Traveling with food allergies can be tricky, whether you are visiting a park for the day or flying off to some far away land. It’s not just the food, or lack thereof that you need to concern yourself with. It’s the cleanliness of the areas immediately surrounding the person with the allergy. It’s the accessibility to emergency medical care, if needed. And even the need to be extra vigilant can cause more stress than usual.
But vacations, big or small, are meant to be fun. The best way to handle traveling with food allergies is to prepare ahead of time. There is a lot you can do to ensure your down time is enjoyed to the fullest and by every member of your family. Here’s what we did to prepare for our recent family vacation to Walt Disney World.
1) Make a list, a lot of lists.
I am a list maker by nature. I make them for everything from groceries to gift ideas and everything in between. The lists I made for our trip included the usual ones like clothing we would need and the things we wanted to do. The most important list was the one that contained how many EpiPens we had, who was going to hold them and where they would be kept on that person. (For example my daughter and I both wore cross body bags and carried Epi’s for my son.)
We had a total of 5 EpiPens with us on our trip..
**Disney World now carries stock EpiPens in their resorts, parks and cruise ships, which is absolutely fabulous! You can find the locations on park maps, but you should never, ever rely on there being a stock auto-injector around “just in case.” Always travel with your own.
2) If flying, contact the airline.
On our trip we flew to Orlando. I have heard horror stories galore about flying with food allergies, but since the alternative to a three hour flight with two kids who have short attention spans was a two day drive with those same kiddos, we decided to fly. I had researched the airlines we would be choosing from so I was prepared. Every airline is different so make sure you research thoroughly. We flew with Air Canada and as per their allergy guidelines I contacted their Medical Assistance Desk 48 hours before our flight to request a buffer zone. While this is not a guarantee that you are completely safe from your allergen, it is better than nothing.
Air Canada’s policy that pertained to us:
If you have a severe allergy to peanuts or nuts you may request that a buffer zone* be set up around your seat in order to help avoid the risk of exposure. Here’s what you need to know:
- Only the other customers seated within the buffer zone* will be briefed on board by the flight attendant prior to departure.
- They will be informed that they must not consume nut/peanut products.
- They will not be offered any Air Canada Café items containing nuts/peanuts.
- There will not be a general announcement to all customers about the existence of a buffer zone* or about the customer with severe nut/peanut allergies.
On top of having the buffer zone and carrying our own EpiPens (we are never without them) I also brought our own safe snacks and baby wipes. I brought tons of baby wipes to use during our trip because you can never be too careful. After boarding our flights we made sure to use wipes to clean William’s seat and tray area as well as those around him.
3) Research places to eat.
If you are traveling to a place like Disney World it is easier to plan meals than it would be when on a road trip. That said it is important to check out all the possible places you may dine, even if that means pulling out a map and checking out the towns you will visit on-line. More and more restaurants are becoming food allergy friendly, but you do not want to be unprepared. Traveling with food allergies really does take a lot of work, but you will enjoy your vacation a lot more if you prepare ahead of time.
With Disney World specifically, I was able to check out the menus of every restaurant we wanted to dine at. We pre-purchased the Disney Dining Plan to save money on meals and I made reservations for each of our big meals for the day. (Note: you can make advanced reservations without the dining plan as well). With every reservation my son’s food allergies were also noted just in case we forgot to mention it when we first checked in. Disney has a Special Dietary Requests page that is a must see for guidance when traveling with food allergies.
Disney World has many dining options available ranging from Quick Service (think fast food meals) to buffet and sit down (or Table Service) meals. All of their food locations, including kiosks that sell items like ice cream and pop corn, will have an ingredient binder on hand for you to peruse. So if you happen to need a mid day meal and you don’t have a reservation at a restaurant you pre-screened, there is no need to worry. Ask to speak to a manager or chef, review the allergy binder and order what you like. Disney is really great at feeding guests with food allergies.
Sample page from a Disney Allergy Binder
Boma, at Animal Kingdom Lodge, were very food allergy friendly.
William had tons of yummy & safe items made fresh for him at Boma..
**Since returning home from our trip Disney World has introduced dedicated food allergy menus.
4) Check out your resort before you leave home.
Now you may be wondering why you would need to worry about your accommodations. After all there are probably millions of hotel rooms servicing customers every day, right? How could that present a problem? For many people with food allergies the touch of the allergen can trigger a reaction. A resort room that has had a regular cleaning may not be clean enough. Residue from food, especially sticky items like peanut butter, can linger on the surface of a table even after it has been wiped down.
About two months before our trip to Disney World I made a phone call to Disney’s Port Orleans French Quarter Resort, which was our home during our vacation. I spoke with Guest Services and I spoke with the Head of Mousekeeping, I mean Housekeeping. They were amazing! They answered all of my questions and suggested I call back about one week before our scheduled arrival date. When I did call back I asked for our room to receive an Allergy Cleaning. This meant the mousekeeper would know to be extra vigilant when preparing our room. They would ensure that all linens, including the comforters, were fresh. All surfaces would be sterilized and every speck of dust would be removed. This Allergy Cleaning can also be requested for those with allergies to dust and the like and it does not cost anything additional. It certainly put my mind at ease.
Our room after the Allergy Cleaning..
5) Seek out others who have traveled with food allergies.
A few months before our trip I joined a Facebook group called Disney Chefs Rock Food Allergies. The lovely members of this group were extremely helpful and many of them had traveled to Disney World while dealing with food allergies before. I asked questions, I read comments and I asked more questions. Finding a support group of people who have already dealt with what you are going through is vital to a stress free vacation. Or at least a trip where you feel more relaxed.
6) Introduce yourself..
On your way there and once you arrive at your destination it is always a good idea to introduce yourself to folks you may need during your stay. I am not suggesting you tell everyone your story, but touching base with the Concierge at your resort will be helpful if you need assistance later on. Say hi to your mousekeeper(s) or even leave a note in your room.
Another very important connection we made was with the wait staff and chefs at the restaurants we dined at. Thanks to the good folks in my “Disney Chefs Rock Food Allergies” group we had Allergy Cards made up. These cards included William’s photo, his list of allergens and a few other notes. We gave these to the wait staff and chefs to help them visualize who they were dealing with. It is also a great tool for your chef to take back to the kitchen. They can’t forget your allergy if it is on a card in front of them. These Allergy Cards were a wonderful way to share our needs without creating a lot of drama.
Awesome Allergy Cards we handed out..
7) Handling the delicate issue of treats.
I have been lucky enough to visit Disney World before so I knew there would be no shortage of treats available everywhere. Candy, chocolate, popcorn, ice cream, cupcakes, lollie pops, gummies, cookies, all decked out in eye catching Disney packaging. It’s everywhere and very easy for little eyes to see. I can honestly tell you that this caused me more stress than any other part of our trip. While I know that getting candy is not a child’s God given right it is the sort of thing that makes vacations a little more special. Who wouldn’t want to eat an ice cream shaped like Mickey Mouse or enjoy a massive cupcake sprinkled in Mickey shaped candy? I knew these temptations were all over Disney World and I dreaded having to tell my son that he couldn’t have them.
So, I did the next best thing; I made my own. Have a look at these great Disney themed treat bags my daughter and I made for our trip. While they didn’t address every need, they did make William feel he was getting something wonderful and tasty and they were completely safe for him to have.
Safe, Disney themed treat bags…
Another way to approach the treat issue is to contact a chef or two directly and talk to them. Share your concerns. I spoke directly with Chef Raphael at the Port Orleans French Quarter to discuss options for a birthday cake for both of my kids. He made suggestions and even emailed me after doing some extra research. He copied his email to ALL OF DISNEY WORLD’S CHEFS so they would be aware of our situation and possibly even offer more ideas. As a result we were completely blown away when William was presented with a safe cupcake for his birthday, complete with Mickey shaped sprinkles, at Chef Mickey’s restaurant.
William’s safe birthday cupcake from Chef Mickey’s!
Traveling with food allergies can be a great experience or a bad one, but it truly does come down to your own prep work. As a food allergy mama I need for the world to work with me to protect my son, but that means realizing not everyone is as food allergy aware as myself and my family. Diligence is key, but ultimately you can have an amazing time when traveling with food allergies if you are responsible and read through guides like this for ideas.
Do you have any experience traveling with food allergies? Have I missed any tips you would like to share?
FT&PD
Suz
Those cards are genius! A great way to let the staff know about the allergy in a memorable way, but also to say a little thank you for caring.
Exactly! I also love to that it makes my son feel special about his allergies and not in a bad way. He was always proud to hand a card over and explain his allergens.
This is great to know! Our kids (thankfully) don’t have any allergies, but I would have never thought of all these things. Thanks so much for sharing your tips!
Thanks Bonnie, you can never have too many tips!
Its so very awesome that Disney World stocks EpiPens in their resorts, parks and cruise ships, yay!! That would certainly make me feel a bit more secure.
Also love that Air Canada does a buffer zone. I’m really sensitive to air quality, and find that planes are just big boxes of uncirculated air. Knowing that there aren’t people breathing peanut breath around your child would be an immense relief I bet. Particularly those that would sit directly behind you.
This is a huge step forward for food allergy sufferers Aeryn and it would totally work for other sensitivities as well.
WOW!! This makes me feel better about travelling to Disney world. I have celiac disease, although not immediately life threatening it is a horrible disease. I tend to avoid places that I can’t control what I eat. I love the allergen cards and that Disney offers binders with each stop! The Allergen stamp on the bill is a great idea too!
Disney keeps getting better and better at this whole food allergy/intolerance thing, which is wonderful! It makes travel a much better experience for all and hopefully other places will take note too!
Wow, you did a lot of research. There is no one in my immediately family with allergies, but these points are so valuable. Someone I meet just might need these tips. It’s awesome that Disney now carries Epipens. Needs must! I fly every year, and I did not realize you can take your own snacks. They usually take them away from you, but maybe it’s because I fly into the US. Interesting, now you have me pondering. Thanks for this awesome post.
That is so interesting about the “buffer zone” on Air Canada flights. My sister is allergic to peanuts so this is really good to know.
It is not a perfect answer, but it is a lot more than many airlines will do. I was grateful for that..
we’re going on a disney cruise later this year – my son has severe peanut allergies – this is great news how well it’s addressed!
Gene, Disney is getting better and better with food allergies all the time. Enjoy your cruise!
I think you did a marvellous job of making this holiday a safe holiday for your son. I have one son who’s lactose intolerant but thankfully that is all, nothing life threatening. It’s good to know that both Disney and Air Canada take allergies seriously, this was news to me.
Thank you so much Elizabeth, it was a labour of love. Disney is getting better and better at handling food allergies and intolerances every day!
Disney is amazing with food allergies. I LOVE the allergy id cards and may need to get them myself!!! I, however, didn’t know about the buffer zone on flights. That’s great information. Thank you so much!
There have been a great number of advances in how food allergies are treated and it is about time!
Disney World is doing a great job especially stocking Epi Pen’s in their resorts, parks and cruise ships, I think thats a great idea!
This is so great that all this has evolved to this. My niece has peanut allergies and it was made a big deal (problem) at school and other places. I know my sister in-law was even yelled at as the school asked parents to not bring peanuts or peanut butter to school. Some parents got really really angry about his. I am very happy that Disney is accommodating and Air Canada! Thumbs up!
LOVE TO VISIT DISNEY
Those cards are genius,we never thanks goodness had any children with food allergies.Today pepple seem to be more aware of the danger.
I love how accommodating Disney is with dietary needs!
It is definitely one of their best features.
i hate traveling sometimes because of dietary restrictions, but normally i pack my own. i always thought disney would be next to impossible since they don’t allow outside food in. this was super helpful thank you!
I’m so happy you were able to get something out of this post. Disney has come very far when it comes to food allergies, even since this was first published!
Great post! We traveled to Disney with my stepdaughter who has a shellfish allergy. It is not as dangerous as your son’s allergy but Disney handled it so well. At every restaurant (sit down anyway) we were greeted by the chef or manager to discuss. We were very impressed.
Disney truly is awesome for thinking of the kids with allergies. I can’t imagine how difficult this might be while traveling.
This is a very informative post. Although no one in our home has allergies, I might be able to encounter a friend with one. I’ll refer them here for the detailed tips and such. Very helpful indeed.
I never experienced this before, but I understand the amount of effort you have to put in so that your kids can fully enjoy the trip without having to worry about anything other then what to do next. That’s a really well put together list, I appreciate all the tips!
Awww, Disneyworld was very considerate with all your concerns!!! I had no idea there was such a thing as allergy cleaning, which is a great tip for other people with the same dilemma. I also love the allergy cards at the restaurant, and that safe cupcake! I love the effort made by the chef to research what can be eaten by your kids!
It’s better to contact the airline and research food options when there are foods that you or the family is allergic with. This can really help ease on the tense moments on travels.
this is great.. Disneyworld was very considerate with all your concerns!!! i hope i get to visit the place soon!
Thanks for sharing this. Personally, I do not have any food allergies, as far as I know. But these tips might come in handy.
Well, travelling with kids is anyways a big task. If they have allergies, we as mom have to be so so careful. Your post is a complete guide for parents. Great!
When one has multiple food allergies, you can never be too careful. Especially when you are not at home, theme parks included. Good to see that Disney has this issue covered.
Thanks for sharing this information, I am sure it will benefit a lot of people out there. Especially those with food allergy children. Glad that they can prepared special meals for those with allergies.
i had no idea what’s an epi-pen until now. thanks for sharing such tips! even though i do not have food allergies myself, nor know of anyone who has them (at most just mild itching, nothing life threatening at least) but i’ve still learnt alot from your article!
This is really helpful for many parents! thanks for sharing!
I can imagine how tough it can be. Thanks for sharing this. More people definitely need to be aware on how they can be prepared for some food that they have no idea they’re allergic to. Can be very dangerous if not properly researched and taken care of.
It definitely can be done right, if you make good preparations and plan things ahead of time for when you’re there. I think it’s awesome that you’ve shared tips/how things went when you went to Disney.
I totally relate to this… I am a vegetarian who doesn’t eat eggs as well. However in most places vegetarian food includes egg. So I have to be really specific!!!
I love to prepare well in advance for things too. I have no food allergies nor know little ones with food allergies. It must have been really stressful. I am glad you had a successful trip. I hope you remembered to also enjoy the visit as well. Much love!
That is GREAT that Disney carries Epi-Pens now!
This is indeed a great relief for all the parents when kids have allergy. It feels like something homemade made just perfectly for you.
These a great tips for mothers with kids that has allergies! Shall share with my friends who a new paranoid mothers.
So nice to have like this in their company. They really are very attentive in their guests needs and wants. Good customers service!
It truly is tricky to travel with allergies! These truly are helpful tips!
Having food allergies is a pain, but it is important to let kids know they are not allowed to eat certain food. I bet they have had loads of fun at Disneyland!
Food allergies are scary because the reaction can change and be more severe each time.It nice to beable to feel safe that your child is getting the proper foods
This is great information. Many kids have food allergies!
I have had a peanut and nut allergy my whole life. I find in Canada, we have gone leaps and bounds with the food and hospitality industry. I have actually been refused service at a restaurant because they just could not guarantee that my meal would be nut free – much better than them saying go ahead and then having to head to a hospital! However, the States has some catching up to do. A few years ago we stayed at a Disney affiliated property and we decided to order room service since the area nearby had shut down for the night. I said on the phone that I had a nut allergy and would like to know if what I had ordered would be nut free. I was told that yes, it would be. The items came up and I said “Hmmm, what is that topping on there?” The attendant said “Coconut.” “Are you sure?” I asked. “Oh yes, there are no nuts.” Well guess what. Peanuts. I called down to Room Service again to find out if it was peanuts or a tree nut (to gauge how serious my attack was about to become). He said there was no one there who could tell me and he was really busy. I called the Front Desk to let them know about the situation and they sent up security right away. I had taken two benedryl immediately and was feeling OK (I had only had a tiny bite). I ended up not needing a hospital trip this time around, thank Goodness, I can only imagine how much an ambulance and hospital trip would have cost! I was lucky. Lots of kids including my daughter have much more severe reactions than I do. The hotel and security followed up with me several times, and of course comped our room service (we didn’t eat it anyway). I was just beyond surprised that they would guarantee a nut free meal that had peanuts in it! I guess my point is, even if you’re being careful, sometimes it’s not enough. I think you had the right idea to pack your own snack bags (BRILLIANT). And thanks for the tip about the Buffer Zone, I didn’t know that existed until now!
Many kids have food allergies,it’s so scary!