Great Gluten-free Info From Disney World

[Lynayah]

Hi, Everyone:

I'm sure this has been posted here before, but as an update I'd like to tell you about my experience with planning a gluten-free Disney World vacation.

My husband and I go to Disney in October. (I am the one who needs gluten-free.)

I called for dining reservations 90 days prior, as is recommended, and I let the reservation desk know about my having to eat gluten-free. They marked it on all of my reservations.

I thought that would take care of everything, but when I was speaking to a Disney World Cast Member earlier this week, she reminded me of something I knew but forgot: It is important to contact the Special Dietary Request Executive Offices as soon as possible once you've booked your dining reservations. 1-407-824-5967.

If you're not booking reservations and just doing quick service, it's STILL important to call. They have a ton of excellent information for you.

Leave a message telling Disney exactly what your allergy needs are. You'll get a call back from the Dietary Department, AND they'll email you a packet overflowing with info:

A letter linking you to Disney dietary info

An attachment that explains how to handle special dietary requests

An overview of what the park restaurants offer

A special attachment that shows all the restaurants that have allergy-free chicken tenderloins.

A copy of the allergy-free chicken tenderloin nutrition label

A dietery request form to send back to Disney

A list of prepackaged snacks

A list of specialty products (did you know you can get a baked potato at Liberty Square with advance notice?)

For my gluten-free needs, I received a specific no-gluten guide to dining in the parks that shows what foods are naturally gluten-free as well as what substitutes can be made at Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, Epcot, and Disney Studios (sit-down and counter service).

Wow!

Also, the Dietary Department told me that Main Street Bakery offers a to-go box which allows you to go to Main Street Bakery early in the day, order what you'd like -- just about anything -- for the restaurant you plan to attend later, and they'll have it there for you!

I assume you can just order carry-out, too. I need to check it out. Not sure.

So, from what I understand, if you're dining at a restaurant that, say, doesn't have allergy-free chicken tenders, all you need to do it order it at Main Street Bakery, and they'll make sure you have it there.

I assume you need to order very early or maybe even the day before. Again, not sure.

I hope this helps! I'm going to post this at disboards.com, too. (For those planning a Disney trip, this site is very helpful.)

Thanks everyone! Hope this helps.

[Lynayah]

Included here are general dining plan reviews on behalf of my husband (does not need gluten-free dining) and gluten-free specific dining reviews from me (I'm the gluten-free'er):

Table Service:

Sanaa (Animal Kingdom Lodge, Kidani side)

Jiko (Animal Kingdom Lodge, Jambo side, two dining credits)

Boma (Animal Kingdom Lodge, Jambo side)

Citricos (Grand Floridian Resort, two dining credits)

LeCellier (Epcot, Canada)

Kouzzina by Cat Cora (Boardwalk)

'Ohana (Polynesian Resort)

Had pressed pot coffee at: Sanaa, Jiko, Boma, Citricos, and Kouzzina. All pressed-pot coffee was outstanding -- highly recommend. Hint: DH had soda with his meals, but I saved my beverage credit for coffee. Because the pressed-pot coffee is usually a large serving (Sanaa smaller), they brought two cups just in case DH wanted some, too, which he did, but even though it served us both, it counted as a single beverage for me and was no additional charge for him.

Quick Service:

Sunshine Seasons (Epcot Future World, The Land Pavilion)

Flame Tree BBQ (Animal Kingdom Park, Discovery Island)

The Mara (Animal Kingdom Lodge, Jambo side)

Captain Cook's (Polynesian Resort)

Snacks:

Plaza Ice Cream Parlor, Main Street Magic Kingdom

Popcorn and Mickey Ice Cream Bar, various vendor carts at Hollywood Studios

Also a word about gluten free breads at Disney.

I will begin by saying that all the chefs at every table service restaurant were knowledgeable, accommodating and caring.

Often, the food I ordered was exactly as on the menu because the dish was already gluten-free. Where adjustments were needed, they were often a step up. More as I continue . . .

As suggested by Disney, I always let the server know I needed gluten-free dining. Every chef came out to speak with me and treated me as though I was the most important guest in the world. The service was outstanding.

Quick service varied, as I'll explain.

Snacks: Watch ingredients carefully, as I'll explain.

I'll begin with table service restaurants:

Sanaa (Animal Kingdom Lodge, Kidani side)

This was one of my favorite meals. The portion sizes were small, though, so I'd recommend going to Sanaa after you've had at least a few days of Disney Dining -- those of you who have done the dining plan know what I mean, I'm sure! You get to the point where there's been SO MUCH FOOD that a smaller portion size is a welcome relief!

We split the Mustard Seed Crusted Scallops - With a Coconut Cream Sauce -- it was excellent with a light touch of coconut. Three large scallops.

I had the combo of short ribs and Tandoori chicken with basmati rice. The spices and flavors were sooooo rich and delicious. Again, the portions were quite small -- the short ribs were two large bits-size pieces that I cut into smaller bites. My husband said he would have been disappointed had he ordered it, but I loved it. It was enough food for me though, and very satisfying.

DESSERT WAS AMAZING, and the portion was large. Chai Cream -- oh my gosh, it was my favorite dessert of the trip. It comes in a tall, V-shaped glass. As I watched it being served to others, I thought it was a dessert drink, but it is not.

What it IS is a Cr

[Lynayah]

Time out for a word about gluten-free breads at Disney

Most of the rolls, buns, etc. are Glutano or similar. The problem is, the chefs have no idea how to successfully prepare them. They either put them in a dedicated revolving toaster or in the oven, and the darn things come out like hockey pucks. Warning: You might break a tooth or shoot your eyes out . . . or whatever.

I found that if I asked the chef to please microwave the bread for 10-15 seconds instead of toasting or heating it in another way, the bread came out much, much better - actually edible.

Try it and let me know if you agree.

For more, see Kouzzina, below. They served a wonderful, gluten-free lavash!

[Lynayah]

Citricos (Grand Floridian Resort, two dining credits)

DH and I split a salad for openers: Goat Cheese Truffle Salad - Tomato, Cracked Pepper, and Sesame "Truffles" with Arugula, Frisee, Nueske Applewood Smoked Bacon, and Peaches

We weren't thrilled with this salad. Hubby liked it more than I did. The greens were dry and lacked flavor. I expected more. The goat cheese truffles were good, but anyone can roll goat cheese into a ball, and I wasn't impressed for the $9 price. I would not order the salad again.

Braised Veal Shank - Carrot-Potato Puree, Roasted Vegetables. This was the best entree we had at Disney. The veal shank was succulent, rich, and cooked to perfection. Marrow forks were included, thankfully, because we didn't want to miss a bite. The portion was large -- more than I could eat, but I ate it anyway!

It would be very easy for us to go to Citricos again and again (as we most definitely will) and order the veal shank over and over, without ever trying another entree. It's just that good, and the potatoes and veggies were equally perfect.

DH had warm chocolate banana tart for dessert, served with vanilla ice cream. He loved it.

I had cr

[Lynayah]

LeCellier (Epcot, Canada)

We dined there twice and enjoyed it equally well both times.

Frankly, I wasn't sure what to expect. There's been so much hype about this restaurant, that I thought it might disappoint us. We're from the Chicago area and used to some great steaks here.

I am happy to report that Le Cellier was excellent!

The first time, I had the Le Cellier Mushroom Filet Mignon, - Served wild mushroom risotto and white truffle-herb butter sauce. As I recall, this dish is fine as is and did not need to be adjusted for gluten-free. I ordered rare and it was cooked perfectly. The steak was tender and very flavorful. The risotto was perfect with the meat.

Hubby had cheddar cheese soup the first time. He said it was okay but not a huge wow to him. He enjoyed the bread sticks. I had the usual Glutano roll substitute.

The first time, he ordered a Kansas City strip steak with coffee rub. He ordered rare, and it was cooked perfectly. He liked it, but after tasting my filet, he vowed to order the filet the next time around, which he did, and loved it. He is not a filet person. He thinks that filet mignon lack flavor, so he usually wants a larger steak with more

[Lynayah]

Kouzzina by Cat Cora (Boardwalk)

My husband loved his meal. He had the slow-cooked Lamb Shank served with Oven-baked Gigantes Beans and Pepper Sauce. Dessert: Chocolate Budino Cake

[Lynayah]

'Ohana (Polynesian Resort)

Chef TJ was outstanding! He has a great knowledge of gluten-free needs and is well-known for going out of his way to create special gluten-free meals. My meal was as wonderful as I hoped it would be.\

For those who are new to

[Lynayah]

Sunshine Seasons (Epcot Future World, The Land Pavilion)

In my opinion, Sunshine Seasons is the very best counter service restaurant in WDW -- it is so good it often equals table service taste. The seating area isn't as lovely as sit-down restaurants, but oh boy, the taste sure is!

A chef came out promptly to walk me through everything. Basically, everything on the grill end is fine for gluten-free: pork, chicken, salmon, etc. The mashed potatoes are fine, too, and they are excellent.

I had the chicken with mashed potatoes and -- because it was also gluten-free -- rice. Dessert was creme brulee (yet another one!). Everything was fresh and delicious. The creme brulee at Sunshine Seasons was the best of all the creme brulee I had while at Disney.

Note: If you want something else, let the chef know! They are very open there to helping you with what you want, within reason of course. They have gluten-free rolls for hamburgers, etc., and as I remember, some salad options are also gluten-free.

I want to try the salmon next time . . . and the pork looked amazing, too.

Hubby had the same as me and loved it.

I love food so much. It's all about the food for me! The parks are second.

[Lynayah]

Flame Tree BBQ (Animal Kingdom Park, Discovery Island)

Flame Tree was a great meal. I had the BBQ chicken, which was even better than at Sunshine Seasons -- good taste and even jucier than Sunshine Seasons. I would have ranked it the best, except the crew there didn't really know if the baked beans or coleslaw were gluten free, so I avoided eating them.

For dessert I had a gluten-free brownie which I enjoyed -- French Meadow Bakery which is lactose free, gluten free and peanut free. The facility that processes them also processes coconut and soy, so be careful if you have issues with these. These brownies are really good!

The ribs are also gluten-free, and they can make a pulled pork sandwich on a gluten-free bun, if you like. ASK THEM TO MICROWAVE THE BUN FOR 10 TO 15 SECONDS or they might ruin it (see my earlier post).

Hubby asked if I wanted to taste the ribs, but I already had enough on my plate. He is picky when it comes to ribs, and he said he liked them, but they were a bit fatty for his taste. Still, they were better than he expected them to be. In his words, "Not a Chicago rib joint, but good."

Hey, for counter service, it was amazing!

Hubby had key lime pie for dessert and liked it.

Here is a hint: If you know you are definitely going to be dining at a counter service restaurant, call the Disney Food Alergy Line in advance to check out things like beans and cole slaw: 407-824-5967. Do not expect the cast members at a counter service restaurant to have the same knowledge as the chefs at a table service restaurant.

The folks at the alergy line usually do not answer right away, and voice mail kicks in, but they will call you back as quickly as they can. If possible, allow at least 24 hours.

Also be sure to call this number before you go to let them know where you will be dining and your alergy needs.

Disney sent me a wonderful list of gluten-free options in advance of my visiting there. The only problem was that I decided not to carry a purse, and I did not have room for all of the info in my pocket, so sometimes I forgot what I could and could not have at some places, hence the beans and cole slaw thing.

Hope this helps!

[Lynayah]

The Mara (Animal Kingdom Lodge, Jambo side)

The Mara was an interesting mix of service. There is an Asian female chef who works some of the morning and early afternoon shifts (I am so sorry . . . I wrote down names and have misplaced them - if anyone knows please post!). She is knowledgeable and very careful to prepare everything separately.

At other times, I had different chefs. One did not understand that he should not serve my eggs from the main serving station, where they use the spoon to put eggs on everything from a bare plate to a croissant breakfast sandwich, which of course is cross-contamination. I had to stop him. One of the Cast Members working the line pulled him aside to explain how important it was to serve my food from the back, which he then did and all was well.

So, be careful and watch closely at all times!

The food was very good -- the gluten-free pancakes and gluten-free Mickey waffles here are excellent.

I also had the half-chicken chicken with dedicated-fryer French fries and then, for lunch one day, the Mara Salad - a light vinaigrette dressing on a salad that has chic peas, lentils, and cheese (feta, I believe). Very good!

One night, I ordered a hamburger. The chef (the wonderful Asian lady who I loved) said they were out of gluten-free burger buns and offered to make me "sliders" on individual mini gluten-free dinner rolls. She used fresh hamburger and cooked the burgers on the med-rare side, as much as she safely could, per my request. They were wonderful.

Another night, I had the gluten-free pizza. I believe they use Amy's. It was fair. To make it better, I put some parm. cheese on top (available in individual packets at the condiment table) and hot pepper flakes.

Okay, so here's a good one:

When I ordered the pizza, the chef asked me, "What would you like with that?"

I answered him, "I don't know. I am on the dining plan and using this as a counter service meal. Does anything come with it in addition to dessert?"

The chef said, "You can have fries if you want."

I said, "Sure," although goodness knows I didn't need them! And truth be told, as I look back, I don't think pizza selections come with a side dish, but I trusted the chef's word.

The pizza was quite large and I wasn't able to finish even half of it. Fries really put it over the top, but when I was offered them, I did not know how large the serving would be, and I figured what the heck, if it comes with it, why not? Maybe hubby would want some of it?

I added a gluten-free brownie for dessert (more on these below) and headed to the check-out station.

The cashier asked me, "What do you want to count as a snack, the fries or the brownie?"

I said, "I was told the fries would come with the gluten-free pizza as part of my counter service dinner."

She was very rude. She looked at everyone else in the line behind me and rolled her eyes, then she looked at me and shook her head as if to imply, "You idiot!"

I said, "Please speak to the chef. He can verify."

She said, "Well, where's the chef?"

That comment really took me back. I said, "I don't know, he's back in the kitchen somewhere."

Then she shot the same look to everyone behind me again, and they looked at me as if I were crazy, too. She rang up my ticket and grudgingly gave it to me, not charging me for a snack.

I found this whole thing terribly embarrassing, and I really felt guilty for having taken the fries. Bad, bad gluten-free guest! Shame on you, you naughty thing, you!

I wondered: How would Donald Duck have reacted to this woman and this situation?

That made me laugh and helped me get over it.

That said, last year and this year, every single CM who serviced me at The Mara (aside from her) has been delightful. This woman was the exception, not the rule. Watch for her -- she's, I would guess, in her 60's with light brown curly hair below the ears. She's been there for a while. I remember her from last year, and while I did not have a problem with her then, she wasn't all that particularly nice last year, either.

Okay, so there's more . . .

On one of my trips to The Mara, one of the chefs pointed out a special dietary section that houses desserts. It is located next to the check-out area, between the refrigerated section and the first check-out. It is a woven shelf unit. On the bottom are French Meadow gluten-free brownies. On the upper shelves are Divvies jelly beans, caramel corn and chocolate chip cookies.

I was given the impression that all of the snacks in this section were gluten free, but they are not. This is a section for people with various needs, not just gluten-free. READ THE INGREDIENTS CAREFULLY. The only items that are honestly safe are the gluten-free brownies. (I enjoyed them.) The other items state that wheat may be present in the manufacturing, and the cookies have wheat as the first ingredient.

[Lynayah]

On another forum, a poster told me that all of the counter service restaurants at WDW have a binder that lists ingredients.

I was not shown a binder until much later in the trip, at the Ice Cream Parlor on Main Street, MK. Until then, the manager would just tell me what I could or could not have. Very interesting . . .

In fact, when I was finally shown the binder, it took the cast member a couple tries to get it right -- she brought me the CM rules and regulations book first! I would have loved to have read it, but I did not. I pointed out the mistake and then she grabbed the right book. She'd never referenced it before then!

And I must confess, after this happened, I thought the binder was unique to the parlor. I assumed that if every counter service restaurant had one, they would have shown it to me.

In the Disney allergy literature I was sent, the binder may have been mentioned, but for the life of me, I do not remember seeing it. I'll have to take a second look when I have time.

Next time I'll know!

[Lynayah]

Captain Cook's (Polynesian Resort)

Hubby had Aloha Pork Sandwich - Pulled pork with BBQ sauce, pineapple cole slaw, cheddar cheese, cucumbers and tomatoes, served warm on a pineapple-coconut hoagie roll. Served with Polynesian chips. He enjoyed it very much and would have it again.

I had a bacon cheeseburger on a gluten-free bun, with fries. I forgot to ask the chef to microwave the bun for 10-15 seconds, so it was as hard as a rock, and I could not eat it. I wrapped the burger in lettuce and ate it that way. The fries were good, but I was getting tired of french fries by this time.

I'm not sure if the Polynesian chips are gluten-free. They looked wonderful -- if I go there again, I'm going to ask if they're okay.

The hambuger at The Mara was MUCH better. Captain Cook's used preformed patties that were probably frozen. The wonderful lady at The Mara used fresh, hand-formed hamburger. What a difference!

For dessert I had Dole Whip (fat-free soft serve "ice cream"), pineapple and vanilla blended. You serve yourself, and you can fill the bowl as high as you like. They do not have chocolate at this machine.

This was refreshing, and I enjoyed it. It was icy, though -- not as smooth or creamy as I remember it being at the Dole station in the Magic Kingdom. I'd get it again at Cook's, but if I REALLY wanted Dole Whip, I'd head to Adventureland first.

If I do go again, I think I'll ask them if they can prepare one of their salads gluten-free instead of having another hamburger.

Hubby had a dessert from the bakery case. It looked a lot like apple strudel. He thought it was good; he said he'd have it again, but it didn't big-time wow him. I looked amazing -- I wish I could have tasted it.

[Lynayah]

Plaza Ice Cream Parlor, Main Street Magic Kingdom

Popcorn and Mickey Ice Cream Bar

I had vanilla Rice Dream "Ice Cream" at Plaza Ice Cream Parlor. I'd never tasted it and wanted to give it a try.

There has been some debate as to whether Rice Dream Ice Cream is gluten-free. As I mentioned earlier, this is where I was given a binder to check ingredients, and the ingredients did not list anything threatening, so I went for it.

I was fine with it and did not have a reaction.

The ice cream has a fabulous mouth feel -- very rich and creamy. On my first bite, I thought it tasted a bit weird, but by the time I had a few bites, I fell in love with it. It's not the same as vanilla ice cream, but it is very good.

The portion size is quite large. I could have easily split it with someone, but still ate every bite.

Hubby had Edy's chocolate. What's not to like? My portion size was even larger than his! I think sometimes the chefs go a little overboard to compensate for guests' special needs, which is nice. (My favorite lady at The Mara did this frequently. I really hope she takes care of you if you eat there.)

I waddled out of the Plaza Ice Cream Parlor, stuffed, but happy! That day was particularly hot, and the ice cream was a welcome treat.

Hint: Go next door into, I believe it is Main Street Bakery, and grab a nice, cool seat rather than trying to find a place to sit down outside to eat your ice cream, especially on a hot day when everything melts in an instant. A lot of people don't realize there's seating there, and Plaza Ice Cream Parlor guests are welcome.

Cart / Vendor Popcorn and Mickey Chocolate Ice Cream Bar

The vendor popcorn is typical vendor popcorn. It's always a little too salty for me, but it's a great, quick snack on days when your stomach is growling and you don't know what to eat.

The Mickey Chocolate Ice Cream Bar is a wonderful gluten-free treat. The chocolate is decadent.

Also good are the frozen lemonades around the park -- DH and I split one at Animal Kingdom Park at the vendor stand in, if memory serves, Asia. Flame Tree BBQ used to carry these, too, but they have discontinued them.

Well, I feel as though I've written text longer than War & Peace, here! I think that's everything. Thank you for reading all this!

If I think of anything else, I'll add it. In the meantime, I hope others will post their gluten-free Disney Dining experiences here. We need more of them!

I also have these posts on disboards.com, under the disABILITIES section.

[mamaw]

We love Disney but I do have a question. Chef TJ is not at the Boma any more? You mentioned him at another place! We love Chef TJ. We actually bought Zebra Domes back home with us. Many places gave us extras of the desserts......

French Meadow was the rolls when we were there but they do change every so often.

I believe you needed to ask to look over the binder , at least that is what we were told months before we went...

We are plain eaters I guess so I think your menu of foods was a little more high end & with a couple of kids we did several buffets which served things we all loved....the only buffet none of us including the kids liked was the character dining buffet. The breakfast character buffet was excellent....

Glad you had a great time..

mamaw

[CHARBEEGOOD]

Glad to hear that Diney provided you with safe & taste food. All the wignature locations should provide you with the same level of service. Individual attention, good food and above and beyond service. It is the most aaaccomodating location I've been to! I love california grill but it is hard to get into. Popular

[Mysh]

wow! thanks for doing such a detailed review. I'm planning on a trip with my kids (so far I'm the only gluten-free diner) and your notes will come in so handy! TFS!

[steelersfan]

THANKS SO MUCH! We are going to WDW in 3 weeks, and I had heard that they will send a printed list of gluten-free snacks and other info. But when I contacted Guest Services through the WDW website, they had no clue. This is a huge help, thanks so much!

[MaryJones2]

topics merged

[MaryJones2]

THANKS SO MUCH! We are going to WDW in 3 weeks, and I had heard that they will send a printed list of gluten-free snacks and other info. But when I contacted Guest Services through the WDW website, they had no clue. This is a huge help, thanks so much!

steelersfan, welcome!

If you email Open Original Shared Link they will send detailed menus, instructions and the necessary forms. You can also make reservations online: Open Original Shared Link After selecting the restaurant, date and time you'll find a section to add dietary requests (there are check boxes for the top 8 allergens plus gluten). I didn't have any issues going the internet only route even with short notice.

[Lynayah]

We love Disney but I do have a question. Chef TJ is not at the Boma any more? You mentioned him at another place! We love Chef TJ. We actually bought Zebra Domes back home with us. Many places gave us extras of the desserts......

French Meadow was the rolls when we were there but they do change every so often.

I believe you needed to ask to look over the binder , at least that is what we were told months before we went...

We are plain eaters I guess so I think your menu of foods was a little more high end & with a couple of kids we did several buffets which served things we all loved....the only buffet none of us including the kids liked was the character dining buffet. The breakfast character buffet was excellent....

Glad you had a great time..

mamaw

Chef TJ is now at 'Ohana and the Polynesian Resort. I do not know if he works at Animal Kingdom Lodge any more at all.

PS (added later): Your question prompted me to do some online research, and I found this link about Chef TJ. Hope this helps!

Open Original Shared Link

[Lynayah]

Glad to hear that Diney provided you with safe & taste food. All the wignature locations should provide you with the same level of service. Individual attention, good food and above and beyond service. It is the most aaaccomodating location I've been to! I love california grill but it is hard to get into. Popular

"Wignature" -- is the the name of all the Disney-owned restaurants?

[Lynayah]

THANKS SO MUCH! We are going to WDW in 3 weeks, and I had heard that they will send a printed list of gluten-free snacks and other info. But when I contacted Guest Services through the WDW website, they had no clue. This is a huge help, thanks so much!

Glad you posted this. I think I can help. You need to call the WDW dietary line directly. It is:

1-407-824-5967. They will send you a ton of stuff.

[Lynayah]

topics merged

Janet, thank you for so thoughtfully adding my reviews to my initial Disney post! I wish I had thought of it -- I forgot about the earlier post. Much appreciated.

[mamaw]

Thanks for the info about TJ. He truly is the very best....I will miss him at Boma as that is our favorite stop. But I'm sure we will go to OHana's just for Chef TJ.....

Steelerfan,

Welcome to the forum. Are you from the "Burgh" or just a steeler fan?

mamaw

[Lynayah]

Thanks for the info about TJ. He truly is the very best....I will miss him at Boma as that is our favorite stop. But I'm sure we will go to OHana's just for Chef TJ.....

mamaw

I hear he's also been known to appear at Captain Cook's. Not when I was at Cook's, unfortunately . . . but maybe if you ask for him, if he's around he'll come over.

He is such an obviously enlightened, immersed-in-love individual. Just thinking about him makes me smile!

Thanks for your post. Always GREAT to be in touch with you, mamaw! You're a doll.