Victoria and Alberts with multiple allergies

[disfan07]

So my parents and I are going back to WDW at the end of June for all 3 of our birthdays and to celebrate my graduation.

I was looking at reservations and there are still a couple of reservations available for Victoria and Albert's. We've never been before but I feel like it would be a great treat to celebrate everything.

We would not be doing wine pairing with the meal.

Now here's my question....I know that this place is amazing in the fact that the chefs will customize each persons menu based on allergies, food preferences, etc. but I was wondering if anyone has eaten there with extensive lists of allergies. Both my mom and I have food allergies.

Me: peanuts, tree nuts, eggs, shellfish, wheat, soy, dairy, oats, coconut, sesame, sunflower seeds, broccoli, honey, ginger, bananas, cherries, raw fruits (oral allergy syndrome) and raw vegetables (oral allergy syndrome)

My mom: beef, cod fish, coconut, shellfish. She also limits white rice, potatoes (especially white potatoes), and sugar because she has metabolic disorder (pre diabetes)

My dad: no allergies (he's the lucky one!)

So my question is, with my extensive list of allergies and everything I can't eat....would they be ale to accommodate me enough to make the meal worth the cost?

When we went in December, I had all of the same allergies except for the dairy, bananas, and cherries and all of the restaurants we ate at we're able to accommodate me amazingly well. I have no doubt that Victoria and Albert's would be ale to accommodate me but I'm more concerned about whether or not it's really worth $135 with the list of my food limitations.

So if anyone has eaten here with extensive dietary restrictions I'd love to hear it. And if you don't think it would be worth it, please let me know, be honest! It's an expensive meal and it would be a huge splurge. I really would love to experience it but I just want to make sure I will be able to get the full experience.

I'd appreciate any and all opinions!

 

[Cheshire Figment]

I went a few months ago with three other people. Each had separate allergies. We ended up with four different menus, all of which had the same number of choices for each course. The people with allergies did not have anything they were allergic to on their menu. And when the courses were served, people were warned of specific allergens for them on another plate if sharing was planned.

I am quite certain that all of the allergies can be accommodated. And they do contact you about a week to ten days ahead for allergy details or dislikes. They might be able to provide an e-mail address or fax number so you can send them a list.

 

[OKW Lover]

As CF has noted, V&A is quite adept at accommodating food issues. In fact, this might be the absolutely best location on property as far as dealing with allergies.

 

[White Rose]

Me: peanuts, tree nuts, eggs, shellfish, wheat, soy, dairy, oats, coconut, sesame, sunflower seeds, broccoli, honey, ginger, bananas, cherries, raw fruits (oral allergy syndrome) and raw vegetables (oral allergy syndrome)

My mom: beef, cod fish, coconut, shellfish. She also limits white rice, potatoes (especially white potatoes), and sugar because she has metabolic disorder (pre diabetes)

I have seen four levels of allergies and I'd like to make sure I understand the severity of them.

The four levels are:
Level 1: I'm allergic to this because I do not like the taste, texture etc. Dietary choice.
Level 2: I'm allergic to this because if I eat a lot of it (or eat it regularly) I will not feel so good and therefore I limit my exposure. (Some people with dairy allergies are like this.)
Level 3: I'm allergic to this because if I eat it I will have a mild allergic reaction, therefore I try to avoid it, or take medication to help fight off any reaction.
Level 4: If I eat even a tiny amount ws in my food, or if my food touched this item, I'm going to the hospital due to severe allergic reaction.

Question: which level are you?

As a child....I really really really really hated tomatoes. The smell, taste, texture will ruin my appetite. No ketchup, none sliced on salads, no dried tomatoes, nothing. But if someone sneaks it in my food (like a small piece on a burger) and somehow I did not notice...it won't really hurt me.

Now as an adult, I actually eat pizza in small doses but I order light sauce and there better not be any chunks or even have a heavy tomato taste. I still do not eat anything else with tomatoes, and because most of the food is not acidic, if I eat a lot of pizza it does not sit well. My hubby tells people I'm 'allergic' but I'm not really. I'm a level 1.

My niece has a peanut, tree nut and shellfish allergy. in my little list, she is a level 4.

The reason I ask is because some many people say they have 'allergies' but they are actually more like me with my distaste of tomatoes. (There is no allergic reaction, just my dietary choice.) Nothing wrong with that at all, just that it could help a chef understand what they need to do to keep you comfortable.

Another example is gluten - for some it is an allergy, but for many it is just a dietary choice. Dietary choice means they can use the same pan to cook your food or cook it near the allergic ingredients, allergy level 4, they need to use a new pan, different cooking utensils like spoons, forks, knives and separate cooking/prep area to avoid any possible cross-contamination.

If you are a level 1-3 you should be fine, pretty much everywhere in WDW - level 4 at V&A...you should be fine....WDW is an exception when it comes to allergies...they excel in this!

if you are a level 4 for all of them, I wonder if you are able to go to most resturants outside of WDW with that list. My niece's family has a hard time finding places that can handle her her 3 allergies.

 

[SwirlyGirly]

What? She just said she has a long list of allergies and would like to know if it is worth it to eat at V&A. She did not ask you how you perceive food allergies. Maybe you don't know this, but many food allergy sufferers dine at WDW specifically because of WDW's amazing service when serving customers with allergies. For many, it's the only place they can dine and feel like a normal diner.

I have never in my life heard of anyone lying about an allergy just to avoid a food they don't enjoy. And people who consume a large amount of a certain food would not claim they are allergic in order to not consume it again. It is highly likely they consume that item because it is a taste they enjoy.

Basically, your list and entire post were both offensive!

I have seen four levels of allergies and I'd like to make sure I understand the severity of them.

The four levels are:
Level 1: I'm allergic to this because I do not like the taste, texture etc. Dietary choice.
Level 2: I'm allergic to this because if I eat a lot of it (or eat it regularly) I will not feel so good and therefore I limit my exposure. (Some people with dairy allergies are like this.)
Level 3: I'm allergic to this because if I eat it I will have a mild allergic reaction, therefore I try to avoid it, or take medication to help fight off any reaction.
Level 4: If I eat even a tiny amount ws in my food, or if my food touched this item, I'm going to the hospital due to severe allergic reaction.

Question: which level are you?

As a child....I really really really really hated tomatoes. The smell, taste, texture will ruin my appetite. No ketchup, none sliced on salads, no dried tomatoes, nothing. But if someone sneaks it in my food (like a small piece on a burger) and somehow I did not notice...it won't really hurt me.

Now as an adult, I actually eat pizza in small doses but I order light sauce and there better not be any chunks or even have a heavy tomato taste. I still do not eat anything else with tomatoes, and because most of the food is not acidic, if I eat a lot of pizza it does not sit well. My hubby tells people I'm 'allergic' but I'm not really. I'm a level 1.

My niece has a peanut, tree nut and shellfish allergy. in my little list, she is a level 4.

The reason I ask is because some many people say they have 'allergies' but they are actually more like me with my distaste of tomatoes. (There is no allergic reaction, just my dietary choice.) Nothing wrong with that at all, just that it could help a chef understand what they need to do to keep you comfortable.

Another example is gluten - for some it is an allergy, but for many it is just a dietary choice. Dietary choice means they can use the same pan to cook your food or cook it near the allergic ingredients, allergy level 4, they need to use a new pan, different cooking utensils like spoons, forks, knives and separate cooking/prep area to avoid any possible cross-contamination.

If you are a level 1-3 you should be fine, pretty much everywhere in WDW - level 4 at V&A...you should be fine....WDW is an exception when it comes to allergies...they excel in this!

if you are a level 4 for all of them, I wonder if you are able to go to most resturants outside of WDW with that list. My niece's family has a hard time finding places that can handle her her 3 allergies.

 

[Partridge]

What? She just said she has a long list of allergies and would like to know if it is worth it to eat at V&A. She did not ask you how you perceive food allergies. Maybe you don't know this, but many food allergy sufferers dine at WDW specifically because of WDW's amazing service when serving customers with allergies. For many, it's the only place they can dine and feel like a normal diner.

I have never in my life heard of anyone lying about an allergy just to avoid a food they don't enjoy. And people who consume a large amount of a certain food would not claim they are allergic in order to not consume it again. It is highly likely they consume that item because it is a taste they enjoy.

Basically, your list and entire post were both offensive!

I don't think it was offensive at all as "level" 2-4 affect me personally (several food intolerances and allergies), and through working in the food industry I have met SEVERAL people who claim they are "allergic" to something simply because they dislike it. See the gluten-free fad as a prime example. For something I have an INTOLERANCE to, I would simply try to limit my tastes of it but not avoid entirely. For my peanut ALLERGY, I stay far away.

 

[Partridge]

And just to note, by "gluten-free fad" I am in no way including those diagnosed with Celiac. I do include those who come into my work place and request gluten-free soy or whatever, tell me they're allergic, and then happily eat a very glutinous egg roll (or three.)

 

[crashbb]

I don't think it was offensive at all as "level" 2-4 affect me personally (several food intolerances and allergies), and through working in the food industry I have met SEVERAL people who claim they are "allergic" to something simply because they dislike it. See the gluten-free fad as a prime example. For something I have an INTOLERANCE to, I would simply try to limit my tastes of it but not avoid entirely. For my peanut ALLERGY, I stay far away.

Right, and the OP has previously stated that her doctor allows her to "vacation" from some of her diet restrictions while at WDW. And the level does make a difference in suggestions about restaurants - people for whom cross contamination is not an issue may be okay somewhere that a person for whom cross contamination is an issue is not.

In my case, I have celiac disease and am allergic to dairy (allergic to the proteins in milk - not a lactose intolerance) and Victoria and Alberts was great in dealing with my food.

 

[disfan07]

Okay wow....thank you for those who provided helpful information. As for the allergies, all are actual allergies. And PP, I have NEVER heard of your 4 levels of allergies. If you can eat the food at all, in my experience, you are not really allergic. You might be sensitive but not allergic. And just because at one time, a reaction was just hives, does not mean that the same reaction will happen the next time. ANY reaction can be anaphylaxis. For someone like me, the risk is increased because I have a very high IgE, severe asthma, and a history of anaphylaxis.

But i'll appease to the question....Based on a combination of my recent reactions and tests:

Severely allergic/sensitive and Anaphylaxis reaction- any amount of cross contamination or trace can cause a severe reaction: peanuts, tree nuts, eggs, shellfish

Anaphylaxis- any amount of actual ingestion has caused an anaphylaxis reaction wi breathing involvement- wheat

Severe reaction (no breathing involvement but skin, heart and GI involvement)- oats, coconut

Moderate reaction (skin and GI)- soy, dairy, broccoli, sesame, sunflower seeds

Mild reaction (skin OR GI)- honey, ginger, bananas, cherries, raw fruits (OAS) and raw vegetables (OAS)

Your list is exactly why we have so many people who don't take allergies seriously. Because people claim to be "allergic" to something because they don't like it. This is why I tell vegetarians or vegans to please not list an allergy on their dining reservation because they are downplaying the severity of allergies. When I see someone say they are allergic to something but then eat something with that ingredient, I call them out on it. And honestly, it pisses me off to see it happen. There are a few exceptions though. Some people who are truly allergic to dairy can handle it in baked goods. Same goes for eggs. But if you say you are allergic to shellfish and then I see you eat something with shrimp in it, I'll call you out on it. I have had trouble in the past with people understanding my allergies and the severity of cross contamination, etc that I absolute,y HATE it when people say they are allergic when they are not.

And WDW is the only place I eat out in restaurants. I don't eat out in the "real" world. It's not safe under any circumstance. Believe me....I have had to give up most of my favorite foods because of all of this...I don't take allergies lightly.

And allergy can kill (no matter how mild it mght seem)...a sensitivity...not so much.

 

[minnie mum]

Okay wow....thank you for those who provided helpful information. As for the allergies, all are actual allergies. And PP, I have NEVER heard of your 4 levels of allergies. If you can eat the food at all, in my experience, you are not really allergic. .

In that case, how come your doctor allows you to take "vacations" from your usual allergy precautions? (From one of your posts on a different thread- sorry, didn't have time to go look it up and quote it).

 

[disfan07]

In that case, how come your doctor allows you to take "vacations" from your usual allergy precautions? (From one of your posts on a different thread- sorry, didn't have time to go look it up and quote it).

I NEVER said that...if I did it was a typo. Point it out to me....she would NEVER allow that and I would NEVEr do that. I don't go near any of the foods that I am allergic to....not even a taste. So I have no idea what you are talking about.

 

[catnik]

Back to the basic question. Dinner at Victoria and Albert's is a wonderful, memory making meal. The staff will accomodate any and all allergy issues without fuss and with extreme diligence. The food is terrific, the atmosphere elegant and you will have a wonderful time!

 

[MSSANDRA]

Okay wow....thank you for those who provided helpful information. As for the allergies, all are actual allergies. And PP, I have NEVER heard of your 4 levels of allergies. If you can eat the food at all, in my experience, you are not really allergic. You might be sensitive but not allergic. And just because at one time, a reaction was just hives, does not mean that the same reaction will happen the next time. ANY reaction can be anaphylaxis. For someone like me, the risk is increased because I have a very high IgE, severe asthma, and a history of anaphylaxis.

But i'll appease to the question....Based on a combination of my recent reactions and tests:

Severely allergic/sensitive and Anaphylaxis reaction- any amount of cross contamination or trace can cause a severe reaction: peanuts, tree nuts, eggs, shellfish

Anaphylaxis- any amount of actual ingestion has caused an anaphylaxis reaction wi breathing involvement- wheat

Severe reaction (no breathing involvement but skin, heart and GI involvement)- oats, coconut

Moderate reaction (skin and GI)- soy, dairy, broccoli, sesame, sunflower seeds

Mild reaction (skin OR GI)- honey, ginger, bananas, cherries, raw fruits (OAS) and raw vegetables (OAS)

Your list is exactly why we have so many people who don't take allergies seriously. Because people claim to be "allergic" to something because they don't like it. This is why I tell vegetarians or vegans to please not list an allergy on their dining reservation because they are downplaying the severity of allergies. When I see someone say they are allergic to something but then eat something with that ingredient, I call them out on it. And honestly, it pisses me off to see it happen. There are a few exceptions though. Some people who are truly allergic to dairy can handle it in baked goods. Same goes for eggs. But if you say you are allergic to shellfish and then I see you eat something with shrimp in it, I'll call you out on it. I have had trouble in the past with people understanding my allergies and the severity of cross contamination, etc that I absolute,y HATE it when people say they are allergic when they are not.

And WDW is the only place I eat out in restaurants. I don't eat out in the "real" world. It's not safe under any circumstance. Believe me....I have had to give up most of my favorite foods because of all of this...I don't take allergies lightly.

And allergy can kill (no matter how mild it mght seem)...a sensitivity...not so much.

Excellent Post. It is so frustrating and potentially dangerous when parents come into the school and say their child has a milk allergy but can have ice cream and cheese. Nope, you child just does not like milk. My PA child will stop breathing if he eat peanuts and until recently would have ended up in the ER and might have stopped breathing if he ate eggs. THAT is allergic. It is hard to make people really understand that and people misusing the term makes it harder. People do react differently with allergic reactions and some are more sever than others but every expose can worsen the allergy and if there is a true medically documented allergy, the allergen must be avoided at all times.

 

[White Rose]

What? She just said she has a long list of allergies and would like to know if it is worth it to eat at V&A. She did not ask you how you perceive food allergies. Maybe you don't know this, but many food allergy sufferers dine at WDW specifically because of WDW's amazing service when serving customers with allergies. For many, it's the only place they can dine and feel like a normal diner.

I have never in my life heard of anyone lying about an allergy just to avoid a food they don't enjoy. And people who consume a large amount of a certain food would not claim they are allergic in order to not consume it again. It is highly likely they consume that item because it is a taste they enjoy.

Basically, your list and entire post were both offensive!

I think you missed some of the point of my post.

I was trying hard not to be offensive - and I have a few food picky family members who say they are allerigic because they think they are because they dislike foods - as others have posted, there is a huge difference...

A chef would need to know if something is a food preference or a true allergy because the food prep is different in those cases. Because so many use the term 'allergy' to explain a dietary choice - many times a true allergy is not given the respect it deserves. these four levels are just things I observed and not a doctor's report, just what I have heard people explaining themselves.

I do not personally ever tell people I'm 'allergic' to tomatoes, but others have used that term to describe why I won't eat them. It makes me mad.

I have to watch where I buy cakes, cookies, fried food etc for my niece all the time because of her actual allergy. I know some places outside of WDW are not careful as they should be. I have had to make sure they know this is a serious thing and not a fad. WDW is probably the safest place for anyone with serious food allergies.

I guess I just got so tired of others (not the poster) calling a dierary preference an 'allergy'. I think a few people did understand what I was saying, for the rest - please realize I did not mean to offend.

People are not treating true allergies as serious as they should because of food fads, and one day it could severely hurt someone if it has not already.

For the record, I do have a severe non-food based allergy.

 

[ElizabethB]

No, with all of those food allergies and food preferences, I do not think the cost of V&A would be worth the price. Others have said that V&A will work to prepare menus the accommodate allergies.

That's fine as far as it goes. But, a lot of the pleasure at V&A (Dh and I have dined there numerous times in the dining room and at the chef's table) is tasting lots of new and interesting foods and flavors.

If I had to be constantly worried about what I was eating, I would not find much pleasure in the meal. And, the only reason for dining there is the pleasure of tasting amazing food (and, in our case, excellent wine pairings with it).

Frankly, I wouldn't bother.

 

[ambgoph]

I have eaten at V&A's 3 times (including once at the Chef's table). I am allergic to all seafood and was very disappointed in one dish that I was served at V&A's out of all the dishes I've had there due to my allergy. My dining companion received shrimp and they tried to replicate the dish for me using lettuce in place of the shrimp. It was not good at all. I was a little perplexed as to why they didn't substitute another protein for the shrimp.

While at the Chef's table, one of the dishes contained seaweed. Chef Aimee came running over to the table as they had just placed the dish down and told me I couldn't have it due to the seaweed. She apologized profusely saying she double checked her ingredient book and the dish never should have made it out to me. She redid the dish without the seaweed, which was amazing.

They take allergies very seriously at V&A's.

 

[momof2n2]

Wow - what a thread. OP, as a mom of a child with an extensive list of allergies I'm sorry thus thread took the turn it did. I abhor when people start loosely dropping the term 'allergic" when they are not genuinely allergic. And yes, yes, yes! When a picky eater calls themselves allergic then eats some of the "offending" food it just makes it harder for people with true allergies to stay safe!

And that list is a tad offensive. Level one is ridiculous. Call a spade a spade. Level one is just a picky eater. As far as the other levels go... I only imagine two other levels. #1 - my body has some sort of reaction that lays me out, or #2 - if I eat it I will die.

OP - V&A is really expensive. If you want to eat there I'd fill out the res form and request a call ASAP. When you get the call request a menu to be faxed to you. As you can eat many meat/protein sources & cooked veggies you may be pleasantly surprised. Dessert may be impossible.

 

[1001 Ghosts]

I NEVER said that...if I did it was a typo. Point it out to me....she would NEVER allow that and I would NEVEr do that. I don't go near any of the foods that I am allergic to....not even a taste. So I have no idea what you are talking about.

For the record, you did actually say that you are allowed to cheat for a week at Disney as needed. Here's the link to the post where you said exactly that;

http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=48385296&postcount=26

 

[minnie mum]

For the record, you did actually say that you are allowed to cheat for a week at Disney as needed. Here's the link to the post where you said exactly that;

http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=48385296&postcount=26

Thank you for posting that- I meant to post it earlier, but was distracted by more important matters. Perhaps the OP meant something different by what she wrote.

But to return to the original topic, with that many allergies, food intolerances and other medical problems that the OP suffers, I would think that V&A would definitely not be worth it. While I'm sure the chefs would ensure that the food would be safe to eat, their ability to create really memorable dishes would be severely restricted. And isn't that the whole point of dining at V&A's?

 

[ddevito]

I appreciate all of these responses. I have so many food allergies that when I went to my tasting during our wedding planning in Disney World the poor chef had a table filled with all the copies from my allergist and his notes! They were so wonderful and creative when creating our wedding menu. I could not ask for more.

We were planning on going to Victoria & Albert's for our honeymoon, but after reading the comments it sounds like it just might not be cost efficient. Knowing this ahead of time will help me plan where I do want to spend my money. Thanks everyone.