Should I Be Worried About Dining With Allergies?

[DisneyPrincess21]

I am going on my first trip since finding out I am very allergic to both Garlic and Onion. I have been looking at some of the recipes for the different places we will be eating at. And a majority of the stuff has either garlic or onion or both. How do they chef's handle the allergies if their recipes call for the ingredients you are allergic to? Does the chef make the meal special for you and omit the ingredients or do they just tell you what you can eat that doesn't have the ingredients in it? How does it work when you are at a buffet?

I have called WDW dining and have my allergies listed on every ADR but is there anything else I need to do before my trip to make sure they will be able to prepare my food without garlic and onion? I would hate to get there and find out they can't prepare my food without these ingredients, and I would hate to find out the "hard way" that they did in fact put onion and garlic in my food.

I am starting to get worried because I am afraid this might put a damper on our trip. I know it isn't a "common" allergy but I get very very sick if I have onion or garlic.

I am starting to panic and am considering canceling all of my ADR's, but this is our first time getting free dining and I don't want to over react and make a hasty decision.

I hope someone can shed some more light on this for me and hopefully ease my fears. :(

[BPATSMouse]

You have all your allergies listed on every ADR and you can make double sure by requesting to speak to the Chef when you get to the respective resturant. All of the places you have ADR's at will be very happy to make sure you don't get anything your not supposed to. Disney is excellent about catering to food issues. This is common and done by more people than you would ever believe.

[terri110874]

My son can not have certain foods. When I made our ADR I let them know what he could not have. They made note of it in the system so when we got to there it was already noted. Worked great , each time I checked in I confirmed what he could not have and when we sat down the chef came over and let us know what had the stuff had it in it. At the buffet, they made fresh new foods for him.

[CanadianWDWFan]

Another thing to do is when you check in is to confirm that you have allergies. They will then stamp your reservation with something like "special diet". Your server will then ask who has allergies then will talk to you. They will then have the chef come out and confirm your choice. Even if there is nothing on the menu that you can eat, the chef will make you something.

In other words, I would not be worried in the least about eating at Disney with allergies.

[mudpuppysmom]

About two weeks out call the restaurant and speak to the chef.....I did this recently as my DS#2 has a protein allergy of all things! He cannot eat meat, soy or dairy protein.....so that makes feeding him interesting in the first place -- then let's lump on there that he is only 1! The chefs were more than helpful when we discussed what I feed him here at home and how they can replicate that while we are there and we even shared a few suggestions (like the hummus I make at home with beets in it -- he was like "uh, OK").

[DisneyPrincess21]

At the buffet, they made fresh new foods for him.

How does that work? Did they just make him a plated meal or did they make him his own verison/recipe of what he wanted from the buffet? And it is an all you care to eat buffet so how did that work?

Sorry to ask so many questions, i like being prepared, and since this is my first time with allergies i dont want to ask the chef's any "stupid" questions or silly request

[LVT]

I too have several food allergies. Mostly I had excellent help at WDW. I did the note on ADR's and told the check-in person/ waiter . At everyone of the restaurants a kitchen staffer came to the table. At 2 of 15 places it was some what of a wait. Good odds. At buffets they went down the lines with me. If something I wanted to try would be OK with a minor change they did it. I was extremely impressed. Be careful and safe. Food allergies are dangerous and you cannot guess. At once point one of my guides came out and stopped me from one item with a surprise ingredient he had discovered on rechecking my list.

[DisneyPrincess21]

I too have several food allergies. Mostly I had excellent help at WDW. I did the note on ADR's and told the check-in person/ waiter . At everyone of the restaurants a kitchen staffer came to the table. At 2 of 15 places it was some what of a wait. Good odds. At buffets they went down the lines with me. If something I wanted to try would be OK with a minor change they did it. I was extremely impressed. Be careful and safe. Food allergies are dangerous and you cannot guess. At once point one of my guides came out and stopped me from one item with a surprise ingredient he had discovered on rechecking my list.

Wow sounds like great service.

[Carolanne]

I'm just repeating what everyone else has said--you've already noted allergies on your ADR's & everyone has said to inform the CM's when you check in for your ADR.

Not that anyone wants to work when they're on vacation (lol), but make it your job to let your allergies be known to the chefs. I don't have food allergies myself, but I have seen chefs escort those that do through the buffet lines and I have seen chefs come out to the table to discuss allergies & options (I was more aware of these things being done on my most recent trip).

And do not worry about "silly requests" or "stupid questions"--this is your health, so there is no such thing as silly or stupid! Do whatever you feel you need to do, ask as many & whatever questions you think of, and make whatever requests you need to ensure you get what you need.