Food allergies

[wdwmickey]

I sent an e-mail to DLR special diets over a week ago. I included all of our TS reservation places and times. I have not heard back from them do I need to send them another e-mail?

My DD has an anaphylactic corn allergy (so no corn syrup, corn meal, corn starch, etc) and I need to make sure she'll actually be able to find something she can eat at Ariel's (breakfast), Café Orleans, Minnie's (breakfast), Carthay Circle, Carnation Café (breakfast), Storyteller's (lunch), and PCH Grille (breakfast). I have a dairy allergy, but, that is easier to deal with.

 

[bumbershoot]

In the past, I called Disney Dining and had them have a chef contact me. I would write again, making sure you mention that you need a chef to call you, and list out exactly what the needs are along with phone number and a time to contact you, and/or I would call and make that request.


that's a ROUGH one, I really feel for you. DS has a sensitivity, not an allergy, to anything based on corn syrup, but for awhile we were worried about all corn just like your child. As you know, it even goes down to simple powdered sugar, since corn starch is added to it to make it flow easier. (I wish I knew why it isn't in the ingredient list....)


I'm also sure you know that counter service places have, as I think of it, "the big books of ingredients" that you can ask to see.

And in case you didn't know, uncrustables are going to be right out for her, as well as Mickey Bars (corn syrup in the ice cream) and also the other ice creams inside the parks (corn syrup in everything...Ghirardelli uses the same Dreyers brand as is served through the parks). Haagen Dasz, however, might be OK for her, if she eats ice cream. They have an ingredient book, too.

 

[zoeandjacks]

I would keep trying, because that is a harder FA to deal with, but my DD has life-threatening egg and peanut allergies, and we have found Disneyland to be the very best place we have ever visited in terms of accommodating food allergies. Every character/sit-down meal we had, the chef came right out and did an amazing job of making sure that she had more than enough to eat. at Minnie & Friends and Storyteller's, the service by the chef stood out EXTREMELY for me to call them out separately and say what a fantastic job they did, but really, everywhere we went was absolutely wonderful. We ate at Hungry Bear, Flo's, Ariel's Grotto (lunch), Surf's Up, Minnie's, and Storytellers, as well as various carts.

 

[SMD]

I would take PP's advise and call Disney Dining. Ask if they can put you in touch with the right people or if you should send another email. Maybe the first email just ended up in the wrong place. Good luck, I hope they can reassure you and take care of everything.

 

[wdwmickey]

In the past, I called Disney Dining and had them have a chef contact me. I would write again, making sure you mention that you need a chef to call you, and list out exactly what the needs are along with phone number and a time to contact you, and/or I would call and make that request.


that's a ROUGH one, I really feel for you. DS has a sensitivity, not an allergy, to anything based on corn syrup, but for awhile we were worried about all corn just like your child. As you know, it even goes down to simple powdered sugar, since corn starch is added to it to make it flow easier. (I wish I knew why it isn't in the ingredient list....)


I'm also sure you know that counter service places have, as I think of it, "the big books of ingredients" that you can ask to see.

And in case you didn't know, uncrustables are going to be right out for her, as well as Mickey Bars (corn syrup in the ice cream) and also the other ice creams inside the parks (corn syrup in everything...Ghirardelli uses the same Dreyers brand as is served through the parks). Haagen Dasz, however, might be OK for her, if she eats ice cream. They have an ingredient book, too.

I would keep trying, because that is a harder FA to deal with, but my DD has life-threatening egg and peanut allergies, and we have found Disneyland to be the very best place we have ever visited in terms of accommodating food allergies. Every character/sit-down meal we had, the chef came right out and did an amazing job of making sure that she had more than enough to eat. at Minnie & Friends and Storyteller's, the service by the chef stood out EXTREMELY for me to call them out separately and say what a fantastic job they did, but really, everywhere we went was absolutely wonderful. We ate at Hungry Bear, Flo's, Ariel's Grotto (lunch), Surf's Up, Minnie's, and Storytellers, as well as various carts.

Thanks so much for the info. I'm sending another e-mail. I'm glad to hear that the chef's will work with us

 

[wdwmickey]

I would take PP's advise and call Disney Dining. Ask if they can put you in touch with the right people or if you should send another email. Maybe the first email just ended up in the wrong place. Good luck, I hope they can reassure you and take care of everything.

You and I were posting at the same time. I tried calling Disney dining and they gave me the e-mail address that I already had.

 

[bumbershoot]

Check your Spam for a reply, check your phone (if you gave a phone number) for any missed calls from 714 or blocked/unknown number, and if there's nothing, write again.


When I had my phone conversation with Chef Chris a few years back, he was telling me that they had just made a *raw* lasagna for someone on that diet. Since eating raw is mainly a choice, and not even a sensitivity, it was clear that they truly do care about their guests.

 

[Freesia123]

No advice, but that must be hard! Corn is in everything! How does she make out at school?

 

[wdwmickey]

Check your Spam for a reply, check your phone (if you gave a phone number) for any missed calls from 714 or blocked/unknown number, and if there's nothing, write again.


When I had my phone conversation with Chef Chris a few years back, he was telling me that they had just made a *raw* lasagna for someone on that diet. Since eating raw is mainly a choice, and not even a sensitivity, it was clear that they truly do care about their guests.

I've checked my spam and will be calling Disney Dining again tomorrow to see if I get a different answer.

No advice, but that must be hard! Corn is in everything! How does she make out at school?

It's really hard. She takes all of her own food to school. College for her next year will be very exciting since she has to do a dining plan and eat in the cafeteria.

 

[disfan07]

I have severe peanut, tree nut, egg and shellfish allergy (all anaphylaxis). I also have mild to moderate allergies to wheat, soy, dairy, oats, coconut, sesame, sunflower seed, broccoli, honey, raw fruits and raw vegetables.

We've been to WDW with all of those allergies (except dairy....that's a new one) and have been to DL as well with all of those allergies (again, except dairy)

I have found them to be very accomodations even with a long list of allergies. Even the CS places have (for the most part) been accommodating. But TS meals are definitely a better choice because they have a larger number of items to make meals from.

As for college....I am in college right now. Graduating in 4 weeks. Ae you sure she has to live in the dorms? Are there any suites with kitchens available? I know that at my college, if there is a medical reason, they will allow freshman to live in the apartments/town homes on campus even though they are usually reserved for sophomore and older. I get that the dorm experience is part of college but f TS going to make her life too difficult, you might want to see if there are other options. I transferred to my college as a junior so I never did the dorm thing. I have a kitchen in my town home so I cook everything I eat.

Also, have you checked The FARE website for resources? They have excellent resources about navigating college life with food allergies. I would definitely check them out and try to get involved with that.

 

[wdwmickey]

I have severe peanut, tree nut, egg and shellfish allergy (all anaphylaxis). I also have mild to moderate allergies to wheat, soy, dairy, oats, coconut, sesame, sunflower seed, broccoli, honey, raw fruits and raw vegetables.

We've been to WDW with all of those allergies (except dairy....that's a new one) and have been to DL as well with all of those allergies (again, except dairy)

I have found them to be very accomodations even with a long list of allergies. Even the CS places have (for the most part) been accommodating. But TS meals are definitely a better choice because they have a larger number of items to make meals from.

As for college....I am in college right now. Graduating in 4 weeks. Ae you sure she has to live in the dorms? Are there any suites with kitchens available? I know that at my college, if there is a medical reason, they will allow freshman to live in the apartments/town homes on campus even though they are usually reserved for sophomore and older. I get that the dorm experience is part of college but f TS going to make her life too difficult, you might want to see if there are other options. I transferred to my college as a junior so I never did the dorm thing. I have a kitchen in my town home so I cook everything I eat.

Also, have you checked The FARE website for resources? They have excellent resources about navigating college life with food allergies. I would definitely check them out and try to get involved with that.

Thanks for the info. She must live in the dorms (we already checked on that), but, I have never heard of the FARE website so I'll check that out.

 

[disfan07]

Thanks for the info. She must live in the dorms (we already checked on that), but, I have never heard of the FARE website so I'll check that out.

I have to say I'm kind of surprised they won't make exceptions. But I know that at my school you can talk to the chefs in the dining halls before school begins about allergies and ingredients (I know that can happen here during freshman orientation). Our school also has basic allergy information and warnings posted in the dining halls and any other food establishments on campus. They seem to becoming a lot more aware around here. I still won't chance it because of my list of allergies but I know some freshman here who eat very well in the dining halls with food allergies (nuts, eggs, shellfish, dairy and soy are the ones I know other people are allergic to...but they are only allergic to one or two things).

The FARE website is the Food Allergy Research and Education website. They used to be the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network.

 

[MusicalDisneyDreams]

I have to say I'm kind of surprised they won't make exceptions. But I know that at my school you can talk to the chefs in the dining halls before school begins about allergies and ingredients (I know that can happen here during freshman orientation). Our school also has basic allergy information and warnings posted in the dining halls and any other food establishments on campus. They seem to becoming a lot more aware around here. I still won't chance it because of my list of allergies but I know some freshman here who eat very well in the dining halls with food allergies (nuts, eggs, shellfish, dairy and soy are the ones I know other people are allergic to...but they are only allergic to one or two things).

The FARE website is the Food Allergy Research and Education website. They used to be the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network.

This is the OP's daughter. Thank you so much for directing me to the FARE website; I've learned so much in just the first few links I've followed. It's so helpful, especially since my allergy is considered rare. Thanks!

 

[wdwmickey]

disfan07

Thank you so much for the FARE website info. My DD is feeling much more confident about going to college now. And I'm feeling better knowing there are things we can do to help keep her safe

 

[disfan07]

This is the OP's daughter. Thank you so much for directing me to the FARE website; I've learned so much in just the first few links I've followed. It's so helpful, especially since my allergy is considered rare. Thanks!

Your welcome! Glad I could help! I did not have food allergies until I was 18 and starting college so being diagnosed anaphylactic to peanuts, eggs, and shellfish was overwhelming. Since being in college I've been diagnosed with 10 more food allergies and it's a learning curve and FARE definitely has some great resources.