Taking family to Disney for the first time

[dnsbrown@comcast.net]

I was trying to set up our first and maybe only Disney vacation and I am having some trouble because my 3 year old son has food allergies. We need a kitchenette to make his meals. He won't be able to eat at any restaurants. Unfortunately the villas are the only thing I could find but they'r very expensive. Someone at work mentioned that you could rent or buy someone's points from them. I am not sure how it would work but if anyone could tell me what I would need???? We are arriving Sunday 10/22/06 and departing 10/28/06. It doesn't matter which villa. Whatever is least expensive as long as it has a kitchen.

Thanks, Sondra

 

[Love Wilderness]

Here is the URL to connect you to the board that rent points. I am a member of the Disney Vacation Club. The least expensive is Old Key West but still a very nice place. The total points for your stay would be 72 points. (18 points per night Sun-Thu and 41 points for Fri night) Point are selling for about $10.00 per point. This is for a 1 bedroom which has a full kitchen.
Hope this helps,
Ken.

 

[Love Wilderness]

So here it is.
http://www.disboards.com/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=29

 

[jmminarik]

I am having some trouble because my 3 year old son has food allergies. We need a kitchenette to make his meals.

You may have done this already, but you may want to check with the restaurant forums about the allergies. Disney does, as a whole, work really hard to ensure people with disabilities and such are accomodated.

Of course, this still may not help you since I've no idea the extent of the allergies and don't personally know anyone with any sort of severe allergy so I'm stating this out of simple ignorance.

Good luck,
Joe

 

[lovwdwalot]

Also that time of year is very busy and also kinda of hard to book because of the F&W that is going on at Epcot.

 

[magicmama]

I feel for you and your family. I have lots of food allergies and so does my grown son. (now 24) (We both have had food allergies since birth) We always bring our own food and go to grocery stores and use kitchenettes whenever possible. I have found Disney to be more allergy conscious and great to work with than anywhere I have traveled. I can actually go to some Disney restaurants and the CHEF comes out to talk to me!! In some of their kitchens, they have seperate cooking stations for allergies. They will work with you if you call ahead to the restaurant.

Food Allergies and a 3 year old is a challenge but its great that you are not letting the allergies keep you from Disney.

Good Luck renting points. You will really enjoy the villas! Have a magicical trip!

 

[magicmama]

I sent you a private message.

 

[dnsbrown@comcast.net]

Thank you guys so much for all of the advice I am sure I will need it. I am so glad to see that others with food allergies have done it. It makes it a little easier to plan knowing that.

Thanks again

 

[zillow]

I probably agree with everything others have said. Both my daughter (6) and I have severe food allergies (nuts, peanuts, eggs, shellfish) and Disney is the only place where I feel completely comfortable eating in restaurants. Even calling ahead someone at Disney faxed me information regarding counter service and which ones were safe. Chef always appears at the table and many times has made something completely off the menu for myself or my daughter when our options are limited. At buffets, they always bring our food from the kitchen to avoid cross-contamination. Good luck!

 

[littlestar]

If you need a full kitchen (stove) be sure to get a 1 or 2 bedroom. The studios would only have a mini kitchen (microwave, toaster, small refrigerator, and small sink).

Good luck. You may find a once in a lifetime trip is not enough. The Disney Vacation Club Resorts are a great place to vacation with a family.

 

[dianeschlicht]

How many total people? If you are 4 or less, a 1 bedroom at OKW will give you a HUGE space with a full kitchen and a laundry room. If you are more than 4, you would need a 2 bedroom, which is a lot more points. Since you are planning on checking in 10/22 and out 10/28, you will only need 1 weekend night, so the total point cost for OKW will be 131 points for a 1 bedroom. That translates into aproximately $1310 for accommodations. I don't think you could even get that kind of deal for an All Stars room, and you will get a full kitchen. Place your request over on the rent trade board, and be sure to read all the sticky threads at the top of that forum.

 

[Plutofan]

The unwritten policy that can change at anytime is that Disney will allow 5 of any age in a one bedroom but Disney will not provide a bed, towels, linens etc for the 5th person.

 

[dnsbrown@comcast.net]

There are only 4 of us 2 adults 2 childre 3 & 9 (She will turn 10 during our trip if we can figure out a way to do this)

 

[Terry S]

Just so you know, in a 1 bedroom the kids will have to sleep on a pull out couch in the Living room. There is a king size bed in the master bedroom and a pull out couch in the living allowing room for 4. The 2 bedroom will have a master bedroom with king size bed, living room/kitchen as well as a 2nd bedroom with either 2 queen size beds or 1 queen size bed and a queen size sleeper sofa. Our family nomally gets the 2 bedroom so the kids are not disturbed when the adults get up to make breakfast and or coffee. Also in the evenings you can put the kids to bed and still have the living room available.

 

[ellenmiele]

In 2003 we traveled to WDW with my nephew who at the time was on a gluten-free casein-free diet (plus other food restrictions). My sister (his mom) called all the restaurants ahead of time and I could not believe how accomodating they all were. And we had dinner at Coral Reef on his birthday and the chef himself came out to serve my nephew a dessert plate that he had made special just for him. Leave it to Disney!

 

[dnsbrown@comcast.net]

We only need a 1 bdrm because there is a budget to consider. Besides the kids wouldn't care if they had to sleep in a closet as long as the closet is in Disney.

 

[dianeschlicht]

We only need a 1 bdrm because there is a budget to consider. Besides the kids wouldn't care if they had to sleep in a closet as long as the closet is in Disney.

LOL, and at OKW, the laundry room is big enough to be a bedroom for the 3 YO! I would reccommend you take the cushions from the sofa (when it is pulled out for your daughter to sleep on) and put them in the laundry room to use as a bed for your son.

 

[byoung]

Good luck on renting. Have a great vacation.

 

[DVCDawn]

One of the reasons my family and I joined DVC is because of food allergies. My two DDs (6 and 3) have severe food allergies -- one to peanuts, the other to tree nuts -- and WDW is one of the few places where I feel safe.

I wholeheartedly suggest that you contact WDW directly about the food in the parks and restaurants. I usually sent an email a few weeks before leaving asking for advice and in return they send a form letter with general food prep info, and a list of the food and beverage managers for each park's phone numbers. Absolutely call those numbers (sometimes they'll be a few rounds of phone tag) and ask your questions. I ask them to email any info they have (which usually consists of ingredient lists, etc.), print them out and bring them to the parks.

Here are some random pieces of advice for you:

* Be sure to include your child's food allergies on any ADR's you make. This allows the chefs and their kitchens to be prepared for your family's food limitations. Re-state your allergies before being seated as well. The chef will come out of the kitchen and go over the menu with you pointing out which dishes will be safe. Sometimes, they even prepare special desserts ahead of time. This is such an unbelievable treat for my DDs. Dessert is usually the toughest for them.

* Be especially careful in Epcot World Showcase eateries. The language barrier can sometimes be problematic.

* Check out the DisAbilities board here. There are several fairly recent threads relating to food allergy and eating safely at WDW.

On the whole, WDW is extremely cautious about food allergies. They are quite serious about it and I have had nothing but complete cooperation from the food service staffs both in and out of the parks.

Have a great trip.

DVCDawn

 

[eliza61]

Did you also look into the Cabins at Ft. Wilderness? They have a full size kitchen and are not as expensive. I stayed there prior to becoming a DVC member and really enjoyed it.