GF Adult and Lactose-intolerant kid on DDP

[CrabbyPatty]

At what point do I mention allergies? When I'm making the ADRs, or should I also call and have this information added to our reservation details? I've read very good reports about how well Disney handles food allergies, so I'm looking forward to our dining experiences.

However - how do I say this - while I am not eating gluten (and feel about 1000% better since I stopped), I AM willing to eat something with gluten in it if it's a spectacular food! My gluten problem is not life-threatening and at most I'll probably have a lot less energy, and a bit of intestinal problems ..... but c'mon, if it's a matter of eating the absolute best dessert or a taste of fabulous bread, I'm willing to do it. Will the wait staff have any problems with me ordering something NOT GF, especially since I imagine our reservation/ADRs have this information added?

Also, DD has a lactose-intolerance but I think she is outgrowing it (she's 8). So, again, she'd probably have an ice cream sundae without too much problem (and she's actually not a huge sweets eater), but is it easy to get lactose-free milk products at WDW? Thanks!

[allyphoe]

1) When you make the ADRs, and again when you check in at the podium. (I know some people call, but I think our group generally doesn't.)

2) I believe the words the chefs generally used when we asked about a food that happened to not be gluten-free were "We don't recommend that." IMHO they're unlikely to refuse to serve you. That said, IMHO Disney food at most restaurants is either not so amazing that I personally would be willing to get sick over it, or there's a gluten-free option that's also amazing. The dessert choices are likely to be limited (creme brulee or ice cream are likely to be the only gluten-free choices at most TS places), but I'm having a hard time coming up with a gluteny dessert that was unmissably spectacular in taste. (I have no gluten issue myself, so get to eat the gluteny desserts.)

[CrabbyPatty]

Allyphoe - thanks for the reply. Good point about perhaps not finding the ultimate gluten-based dessert that I might be willing to forsake GF for! I guess I'd rather be full of energy to walk around WDW than eating some sub-par brownie or something!

[sleepingbean]

We ate GF and dairy free in disney. Our dessert choices everywhere were rice based ice cream, sorbets, (both served with berries for grown ups :) )
pre packaged brownies by the French Meadow Bakery Co (this was the brand they had switched to as of Dec 08'. ) and the same brand chocolate chip cookies. Very good cookies!

Crystal Palace had a different brownie that was more of a home baked brownie pie. It was good. They had a whipped topping, too.

Brown derby had a fabulous mango sorbet with berries...so good!

Biergarten had the brownies and a berry gelatin in a cup that is really yummy. It was on the buffet so you could grab a couple (they are tiny) but the chef there brought them out for us when they were not on the buffet one night. Very good if you like berries!

And there are many GF flourless chocolate cakes around that do have dairy.
Hmmm...those are the main ones I can think of!

You'll be well taken care of !

[CrabbyPatty]

Just a bump to say that I did contact Disney re: GF meals and got a nice email back from the Special Diets department. They included a form we can complete, saying:

Please complete and return the "Guest Allergy Form" by email to [specialdiets@disneyworld.com] or fax to 407-560-1355. Be sure to list the restaurant names and dates where you plan to dine. This way we can alert all the various restaurant Chefs and Managers of your upcoming visit and there would be no need for you to contact the individual restaurants directly.


We are very much looking forward to our trip!

[tlcoke]

Go to the disabilities board, there is an email address there for the Disney Special Diet group and send them your ADRs and your specific allergies are and they will let the head chef know and he or she will call you in advance of your visit to discuss your needs.