Allergy / dietary needs questions

[Joan1]

Hi, we are traveling with another family and one person has to have gluten free / dairy free meals. I know this won't be a problem at the sit down restaurants but how those this work at the counter service places?


Thanks for any advice - we are lucky that we do not have to have special meals so I am unfamiliar on how they work for the counter service restaurants

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Hi

I would suggest go over to the disABILITIES Forum and look at the "disABILITIES FAQs" thread, which is a locked sticky. Post #3 has a lot of links and one section completely devoted to dietary restrictions. We also have a lot of threads which discuss dietary restrictions in that forum.

If you want to, clicking on the link in my signature will take you directly to the FAQs.

 

[drwitz]

We were just in Disney in December and dealt with this issue. I have two children, ages 8 and 11, and my wife, all of whom have wheat/milk intolerance/allergy issues. We called WDW Dining beforehand, and they sent us (by email) a complete list of all counter locations within all parks and resorts which featured wheat free/milk free items, as well as provided a list of places we could find milk alternative / wheat alternative products (like Tofuti ice cream - soy based or wheat free rolls).

When we made our ADRs for the restaurants, we also had a note added to the reservations indicating the allergies and at each restaurant the head chef came out to the table, introduced her/himself, and reviewed all of the items on the menu which the kids could eat. At Hollywood and Vine (in DHS) the chef even took the ladies down the buffet line and reviewed every selection on the lines with them; she even made them special wheat-free rolls and special dessert. My kids felt like royalty.

New Year's Eve was my wife's birthday, and we have made reservations for dinner at Cinderella's Royal Table. I called dining and even arranged (in advance) for a wheat-free/dairy-free birthday cake which was AMAZING! Tasted just like a regular birthday cake.

In short, don't let dining issues block you from enjoying any part of your Disney experience. Just call WDW-DINE in advance and let them know your restrictions and issues and they will do everything they can to accomodate you.

 

[jrsmom]

Look in the thread that was listed and you will see Brenda Barrett email and she will email you the detailed food lists.

 

[larry's girl]

Hi, Joan. Yes, Brenda Bennett is wonderful. Her e-mail is easy to remember. It's brenda.bennett@disney.com - just let her know that one person in your party needs gluten/dairy free meals and she will e-mail lists of what is available at which counter service restaurants in all the parks and resorts back to you. She is extremely helpful!

My daughter and I have to eat a gluten/dairy free diet and we just returned from WDW. When you want a counter service meal, just request to speak with the manager when you go up to order. The managers at the CS restaurants are very knowledgeable about dietary restrictions. They will ask what you want to order and go over all the ingredients and preparation methods with you to be sure everything is acceptable. They truly bend over backwards to be sure you have a safe meal and it is wonderful to be able to vacation where you know you won't get sick from eating gluten/dairy.

Enjoy your meals and have a wonderful trip!

Susan

 

[Joan1]

Thank you so much for the information - I have forwarded Brenda's email to our friends and they will get in touch with her