Traveling to WDW with a multiplpe food allergy child

[LisaFB]

I was sent this way to get some help/ advice. We're taking our kids to WDW next year for their first ever trip, and our son has multiple food allergies (way too many to list or even remember off-hand). We were told that Disney is great with working around allergies. I'm just looking for any stories, advice, tips, preferred restaurants, etc from anyone who's BTDT. TIA!!

 

[Selket]

The person to contact is Brenda Bennet (perhaps spelled Bennett) of Magic Kingdom foods. For some reason when I do a search here on the Disboards for her phone number and some of the threads on dining with food allergies I don't have any luck.

When you call and make reservations for sit-down dining they will give you the phone numbers of restaurants. I've found the phone number for all the restaurants in the MK are the same number and this is the number for Brenda as well I believe. That may have changed since we were there in April but I think that it was the same #.

I have found she is the singular most helpful person to talk to. She will pass your info along to other restaurants and also to someone in charge of the counter service spots.

With multiple food allergies you might find it difficult to eat impromtu at Counter service. I have had good luck at my resort hotel by talking to the chef and they could have something prepared in advance that your child can eat or let you sort of make your own kid's meal out of safe choices, etc.

Many people avoid the Chinese and Moroccan restaurant in Epcot - I've heard the most complaint about the latter (as in they don't get food allergies). Some have had a bad experience at Boma with actual reactions - others a great experience. I think it often depends on the chef. We've had excellent service at Le Cellier, Crystal Palace and Biergarten - those are 3 of our favorites - plus Mama Melrose - very good! We've had no major problems at any other place we've tried.

I think you have to note how severe the allergy is - whether you anaphylax to eggs, milk, etc. If you can have trace amounts or it has to be completely free of that food and so forth.

If you have more questions or trouble tracking down Brenda let me know and I'll try more avenues of finding her number. Or perhaps someone else will have it!

 

[LisaFB]

Thanks Carol! I'll e-mail our DreamsUnlimited contact and see if she has contact info Brenda. DS is ana to milk and dairy and reacts to: wheat, soy, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, quite a few veggies & fruits, and a whole list of other things.

 

[Selket]

Let me know if you cannot find Brenda's contact info and I'll investigate further. It really annoys me that I can't seem to look it up on the boards!

My son is anaphylactic to peanuts so we avoid all "may contains" on that. Brenda can give you info on the "may contains" for dairy. I would think the sit down places will have no problems finding appropriate food. Sometimes it is just helpful to tell them what your child will eat rather than what they cannot if the allergies and issues are multiple. They can serve your child their own plated food rather than go to the buffet line, etc.

The chef at Crystal Palace on our last trip made a huge flourish with bringing out about 8 dishes he specially made for William - took 2 chefs to bring them all out! William got to pick what he wanted and sent the rest back! I didn't ask the chef to do that but he did anyway - it was very nice of him. We absolutely LOVE Crystal Palace and even though he is just 4 yrs old now, I will drag him there kicking and screaming to meet Pooh even when he is a stinky teenager

 

[welovedis]

I'll jump in quickly to say that Brenda Bennett is awesome:
Brenda.Bennett@disney.com

I contact her about 2 weeks-10 days before my trip via email with my ADR #s, dates & times. She forwards the info to the head chef @ each restaurant. I either get a call or an email, usually, from each one to clarify my allergies. Brenda can also email you a list of counter service items ingredients, it is a big file though and you would have to check it out each CS as you go along because their ingredients do change.

What I found helpful was to print up my own little business cards that have my allergies printed on them.

Mine says:

ALLERGIES:
eggs--product will say egg, whole egg, egg white or egg yolk
bananas
peanuts
treenuts
pineapple
oysters
mussels

I hand the card to the chef at either the counter service or at the restaurant and that way I don't forget something or they don't. All have said they liked that I had that available and I always carry them with me!

My egg allergy is anaphylactic and even so, I've not had a bad reaction anywhere. Only once did I have some stomach problems and that could have just been the heat!

Best of luck!

 

[LisaFB]

Carol & Karen, OMG thank you sooo much!!! I'm really feeling much better about the trip (and we're hoping by next year his lsit of allergies is shorter than it is now!!)

karen, mind if DH & I "steal" your business car idea? DS has so many allergies that I really can't even remember them all off-hand, no joke! I keep a list on the fridge so I know what to make for him at each meal. That idea of yours will be a life saver for us... literally!