Newly Gluten Free

[KSR0330]

I've recently gone Gluten Free to try and help my autoimmune disease. I have a trip planned for May and am a bit stressed over the food. I've never thought about gluten when eating (or drinking ) at WDW. I think I'm going to cancel my Sanaa lunch, as I was really looking forward to the flat breads and different spreads . We also have a Teppan Edo which I think I'll keep. It seems easy enough to swap out veggies for the noodles.

Any recommendations of great places to eat and safe drinks that are GF? TIA!

 

[123Dis4Me]

I have been to disney world gluten free many many times. You will have plenty of choices of food to eat! I haven't eaten at Sanaa, but my understanding is that they have the bread service and different spreads available gluten free. There are many blogs out there that have the allergy/gluten free menus available. There are a lot of gluten free trip reports on the disboards as well.

 

[pangyal]

They do have the GF naan/ bread service at Sanaa and it is amazing!

 

[cterral]

Disney has been very accommodating in my experience with life threatening food allergies. Everywhere you go ask for an allergy menu or to speak to a chef. Our experience has been a chef would come out and speak with us personally about our food concerns/allergies. This was true for quick service or table service or buffets. In many cases a chef would special make something for us. For example, we have life threatening allergies to nuts and soy. We were at a buffet and the green beans had nuts on them as well as cooked in soy oil. The chef was more than happy to fresh make some green beans that we could eat. While no where can 100% guarantee allergen free our experience has been encounters with cast member who were more than willing to help accommodate us.

 

[cruisin5]

A friend of mine is gluten-free, the best meal was at 50's Prime Time. Hoop De Doo was a little disappointing - roasted chicken.

 

[epcotobsessed]

I have Celiac and it's very easy to avoid gluten at Disney. Every restaurant has a couple options, many have lots of options. A chef will come out and talk with you at any restaurant if you have questions or are unsure about any particular dish.

 

[BattyMcDoon]

If you have facebook there are some really great and helpful groups there with tons of information on Disney's gluten free/allergy offerings (I don't know if I can share the names of the groups publicly here or not). I was in a panic before my trip last October because it was my first time traveling gluten free as well and I found so many amazing places through the facebook groups. To name a few: Nomad Lounge in Animal Kingdom has gluten free churros. As a pp said Sanaa offers gluten free bread service which I've heard is very good. 50s Prime Time Cafe at Hollywood Studios has the most amazing (gluten free) fried chicken I've ever had in my entire life, but this dish needs to be ordered in advance so they can change the oil its cooked in.

 

[APiratesLifeForMe2]

I’ve dined as a celiac several Disney trips now and NEVER had an issue! There is an allergen menu at every restaurant so ask for that when you get there. If you don’t see anything you like or were hoping for a particular item it isn’t on it then ask to speak with the chef, there are usually other choices available as well. Most of the servers are even very well versed in the gluten free options. I haven’t eaten at sanaa but they had gluten free bread on the Jiko bread service. You should also be able to google the allergen menus. So many choices!!! Oh and gluten free Mickey waffles too ‍

 

[Eeyore daily]

Personally I would keep Sanaa and get rid of Teppan Edo since gluten is often found in the sauces used but that’s me being cautious. Plus Sanaa seems to have a lot of appealing GF options like the naan bread which you can’t really find outside of Disney. Any place is usually accommodating, my sister and I avoid gluten and when she went with us last time she tested her food for potential gluten but it always came out negative so they do take great precautions to not cross contaminate.

Erin McKenna’s bakery in Disney Springs is pretty awesome to get some morning pastries for the week and it’s all gluten free. As for drinks wine and cider are always a safe bet as are some types of vodkas if you meant alcohol drinks.

 

[mckennarose]

I've recently gone Gluten Free to try and help my autoimmune disease. I have a trip planned for May and am a bit stressed over the food. I've never thought about gluten when eating (or drinking ) at WDW. I think I'm going to cancel my Sanaa lunch, as I was really looking forward to the flat breads and different spreads . We also have a Teppan Edo which I think I'll keep. It seems easy enough to swap out veggies for the noodles.

Any recommendations of great places to eat and safe drinks that are GF? TIA!

Definitely keep the Sanaa ADR. As others mentioned, they have gf naan and a lot of their dishes are naturally gluten free. Get the bread service with all the condiments! Their butter chicken and Durban shrimp are very good too.

I've done many gf trips to WDW and never had an issue. Some of my favorite restaurants are: Sanaa, Spice Road Table, GF fish and onion rings (or chips) at Raglan Road or Cookes of Dublin, Bongos, Biergarten, Sunshine Seasons, Satuli, Flame Tree, Tusker House, Ohana dinner (or breakfast). If you are there for F&G in Epcot they will have some GF items at the food booths and they are clearly marked. Download the app and it will actually filter the booths with gf items. You can also look up the food booth items now online.

I am not a fan of Erin McKenna's (despite sharing a name!) And her products are also vegan and made with a lot of bean flours, which can have an aftertaste.

I always tell people who are newly gf to NOT try to substitute gf items for gluten containing items off the bat because there is a big difference in taste and texture and you may be disappointed. I feel it's better to start with finding items that are naturally gf as you're getting used to this new way of eating.

I would also suggest skipping Tappan Edo because of the sauces, soy sauce in particular.

Good luck!

 

[Dug720]

Definitely keep the Sanaa ADR. As others mentioned, they have gf naan and a lot of their dishes are naturally gluten free. Get the bread service with all the condiments! Their butter chicken and Durban shrimp are very good too.

I've done many gf trips to WDW and never had an issue. Some of my favorite restaurants are: Sanaa, Spice Road Table, GF fish and onion rings (or chips) at Raglan Road or Cookes of Dublin, Bongos, Biergarten, Sunshine Seasons, Satuli, Flame Tree, Tusker House, Ohana dinner (or breakfast). If you are there for F&G in Epcot they will have some GF items at the food booths and they are clearly marked. Download the app and it will actually filter the booths with gf items. You can also look up the food booth items now online.

I am not a fan of Erin McKenna's (despite sharing a name!) And her products are also vegan and made with a lot of bean flours, which can have an aftertaste.

I always tell people who are newly gf to NOT try to substitute gf items for gluten containing items off the bat because there is a big difference in taste and texture and you may be disappointed. I feel it's better to start with finding items that are naturally gf as you're getting used to this new way of eating.

I would also suggest skipping Tappan Edo because of the sauces, soy sauce in particular.

Good luck!

You found Spice Road Table ok? I've read multiple reports that they were not great.

I'm glad I've finally found someone else who gets that Erin McKenna is not all that. Disgusting IMHO.

One thing I've learned from fairytalefoodie.com about the booths is to not be afraid to ask if something can be made gf (sometimes it's a matter of leaving off a garnish) or why something that should be is not (example - the food at the Mexican booth during the Festival of the Arts was safe - even the chef did not know why it was not marked as such).

OP - if you want to do a dessert party, I can say 100% that the Rivers of Light one is AMAZING with gluten-free options!! Definitely did NOT taste like the "just out of the fridge" Erin McKenna stuff I got at the MK dessert party.

 

[KTR]

I have celiac disease and have never had any issues eating gluten free at Disney. It’s one of the few places I don’t feel like I miss out. I had good options at all table service restaurants and most of the chefs were so accommodating and even offered to adjust things not listed on the menu. It was a great experience.

If you want to get an idea of how many choices you will have pull up the MDE app and start to place a few mobile orders. The vast majority of the quick service restaurants have their allergy menus on there and you can see all the gluten free options.

 

[Raeven]

My boyfriend is gluten free, and has never had a hard time eating at Disney (in fact it’s the best place to get unique items he usually can’t have). I have a bunch of dining reviews linked in my signature if you want to check them out.

I’d definitely keep Sanaa, the food is really good and for the bread service they have GF naan and I’m pretty sure all the sauces are GF. We don’t have any experience with Teppan Edo but as another poster mentioned I’d be more wary of sauces there.

Some unique items & favorite places he’s had at Disney are:

-Baked goods from Erin Mckenna’s, he loves the donuts there
-GF churros from the Nomad Lounge in AK (the whole menu can basically be made GF)
-A lot of restaurants in AK and AKL have great GF choices he liked Boma breakfast, Jiko, Tiffins, Tusker House breakfast, Sanaa, and Yak & Yeti.
-Festivals don’t always have a ton of choices but there’s usually at least 10 or so plus drinks. Food and Wine usually has the most.
-Frontera Cocina had a lot of good choices.
-Anywhere with steak like Shula’s, Yachtsman etc is usually easy and good.
-GF beignets at POFQ
-Best dessert party with the most choices we've done was the HEA one they had a platter of Erin Mckenna’s etc just for him.

Haven’t tried but heard about:
-I’ve heard Skipper’s Canteen has GF fried chicken.
-Raglan Road has a lot of GF choices like GF fish and chips that can be hard to find elsewhere.

 

[mckennarose]

You found Spice Road Table ok? I've read multiple reports that they were not great.

I did, although I haven't eaten here within the past year or so. T\I got the mixed grilled skewers and the chef came out to speak with me and made me sides that appealed to my taste. Biergarten is probably my favorite Epcot restaurant for eating GF, though. I always find good things there and we love the atmosphere.

I'm glad I've finally found someone else who gets that Erin McKenna is not all that. Disgusting IMHO.

I know! There a quite a few people on here who also don't like Erin McKenna's. I was so optimistic when they opened but I've been very disappointed!

One thing I've learned from fairytalefoodie.com about the booths is to not be afraid to ask if something can be made gf (sometimes it's a matter of leaving off a garnish) or why something that should be is not (example - the food at the Mexican booth during the Festival of the Arts was safe - even the chef did not know why it was not marked as such).

Yes, this is true! Sometimes the toppings can have gluten so you can just ask to leave it off.

OP - if you want to do a dessert party, I can say 100% that the Rivers of Light one is AMAZING with gluten-free options!! Definitely did NOT taste like the "just out of the fridge" Erin McKenna stuff I got at the MK dessert party.

ROL dessert party is on my radar. We've done the Star Wars one several times and they are really good with unique GF items. We also did the MK one and you're right...straight from the fridge Erin McKenna's. Blech. I may have to do this one again though as DH likes the party and viewing. He's not GF. I'll just get my fill of chocolate covered strawberries, cheese and fruit again.

 

[Dug720]

ROL dessert party is on my radar. We've done the Star Wars one several times and they are really good with unique GF items. We also did the MK one and you're right...straight from the fridge Erin McKenna's. Blech. I may have to do this one again though as DH likes the party and viewing. He's not GF. I'll just get my fill of chocolate covered strawberries, cheese and fruit again.

I really loved it. They had some things that were naturally gf (plus the fruit and cheese) plus they had gf tiger tail pops that were DELICIOUS (flourless chocolate cake) and a couple of other things - plus OMG brownies and cookies and Mickey Bars and fruit popsicles. It was more than I could have hoped for!

 

[10CJ]

I could have written this post. I have been looking at some menus at Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW https://www.glutenfreedairyfreewdw.com/

Most of my reservations were made before I decided to eliminate gluten. I know when you first make the reservation you can note any restrictions. Should I contact dining to have them add this info my reservations or is this not necessary?

Has anyone done the FEA dessert party? This reservation was made later so it does have the restriction noted on it.

 

[KSR0330]

Wow, thanks for all of the replies! I will look into the Facebook groups and see what I can find. I'll definitely keep Sanaa, and will likely cancel Teppan Edo. I just learned that most of the margaritas are GF, so that's great!

My boyfriend is gluten free, and has never had a hard time eating at Disney (in fact it’s the best place to get unique items he usually can’t have). I have a bunch of dining reviews linked in my signature if you want to check them out.

I definitely will!

Thanks for everyone's help!

 

[pangyal]

One thing I've learned from fairytalefoodie.com about the booths is to not be afraid to ask if something can be made gf (sometimes it's a matter of leaving off a garnish) or why something that should be is not (example - the food at the Mexican booth during the Festival of the Arts was safe - even the chef did not know why it was not marked as such).

THIS!!! I had the exact same experience at the booths for all of the various festivals we went to this year. I had to laugh at your Mexican food anecdote, since the (probably same) chef didn’t know when I asked, either.

By the way, your profile pic is absolutely gorgeous.

 

[pangyal]

Oh! OP- Teppan Edo actually has separate GF sauces that they will give you for your meal, including GF soy sauce. I wouldn’t worry about being able to eat there if you really don’t want to cut it from your list.

 

[Dug720]

THIS!!! I had the exact same experience at the booths for all of the various festivals we went to this year. I had to laugh at your Mexican food anecdote, since the (probably same) chef didn’t know when I asked, either.

By the way, your profile pic is absolutely gorgeous.

Thanks. It's actually from Wonder Woman. I love that movie and that scene.