I have been to WDW many times and have enjoyed many meals but this is the first time going with an allergy. I don't know why I am having such a hard time with this.
Adjusting to a new way of eating is a big change anywhere and especially when you are used to eating a certain way at our beloved WDW restaurants! In 2010, my health necessitated a change to a very strict diet with multiple food allergies and intolerances. I also have celiac. So, I understand going from eating foods you love at WDW to not being able to have them. I sure miss the bread pudding at O'hana! But, as I've found, you can do WDW w/allergies and enjoy your food!
WDW special diets sent me a gluten-free PDF that lists some gluten-free items at different venues which I found helpful. I look at menus before I make ADRs to make sure the restaurant probably had something I could eat or that they could modify easily. WDW recommends and I personally recommend talking to a manager at Quick Service and asking to speak to a chef at Table Service. Usually at TS, the waiter will not even take my order and looks to the chef to dictate the order after we have discussed what I'd like to have and if/how he can modify the dish. I have social anxiety and before my first food allergy trip, I was quite nervous about the thought of talking to a chef/manager every time I ate. But after a couple interactions, I found out just how wonderful WDW restaurants (managers, chefs and waiters) are. They go above and beyond.
Personally, I avoid buffets as I am terrified of cross-contamination. However, the chef will walk you through the buffet and let you know what is safe/not safe for you. My husband loves Biergarten because of his German heritage. Last visit ('12), the chef there brought me the food binder and had me tell him what I could/could not eat based on my allergies/intolerances. He brought a yummy feast to the table from the back (not the buffet) and even threw in some dishes that weren't on the buffet that he was working on as dishes that might soon be added to the buffet. If you go to buffets, don't hesitate to ask for your food choices to be dished out in the back to reduce the risk of cross-contamination.
I have had chefs at different TS restaurants create dishes for me that weren't on the menu. That was really exciting and I felt really special and we could tell the chefs (esp. at Artist Point 2011) enjoyed it. Instead of feeling like I had to make the food offerings work for me by omitting/modifying items--or eat the same dessert at every place, I had a unique creations for entree and dessert made just for me!
They have many with food allergies/intolerances so the managers & chefs should be able to help you find celiac friendly food. During a not-very-busy lunch seating at Coral Reef last year, the chef said he had 5 other tables with food allergies at the same time. I find it MUCH easier to eat at WDW than I do at table service restaurants in my Chicago-land home!
I hope this helps. I'm a bit wordy--sorry for so many stories! I tried to parse it down!
