Peanut Allergy at Hersheypark-help a non-allergy mom out, please!

[cam&phoebsmom]

Hi!

My husband's work rents out Hersheypark for one day each fall. This year we would like to ask one of my son's friends from baseball to go with us as he is right on the same level as my son when it comes to rides (they did an amusement park together after the last tournament and buddied up and had a great time).

The only catch/concern is that he has a severe peanut allergy. Even when he just went to ride rides with my DH and DS the dad gave us his epi-pen just in case. He can eat at places like Rita's ice cream, but I know his parents are (rightfully) very careful about cross contamination and traces of peanuts.

So has anyone with a peanut allergic child done Hersheypark?
Anytips for taking a kid with us with an allergy like that?
The kid is very nice and our sons have been playing baseball together for 3 years and I think it would be fun for my son to have a ride buddy-but I want to get some ideas beforehand on how to keep him safe befor I even ask the parents if he can come with us.

TIA!

 

[girls]

We're dealing with a lot more than just peanuts, but didn't feel any in park food would work. There is a Red Robin just outside the park (as close as you can get without being part of the park) that we ate at while there.

I know they have a no outside food rule. Their website does have allergy info on it under the menu / nutrition section. With just peanuts, you may be able to find something for him in the park, but know that Red Robin is close by, and they are fantastic with allergies.

 

[HappyontheLake]

I travel with a letter from our doctor detailing my daughter's peanut & tree nut allergy plus celiac disease and the need to carry our own food for health reasons. We have never had any problem carrying food in to anywhere including stadiums with this. Always ask for a supervisor politely when questioned.

 

[Selket]

I haven't been to HP but I would suggest finding out what you can about the park food (calling them?) and also - as a Plan B - have him bring a small lunch bag with a meal and a few snacks. If NOTHING else - you could keep a cooler in the car with the food and return there to eat if you had to. I can't imagine it would come to that but at least you have something - that would be Plan C if they wouldn't let you into the park with it.

I doubt, when pressed, that any place would risk angering your husband's company who have rented out the park over letting a kid bring in a sandwich. My child has type 1 diabetes as well as anaphylactic food allergies so we often bring some food every where we go and have never had a problem - but that is what we do.

On their website they have an email option for more info on dining there with food allergies: http://www.hersheypark.com/food_and_shops/healthy_food.php

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Why don't you ask for advice from the experts - this boy's Mom and Dad?

 

[cam&phoebsmom]

Why don't you ask for advice from the experts - this boy's Mom and Dad?

I will I just want to knw in advance of any of you had experience at HersheyPark specifically b/c the last time we checked with them they had never gone. I was just looking for folks that have gone that might be able to point me in the right direction as far as if they had any success with specific food locations, etc.

If multiple people had gone and all said that there was no food that was safe to eat, I would make sure to let them know and ask what we could take into the park or ask them to give me a list of pre-packaged snacks I could buy for him before we go. But if people had eaten there and felt it was safe for their children I could use that info. as well.

 

[MSSANDRA]

PA parent here and I think it can be done. Get the "rules" from his parents. Know exactly what is off limits. Peanut warning wordings vary a lot. Find out exactly what to look for and avoid. With JUST peanuts, you would mostly be concerned about desserts, breads,& asian foods. You would need to however ask everywhere. Chances are he is fine to eat a burger or chicken nuggets etc. Find out if he is ok with peanut oil or not and be sure to ask if they use it.

Be sure to carry him a safe dessert along too. Be sure that you know how to use the epi pen as well. Wipe down the place he eats in case of peanut residue.


Thanks for trying to include this child a fun, normal kid day!!!!!!!

 

[cam&phoebsmom]

PA parent here and I think it can be done. Get the "rules" from his parents. Know exactly what is off limits. Peanut warning wordings vary a lot. Find out exactly what to look for and avoid. With JUST peanuts, you would mostly be concerned about desserts, breads,& asian foods. You would need to however ask everywhere. Chances are he is fine to eat a burger or chicken nuggets etc. Find out if he is ok with peanut oil or not and be sure to ask if they use it.

Be sure to carry him a safe dessert along too. Be sure that you know how to use the epi pen as well. Wipe down the place he eats in case of peanut residue.


Thanks for trying to include this child a fun, normal kid day!!!!!!!

Thank you! I do know that he is NOT ok with peanut oil as a hamburger place around here uses it and they do not eat there. I was hoping to find some places at Hersheypark that other parents have eaten at that are safe for peanut allergies so that we will not have to bring him in special food if we can help it (not b/c I think it be too hard, but b/c I want him to have a more typical amusement park day).

I wil remember to bring wipes with us, and his epi-pen of course. He is going into 4th grade so he is very good about asking. I was just hoping to find some folks who had gone and hear about their experiences

 

[thejman]

I noticed this on the Hershey website:

Hersheypark Dietary Meal Ticket - $13.00
Hersheypark offers special Dietary Meal options featuring Gluten Free, Nut Free, Dairy Free and Vegetarian meals. With this affordable and flexible meal option, your family can select the time/place to enjoy a meal. With 10 participating locations and savings of up to 25%, this appetizing meal option is a big hit! All Meals include 32 oz. Souvenir Cup.

Purchase your Meal Ticket at the Hospitality Services location just inside the Park.
See Menu Options

It mentions Nut Free meals, so you may want to inquire about that.

 

[geek+nerd]

Not sure if this helps, but there is a Subway location inside the park. So, if this young man is OK to eat there, there is at least something he can do!

 

[davebon23]

I can't help you with the peanut free, but I have eaten gluten free at Hersheypark. Just look at their website and see what offerings they have for nut free, and see if he is interested in any of those choices. Also if you, he and his parents feel that those food choices are safe choices for him to try. If you are not all in agreement on the choices being safe, then maybe at that point bring something in or eat dinner after going to the park like suggested above. I would sit down with all of them and go over all of the info Hersheypark has to offer and possibly call and talk with them directly also. That will make for the best experience for everyone. I believe if you read their dietary info, they will allow you to bring something in if you state it is for allergy purposes. But I would double check that. Good luck and have a great time!!
Hershey is great, we have been there many, many times.

 

[nfceagles]

It's really heart warming to hear a parent willing to take the necessary steps to include a food allergic child. THANK YOU!

If you or the boys parents can get on kidswithfoodallergies website, a quick search found a few threads about Hershey Park in the forums. I'm just not sure if the forums require a paid membership.

A few things I noticed while reading. By contacting the park ahead of time you can get a letter allowing you to bring food into the park. Boardwalk Fries, not sure if this is all the fries at the park, are fried in peanut oil. A park map, not sure if it's the regular one, denotes restaurants that have nut free choices.

Talk to his parents and make sure they understand your willingness to take the necessary precautions. I have a lot of friends I would never trust with DS, because they just don't grasp the seriousness of the situation. I'd sooner send DS with you, a perfect stranger!

Good luck.

 

[cam&phoebsmom]

It's really heart warming to hear a parent willing to take the necessary steps to include a food allergic child. THANK YOU!

If you or the boys parents can get on kidswithfoodallergies website, a quick search found a few threads about Hershey Park in the forums. I'm just not sure if the forums require a paid membership.

A few things I noticed while reading. By contacting the park ahead of time you can get a letter allowing you to bring food into the park. Boardwalk Fries, not sure if this is all the fries at the park, are fried in peanut oil. A park map, not sure if it's the regular one, denotes restaurants that have nut free choices.

Talk to his parents and make sure they understand your willingness to take the necessary precautions. I have a lot of friends I would never trust with DS, because they just don't grasp the seriousness of the situation. I'd sooner send DS with you, a perfect stranger!

Good luck.

I did not know they had "peanut free" maps-good to know. I have done some google searches before I posted but I thought someone on here may have had experience and I could ask them directly.

If we have to bring in food we will-my son is pretty relaxed about things like that so if I told him we were bringing in food for his friend to be safe he would be fine with it and eat the same thing. He has had kids with allergies in his class for the past 4 years so we have had a lot of experience with very limited food choices at times.

The little boy's dad sent him off with my son and DH in another amusement park for a while with the epi-pen (which he did nt have to use). I really appreciate the feedback on here, I can imagine it would be very nerve-wracking for a parent with a child who has an allergy to trust them going somewhere new without them.

 

[Betty Rohrer]

do not know about Hershey Park but watch out for foods that are sold one place but made at another in park. person selling food might not know about peanut oil where food is made.

 

[myhouseofmouse]

Our family has been to Hershey many times and our 4 year old son has a Peanut Allergy (among other things). You will have NO problem there with yours. Hershey Really does a good job with all of that. Previous posters have already given you some of that info. Just make sure to tell the person when you order about the allergy and you will be fine. Honestly there was nothing my son could not do there because of it. We had lunch at one of the counter stands (There are some counter stands that have signs about about peanuts.) We had ice cream at the food court at Chocolate world with not issues (again let them know about the peanut allergy and they will let you know what you can or can not have) we also went to the place at chocolate world where you can make your own Candy bar and had no allergy issues there. Again, communication is key and you will have no issues, have a great trip...

 

[Izjezted]

Hi,

I actually live in Hershey and we have a special needs child who is GF/CF. Hersheypark does a nice job with her food allergies, and is really careful in our experience. I try not to eat in the park, though, because the food is better on Chocolate Avenue. We like to go to Chocolate Avenue Grill and Hershey Pantry. Both have been really accomodating with the gluten intolerance. In fact, I leave a package of gluten free pasta at Chocolate Avenue Grill whenever we are there and dd might be in the mood for pasta.
I believe that Devon Seafood Grill and Houlihans are owned by Hershey Entertainment, and would have a decent food allergy policy.

 

[cam&phoebsmom]

Thank you all so much-I feel better after having some "real-life" folks share their experiences. I appreciate it!

 

[lovethattink]

Hi!

My husband's work rents out Hersheypark for one day each fall. This year we would like to ask one of my son's friends from baseball to go with us as he is right on the same level as my son when it comes to rides (they did an amusement park together after the last tournament and buddied up and had a great time).

The only catch/concern is that he has a severe peanut allergy. Even when he just went to ride rides with my DH and DS the dad gave us his epi-pen just in case. He can eat at places like Rita's ice cream, but I know his parents are (rightfully) very careful about cross contamination and traces of peanuts.

So has anyone with a peanut allergic child done Hersheypark?
Anytips for taking a kid with us with an allergy like that?
The kid is very nice and our sons have been playing baseball together for 3 years and I think it would be fun for my son to have a ride buddy-but I want to get some ideas beforehand on how to keep him safe befor I even ask the parents if he can come with us.

TIA!

My son has a peanut allergy. Hershey Park is a tough place to be, depending on how severe the peanut allergy is.

The boardwalk fries are made in peanut oil.

The only place my son was able to eat was Minetown Vittles.

The actual map will list peanut free facilities. If you call in advance they can get you a paper to pick up at guest relations to pick up outside the park with ingredients.

 

[lovethattink]

They roast nuts near the Comet area, if he is sensitive to smell.

Over by the big ferris wheel, some of those stands cook in peanut oil.