DD6 and Wheat Allergy

[tripplanner2]

I am hoping for some good ideas for dining with a daughter that has wheat allergies. She has been sick her whole short life. Lots of different diagnoses, I always felt it was wheat or celiac but now it is finally showing in her blood work. Anyhow, she is feeling sorry for herself because this is the most limiting of all the diets she has been put on. I am just hoping we can go to Disney and she can get a reprieve from feeling deprived of what her sisters get. I guess my question is, where can she eat and not feel like she is getting weird food and heaven forbid, fruit for dessert.

PS...I tend to stay away from buffets because she gets sick so much I am always afraid of her catching something from unclean, sticky hands.

 

[kdluscher]

Disney is seriously one of the best places to go with a food allergy! They take such good care of people on special diets or with allergies. When you make your ADRs tell the operator that you have a daughter with a wheat allergy and they will make a note of it on your ressies. Also, make sure you tell your servers at the various restaurants and they will tell the chef and they will come out and discuss food options for your daughter. I went to disney with my grandmother who had a peanut allergy and my sister who has a tree nut allergy and the chefs always came out to tell us the special dessert they could have or what foods they shouldn't eat at the buffets. Trust me, your daughter will have something to eat!!

 

[mmtska]

I asked about celiac disease a few months ago and got a lot of helpful info.

http://allears.net/din/guestceliac.htm

Also check under the disABILITIES board on the forum. CheshireFigment has a link in his sig, and I'm sure he'll be around too I forwarded all of that info to our friends who needed it and they found it very helpful. My mom's goddaughter has Celiac's and enjoyed her meals!

 

[jandj524]

Hi --

Disney Restaurants/Chefs are truly amazing with their care for people with special dietary needs. My husband is Celiac and always has a good meal when we travel to Disney. You will find many choices - from hamburgers on Gluten Free (GF) Buns and GF Chicken Nuggets at Quick Service locations to Chefs stopping by your table to personally take your daughter's food request (and preparing it to ensure no cross contamination). While most standard GF dessert offerings include ice cream or creme brulee, you can find GF cake and GF Brownies as well.

Be sure to ask to speak with a manager at a quick service restaurant and if you stop at one of the ice cream parlors ask that they use clean scoop for your DD. We always indicate my husband's special dietary needs on our dining reservations. You can also e-mail SpecialDiets@DisneyWorld.com - they can send you a list of pre-packaged products that are GF as well as provide a list of menu items that are GF. You can also send them a list of your dining reservations and they will get word to the restaurants about your special needs.

The buffets can be tough (cross contamination can easily happen -have seen too many people using the same serving utensils for different food items, as well as food spilling over from one dish to another). However, the chefs at the buffets will prepare GF dishes in the kitchen if you'd like.

Best wishes for your DD

Have a great trip

 

[tripplanner2]

Thanks for the posts guys. It is very hard for her so I am just trying to be as proactive as possible. I would hate to get someplace only to have a chef or server say that she could not have something that she was looking forward to.

I did contact special diets and they sent me back a ton of information. Now I get to read through it all.

Thanks again for the help.

 

[chb]

I just got back last week. I can't have wheat or milk. Everyone I encountered was so nice! My allergies were noted when I made reservations for table service, so they knew to expect me. All I had to do at the counter service was say "food allergies" and the manager came right over to assist me. I felt so spoiled it was hard to come home!

 

[tripplanner2]

I just got back last week. I can't have wheat or milk. Everyone I encountered was so nice! My allergies were noted when I made reservations for table service, so they knew to expect me. All I had to do at the counter service was say "food allergies" and the manager came right over to assist me. I felt so spoiled it was hard to come home!

That is great to hear. She has been feeling pretty sorry for herself because it is both of her sisters birthdays this week and she is feeling left out. She never like the cake to begin with, so I did not think it would be an issue if ice cream were served with it but I guess it is knowing you can't have something that makes it worse.

 

[clutter]

My dd's friend discovered gluten-free pancakes/waffles at the counter service places! Everywhere we went was very accomodating. I'm sure she'll find things to love.

 

[clanmcculloch]

Definitely hop on over to the disABILITIES! board to check out the numerous threads about WDW gluten free.

Here's a list of just a few of the many gluten free treats you can get at WDW.
* brownies
* chocolate chip cookies
* pizza
* chicken tenders
* french fries
* turkey legs
* pasta (including mac & cheese)
* Mickey waffles
* pancakes

You can even order a tasty gluten free birthday cake if you've got a special occasion (this has to be done ahead of time just like any birthday cake).

WDW really is the best place in the world to vacation gluten free. She will be made to feel so special. There have been times where my kids are served things that look better than what everybody else eats.

All of the following pictures are gluten (and other things) free. Have you daughter take a peek through and she'll feel SO much better about WDW gluten free. I keep forgetting to take food pictures so this is only a tiny subset of all the wonderful gluten free goodness we've experienced.