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tss22
07-30-2008, 10:39 AM
My wife was just diagnosed with Celiac disease :ill: - meaning she can't eat gluten (wheat and grain, mostly). She called Disney and said it wouldn't be a problem and they can work around her dining needs, but I believe she needs to preorder her counter service meals.

Anyway, she's still fairly upset that she won't get to order the normal food and worried that she'll get something bland and just cobbled together real quick. Does anyone have any experience with special dietary needs and how the food ends up for table service? buffets? Counter service?

Thanks for any tips and pointers...

t

TINKERBELL_82
07-30-2008, 11:36 PM
I just pm'd you with a great link about Gluten free dining at WDW.:mickey:

KJD61
07-31-2008, 06:30 PM
I've been gluten free since Jan 2001. We've had 3 great trips to Disney World since and getting ready to go on our 4th in a few months.

I found the following info last year:
Theresa Joiner
Food and Beverage Support
[email protected]

I emailed Theresa and within a matter of a couple of hours she sent me some great gluten free eating info for all the parks.

I remember our first trip to DW when I was gf. We ate at the California Grill at the Comtemporary and the chef came out and asked me what I liked and made me a great gf meal.

On counter service meals I went straight to the register when it was my turn and told them I had a "food allergy" and they called the manager to the counter. Many times it was the manager that prepared my food from beginning to end.

I think going to Disney World is the best place to go for anyone who has food restrictions. If you go to a sit down place to eat tell them then (or when you make your "reservation") you have someone who is Celiac and they will go out of their way to make a great gf meal. Last trip I had pizza, hamburger buns, brownies, pancakes and the list goes on. I felt "normal". I never felt deprived of good food. It may take a little longer but it is worth it.

Hope you enjoy your trip and drop Theresa an email. But always remember, it's always a little risky eating out when you have a food intolerance.

ElenitaB
08-01-2008, 06:24 PM
Hi there!

I'm going to move this thread over to our Guests with Special Needs forum where you'll continue to get some great answers.

mousaholic
08-06-2008, 08:05 PM
Disney World is the one place that I feel catered to when I eat! The counter service is great...if I want something quick I just order GF mac and cheese or pizza, but when I feel like getting something special the chef (at CS places and resort food court) will make us pancakes, gf breaded chicken, pasta, etc. - I just make sure to leave enough time for the extra prep - they are happy to do it! CS has been great!

Nate's Grandpa
08-28-2008, 01:31 PM
KJD61 -

I printed your response and gave to a co-worker who is going to Disney next month.
His wife has just started the gluten free diet and she is a bit overwhelmed by it.

Your respone was a big help to her.
Thank you!

KJD61
08-28-2008, 11:09 PM
James,

I'm glad my info was helpful to your co-workers wife. Going gluten free can be very overwhelming like you mentioned she felt. I really don't think I felt comfortable with it for atleast a year. It's gotten so much better in the last couple of years.

I'm planning on emailing Disney here in about a month to see if they have any revised lists. My husband and I pretty much just wing it when it comes to eating at Disney and it has never been a problem with me getting a good gluten free meal but I'm also not a picky eater.

Tell your co-worker that I hope they have a great time at Disney. I would really like to hear how they liked it and if his wife had a good experience with the gluten free eating. I'll keep checking back.

I hope it is ok to post this web address:

{website deleted per TOS}

Please give this address to your co-worker so he can pass it on to his wife. This is a forum I found for celiac (gluten free) when I was first diagnosed and I have learned so much. There is a great bunch of gluten free people on this forum and they are always helpful especially with folks that are starting out.

Thanks for your reply.

Kathie

Strmchsr
08-29-2008, 01:02 PM
If anyone needs it, I have the dietary reference sheet from last fall which has listed the gluten free items at WDW. There is probably an updated list, but that one would still be helpful. Just PM me with your email.

Jasper
08-29-2008, 01:25 PM
:ditto::ditto:We have a friend who has the same issue and when they were at WDW last year they had no problem finding what they needed. Plus, they said the food was just as tasty as any standard meal.

cvzdesign
08-29-2008, 04:46 PM
you will be eating better in Disney than at home for gluten free choices.
They use tapioca flour for their rolls which makes them taste just like normal ones.

They will make special chocolate brownie desserts too at some places.

We ate a lot of sit down meals because of it, and got the dining plan to cover all this.

Liberty Tree was great and so was Chef Mickey's.

At each place, the chef will come out personally and tell you what is safe for you at the buffet meals.

We had a wonderful breakfast at crystal palace too!

Nate's Grandpa
10-09-2008, 01:34 PM
My co-worker just returned from Disney last week. His wife was very pleased at the selection of gluten-free foods. Many times the chef would come out and ask her what she liked and then go back to the kithchen and prepare it gluten-free.

They had such a good experience at Disney, they decided to try a first visit to Universal.
The response there was usually a blank stare.
They will not be returning to Universal.

Ropachs
10-09-2008, 08:20 PM
This is great to know, I'm trying so hard to convince my celiac friend that she can go and eat well at WDW!

J9
07-13-2010, 08:11 PM
I'm getting testing for Celiac, but have a trip to WDW scheduled before I get the results back. Can someone link me the gluten free restaurant information? I sure don't want to feel as icky as I've felt the past few months while in WDW!!!!

Japangurlangel
07-14-2010, 03:09 PM
You can email disney and request info and when you go you can inform them at every place you eat and they will inform you of your options and they will be able to change to gluten free items. Hope this helps.