Peanut Allergy at Disneyland

[ClaraOswald]

So my 3 year old was diagnosed with a peanut allergy last year. This will be our first vacation dealing with this. Actually, we never even eat at restaurants so it's pretty new for me. We always read labels on stuff at home. But how do I navigate the park with this? Will I need to ask about every item before ordering? I mean....even things like pizza and pasta?

I'm sure these are dumb questions but I am still pretty clueless about everything.

 

[Disney Dad ADL]

My son has a peanut allergy, It's not a problem. You can always ask, but usually at restaurants they will ask at the beginning of the meal whether there are any food allergies. Sometimes a chef will come out and discuss the menu with you although I think for us it's a bit overkill. They will offer alternatives if they believe there could be problem.

How much you ask depends on your comfort level. In theory even if a food doesn't have peanuts, they may have other foods that contain peanuts that they use the same equipment on.


For the aladdin's Oasis meal for example, they replaced the cookie with a prepackaged chocolate chip cookie because the said the normal cookie can theoretically be contaminated with peanuts.

We personally will still let our son have foods that say "processed in the same factory as peanuts" or whatever, but others will try to avoid those also.

 

[SMD]

They'll ask about allergies at TS. At both TS and CS they have printed allergy menus now for the top 8, which includes peanuts. Basically nothing at the candy places that is made on site will be safe, they use common pots and surfaces. Also the packaged Mickey bars are made in a facility that uses nuts. At Gibson Girl they now have an allergy prep area where you can get plain chocolate or vanilla in a bowl. I believe Ghirardelli has removed peanuts, but not sure where their products are actually made. Jolly Holiday has a few packaged items you can ask for, cookies, brownies and muffins. As far as other guests eating PBJ in line and touching ride vehicles, wash hands and practice not touching your face and such.

 

[lalasmama]

I believe they just had a big push for "Top 8 Allergies" menus for each restaurant, including CS and QS sites. Seems like I remember hearing about it from multiple places. So, if you feel like you would feel better asking, go for it.

The first time we went, we were in the middle of assessing my daughter's food allergies; we knew about artificial colors, but were unsure what was causing a facial rash (thought it was some sort of nut butter). At table service restaurants, they offered to have the chef come out. We declined, because it was fairly easy to tell what should be safe as far as colors, and we hadn't gotten to the "processed in the same kitchen as _____" level.

 

[StormyCA]

Disney is second to none in handling food allergies and intolerances. I have Celiac Disease and have never been glutened at DL or WDW.

I trust their allergy menus and the order takers so I just place my order with the cashier/server. If you are unsure or worried, just ask to speak to a chef or manager. They'll have someone come out to speak to you who will be more than happy to answer your questions.

Now that I think of it, when I place my order they usually say "Are you ok with the menu or would you rather speak to the chef?". At any rate, I'm sure your little one will be well taken care of.

 

[KimberMama]

I would just be really careful, ask to see the allergy menus, and take them up on their offer to speak a chef. What I learned recently is that you can't always trust the menu, but you can trust the chef. We ordered stir fry at the Chinese place in DCA; the menu said the veggies were safe, so I was surprised when the meal came out without vegetables. A chef came out and told me that there is risk of cross contamination with the veggies because they are cooked on the same griddle as the potstickers. With a gluten allergy this is an issue.

The do have a special area at Gibson Girl, and they will also recommend that you only get vanilla or chocolate ice cream, even if another flavor is technically free of the allergen. A chef will prepare the ice cream specially and bring it to you.

If a QS restaurant doesn't have an allergy menu, I pass. For some reason Galactic Grill didn't have one for breakfast, so I skipped eating there.

 

[Malcon10t]

Also be aware it may take a few minutes longer for your order. Last trip, we had a man angry because while we ordered after him, we got our food first. He demanded the chef, who tried explaining to him it takes longer for his dairy free/gluten free order. The man said my order shouldn't be processed til his was done....

 

[theluckyrabbit]

Always bring plenty of snacks that you know are safe for your son. I feel pretty safe and in control at DLR, but there are times when everyone else in the group wants something where I don't feel comfortable ordering, e.g. Dole Whip. I just make sure that I have something ready to go so that I don't get hangry and don't slow down everyone else. The snacks in your bag will also help when your son sees other kids in lines eating things which he can't have. Then you can whip out a safe snack for him so he doesn't feel left out.

 

[SMD]

I would just be really careful, ask to see the allergy menus, and take them up on their offer to speak a chef. What I learned recently is that you can't always trust the menu, but you can trust the chef. We ordered stir fry at the Chinese place in DCA; the menu said the veggies were safe, so I was surprised when the meal came out without vegetables. A chef came out and told me that there is risk of cross contamination with the veggies because they are cooked on the same griddle as the potstickers. With a gluten allergy this is an issue.

This was part of the reason they got rid of the printed lists from city hall years ago. I would hope that when anyone asks for the allergy menu they would ask which allergies so that can be relayed in case something has changed since it was last printed.

 

[ClaraOswald]

He isn't much of a snacker so that shouldn't be a huge issue.

We only do counter service so I don't see us needing to talk to a chef.

What exactly is an "allergy menu?"

I was looking at menus online and my son will likely be eating a lot of chicken, pasta, and pizza on this trip.

 

[cruisehopeful]

What exactly is an "allergy menu?"

At counter service, we have asked for gluten free options and they pull out a paper or a booklet that tells the ingredients in everything. There is probably a specific page for peanut allergies.

 

[Malcon10t]

He isn't much of a snacker so that shouldn't be a huge issue.

We only do counter service so I don't see us needing to talk to a chef.

What exactly is an "allergy menu?"

Even at counter service, you can ask for the allergy menu and to talk to the chef. This way you will know if anything is cooked in peanut oil. They will ask which allergy you need. The peanut allergy one will explain if any foods come in contact with peanuts/peanut oils/peanut contaminated.

 

[StormyCA]

He isn't much of a snacker so that shouldn't be a huge issue.

We only do counter service so I don't see us needing to talk to a chef.

What exactly is an "allergy menu?"

I was looking at menus online and my son will likely be eating a lot of chicken, pasta, and pizza on this trip.

Before it was just the regular menu and the chef came out and pointed out the dishes that were OK either 'as is' or with some adjustments.

Many of the eateries now have a preprinted menu of items that are 'safe' and what allergies they are 'safe' for. Read it carefully as it's by category and I once selected a dish from the 'wrong' allergy list. No worries as the CM pointed it out to me. Not all allergy menus have dishes for all allergies, so if you don't see nut allergy 'safe' dish listed don't let that stop you from asking to speak to a chef. They may be able to tailor a dish for your kidlet that's not on the menu.

You can google 'Disneyland allergy menu' and then select 'images' to look at them. But remember that not all of them are posted AND that the 'regular' menus get interspersed with the images so you must read them carefully.

http://www.nutfreewok.com/teens-guide-eating-disneyland-nut-allergies/

I think the above link has pictures of some of the allergy menus. I'm not vouching for the correctness of any advice posted by the blogger. I've seen some really stupid things posted by supposedly 'gluten free' bloggers so I always caution people to do lots of research and talk to your doctor/dietician when it comes to their own allergy/intolerance.

 

[Gothemi]

My daughter has a peanut allergy and Disneyland is one of the few places I feel comfortable taking her. Just make sure you always share the allergy with your server upon seating like others have said.

Might want to avoid buffets though. We did Goofy's Kitchen for Dinner one time. The Chef came out and explained that most food served (that she would eat anyways) had a chance of cross contamination. He offered to bring her out a plate of food made just for her. I think it had a mini cheese pizza, strawberries and some other small items she said she liked. So she wasn't able to eat from the buffet, but they still made accommodations for her. Even brought her out a huge fresh baked chocolate chip cookie for desert. Luckily the meal was free as part of our Costco package, but had I paid for it I would have been less than pleased as she didn't get to partake in the buffet.

 

[ClaraOswald]

We don't plan to eat at any buffets so we are safe there. We only do counter service our entire trip.

Thanks for the info on the allergy menu stuff. I will be sure to ask.

 

[ClaraOswald]

Okay...so let's say I go to Pizza Port or Rancho del Zocalo.....before ordering, who exactly do I ask if I want to see the allergy friendly menu?

 

[theluckyrabbit]

Ask the CM when you get to the counter. If s/he doesn't know what you are asking for (maybe s/he is new), then ask for a lead and repeat your request. Keep politely repeating until you get to see the allergy binder or get the information you need. We hardly ever have a problem with this, but rarely we enounter a new CM who is unfamiliar with the procedure. We just explain that this isn't a preference/pickiness issue, it's a health/medical issue. That usually gets the point right across.