Gluten free info for CS restuarants- please!

[livndisney]

I'll admit it: that's what I love about WDW! That they'll get the manager for me right away! I'm not worried so much about the wait (though we've always gotten very prompt service, we've been really lucky), I'm worried about keeping my family safe, so I WANT the manager to be the one taking our order and personally walkie-talkie-ing it back to a special part of the kitchen that knows how to prepare allergy foods! I don't look at is as being cast aside or inconvenienced, I consider it special treatment and I'm grateful for it!

If you're gluten free, then you know how pesky gluten can be, hiding in flavorings and unsuspecting foods that to others would seem naturally gluten free, so I love that according to the list, the turkey legs people walk around with are gluten free. Dole Whips: gluten free. Mickey Ice Cream: gluten free. Stuff that's sold at stands without a "manager," I love that they're able to tell me if it's gluten free or not.

As far as CS... Pinnochio's has pizza & mac n cheese, Columbia Harbor has chicken strips & mac n cheese, but Cosmic Ray's has roasted chicken, burgers/dogs with g/f buns, salads, cookies/brownies... even if there are daily updates I can decided that either pizza is good enough or that we'll go to the place with the most choices. The list is pretty detailed, mentioning brands whenever possible, and it says the manager will provide you with the most updated info (for us we were told about some g/f sides that aren't on the list-more choices is a good thing!). I couldn't ask for more than that! Even if you encounter changes at the restaurants, you are armed with a good solid base of general knowledge of where you can eat and where you can't, and then the manager helps you make safe choices.

After trying to dine at Universal, WDW is a dream come true for gluten free. Now THEY didn't know squat!!! They couldn't tell me anything about any of their stands or vendors, the employees at the stands themselves had no clue what they were serving or what was in it... the head chef himself responded to my questions with a random, disjointed paragraph, including telling me they had gluten free fries. Only he neglected to say that I needed to call the day before and let them know to reserve a frier as g/f for the day, so no fries for my guys. That's the head chef who couldn't get it straight! They didn't have another person in charge of special diets to even respond to me. How is that possible these days? That was in 2009, I hope for their sake they've improved. But in my book, WDW may not be perfect, but holy heck are they trying hard to get it right! LOL

I really don't want to be a negative nelly, so I will just say things have changed a bit at WDW over the last few years. I am local and spend lots of time in the parks. I hope you are not disappointed and you enjoy your trip.

 

[livndisney]

Just a heads up! Menus at WDW are changing! So the allergy info we have now, may no longer be very helpful!

http://www.easywdw.com/uncategorize...se-higher-prices-magic-kingdom-wide/#comments

 

[clanmcculloch]

CHH has allergy free chicken tenders there. I do believe they give out fruit b/c they can't do the fries. Not sure on desserts. Probably FM brownies.

A few days ago they not only had French Meadow brownies, they also had French Meadow chocolate chip cookies as well as Enjoy Life chocolate chip cookies. My kids were very happy.

The fries can definitely be baked. They don't have a dedicated fryer so they shouldn't be serving fried french fries. they have to bake the chicken as well as the fries. Ask the manager how they'll be cooking them. I would bet the idiot manager that livndisney dealt with would say fried. Do NOT accept that. The person we dealt with was wonderful and did bake the fries and chicken. None of us had any problems after this meal.

I have the allergy sheet from Special Diets. It says where you can get FM brownies (like what CS places and things like that) but in Sunshine Seasons, WHERE do you find them? Do they have an allergen-free case or something? And at the other CS places, do you order it at the window?

There's a cooler section with drinks and some premade items in the between each counter. One of the middle ones (I can't recall which despite being there so recently; I just remember it was in the middle) has shelves on the right of the cooler. The shelves contain all sorts of allergy offerings including a bunch of Divvies products (the cookies contain gluten but the caramel corn and jelly beans don't), French Meadow brownies, Enjoy Life cookies and Enjoy Life rice milk chocolate crispie rice chocolate bars). The shelf is beside the cooler that has the cartons of Silk milk.

We were told (on a list) they had them at Beaches and Cream and they denied any knowledge of them...actually wouldn't even get a chef. It was weird. My husband has also had them at the Poly - and thought they were ok but for some reason really thinks they are best at CHH. I will remember the American Pavillion - although while in Epcot we usually do Mexico.

Liz

I'll never step foot in B&C again but that's a story for my upcoming dining report (it'll happen, I promise). Anyway, Special Diets told me that both B&C and Hurricaine Hannah's at BC carry the tenders but the chef I spoke with from BC by phone before our trip said they don't because their kitchens are not equipped to handle allergies. He did say that I could place an order for them at either but that a chef would have to go to Captain's Grill to make them. I guess not all servers and chefs are willing to go to the trouble. I didn't end up trying which I'm glad of since they gave us the wrong type of ice cream there anyway so who knows what would have happened if we ordered a meal (it's a good thing regular vanilla has little black specks in it or else we would have just eaten it).

My DH and DS1&2 are g/f. When I contacted Special Diets a few months ago in preparation for our upcoming trip in October, they sent me 8 different documents regarding food allergies at Disney, including the "No Gluten Added Products WDW" updated 5.31.11, as well as the "Water Parks Menu Items." I received the lists on 6/13/11 and I see that this thread was just started on 8/19... someone please tell me everything has not changed! LOL

The No Gluten list tells you every product they sell that is gluten free at every counter service, specialty shop (like ice cream parlors) quick snack stand and outdoor cart, as well as the table service restaurants in Epcot only. This document is so valuable!!! Of course you should still ask for a manager at every CS place, but it's so nice to know what carts have treats that are g/f! The Water Parks document isn't as thorough and isn't specifically broken down by allergen, but I'm able to tell from the list that there will be things my family can eat and I'm happy enough with that!

Our first gluten free trip was 5/09, and I found the materials given to me by Special Diets for that trip were accurate and couldn't have been more helpful. The CMs were outstanding as well, we marveled at our experience. I hope you're able to get your hands on this information and that you enjoy a great gluten free vacation!

I really don't want to be a negative nelly, so I will just say things have changed a bit at WDW over the last few years. I am local and spend lots of time in the parks. I hope you are not disappointed and you enjoy your trip.

PLEASE listen to what livndisney has just said. Products do seem to change a lot and those documents that are now being sent our are not nearly as detailed and I found even this past week that there were inaccuracies. The documents are good guides for which locations will have the most options as well as a decent guide for which places have some kind of speciality items such as chicken tenders and mac & cheese but do not count on it being 100% and do not count on everything on the list being the exact items that are available.

 

[Traveliz]

A few days ago they not only had French Meadow brownies, they also had French Meadow chocolate chip cookies as well as Enjoy Life chocolate chip cookies. My kids were very happy.

The fries can definitely be baked. They don't have a dedicated fryer so they shouldn't be serving fried french fries. they have to bake the chicken as well as the fries. Ask the manager how they'll be cooking them. I would bet the idiot manager that livndisney dealt with would say fried. Do NOT accept that. The person we dealt with was wonderful and did bake the fries and chicken. None of us had any problems after this meal.



There's a cooler section with drinks and some premade items in the between each counter. One of the middle ones (I can't recall which despite being there so recently; I just remember it was in the middle) has shelves on the right of the cooler. The shelves contain all sorts of allergy offerings including a bunch of Divvies products (the cookies contain gluten but the caramel corn and jelly beans don't), French Meadow brownies, Enjoy Life cookies and Enjoy Life rice milk chocolate crispie rice chocolate bars). The shelf is beside the cooler that has the cartons of Silk milk.



I'll never step foot in B&C again but that's a story for my upcoming dining report (it'll happen, I promise). Anyway, Special Diets told me that both B&C and Hurricaine Hannah's at BC carry the tenders but the chef I spoke with from BC by phone before our trip said they don't because their kitchens are not equipped to handle allergies. He did say that I could place an order for them at either but that a chef would have to go to Captain's Grill to make them. I guess not all servers and chefs are willing to go to the trouble. I didn't end up trying which I'm glad of since they gave us the wrong type of ice cream there anyway so who knows what would have happened if we ordered a meal (it's a good thing regular vanilla has little black specks in it or else we would have just eaten it).





PLEASE listen to what livndisney has just said. Products do seem to change a lot and those documents that are now being sent our are not nearly as detailed and I found even this past week that there were inaccuracies. The documents are good guides for which locations will have the most options as well as a decent guide for which places have some kind of speciality items such as chicken tenders and mac & cheese but do not count on it being 100% and do not count on everything on the list being the exact items that are available.

I am thinking it was CHH that was saying it would be a half an hour as they were cleaning out a fryer and starting from scratch for the fries - or maybe it was the Poly...it was one of the two last week as he only had fries at the two places.

We found B&C less than accomodating also.

Liz

 

[clanmcculloch]

I am thinking it was CHH that was saying it would be a half an hour as they were cleaning out a fryer and starting from scratch for the fries - or maybe it was the Poly...it was one of the two last week as he only had fries at the two places.

We found B&C less than accomodating also.

Liz

It would take a heck of a lot longer than half an hour to drain a fryer, clean it out, refill it and then get it heated to the correct temperature to fry the fries and then actually cook the fries. There's just no way. It just seems to defy the laws of physics. It sounds more like you encountered that idiot chef who livndisney encountered at CHH. Either than or they had started quite a while earlier and were in the final stages, but that just doesn't sound like what you're saying he said. Scary!!

If I remember correct about Poly, the chef at Captain Cook's went upstairs to the allergy kitchen at Kona to cook the chicken tenders and fries. This was in February.

 

[livndisney]

It would take a heck of a lot longer than half an hour to drain a fryer, clean it out, refill it and then get it heated to the correct temperature to fry the fries and then actually cook the fries. There's just no way. It just seems to defy the laws of physics. It sounds more like you encountered that idiot chef who livndisney encountered at CHH. Either than or they had started quite a while earlier and were in the final stages, but that just doesn't sound like what you're saying he said. Scary!!

If I remember correct about Poly, the chef at Captain Cook's went upstairs to the allergy kitchen at Kona to cook the chicken tenders and fries. This was in February.

A chef I trust has told me on several occasions it is a minimum of 45mins to drain/clean and cook fries. It has been offered to me, but baking is usually faster.

 

[bytheblood]

Hi where can I find a list of the GF food for the counter services resturants across WDW- I know that you used to be able to mail disney for this info - but now its only for multiple alergies. We want to plan which places we are going to in advance, so would like to get hold of this info.

At the moment we plan

Sunshine Seasons -
Wolfgang Puck Express
Yak and Yeti
Yakitori House
Columbia Harbour House
Does any one have info on any of the above. What do they do about deserts are there any that are GF in the Counter services places


I also have to find 11 more! (2 in each water park)

If you email specialdiets@disney.com, they will send you a single email with a few attachments. One of the attachments will provide you with all of the CS locations that have gluten free options. I am looking at it now - it has quite a few options.

My document is dated July 2011.

 

[livndisney]

If you email specialdiets@disney.com, they will send you a single email with a few attachments. One of the attachments will provide you with all of the CS locations that have gluten free options. I am looking at it now - it has quite a few options.

My document is dated July 2011.

FYI-Menus in WDW just changed again, your list "may be" outdated. Also as mentioned options on a list are not always the same as options available when you are standing there.

 

[Traveliz]

It would take a heck of a lot longer than half an hour to drain a fryer, clean it out, refill it and then get it heated to the correct temperature to fry the fries and then actually cook the fries. There's just no way. It just seems to defy the laws of physics. It sounds more like you encountered that idiot chef who livndisney encountered at CHH. Either than or they had started quite a while earlier and were in the final stages, but that just doesn't sound like what you're saying he said. Scary!!

If I remember correct about Poly, the chef at Captain Cook's went upstairs to the allergy kitchen at Kona to cook the chicken tenders and fries. This was in February.

It was almost closing time - its my opinion - and I told my husband that night this same thing - that they probably all ready had one cleaned out for the night and started new with it.

Liz