I'm Ordering a big BLT for Thanksgiving 2010 NEW 12/3 started TR! see link

[mommytothreeboys]

I feel like the real planning has been in affect...now I can just confirm.... kwim

yes the ADR's...pretty much have all been said, but never know how it will actually play it in the end.

J~

LOL! The planning is always in effect, of course!! Now you can just make it stick! Do we ever really stop planning??

 

[Charlefours]

I sure hope DH's surgery went well. I think your plans look good.

 

[irish dancer]

I sure hope DH's surgery went well. I think your plans look good.

Ditto from me too! Hope all went well and may the next 6wks of recovery go well too!

 

[mousescrapper]

Before we get started talking food….just wanted to thank you all for your love and pixiedust for my husband Matt. He did have his surgery this past Monday April 26th and is home on recovery. He is doing well, but has a long several weeks ahead of him.


________________________________________________________________________

"Star light, star bright, first star I see tonight, I wish I may, I wish I might, get this ADR tonight. We'll make a wish and call WDW-Dine, and all those dishes will be mine...."​

quote borrowed from Disboard member curioser


Just had to use this quote again about preparing for the BIG ADR day and all that food….it is a crazy thing to think I have been planning and anticipating FOOD that we’ll be eating still over 6 months away…but oh what FUN!

You know I have already been planning and thinking about the elusive Table Service Meals to be had and how best to utilize the regular DDP plan for our 6, plus my In-laws credits they are paying for and like any good Diser I have been thinking about all the Counter Service choices available for us.

I know everyone has a list of favorites or places they always want to eat or places they like to avoid. Everyone rates their places differently I think based on location, menu, service, seating space, inside, outside, etc.

I also have to take in consideration food allergies…​

So let’s begin there…


(Writer’s note: if any of this info really doesn’t interest you feel free to wait till the next post Counter Service: Burgers or no Burgers and seriously how many kid chicken nugget meals do we need?)

Our youngest DD Naomi-Ruth has suffered from food issues her whole little young life…literally from birth and it has been a long struggle to find the balance of what she can eat and can not due to the fact medically we can’t find anything “wrong”. Naomi-Ruth has gone to Disney World twice, once at 18 months and again at 28 months. Neither of these times was she on a fully restricted diet and she came home sick both times from exposure to foods she shouldn’t have had. Since the last trip in March of 2009 a lot has happened in her tummy to bring us to the findings she has a severe GLUTEN sensitivity even though celiac disease has not been proven and also she is not sick if she stays away from cow’s dairy and egg products.

November 2010 present a HUGE challenge of feeding my (soon to be 4 yr old) DD and keeping her healthy.


What can I do?


Luckily WDW is prepared for such things. It’s not easily or always readily available but they offer many foods that actually fit in the GF, dairy free and egg free diet. Plus they offer tons of info to help me be in the “know” and assist w/ ordering in the Table Service setting.

I emailed Brenda Bennet at special diets and she sent me back several pages of info:

*No Gluten Added Products offered at each of the 4 main parks’ CS restaurants
*No Gluten Added Products offered at Epcot’s TS Restaurants
*A listing of all the TS/CS restaurants that offer Allergy Free Chicken Tenderloins
*WDW Food Allergy/Dietary Reference Sheet (tells me what standard offerings are made of)
*A listing of participating places that carry some specific pre-packaged snacks
*A listing of participating brands & products carried at various locations

I was also sent a Water Parks menu info (which I don’t need on this trip) and a form to fill out and send back w/ our info and the TS places we’ll be dining at (after I make the ADR’s) they will then inform each chef for us in advance.


I have also looked through the Disboards, plus other sites and read forums and taken notes from others who have done this before me and have learned some tips and things I need to do and should do to get the food I need for Naomi.

(hopefully a repeat of the 30 minute soymilk disaster at ABC Comm last yr can be avoided )

I have carefully thought out each choice of restaurant we’ll eat at and mostly only pick places that I know I can get her something off the regular menu or have special ordered.

Plus a HUGE perk of having the villa I can bring some foods from home, plus order other things to have and prepare and bring into the parks to supplement her meals.

Why go through all this? Seems like an awful lot of work for just a little kid who may not even really eat….

I ask myself the same question…geez is this going to be hard, am I over thinking, over planning one aspect?

I mean she needs to eat right? Plus because she is now traveling at paying age…and we are doing the DDP…I got to get her food.

I am fearful lots of grapes, carrots, applesauce and jello are in her future for 10 days…


So what can she eat?


At the parks:

Hamburgers and hotdogs on tapioca or Ener-G (wheat free) buns (she is not a big fan at home)

Allergy free (breaded) chicken tenderloins

Enjoy Life (brand) cookies

Dedicated baked oven fries

Dairy free/tofutti ice cream

Grilled chicken

Chilled chicken (not sure on this one)

Brown rice noodles

GF –jello



Where can she eat?


Surprisingly many places…how easy is it to order this stuff though…well I’ll know soon enough.


This is what I have learned.


When ordering at a CS place, ask to speak to a manager FIRST! Then order specialty items, as well I can ask to see the ingredient lists to help decipher if she can eat the prepared foods.

I have also learned this is not foul-proof. You may run into CM’s that are not helpful or able to provide you w/ a special order. Plus it can take up to 30 minutes if not more to order something not on the menu.

I also think if I am ordering something completely different from the way it is normally prepared you may have more difficulties.

The TS experience should be a bit easier as they have more flexibility and time to prepare and cook items to your specifications and likeness.


If anyone has experience w/ all this stuff or any advice, gladly accept it.



If time allows when we are there, I plan to make notes of our experience w/ ordering and eating on a very restricted diet.

Up next Part two of this food experience: Counter Service: Burgers or no Burgers and seriously how many kid chicken nugget meals do we need?- my “plan” for conquering the gazillion counter food choices and restaurants…or seriously I have too much time on m hands.

Thanks for reading Julie

 

[Hedy]

This was interesting, thanks! Why aren't usual fries gf?

 

[Native NYer]

I hope everything goes well with your daughter's food allergies and your Disney trip. Hopefully, ordering will be easy.

 

[mommytothreeboys]

That really is a lot to take into consideration, but it seems like you have a pretty good handle on it. It's great that WDW has been so helpful and that they do what they can to be accommodating. A food allergy shouldn't prevent Naomi-Ruth from having a magical time!!

 

[irish dancer]

Here's some extra PD that you have a stress-free food experience! I frequently remind myself how lucky we are to not have to deal with food allergies. We did try the gluten free diet for Daniel for a while and since there was no change with him we happily abondoned it.

I've read a trip report from a DISer named sleepingbean that follows GF/CF, here's a link: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1512938&highlight=gfcf. She also has a link in her siggie for GF/CF foods they've had at WDW.

 

[Charleston Princess]

Lots of pixie dust for figuring out ADRs with the food allergies!

 

[Charlefours]

good luck battling all the food allergies! I am glad you were able to get someone to respond back to you. Another DIS had a horrible experience trying to get information.

 

[MRYPPNS]

I thought I had replied yesterday.....

Sounds like the counter services places could be the hardest to deal with. Is there anything that you can pack with you into the park that she could eat? We brought Liam's lunch in with us a lot of the time in a little cooler that I would fill with ice at the resort and then refresh the ice later at the park to keep it cold.

 

[KathyRN137]

When we traveled with Aunt Rae she had no problems at TS restaurants and had lots of help from the chefs regarding her menu choices. They often made "special" meals for her... in particular I recall the gluten-free pancakes at Boma and the GF meatloaf at 50's PTC. AR said they were delicious!

Heidi is right (above), the CS restaurants are trickier. I read somewhere that if you contact the CS restaurant ahead of time through Disney Dining they can get started on your GF order before you arrive. That would certainly cut down on wait time!


Kathy

 

[mousescrapper]

This was interesting, thanks! Why aren't usual fries gf?

you know I am not sure...I am thinking they have a decicated fyer that no other wheat based or breaded objects go in or hence the baked version...we usally do not get fries often in the parks, so we may skip this all together...but good to know

I hope everything goes well with your daughter's food allergies and your Disney trip. Hopefully, ordering will be easy.

thanks, we'll see

That really is a lot to take into consideration, but it seems like you have a pretty good handle on it. It's great that WDW has been so helpful and that they do what they can to be accommodating. A food allergy shouldn't prevent Naomi-Ruth from having a magical time!!

I hope Missy, tyring to be much more proactive this time and we have a good handle on things at home...this will be a test!

Here's some extra PD that you have a stress-free food experience!

thanks Anne-Marie

I've read a trip report from a DISer named sleepingbean that follows GF/CF, here's a link: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1512938&highlight=gfcf. She also has a link in her siggie for GF/CF foods they've had at WDW.

awesome I will check this out!

Lots of pixie dust for figuring out ADRs with the food allergies!

thank you...more to come on those ADR's...

good luck battling all the food allergies! I am glad you were able to get someone to respond back to you. Another DIS had a horrible experience trying to get information.

it was actually very easy and quick on the reponse..sorry to hear someone didn't have the same experience...

I thought I had replied yesterday.....

Sounds like the counter services places could be the hardest to deal with. Is there anything that you can pack with you into the park that she could eat? We brought Liam's lunch in with us a lot of the time in a little cooler that I would fill with ice at the resort and then refresh the ice later at the park to keep it cold.

I do plan to...I can easily bring down uncooked noodles from home and cook in the villa. I plan to buy some disposable little gladware type contaniers to fill up and then just pack one in the park bag. Her favorite is this rice bread w/ sunbutter so that is tricky, because I don't think I can get those through a grocery order, so I'll have to figure out how to pack that in the suitcase? more to come on that when we start talking about packing in the fall...

but yes I do plan to bring food for her each day into the parks, etc. but hopefully I can get food as well to order.

When we traveled with Aunt Rae she had no problems at TS restaurants and had lots of help from the chefs regarding her menu choices. They often made "special" meals for her... in particular I recall the gluten-free pancakes at Boma and the GF meatloaf at 50's PTC. AR said they were delicious!

Heidi is right (above), the CS restaurants are trickier. I read somewhere that if you contact the CS restaurant ahead of time through Disney Dining they can get started on your GF order before you arrive. That would certainly cut down on wait time!


Kathy

thanks Kathy for the vote of confidence! I will look into that calling ahead thing...good tip!

J~

 

[mousescrapper]

UNDER 200 days today....


199 and counting...


​

 

[ladybugmom]

Hi Julie!! I'm all caught up with your TR!! Sorry I've been MIA but with our move and all things have been crazy!! How exciting that you get to book your ADRs soon!! I hope you get everything you want! And I read where you wanted to order some clippies for the girls!! No problem!! I would love to make some for your girls!!

 

[DisMomAmy]

First... Yay for 199 days!!

Second... you know we have had experience dealing with food allergies/intolerances at WDW. I'm glad you contacted Brenda Bennett because she was really helpful for us.

I feel like I've already written this (maybe here, maybe in an email to you, maybe elsewhere...), so sorry if I'm repeating myself...

Table Services places were great! The chef would always come out and talk with us then make a special meal for Alex. (I saw this happen a couple times with other families during our trip last week.)

Buffets were trickier... the treatment was the same, but the tricky part was that everyone else could eat right away and Alex's food had to be made specially. Sometimes he could eat food from the buffet (though they would bring it out fresh from the back to avoid cross-contamination) and sometimes they made him something not on the buffet.

CS was definitely the hardest. I remember waiting a long time for baked (rather than fried) french fries at Cosmic Rays in 2006. The key for us was for me to go ahead of everyone else and order Alex's meal. This did take time away from things, but at least the kids weren't stuck waiting. I would suggest bringing a sandwich or something else quick & easy that Naomi-Ruth likes to help fill in the holes and avoid too much waiting. (I also highly recommend eating at off-peak times to keep the wait times down.)

Let me know if you have any other specific questions I can answer.

I will say that WDW does a FANTASTIC job of dealing with food allergies... even though it can take too long sometimes.

 

[mousescrapper]

Hi Julie!! I'm all caught up with your TR!! Sorry I've been MIA but with our move and all things have been crazy!! How exciting that you get to book your ADRs soon!! I hope you get everything you want! And I read where you wanted to order some clippies for the girls!! No problem!! I would love to make some for your girls!!

thanks Becky...hope to start ordering a few of the custom things in the coming months need to stretch it out over time to ease the budget...it will so fun to order from you!

First... Yay for 199 days!!

Second... you know we have had experience dealing with food allergies/intolerances at WDW. I'm glad you contacted Brenda Bennett because she was really helpful for us.


I will say that WDW does a FANTASTIC job of dealing with food allergies... even though it can take too long sometimes.

Thanks for the dancing bananas...

thanks for the tips...you know we'll try and eat off times already to help w/ crowds for Nathan. I am hoping to order in advance or off the reg menu of stuff she can eat minus a bun or something...and yes Matt and I are already thinking at times one of us will have to split to go an pre-order for her.

the villa will be a HUGE help. and good thing she likes the kid meal sides at least will have that.

and irishdancer, I looked at that TR thread and the link in her siggie and hey wdyk....I read her GF/DF link already in my research...cool I'm going to PM her to see if she'll look over my dining choices after I pick them for any tips.

thanks,

J~

 

[mousescrapper]

UGH!!!

I just had a whole post typed here ready to go and I must have done something stupid and I lost it

so try two....


I am working on finishing typing (in Word) my last two FOOD instalment posts (Counter Service and the TS-ADR List), but in the mean time I wanted to share a few other misc things that have to deal w/ planning that I have done over the last few weeks!

Before we get to that please share w/ us in CELEBRATING the twins (Nathan and Rebekah) 11th Birthday today May 7th

​

I will post pictures, etc from their day and Mom's day begining of next week

* I have been able to sneak in some time to update some of my planning lists, charts, and organize some things

* I purchased a few more things for the overflowing Disney Box: some fruit snacks (hey they were on sale ), a Princess Word search book for a $1 from Target for the girls on the plane, some Princess socks for Rachel and Naomi-Ruth, plus when going through the Spring/Summer clothes bins for the little girls I found some "new" Disney things, 1 I set aside a cute Ratatouie shirt that used to belong to Bekah for Rachel. I also returned the Tink swimsuit/cover-up set I bought Naomi-Ruth as she had 4 suits in her bin, including 1 Disney one.

* speaking of swimming, boy I hope the weather is warm enough so we can get in that pool at least once. It looks so awesome! Here are a few pictures:

DH personally can't wait to sit in the Hot Tub, if you look closely at the picture you can tell it is shaped like a certain food item

* I was inspired by Charlefours(Stephanie) latest question "What not to Forget/packing list" on her PTR to get a jump start on looking over my Master WDW Packing list. I was albe to delete a few things and I figured out our "clothes themes" for each day excpet Day 1)...you know I love me some good matchy days and I will discuss all that as it get's closer to our arrival date.

* On Wednesday nights DH & I like to have no TV nights for the two of us after the kids go to sleep to play games or just sit and chat. After playing a favorite card game, we began discussing the construction paper chain that is hanging in the living room (the girls made it over Spring Break) and we came up w/ a very awesome I have to admit plan to use the chain and coutdown our days till we leave. We decided to start at the 110 mark later at the begining of August. And no I can't tell yet...

* As well another day DH & I decided on a few alternate TS choices for the ADR list in case we don't get our fist pic's.

* I also have done a bunch of BLOG reading and like to share some really good posts:

From WDW Central a post about Avoiding Burn-outs

http://wdwcentral.wordpress.com/2010/04/19/4-brilliantly-fun-ways-to-avoid-burnouts/

From Only WDWorld 7 posts (just keep scrolling down) on Holidays: Holiday storytellers in World Showcase, decorating on a mini scale in Germany, decorations in MK, AK, and DHS particularly the Osborne Lights and Hidden Mickeys found in the lights.

http://www.onlywdworld.com/search/label/Disney World Christmas

Also from Only WDWorld a post about how to enjoy yourself during Crowded Seasons:

http://www.onlywdworld.com/2010/03/disney-world-parks-how-to-have-great.html


I also read some really YUM-FUN stuff on FOOD at WDW to share in my upcomign FOOD posts

* Speaking of BLOGS...I owe the readers of my BLOG a May update, so if you want click on the link below to see some news from Julie's Mickey Memories

latest Post: Happy May!


* Lastly UPCOMING: the 2 FOOD post, my BIG ADR day, a mini get away to Atlanta over Memorial Day weekend and more fun as always

thank you for reading,

J~

 

[Native NYer]

Happy Birthday Nathan and Rebekah!!!

That pool looks fantastic! BLT is just amazing.

 

[ladybugmom]

Happy 11th Birthday Nathan and Rebekah!!! (Not sure if I told you but I spell Rebekah the same way!!)

Thank you for all the links!! I'm checking them out now!!