A long overdue Trip Report--Sarah's 30th Birthday, February 2010!

[snorris49]

Hi everyone! It feels like forever since I've been here on the boards. After we got back from WDW, it was a very hectic next few months...grad school has been beyond busy this semester, plus work full-time, it's a wonder I have gotten anything done! So, without further adieu, here's a long awaited trip report from my 30th birthday trip. I have loads of pictures on my blog (food, food, and more food!) However, here's the basics:

Brief overview:

My family goes to WDW every year. This past year has been extremely tough, as my 25 year old brother found out he had cancer (thankfully, he's in remission right now) and I found out a month later I had Crohn's and was hospitalized over the whole thing. I also found out I couldn't eat gluten or milk (eggs are OK). Looks like I have a milk allergy and gluten intolerance. So, this was a big trip for me, being that everyone was finally getting well (i've been in remission for a while now) and things were looking up. To top it off, it was my 30th birthday on Feb. 5 and my mom just turned 50 on 12/24. So, we wanted to do a double birthday trip. We decided with the 7 for 4 discount to go during my birthday. I was so excited we would actually be at WDW on my birthday!!!

Here are the cast of characters who came on the trip:

Me: Sarah: I have Crohn's disease, milk allergy, and gluten intolerant. I also don't eat red meat (beef, specifically) and I have many issues with fresh veggies because of the Crohn's. I'm a dietary nightmare!

DM: My mom, she just turned 50, and a disney junkie!
DStF: My stepdad, who has only been to WDW a few times, but is a HM fanatic!

So, we were all set to stay at the Wilderness Lodge (a first time staying there) and we decided to go for Club Level because of the discount. I was hoping they might be more accommodating with my dietary restrictions (or not as the case turned out, but more on that later). I will say, we loved the lodge! So beautiful! The main staff were so friendly! Loved the transportation. Definitely a must-stay at again hotel!

So, here's the run down of our food experiences:

Day 1: Roaring Forks

Tucked in the back of the Wilderness Lodge, is Roaring Forks, a cozy counter service. I only ate here once, but I could see that the options weren't as plentiful as value and moderate resort CS offer; however, I did find the quality to still be high. After arriving our first day, we went down to Roaring Forks for lunch. The offerings include salads, deli sandwiches, and items from the grill (such as hamburgers, chicken sandwiches, etc.). Upon arrival, I asked the Cast Member behind the salad area about allergy assistance (i.e. can I see a manager?), another Cast Member, who was clearly more experienced, came up and said she would be able to assist me. She then began giving me options of items that would be good. She suggested a Chicken, Apple, and Walnut salad. It had iceberg and romaine lettuce, with candied walnuts, diced apples, grilled chicken and an apple type vinaigrette. She said she would omit the cheese (maybe blue cheese came with it? I can't recall) and no croutons. She also used clean gloves and a fresh bowl. She gave me extra chicken as well. I tend to avoid a lot of salads because of Crohn's disease, which makes it harder to digest the fresh veggies. However, it did sound tasty and the CM put plenty of protein in it to help. Boy, I'm glad I got this one. It was delicious! I also did not get sick from the lettuce or the vinaigrette. Overall, I would give this counter service a 8 out of 10. Service was good, food was tasty, just wished there would have been more variety.

Artist Point:

Artist Point is a gorgeous restaurant, filled with arts & crafts movement designs and motifs. Upon entering, the staff confirmed that there was a food allergy in our party. We were then seated and the CM who waited on us also confirmed the allergy. When the chef arrived, I was a bit disappointed by his lack of enthusiasm or willingness to modify most of the items on the menu. He seemed like he more or less just wanted me to choose something easy and already GF/Dairy free. I don't eat red meat, so I had been eying the salmon, black cod, or the scallops on the menu. The salmon seemed to cause more difficulty and the chef flat out told me he wouldn't do the black cod, so I decided to go with the scallops. The only modification it required was removal of the corn cappuccino. I did not get a starter, as we'd eaten fairly close to dinner, and I wasn't overly interested in the choices. The chef did bring out some extra virgin olive oil and some tapioca rolls. Maybe it's been so long now since I've had real bread, but this trip they seemed tastier than the last one. I found the entree to be very tasty, although I wished the scallops were a bit more seared. The portion size was decent, and everything seemed fresh and tasty. I did not have any dessert, as there was really no options give to me. Overall, I'd give this restaurant a 10 for atmosphere, but a 7 for service and overall helpfulness for dietary restrictions.

Day 2: Sunshine Seasons

Following the advice of the WDW Special Diets sheet, I decided to give Sunshine Seasons a try for lunch one day. I'm glad that I was able to try this one too! It did not disappoint. I would give this an extra thumbs up for being better and more nutritious than a lot of the typical counter service restaurants. I chose to go to the grill section where there were several options that looked safe: rotisserie chicken and pork chops in particular. When I went up to the CMs, I mentioned my allergies and asked for anything safe. The one CM said he thought the chicken and pork chops were safe and that he would ask the chef. A lovely chef (with a fantastic Scottish accent!) came to assist me. He was very helpful. He pointed out that yes, the chicken and pork chop were safe. He also said the rice as a side was safe, but not the carrots as they had butter in them. He said that if I wanted he could make me steamed broccoli. I decided to get the broccoli, but found it only lightly steamed and ended up giving most of it to my family members (the crunchiness is hard for me to digest with the Crohn's), but the rice was tasty as was the chicken. I only wish I would have gotten the pork chop! I will know for next time! Also, though I did not get it, Sunshine Seasons carries gluten free beer! They also have French Meadow brownies. Overall, I'd give this a 9 out of 10 for variety and excellent service!

Restaurant Marrakesh:

Well, I must admit, I had my doubts about eating at this restaurant. I had heard such terrible things about the service, lack of variety, and general service. But, I was very curious and thought the menu, in general, looked appealing. I'd also received some correspondence prior that indicated that I could eat the hummus and have GF/CF bread. (turned out to be tapioca rolls, but anything smothered in hummus is really tasty!) Upon arrival, we were greeted with live music and belly dancing--great ambiance! After being seated, the server went to get the chef. A very nice chef came out and asked me what I was interested in. I knew from the special diets literature that the chicken kabobs with rice would be a safe choice. I told the chef that I'd like that and would also like some hummus. He said he was happy to oblige and said that he hoped I was ready to have a good meal. He was a little difficult to understand at times (plus the music was quite loud), but overall he seemed generally eager to help.

The one thing that proved difficult at Restaurant Marrakesh was the service. It was much more slow paced. On a normal day, this would have been fine. However, we had a picture session (which turned out to be canceled on us, but that is a different story!) at the Wilderness Lodge and so we weren't sure we had time to be very leisurely (our lunch was at 2 p.m.). When the food came out, our server said they had messed up and they gave me an unsafe meal. So I had to wait another 15 minutes for my meal. Fortunately, I found it very tasty when it arrived. I would say if you are interested in a unique meal, this is your place. However, don't expect to be in a hurry, this is a slow paced restaurant.
Overall, I'd give the food a 9 out of 10. This was very tasty, but it was a bummer to have to wait so long to get it (after everyone else had already eaten) and the service a 7 out of 10. It does seem like Restaurant Marrakesh has taken some of the criticism and worked on being more accommodating and friendly. However, I do think they need to work on service in the kitchen.

Day 3: Kona Cafe

One of my favorite go-to table service breakfasts at WDW is the one served at Kona Cafe in the Polynesian resort. On my last trip, I had an amazing experience and one of the yummiest breakfasts I've had since going GF/CF! Chef Kim was fantastic, and he really treated me to a great meal and bent over backwards to give me a good experience. This time another chef came out to greet me. (though we did see Chef Kim, so he is still there!) She was very friendly (I believe her name was Karina?) and enthusiastic. She said my restrictions were easy compared to many, and she said she'd make me the Big Kahuna with Mickey waffles and such. I was so looking forward to this. I also ordered the Lilikoi juice, which is very tasty! However, when my meal arrived, I noticed there was butter in a cup. I asked the server if this was Earth Balance butter (safe for dairy free diets) and she said she wasn't sure. The chef came out and said it was their butter/margarine blend and she forgot about my dairy allergy. Um, not good. She went to replate it and said everything was OK. But one taste of my eggs said otherwise. When you don't ever get any kind of dairy product and you get exposed to it you know. Eggs cooked with olive oil taste much different. At this point, I didn't want to bug the chef again, and I was really hungry (everyone else was halfway through their breakfast...a trend I seemed to have most of this trip), so I just didn't eat the eggs after the first few bites. The one addition from this version from the last was the pineapple on the side. I ate a bit of it, but not much because of the texture of pineapple and the irritation it might cause to my Crohn's. Overall, it was still good. The portion of this entree was smaller than the last time, perhaps Chef Kim was just being really generous! Overall, I'd give the staff a 8 for effort in trying to make my experience good, but a 6 for the overall lack of remembering my allergy. I would still consider this one of my favorite restaurants, but as always you have to be diligent with food allergies and intolerances.

Le Cellier:

One of my favorite restaurants, pre-dietary restrictions was Le Cellier. The steaks have always been amazing, the cheddar soup fantastic, and the overall service excellent. My mom wanted to stop here as we celebrated her birthday. However, we all quickly made the discovery that some things have changed at our favorite restaurant, and not for the better. Unfortunately, I think Le Cellier has suffered some major changes since the dining plan has become so popular. The menu has drastically changed and the restaurant always seems packed to the hilt. That being said, my meal wasn't horrible, but not great either.

When the chef came to greet me, he seemed less than thrilled. He asked what I wanted, and I mentioned that I'd be interested in the salmon. He said there would be no way that could be safe. After several minutes, I finally just asked him what he suggested. But he wouldn't give me much direction. I finally said that I just wanted something, "remotely safe," which made him laugh, but still didn't get me much assistance. We finally came to an agreement on the spice crusted pork chop and that he would replace the polenta with roasted potatoes. I also salad of mixed greens with a white balsamic vinaigrette. This turned out to be a big NO-NO for me. I have some issues with vinegar and this did not sit well at all. The pork chop was served medium, but more on the medium-rare side. To the point that I really had wished I would have asked it to be well-done. It seemed very pink. But, I was assured it was safe to consume and that this is the common way to serve pork these days. Well, consider me not common. I didn't like it this way. The spice crust was also very overpowering and a bit bitter. I wasn't a huge fan of it. The potatoes also had balsamic vinaigrette (double whammy on the vinegar) and I wasn't a fan of the citrus endive salad either. I was given tapioca rolls with olive oil, but nothing new there. I was offered a blood orange sorbet, but I passed. I wish I could give Le Cellier a glowing review, but I can't. Even those without dietary restrictions did not enjoy this meal. The service was subpar and the accommodations for dieatary restrictions were not much better. Overall, I'd give this a 5 out of 10.

Day 4: ABC Commissary

Our stop at the ABC Commissary was a bit of a fluke--meaning we didn't intend on going there, but it ended up being a very good lunch for me. I'd been dying to try the allergy free chicken tenders, but had yet to get them. Upon arrival, I was greeted by the manager who told me they had them, which I didn't realize. (I suppose I should have consulted my special diets sheets, but I was REALLY hungry at the time!) She said I could the chicken tenders and fries. I think I was also offered a burger, hot dog, and maybe a grilled chicken sandwich, but I can't remember. I had one mission in my mind and that was the allergy free chicken tenders. It did take several minutes, but I was most impressed that they used a completely different fryer (I could see if from where I was waiting) and the manager used new gloves. When she brought it out, I was so excited. However, I didn't get much choices in sauces. I looked at the BBQ sauce at the condiment station, which wrongly the manager told me was safe, clearly listed wheat right in the ingredients. Too bad because I love BBQ sauce and that would have made my meal! But never mind that. Let's get to the chicken tenders. They were amazing! So tasty, and crispy, and did I mention tasty?! It was very good, and I wish I would have gotten more of these chicken tenders. Overall, I'd give ABC Commissary a 9 out of 10 for a surprisingly delicious meal and excellent service.

Mama Melrose:


I'd heard some really great things about Mama Melrose and options for Gluten Free and Dairy Free. I think perhaps I hit it on an off day. The food was fairly tasty, don't get me wrong, but the service wasn't particularly great, and my options seemed even more limited. Upon arrival, the chef greeted me, but he seemed less than enthused. He told me my only real options was the chicken Parmesan (minus the breading) and the Fra Diavolo. He did offer me dairy free flatbreads. I was surprised that there was no dairy free cheese offered. I'd heard that others had eaten this. I also was a bit bummed not to be able to get a gluten free calamari, which I also had heard they could do. I decided to go for the chicken Parmesan for it's simplicity. The chef also brought me out tapioca rolls and extra virgin olive oil with spices. When my chicken Parmesan arrived, it looked very tasty. It did taste pretty good too. But, I would say it wasn't anything special. Good, but not great. Also, for some reason, the last few times I've eaten GF pasta I've gotten a bit sick. Later that evening, I got REALLY sick (I stayed in the hotel room the entire next day) Overall, I'd give it a 7 out of 10. Only because the lack of enthusiasm by the chef, lack of variety, and general service. If you are GF and haven't had pasta in a while though, this would be the place to go.

More posts to go...

 

[snorris49]

Day 5: Poor Sarah is sick....no dining reviews today because I was sitting in bed wallowing in misery. Rough day. Too bad we didn't get our reservation this day, because I was looking forward to eating at Coral Reef

Day 6: 'Ohana

Well folks, 'Ohana has been one of my favorite restaurants at WDW for years. I love the woodfired meats, the sides (oh how I miss the old green beans from here), and all the other tasty treats. However, this was my first time going GF/CF. I knew prior to our reservations that Chef T.J. was now working here. Chef T.J., for those who don't know, is pretty much known as THE BEST chef for allergies on WDW property. I knew that if T.J. was there, this would be an unforgettable meal. Now, I wasn't feeling particularly hot this day. In fact, I had been down right miserable the day before. Call it the Crohn's flaring or just eating the wrong thing...I was not well. So, today was going to be a day of actual food, and I was excited. After a very upsetting and disappointing afternoon and experience at Yakitori House (previous arrangements had been made for the counter service to have GF sauce, but they refused to serve me rice or anything claiming they had no knowledge of the chef's contacting me) I literally hadn't eaten anything but protein shakes for over 24 hours. I needed food!

Upon arrival, the hostess verified that I had allergies. After we were seated, they had placed a fake polynesian flower on the table and they said that this would notify the chefs to come to see me. Well, sure enough I see chef T.J. walking my direction. I was so excited. He was terrific. I explained to him that I had Crohn's and that I just been sick, so I couldn't eat salad that night (rats, I was looking forward to that too!) So, he said he would do a few things for me, and take it easy on my tummy. First up, chicken wings. Oh my goodness, these were amazing. He gave me, something like 10 chicken wings! They had some spicy, sweet and sour glaze on them. Yum! T.J. came back to check on me and asked if I liked them because I hadn't eaten that many. I kept telling him how good they were, but that I was trying to pace myself since I hadn't much in the last day. Then he brought out my entree. We agreed on turkey, shrimp, chicken, and pork. I decided not to do any red meat. Holy moly! When he brought out my entree, I couldn't believe the size! It was huge. It had rice, crispy rice noodles, and broccoli. The broccoli was a little crispy for me, but I tried a bit of it, and it was good. The meat had a sweet and sour sauce on it, and a peanut sauce on the top. So good.
Chef T.J. came back out again and asked how it was. Of course, I couldn't help but gush over the wonderfully prepared meal. It was so good. I asked T.J. if I could take it home with me, and he said that with special diets he allows to go bags, so I got to take everything back to our room and eat it later. Good leftovers, let me tell you!

Then, it was time for dessert! T.J. brought out the most amazing decadent and FUN dessert! Chocolate brownies, soy chocolate ice cream, pineapple, bananas, and cotton candy with some chocolate syrup on top. Holy cow! I had help eating this one. We couldn't let it go to waste. It was so good. I can't say enough good things about this restaurant or Chef T.J. It was tasty, amazing, and so wonderful to have an attentive and concerned chef. He was just great. I highly recommend this, and will continue to make this a must-do on my list, especially if T.J. is there! 10 out of 10 for great food, great service, and going above and beyond my expectations.

Day 6: Sarah's 30th Birthday

Whispering Canyon Cafe:

This was a birthday meal for me--my 30th birthday to be exact. I knew prior to eating at WCC that they made fun of you (been there before), so I was ready for some good old fashioned teasing. But, I was also hoping for a nice breakfast. Upon arrival, the waitress let me know that the chef would be out to see me. When the chef arrived, I explained that I couldn't have milk or gluten. I decided on a ham omelet with potatoes and a GF waffle on the side. I was hoping for mickey waffles, a la Kona cafe, but alas, it turned out to be a Van's Waffle. (not that they aren't good, but I can eat them at home! I wanted a big fluffy GF/CF mickey waffle!) The chef actually mentioned that these were the last of the waffles because they'd had so many GF eaters that week. (hmm, guess they should have ordered more!) When she brought out my waffle she brought out fleischman's butter, which she said was made from corn. I wasn't sure if she meant lactose free or completely dairy free (it sounded sketchy to me), so I didn't eat it. After getting butter on my plate and on my eggs at 'Ohana, I was leary. I like not getting a scratchy throat, sneezing, and headaches. The omelet was very tasty and so were the potatoes. In general, it was good but nothing spectacular. After my meal, they made me go around the restaurant on a wooden horse and sang to me to celebrate my birthday (sure didn't feel 30 at that moment!) And instead of a cake, they gave me a french meadow brownie. Nothing like a brownie at 9 a.m.! Thankfully, I could take it back to the room with me. Overall, I'd give it a 7 out of 10. Service and food were OK. Nothing spectacular, but not terrible either.

Garden View Lounge Afternoon Tea:

On my 30th birthday, I wanted to do something special. I have always wanted to do the high tea at the Grand Floridian and thought this would be the perfect opportunity to do so. I planned a 2 p.m. tea, so that we had 1 1/2 hours before our spa appointment at the Grand Floridian spa at 3:30. I thought this would give us plenty of time. It's only tea right?! Well, this turned out to be a disastrous affair, with rude waitstaff and rude guests and completely unprepared chefs. Previously, Chef Jeff Bliss had called me and arranged to make some salads and some desserts. Ah, too bad this didn't come to fruition. I believe there was some misscommunication because when we arrived, the waitresses said they thought I had food with my name on in it their fridge and later the chef (not Jeff Bliss) came out and totally ignored me and took forever (like 30+ minutes) to bring me a scoop of tuna and egg salad. I asked for no GF bread (because I was avoiding yeast now since I got so sick the couple of days before) and I got bread (which I was told did have yeast in it). To begin with, we were seated next to some really rude guests. They were very snooty and rude to everyone. This made my mom and I feel very uncomfortable (and I'm not usually bugged by people, rude or otherwise). The waitress was a bit curt. I ordered the Princess Breakfast tea which was strawberry vanilla rooibos. YUM! I was going to buy this, but didn't get the chance. The chef arrived and I explained that Jeff Bliss had spoken to me and made arrangements. Like I said, 30+ minutes later I got my food. My mom was already done with her sandwiches and scone.

Taste wise, the salads were OK. Nothing spectacular. I have made better at home. I found the egg salad to be overly mayonnaised (is that a word?!) As time progressed, I realized we only had 30 minutes before our spa appointment and our waitress and the chef weren't in any hurry to let us leave, so we asked the waitress for the desserts and our bill. (i.e. pack the desserts to go) She got very rude and said it was 4:30 not 3:30 and I had to literally show her my watch. She was like "Fine. I guess." She got my mom a dessert, and tossed a cut up, pre-done (i.e. French Meadow) brownie at me. Ummmm, I thought I was getting a dessert made for me?! At this point, we were so frustrated and I was getting upset, so we decided to forget it and leave. I got charged for the Buckingham Palace which was $19.50 and I got very minimal amounts of food, compared to my mom. I wasn't expecting a meal by any means, but I was expecting some effort to be put forth, especially in the place where the pastry chefs made a big deal about calling me to make a dessert. Sad really. They didn't sell me on their bakery, their service, or ever staying at the Grand Floridian.

Overall, I give this a big fat 5 out of 10. Mostly because of the bad service and lack of accommodation. I'd have let the accommodation part go if it wasn't for the big deal they made about it prior to me arriving. Disappointing and something I probably won't do again. Thankfully, California Grill made up for this tea when I went there for dinner.

California Grill:

Happy Birthday to me! This was my birthday dinner, and I was not hopeful after my experience during the day (although I was very relaxed after my facial and pedicure! Loved, loved, loved the spa!) but we gave it a shot. A couple of days before I got an email from the Contemporary bakery asking me if I wanted a cake or a dessert. It's a good thing I had my laptop with me (uggg, though the Internet fees were outrageous! why can't WDW have free wi-fi? McDonald's does!) otherwise, I'd have not known. In any event Jessie the sous pastry chef said she would make me some kind of chocolate dessert that was gluten and dairy free.

Upon arrival, we were greeted and seated in a small, quiet wine cellar room, located off of the main dining room. Hurrah! The table was decorated for my birthday! How nice!

They said that they try to put special events in this quainter room, because it is more secluded and quiet. It was lovely. I was so glad to be there over the main dining room. And the view wasn't of the Magic Kingdom, but it was still spectacular. And, of course, we could have gone to the fireworks viewing (which occurred while were there), but we decided to enjoy the quiet ambiance. Chef Jason came to visit me, and he offered me a variety of things. He was so friendly and very accommodating. I mentioned that I'd be interested in sushi and he said no problem. I could have the sashimi or california roll and some others, but I can't remember which ones. They have GF Tamari too. I got the Sashimi, which is just sliced raw fish, though I wish I would have gone for the roll. I could have gone for the rice! However, it was very tasty and very fresh. You can tell they use very high quality fish. The tuna and Hamachi were so good. I didn't eat much salmon because I was already getting pretty full, but don't worry it didn't go to waste. Others in my party ate it. When the sushi arrived, they made sure to mention that it was a special Gluten Free sushi, so at least the sushi chef was aware of it.


Then for my main course, I ordered the pan seared sea bass with stir fry vegetables, sticky rice, and ginger-soy-hijiki broth. I was so amazed, by the way, at the level of accommodation these chefs were making. Chef Jason gave me so many options and said that he would do whatever I wanted to make sure I had a good meal. After some of the resistance from chefs at other restaurants, this was so nice. My main course was AMAZING. Beyond amazing. I literally could have licked the plate, it was that good. The sauce was so flavorful and the sea bass was cooked to perfection. Well worth the price!

My mom and step-dad said the food was very good. My mom said it was one of the best steaks she's ever had. (Le Cellier used to have that honor with her, but California Grill bumped it off the list)

Next up...DESSERT! When we got there, they even double checked to make sure that there was a dessert for me. Sigh of relief! What they brought out was nothing short of amazing. Bar none, most amazing dessert I've had GF/CF! Unbelievable. It was a chocolate cake with a chocolate mousse wrapped in chocolate sheets and topped with fresh raspberries and accompanied by a raspberry coulis! The coulis made the dessert. Even the non-dietary restricted thought it was amazing.


Overall, this made my birthday. What a great meal. Yes, it was pricy. Would I do it every day? No. But a special occasion? Most certainly. From the attention to detail to the quality of the food this restaurant went above and beyond my expectations. Kudos to Chef Jason and the rest of the staff for a job well done. 10 out of 10 for quality, service, and accommodation.

 

[snorris49]

Club Level:

Let me begin by saying that I had high hopes for Club Level. I've stayed at AKL's club level and loved the experience, but this was also pre-dietary restrictions, so I knew this was a gamble. Here is a play by play of the pre-trip correspondence and during the trip experience.

Pre-trip Correspondence:
To begin with, the IPO (Itinerary Planning Office) staff were friendly enough, but I noticed a bit of difficulty in obtaining much information about my dietary restrictions and the lounge. I explained to them how important it was to know ahead of time what would be available at breakfast. I got the muffins, waffles, and whatever else the chefs prepare response. Well, fair enough. I guess they wouldn't know, but when I asked them to contact the chef, they never got through to them. I asked about specific items (like earth balance margarine) and they said I could buy it but they wouldn't guarantee it would be there. Sigh. I guess this means they aren't going to be any help. We did arrange for a 6 inch gluten free, dairy free (but had eggs and soy) chocolate birthday cake. I was told it was $29.50 (which I think I got charged less, but that is what they quoted) Overall, the staff wasn't really helpful with dietary restrictions or even contacting restaurants outside of my hotel (as far as directly asking specific questions to the chef) They did however, make notations on all of my meal reservations, so that was very good.

Club Level first-hand:
Well, I must warn you. This isn't a great review. I will say the concierge downstairs were more friendly and helpful than the CL staff were. And I'm not that picky. I just want people to be straight with me about what's available and not treat me like a leper or a huge burden. I'd love to have these people live one day in my dietary life and maybe they'd understand. From crimeny's sake...Red Robin can get it right with dietary restrictions why can't WDW's club level?! To begin with, in general, we found the CL staff to be very rude and in general not very friendly. Compared to the AKL CL staff this was a bit of a shock. When I arrived, I wanted to confirm the birthday cakes (one for me and one for my mom). They said they would check and call me, and they never did. I got the "I forgot" answer. Greeeeaaaat. Day 1, we didn't really look for any evening options, although I did get a French Meadow brownie from the staff. You have to ask the CL staff for them to get it for you. Boy, they didn't like having to get me one every day. And yes, I got one every day! I like those brownies and when it's the only option you have, well, you go with it.

The first breakfast, I was given 4 blueberry muffins. Uggg. Not good for my Crohn's. I don't digest blueberries well at all. I did try to eat a few of the muffins because I was really hungry, but I was surprised I didn't get much of anything else. I could have eaten fresh fruit, but didn't. I did talk to the CL staff and just explained that berries were rough on my stomach (specifically blueberries) and said something like a chocolate chip muffin would work or waffles. Well lo and behold the next day, I got chocolate muffins. Holy cow! These were like dessert brownies. Yikes. Not so great at 7:30 a.m. In fact, it was the only thing they gave me for the rest of the week. And they said I couldn't get anything else. Gee, thanks. I ended up getting food or snacks other places because of this.

A couple of times, I was able to find some evening appetizer options that I thought would work. They had to call down to the chefs, which did not appear to make the CL staff too trilled. But, there were a few items that I thought would be OK, that weren't. So it pays to ask. Even if people aren't thrilled with you. It's your body, and it doesn't pay to be sick. And yes, it happens. I got sick later in the week. I still am not sure if it was Crohn's or cross contamination. I know that I get sick a lot with GF pasta, and I had it the night before I got sick, so maybe it was that. In any event, here were a few of the items I could eat: Chicken kabobs and bacon wrapped scallops.There were also veggies and hummus. None of the other dips or soups seemed like I could eat them. It was a bit of a gamble as to what was up there, so some days I got food, other days I didn't.

Dessert was a no-go. There were never any options for me other than the French Meadow Brownies (which was the only afternoon option for me too...talk about brownie overload) Except one night, the night that I was sick, they made ANOTHER chocolate brownie dessert. This was actually very good, once I ate it the next night. It was brownies with a chocolate fudge frosting in the middle, covered in powdered sugar. I didn't pick it up, but my mom said the CL staff gave her a stern talking to as to why I didn't get it. Um, no one told me I had a dessert and I never had one the previous 5 nights! So why would I expect a dessert?! Sigh.

And back to the getting sick. I got sick and felt terrible. I spent a day in bed. Yuck. In the mean time, my mom decided that CL was so unhelpful, that she went to the concierge staff downstairs for help to get me protein shakes. I use them a lot when I'm sick, so I get some nutrition even if my stomach hurts. I drink Odwalla Vanilla Al'Mondo Non-dairy shakes. So, the concierge staff was very helpful. They arranged a van and got a runner to take my mom (free of charge) to the nearest Super Target (which is where I get them) to get me shakes. Sure enough, they found them and were able to get everything sorted. My mom then tried to get my birthday cake (which was to be delivered that day) delayed so I could sleep, but the CL staff somehow got that messed up, when she attempted to try that. Again, a reason to check with concierge not CL staff.

I didn't end up eating the cake while at WDW, but we brought it home. Yes, strangely I took it in my carry on and didn't have it confiscated, guess it wasn't a threat! HOWEVER, I do want folks to know that I was sick most of the week after I got back on the days I ate this cake. I am guessing there was some sort of cross contamination in it. It was clearly GF, but in general, I felt a big icky. Perhaps I was recovering from being sick, but the items I had on other days didn't make me sick, only the cake days. So, it seems pretty likely there was an issue with the cake. But, I didn't get sick from my Contemporary dessert, so there are some safe dessert options. I'm not going to say for sure this was a cross contamination issue, but be mindful that this could happen.

Overall, I wish the CL staff would have been more friendly and less "put out" when it came to my dietary restrictions. I don't expect special treatment, but I don't like being made to feel like I'm a pain in the butt. Yes, I ask a lot of questions, but it's for safety reasons. I was happy with the few options when I had them, just wish the overall ambiance would have been more friendly. I would not recommend CL for people with dietary concerns. In fact, I would have rather just spent the extra money and had table service for breakfast every day. But, in general we enjoyed the Wilderness Lodge (love the hotel!) and would come back here, just not at CL. Perhaps other CL's are better equipped, but I would definitely hesitate to try it again.

Overall thoughts:

In general, I had some amazing experiences with WDW chefs and restaurants, but I also had some bad ones. This trip seemed more hit or miss than the previous one last August, but I think it could also have been some of the choices I made food wise. I definitely relied a lot advice here on the boards, documents from special diets, and the menus online. With dietary restrictions, planning is key. I knew up and down most of the menus and I had those sheets handy with me all the time (from special diets on counter service locations) Sometimes, with the Crohn's though, my body doesn't always cooperate and sometimes I just do too much. But, in general, I found most of the food and chefs to be great. WDW really is one of the few places where you can go and eat and feel genuinely safe about things.

As far as club level goes, I will not stay again. But, I will bring food with me for breakfast or hit the grocery store when I get there. It seems a safer and less stressful way to go.

I had a great trip (other than getting sick!) and am available to answer any questions you might have! Check out my blog for the food pics! The California Grill and Ohana ones are to die for!

 

[clanmcculloch]

I just found your food report and I have to tell you, I'm now pretty nervous about my upcoming Poly CL stay. UGH!!!! They have such an amazing reputation for pampering their guests so this really surprises me. The email response I just got from them does seem to match what you said here though (they actually included a link to the garden grocer website, telling me I should order in food). I was really hoping that was just some kind of generic response but reading what you're saying here makes me wonder. I'm now starting to wonder if we'd be better off switching to a regular room rather than club level. I know CL is about more than just the food but if my kids won't be able to eat anything there then I'm not sure I'll want to even use the lounge at all (we planned to watch fireworks and the water parade from there) since it just seems like torture for a child to not be able to have anything when there are plenty of treats around, which also means DH and I really can't partake much either. DD9 can eat the French Meadow brownies (and loves them) but DD12 can't even have those (she's GFCF and egg free).

Thanks for such a detailed dining review!!!

I agree with you on Sunshine Seasons. We finally ate there this past June and OMG it was WONDERFUL!! Of course my kids love chicken (especially with the skin) and would live on rice if I'd let them so it worked out very well for us. Tofutti ice cream was hit and miss for us here (they had it one time and then didn't 3 days later) but it was still worth going (Tofutti ice cream is the only dessert DD12 can eat there but she's just as happy with chips plus she was really full from the meal).

I can't wait to try Kona and 'Ohana. We have ADRs for both ('Ohana for both breakfast and dinner) for August.

 

[valree]

Welcome back! Sorry some of your experiences weren't so hot. I'll definitely have to try Roaring Fork, Sunshine Seasons, and Restaurant Marrakesh. The kabobs especially are making me hungry just thinking about them. What kind of dairy free flatbreads did the chef offer you? Your 'Ohana experience is tempting me to make an ADR! I have yet to hear one bad Chef TJ experience. We decided to cancel Cali Grill this time in favor of Citrico's, but the cake - OMG the cake - sounds divine!

Sounds like staying CL at WL was a waste of money for you. Did your mom at least have some good food? I've considered it many times, but it doesn't seem to make sense with me needing GF foods. I like to make my own ADRs so I don't need them to do that for me. What other benefits do they offer besides access to the am safari if you're staying at AKL?

When are you going in October? I'll be down there as well.

 

[clanmcculloch]

For us, the Polynesian club lounge (we want to watch the fireworks and water parade from there) and the location of the club rooms (the Hawaii building) are definitely perks of club level. I'm also looking forward to having robes in my room (small things can sometimes make me very happy). We're the kind of people who do pay extra for the room location of our choice so the Hawaii building is a huge plus for us. With our AP discount there's a $79/night difference for club level with the same view (garden view). DH and I hope to partake of some of the food and drink offerings. We figured we'd try it for a 3 night stay. If we find it frustrating and that our kids are unhappy hanging out in the lounge with all that food around then we'll likely go for a standard garden view next time we decide to stay there (assuming we like the resort as much as I expect to like it).

I'm not sure if I'd go for club level at resorts where the location isn't better in club rooms, especially with the food allergies. Like you we take care of our own ADRs and planning and my family would have no interest in the safari that's only available to club guests.

 

[snorris49]

What other benefits do they offer besides access to the am safari if you're staying at AKL?

The big benefits for me was the planning services. It was very nice to have them take care of our dining ressies and our spa ressies (ohhh how I want to go back to the GF spa! Facial was divine!). That was convenient. They also arranged a private photopass session (which they royally screwed up but that's another story--in essence they scheduled a time they don't even ever do and didn't give them the correct contact info to get a hold of us...we show up dressed up for pics and no pics were done that day had to reschedule--it worked out though, so it was OK) and cakes for our hotel rooms. It wasn't anything I couldn't and usually do myself.

When are you going in October? I'll be down there as well.

We're heading down October 9-16 for my brother's wedding. We're in the process of doing DVC as we speak, so pending all the paperwork, we should be staying at Bay Lake Towers!

For us, the Polynesian club lounge (we want to watch the fireworks and water parade from there) and the location of the club rooms (the Hawaii building) are definitely perks of club level.

I can totally understand your reasons for doing CL with the Poly. For the price, I'd probably still do it too. Also, I think every CL is different, so your experience might be different from mine. I would do CL again if it was a minimal amount of price difference and beneficial to what I needed. Personally, I wouldn't do CL at WL again, but I would consider others. (Loved AKL--a trip prior to food allergies). I hope it works out for you and I look forward to hearing your review on it!

 

[momsavealot]

Great trip report!! Thanks for taking the time to give us your feedback! Sorry you had to lose a day to illness!

 

[snorris49]

Great trip report!! Thanks for taking the time to give us your feedback! Sorry you had to lose a day to illness!

Thanks!

I've being sick when my Crohn's is bugging me is no fun. But, I'm a year and a half in and am learning each Disney trip what works for me and what doesn't. This year, we will be staying at BLT now that we have joined DVC. I think it's the best for me, so that I can make breakfast in the room and have some safe snacks and protein shakes already with me, in case something happens. It's a learning curve, and I hope I do OK this next trip and don't get sick at all!

 

[valree]

Good luck in October, and thanks again for your detailed report!

 

[livndisney]

We had the exact same problem with Chef Jeff Bliss at GF. He talks a good game, but does not seem to follow through with anything. Ironically I have emails from him telling me how much they have "improved" their service since last year. Sure doesn't sound like it. I'm sorry you had bad service at the tea.

 

[snorris49]

We had the exact same problem with Chef Jeff Bliss at GF. He talks a good game, but does not seem to follow through with anything. Ironically I have emails from him telling me how much they have "improved" their service since last year. Sure doesn't sound like it. I'm sorry you had bad service at the tea.

Well, it's good to know it wasn't just me

It's too bad too because they have the potential of doing an amazing job there. Chef Jeff Bliss said I'd get all these fancy desserts and safe mousses and all I got was a prepackaged French Meadow brownie?!

For now, I will stick with the Contemporary bakery because they have been just awesome there. In fact, I'm ordering a dessert for the room the night we arrive at Bay Lake Tower, and they are working on figuring out if they can do chocolate covered strawberries that are dairy free...Here's hoping!

 

[livndisney]

Well, it's good to know it wasn't just me

It's too bad too because they have the potential of doing an amazing job there. Chef Jeff Bliss said I'd get all these fancy desserts and safe mousses and all I got was a prepackaged French Meadow brownie?!

For now, I will stick with the Contemporary bakery because they have been just awesome there. In fact, I'm ordering a dessert for the room the night we arrive at Bay Lake Tower, and they are working on figuring out if they can do chocolate covered strawberries that are dairy free...Here's hoping!

If you do find dairy free chocolate at WDW PLEASE let me know.

 

[snorris49]

If you do find dairy free chocolate at WDW PLEASE let me know.

Well, the dessert I had at California Grill was gluten and dairy free--it had big tuilles of chocolate on it and a chocolate mousse in it. There's pics on my blog. And yes, it was to die for!
I'm hoping they'll recreate something similar this trip!
I'm also hoping for the chocolate dipped strawberries and I'll let you know when I hear back from the bakery!

 

[clanmcculloch]

Well now I'm getting discouraged. I think it was Chef Jeff who called me a few nights ago about our upcoming brunch at 1900PF. He said he was going to try coming up with some pastries for my girls including attempting apple turnovers. DD12 has never had one in her life and I was excited for her to get to try one. I won't mention it just in case.

 

[snorris49]

Well now I'm getting discouraged. I think it was Chef Jeff who called me a few nights ago about our upcoming brunch at 1900PF. He said he was going to try coming up with some pastries for my girls including attempting apple turnovers. DD12 has never had one in her life and I was excited for her to get to try one. I won't mention it just in case.

Yeah, sorry to not give a good review, but I was not imperssed with this Chef. I was so excited b/c he called me at home, and then when I got there, nothing. Although, I have hopes the GF will get a little better with allergies now that Chef TJ from Ohana (and Boma earlier) has moved over there to the GF Cafe. He can teach those folks over there a thing or two about making great allergy friendly food.

I sure hope you are able to get those turnovers for your DD--Keep us posted!

 

[clanmcculloch]

I'll definitely let you know how it goes at GF. As much as I don't like hearing that he has a reputation for not keeping promises, at least my expectations are being realistically set. We've eaten at 1900PF a few times in the past and the chefs have always been wonderful there, but I was getting super excited about something special being made for my girls. I know how excited they get about getting to try foods that have always been off limits to them.

 

[snorris49]

Good luck! Keep us posted!