New to gluten free

[Momloveshockey]

Hi; We are off to Disney in a month. I am new to the gluten free diet. We have the QS dining plan. We are staying at POR. Anyone have experience with eating gluten free at WDW??? Any tips on what and where to eat???

[kaitmarie]

Disney is the BEST place to eat gluten free! Make sure you call ahead and state that you are gluten free and tell them when you get there.

When you order, at a counter service or at a sit down, the chef will come out and ask what you want. They will tell you have they can make you and what they can substitute.

You can get things on gluten free buns or with gluten free pasta. Anywhere that has sandwiches should have the buns and the same goes for the pasta. The restaurants in Italy and France have great gf pasta dishes. Some places (I've found them at Boatwright's and ABC) have gf chicken fingers. They even have gluten free brownies. Sometimes they will bring out gf rolls. They're the same as the buns they use, but they're good.

Boatwright's at POR is a great place for gf. They'll make sandwiches gf. You can usually get chicken fingers. They'll have a ton of options for you. The chef will talk to you and then he will personally make your meal. For dessert options you can get a Mickey ice cream or a brownie. They should have even more dessert options than that, but they will almost always have those two things. Two summers ago we stayed at POR and they had either gf pancakes or waffles. I cannot remember which one it was but they were really good.

Boma will even make you gf Zebra Domes if they know ahead of time you are gluten free.

Every chef is taught about gluten free and food allergies. They really do there best to limit the risk of cross contamination.

You won't even miss gluten there. I always feel overwhelmed at WDW haha. I am not used to walking into a restaurant and having a ton of options but at WDW they try to be accommodating and have a lot to choose from. Anywhere you chose will have gf options and quite a few of them.

[kaitmarie]

I also want to add that there is a gluten free bakery at Downtown Disney. It's called Babycakes and it's in the Pollo Campero building. Their desserts are kind of hit or miss. Some are great, some are meh. The ones with dairy (ie the ones that are not casein/dairy free) are usually better. It's worth trying some if you're in the area. Where else can you get gf cupcake and donuts and such.

Also if you go to any buffet a chef will walk you through the line and tell you what you can and can't eat.

I hope this helps!

[Dis703]

If you email Special.Diets@Disneyworld.com they can send you a list of gluten free products they use at all of their restaurants. Like pp said you can get gluten free pasta and buns/bread just about anywhere. I have heard that with counter service some things do take a lot longer. Particularly their fries. But there are lots of options it seems.

This upcoming trip is my first time wheat free, but second time being at Disney with allergies. The chefs were awesome last time, but we did a lot of table service too.

I'm just hopeful I can get a Mickey Waffle Sundae somewhere as it's my all time favorite sweet treat at Disney.

[kaitmarie]

Originally Posted by Dis703

I'm just hopeful I can get a Mickey Waffle Sundae somewhere as it's my all time favorite sweet treat at Disney.

I don't know if you'll be able to find the waffle sundae but if a place has gf brownies ask them to heat it up and make it a sundae. They're delicious!!!

[jmarsh]

If you have an iPhone search the apps for Gluten Free Walt Disney World... I believe it is .99 but well worth it...

[Momloveshockey]

Thanks for the info. I think I will spring the .99 for the app.
I am for sure trying a brownie...Yum

[Kellykins1218]

You should post this on the disAbilities page, too. You will get tons of helpful info over there

[glencoe]

The app is really worth it very helpful through the park

GF waffles can be found at O'hana for breakfast but have not seen them in a sundae version

baby cakes is good, get there early, they sell out of alot of stuff...you can call and order things ahead like a cake for a special occasion.

My son is the happiest at Disney, he eats like a king!

disABILITIES thread is great and really helpful, check there too!!

Have fun!! (oh my son loved the creme brulee...most of the TS places make it)

[hallienicole]

I could definitely go for GF chicken tender right now. They are delicious and worth the extra few minutes to wait for them. Plus the service we get from the people at the register and the chefs is exceptional. Also, this isn't really a GF tip. But what we do, is instead of carrying around the list GF options, we take a picture with our camera then use the zoom to look at it. Saves us a little room in our backpacks.

[chimilady]

Having just stayed at POR in the fall, I can say their food court is FANTASTIC for gluten free. Gluten free whatever you want, waffles, bagels, pizza, pasta, brownies, cookies, etc. You will have no problem eating at your resort at all. The chef there is fantastic. Just go up to the counter, ask to speak to a chef regarding gluten allergies and once he comes out, man he is quick. My daughter never missed out on anything there.

[clanmcculloch]

Definitely head over to the disABILITIES! board to take a look around. There are some recent GF dining reviews. I've got some of mine linked in my signature but be aware that we're off of a heck of a lot more than just gluten so when you're looking through it, be aware that you'll have many many many more options than we did, and we had plenty. I've got pictures in most of the reviews so don't look if you're already hungry.

Originally Posted by kaitmarie

I also want to add that there is a gluten free bakery at Downtown Disney. It's called Babycakes and it's in the Pollo Campero building. Their desserts are kind of hit or miss. Some are great, some are meh. The ones with dairy (ie the ones that are not casein/dairy free) are usually better. It's worth trying some if you're in the area. Where else can you get gf cupcake and donuts and such.

The DTD Babycakes location is 100% vegan which means nothing will have any dairy. Their NYC and LA locations do have items with dairy but not at WDW.

[SpectroMagic*o*]

My husband has a gluten allergy and he's always loved going to Disney but ever since he's had to start this diet, Disney is the only vacation he ever wants to take. Everyone everywhere you go bends over backwards for you. He told all our food places that he had an allergy and they were so kind and accomadating. You will NOT have a problem! Just remember to tell your server or if its counter service, you'll have to ask for the manager. Have fun!!

[petsaregreat]

Can you recommend any of the Italy or France restaurants by name? First trip is soon and I am gluten free. Looks like I am going to be eating a lot of pizza when I am there and would LOVE an italian pasta!

[clanmcculloch]

Originally Posted by petsaregreat

Can you recommend any of the Italy or France restaurants by name? First trip is soon and I am gluten free. Looks like I am going to be eating a lot of pizza when I am there and would LOVE an italian pasta!

I think that one of our worst allergy experiences was at Chefs de France. Personally, I no longer eat at the restaurants that aren't owned by Disney. I've got an ADR at Tony's for our upcoming trip but I don't have actual experience there yet.

We've gotten good pasta dishes in the food courts at AoA, Pop and POR. One of my kids even got a tasty pasta dish done up at Captain Cooks at Poly (it was an asian style dish, not italian, but definitely delicious). Resort food courts have a lot of ability to do some tasty dishes.

If you're only gluten free and can eat anything else then I think that any of the TS restaurants at WDW can accomodate you. We've got laundry lists of allergies and intollerances to deal with making things a lot more complicated for us.