Peanut Allergy HELP

[mermaid&cinderella]

DD has a peanut allergy as of late last year (it just popped up). We were at WDW last April before that. We are going again this April and I want to know how people handle peanut allergies. Do you tell the waitress? Do you trust them? As anyone had any issues? I'm really new to this peanut allergy thing so any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks

 

[lynninpa]

I noticed this earlier today under Dis Site Updates http://www.wdwinfo.com/tips_for_touring/allergies.htm I know other Disers will be of better help yet I just wanted to pass the info on to you.

 

[Luvin*Livvy]

My daughter (2) has a tree nut allergy (can't have peanuts either as of right now). Last year when I made my ADRs I told them, then I told them again when we checked in to each restaurant. They were SOOOOO AMAZING! Every restaurant the chef came out to talk with us....without us asking. Each one went throuh the menu with us. Since she wasn't part of the DDP, she was only 2..he went through the kids meals and the adult ones (in case she sahred our meals)..and told us what she could have and what she couln't have. It was GREAT!!! They even went over the desserts. ;0)
This time, I did the same thing with our ADRs, so when we get there in March, I will just do the same thing!
GOOD LUCK!

 

[TruBlu]

I just wish that all restaurants were as good as Disney with allergies. Don't worry! Just tell them when you make your ADRs. The chef will come to your table at every TS. They will even give you a "tour" of the buffet and tell you what to avoid. DS even got a special meal at WCC.

 

[syko]

I have a peanut allergy and there are several restaurants that we can not eat at because they have them on the menu.
Do you have to eat them or just smell them to react???
The worse time that I have had was at the Pooh Bear lunch at MK, we called to advise them of the allergy (among others) and was told that it was safe, I only need to smell peanuts and I am in trouble.
Well as soon as I sat down I started having trouble breathing, I knew peanuts were around. My husband went to find a chef, who informed him that there were no peanuts in the restaurant, my sister came back from the childrens food section and said that there was a great big bowl of peanut butter!!!!!!!
I had to go out of the restaurant and sat outside watching through the window as my daughter celebrated her 1st birthday with the rest of my family. She loved dancing with Pooh etc. around the room.
Call ahead and try to find out what is on the menus, and when you get to the resturant ask to see the allergy book and the chef.
If like me you only need to smell peanuts be prepared to move quickly out of the area, like the last time I tried to watch Fantasmic.

 

[MeLaNie9]

I was where you are last year - we got back from WDW in early Dec, our first trip with our DS1 who has food allergies. When his diagnosis was confirmed a year ago, we had already made our travel plans and I was freaking out! Not only is he allergic to milk and eggs, but he has to avoid all other common allergens (nuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish) because he is so young.
Folks on the DIS really helped us.
We contacted Brenda Bennett who contacted the head chefs of the parks. The head chefs were able to give us the names of CS places that would be able to accomodate our son. For TS meals, when you make your ADRs tell them that there is a food allergy and what it is. Whenever we checked in to a TS place they had the info next to our name and the waiter/waitress got us the chef. The chefs were so helpful - they deal with this all the time! He was able to eat lots of different stuff throughout the trip.
One warning though...there are restaurants at WDW that are not Disney owned (mostly at DTD?). Our experiences at Raglan Road in DTD and the Pepper Market at CSR were horrible.

 

[HeatherinVT]

My DD5 has peanut and tree nut allergies and has since 13months...

We went when she was 3 years old and i have to tell you that it was WONDERFUL.... we had the dining plan so i had already called in advance for all of our reservations...when i did this i told them that emily had peanut and tree nut allergies the CM wrote it on our ressies and when we arrived at the podium at every restaurant we mentioned it again...
after being seated the chef came out and went over the menu with us or walked the buffet with us.
The only place i wasnt pleased was Chef Mickey.... the chef seemed bothered by us.
Crystal Palace was by far the best for buffet service for us.

My DD and I are going just us girls in April and i have made all my ressies again.... made mention and hope to have a great time again.
OHHHH that reminds me there is a lady named Brenda and if you email her she will be SOOOOO HELPFUL!

I cant remember her email address but search brenda bennett and i think you should be able to find it....if not PM i just emailed her last week and im waiting for her response.

Good luck stay safe!

 

[Native NYer]

I have food allergies and had the CM note it on my ADRs. They were more than willing to help and were so nice about it.

 

[mermaid&cinderella]

Thanks everyone. I did not tell them when I booked my adr's so I will be calling them back. I also just emailed Brenda and hopefully she will have some helpful tips. But all your posts were very encouraging. Thanks again

 

[bhoffman]

I just wanted to add that my son is peanut and tree nut allergic and you will not find a better place to go with an allergy than Disney! My son is airborne sensitive as well and has not had a problem at Disney. We did eat at Crystal Palace and luckily, he did not react to the peanut butter there. We did have the chef bring him his food from the back (which he was happy to do) to make sure someone didn't touch the peanut butter and then the other food. At each restaurant as soon as you mention the word "allergy" the server is required to send the chef out to your table. It's amazing. I have never felt more safe in a restaurant with him. Be prepared for no desserts and no bread. SOME of the places will have a dessert, but all will do what they can to come up with something for allergic people to eat instead (for example some beautiful fruit plates have been brought out for my son). Any questions, just ask. We have been there 4 times with my son and will be there again next month!

 

[Puccaw]

My DH has a peanut allergy as well. I am on hold right now to let them (Disney) know, I didn't when I made my ADR's.

Update: Spoke with Disney...they were excellent and assured me that some one from the kitchen will be attend to us at all of our ADR's and that there should not be a problem when ordering!!
Big thumbs up!!

 

[mermaid&cinderella]

I just called and she added the peanut allergy note to all my adrs.
Funny thing, she asks me, "would you like that put on ALL your ressies?"....NO, just on some.....duh....duh I guess she didn't want to go through all 13 ressies, but she did!

 

[Betzee]

My DD5 also has a peanut allergy and I just made my ADR's today. Advised about the allergy and the woman helping me gave me a food/beverage representative phone number at each restaurant that I booked, so I could call directly and speak to each place myself, if I wanted to do that.

It's very comforting to know they handle it so well. A trip to the emergency room is certainly not something you want to be worrying about while on vacation!

My DD is so careful (I have it ingrained in her brain!) that she probably wouldn't eat anything on a buffet if she saw peanut butter, as she's so afraid she'll get "sick", so it's nice to know that the chef's will bring something from the kitchen, as children are certainly not concered about cross contamination on their buffet line!

 

[TruBlu]

I just called and she added the peanut allergy note to all my adrs.
Funny thing, she asks me, "would you like that put on ALL your ressies?"....NO, just on some.....duh....duh I guess she didn't want to go through all 13 ressies, but she did!

I guess she was thinking that the person with the allergy might not be with you for every meal. They always ask me each time if they need to include it on the ADR.

 

[monorailsilver]

I was worried too when I took my ds in 2005. But everything was great & I felt at ease with in a few days. He has a peanut, tree nut & dairy allergy.

I am going to bring him soy nut butter & his crackers when we go this summer just so he has something else to eat that he likes.

 

[d-man's mom]

We've had great service at the WDW restaurants and deal with peanut, dairy, and egg allergies. Ask to speak to the chef at each restaurant, and if you go to a buffet, have them make up a plate in the back rather than from the food that's already out.

I spoke to the chef at Boma the other day and he told me that nearly all of the sit down restaurants have Divvies in stock now, as well as tofutti ice cream, and rice dream ice cream.

We will be there at the end of this week, and have lunch and dinner ressies for each day, so I will post about it when I return.

 

[PrincessMom98]

Luvin*Livvy - did you have to pay extra for for your 2 year old's meals? We are planning a trip in July (me, DH, DD9, DS4, DS2) and I want to do the meal plan for the first time mostly for Character buffets. When I asked about my DS2's peanut allergy they told me that his food would have to be specially prepared and brought from the kitchen and that I would have to pay the childs rate for him OOP. I told her that I thought under 3 ate free at the buffets and she said only if he shared from my plate and if his meal is special its not sharing. Does anyone know if I can just request my meal as peanut free then share with him?

 

[Nom]

I too have a dd with a peanut allergy. In years past I agree that the restaurants and chefs were very accomidating and extra careful. However be sure that does not lull you into a false sense of security, because this past year when we went I felt in one restaurant that they were downright cavaliere about dd's peanut allergy.

To be specific, at Ohana I told them about the allergy when I made the ADR and then I reinforced it with the waitress. In years past, the chef came out and talked to us. This year, the server (a different person than the waitress) plunked down the tray of dipping sauces, peanut included, directly in front of dd, not saying a word. Thankfully, since I had been there before I knew it was peanut and removed it immediately, but if I had not known that it would have caused a major problem.

I am not telling you this to unduly scare you- like I said, most places are great, but be sure not to let you guard down. Just one new server who does not remember the allergy rules could put your dc at risk. I am sure you will be fine but I just wanted to add that word of warning.

 

[DCDisney]

I told her that I thought under 3 ate free at the buffets and she said only if he shared from my plate and if his meal is special its not sharing. Does anyone know if I can just request my meal as peanut free then share with him?

You really are not going to want to do this for buffets. For example, the only dessert I could have at Chef Mickey's was soft serve ice cream (no toppings). Usually any baked goods are off limits due to cross contamination including breads. You would end up paying $30 for yourself to have a very limited amount of stuff from the buffet. I would guess most of the time you wouldn't be charged for the child anyway. If he can eat from the kids buffet options (chicken tenders, macaroni, pizza--none normally have nuts) without needing specially prepared you'll be fine anyway. They will walk you through the buffet and tell you what is ok and what isn't unless he has a severe allergy where he can only eat separately prepared foods.

 

[mermaid&cinderella]

We've had great service at the WDW restaurants and deal with peanut, dairy, and egg allergies. Ask to speak to the chef at each restaurant, and if you go to a buffet, have them make up a plate in the back rather than from the food that's already out.

I spoke to the chef at Boma the other day and he told me that nearly all of the sit down restaurants have Divvies in stock now, as well as tofutti ice cream, and rice dream ice cream.

We will be there at the end of this week, and have lunch and dinner ressies for each day, so I will post about it when I return.

Thanks, please post when you get back I'd love to hear about your experience!