If this particular child has a severe allergy affected by peanut dust I can see why 'Ohana is off limits, as they serve items (the sauce) featuring ground peanuts.

I'd also imagine that in the case of very severe allergies, maybe it's thought to be safer to avoid certain restaurants altogether if it's not sufficient to just have peanut products removed from that party's table, because they can't remove them from neighboring tables.

If this child doesn't have an airborne allergy, and can be in the same room with the peanuts - she just needs to avoid eating them - and you still don't want her to eat anything off the menu, and Chef TJ is willing to make her something safe to eat then she doesn't need to eat off the parents' plates and you probably don't need to cancel the reservation. I doubt they'll charge you for her meal although anything is possible. With sufficient info TJ will be able to explain to you what she can and can't eat from the regular menu.

 

[bubblie]

My DS 6 also has a severe peanut allergy, not totally airborne but he is rated above 100 on the list. If a peanut product touches his skin he will go into shock, an EPI pen is always with him. I would avoid Ohana as well as japan. He can not have any chocolate as well due to cross contaminantion.

Disney has always been very helpful with us regarding this allergy.

when we go we have a sticker made is bright yellow (caution sign) with his first name and a note saying "no peanuts (treenuts)" life threatening allergy. We put the sticker on a lanyard with disney pins. CM's see this and give us a heads up on anything that may be dangerous for him. try it.

 

[nfceagles]

Just to be clear. I wasn't shocked because I took offense to the idea. I have no problem with a restaurant politely informing a parent that they don't feel they can safely serve a peanut allergic individual. Or a parent deciding it's not safe enough for their child. I was just surprised because 1 week ago I ate there with my peanut allergic DS after submitting my food allergy form to Special Diets and nobody contacted me about eating at Ohanas. And I know of many other families who have eaten there too.