turned in my special diets form today, feels like such a big deal

[mistysue]

After about 7 months of worrying about it, I finally filled out the form with my ADR's and hotel reservations this morning. It seems like such a weight lifted off my shoulders.

I got a call about an hour later from POP - I think he said his name was chef Greg?- and he didn't seem worried about being able to feed my son at all which was pretty refreshing. Right now we are keeping him off of dairy, eggs, soy, wheat, shellfish, peanut, tree nuts, sesame and buckwheat- so it's a good list.

He did let me know they have Ener-g rolls again back by popular demand.

 

[clanmcculloch]

Did he say that they only have Ener-G rolls? DD12 can't eat Ener-G but she can eat Udi's. DD14 can't eat either so she doesn't care one way or the other but it sure was nice for DD12 to be able to get bread products. I suppose I'll ask Chef Dan when he calls me again. He said he'd call me about a week or two before our trip. Monday will be 2 weeks so I suppose I'll be hearding back shortly. It's always been Chef Dan who calls me from Pop and I was pleasantly surprised to hear from him for our upcoming AoA stay.

 

[mistysue]

He didn't say anything about Udi's, but I think he only mentioned the Ener-G because I made a little list of his favorites and wrote "he can't have Udi's" in the list.

 

[hippieck12]

After about 7 months of worrying about it, I finally filled out the form with my ADR's and hotel reservations this morning. It seems like such a weight lifted off my shoulders.

I got a call about an hour later from POP - I think he said his name was chef Greg?- and he didn't seem worried about being able to feed my son at all which was pretty refreshing. Right now we are keeping him off of dairy, eggs, soy, wheat, shellfish, peanut, tree nuts, sesame and buckwheat- so it's a good list.

He did let me know they have Ener-g rolls again back by popular demand.

The Ener-g rolls are back?????????? yahoo! I felt bad my son would have to have a hamburger with no bread, I hope they're here to stay!

 

[123Dis4Me]

I am heading to WDW next week, staying at Art of Animation. We plan on eating quick service for this trip and we have gluten issues. Should I email special diets? From what I have been reading lately I wasn't sure. Thanks for any input...it has been a few years since our last visit!

 

[clanmcculloch]

For a single allergy/intollerance, especially a top 8 or gluten, I think it's worth contacting special diets only if you'll be eating several meals at one location but mainly so that a chef at that location knows to be prepared for you. You'll likely get a form email back and you'll want to respond to that making it clear that you want a chef at AoA to be notified that you're coming but beyond that I wouldn't do anything else.

I'll be there the week after you. I heard from Chef Dan at AoA regarding our upcoming trip (he's who I always spoke with when we headed to Pop; LOVE Chef Dan). Gluten is one of our many allergies/intollerances and there are plenty of options for even us who can't eat a lot of stuff that you'll be able to eat. You'll be fine even without any notice but I know from past history with him that when he knows he has more people with specific dietary issues coming that he makes a point of ordering some extra stuff to make sure he doesn't run out of anything so that's why I recommended just making sure he's notified.

Are you aware that AoA carries four-packs of Babycakes mini cupcakes that can be used as the dessert option using the dining plan? YUMMY!!!

 

[123Dis4Me]

Thanks! Yay! Babycakes cupcakes at AofA! That is great news! I didn't think we would make it to DTD this trip so I am so happy that I can get the cupcakes there!

I guess I will email the chef there - we have been to Disney many times being gluten free, but we usually do a lot of table service so I always gave advance notice.

I will try to post some GF reviews of my trip!

 

[hippieck12]

Thanks! Yay! Babycakes cupcakes at AofA! That is great news! I didn't think we would make it to DTD this trip so I am so happy that I can get the cupcakes there!

I guess I will email the chef there - we have been to Disney many times being gluten free, but we usually do a lot of table service so I always gave advance notice.

I will try to post some GF reviews of my trip!

Do you know how I could email the chef at Pop??? Is Chef Dan over at AofA now or is he at both Pop and there? I dealt with him at our last trip and he was wonderful, thanks

 

[123Dis4Me]

I don't know how to email the chefs at either resort. I tried to email special diets about my stay and about getting in touch with a chef from A of A, and I just got a generic form letter from them. We are leaving in a few days so it doesn't look like I will get in touch with the chef at the resort this trip - hopefully all will go well anyway

 

[clanmcculloch]

Do you know how I could email the chef at Pop??? Is Chef Dan over at AofA now or is he at both Pop and there? I dealt with him at our last trip and he was wonderful, thanks

I think for the moment he may be doing some work at both resorts. When we were talking, he kept referring to things he has over at Pop. He didn't say things that are available over at Pop, he was saying things he has. Maybe I'm reading more into that than I should. I do have to say that I have had only positive experiences with any chef I've worked with at Pop though I do really like working with Chef Dan since he's the one who I've always talked to ahead of time.

You really don't contact chefs ahead of time. If you have specific questions then Special Diets will forward them to a chef who will reach out to you or if you have complicated allergies then you'll likely hear from them. I don't think they typically reach out ahead of time to every guest that has only a few allergies, especially if those few are all top 8.

If you have specific questions or you have a lot of allergies or uncommon allergies, respond back to that generic email re-stating your questions and/or concerns.

 

[mistysue]

Like Clanmcculloch said, I don't think you can contact the chefs, they give them your info through special diets (SpecialDiets@disneyworld.com) and if they think you should talk they will contact you. They call from a restricted phone- I am guessing to keep it this way. Could you imagine if chef contact information was posted online?
While it sounds convenient at first, it could quickly become a safety risk just because when you were there in person the chef would need to keep running off to reassure every guest who even has a food preference.

 

[hippieck12]

Like Clanmcculloch said, I don't think you can contact the chefs, they give them your info through special diets (SpecialDiets@disneyworld.com) and if they think you should talk they will contact you. They call from a restricted phone- I am guessing to keep it this way. Could you imagine if chef contact information was posted online?
While it sounds convenient at first, it could quickly become a safety risk just because when you were there in person the chef would need to keep running off to reassure every guest who even has a food preference.

You're right, when you really think about it, the poor chef's would be going bonkers, thanks everyone for your answers!

 

[shinysparklybubbles]

Did he say that they only have Ener-G rolls? DD12 can't eat Ener-G but she can eat Udi's. DD14 can't eat either so she doesn't care one way or the other but it sure was nice for DD12 to be able to get bread products. I suppose I'll ask Chef Dan when he calls me again. He said he'd call me about a week or two before our trip. Monday will be 2 weeks so I suppose I'll be hearding back shortly. It's always been Chef Dan who calls me from Pop and I was pleasantly surprised to hear from him for our upcoming AoA stay.

I love Chef Dan!