Food Allergies - Tips, Experiences

[Lmichele]

I've already notified DCL of our daughter's food allergies. But wanted to get some tips, recommendations or feedback from those that have cruised with food allergies.

Specifically her allergens are egg, sesame and chickpea.

TIA!

 

[disgreat]

Our daughter has multiple serious, anaphylactic-causing food allergies (Peanuts, tree nuts, sesame, coconut, shellfish and seeds).

We have been on two Disney cruises with her and had a wonderful time on each cruise.

After you make your reservations, make sure that you note that your daughter has food allergies. There is a form that you have to fill out and return to guest services.

When you check into the MDR restaurant the first night, mention that your daughter has food allergies.

My daughter was assigned someone to check with her everyday to help her order her food for the next day. That was the only pain point - with her having so many allergies, she couldn't eat just anywhere - we had to plan ahead.

We ate dinner in the MDRs and they always had whatever she ordered ready for her at dinner.
If we wanted to go to Cabanas, we had to meet with the manager at the buffet who would take DD around the buffet to find safe food for her to eat.

We found that Disney took her food allergies seriously and helped us to have a safe, enjoyable time on our trip.

Please note, however, that the excursions can not guarantee safe food away from the ship. We brought packaged items that were safe for her with us, so that she had something to eat on our excursions.

We also found that the MDRs were also able to make her something "off the menu" in order to accommodate her food allergies.

That has been our experience. It made for two very enjoyable cruises. We wouldn't hesitate to go on another Disney cruise!

Good luck!

 

[Cruising Engineer]

I have egg and citrus allergies and have cruised with Disney for many years. The PP experiences were exactly what I experienced. I was teamed up with a person (specialist, dietitian, I don't recall) and on the first night we went over the menu for that night, then she brought me the next day's menu to pre-select and adjust as necessary. This went on for the entire cruise. Same thing for Cabanas, they paired me with someone (I don't recall if it was the manager or a specialist) when we ate there.

Disney is the best for adjusting your food selections to your needs (compared with Norwegian and Celebrity we have taken).
And beware of your excursions, even the "free" or "included" tastes and drinks offered.

 

[Lmichele]

Thanks for the information. I spoke with DCL Special Services, she didn't mention a form - but I think since I talked to them directly we are good to go.

We haven't fully decided on if we will do excursions, as our daughter is 3 and still naps. Who knows though she will be just shy of 4 when we go on the cruise, so maybe she won't be napping then.

I was thinking we'd just hang on the beach at Castaway Cay. What about Cookies BBQ? Anyone have experience there?

 

[Cruising Engineer]

I was thinking we'd just hang on the beach at Castaway Cay. What about Cookies BBQ? Anyone have experience there?

I've always eaten there. Didn't notice or ask for food help. Everything is pretty obvious (for me and my allergies) with hamburgers, hot dogs, BBQ, chips, etc.

 

[oumagic]

My wife has a severe allergy to tree nuts and DCL was wonderful and there is good info above. Regarding Cookies, we asked the first person we saw at the buffet and they went and grabbed a chef that took her through the line and told her what she could and couldn't have. My wife ordered all of her dinners the day ahead and all other meals/snacks were handled by staff when she arrived at the location.

 

[Dug720]

Thanks for the information. I spoke with DCL Special Services, she didn't mention a form - but I think since I talked to them directly we are good to go.

We haven't fully decided on if we will do excursions, as our daughter is 3 and still naps. Who knows though she will be just shy of 4 when we go on the cruise, so maybe she won't be napping then.

I was thinking we'd just hang on the beach at Castaway Cay. What about Cookies BBQ? Anyone have experience there?

I think the form used to be done, but I have never been asked to do it, so I think they have eliminated that now.

 

[matthew517]

We didn't have a form. They were great in making sure no coconut was in any of my daughters stuff. Please note all pastries have coconut oil in them. They are made off ship.

 

[Owl X]

I have egg and shellfish allergies. I informed my travel agent before the trip.
The first night of the cruise, my server had a list of items I could choose from.
Special bread was already on the table (as most breads and desserts on ship are made with Eggs).
Each night I would preselect something for the next night.

Now something very odd happened the next afternoon when I was ordering a burger near the pool.
The person taking my order said he would put it on an Egg-free bun before I even stated that I had an Egg allergy (and he even addressed me by my first name).
I suspect they may be using facial recognition at the quick service station.

 

[kuhltiffany]

Talk to your server the night before CC, they will special order a meal for her and tell you where to go and ask for it (there are a couple of Cookies locations).

 

[cmph]

Thanks for the information. I spoke with DCL Special Services, she didn't mention a form - but I think since I talked to them directly we are good to go.

There used to be an actual paper form that you had to send in via fax. (We tried scanning and always got replies saying it was too large.) They put an online submission form on the web-site some time in 2017 though, which is MUCH easier.
https://disneycruise.disney.go.com/special-services-information-form/

Scroll to the bottom to get to the food allergies part. Honestly, since the CMs seems to have communication issues so often - I would fill that out anyway. It's only going to take you a couple of minutes to have piece of mind that the info was communicated in advance.