Thread for allergy foods updates

[2gr8DisneyKids]

I am allergic to milk as well. I had the allergy friendly chicken fingers at Columbia Harbour House, Electric Umbrella and Back lot Express. They are so yummy!!

I also had a hot dog from Casey's Corner. They did not have dairy in them (they were the same as before)

The cake I had from BabyCakes was a blondie cake. It was vanilla cake with chocolate chips and chocolate icing. Omg it was so good!!!!

Thanks for the heads up on where the chicken fingers are! When I asked about the hot dogs she said they had not changed which is great b/c they are DD's favorite.

Oh, the blondie from BabyCakes is divine! It was my birthday cake last year! I also love their cookie sandwiches. Good thing we are just a boat ride away at POFQ!

I forgot to ask about dairy-free pizza. They used to have it at Pizza Planet and Pinochio's Haus but did not last time and if they are changing things I hope they bring it back.

 

[AlphaMale]

I know Disney carries Enjoy Life too, but I've only ever seen them in table service restaurants. Perhaps they could make those more readily available at the Counter Service places where Divvies were available. I don't like them as well, but I get that they serve a broader group of customers.

I just started reading this thread tonight so hopefully this isn't outdated...

We were at WDW the first week of the year and we got the EnjoyLife Cookies at two Counter Service Restaurants (Cosmic Ray's and The ABC Commisary). They also gave them to us as a few Table Services.

They are okay but we really miss the FM brownies. DD8 has peanut/treenut and dairy (life threatening) and I have peanut/treenut and corn so none of the other replacements they had available worked for us. The chef at La Cellier did manage to find a FM Brownie for me that he doctored with fresh berries and a fresh raspberry syrup.

I asked about the brownies at The Mara because they were no longer on the floor and was told that all allergy product requests have to go through the Chef/Manager. When I spoke with the Chef, she was not happy about the food changes. She said the changes limited their ability to handle customers with multiple allergies.

 

[AlphaMale]

Looks like all the new products are out for me.....Corn allergy sucks!

I agree. I found I had a lot fewer options this trip than I did only 6 months ago. I got a lot of the Enjoy Life Cookies and used some snack credits for some Surf Sweet Gummy candies. All of the buns they have now contain corn so I always pack my own buns.

I know other allergies are hard but sometimes I think corn is one of the hardest to deal with. It is in so many products you wouldn't expect to find it in.

Luckily, my corn allergy is not life threatening. It would just make for a very uncomfortable trip so I do my best to avoid it.

 

[valree]

Wow, there are lots of changes going on that I wasn’t aware were taking place. Looks like my trip this past October was my last trip with the old menu items. Glad I was able to enjoy that last FM brownie.

I wish Disney could come up with a chart that showed all of the menu items, and what allergens they contained. This is just an example (I have no idea what allergens these foods actually contain):

I also don’t know why every vendor contract has to be exclusive. Why not offer Ener-G buns to satisfy some people and Udi’s for others? From my years of reading on these boards, there are a ton of us visitors with various food allergies so it’s hard to imagine that Disney wouldn’t be able to stock multiple brands of items and use them up with pretty quickly. I could understand it for items that might not be super popular, but why not at least try it for dinner rolls at first? Stock 2 brands and see what happens.

If anyone is looking for an off-site TS restaurant, I would recommend Roy’s on Sand Lake Road. Their prices are a little lower than California Grill, and their food is excellent. The downside is that you have to drive off property to get there, and there’s no view of Wishes, but it’s a great dining experience. For the gluten-free diners, their flourless chocolate soufflé is wonderful! It’s the lava-type one – not the rich, brick-type flourless chocolate cake.

 

[ZPT1022]

Looks like all the new products are out for me.....Corn allergy sucks!

Yes it does! Luckily we don't have to avoid all corn, just large amounts of it like corn flakes or corn chips or corn pasta. This wouldn't be so bad if it weren't for the gluten and other allergies.

I am very sad to hear that WDW may not be the same great allergy friendly place we visited in 2010. We were so excited to go back and we are able to have eggs this time, so a lot of the snack options that we couldn't have last time would have been available this time, but now it sounds like they won't. I really hope that by the time we go in August they have more options and they have sorted out their new products that they're using.

 

[ZPT1022]

oops, double post!

 

[candacewi5]

After reading all of these posts, I am very concerned about us planning our first trip ever and also the first time to Disney World. We finally decided to make a 9 day adventure out of our 1st trip and go to Disney and enjoy eating out! My ds (age 5) is anaphylactic and contact sensitive to milk proteins, anaphylactic to peanuts/tree nuts, and has EE caused by soy. With these dietary changes at WDW, I am concerned that our trip may no longer be the dream trip we so desperately need. Thank you all for keeping the changes at Disney posted for review. I guess I will have to check into the new changes further before putting our deposit down. If the changes aren't favorable, we will have to change our vacation plans and try to find somewhere else that is willing to make the accomodations multiple FA families need. This is so fustrating because my son wasn't nearly as excited to go to Disney as he was to be able to eat out in a restaurant and eat food prepared at the restaurant. Doesn't Disney see what they are doing to a very loyal portion of their fan base?
Candace

 

[dntd]

Allergy Chicken Tenders
Allergy Free Foods, Gainesville, Ga. 30504
Chicken Tenders
Battered and Breaded With: Water, Brown Rice, White Rice, Modified Tapioca Starch, Sugar, Flax Seed, Salt, Spices, Dehydrated Garlic, Spice Extractives and Oleoresin Paprika
Breading Is Pre-Browned In Canola Oil

I guess these are out for me, good to know though... Stupid ani allergies to flax seed..... I think I could just eat chocolate and candyfloss on my next vacation lol!

 

[dntd]

I agree. I found I had a lot fewer options this trip than I did only 6 months ago. I got a lot of the Enjoy Life Cookies and used some snack credits for some Surf Sweet Gummy candies. All of the buns they have now contain corn so I always pack my own buns.

I know other allergies are hard but sometimes I think corn is one of the hardest to deal with. It is in so many products you wouldn't expect to find it in.

Luckily, my corn allergy is not life threatening. It would just make for a very uncomfortable trip so I do my best to avoid it.

Surf sweets are good but most enjoy life cookies aren't safe as they use flax which happenes to be one of my worst sworn enamies next to shellfish. I have yet to find a good allergen free bun....

 

[primrosea]

Hi everyone!

We just got back from 8 days at WDW as a gluten free family and I wanted to let you know quickly some of the products we ran across.

We had Udis' buns, bread and bagels a couple of different places. We are Udi's fans so we were happy with the change and the chefs said they are tastier to prepare, but are not mutually loved by all the guests.

We had OMG brownies and cookies at the Pop Food Court and they were available at other resturants and used as dessert bases at many of the places we ate. Most chefs tries to dress them up fancy, but the Garden Grill did an amazing job warming them up and topping them with vanilla whipped cream.

We were also given Enjoy Life cookies and choclate bars at most of the quick service places we ate at. The only we got the chocolate was if we specifically asked for them at our resort, but the chefs at Pop said that not everywhere has them.

Pop uses Namaste and Bob's Red Mill as the base for their waffles...YUMMMM. We had them almost every morning.

If you have any specific questions I'll be happy to answer them and I'll try to do a full Gluten Free review early next week!

 

[Kaycap]

Hi everyone!

We just got back from 8 days at WDW as a gluten free family and I wanted to let you know quickly some of the products we ran across.

We had Udis' buns, bread and bagels a couple of different places. We are Udi's fans so we were happy with the change and the chefs said they are tastier to prepare, but are not mutually loved by all the guests.

We had OMG brownies and cookies at the Pop Food Court and they were available at other resturants and used as dessert bases at many of the places we ate. Most chefs tries to dress them up fancy, but the Garden Grill did an amazing job warming them up and topping them with vanilla whipped cream.

We were also given Enjoy Life cookies and choclate bars at most of the quick service places we ate at. The only we got the chocolate was if we specifically asked for them at our resort, but the chefs at Pop said that not everywhere has them.

Pop uses Namaste and Bob's Red Mill as the base for their waffles...YUMMMM. We had them almost every morning.

If you have any specific questions I'll be happy to answer them and I'll try to do a full Gluten Free review early next week!

Were you able to request the waffles at the food court? We are staying at ASM and are hoping to get some of these.

 

[dclfun]

After reading all of these posts, I am very concerned about us planning our first trip ever and also the first time to Disney World. We finally decided to make a 9 day adventure out of our 1st trip and go to Disney and enjoy eating out! My ds (age 5) is anaphylactic and contact sensitive to milk proteins, anaphylactic to peanuts/tree nuts, and has EE caused by soy. With these dietary changes at WDW, I am concerned that our trip may no longer be the dream trip we so desperately need. Thank you all for keeping the changes at Disney posted for review. I guess I will have to check into the new changes further before putting our deposit down. If the changes aren't favorable, we will have to change our vacation plans and try to find somewhere else that is willing to make the accomodations multiple FA families need. This is so fustrating because my son wasn't nearly as excited to go to Disney as he was to be able to eat out in a restaurant and eat food prepared at the restaurant. Doesn't Disney see what they are doing to a very loyal portion of their fan base?
Candace

I think Disney is getting inundated with special dietary requests and in response to the overwhelming uptick in requests, they are cutting back what they offer. I have a feeling it's due to budget. As another poster mentioned, it has become "fashionable" to ask for gluten free or request special foods. After all, everyone wants to be "special" and they've seen some of the foods that have been prepared for an allergic Guest, often being jealous of that food and speaking out about it. Suddenly, next meal they have an allergy too. This is all very sad, but not unlike people who think disabled Guests get special privileges, like front of the line access or first on a bus, etc. We all know better- we wait longer and it's not as easy to get around. No one would want to live with a food allergy, or particularly multiple food allergies or a disability whether invisible or visible, but people on vacation who perceive there to be advantages, will try and get them.

 

[daraweb]

First of all, thanks to all the wonderful people that are keeping us up-to-date on the changes in how WDW is handling special diets. We are headed down for our first trip since my DD was diagnosed with Celiac Disease. So, eating gluten free is our only special food request.

Since this is our first trip since her diagnosis, we will not know what has changed or is missing. It sounds to me like most of the changes are not so good for people with other allergies and that while focussing on those who eat gluten free, they are sort of loosing sight of some of the other issues (dairy, egg, etc)?

That is too bad...I had heard that disney really is (or was) and allergic kids' escape from all the living-without.

I also want to say, please be careful of judging those that eat gluten free. It truly has become a trend (even thought there is no evidence that people without celiac and/or a sensitivity to gluten benefit from eating gluten free).

Many on here have sounded a bit annoyed by all the people that are eating GF. While some may be following a trend, MANY also have a very serious disease. Doctors are diagnosing celiac more quickly that in the past (especially for children).

I would hope that WDW will continue to create a magical place for kids (and adults) with celiac but find a way to so while also supporting those with other allergies.

 

[livndisney]

First of all, thanks to all the wonderful people that are keeping us up-to-date on the changes in how WDW is handling special diets. We are headed down for our first trip since my DD was diagnosed with Celiac Disease. So, eating gluten free is our only special food request.

Since this is our first trip since her diagnosis, we will not know what has changed or is missing. It sounds to me like most of the changes are not so good for people with other allergies and that while focussing on those who eat gluten free, they are sort of loosing sight of some of the other issues (dairy, egg, etc)?

That is too bad...I had heard that disney really is (or was) and allergic kids' escape from all the living-without.

I also want to say, please be careful of judging those that eat gluten free. It truly has become a trend (even thought there is no evidence that people without celiac and/or a sensitivity to gluten benefit from eating gluten free).

Many on here have sounded a bit annoyed by all the people that are eating GF. While some may be following a trend, MANY also have a very serious disease. Doctors are diagnosing celiac more quickly that in the past (especially for children).

I would hope that WDW will continue to create a magical place for kids (and adults) with celiac but find a way to so while also supporting those with other allergies.

I don't think anyone here has gotten "annoyed" with GF people. I think the frustration comes from the generic "special requests". Those are the ones that have negatively impacted the allergy dining experience. Grown adults with no medical issues wanting waffles in a steak table service location.

Those same people wanting to be allowed to enjoy a dining experience, but not thave to pay for it. (why can't I go to the desert party, not eat and not pay for it?).

I personally have seen people flip out after seeing a desert that was brought to DD (allergy safe), because there were told they could not have the same thing. So as Kathy stated, the woman then started claiming she had an allergy. (Never mind the bowl of ice cream she had just been eating-now she had a dairy allergy). Those are the people we get "annoyed" with.

 

[daraweb]

I totally understand. I did not mean to imply that people are becoming annoyed AT the Gf people, only that people are getting annoyed that there are SO many claiming they need to be GF.

Like I said, I have not been to disney yet with any food restrictions so I can only go by what you kind people have to say about the experience. I am sorry if I misunderstood or miscontrued what people are saying about there being so much emphasis on those that eat GF.

It seemed to me that there is frustration that disney has changed how they handle food allergies. Are they now more focussed on those eating GF and less focussed on having the right product for those that have other food restrictions? If that is what they are doing, that is not okay.

I have a friend who's DD4 has never eaten out of the house other than at Disney because of her life threatening food allergies. I would hate to think that is going to change.

 

[livndisney]

It seemed to me that there is frustration that disney has changed how they handle food allergies. Are they now more focussed on those eating GF and less focussed on having the right product for those that have other food restrictions? If that is what they are doing, that is not okay.

To some degree I think this is true. (And I say this as someone who is GF). It does seem that WDW is now focused on GF. The items they are now serving cover a larger GF base-but they seem have forgotten other allergies altogether.

For example I LOVED the French Meadow brownies. WDW does not serve them anymore. They now carry OMG brownies, which I won't touch and many chefs don't like to serve.

Divies products used to be available across the property and they catered to other allergies. WDW no longer sells many of the items.

Just last week, I spoke with a chef at the studios. He saw that I was GF and wanted to completely ignore my other allergies. He kept insisting that GF was "good enough".

 

[clanmcculloch]

Just last week, I spoke with a chef at the studios. He saw that I was GF and wanted to completely ignore my other allergies. He kept insisting that GF was "good enough".

Ooooooh, I'd better not encounter THAT attitude when we go. Totally the wrong attitude and frankly scares me because that same person has control over our food in the kitchen where we can't see. NOT OK!!!

 

[livndisney]

Ooooooh, I'd better not encounter THAT attitude when we go. Totally the wrong attitude and frankly scares me because that same person has control over our food in the kitchen where we can't see. NOT OK!!!

No worries, he has been "dealt" with LOL

Actually, it all turned out fine-he just was stuck in a mindset and was not "hearing" me.

I have come to the conclusion that I am just not meant to eat in the studios LOL

 

[clanmcculloch]

No worries, he has been "dealt" with LOL

Actually, it all turned out fine-he just was stuck in a mindset and was not "hearing" me.

I have come to the conclusion that I am just not meant to eat in the studios LOL

You ROCK!!! I am familiar with that "stuck" mindset but at least he finally heard you. It really would be scary if he truely thought that GF was good enough.

Interesting. We've had some wonderful meals at DHS, but then again we have some different allergies than you do (we can do soy and if I recall you can't). I loved the ribs at Sci-Fi and those crab cakes at HBD; WOW. The steak there was pretty nice as well and the chef really bent over backwards to try to come up with ideas that my kids would like.

 

[mara61]

Thanks Clanmcculloch for pointing me this way.

It looks like I will have to bring all of my youngest ds snacks and be even more careful with his regular food at the counter service rest. These subs don't work out so well for him, he has a salicylate sensitivity and sometimes gluten/dairy/nut free foods would work for him.