Where to go with food (PEANUT/TREENUT) allergy

[saroncar]

Hi all! I'm new to the DL side of the boards! We've been to WDW 5 times in 4 years and one big deciding factor is that my son, who is anaphylactic to peanuts and tree nuts has been so accommodated. We have met some wonderful chefs and servers and it takes a lot of stress off of me as a mom feeling just a little more comfy with their knowledge.

We wanted to come to DL a couple years ago but after contacting their special diet dept (at this time they didn't even have the noting of allergens on ADRS) and realizing how different they were we decided against it. Well, now we have our tickets, and we are so excited to go, however I'm still very nervous about the food. Of course we won't be on a dining plan like at WDW so we have the option of eating outside the park or bringing our own food but I want to know where you have had good or great experiences with allergies, esp these two, or where you have had very bad/difficult ones. This way I can know where is worth trying.

I hope it won't be too hard, I see they are making changes but I know they haven't had the years of practice that WDW has. I just hope I don't have to cook!!

 

[DznyPrnces]

My daughter is allergic to peanuts and we go to Disneyland once or twice a year. We almost always eat counter service and I've always asked about allergens when I order and if the person I ask doesn't know they get someone who does. We ate at Goofy's Kitchen for the first time last year (first table service since the diagnosis) and the chef came out and walked me through the buffet and pointed out what was safe and what was not. I've never had a problem, and found the service to be the same as it was when we went to WDW last year.

 

[Phoenixrising]

I've got a deadly Peanut allergy, and have managed DL without any problems. As a precaution I take an antihistamine everyday on vacation as a precaution. And when in doubt, I always ask questions prior to ordering. My DS10 I also give antihistamines daily while on vacation, as he's got alot of airborne allergies and it makes him more comfortable. Always read the labels on the packaged snacks, and when in doubt ask.

 

[atmail35]

My DD9 is allergic to peanut and tree nuts. We have eaten at Goofy's Kitchen, Napa Rose, Wine Country Tratorria, Steakhouse 55 without issue. I note the allergy on the ADR and a chef comes out. At Goofy's I have the chef walk us through, but I ask for the food to come out from the back as they have a PBJ pizza on the buffet at dinner.

Snack carts will show you the ingredients.

Counter Service will either show you ingredients or a chef/manager might come out. We've done Golden Horseshoe, pizza Port, the Mexican place in DCA and a few others...I have to look up the names if you'd like them.

We were just at DLR for 4 days in April and another 4 days back in July/Aug 2013. We really didn't have any issues and ate all meals at the park/hotels. I have also been to WDW and our experience was not that different, to be honest. We were very happy at both places.

downtown Disney has options too, but we did not try them.

LMK if you have questions.

 

[mmlover74]

My son has nuts for an allergy as well. We bring the epi pen and benadryl for just in case. We speak to the chefs and it is also noted on every priority seating we make. If you do the CS, when you order just mention that you need to speak to the chef because your son has allergies.

We were even able to eat at DL when my son had gluten, egg, milk allergies as well besides the nuts. I was very impressed with all of the chefs. They helped me out.

 

[mikana876]

My son is anaphylactic to peanuts. I took him when he was 3. We were able to find things for him to eat, however we found that most of the bakery places and ice cream places had cross contamination from peanuts If I remember right, the Mickey bars we safe, but I could be wrong on that one.

 

[MinnieM21]

At Gibson Girl, let the cashier know your son has tree nut and peanut allergies and the chef from Carnation Cafe will come out and help you. They know what's safe and they'll get his ice cream from a new container with a new scoop.

 

[DznyPrnces]

My son is anaphylactic to peanuts. I took him when he was 3. We were able to find things for him to eat, however we found that most of the bakery places and ice cream places had cross contamination from peanuts If I remember right, the Mickey bars we safe, but I could be wrong on that one.

Bakeries and ice cream shops having peanut cross contamination is not exclusive to Disney. We basically never get ice cream or baked goods out anywhere because of the cross contamination risk.

As mentioned before, the ice cream shop on Main Street (I assume any of the Disney ice cream shops will, but I only have experience with the one on Main Street) will thoroughly wash the scoop and open a new container of ice cream for you.

 

[GatorChris]

My daughters have the same peanuts/tree nut allergy, although the tree nut allergy is much worse. I do miss the WDW touch of the chef coming out when you note in your reservations that someone has an allergy. At DL, they didn't just see it on the reservation. We had to tell them about it, and then the chef would come out. Still a pretty good level of care - just not as high of a level as in FL. If you're like us, scan the menu for peanuts or macadamia nuts and then proceed with caution.

 

[saroncar]

Thank you all! I have read stories (one from last month on here) that say that DL can't compare to WDW when it comes to FA so I was a bit scared. It seems that we will be just fine, using the same precaution we use everywhere. No stories of special treats and surprises like those we get at the world (some if the chefs there will bend over backwards and make very special things for FA kids) but that's ok, as long as he's safe. We'll still be at DISNEYLAND!

 

[mikana876]

Bakeries and ice cream shops having peanut cross contamination is not exclusive to Disney. We basically never get ice cream or baked goods out anywhere because of the cross contamination.

Well certainly, I wasn't implying otherwise. Just giving information

 

[mikana876]

At Gibson Girl, let the cashier know your son has tree nut and peanut allergies and the chef from Carnation Cafe will come out and help you. They know what's safe and they'll get his ice cream from a new container with a new scoop.

Will they really?! They would make my day! I would give just about anything to eat at Gibson Girl ice cream with DS I ate there many times with my parents as a child and would LOVE to do the same with DS! Would the CMs be annoyed/inconvenienced if we asked them to do this?

 

[MinnieM21]

Will they really?! They would make my day! I would give just about anything to eat at Gibson Girl ice cream with DS I ate there many times with my parents as a child and would LOVE to do the same with DS! Would the CMs be annoyed/inconvenienced if we asked them to do this?

Yes they will! I was just there a couple of weeks ago. The CMs don't get annoyed at all. She was very nice! It seems like it happens quite a bit because she said that she would get the chef right as I mentioned having an allergy. I didn't ask the chef to use a new container of ice cream, that's just what he did. He knew a lot about what was safe and what wasn't and he was incredibly nice. Just tell the cashier that your son has a peanut allergy and the cashier will get the chef for you.

 

[DznyPrnces]

Yes they will! I was just there a couple of weeks ago. The CMs don't get annoyed at all. She was very nice! It seems like it happens quite a bit because she said that she would get the chef right as I mentioned having an allergy. I didn't ask the chef to use a new container of ice cream, that's just what he did. He knew a lot about what was safe and what wasn't and he was incredibly nice. Just tell the cashier that your son has a peanut allergy and the cashier will get the chef for you.

Ditto. I didn't even have to ask. The cast member over heard my sister and I talking about my daughter's peanut allergy and just did it without asking. I was super impressed as it was shortly after her diagnosis and I was still learning my way around living/traveling with food allergies.

 

[mikana876]

That is wonderful news

 

[poohnpigletCA]

One positive about Disneyland is the close proximity of many of the Hotels. We were with family eating at the wharf in DCA. Her son has an allergy to almonds. I do not even remember what they were in. They were stayng at the Grand Californian and they easily took him back to the room and gave him allergy medicine and joined us again shortly. I know after that they did more sit down restaurants.

 

[mikana876]

One positive about Disneyland is the close proximity of many of the Hotels. We were with family eating at the wharf in DCA. Her son has an allergy to almonds. I do not even remember what they were in. They were stayng at the Grand Californian and they easily took him back to the room and gave him allergy medicine and joined us again shortly. I know after that they did more sit down restaurants.

Do you mean that he accidentally ingested almonds? That's scary unfortunately my son is very allergic and simply going back to the room for allergy medicine wouldn't work. It'd be a trip to the ER or worse.

 

[poohnpigletCA]

Do you mean that he accidentally ingested almonds? That's scary unfortunately my son is very allergic and simply going back to the room for allergy medicine wouldn't work. It'd be a trip to the ER or worse.

Yes, it was a very small quantity. I believe it was in a baked good. Almond butter of paste in a cupcake maybe. It seems like most of the times he has accidentally ingested anything it has been in a baked good.

 

[saroncar]

Wow that is scary, we'd end up in the hospital if that happened but glad that he was okay!