Thanks for the update. I've heard many mixed reviews lately, but the hotels are consistently still good with accommodations, and that's nice to hear. 

DD are safely at Bumblebee Man's Taco Truck, but they said don't eat the chips because of peanut oil.

At the Fountain of Fair Fortune, they weren't sure that the flavors for the water were safe. They took so long trying to find out that they gave DD a free plain Gillywater, which was nice.

She ate at Thunder Falls Terrace, but they we're telling her at first it's fine, like, whatever. It was night and day different than at the Harry Potter restaurants. Shortage of information and helpfulness.

We often ate at odd hours at our hotel, either groceries or the food court in Cabana Bay Beach Resort.

We were there over the holidays. First of all, it's amazing. The girls and I kept getting teary just being there in Harry Potter world. They full on cried when we left because they want to live there.

PA food experience was good. Definitely talk to the chefs at the restaurants, because the people at the cash registers don't always know. We really loved how the chef at the 3 Broomsticks was very thorough in assessing risks. At Florean Fortescue's ice cream she could only have the butterbeer flavor, but luckily that's what she wanted. They brought it from the back,

We also were told she could have the turkey legs by email in advance, but then the chefs said no, which was odd.

The food court in the Cabana Bay Beach Resort hotel was awesome for allergy guidance. Lots of choices.  DD wants to live there, too.

I'll try to come back and give more details.

We just returned from Universal Studios. We had a great experience.  My son is allergic to nuts, eggs, sesame and shellfish. He could have the Butter Beer (though it does have Whey for those allergic to milk) and turkey legs. We talked to the chef when we ordered at Three Broomsticks, where my son could have the chicken and potatoes.  Also went to Antojitos Mexican restaurant in City Walk, where we also talked to the chef. We noticed an improvement since we were at US last year.

From an expert source, Universal is improving for food allergies but isn't at the Disney level yet.  Some chefs are better than others and double check ingredients. Don't rely on the allergy menus; always have the chef come out to ensure proper precautions are taken to prepare your meal.  The Loews on-site hotel has great allergy service; I recommend their restaurants over many of the park restaurants.

We had a great experience at The Hard Rock on City Walk last spring.

So glad to hear about your experiences!  We've got an upcoming vacation there.  The most important thing to DD is butterbeer, followed by eating at the Harry Potter restaurants.

I sent an email to the person who answers food allergy questions for them, and he advised that the turkey legs and fruit sold throughout the parks are safe for her, and that the sit-down restaurants and the Three Broomsticks can accommodate her.  From what I've been reading online and in a travel guide, they should have allergen menus for us to look at.  I don't know if it will be Disney-level allergy friendly, but it sounds reasonable.

It's great to hear about Diagon Ally!

Ok, so first let me say the new Harry Potter Diagon Alley was amazing!  I think we spent a couple hours just checking it all out!  DD wanted to try the regular butterbeer, but their machine was giving them problems so we had the frozen kind...tasted good on a hot day.

They have new spots (about 18) where you can stand and wave your wand to do a spell.  We never checked if you needed the new wands to do it. We just enjoyed watching other people do the spells...my kids didn't care if they were doing the spell.

Universal does not predict wait times as well as Disney so often times we waited longer than it said at the start of the ride.

We ate at Margaritaville...I feel like the foods has gone down a notch since we were there last time.  If we ever go back, we will eat somewhere else.

We had no issues bring in a backpack filled with sandwiches and snacks...the security bag checkers didn't even look twice at the food.

Bump

Hi - I just got back from Universal.  I was only there for a day but felt compelled to write something because I definitely think they've gotten a bad rap about allergy awareness over the years.  Maybe they've improved recently, I'm not sure, but I was totally shocked at how incredibly safe I felt the entire time.  I'm severe PA, and EVERYONE at Universal, whether in the park, the hotel or in Citywalk was totally informed and prepared when it came to peanut allergy awareness.  Multiple places told me that they don't use peanut oil (and a few seemed to indicate this was a current practice across the property - not sure if that's true) and every place I ate sent the chef or manager out to assure me.  I ate at Vivo Italian Kitchen in Citywalk, the brunch place in the Portofino hotel (Trattoria del Porto) and Confisco Grill in Islands of Adventure.  I also easily ate dippin dots at the carts in the park (no peanut flavor).  I didn't ask about the butterbeer so not sure about that.  But thought the board would be interested since I was happily surprised with my visit!

Bumping this for more recent information.  Any updates on whether the butterbeer has egg as part of the topping?  Any other new recommendations on restaurants? We are PA, TNA, EA, SA and sesame.

We we went to Universal today. I'll post about food first and then about customer service, but I may not get to that tonight. Do read it if you are going to Orlando--and my general park recs.

The Disaster place is in San Francisco, and there are several seafood places there, sober obviously did not eat there    

We did see an Irish place ("We serve authentic Irish American food.") in the NYC area, across from the Blues Brothers area. But they had broiled shrimp and a seafood shepherd's pie (with shrimp). I would have gotten the regular shepher's pie and so we did not go there. There was a veggie burger for DS. I don't know if it was MSF, but since we didn't eat there, I didn't pursue it.

We ate across the street at Louie's an "Italian" place. They had pizza and pasta. dS had the veggie pizza a d I had chicken fettuccini. Both DH who got spaghetti & meatballs) would have been wiser to get pizza. Mine wasn't very good, but it was under $7 and safe, so it was fine.

We went back over to Islands of Adventure and had another butterbeer. Most everything at Honeydukes was off limits. And they do have chocolate and peanut covered apples in a case. BUT We learned the Evwry Flavored Beans in the dispensers on the wall (and NOT the boxes versions) are Jelly Belly.  You pay for them by weight. So DS got some.  The Dark Mark lollipops were also fine (we trusted the label. It and the candy floss and the beans I meantioned were the only things that did not have a peanut warning.).  He has eaten the lollipop and some jelly beans.

In Seussland, there is a popcorn vendor that sells popcorn and almonds as a combination.

We ate again at Moe's in Citywalk, and I had the tofu for the first time.  DS gets tofu all the time, but I had never had it. It is marinated in a Southwest Viniagarette which does not contain sesame (they checked). Moe's is always good about changing gloves for DS to keep his meal vegetarian.
I'll write more tomorrow.

Yes we did, but we didn't eat inside the park. We ate at Margaritaville.

However, I think I remember someone posting either here or at the old site that they had a pretty good experience with the Irish Pub inside Universal Studios. I'm sorry I can't think of the official name at the moment, but I think it is over by the Disaster ride. I glanced at the menu before we left this time and it appeared as though they had some good options.

Have a good time!

HJK did you go to Universal?