Advice/Suggestion for those with Food Allergies/Sensitivities About This Page:

[bfth]

I have just returned home from my 12th Disney trip. We happened to be there during the free dining period.

Based on my experience I would recommend/suggest that those of you with food allergies or problems of that sort NOT travel to Disney while there is free dining. The staff was quite overwhelmed and was not able to pay attention to my allergies.

Since 1996 when we first traveled to WDW, I have only had one allergy problem and that was my fault (I did not speak up). This time I had two near misses (salad dressing with egg; mashed potato with egg) and one hit (special egg free dessert must have been cross contaminated because I had an instanteous reaction).

Luckily, it has been nearly a decade since I have had an allergic reaction and I did not have to go to the hospital or use the epipen. I was able to control the swelling with benedryl (and it helped that I am so sensitive that one bite was enough to let me know that I could eat no more). We alerted the head chef at the resort where this happened and he researched and could find no egg. They kept asking me if it was possible that I had a dairy allergy that I was unaware of. With 40+ years of egg allergy under my belt I knew this was not the case and after researching they felt that the bowl in which my dessert had been prepared in had not been properly cleaned. I asked them to review their policies and perhaps go over the issue with cross contamination with their staff. I only want them to become better educated and for this to NOT happen to anyone else.

The sad thing is the next day we went to the Rose & Crown for lunch. I spoke to the chef and even told him I had a reaction the night before. I ordered and thought all was well. Before our food was delivered, a friend of mine who is a chef at Disney (and is currently overseeing the production kitchen at the upcoming Food & Wine Festival) dropped by to chat. When they brought my meal out, she immediately looked at it and told me not to eat it. Seems like the R&C uses two types of mashed potatoes...one with egg and one without. She picked it up, marched to the kitchen (I assume) and returned 5 or so minutes later with another meal (still the same thing I'd ordered, but obviously a very different plate of it). If it had not been for her, and her diligence, I would have ended up in the hospital. And this after I had specifically gone over my allergies with the chef.

This has never happened to me at Disney before. And 3 times tells me that the free dining plan is really overextending people. (And I do know that the cutbacks have been hurting the dining staff).

With that said, if possible, I would not go to Disney during the free dining period. (Although it may not be possible with vacation scheduling). It's definitely increasing your risk if you have food allergies.

Additionally, because I want to end on a high note; I have "found" two new chefs, John at Akershus and Eddie Mendoza at the Coral Reef. Both went above and beyond; not only with me but with other patrons who I saw with food allergies. Both are committed to making the dining experience safe for those with food allergies. I plan to keep in touch with both and if they move to another restaurant, you can bet I will go there too.

[Sandra Bostwick]

Originally Posted by bfth

Additionally, because I want to end on a high note; I have "found" two new chefs, John at Akershus and Eddie Mendoza at the Coral Reef. Both went above and beyond; not only with me but with other patrons who I saw with food allergies. Both are committed to making the dining experience safe for those with food allergies. I plan to keep in touch with both and if they move to another restaurant, you can bet I will go there too.

Hi, and thanks for posting your experience.

I am so sorry to hear about your allergic reaction. I am so glad your friend was available at Rose and Crown to look out for you.

I'm glad you were able to find two CMs who gave you the chance to end your report on a high note.

Hopefully, your experience raised awareness for any CMs who might need to learn more about egg allergies.

[Eeyore Tattoo]

Thanks for your post, It reminds anyone with allergies to be extra diligent..

[mechurchlady]

I am egg sensitive but not too bad thankfully. I avoid eggs and it is scary that they put eggs in the mashed taters. I have gotten wheat in my taters but not eggs and see no reason for them to be in there.

No matter how busy they are the chefs and staff are supposed to know what is in the food or be able to find the answers. The problem might be that the chef does not use eggs in mashed taters and would not have thought to look at the ingredients. Busy is no excuse as Disney could be sued and have major damage in the public eye if someone died from an overworked employee messing up and giving a guest an item that is full of an allergen.

[katydid]

I have Celiac disease and have never been to WDW during free dining. I like the extra attention we get when we pay for our dining plan, but now I have an extra reason to stay away from free dining! Two days of abject pain followed by two months of putting up with a nasty rash are too much to risk for the ability to dine for free. Thanks for the alert!