Regarding multiple food allergies, benefit of contacting disney with ADRs?

[SweetieinVT]

I know once we are there most of the chefs are very good about working with you go get something that will work for you, but will they actually do anything with the advance information if I do as they recommend and send our dining plans in advance?

 

[Dis703]

I think it depends on the situation. We had a couple chefs contact us prior to our first trip with my ODS who had severe food allergies. As in a limit of 20 total ingredients he could actually eat (mostly fruits and veggies).

If you are allergic to the top 8 allergens or other more common or easy to avoid ones it may not be necessary but it can't hurt to submit it.

Because my 3 kids are allergic to so many foods we fill it out and request contact from the chefs. It's actually far easier to tell them what they can eat than what they can't and we plan meals in advance for them occasionally with a special order for a treat.

We still go over things with the chef upon arrival though.

 

[Mum23]

It is easy to add the information to the ADR's and they do appreciate it. They will still go over it all. I also highly recommend contacting special diets for lists of alternatives. It helps especially if you have multiple allergies to cross reference to see what you can get and where. I also like to know "I can get the top 8 free tenders here, here and here in this that and the other park."

 

[sleepingbean]

I did request at one place that we could have a dessert that was free of the 2 allergens (it was posted on the listing that they had the materials available at that property to make the dessert) but they did not follow up with me. They responded via email, but whoever responded seemed confused and then never got back and when we dined there, nothing was available. So, it didn't help our cause, but it is nice to have the listing of where to find the allergen free options around the parks, so that is worth writing in for.

I know others, like above, have found it helpful to write in with multiple allergies.

 

[Donald - my hero]

I did request at one place that we could have a dessert that was free of the 2 allergens (it was posted on the listing that they had the materials available at that property to make the dessert) but they did not follow up with me. They responded via email, but whoever responded seemed confused and then never got back and when we dined there, nothing was available. So, it didn't help our cause, but it is nice to have the listing of where to find the allergen free options around the parks, so that is worth writing in for.

I know others, like above, have found it helpful to write in with multiple allergies.

I followed all the steps mentioned before we left for our 2 week stay in the late fall. I provided all of our ADR's including times. Out of the 14 sit-down meals we had a total of ONE that was actually prepared for us. The chef at LTT came out with a copy of the e-mail in hand with a huge grin, "I've been waiting for you and i hope you can have what i want to prepare for you" His attention to detail was amazing and he gave me one of the best meals i have had in years and since it was our 1st meal we were stoked to think that the amount of research I had put into our trip would pay off big. Nope, not the case. One chef even told us "I get so many of those e-mails that i don't even read them anymore" Every restaurant stamped the required ALLERGY on our seating paper so that the servers were aware when they came to our table. Each chef was then brought to our table and listened to our concerns (mine are bizarre to say the least ) and the reception ranged from "I'm too busy to deal with that during dinner service (ok 4:30 is your busy time??)" to pulling out a chair and sitting down to discuss our options.

We had the most amazing meals and often whine to each other "i want to go to LTT or the Wave for dinner or ... (insert at least 5 others)" Had great service at several CS as well. So did contacting Special Diets ahead of time help? I don't think so. But as noted above MANY have had great results with direct contact. It did alert me to the CS that i could expect help with preparing meals that require attention (although the chef at Sunshine Season in EPCOT was NOT willing to follow this )

My suggestion to you is to make a point of telling anyone who is serving you ANY food that you are dealing with food allergies, including CS and small kiosks (one of the best bites i had came surprisingly from a booth at F & W). At the resorts do NOT take the answer of one of the servers that your food can not be "doctored" There is no need to be rude with them but if you remember something i read here you can approach it from a different angle. You are a captive audience, you have nowhere else to go. Does this mean you can demand that they serve you beef when all that they offer is chicken? NO, but can you request your chicken with no grain or dairy added, YES so long as it is a basic menu item that you see offered in many preparations (grilled with sauce, baked with veggies ... ) they will be more than willing to work with you.

Oh i've been rather long-winded here for a simple answer. Sure contact them with detailed information before you leave but also go armed with the knowledge that you will still need to discuss with the chef what you can and can't have. Have a great holiday and rest assured, even if they don't contact you before you leave home, you will eat well (and safely)

 

[SweetieinVT]

Thanks for the responses, it is helpful to know what others have experienced. I will definitely follow up with them regarding my son's food allergies and our ADRs before we leave. If even one of the chefs is prepared prior to our arrival I will be happy, but I will be prepared to go through the allergy review at every meal (as we usually do anyways).