Peanut allergy -- new to this...help!

[sam'smominco]

Hello!

I have some concerns and was hoping that some of you might be able to help me out. I did a search but could not find much info in a condensed version.

We are going to WDW in November. I gave my 14-month old DS peanut butter for the first time yesterday and he had a big reaction...broke out in hives all over his body and his eyes were all puffy and swollen. It happend immediately after he ate the PB, so my peditrician and I are in agreement that it is definitely a peanut allergy. Everything went away on its own after a few hours and he never had any issues with breathing or anyting severe like that. Until he can be formally tested when he is two, the ped said that we have to be very diligent about making sure that he has no peanut products. We were quite surprised that he experienced this reaction, as he has shown no other allergies up to this point and we have no family history of food alleriges on either side.

From what I have read, I need to call Disney and add a notation about this allergy to all of our PSs? We have been to Disney numerous times, so thankfully, I am very familiar with the restaurants, what is served, etc. I am not too worried about the sit-down restaurants, but I am concerned more with the counter services and hotel offerings. We are staying at the GF and the AKL. Will the counter service restaurants also be able to provide me information? Obviously since he will only be 15 months at the time of the trip, he will eat mostly kid meals (I foresee him eating a lot of mac & cheese and spaghetti). Do I need to be concerned about this? I have already planned on bringing some of the Gerber Graduate veggies and buying fresh fruit at the parks and hotels to supplement his meals.

Off the top of my head we have PSs at:
California Grill
Boma for dinner and breakfast(I heard this restaurant can be a problem? is the kid's buffet safe?)
Tony's
Ohana for breakfast
Kona for breakfast and possibly lunch
1900 Park Faire for breakfast
Marrakesh
Prime Time
Chef's Mickey's for breakfast
Plaza in MK
F&W Festival

Anyway, I am just a little confused right now. I would appreciate information from anyone has any experience dealing with this. My dr. said that he can very likely outgrow this, but that the more he is exposed to the allergen, the less likely that will happen and the more severe the reaction can be. Is that the case? If he does have a reaction, will the first aid station be able to me? The dr. told me to keep some benadryl on hand with me all the time. I honestly don't think he has a life-threatening allergy (yet, anyway) because I know he has had to have trace amounts of peanuts a lot prior to this. I cook with peanut sauce and he is always taking bites of DH's Cliff Bars which contain nuts. Also, I eat PB ALL the time so I know he inhales it constantly (not to mention me always kissing on him! ) Am I overreacting to this allergy? I don't want to blow it out of proportion, but I do want to be cautious. The reaction really did put a scare in me yesterday.

Sorry this was so long! Any help would be MUCH appreciated!

Thanks!

 

[cupcake]

I can tolerate a certain amt of trace amts of soy but try to avoid it as much as I can. The answer to your question depends on how much you want to avoid peanuts in foods that do not obviously contain them (it looks like your son can tolerate trace bits from using the same kife, etc.). I don't know about peanuts, but hidden soy is rampant (e.g. it is in tons of prepared foods that I imagine your child might eat, like macaroni & cheese, tomato sauce, etc., and fried items as many oils have at least some soy in them). So know that you have to be wary as you can have a decent amt of an allergen even if an item does not obviously contain it.

Here is a link re food allergies at WDW -- http://allearsnet.com/din/guestfood.htm.

You can review menus online at http://www.allearsnet.com/menu/menus.htm to get an idea of what is served.

For sit-down restaurants & buffets, if your son is OK with trace amounts, tell your server that you want to avoid foods with peanuts & peanut derivatives, and someone from the kitchen will come out and tell you what is OK on the menu or walk you thru the buffet and tell you what is OK. If you need food to be prepared in a 100% safe environment, they can accommodate you but you need to tell them ahead of time. If you don't call ahead, you will have to be flexible, so if your son will, for example, only eat chicken fingers, I would definitely put the allergy info in your PS & contact the location directly before your trip by going thru the WDW switchboard, (407) 824-2222, to ask about it ahead of time. If you need to contact a restaurant directly, use the switchboard & avoid the wait for dining reservationists.

For counter-service, I just order stuff that is obviously OK for me, bearing in mind that I can do trace soy, but I do bring my own salad dressing if I am going to need it as that is a consistent issue at counter service places for soy. No one has ever stopped me when seeing it in my bag for security, although some have asked me what it is (I use a rubbermaid container & fill from a bottle in my room fridge). I imagine that tons of non-allergy people bring in baby food.

See the link above for more info re counterservice allergy accommodation. They really are super nice & helpful about special diets.

FYI for the future, if you ever take a Disney Cruise, you have to fill out a medical form when making your reservations even if you are ok with trace allergens.

Cupcake

 

[Ambassador]

Cupcake provides thorough and helpful information. Food allergies may be outgrown, if not allowed to develop. The Ambassador outgrew his antibiotic allergy. One of the junior members of our delegation was thought to have allergy-related asthma, which proved negative when testing was performed years later. It is hard to know with the little ones.

Be vigilante, but don't become obsessive. Inform others around you of your child's the needs. I would emphasize being prepared as your doctor suggests, and become familiar with first-aid locations. CM's can always help should the need arise.

 

[Selket]

My son who is two had a similar reaction to peanut butter on a cracker at age 27 months - he didn't eat it but touched it with his fingers and to his mouth. He was tested and has a severe peanut allergy. He is also allergic to some tree nuts and other things.

Forgive if any of this has been mentioned but some thoughts:

1) You should have an epi-pen and be trained to use it - several epi-pens are even better. His next reaction could be MUCH more severe than the 1st one - it could cause his airways to swell up and limit his breathing and the epi-pen will give you time for the ambulance to come. We don't go out of the house without our epi-pens! The benedryl will NOT help if he has an anaphylactic reaction. I really can't believe your dr. didn't get you an epi-pen ASAP!

Just because your son hadn't reacted in the past to peanut/peanut butter doesn't mean that he will not react severely in the future. My son had a few exposures to peanut before his reaction too. I would definitely eliminate all peanuts and tree nuts in the house, no cooking with peanut, etc. Especially until you discover how allergic your son is. You will find out that even if his allergy test comes back with a moderate allergy that it doesn't mean that his next exposure to peanut will be moderate. Some folks can have one exposure that isn't so bad and the next time go into shock from it.

2) This site has good info: http://www.peanutallergy.com There are discussion boards there that are quite helpful.

3) I did a search here at the DIS boards and found a number for dining services for the parks and they emailed me a bunch of info on counter service and cart food that may contain peanuts and nuts. I don't have the phone number but you might want to do the search.

WDW is probably the best place on earth to go with a child who has a peanut allergy - let the restaurants know and ask at any counter service place you go and you will be fine!

Good luck!

 

[debbiemomto4]

HI
My ds who's 11 is allergic to milk,milk products, peanuts,shrimp,apples,oranges,bananas,carrots,grapes,soy and probably a number of other things. His reactions range from breaqthing problems to horrible diaherria and vomitting. Sooo here's what we do and have done. We avoid most foods we know are the problem, always carry Benedryl, epi-pen and inhalers and we question and ask at restaurants. At Crystal Palace and Liberty Square taverns the chefs have prepared great meals for him. The chef at Crystal Palace walked me around the buffet and told me what he could eat , what was prepared close to an allergic reaction food. They even keep special desserts in the back. So ask. and they are very helpful.
Debbie

 

[Poohnatic]

WDW made a change a few years ago that I think is great. They now carry Uncrustables peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, which are prepackaged. You won't have to worry about the counter service areas that have it potentially cross contaminating non peanut products. The only suggestion regarding counter is to avoid the bake shops. Fortunately, he's so little that he won't notice the candy shops too much. (7yo has dye allergies and usually can deal with it now).

Cupcake's info is great! Totally agree with carrying benedryl and epipens. We've got allergies in my family, nothing life threatening, but the benedryl still goes with us into the park.

Good luck. You don't have to be the food cop, but planning ahead is going to make your life so much easier.

Suzanne

 

[NCDisneyMom]

I would like to add a little bit more info to this, as my son, age 4 1/2 is also allergic to peanuts/tree nuts. Like others have said, just because a first reaction wasn't severe, doesn't mean the next one won't be. Please, like someone else said, get an epi-pen for your little one. Hopefully you will never have to use it, but my son doesn't go anywhere without his...we are not going to take chances.

Anyway, we are headed to WDW in a couple of weeks, so I've been doing a lot of research and phone calls. Here are the numbers for the food & beverage areas of each park:

MK - 407-824-5967
Epcot - 407-560-7292
MGM - 407-560-7830
AK - 407-938-2441

I have been informed that each counter-service eatery has a list of ingredients that you just have to ask for. If the CM doesn't understand, ask for a manager...I have found that the ones at WDW really "get it" when it comes to food allergies. I have been told that they do not use peanut oil for things like hamburger, hot dogs, fried, etc.. You will also definitely want to call ahead on all full-service eateries and have it added to your PS's.

Someone mentioned avoiding baked goods, which is good advice. Often, there are nuts on some of them, leaving a strong chance of cross-contamination. Also avoid all oriental foods. Those are usually cooked with peanut oil (including those at WDW, as far as I know). Some kids don't have reactions to peanut oil, but if you are avoiding it altogether, then I would include avoiding peanut oil, as well.

Phew! That was long-winded, wasn't it? Sorry! If you have any questions, don't hesitate to contact me. Hope I've been of some help!

Diana

 

[ducklite]

I'm allergic to peanuts, tree nuts, coconut, scallops, and sensitive to soy.

STAY AWAY FROM BOMA AT DINNER!!!

I CAN NOT STRESS THIS ENOUGH!!!

Almost everything on the menu has some sort of peanut oil or nuts in it, and in my case they weren't terribly accomodating!

I've had satisfactory to fabulous experiences at pretty much every other WDW restaurant.

Anne

 

[sam'smominco]

Thanks for your replies.

We have an appt. with the allergist on Monday, so hopefully, we will get some more answers then. Luckily, I am familiar with all the restaurants we have PSs for, so I know what kind of menu to expect. Since my DS is only 14-months, I was planning on bringing a lot of his food anyway. I certainly did not want him living on mac&cheese, french fries, and chicken nuggets for 9 days, so I already had a plan of what kinds of portable healthy food I could bring.

DuckLite --- Boma is one of our favorite restaurants and a must-do for us. This will have to be a time when I bring Sam's Gerber graduates or maybe get him something "safe" from Mara to bring up. And like I said, since he is 14 months, I doubt I would be feeding him much from the adult buffet anyway. Thanks for the heads-up though!

 

[phillybeth]

Originally posted by ducklite
I'm allergic to peanuts, tree nuts, coconut, scallops, and sensitive to soy.

STAY AWAY FROM BOMA AT DINNER!!!

I CAN NOT STRESS THIS ENOUGH!!!

Almost everything on the menu has some sort of peanut oil or nuts in it, and in my case they weren't terribly accomodating!

I've had satisfactory to fabulous experiences at pretty much every other WDW restaurant.

Anne

I'm also allergic to tree nuts and I had the opposite experience at Boma. They were extremely accomodating, and the chef even offered to prepare me some special desserts on the spot. I declined since there were a few non-nut options, but I was VERY impressed- especially since they had NO advance notice.
I usually don't notify a restaurant ahead of time since I am only allergic to tree nuts and seafood and they are typically easy to avoid. If in doubt, DH is my official taster

 

[DVCDawn]

My DD is 5 and was diagnosed with a peanut allergy at 3 years old. There are few places to vacation that are as accommodating to food allergies than WDW. Lucky for you!

I can't stress enough was some previous posters have said.

1. You MUST get EpiPens. I am sure that your allergist will prescribe them at your upcoming visit. While you are there, be sure to ask the doctor for a letter that will allow you to bring the EpiPens on board the airplane (if you are flying). I also suggest you call your airline now and request a peanut - free flight (some airlines will accommodate this request; some will not). In addition, I'd ask to board the plane early and wipe down the airplane seats, armrests, trays, or anywhere else your child may touch with some kind of wipe. (I use Clorox wipes or Wet Ones).

2. You must be extremely careful about further exposures to peanuts and tree nuts. Yes, tree nuts. The only reactions my DD has had since her diagnosis are from tree nuts which she is NOT allergic to. It seems all nuts are a risk as cross-contamination in processing facilities is virtually impossible to avoid. Your pediatrician is incorrect about your child's changes of outgrowing a peanut allergy. Current research indicates only 10 - 15 % of all peanut allergic children will outgrow this allergy. Also, I must agree with Selket. No one can predict the severity of the next reaction. My daughter's sensitivity, as measured by a RAST test, increased over 700% in a matter of a year. Any exposure now would almost certainly result in an anaphylactic reaction.

3. Send an e-mail to Member Services at WDW stating that you will be visiting in November with a peanut allergic child and you need some information regarding food preparation throughout the parks. They will respond with a lengthy letter outlining general WDW procedures and then they supply you with the phone number of the food and beverage manager for each park. CALL THESE PEOPLE! It will take several days of phone tag, but it's worth it. Often they, or their staff, will happily e-mail you a full list of ingredients and preparation techniques for food prepared within their park. I print these out and put them in the bag I bring to the parks, right next to my big bottle of Benadryl and 2 sets of EpiPens.

4. Be sure to call PS and add your child's allergy to your ressie. Shortly after you are seated, the chef will come out to your table and review the menu with you. If they know about your allergy in advance, they are always prepared to help you. And, often times, can prepare something special (and safe) for your child that isn't his third serving of mac 'n cheese of the day!

Remember, you are your child's first and best line of defense in preventing further exposures and reactions. It takes a long time before you be accustomed to thinking about every last thing you and your family eats, but eventually it becomes second nature. I wholeheartedly recommend that you investigate FAAN's website (an organization devoted to food allergy prevention and awareness). I think their web address is www.faan.com.

As long as you're careful you should have an uneventful (and I mean that in the best way possible) trip!

DVCDawn