Food allergies

[gerald72]

I hear WDW is one of the places that best cater to people with food allergies.
Are there any specific restaurants that do a better job of this than others?

[chrim]

In terms of the "counter service" or fast food type restaurants, some definitely have more choices than others. You can e-mail WDW at [email protected] and get a list of allergies each of those places is able to accommodate.

I only tried eating at the Swan/Dolphin restaurants once when requesting a special menu (soy free). I did receive an e-mail from a chef in advance as it seems they don't have as much in stock and might have to special order food for you. These hotels/restaurants are not run by Disney (the owners just lease the land from Disney). So there is sometimes an extra step here.

Also, keep in mind that a few restaurants, especially those at Downtown Disney, the Coronado Springs hotel, and some at Epcot are run by outside companies as well. Chefs de France is one of these, although I ate here with no problems. (They did not send a chef out to talk to me like Disney run locations normally do, but they told me I could order anything and they would make it for me, and they did. So it seems that procedures might vary, but the result was good.)

[Itchy]

My lady friend has allergies to a couple of things and we have never had a problem at any of the restaruants we have eatten at. Let them know when you check in and let your server know as well. They have sent the Chef out and discussed the options on the menu.

We at at rainforest for lunch and the chef came out and discussed her issues and they made a special meal for her. Both the chef and waitress were outstanding with dealing with her allergy problem.

Hope this helps.:mickey:

[McLiberal8]

Chef TJ is known as 'the special diet chef'. He is currently at 1900 Park Fair. I would definitely recommend paying him a visit - he is known for his lavish special-diet meals, sometimes in several courses!

Google 'Chef TJ disney' and you will see his following!

[LVT]

Chefs talked to me about allergies at these and it worked ok. They have reference material for most ingredients
Tusker House
Boma
Ohana
Kona
Via Napoli
Moma Melrose
Crystal Palace
Biergarten
Le Cellier
Garden Grill
California Grill
Narcosie's
Be careful, Vacation is better without ER visits.

[ElenitaB]

I was going to mention Chef TJ as well. He has left a great legacy at the restaurants he's worked at as well, so you can count Boma and 'Ohana among your top choices. That said, if you note on your ADR that someone in your party has an allergy or special dietary need/preference, a chef will come out and talk to them.

[sneezyone]

I had a WONDERFUL experience at Liberty Tree Tavern!

I'm allergic to chicken fat, of all things! I can eat white meat, but the fat that's used in gravy and chicken broth can almost kill me...my throat swells shut!

I wanted the Thanksgiving dinner and they sent the chef out to talk with me....

This chef was so kind, he made me my OWN gravy using only the turkey stock (it was so lovely) my own mashed potatoes (they usually flavor them with chicken stock) and since he couldn't come up with a substitute stuffing he made me a HUGE portion of potatoes. He was also sure to use NEW, clean utensils so that there was no chance of cross-contamination.

I hadn't had gravy in YEARS as 99% of all jar gravy has chicken in it and my mom just never could make gravy...it was so wonderful. I actually used an entire gravy boat on my mashed potatoes!

It was so special to me because usually all these kind of things are forbidden to me and to have not only my favorite meal but to know that he cared enough to do it just for me...

I love DISNEY.

[MstngDrvnDsnyLvr]

I LOVE Disney dining with my food allergies!! I'm allergic to Fresh tomatoes and All berries (straw, Rasp, black)......at most restaurants, the Chef came out (a couple it was a sous chef) - I was assured that all my food would be prepared without my allergy triggers and that it would be prepared either separately or after all work surfaces and utensils were cleaned. It was wonderful to know that I could dig into my food without worrying about where my benadryl or epipen were.

[thesplashmountaineer]

my wife and my son have peanut allergies.
the chef at ohana prepared a special dessert for them. I still hear about that today.

Disney is the best place for people with food allergies. I've been told at universal studios last year that they would not be able to serve us anything because of the food allergies. In any restaurant.

I love Disney....

[waymickey]

The WL restaurants are excellent with food allergies. My DD has several tree nuts, fish, shellfish, peaches, apples, strawberries, kiwi...The cher at the whispering canyon cafe will come out talk with the person with the allergy and suggest what they can eat safely. Last time we were there she ordered the bottomless shake after speaking with the chef. The waitress brought it out and she began drinking it. 2 minutes later the waitress came running and screaming her name from the back telling her to stop drinking because the sprinkles were processed with peanuts. I calmed down our waitress and told her it was OK Peanuts are not grown in the ground not on a tree. :D

[disneynarula]

We had great experiences at Wolfgang Puck Cafe, Boma, and Chef Mickey's. Boma was the best! My DS is allergic to all dairy products, eggs, and nuts.

Everywhere we ate the staff was very helpful. Call ahead and let the TS place know you are coming.

CS places should have lists of what is in the ingridients. If the person who you talk to at the counter is not helpful ask for a manager. We had one problem at CS and it was just one cast member being rude.

Just do an internet search of disney and food allergies and you will find tons of information.

[spoonfulosugar]

2 of my 3 kids have peanut and tree nut allergies. We have never had a problem at WDW and we eat at all kinds of restaurants. Just note your allergies when you make your reservations, mention them again when you check-in at the restaurant, and your server will send the chef out to your table. They go above and beyond...if it's a buffet, they will walk you through it. They will prepare anything for you if it is necessary! It is awesome :)

[MaresHappy]

Echoing the same as others have posted! We were travelling with another family a few years back and went to Chef Mick's for dinner. The other mom mentioned her son's allergies, and before we knew it, the chef was at our table and escorted Mom and her son to the buffet to explain EVERYTHING. The chef noted all items and referenced the ingredients which might present a problem for his specific allergies.

[buzznwoodysmom]

My son is allergic to seafood and poultry, poor kid. We've eaten at many, many locations in WDW and have never had any issues at all. I usually try to remember to note it on the ADR when I make them, then I'll either let them know when I check in or let our server know before we begin ordering. They always send a chef out to talk to us about what he can and can't have.

[mudpuppysmom]

Our younger DS is allergic to meat protein (all meats), dairy and soy. These are pretty tough things to avoid out there in the world -- even at home sometimes he gets very angry when he can't have something.

That said -- he is 3 and that complicates meal time even more so. If you have kids you know how persnickety they are when eating.

We have eaten all over Disney property and I have to say ALL of the chefs have made dining for our son fairly painless. We have made ADR's and I've had chefs call me a week beforehand to see "what he's into these days" and we try to map out a meal for him. Some chefs wing it though and this has proven problematic for our meals. I will say we have only EVER had one place that the chef (or whoever they sent out in his place) didn't realize that something was cooked in chicken stock and not plain water and I specifically asked and he had no clue, so we avoided the rice there (which of course was what DS wanted!).

We have also showed up with no ADR at a few places and the chef at Kona really was innovative in the meal he whipped up for DS (and it was HUGE!).

When people tell you that Disney handles allergies well --THEY DO!

Just fill out the forms Special Diets sends to you and have calls into the chefs and you will be more than fine. So much so, that you will not want to come home and cook again!

[CMCTxMom]

I just wanted to say THANKS to everyone who's posted here. We're traveling to WDW in Jan with DS who is dairy/egg/peanut allergic, and DD who is peanut-allergic. DS is also VERY picky (I think he is part Tyson chicken nugget at this point...). I'm starting to have faith that he won't starve completely during our stay. I've found sites and read about chefs coming to tables, but it's much more convincing coming from a bunch of allergy Moms and Dads. Thanks y'all! :mickey:

[figgie]

OK, while Disney is hands down the easiest place we have ever been to eat with Celiac disease, gluten free, I want to put out a word of caution here. We live in Florida and go often to Disney restaurants just because we are usually safe to eat here with the chefs coming out to talk to you and really understanding your needs. That being said, we have had some really bad incidents there also. At the Rose & Crown, after talking to the waiter and the chef, we ordered. When the food was brought out, we ate. After about 15 minutes, another waiter shows up with our ordered meal again. He looks at us eating and walks away. Soon, we were confronted with the manager who explains to us that the first meal was brought by mistake and was not gluten free at all! Well, even though comped for the meal, it did not make up for the hospital bills we had to pay that night when we ended up in the hospital with my husband in the throughs of a really bad reaction that resulted in him loosing a servere amout of blood in bleeding process of his stomach and bowel system! I urge anyone with severe allergies to check and double check when you recieve your food. We travel all the time and eat out alot. We are always on guard and we sometimes tend to feel safe at Disney because most of the time we have been safe there, but lets face it, mistakes happen and you still need to be very vigilant!!!!

[j2k]

I have a sensitivity to tree nuts and while at WDWthis week the chef's came out and talked to me about what I could eat. They brought out specially prepared food for me. As long as you check with the restaraunt they should be very accomodating and your kids should be fine.

[mom2morgan]

I am SO happy to hear (most) of these stories! While we are blessed to have no allergies, my DD's best friend is so severely allergic to so many things that her family rarely ever travels. Last risk she took (she's 14) was a few weeks ago - ordered an item she's had before at a juice-bar sort of place, stressed it had to be dairy free, and then ended up in the hospital all night. The Manager's response to the mix up? "oops. My bad."

[PETE FROM NYC]

DW and I are both diabetic. The last two trips, 2009, and 2010, we made a load of ADRs. And while on the phone with WDW-DINE, I had specified about the diabetes, and my food allergies. When we got into each TS restaurant, one of the chefs would visit our table explaining what menu items were safe and which to avoid. This was even done at the buffets. Some even offered to specially prepare some things for us.
We ate TS almost all of our ten night stays both trips, and were never disappointed.