Notifying Disney of a Food Allergy?

[DisneyPrincess5]

Hi all!

We recently booked our Fall 2013 Disneymoon and while booking, I was told by the CM to notify them about any food allergies upon making our ADRs.
I have recently developed a shell fish allergy and this will be our first Disney trip since I found out. I can be around shell fish but CANNOT actually eat it or have my food share a cooking surface with it.

I am obviously going to make this clearly known wherever we eat, but if I notify upon making ADRs, do our restaurants receive notice of this?? The CM made it sound like they do.
I am a tad nervous for an accidental slip up because this is our honeymoon and if I ingest any remnants of shell fish, it will set us back a few days and may force us to seek medical attention. I am going to carry Benadryl just in case.

Thanks!

 

[mouse_luv]

Hi all!

We recently booked our Fall 2013 Disneymoon and while booking, I was told by the CM to notify them about any food allergies upon making our ADRs.
I have recently developed a shell fish allergy and this will be our first Disney trip since I found out. I can be around shell fish but CANNOT actually eat it or have my food share a cooking surface with it.

I am obviously going to make this clearly known wherever we eat, but if I notify upon making ADRs, do our restaurants receive notice of this?? The CM made it sound like they do.
I am a tad nervous for an accidental slip up because this is our honeymoon and if I ingest any remnants of shell fish, it will set us back a few days and may force us to seek medical attention. I am going to carry Benadryl just in case.

Thanks!

Yes, there is someone in my party that has multiple severe food allergies and it was noted when making ADR. This includes contact and cross contamination allergies. We had no problem and it was noted when we checked in for our meals (we even saw the slips that had allergy stamped on them). Make sure you remind your server and they will have the chef come to your table in most cases. We also pack benedryl just in case, but have had no problems Disney is VERY good with this. CS/QS may be another story, but we never had probs with TS.

Have a fun trip!!

 

[DisneyPrincess5]

Yes, there is someone in my party that has multiple severe food allergies and it was noted when making ADR. This includes contact and cross contamination allergies. We had no problem and it was noted when we checked in for our meals (we even saw the slips that had allergy stamped on them). Make sure you remind your server and they will have the chef come to your table in most cases. We also pack benedryl just in case, but have had no problems Disney is VERY good with this. CS/QS may be another story, but we never had probs with TS.

Have a fun trip!!

Oh good this helps me feel better!! Thanks a lot-much appreciated.

 

[rick3236]

Hi,

I have a shell fish allergy myself (not as bad as yours cross contamination does not bother me only direct ingestions), and my son has a dairy allergy (he does have anaphalactic reactions so we avoid cross contamination with him). We notify Disney when we make the ADR and every single time when we check in at the restaurant it is noted for our server. A chef then comes out and speaks with us and takes responsibility for preparing our meal to avoid any cross contamination. Disney really is one of the only places in the world that I do not worry about the food for my son after we place the order.
Quick Service restaurants are also great at handling the food allergies. - in the same manner a kitchen coordinator comes out and takes our order and he or she makes the food to insure no cross-contamination. It takes us a bit longer to get our food, but I am always grateful that he can eat almost anywhere on Disney property and the food will be handled properly.

 

[CaptainShortty]

Yes, Disney is great about food allergies. As stated above, make sure that you note it on all of your ADRs and double check with your server. And remember, if ever you feel that you are uneasy that it is not being taken care of in the manner you would like (which may never happen, if rarely), do not hesitate to ask for a manager to talk about it with them. Don't be embarrassed or think you're going to get the server in trouble. It is of the upmost importance that you are a) kept safe and b) feel safe while you're eating. If you don't want to do it in front of the server, head towards the hostess stand and ask for a manager there. They'd be more than happy to assist you in any way they can! Happy planning!

 

[DisneyPrincess5]

Hi,

I have a shell fish allergy myself (not as bad as yours cross contamination does not bother me only direct ingestions), and my son has a dairy allergy (he does have anaphalactic reactions so we avoid cross contamination with him). We notify Disney when we make the ADR and every single time when we check in at the restaurant it is noted for our server. A chef then comes out and speaks with us and takes responsibility for preparing our meal to avoid any cross contamination. Disney really is one of the only places in the world that I do not worry about the food for my son after we place the order.
Quick Service restaurants are also great at handling the food allergies. - in the same manner a kitchen coordinator comes out and takes our order and he or she makes the food to insure no cross-contamination. It takes us a bit longer to get our food, but I am always grateful that he can eat almost anywhere on Disney property and the food will be handled properly.

I'm so glad to hear how accommodating they are!! Thank you this is comforting.

 

[DisneyPrincess5]

Yes, Disney is great about food allergies. As stated above, make sure that you note it on all of your ADRs and double check with your server. And remember, if ever you feel that you are uneasy that it is not being taken care of in the manner you would like (which may never happen, if rarely), do not hesitate to ask for a manager to talk about it with them. Don't be embarrassed or think you're going to get the server in trouble. It is of the upmost importance that you are a) kept safe and b) feel safe while you're eating. If you don't want to do it in front of the server, head towards the hostess stand and ask for a manager there. They'd be more than happy to assist you in any way they can! Happy planning!

Thank you!! Yes you are right I will definitely make sure things happen! It's impressive how accommodating they seem.

 

[coachwnh]

WDW is awesome with food allergies. Even if you added the allergy when you made the reservation, just make sure the host stamps your ticket when you check in. Most of the good servers are well aware of what you will be able to have. If you are comfortable with their help thats fine. If not, the chef will come right to your table and help you out. There have been several chefs at the signatures ask what my wife (celiac sprue) would like, and made her stuff not on the menu!! Sometimes, her desserts are better than what we het!! There have been a few times where the food they are bringing out to her makes quite a scene. Dont be afraid to ask. They are experts with this type of thing.

 

[DisneyPrincess5]

WDW is awesome with food allergies. Even if you added the allergy when you made the reservation, just make sure the host stamps your ticket when you check in. Most of the good servers are well aware of what you will be able to have. If you are comfortable with their help thats fine. If not, the chef will come right to your table and help you out. There have been several chefs at the signatures ask what my wife (celiac sprue) would like, and made her stuff not on the menu!! Sometimes, her desserts are better than what we het!! There have been a few times where the food they are bringing out to her makes quite a scene. Dont be afraid to ask. They are experts with this type of thing.

Wow that's great that they were able to prepare specialities for her! I think I will be able to chose something off of each menu, especially since we are avoiding restaurants that predominantly serve seafood, but this is great to know-thank you!!!

 

[Figgy1]

Make sure you let them Know when you get to each restaurant they are very good about allergies! Counter servive is another issue. Most have books listing all ingredients. Last trip when I mentioned my son has allergies most counter service places showed me the ingredients and the food came out with a slip of paper about those. Happy trip!!!!!! Good luck and be careful.

 

[DisneyPrincess5]

Make sure you let them Know when you get to each restaurant they are very good about allergies! Counter servive is another issue. Most have books listing all ingredients. Last trip when I mentioned my son has allergies most counter service places showed me the ingredients and the food came out with a slip of paper about those. Happy trip!!!!!! Good luck and be careful.

Good to know I will look for this when we go. Thank you!!

 

[luvtink]

I am just wrapping up a week at the World. I noted the food allergy when I made the reservations. I also have a shellfish allergy. Everywhere we went they knew about my allergy. The head cook would always come the table to discuss this with me and tell me what I couldnt eat and also what was cooked right next to the shellfish. In the buffets, they would walk me to the dishes that had the shellfish. I was really amazed at how much they did to make sure I was not risking a reaction. Have fun!

 

[DisneyPrincess5]

I am just wrapping up a week at the World. I noted the food allergy when I made the reservations. I also have a shellfish allergy. Everywhere we went they knew about my allergy. The head cook would always come the table to discuss this with me and tell me what I couldnt eat and also what was cooked right next to the shellfish. In the buffets, they would walk me to the dishes that had the shellfish. I was really amazed at how much they did to make sure I was not risking a reaction. Have fun!

Wow this is great-so very comforting. I hope of enjoyed your trip! Thanks!

 

[s&k'smom]

We have had great experiences with our food issues, my son will not eat much (looooong story) and at several of the restaurants they went out of there way to make sure he had enough to eat and actually at I think it was Cape May the chef came back out to make sure he was enjoying his food.

 

[MorganKelly]

Disney does an awesome job with this. That is so reassuring to those of us with family members who have food allergies.

 

[zero creativity]

My son has tree nut allergies and our experience was great everywhere we went. Depending on the counter service place they will even make you food fresh and away from any of the allergies.

 

[HouCuseChickie]

I agree that Disney is really good about patrons with allergies. Unless you have 4 allergies or more, or a very uncommon allergy, you just add the allergy info to your ADRs, make sure the info is on there when you check in, and then talk to your server about it. In many cases, they'll have the chef come out to your table. We've also found they tend to be conservative with food allergies...i.e. if there's any chance of cross contamination, they're not going to let you have it.

Quick service can be a little more difficult depending on the crowds and items at their disposal. We find it to be fairly challenging with DD6's allergies since so many things have cross contamination issues for nuts. They are still very accomodating, but it's just not as easy as TS. For your allergy, it may be more a matter of seeing which QS spots present an issue. i.e. the the shrimp at Columbia Harbour House might make that a higher risk place for you or a place where you may need to allow extra time just so they can do safe prep of food. I also got scared off by bad allergy reviews I'd found online, so you might want to search reviews for your restaurants of interest and see if there are any red flag reviews out there.

The good news...we've done 2 trips since our older one was diagnosed with peanut and tree nut allergies and we have been issue free on both. Sure, we travel with our EpiPens and Zyrtec (allergist said it's now proven more effective than Benadryl), but it's nice that Disney is so allergy aware.

 

[DisneyPrincess5]

I agree that Disney is really good about patrons with allergies. Unless you have 4 allergies or more, or a very uncommon allergy, you just add the allergy info to your ADRs, make sure the info is on there when you check in, and then talk to your server about it. In many cases, they'll have the chef come out to your table. We've also found they tend to be conservative with food allergies...i.e. if there's any chance of cross contamination, they're not going to let you have it.

Quick service can be a little more difficult depending on the crowds and items at their disposal. We find it to be fairly challenging with DD6's allergies since so many things have cross contamination issues for nuts. They are still very accomodating, but it's just not as easy as TS. For your allergy, it may be more a matter of seeing which QS spots present an issue. i.e. the the shrimp at Columbia Harbour House might make that a higher risk place for you or a place where you may need to allow extra time just so they can do safe prep of food. I also got scared off by bad allergy reviews I'd found online, so you might want to search reviews for your restaurants of interest and see if there are any red flag reviews out there.

The good news...we've done 2 trips since our older one was diagnosed with peanut and tree nut allergies and we have been issue free on both. Sure, we travel with our EpiPens and Zyrtec (allergist said it's now proven more effective than Benadryl), but it's nice that Disney is so allergy aware.

Thanks for this info on Zyrtec I will definitely ask to my doctor about that because I have a a lot of difficulty with Benadryl. It knocks me out sleep wise and mentally for a few days. Thanks!