Gluten Free at Disney?? NO PROBLEM!! Tell us what you got!

[LJC1861]

We are halfway through our first trip to Disney with a gluten free diner. In addition she is also allergic to peanuts, tree nuts and nitrites.

Our first meal was at Teppan Edo. The manager came over and went through the entire menu with Julie and then once she had ordered the chef reviewed it as well. In addition he cooked her meal first before the grill was contaminated with any other food.

The next day we dined at Pecos Bill's where once again the manager assisted her. He asked her what she wanted. She said she would love a cheeseburger and fries. He replied with a big smile...."NO problem!!" Except for the fact that the bun was a little stiffer than she is used to she enjoyed her meal. Her fries were prepared in a dedicated fryer.

That night was Boma. Once again the chef walked her through the buffet patiently answering all her questions. He offered to cook her some salmon without the sauce and then offered to prepare anything she wanted if she couldn't find enough on the menu to suit her.

Today we dined at the Prime Time Cafe. The chef once again made ordering very easy and Julie was thrilled to be able to have a gluten free brownie ala mode!!!!

We had dinner at Wolfgang Puck Express. This meal was our first disappointment of the trip. There was no manager available and the girls behind the counter said that the chef was busy. My niece did not want a fuss made and ordered roast chicken and salad, which she ate with no dressing as she could not verify the ingredient list.

I will post more later in the trip. Overall, I have been very impressed with the care taken to insure that she is eating the right foods.

Linda

 

[pudge the fish]

I am so happy all is going well! I find Disney is the easiest place to eat with allergies

Sorry that you got the there is no manager available at pucks- I have had issues there too and my family loves it, but I just get a drink these days there. I have my doubts about no manager on site but I don't argue either.

Hope the rest of the trip is just as awesome!

 

[DVC_Princess]

Hi! Thanks for all of the updates and reviews

I'm glad that your trip is going well and hope the rest of your vacation runs just as smoothly. I love dining GF at Disney. Not having to worry about what you're going to eat for once is the best part of vacation for me these days - plus not having to cook

Have a great trip!!!

 

[tarak]

LJC1861 - did you contact the restaurants ahead of time, or mention the allergies at the time you were seated? We just found out about a month ago that our son is allergic to peanuts (and we've been told to avoid tree nuts as well, although he didn't test positive for that allergy). I was glad to see you had no problems at Boma, since we want to stay at the AKL and I'd like to eat there (as well as Jiko). I know I'm way ahead of schedule on this, but want to make sure I know what to do when the time comes (about 15 months from now ).

 

[LJC1861]

Tarak-

We had it noted on all of our reservations. I noticed when we were seated at most restaurants that it was printed on the little slip that gets placed on the table. In addition I mentioned it to both the hostess and server and the Chefs were very prompt in coming to the table.

Yesterday we ate at Sunshine Season's food court. This was a bit hectic with all the stations, but the chef did her best to get Julie what she wanted. Julie was not feeling her best and opted for just what she could find and had fruit for dessert.

Dinner at Hoop De Doo was wonderful! They brought her grilled chicken instead of fried and ribs without Sauce. The rest of the items she could eat. Dessert for her was a very impressive bowl of fresh fruit, which she loved.

Today we had lunch at Pizzafari.....and she had gluten free pizza! It looked like a regular flatbread pizza and there was not one bite left when Julie was finished. Dinner was at Hollywood and Vine and again the Chef walked Julie through the buffet and offered to prepare her anything else she wanted.

Tomorrow we are dining at Le Cellier and the Grand Floridian Cafe. Reports will follow.

Linda

 

[JJ&JHsmom]

Thank you for taking the time to post reviews!!!!! We are taking my niece, who is gluten free in August and are planning some of the same meals you are reviewing. It makes me feel so much better to see people having good food and enjoying their meals. Hope the rest of your trip is just a good!!!!!

 

[tarak]

Linda - thank you so much for the information. I was thinking I'd probably ahead of time to make sure and then make sure at the restaurant that they were aware of the allergy. Still getting used to it - our older daughter was allergic to soy and dairy as a baby, but she grew out of it. I'm used to checking labels, but not for nuts. We were asked by relatives recently what he could eat. I said anything but nuts. So I was asked if he could eat Honey Nut Cheerios. Um, no. It may not have real nuts in it, but I suspect there's "nut flavor."
Almond, actually, I checked. You never know.

 

[LJC1861]

Yesterday we had wonderful meals at Le Cellier and the Grand Floridian Cafe. In both cases the chefs came out, as expected. Le Cellier was great as always and Julie had the mushroom filet, which she devoured. She was disappointed that she could not have the cheese soup, but it is thickened with flour.

At the Grand Floridian Cafe the chef was clueless as to what nitrites are. ( A food preservitive found in lunch meat, juices and wine....among other foods) He told her she could have the red wine sauce, and Julie politely told him that red wine has nitrites in it so she could not have it....the chef replied " Well it is gluten free!" Still she had a fantastic meal.

Her only true disappointment throughout the week was dessert. In most cases it was a gluten free brownie, gluten free chocolate chip cookie, ice cream or fruit. She said she would have loved it if there were more puddings and such on the menus. She did have creme brulee whenever she could however.

All in all I would have to say that Disney is one of the best places to travel if you or your child has food allergies. The chefs were very accomodating, even at the quick service establishments. Do not be afraid to ask any question you might have, they will go above and beyond to find an answer. The only restaurant we will not go back to is Wolfgang Puck Express.....everything else was wonderful.

Linda

 

[GrumpyMom25]

We also had great experiences when we were at Disney last summer with our 9 year old who is on a GF diet. There was always a Chef available to talk to in regards to what Charlie ate. We had breakfast at Donald's Safari Breakfast, a lunch at the Sci-Fi Din-In, he got to eat pizza at Pizza Planet and they were also very helpful at the food court in All Star Movies Resort. At the counter service food places in the parks they usually have a notebook with allergy information available. Another favorite was the Mexican food counter service place across from The Pirates of the Caribbean.
I think we'll cross Wolfgang Puck off our list for future visits.

 

[mickeymit]

I have four GF diners who are all looking forward to eating GF @ DIS

 

[copperbrick]

Thank you so very much for this thread!

My husband and I will be traveling to WDW this fall, and I've learned I need to let DW know about Celiac in advance. It is WONDERFUL to know they will take care of me, and that I can have the same great time as everyone else.

I am so grateful to know about letting WDW DINE know in advance.

 

[Alexander]

This thread has made me so happy! DS (10) was diagnosed with Celiac in April. We have since done a Disney Cruise, and they were wonderful to him. We will be traveling to WDW in August and he is very worried about what he'll be able to eat. We tend (well used to) eat out a lot and it has been VERY hard on DS. Just last week we were at Friendly's as he looked over the menu I saw tears rolling down his face because there was so little he could have (talk about break my heart--this is my baby). I have to have him come and read all of the great things he will be able to have!

 

[MrsJD]

This thread has made me so happy! DS (10) was diagnosed with Celiac in April. We have since done a Disney Cruise, and they were wonderful to him. We will be traveling to WDW in August and he is very worried about what he'll be able to eat. We tend (well used to) eat out a lot and it has been VERY hard on DS. Just last week we were at Friendly's as he looked over the menu I saw tears rolling down his face because there was so little he could have (talk about break my heart--this is my baby). I have to have him come and read all of the great things he will be able to have!

The first year of figuring out how to be a Celiac or cook for a Celiac are the hardest. DH was diagnosed almost two years ago and we are doing much better with finding foods he can eat. The list gets longer all the time.

As for eating out, Outback Steakhouse and Carrabba's are known for their Celiac awareness and have great gluten free menus. We go to Outback every chance we get!

Let me know if you want some cooking ideas or recipes. I'm sure you'll find that people in the Celiac community are very helpful with one another.

 

[MrsJD]

Has anyone been to Earl of Sandwich and know if they have gluten free bread available?

 

[BeccaGrace]

Has anyone been to Earl of Sandwich and know if they have gluten free bread available?

I e-mailed their customer service to find out if they have any GF option and have not heard back yet.

 

[SueM in MN]

There is another thread about Gluten Free dining that just was started a month ago. Rather than have 2 threads and people not know where to post, I'm going to combine them.