Tips for WDW with a DD with Food Allergies

[WLfan]

We discovered last Decemeber that my 3 yo DD has a tree nut and sesame seed allergy. This August will be our first time at WDW since we found out. (She's been twice before.) I did make note on the dining reservations that she has these allergies, but I'd love to hear about other people's experiences. We have reservations at: Biergarten, Akershus (lunch), Crystal Palace, Kona Cafe (breakfast), T-Rex, Brown Derby, Chef Mickey's (breakfast), Ohana (breakfast), Boma (dinner), 1900 Park Fair (breakfast). Thanks!

 

[*NikkiBell*]

I have gone to WDW with people who had allergies to a variety of things: bananas, shellfish, coconut, etc. They are excellent about it. Just mention it to your server, and you'll be well taken care of.

 

[Halbleib1]

Disney is great about allergies of any type. It is the only place we can go and feel totally confident that my son is getting safe food. Eating out at home is much more difficult as most times it feels like they are not taking it serious enough. He has to avoid all dairy as well as organ meats and we have never had a problem getting something that he likes to eat that is also safe.

Counter Service places have a big book to look up ingredients and the manager will be called out. At Toy Story Pizza Planet the manager even personally made my son's dairy free pizza. They are very careful not to cross contaminate in any way. Be prepared that depending on what it is they are making you will have to wait longer for your food but at least you know it is safe.

 

[SueM in MN]

There is also some contact information in post #3 of the disABILITIES FAQs thread to contact WDW ahead of time for dietary concerns. You can follow the link in my signature to get there.

Food allergies are also a fairly common thread subject on the disABILITIES Board, so you may want to check it out.

 

[bcvdreamer]

WLfan,

My youngest (10) has a peanut allergy, and Disney & DCL have been the most accommodating vacations we've found, and he's been going to WDW since he was 18 months old.

Every chef is different, but several have come out to speak to us and go over the menu and tell us how they'll prepare his dish. (And his allergy isn't a severe allergy, so we don't have to be as careful as other families do.) I know what we have to avoid, but if the server asks, and most do, if there are any allergies, I tell them, of course.

Of the places you've listed, we've dined with our ds at Crystal Palace, Chef Mickey, and Ohana, and they've all been great.

The chef at the Yachtsman Steakhouse blew me away with his kindness, concern and his attention to detail, so you may want to add that restaurant to a future WDW trip...plus the food is good!

Have a great trip!

 

[Mymatisse]

We've had a wonderful experience with food allergies as well. I am allergic to fish and for the time I was in WDW I was not eating gluten. There were always great options as far as food and we had the experience of having the Chef come out at all of the table services meals to talk about either specially preparing something for me, or what on the menu was "safe."

 

[clomahony]

Both of my two youngest children have multiple allergies including dairy, eggs and nuts and Disney has been the best place to visit in dealing with their allergies.

When you make the ADRs, they will note all the allergies on your reservation. Once you arrive at the restaurant, tell your server that you have food allergies at your table and they will send a chef to your table. When the chef arrives at your table, list all the allergies and they will "walk" you through the menu or buffet and let you know what items are ok to eat and what food has items that your child will be allergic to. Additionally, they will often offer to make special items that they could eat.

For example, at one location, there were no desserts my kids could eat so the server went outside and got them popcicles for them. And at Bergarten, the chef came out with a bag full of vegan cookies for the kids to use during the trip as it was our first day. To this day, Bergarten is my kids favorite place to eat due to this.

At counter service locations, go to the front and ask for a manager mentioning that you have food allergies and need to check the ingredients. The manager will come to the counter with the book and help you decide what you can and want to eat. They will often times have to specially cook your items so it may take longer but it's better safe than sorry.

Hope you have a great trip and you will likely find that Disney will spoil you for other trips.

 

[tlcoke]

Here is the info to contact Special Diets @ WDW:


Special Dietary Requests
The allergies and/or food intolerances you indicated have been noted. However, to protect your privacy, they are not displayed with your reservation information.

* If it is at least 2 weeks until your reservation date, please email us at SpecialDiets@DisneyWorld.com with any food-allergy or food-intolerance concerns.
* If it is within 2 weeks of your reservation, please call (407) 824-5967, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., Monday - Friday. Calls outside of business hours will be returned the next business day. Guests under age 18 must have parent or guardian permission to call.
* Finally, we request that you please confirm your dietary requests with the chef or manager on duty when you arrive at your dining location.

They will send you a form to fill out and send back noting all your ADRs and the allergy info and then 1 week before your visit the Chef's from each of the Restaurants will call you to discuss your allergy and what to consider before you arrive, then remind them when you get to the restaurant and they will have the Chef come out and talk with you.

 

[Carolinagal]

.......at one location, there were no desserts my kids could eat so the server went outside and got them popcicles for them. And at Bergarten, the chef came out with a bag full of vegan cookies for the kids to use during the trip as it was our first day. To this day, Bergarten is my kids favorite place to eat due to this.

Wow, I am a soft touch this morning! The fact that the chef brought the kids a bag fill of cookies made me tear up - and remember how much I love Disney!

 

[kahblue]

Both my boys have peanut/tree nut allergies and my oldest has some special needs including only eating pureed food. The chefs at table restaurants are awesome! At the buffets they made certain food (waffles) seperately and/or came out and went over the buffet menu and told us what was not safe. That said, there really isn't much they couldn't eat. Some restuarants gave them these HUGE popsicles for dessert and they loved it.

For my son with the eating issues, they came out and we talked about what would be best for him.

That all said, I only chose places that made sense. We certainly wouldn't eat at a chinese restaurant with a child with such allergies. So, look over the menus and choose wisely (your list looks good!).

KIM
POP Century 08/25-09/03

 

[MK4ever]

I have the same allergies. Have only eaten at Crystal Palace (breakfast) and Brown Derby. Both handled allergies well. I tend to avoid buffets for fear of cross contamination with utensils, but CP breakfast seemed safe. If I remember correctly there was only one section the chef told me to avoid. I have also avoided any restaurants at the Poly or AKL since it seems lots of their dishes contain tree nuts or sesame (I tend to be more nervous in these places even though Disney is usually great with food allergies). Just make sure you speak to your server and at most places the chef comes out. Note the allergies on your ressies as well.

 

[WLfan]

Thanks everyone! Great feedback! We do seem to have a lot of buffets and I was concerned about that. Desserts are also another problem. It's nice to hear the level of concern and caution Disney takes when it comes to food allergies. Recently, we were eating at the Cheesecake Factory by our house. I told the waiter that my daughter had a tree nut and sesame allergy and he said (earnestly trying to be helpful), "Oh! Then I wouldn't recommend ordering anything with tree nuts or sesame." Um ... thanks.

 

[Halbleib1]

Thanks everyone! Great feedback! We do seem to have a lot of buffets and I was concerned about that. Desserts are also another problem. It's nice to hear the level of concern and caution Disney takes when it comes to food allergies. Recently, we were eating at the Cheesecake Factory by our house. I told the waiter that my daughter had a tree nut and sesame allergy and he said (earnestly trying to be helpful), "Oh! Then I wouldn't recommend ordering anything with tree nuts or sesame." Um ... thanks.

On our first trip we did a lot of buffets. At every one the chef came out and took me through the buffet to show me what he could and could not eat. Also many times the chef made up a special plate just for him as well. Chef Mickey's was esp. great at that during our first trip. On trips since we did about half buffets and half sit down. We have always had good experiences. My son got so use to the treatment at Disney that when we go out here at home now he always asks can I get my ice cream? Most places here at home do not carry dairy free ice cream so he has to wait until we get home. Whereas at Disney he was always able to get dessert with no problem. Even if they did not have the ice cream they always had something for him. I never dreaded eating out at Disney like I do here at home because I know he will be well taken care of. Here at home it is so much harder/more complicated to find something safe for him to eat. And like your experience at cheesecake factory we have ran into that more often than not here at home. Seems like they just do not take you serious or that you are too much of a bother.