Recommendations for folks with food allergies?

[mprewitt]

I am looking for table service restaurant recommendations. Since my wife has several food allergies (wheat/barley, soy, and shellfish) and is also a vegetarian, we must limit our choices to those places that are willing to prepare special dishes just for her (so most buffets are out). Since we have the Disney Dining Experience card, we also try to limit our choices to places that accept the DDE card. Finally, we typically eat out only for dinner (having breakfast or lunch in our room).

Thus far, we have tried California Grill, Jiko, Citricos, Coral Reef, Grand Floridian Café, Flying Fish Café, Kona Café, Artist Point, Yachtsman Steakhouse, Le Cellier Steakhouse, Spoodles, and Narcoossee’s. Most have been very accommodating to my wife’s special dietary restrictions.

Can anyone recommend any other TS restaurants for dinner that would also be as accommodating?

 

[hildarumpole]

Any Disney table service or buffet restaurant will be able to accomodate your wife's dietary restrictions. When you make ADRs, have the allergies noted, as well as her being vegetarian. You'll be given phone numbers for chefs at the various restaurants. If you call them directly to discuss your wife's needs at least 48 hrs. ahead of time, they should be able to prepare something special that's not necessarily on the regular menu. Buffet chefs will also prepare special meals if something safe can't be found on the buffet line.

 

[TinkerbellMama]

I am looking for table service restaurant recommendations. Since my wife has several food allergies (wheat/barley, soy, and shellfish) and is also a vegetarian, we must limit our choices to those places that are willing to prepare special dishes just for her (so most buffets are out). Since we have the Disney Dining Experience card, we also try to limit our choices to places that accept the DDE card. Finally, we typically eat out only for dinner (having breakfast or lunch in our room).

Thus far, we have tried California Grill, Jiko, Citricos, Coral Reef, Grand Floridian Café, Flying Fish Café, Kona Café, Artist Point, Yachtsman Steakhouse, Le Cellier Steakhouse, Spoodles, and Narcoossee’s. Most have been very accommodating to my wife’s special dietary restrictions.

Can anyone recommend any other TS restaurants for dinner that would also be as accommodating?

Go anywhere you want. ALL restaurants will accommodate her or any other guest with special dietary needs, with the possible exception of a few places which cannot guarantee no peanut cross-contamination. I am vegan, so believe me, I know alllllllllll about eating with numerous dietary restrictions in restaurants! It's amazing how 95% of all foods on a given menu are meat, dairy, and/or egg-based, and yet Disney has always been able to work something out for me. The only place I would not have recommended before is Le Cellier, since their former vegetarian entree sucked, but I hear there is a new one and it sounds tasty, so even I would give it another shot. Enjoy!

 

[mprewitt]

Wow, so I can book ADRs at buffets like Boma and Crystal Palace? Or places with fixed-menus like Liberty Tree Tavern? Or even Marrakesh?

There are a lot of places I'd like to try, but I have been worried that we'd get there and find out there is nothing for my wife to eat!

 

[laughinplace199]

I wouldn't rule buffets out. If you want to eat at a buffet, just call ahead so that the chef knows about the dietary restrictions. My DD has food allergies and we have eaten at buffets several times. The chef always walks the buffet with me pointing out what DD can have and what she should avoid. They have always offered to make her something in the kitchen as well. A few weeks ago, the chef at Crystal Palace made her some dinner rolls in the kitchen because the ones on the buffet could be cross-contaminated. He even personally delivered the rolls to our table!

 

[mprewitt]

I wouldn't rule buffets out. If you want to eat at a buffet, just call ahead so that the chef knows about the dietary restrictions. My DD has food allergies and we have eaten at buffets several times. The chef always walks the buffet with me pointing out what DD can have and what she should avoid. They have always offered to make her something in the kitchen as well. A few weeks ago, the chef at Crystal Palace made her some dinner rolls in the kitchen because the ones on the buffet could be cross-contaminated. He even personally delivered the rolls to our table!

Great! Now I guess I can start thinking about new TS restaurants to try...

 

[mcco5543]

Go to www.allears.net and read the articles on dining with food allergies and special dietary needs at disney

 

[KirklandTutu]

The last time we were at WDW, the only place that didn't seem keen on my requests (vegitarian, soy intollerant) was Marrakesh. I got the feeling that the couscous was probably all made in advance with soybean oil and that that was what made things an issue.

I ended up just ordering something and crossing my fingers for the next day. Yup, there was soybean oil in it, with out a doubt.

Talking to the Disney Dining people, I wasn't surprised, though dissapointed, that everything fried in the park was done in soybean oil. I think I read somewhere that Disney is switched they're frying oil? If so, my life will be so much better on vacations.

 

[javaj]

Here are some useful contact info/phone numbers/email:

Magic Kingdom Park: 407-824-5967: wdwmkspecialdiets@email.disney.com
Epcot: 407-560-6395: wdwecspecialdiets@email.disney.com
Disney-MGM Studios: 407-560-3551: wdwstspecialdiets@email.disney.com
Disney's Animal Kingdom: 407-938-3288: wdwakspecialdiets@email.disney.com

I'd send an email to each specifying your dates of travel, resort reservation #, and the allergy details. They've been helpful for our October trip so far!

 

[eacatwork]

If you PM me with your e-mail addy, I'll send you some information sheets that I was sent yesterday by someone at WDW Food and Beverage with tips and hints. She was very helpful and her phone number is in the e-mail. You could call her and discuss your different options, but I second what others have said...you can eat just about anywhere with a little advance preparation and a little personalized attention from the chef!