Gluten Free Dining? Advice?

[Aimeedyan]

Hi all!

We are planning our first visit to both US and IOA and I am having a heck of a time finding information on dining options for a strict diet (gluten free, to be specific). I have noticed that both parks DON'T allow any outside food, which is a real problem if they can't accomodate the diet. Disney is WONDERFUL about preparing gluten free meals, and allowing outside food, I am hoping US and IOA is as well. Anyone know? Who do I call to get info? I've been ALL over their website, and came here for help!

THANKS!!!!

Aimee

 

[Aimeedyan]

I'll reply to my own post since I made some progress!

Well, the dining lines at Universal are not as helpful as Disney, they actually had no clue what I was talking about, but they did offer to call one of their restaurants (Mitos, maybe?) and they immediately told the reservationist that with 24 hour notice, they could accomodate. So hopefully the restaurants themselves know what it is. She did tell me that to her knowledge, none of the walkup places can accomodate, only the sit-down (read EXPENSIVE) ones can. So we will punt, and return to the room and eat, I guess, since they won't allow food in.

Would still love to hear if anyone has experienced gluten free dining there! =)

 

[essmom]

Never heard of gluten free!!! What is it???

 

[Tigger&Belle]

Universal has an official policy about no outside food (same as WDW), but they've never said anything to me about bringing food in. Maybe plan on bringing food in for one meal a day and eating in a sit-down restaurant for the other meal.

T&B

 

[damo]

We need Secondcook to answer this post. He is a chef at Confisco's and I'm sure he would tell you who could provide gluten free meals. Universal is actually very versatile in their dining and I would bet that you will be able to find what you are looking for. Did you check the menus of the restaurants? Most are available on this board. Just check up a little higher in the posts.

Essmom, here's a short list of some of the things that people on gluten-free diets need to avoid:food ingredients to avoid


Wheat: grain containing high levels of gluten.
Bulgar: soaked and dried wheat.
Durum: a type of wheat.
Strong flour, bread flour, brown flour, wholemeal flour, granary flour: all made from wheat.
Oats: contains some protein similar to wheat gluten but may not cause problems for all coeliacs. Best avoided.
Barley: contains some protein similar to wheat gluten.
Rye: contains some protein similar to wheat gluten.
Triticale: a hybrid wheat contains some protein similar to wheat gluten.
Spelt: a primitive wheat, contains some protein similar to wheat gluten.
Semolina: made from wheat.
Couscous: made from wheat.
Pasta, macaroni, spaghetti: made from wheat.
Baking powder: may contain wheat flour.
Stock cubes: may contain wheat flour.
Mustard powder: may contain wheat flour.
Soy sauce: this is normally soya beans fermented with wheat flour.

 

[Aimeedyan]

In a nutshell: Gluten is a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye... sometimes oats, too. You would think you could just cut out breads/pastas, but its in EVERYTHING from soy sauce, chips, cheese, sour cream, etc. One has to be very careful in reading labels (its not listed as GLUTEN but other names), and also contact manufacturers since they can label things in broad ways like "modified food starch" and it could be from gluten. Those with Celiac Disease have an intolerance to gluten. Which is what I have. I have a severe immediate reaction when I ingest even a trace amount, and it lasts for a couple of days... also, it damages my small intestine, making it unable for me to absorb nutrients. Celiac Disease is VERY common in Europe, but thought to be rare here in the States... however, a study done last February shows that more like 1 in 130 Americans have it, but only 1 in 2500 are diagnosed... because of that, more people are being diagnosed in recent months as doctors test for it, but food manufacturers and restaurants havent been accomodating as of yet. They are making progress, though.

Disney is WONDERFUL with this, and provides gluten free meals at ALL their locations, and their chefs and staff are educated on it. After my discussion with Universal, I assume they haven't had much demand for it...

Thank you for telling me that people haven't stopped you from bringing in foods. I usually just bring a soft side bag with rice cakes, peanut butter, gluten free bread, etc to supplment what food I can find. Not a 4 course meal, in anyway =)

Thanks again!!!!!! =)

 

[Aimeedyan]

Damo - I did check out the menus, unfortunetly I practically need an ingredient list to make sure things are okay... its amazing the variety of things people put into recipes. I hope the person who is a chef can help me out! They would know if the places are accomodating or not =)

I would love to eat at sit down places each meal, but can't afford it... so i just need to see if a couple of the counter places have ingredient lists available. I keep comparing it to Disney, and Im sorry, but its my only other experience! For instance, they have a full ingredient list at each counter service place for you to review prior to ordering. Plus, they will tell you over the phone which places have what. So you can plan your trip around the park easier. =)

THANKS!!!

 

[damo]

Here is his user info, perhaps you could e-mail him.
http://130.94.75.33/member.php?s=&action=getinfo&userid=21493

 

[Mainebound]

We are travelling with my mother next week to WDW/USO. She has celiac sprue and we have had wonderful treatment at WDW dining. This will be our first trip to US/IOA. We are staying at the HRH March 6-9. I did make a lot of sit-down reservations, and our plan is just to show up a bit early and ask for a manager or a chef to come out and talk with my mother (like they do at WDW). If all else fails, she knows what she can and cannot eat --as you can tell form Aimee's helpful posts, celiacs absolutely have to be super-knowledgeable and super-vigilant about food.

I will report on how that aspect of our UO trip went when we return!

 

[Aimeedyan]

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU! I would love to hear how your eating experiences are there. Its nice to know someone else has heard of it, too!

We will have our own car there, and we will probably leave the property to eat some meals for cost and accomodations. There is a PF Changs at Florida Mall, which is close, and they have a gluten free menu.

I look forward to hearing how it went!!!!!