Down Syndrome and Gluten Free

[Sarahbelle341]

We are planning a trip with my brother for this October. We just got back from Disney last week and we went last March but he hasn't been since he was diagnosed with Celiac. He prefers mostly meat and potatoes type dishes in general. What are some gluten free options or best eateries for gluten free menu options? What about snacks in the park? Is table service the most reccomended for conveinence and speed? Can they make sure his food is safe without making him feel "different"? How does the DAS work for cognitive disabilities? Will the characters give him attention like a kid?

 

[lanejudy]

There are several recent threads about gluten free dining, some even have links to outside sites that are helpful. Check these as a start:
http://www.disboards.com/threads/gluten-free-crystal-palace-breakfast.3379884/
http://www.disboards.com/threads/gluten-free-dining.3373144/
http://www.disboards.com/threads/best-autoimmune-paleo-gluten-free-grain-free-food-options.3374546/

The WDW - Disabilities Access Service (DAS) thread pinned near the top of this forum has information about the DAS card. It will depend on your brother's needs how/if it works for you.

Characters love to ham it up with anybody willing to do so -- child or adult! They are very good at "reading" people and adapting to that particular guest. If there is something specific you'd like the character to know about interacting with your brother, you may speak to the CM when it's his turn.

Enjoy your vacation!

 

[StitchesGr8Fan]

My brother has a syndrome that has a lot of similarities to Downs. He doesn't have to be GF so I can't comment on that. But I wanted to say that the characters were wonderful with him. The more he hammed it up for the camera the more they did too. I think he felt more "normal" because it's ok to act like a kid at WDW so he didn't have to work so hard to figure out what was real and what was make believe. He could let himself get absorbed in the experience.

Have a great trip!

 

[Denine]

For the most part, just pick a restaurant or type of food he likes to eat and they will be able to accomodate your brother. Disney-owned places are better than non-disney owned, but we have never had a bad experience. Note the need to be GF on your ADR's. A chef will come to your table and discuss options. If you opt for a buffet (Boma is awesome!), the chef will walk you through and let you know what is safe or can be modied and brought from the back. My DD has celiac, she is 12. She felt a bit strange our first trip when they chef would come out at every restaurant, but if you look around the restaurants, it is happening all over! QS places can be a long wait since they make the food fresh, say 20 min or so. We usually opt for the sit-down because if I am going to wait that long for food, I am going to be comfortable, LOL! My DD is also a meat/fish and potatoes girl. She gets salmon or steak a lot. Most places have those options. Good luck and have fun!!!
We are going back soon. If you have any restaurants in particular that you are interested in, let me know.

 

[Sarahbelle341]

I think we are going to go with the deluxe dining plan for sit down meals this trip. My 5 year old won't want to wait in line indefintely for food so I think sit down meals will make the trip more pleasant for everyone. He's kind of a picky eater so I am trying to find the gluten free menu options in advance to make the best reservations but I can't seem to find the information anywhere. Right now I am most interested in Whispering Canyon, Ohana breakfast, Tusker House lunch, Sci fi, Hollywood & Vine lunch, Garden Grill, Le Cellier, Be our guest dinner,Cape May breakfast, 1900 Park Fare dinner, Crystal Palace, Cinderella Royal table, Raglan Road, Jiko, and possibly Narcoosee's.

 

[lanejudy]

Everybody's preferences are different -- I just want to point out that the Deluxe Dining Plan is a LOT of food, and a LOT of time spent in table service restaurants. Some people are fine with that. But since you mention your 5-yr-old won't wait in lines for quick service, there will be a lot more waiting for 3 table service meals a day. That might work for your family, especially if you have distractions to keep him occupied at the table and you have a longish vacation to take your time in the parks each day.

Enjoy your vacation!

 

[Sarahbelle341]

We've gone with the regular dining plan and the deluxe before so I know how much food is involved. I'm mostly just nervous about doing quick service with allergies. My husband is hard of hearing as well so quick service dining is complicated at best for us. I think adding in the allergies and extra wait time with no entertainment (we typically do character dining or a themed restaurant as sit down plus buffets are quick) may just be more than I can handle. I just dislike being tied to so many reservations with the cancellation policy since I like the ability to make day of reservations.

 

[Denine]

We haven't been to most of those places GF. Some we have been to prior to going GF. We used to enjoy eating at Whispering Canyon, and based on the food they have, I am guessing they will do fine with GF, lus you have all tht silliness! Again, we have gone to Ohana prior to going GF and it was good. We have never been to Tusker House, Sci Fi or H&V. We have eaten at Garden Grill and that is one place we will never return. We thought it was gross, but there are a ton of people that love it. I don't know how well they do GF. We have been to BOG for dinner and enjoyed it. My daughter got salmon and GF rolls and I forget what she has ordered for sides. We have done Cape May for dinner, but not breakfast. I am guessing they will offer up GF waffles, muffins and donuts and then let you know what else is safte at the buffet. We went to 1900 for breakfast and we weren't impressed, maybe dinner is different. ALl of you buffet breakfasts we pretty much be the same. We have done CP for breakfast. When we went, they had GF waffles, but they weren't Mickey-shaped. Again, food-wise we weren't impressed. We have not been to CRT in a long time. We LOVE Raglan Road for their GF fish & chips and onion rings! We have never taken our DD to Jiko, that was usually our date night. I have good things about GF dining here. Same thing with Narcoossee's. We don't really do character dining anymore.

I think we are going to go with the deluxe dining plan for sit down meals this trip. My 5 year old won't want to wait in line indefintely for food so I think sit down meals will make the trip more pleasant for everyone. He's kind of a picky eater so I am trying to find the gluten free menu options in advance to make the best reservations but I can't seem to find the information anywhere. Right now I am most interested in Whispering Canyon, Ohana breakfast, Tusker House lunch, Sci fi, Hollywood & Vine lunch, Garden Grill, Le Cellier, Be our guest dinner,Cape May breakfast, 1900 Park Fare dinner, Crystal Palace, Cinderella Royal table, Raglan Road, Jiko, and possibly Narcoosee's.

 

[Sarahbelle341]

Thank you so much for your help. With our group we tend to go for character dining or a themed dining experience (TREX, Sanaa, Coral Reef, dinner show etc). My five year old does better when the food is part of the experience vs taking a break from the awesome disney park experience to sit down and eat a boring chicken nugget meal. The themed restaurants/character meals are a big part of our vacation experience.

 

[philharmagic fan]

We've gone with the regular dining plan and the deluxe before so I know how much food is involved. I'm mostly just nervous about doing quick service with allergies. My husband is hard of hearing as well so quick service dining is complicated at best for us. I think adding in the allergies and extra wait time with no entertainment (we typically do character dining or a themed restaurant as sit down plus buffets are quick) may just be more than I can handle. I just dislike being tied to so many reservations with the cancellation policy since I like the ability to make day of reservations.

One thing we found to be helpful - we eat a small breakfast, and try to get to a quick-serve lunch venue just as they are opening (usually 11am). Since there are few people in the restaurant, the manager comes out promptly and the prep time after ordering is usually a little shorter. Also, they will often ask if you want the drinks and sides ahead of the entree, so your kids can sit at a table and have salad/grapes/apples/carrots and a drink while waiting for the gluten-free pizza to bake or other entree to come out - even in busy seasons we've usually been offered a table while one of us waits for the hot food.