gluten intolerance.... seriously

[Thinktinknpixiedust]

I am "lucky" enough to be ONLY gluten intolerant. Meaning on occasion I may indulge and won't reap the negative results like a full blown celiac would. Have any of you really USED the gluten free way of Disney Dining? it all sounds so "romantic" in the brochures, but hey.. i have had to have "special" things cooked for me at wedding and I can tell you with certainty i went hungry... I LOVE Disney and LOVE Disney food, will this work out for me, or should i just jump off the boat when i get there and deal with it when i get home?
Also.. I don't like rocking boats or making waves (hmmmm... lots of maritime ref. here? ) will it turn into a giant to do when i need to order?

Tell me your REAL expierences with gluten free dining at disney... is it worth it or will I only want to walk the plank when I am done? (sorry... had a theme workin here!)

 

[DCDisney]

I have food allergies but I'm only slightly allergic to nuts. Once you talk to the chef about a food issue you are pretty much stuck even if you don't like what they are offering. For example at Chef Mickeys I was told I couldn't have any dessert except the soft serve ice cream. Most of the desserts would have been fine for me because I'm allowed to have things produced in a factory with nuts but they refused to give me any desserts from the back and the ones on the buffet were too mixed up with peanut butter stuff. Perhaps if you look at menus online you can decide which places you want to splurge? Getting a mixed meal might be tough at least for me it was.

Yvonne

 

[CarnotaurDad]

my s-i-l is celiac and we have travelled with her at WDW. It was great compared to eating out other places. All of the chefs were very nice and helpful. The dinner at Boma was a work of art - we were all jealous.

When she spoke to the manager at ABC Commissary she said that the chefs at the counter service love to get a chance to make something off the menu. Almost every counter place has gluten free bread. There is alot of info on these boards if you need more help.

good luck.

PS the rice crispie treat are gluten free.

 

[KirklandTutu]

I was a vegitarian (with fish) that is soy-intolerant (nice combination, huh). I couldn't believe the last time we were at Disneyworld, just how amazing the chefs were in dealing with this. At every sit down resteraunt we went to, the chef came out to talk to me and despite my saying 'i can do a little bit, just not alot' they were always insistant that they would do it completley soy-free. The best fish and chips I've ever had was at the Rose and Crown after the chef insisted that he heat up a vat of olive oil instead of the soybean oil they normally use.

I'm no longer a vegg-head, but honestly, after all the one-on-one treatment the last time around and the amazing dishes that they created on the spot in the ten or so different resteraunts we went to, I'm tempted to lie this time just so I can go through that again.

Don't worry about rocking the boat, I sort of got the feeling that the chefs were welcoming the opportunity to do something new and not on the normal menu...like it was a challenge to be had and met!

 

[Thinktinknpixiedust]

Hmmmm... thank you for the input. I guess I am so used to seeing the "eye roll" the moment i mention it in public restaurants that I really want a vacation from that too! what about deserts? am I truly going to be stuck with soft serve? I dunno... I am still on the fence...

 

[dawnball]

The gluten free desserts are a little limited, but not just to soft serve. Chef Mickey's has a gluten free chocolate cake (flourless) that is to die for (and not available to folks who eat gluten). The america pavilion also has a great flourless chocolate cake. There's a ton of creme brulee that's fine, and there are often special gluten free desserts.

Now - is it the very best food you can get on property? Not always. Some of the options are certainly uninspired. But a lot of the options are very, very good, and a few of them are better than what you can get without special needs.

 

[sleepingbean]

We LOVED the dining so much (gluten free and dairy free) that we are going back two times in the same year! I posted pictures and descriptions in my link . I hope that helps!

 

[KitKate]

My 7 year old DD has celiac and it was great to receive attention at the table service meals. She was very happy with her selections and the chefs came out to the table and ensured that she had something to order, or walked us throught the buffet line to point out the proper selections. It was great not having to find "something" on the menu that was gluten free like you do in public restaurants; a mini vacation for me.

 

[irish dancer]

One thing you can do to help is to notify Disney Dining now and have them make note on your TS ADRs, this way the restaurant will know in advance. Some people also call the restaurants directly in advance and let them know. I think there is a way to have CS have special foods if they know in advance.

There is also a lot of info on this on the disAbility section of the boards as there are many families with children on the Autism spectrum that are on a gluten-free diet.

Don't feel akward, there is no need to throw yourself off just to try not to rock the boat. I'd imagine you'd have a much better time on your trip if you keep to your diet.