Sunshine Seasons -- Epcot -- Counter Service

*This dining experience took place in October 2010.

On my last trip, I had a terrific meal at Sunshine Seasons in the Land Pavilion at Epcot. I thought it was a delicious and great counter service meal alternative to fries and burgers. However, this trip, I discovered that they had changed several of the items on the menu at the rotisserie area (which I love), and I was not so thrilled with the changes. While the food quality itself was still good, I just didn't like the flavor combinations. Upon entering, I spoke with the manager who said I could eat the chicken, salmon, and pork. The only dairy in the side dishes was in the mashed potatoes. I had the chicken the last time, so I went with the pork. The pork came with stewed fruit (big pieces of cinnamon and fruit), which I asked for on the side, since I'm not a huge fan of sweet sauces with meat like that (I love sweet and sour sauce, but fruit compote on meat is not my thing). I also got the rice. My mom and brother (who have no dietary restrictions) got the chicken which had a succotash with it and rice. Unfortunately, none of us were too impressed with the food. We all thought the changes were not for the better at this counter service. The meat was OK, but the sauces and sides were just yucky. I didn't like the fruit compote, and the succotash was rather unappetizing too. The rice was pretty greasy, and I'm not particularly sure why. Overall, we all agreed we didn't think we'd eat there again for a while until they made some menu changes. We just didn't like the accompaniments that came with the meat. Disappointing b/c I think Sunshine Seasons has a real opportunity to have upscale counter service and provide healthy options. I'll still give it a shot, but maybe wait for the menu to rotate again. Overall, very disappointing 5 out of 10 for lackluster food.

Pork with rice and fruit compote (on the side) and a French Meadow brownie

Chicken with succotash and rice--the dessert is NOT gluten free/dairy free but this main dish is.

50's Prime Time Cafe -- Hollywood Studios -- Table Service

Welcome to 50's Prime Time Cafe!

"Folks, you're in for a real treat..." (Kudos if you got the Carousel of Progress reference--my favorite attraction at WDW)

I've been long waiting for the delicious gluten free/dairy free fried chicken I've heard rave reviews about. Prior to my visit, I was in contact with Chef Williere Justin who was very helpful. So, I was looking forward to the meal. Upon arrival, we waited for a few minutes (it was fairly busy) and then were seated in Mom's house.

Mom's calling!

I have to say as a side note how much I love the decor! The 50's kitsch is great! Upon being seated, we were greeted by our server Nichole (who was fab--a very funny "cousin"), she got the chef who came out and greeted me. He knew exactly who I was before I got there. "You're my fried chicken girl, aren't you?" Why yes, yes I am! He asked me what veggie I wanted and I was offered green beans/carrots (which Chef Williere had mentioned) or greens sauteed in bacon. Um, greens sauteed in bacon...DUH! that's a no brainer! :) Anything fried with bacon is A-OK with me! We also talked about dessert, and he mentioned that he could do a sundae with brownies and tofutti ice cream. I had the option of chocolate and vanilla. I went for the chocolate naturally!

While waiting for our meal, we got to experience some "family hi-jinks." One of cousins was a real hoot (we were close to another room with a window and he kept grabbing a wooden stick and poking our other "cousins" with them...hilarious! While we were finishing dessert, he decided to get into a garbage bag and balance an egg on a spoon throughout the "house." We were busting up laughing. Love the hi-jinks!

Our "cousin" showing us how the races are done!

It didn't take that long for our food to come at all; in fact, it was actually very quick! It's important to note that you really have to contact the restaurant ahead of time for the fried chicken because it takes 40 minutes or so to make (plus I'm sure there is prep time beforehand). However, as you see in this picture--even though the wait was very minimal--I was HUNGRY and wanted fried chicken!

"We wants the fried chicken! We wants the fried chicken!"

And when the fried chicken arrived (again very quickly!), I was so wowed--it looked amazing! And the taste? OMG--A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!!!! I have not had real fried chicken since going gluten free/dairy free in a year and a half. I was scarfing this down. I had had tummy troubles the previous night, but I was so glad they had gone away when I got to this meal! The potatoes were also extremely good (the best dairy free mashed potatoes I've had) and the greens were so good too. On top of that, I had my own gravy! It was perfect and topped everything off.

Best fried chicken--EVER!

Gravy!

The meal was just great, and I hadn't even gotten dessert yet! Our server was so nice and she mentioned how she really appreciated that I got a hold of the restaurant ahead of time because she once had a woman who did not fill out her allergy form or notify the restaurant ahead of time that she had food allergies and she wanted the gluten free fried chicken, but did not ask for a chef until AFTER she ordered and ate her appetizer! EEEK! She said they, of course, accommodated her but it took 3 hours to get everything done for her. That's crazy! So, the waitress seemed like she really appreciated the preparedness on my part (which I still can't believe a person who had allergies/intolerances would order without the chef but then expect a special diets items--strange--I mean how did they know what they ordered was safe?) because she kept saying over and over how she really really appreciated it (maybe other people don't do this normally? I like being prepared so I always am overly prepared). So, I guess that was good. Lessons learned--be prepared and call ahead of time!

Now on to the good stuff--DESSERT! The brownie sundae was so good. I believe they actually make their brownie b/c it sure didn't look or taste like the one from French Meadow. The chocolate tofutti ice cream and brownies and syrup--yum! Chocolate overload!

My favorite dessert of the trip!

Overall, I can't say enough good things about this restaurant--the service and food and chefs--everything was perfect! I liked it so much that I immediately changed my January 2011 ADRs and canceled Yak & Yeti (which we ended up eating at on this trip unexpectedly) and it will be my birthday meal (well sort-of birthday meal--a week early). I contacted Chef Williere already and they are ready for me already! Loved, loved, loved this restaurant. One of my favs so far for special diets--and next time, I'm going to get a dairy free milk shake too! (they offered me one this time--but I had no room for it!). 10 out of 10 for amazing service--they definitely went above and beyond!
(also I did send lots of praise to customer service for them because it was so memorable! They all did a great job, and I was glad to send an email saying so!)

Liberty Tree Tavern -- Magic Kingdom -- Table Service

Hear ye, hear ye! It's a tradition in my family to eat at Liberty Tree Tavern whenever we attend one of the Magic Kingdom holiday parties. It's been a staple, and we all love the homey goodness of the food that is served at the LTT (although I sure wish the "Hear ye, now welcoming the Norris party from the great state of Michigan"--I wish they still did this!). I'd heard good things about the dietary offerings here, and I was pretty excited. I try to avoid yeast, so I wasn't really eating any of the Ener-G rolls all week, but I made a vow that I was getting gravy and rolls! However, my stomach went into serious overdrive and my Crohn's was starting to flare--NOT GOOD! I was having a fair amount of pain, so I knew it was key to take it easy--no fair, I wanted to eat a salad and my rolls! Uggg. Well, I knew that the meal itself was a good choice for mild food to help ease the tummy troubles (which went away after that night, so problem solved!).

When we got there, the chef came out to the table. The restaurant was pretty slammed, so he seemed a bit frazzled, but accommodating. He explained that my food would be brought out on a separate platter, and that I'd have the veggie (green beans), salad (which I could eat safely with everyone else), turkey, ham, potatoes, roast beef, and gravy. He also said he'd bring out some rolls. I did decide to try a small portion of the salad--which has a lovely strawberry vinaigrette--and is one of my favorite salads on property. Still tasty as usual!

Yum!

When my platter came out, I was extremely surprised, because I was greeted with rolls and Earth Balance butter spread! Say what?! That's the first time I've been offered Earth Balance on Disney property--and I was thrilled. (I use this at home) I was mostly thrilled because I get to use it with the rolls and rolls with "butter" is even better! "Butter," rolls, and gravy...AMAZING! I definitely dug in. I don't eat steak, so I gave the beef to my family (who happily scarfed it down), but I ate the potatoes (silky tasty mashed potatoes!), turkey, ham, gravy, rolls, and a few green beans. It was just what my tummy needed. I didn't feel sick afterward, and the homey food tasted very good on an owly tummy. And plus, it just tasted really good! I love this kind of food sometimes!

A Turkey platter fit for a pilgrim!

Although I didn't eat as much as I normally would, I did eat a fair amount, and then there was dessert! They told me that I could only have sorbet, which was fine. It was actually a nice refreshing choice after a big meal and also gentle on the tummy. I have to say too after all of the servings of sorbet I had this was the most nicely "decorated." They added fresh berries which was a nice touch. I've had this exact sorbet at other places, but I find the raspberry sorbet to be very tasty, and I like the alternative to brownies and rice dream ice cream. YUM!

Very tasty raspberry sorbet

Overall, I'd give this an 8 out of 10--a very enjoyable meal--good food and service! and Earth Balance "butter" as an added bonus!

The Wave -- Contemporary -- Table Service

I've been wanting to try the Wave for a while now since it opened. I loved the whole local seasonal approach and it sends such a great message to sustainability and being aware of how food production works. However, I have heard lots of mixed reviews on the food, service, and ability to handle food allergies. So, I went in with no expectations, figuring breakfast food is fairly easy, especially with food allergies/intolerances. I have to say, the decor of this restaurant is neat. I love the entrance. It really feels like you are "under the sea." Definitely a nice design (reminds me a bit of Coral Reef).

The chef greeted us at the table. He was very nice (he was also from Michigan originally, so we had some fun discussion of Michigan weather!) and discussed the options for me. He was able to make waffles which was great. He also noted that the chicken sausage was GF and had no other filles in it, which was good. So, I decided on the American which is basically eggs, breakfast potatoes, and I got chicken sausage with it (good but spicy!). I also asked if they could make waffles for me on the side (I have a weakness for waffles on vacation--I never make them at home!). Now, it is important to note that they carried Vans Waffles but the chef said they could also make waffles too. I personally like to get the mix waffles because I'm on vacation, and I like the homemade waffles--I can get Van's any day! So, it was nice to know that there were choices.

When the food arrived, I noticed that the waffles looked decidedly like Van's waffles! Uh-oh! The waitress had no idea, and she didn't seem to want to ask the chef, so I just dove in to see if they just use a regular waffle maker (I'm used to the Mickey Waffles!), and lo and behold, they were homemade waffles! Very tasty!

Yummy waffles--don't be fooled by the frozen waffle shape! That's an Ener-G roll in the background!

My actual meal was decent. Nothing too exciting, but still good and filling. The chicken sausage was a wee bit spicy, and I was having a slight bit of stomach troubles, so I ended up sharing it with family members. The potatoes were pretty tasty. I was also surprised to see an Ener-G roll on my plate--that was a nice touch since I couldn't have the biscuit. I appreciated the effort to add it, even though I hadn't asked for it! Kudos on that!

A good hearty breakfast!

While the food wasn't anything spectacular or particularly memorable, I found the Wave to be a good hearty meal with competent and knowledgeable chefs. I appreciated the extra effort they made. A solid 7 out of 10.

Top of the World Lounge -- Bay Lake Tower -- Snacks

Showing off the drink menu at the lounge

Prior to our trip, I was in contact with chefs from the Contemporary about the Top of the World Lounge. I knew they had appetizers that could be made gluten free/dairy free, so this was exciting. Upon arrival, I ordered a lovely cocktail--a pina colada with raspberry puree in it (yum!)

A very rich, fruity drink!

Then we decided on crab nachos (minus the cheese and sour cream) and Chicken and vegetable summer rolls (with the dipping sauce on the side). When the brought the food, they had essentially deconstructed the nachos by placing the crab on a separate plate and the black bean salsa on another plate.

Crab nachos, minus the 9 measly tortilla chips

The summer rolls were plated as normal. Both were very good. We ended up all agreeing that the summer rolls were more substantial and very tasty--while the crab nachos were quite small and they only gave us 9--that's right "9" tortilla chips for 3 of us and a ridiculous amount of salsa. Um, who uses only 9 tortilla chips?! Kind of stingy if you ask me. We were just basically eating the salsa straight. I'd actually heard other people complain about this prior to our trip, so I was prepared--but for $12.99, the sting of still only getting 9 tortilla chips was pretty harsh. Overall, I can say we enjoyed our snacks--though we'd probably only order the summer rolls next time.

Delicious summer rolls--the slaw on the side was amazing! Also, the dipping sauce shown here is NOT gluten free--my family members ate it, while I had the rolls plain (still excellent)

I'd give this a 6 out of 10 for very strange portion sizes and pricing.

Contempo Cafe -- Counter Service -- Lunch/Dinner

*This dining experience took place in October 2010.

Contempo Cafe -- take 2!

I got to be very familiar with the Contempo Cafe on this trip--we ate lunch/dinner here twice and breakfast here twice. For this meal, I forgot to take the picture of my food before digging in because I was soooo hungry--but I'll post the 3/4 eaten pic :)

I knew that Contempo Cafe was currently serving the allergy friendly chicken tenders, so I wanted to get those. I ordered those with fries and got a French Meadow brownie and soda. Overall, while nothing major or special, it sure was tasty. I love those things! Although, I sure wish they would serve a different kind of barbecue sauce in this food court b/c it's the same kind I encountered at ABC Commissary (I believe it was Heinz?) and it has gluten in it. What happened to the safe bbq sauce, people!? Overall though, it was a good meal (you can tell, since I was scarfing it down), and the chicken tenders still remain one of my standard counter service meals each trip.

Whoops, I got hungry and ate most of my food before taking a picture!

Another solid meal from Contempo Cafe--a 7 out of 10 for decent food and service.

Boma -- Animal Kingdom Lodge -- Table Service

Boma at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge

For those that haven't eaten at Boma, you are in for a real treat. This is one of my favorite restaurants on property. I love the African inspired foods served in a very accessible way. I've not met one person who hasn't like this restaurant--even the pickiest of eaters can find something good here! This breakfast was no exception. Prior to my trip, I had been in contact with Chef Trish about getting gluten free/dairy free bobotie (a fav of mine prior to food allergies), as a chef had mentioned this to me when I ate there in 2009. She said that Chef Amber would be on duty that day and that she would be able to accommodate me! How exciting. Once we got seated, I mentioned to our server that I was supposed to speak specifically to Chef Amber--and fortunately, she was already talking to a family a few tables down. She knew exactly who I was and was very excited about serving me the bobotie. First she took me around the buffet and then she said she would go make sure the bobotie was done. Overall, she was one of the most enthusiastic, friendly chefs I've encountered on Disney property--can't say enough nice things about her! I then went through the buffet line, where I was able to get an omelet made (they made mine separately with oil), ham, potatoes, pineapple, etc.

Ham, onion, and green pepper omelet and accompaniments

And later Chef Amber brought me the bobotie! Omigosh!!! It was an entire pan of bobotie--enough to feed all 4 of us at breakfast! It was so huge. Of course, I shared with my family--who all agreed it was better than the turkey bobotie on the buffet (Chef Amber made mine with ground beef and ground lamb--as a special treat). Sooo good. We didn't eat the whole thing, but we put a good dent in it (about half). I wish I could have eaten it later--but we were heading to the parks and there was no way that would travel well.

Gluten free and dairy free bobotie--as you can see this was a large pan!

Overall, I can't say enough good things about Boma and the chefs there. They are always so accommodating to food allergies and this experience demonstrated how they really go above and beyond to make safe foods for their guests. I would not hesitate to eat there again (actually, I'll be eating there in May 2011 when we stay at the AKL Jambo House Villas)--9 out of 10 for exceptional food and service!

Cape May Cafe -- Beach Club -- Table Service

Welcome to Cape May Cafe!

Wowie--I love seafood and I was hopeful that I would be able to indulge at this buffet--boy, was I in for a treat! Seafood galore. I have eaten here prior to food allergies, but it has been several years and prior to the addition of the crab legs. Upon arrival, I was met by a chef who took me around the buffet--I was amazed at how many choices I had that were naturally gluten and dairy free. Pretty much most of the seafood choices were OK and lots of side dishes too. There was a plain salad mix on the buffet with oil and vinegar on the side, but the premade salads (like a Caesar salad) were out of the question. I was able to eat peel and eat shrimp, crab legs (minus any butter to dip it in...didn't matter to me, it still tasted yummy), some kind of fish stew, chicken, mussels, clams, boiled red potatoes, cabbage, and far too many other things to count. YUM! I ate two plates of crab legs!

Sweet, delicious crabby legs!

The pork on this was excellent, as was the chicken, and the cabbage was amazing!

I ate entirely too many peel and eat shrimp--and the cocktail sauce is safe (but not the tartar sauce evidently).

Forget a bigger boat! Kids, we're gonna need a bigger bucket!

I was so full after this meal, and when it came to dessert it was a little disappointing (but thankfully not a big deal b/c I was so full) b/c they gave me a french meadow brownie, still in the package half melted b/c they nuked it in the microwave (in the package!? egads!). Now, I'm not complaining about the brownie part--dessert wise, gluten and dairy free leaves little options, but usually most chefs try to at least put it on a plate and cut it/doctor it up so it looks nice. This was all melted and still in the package! I mean literally the waitress just dumped it on the table like it was the most disgusting thing she had ever seen. Sighs...well, at least the rest of the buffet was excellent.

My very messy brownie--you can see the package is covered in chocolate from being nuked.

Had it not been for the less than stellar dessert attempt (and some amazing meals later in the trip--with chefs who REALLY went above and beyond) this would have been a 9 out of 10, but I give it a 7 out of 10 for lack of enthusiasm to accommodate food allergies if it is not on the buffet. I will say though that I've heard some really fantastic reviews from other people from food allergies overall, and the dessert really wasn't bad--just needed some better prep time and presentation. I'd definitely go again, and just prepare myself for a nuked brownie!

Wolfgang Puck Express -- Downtown Disney -- Counter Service

*This dining experience took place in October 2010.

I have been really quite hesitant to try any counter service restaurants at Downtown Disney because I haven't heard very good reviews. So, when my family needed to go to DTD to get t-shirts made at the Design A Tee store for Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party, I was not too thrilled about the prospects of eating there. However, I figured I'd give Wolgang Puck Express a try, figuring that out of most of the CS they might be able to accommodate me the easiest. So, we headed that way. Upon arrival, I notified the cashier of my allergies. He did not have a chef / manager come over, but he sure was a wealth of knowledge. He gave me 2 options for meals: 1) the Rotisserie chicken meal without the mashed potatoes but substituting a salad w/balsamic vinegar and oil on the side instead. Or, I could have the salmon, but I didn't really pay attention to what I could have with it, since I had already decided on the chicken. Because we were on the meal plan, I needed to know if there were any dessert options. The only option was fresh fruit (which was fine by me). The cashier was very nice, and he even gave me an extra fruit cup because he "felt bad" this was my dessert. I was actually fine with it b/c we were eating at Cape May Cafe that night (which is a buffet) and I didn't want anything too heavy.

Fruit cups--the pineapple and grapes were my favorite!

Once I placed my order the cashier did go over to the chefs and discuss it to make sure that what he suggested was correct, so I felt more confident with my choices after that. Now, I will say, the portions at this place are HUGE! I'm so glad I had a salad and fruit with it b/c the chicken was a pretty hefty portion. I also have to say that the chicken was very tasty. Moist and the skin was so flavorful (lots of rosemary, etc.). Overall, I think it was a good choice for DTD, and I would definitely go there again. 7 out of 10 for good food, friendly service--although I wish they had a chef/manager consult with me on this occasion. Overall, very good.

Look at the size of that chicken!

Kona Cafe -- Polynesian -- Table Service

Ah, breakfast at Kona Cafe....I dream about those Mickey Waffles from Kona on a regular basis. They are soooo good. I seriously can't believe they are gluten and dairy free. This trip ended up bringing not one but two breakfasts at Kona. The first was planned, as we had made ADRs for this months in advance, the second was a spur of the moment, made the ADR the night before because my brother wanted to treat us to breakfast. Fine by me! Both meals were great as usual. The second meal, the chef was Kristina (I believe that is her name) and she had waited on me in the past--she was the chef who gave me butter on the plate--eek! But she was very good this time and I had no problems. I so far have no desire to veer from the Big Kahuna meal--so that is what I got both times, along with Lilikoi juice! YUM! Another solid 9 out of 10 for being a consistently good breakfast and good service.

Me and my mom enjoying our Lilikoi juice!

Big Kahuna at our first breakfast...

And from our second breakfast....gotta love those Mickey Waffles!

Private Dining -- Bay Lake Tower -- Contemporary

After my fantastic dessert at the California Grill in February on my birthday, I was hoping to have the same dessert made for me this trip. I've been in contact with Brian from the bakery at the Contemporary who said that he could do this. We determined that the desserts would cost $15 a piece and that they would be delivered after 5 p.m. (I arranged this part through the Contemporary's private dining). However, there were a few snags that occurred. To begin with, the private dining person that I spoke with said that they would deliver the dessert in the room and put the desserts in the fridge for us, if we weren't in the room. But when we got back from dinner, we discovered that this hadn't happened. No dessert. So I called private dining, and they stated that they cannot deliver when a person isn't in the room (not true, I've ordered things before, including cakes that were delivered when we weren't there). They brought the desserts up, and the lady who did that informed me that they had to add chocolate b/c the sauce was running. UM, you added chocolate?! What kind of chocolate? I have food allergies! She felt really bad, and said she was pretty sure it was plain dark chocolate shavings, but that she would have to check. So, they left the dessert with me and then called me to let me know that the chocolate was dairy free. Pheww! Sigh of relief. I think what worried me the most was that they did not bother to check to see if there was a food allergy attached, which should have been clearly noted. However, I understand that they just received it from the bakery and were probably not in charge of it. All worked out in the end so that was good. Now to the dessert....it looked like what I ate before, but it was NOT what I ordered before. Totally different. It was one layer of very thin chocolate cake and dairy free chocolate mousse. Before the mousse was so flavorful and chocolatey--this was not so much. It was pretty bland and had a really weird texture. Overall, it was edible, but everyone in the family agreed it was not the same as the last one. I do appreciate the effort, but the dessert seemed very sloppily made and definitely not as much effort put in it as the last one. After this experience, I would probably just order the regular gluten free/dairy free cake instead of having a special dessert made. I'd give it a 4 out of 10, considering the confusion and taste of the dessert.

Dessert view #1

View #2

Rose and Crown Dining Room -- Epcot -- Table Service

Rose & Crown Pub--as you can see very busy from the Food & Wine Festival.
I would later get a hard cider from here--YUM!

*This dining experience took place in October 2010.

I have been wanting to try the Rose & Crown Pub for sometime now. So, this trip (for something different), we decided to try it out. I had seen on some of the sheets from special diets that there seemed to be a fair amount of choices that were not beef (I don't eat steak of any type and very rarely eat ground beef). I checked out the menus beforehand, and I was hoping to try some pork dish or fish. However, upon arrival, I saw that the menu had changed from what was posted on allearsnet.com and on Disney's official website (this gives the lesson that menus do constantly change, so it's important to be flexible and prepared that the options you think you might want may not be available when you dine there). No pork! I was a bit bummed, but began going over options with the chef. She said that most things could be modified (which is nice to hear) and that the Fisherman's stew was mainly gluten free (the menu describes it as having a tomato ale broth, but the ale is not beer, it's actually vermouth--which is generally considered safe/gluten free) they would just need to leave off the garlic crouton. She did offer to make a tapioca roll garlic bread for me, but since I don't usually consume yeast, I declined. (last trip I got REALLY rambunctious with the rolls and it was not a good idea). This was a very tasty dish. Not overly heavy or anything. I especially like the shrimp and scallops.

YUM!

They did say that they could bake the fish for fish and chips, but the fish stew sounded more exotic than baked fish to me (it was very flavorful). For dessert, the only real options I had were a french meadow brownie (of which I got PLENTY of on the trip) or sugar free raspberry sorbet. I went with the sorbet, which was quite tasty and very refreshing.

Raspberry Sorbet

Overall, I was pleased with the meal. The chef was very helpful and the waitress was great. Her mom is a celiac, so it was fabulous having someone who understood. Overall, I'd give this a 7 out of 10--solid meal and service.

Contempo Cafe -- Counter Service -- Lunch/Dinner

Staying at Bay Lake Tower, we had a great location and access to yummy restaurants and a decent counter service. Contempo Cafe is located in Disney's Contemporary Resort (which is connected by a walkway to Bay Lake Tower). It reflects a newer type of counter service, in that it has a non-traditional ordering system. There are kiosks set up for you to order your food. Admittedly, this was a bit confusing to try out. Our first day, we grabbed lunch here. I wasn't sure how it worked with allergies, so I found a CM who was working the food counter. They then got a chef for me. The chef then asked me what I wanted, and I mentioned that I was interested in the honey lime chicken sandwich they had. He said that without the bun and cheese, that this would be safe. He did offer me a tapioca bun, but I politely declined, as I tend to avoid yeast (It messes with my Crohn's disease). He said he could do a bed of lettuce with the chicken, which I was happy with. He also said their fries were used in a dedicated fryer. So, we went with that. He then said I had to order the item on the kiosk and then when I went to the cashier (who gave you a wait remote) to tell them that I had an allergy, so they could flag it. It was a bit confusing at first, but once I got the hang of this, I was able to figure it out when we ate there 3 more times. The honey lime chicken was fabulous! They also put salt and pepper on the fries which was a nice touch (and other times I ate there they did not do this).

Honey Lime Chicken with fries and a gluten free/dairy free Brownie (used a CS credit for this)

This was definitely a great meal. Overall, I'd give it a 7 out of 10--solid, but slightly confusing system.

Detroit Metro Airport -- Boar's Head Deli Meat

Perhaps the most difficult task when traveling, is making sure I can find places to eat or that I have safe forms of protein with me. It can be really difficult! Because I fly out of Detroit Metro to Orlando, I checked what places would be available in the McNamara terminal where we fly out of (we use Delta as our airline of choice). Lo and behold I found a Boar's Head Deli! Boar's Head deli meat is gluten free! Hurrah! So, I went to the counter that morning to see if they could just sell me the deli meat, sans bread. This really confused the people working there because they said they didn't know how to charge me. They decided to charge me for a sandwich--ouch! $9.00 for deli meat?! Well, they did give me two packs of turkey, which probably ended up being a pound or so of meat (so I guess the price was comparative). Overall, while I'd have like a lettuce wrap sandwich, this worked. Not the most ideal, but sure OK when you have no other options. I'd give it a 3 out of 10 for difficulty obtaining anything, without much discussion. A lot of work!

My oven roasted turkey. Nothing special.

October 2010 Trip -- WDW Wedding

Well folks, looks like I'll be heading to WDW in October for my brother's wedding. He and his fiancee decided that WDW was perfect for their nuptials. They are getting married at Sunset Pointe at Disney's Polynesian Resort. Afterwards, they'll be having a reception dinner at Kona Cafe. The great thing is, they are making sure that those with dietary restrictions are taken care of. They are going to make sure there is a safe dessert option for the cake cutting ceremony, as well as at dinner. I've had great experiences with breakfast at Kona Cafe, so I am sure that dinner will be just wonderful.

I'm thinking of staying at the Contemporary's Bay Lake Towers or some other DVC rooms because of the convenience with the kitchenette. In addition, it's nice and close transportation wise. I'd love to check out the Wave and Chef Mickey's GF/CF! Here's some restaurants the family has been talking about checking out:

• The Wave @ Disney's Contemporary
• 50's Prime Time Cafe @ Hollywood Studios
• The Rose and Crown @ Epcot
• Garden Grill @ Epcot
• Liberty Tree Tavern @ Magic Kingdom
• Chef Mickey's @ Disney's Contemporary

Of course, we are going to go to 'Ohana and Kona Cafe for sure. Breakfast at Kona is a must for me, as is dinner at 'Ohana.

I can't wait to start planning!
If anyone has any tips or reviews of these restaurants, I'd love to hear them!

Club Level--Wilderness Lodge

Let me begin by saying that I had high hopes for Club Level. I've stayed at AKL's club level and loved the experience, but this was also pre-dietary restrictions, so I knew this was a gamble. Here is a play by play of the pre-trip correspondence and during the trip experience.

Pre-trip Correspondence:
To begin with, the IPO (Itinerary Planning Office) staff were friendly enough, but I noticed a bit of difficulty in obtaining much information about my dietary restrictions and the lounge. I explained to them how important it was to know ahead of time what would be available at breakfast. I got the muffins, waffles, and whatever else the chefs prepare response. Well, fair enough. I guess they wouldn't know, but when I asked them to contact the chef, they never got through to them. I asked about specific items (like earth balance margarine) and they said I could buy it but they wouldn't guarantee it would be there. Sigh. I guess this means they aren't going to be any help. We did arrange for a 6 inch gluten free, dairy free (but had eggs and soy) chocolate birthday cake. I was told it was $29.50 (which I think I got charged less, but that is what they quoted) Overall, the staff wasn't really helpful with dietary restrictions or even contacting restaurants outside of my hotel (as far as directly asking specific questions to the chef) They did however, make notations on all of my meal reservations, so that was very good.

Club Level first-hand:
Well, I must warn you. This isn't a great review. I will say the concierge downstairs were more friendly and helpful than the CL staff were. And I'm not that picky. I just want people to be straight with me about what's available and not treat me like a leper or a huge burden. I'd love to have these people live one day in my dietary life and maybe they'd understand. From crimeny's sake...Red Robin can get it right with dietary restrictions why can't WDW's club level?! To begin with, in general, we found the CL staff to be very rude and in general not very friendly. Compared to the AKL CL staff this was a bit of a shock. When I arrived, I wanted to confirm the birthday cakes (one for me and one for my mom). They said they would check and call me, and they never did. I got the "I forgot" answer. Greeeeaaaat. Day 1, we didn't really look for any evening options, although I did get a French Meadow brownie from the staff. You have to ask the CL staff for them to get it for you. Boy, they didn't like having to get me one every day. And yes, I got one every day! I like those brownies and when it's the only option you have, well, you go with it.

The first breakfast, I was given 4 blueberry muffins. Uggg. Not good for my Crohn's. I don't digest blueberries well at all. I did try to eat a few of the muffins because I was really hungry, but I was surprised I didn't get much of anything else. I could have eaten fresh fruit, but didn't. I did talk to the CL staff and just explained that berries were rough on my stomach (specifically blueberries) and said something like a chocolate chip muffin would work or waffles. Well lo and behold the next day, I got chocolate muffins. Holy cow! These were like dessert brownies. Yikes. Not so great at 7:30 a.m. In fact, it was the only thing they gave me for the rest of the week. And they said I couldn't get anything else. Gee, thanks. I ended up getting food or snacks other places because of this.

Brownies..I mean muffins and tea. Quite the breakfast.

A couple of times, I was able to find some evening appetizer options that I thought would work. They had to call down to the chefs, which did not appear to make the CL staff too trilled. But, there were a few items that I thought would be OK, that weren't. So it pays to ask. Even if people aren't thrilled with you. It's your body, and it doesn't pay to be sick. And yes, it happens. I got sick later in the week. I still am not sure if it was Crohn's or cross contamination. I know that I get sick a lot with GF pasta, and I had it the night before I got sick, so maybe it was that. In any event, here were a few of the items I could eat:

Coffee rubbed, Ancho spiced Grilled Chicken

Ancho Chili Scallops Wrapped in Bacon...Very good!

There were also veggies and hummus. None of the other dips or soups seemed like I could eat them. It was a bit of a gamble as to what was up there, so some days I got food, other days I didn't.

Dessert was a no-go. There were never any options for me other than the French Meadow Brownies (which was the only afternoon option for me too...talk about brownie overload) Except one night, the night that I was sick, they made ANOTHER chocolate brownie dessert. This was actually very good, once I ate it the next night. It was brownies with a chocolate fudge frosting in the middle, covered in powdered sugar. I didn't pick it up, but my mom said the CL staff gave her a stern talking to as to why I didn't get it. Um, no one told me I had a dessert and I never had one the previous 5 nights! So why would I expect a dessert?! Sigh.

Chocolate brownies.

And back to the getting sick. I got sick and felt terrible. I spent a day in bed. Yuck. In the mean time, my mom decided that CL was so unhelpful, that she went to the concierge staff downstairs for help to get me protein shakes. I use them a lot when I'm sick, so I get some nutrition even if my stomach hurts. I drink Odwalla Vanilla Al'Mondo Non-dairy shakes. So, the concierge staff was very helpful. They arranged a van and got a runner to take my mom (free of charge) to the nearest Super Target (which is where I get them) to get me shakes. Sure enough, they found them and were able to get everything sorted. My mom then tried to get my birthday cake (which was to be delivered that day) delayed so I could sleep, but the CL staff somehow got that messed up, when she attempted to try that. Again, a reason to check with concierge not CL staff.

I'm feeling icky, but the mousekeeper brought me a bunny so I'd feel better! (true story!)

Birthday cake...gluten free and dairy free.

The logo is made of sugar, I called and asked.

I didn't end up eating the cake while at WDW, but we brought it home. Yes, strangely I took it in my carry on and didn't have it confiscated, guess it wasn't a threat! HOWEVER, I do want folks to know that I was sick most of the week after I got back on the days I ate this cake. I am guessing there was some sort of cross contamination in it. It was clearly GF, but in general, I felt a big icky. Perhaps I was recovering from being sick, but the items I had on other days didn't make me sick, only the cake days. So, it seems pretty likely there was an issue with the cake. But, I didn't get sick from my Contemporary dessert, so there are some safe dessert options. I'm not going to say for sure this was a cross contamination issue, but be mindful that this could happen.

Overall, I wish the CL staff would have been more friendly and less "put out" when it came to my dietary restrictions. I don't expect special treatment, but I don't like being made to feel like I'm a pain in the butt. Yes, I ask a lot of questions, but it's for safety reasons. I was happy with the few options when I had them, just wish the overall ambiance would have been more friendly. I would not recommend CL for people with dietary concerns. In fact, I would have rather just spent the extra money and had table service for breakfast every day. But, in general we enjoyed the Wilderness Lodge (love the hotel!) and would come back here, just not at CL. Perhaps other CL's are better equipped, but I would definitely hesitate to try it again.

California Grill--Table Service--Contemporary

Welcome to the California Grill!

Happy Birthday to me! This was my birthday dinner, and I was not hopeful after my experience during the day (although I was very relaxed after my facial and pedicure! Loved, loved, loved the spa!) but we gave it a shot. A couple of days before I got an email from the Contemporary bakery asking me if I wanted a cake or a dessert. It's a good thing I had my laptop with me (uggg, though the Internet fees were outrageous! why can't WDW have free wi-fi? McDonald's does!) otherwise, I'd have not known. In any event Jessie the sous pastry chef said she would make me some kind of chocolate dessert that was gluten and dairy free.

Upon arrival, we were greeted and seated in a small, quiet wine cellar room, located off of the main dining room. Hurrah! The table was decorated for my birthday! How nice!

Look at the Mickey confetti!

They said that they try to put special events in this quainter room, because it is more secluded and quiet. It was lovely. I was so glad to be there over the main dining room. And the view wasn't of the Magic Kingdom, but it was still spectacular. And, of course, we could have gone to the fireworks viewing (which occurred while were there), but we decided to enjoy the quiet ambiance. Chef Jason came to visit me, and he offered me a variety of things. He was so friendly and very accommodating. I mentioned that I'd be interested in sushi and he said no problem. I could have the sashimi or california roll and some others, but I can't remember which ones. They have GF Tamari too. I got the Sashimi, which is just sliced raw fish, though I wish I would have gone for the roll. I could have gone for the rice! However, it was very tasty and very fresh. You can tell they use very high quality fish. The tuna and Hamachi were so good. I didn't eat much salmon because I was already getting pretty full, but don't worry it didn't go to waste. Others in my party ate it. When the sushi arrived, they made sure to mention that it was a special Gluten Free sushi, so at least the sushi chef was aware of it.

Sashimi (tuna, hamachi, and salmon)

Then for my main course, I ordered the pan seared sea bass with stir fry vegetables, sticky rice, and ginger-soy-hijiki broth. I was so amazed, by the way, at the level of accommodation these chefs were making. Chef Jason gave me so many options and said that he would do whatever I wanted to make sure I had a good meal. After some of the resistance from chefs at other restaurants, this was so nice. My main course was AMAZING. Beyond amazing. I literally could have licked the plate, it was that good. The sauce was so flavorful and the sea bass was cooked to perfection. Well worth the price!

Sea bass with sticky rice and ginger soy hijiki sauce!

My mom and step-dad said the food was very good. My mom said it was one of the best steaks she's ever had. (Le Cellier used to have that honor with her, but California Grill bumped it off the list)

Next up...DESSERT! When we got there, they even double checked to make sure that there was a dessert for me. Sigh of relief! What they brought out was nothing short of amazing. Bar none, most amazing dessert I've had GF/CF! Unbelievable. It was a chocolate cake with a chocolate mousse wrapped in chocolate sheets and topped with fresh raspberries and accompanied by a raspberry coulis! The coulis made the dessert. Even the non-dietary restricted thought it was amazing.

Me and my dessert. Very happy!



Close-up of the dessert. Look at that attention to detail!

Overall, this made my birthday. What a great meal. Yes, it was pricy. Would I do it every day? No. But a special occasion? Most certainly. From the attention to detail to the quality of the food this restaurant went above and beyond my expectations. Kudos to Chef Jason and the rest of the staff for a job well done. 10 out of 10 for quality, service, and accommodation.

Garden View Lounge Afternoon Tea--Table Service--Grand Floridian

On my 30th birthday, I wanted to do something special. I have always wanted to do the high tea at the Grand Floridian and thought this would be the perfect opportunity to do so. I planned a 2 p.m. tea, so that we had 1 1/2 hours before our spa appointment at the Grand Floridian spa at 3:30. I thought this would give us plenty of time. It's only tea right?! Well, this turned out to be a disastrous affair, with rude waitstaff and rude guests and completely unprepared chefs. Previously, Chef Jeff Bliss had called me and arranged to make some salads and some desserts. Ah, too bad this didn't come to fruition. I believe there was some misscommunication because when we arrived, the waitresses said they thought I had food with my name on in it their fridge and later the chef (not Jeff Bliss) came out and totally ignored me and took forever (like 30+ minutes) to bring me a scoop of tuna and egg salad. I asked for no GF bread (because I was avoiding yeast) and I got bread (which I was told did have yeast in it).

Lovely tea and china!

To begin with, we were seated next to some really rude guests. They were very snooty and rude to everyone. This made my mom and I feel very uncomfortable (and I'm not usually bugged by people, rude or otherwise). The waitress was a bit curt. I ordered the Princess Breakfast tea which was strawberry vanilla rooibos. YUM! I was going to buy this, but didn't get the chance. The chef arrived and I explained that Jeff Bliss had spoken to me and made arrangements. Like I said, 30+ minutes later I got my food. My mom was already done with her sandwiches and scone.

My egg and tuna salad.

Taste wise, the salads were OK. Nothing spectacular. I have made better at home. I found the egg salad to be overly mayonnaised (is that a word?!) As time progressed, I realized we only had 30 minutes before our spa appointment and our waitress and the chef weren't in any hurry to let us leave, so we asked the waitress for the desserts and our bill. (i.e. pack the desserts to go) She got very rude and said it was 4:30 not 3:30 and I had to literally show her my watch. She was like "Fine. I guess." She got my mom a dessert, and tossed a cut up, pre-done (i.e. French Meadow) brownie at me. Ummmm, I thought I was getting a dessert made for me?! At this point, we were so frustrated and I was getting upset, so we decided to forget it and leave. I got charged for the Buckingham Palace which was $19.50 and I got very minimal amounts of food, compared to my mom. I wasn't expecting a meal by any means, but I was expecting some effort to be put forth, especially in the place where the pastry chefs made a big deal about calling me to make a dessert. Sad really. They didn't sell me on their bakery, their service, or ever staying at the Grand Floridian.

Overall, I give this a big fat 5 out of 10. Mostly because of the bad service and lack of accommodation. I'd have let the accommodation part go if it wasn't for the big deal they made about it prior to me arriving. Disappointing and something I probably won't do again. Thankfully, California Grill made up for this tea when I went there for dinner.

Whispering Canyon Cafe--Table Service--Wilderness Lodge

HOWDY! Welcome to Whispering Canyon Cafe!

This was a birthday meal for me--my 30th birthday to be exact. I knew prior to eating at WCC that they made fun of you (been there before), so I was ready for some good old fashioned teasing. But, I was also hoping for a nice breakfast. Upon arrival, the waitress let me know that the chef would be out to see me. When the chef arrived, I explained that I couldn't have milk or gluten. I decided on a ham omelet with potatoes and a GF waffle on the side. I was hoping for mickey waffles, a la Kona cafe, but alas, it turned out to be a Van's Waffle. (not that they aren't good, but I can eat them at home! I wanted a big fluffy GF/CF mickey waffle!) The chef actually mentioned that these were the last of the waffles because they'd had so many GF eaters that week. (hmm, guess they should have ordered more!) When she brought out my waffle she brought out fleischman's butter, which she said was made from corn. I wasn't sure if she meant lactose free or completely dairy free (it sounded sketchy to me), so I didn't eat it. After getting butter on my plate and on my eggs at 'Ohana, I was leary. I like not getting a scratchy throat, sneezing, and headaches.

Van's waffles and pure maple syrup.

The omelet was very tasty and so were the potatoes. In general, it was good but nothing spectacular.

Breakfast!

After my meal, they made me go around the restaurant on a wooden horse and sang to me to celebrate my birthday (sure didn't feel 30 at that moment!) And instead of a cake, they gave me a french meadow brownie. Nothing like a brownie at 9 a.m.! Thankfully, I could take it back to the room with me.

Overall, I'd give it a 7 out of 10. Service and food were OK. Nothing spectacular, but not terrible either.

'Ohana--Table Service--Polynesian

A view from the Polynesian

Well folks, 'Ohana has been one of my favorite restaurants at WDW for years. I love the woodfired meats, the sides (oh how I miss the old green beans from here), and all the other tasty treats. However, this was my first time going GF/CF. I knew prior to our reservations that Chef T.J. was now working here. Chef T.J., for those who don't know, is pretty much known as THE BEST chef for allergies on WDW property. I knew that if T.J. was there, this would be an unforgettable meal. Now, I wasn't feeling particularly hot this day. In fact, I had been down right miserable the day before. Call it the Crohn's flaring or just eating the wrong thing...I was not well. So, today was going to be a day of actual food, and I was excited. After a very upsetting and disappointing afternoon and experience at Yakitori House (previous arrangements had been made for the counter service to have GF sauce, but they refused to serve me rice or anything claiming they had no knowledge of the chef's contacting me) I literally hadn't eaten anything but protein shakes for over 24 hours. I needed food!

Upon arrival, the hostess verified that I had allergies. After we were seated, they had placed a fake polynesian flower on the table and they said that this would notify the chefs to come to see me. Well, sure enough I see chef T.J. walking my direction. I was so excited. He was terrific. I explained to him that I had Crohn's and that I just been sick, so I couldn't eat salad that night (rats, I was looking forward to that too!) So, he said he would do a few things for me, and take it easy on my tummy. First up, chicken wings. Oh my goodness, these were amazing. He gave me, something like 10 chicken wings! They had some spicy, sweet and sour glaze on them. Yum! T.J. came back to check on me and asked if I liked them because I hadn't eaten that many. I kept telling him how good they were, but that I was trying to pace myself since I hadn't much in the last day.

Spicy Chicken Wings

Then he brought out my entree. We agreed on turkey, shrimp, chicken, and pork. I decided not to do any red meat. Holy moly! When he brought out my entree, I couldn't believe the size! It was huge. It had rice, crispy rice noodles, and broccoli. The broccoli was a little crispy for me, but I tried a bit of it, and it was good. The meat had a sweet and sour sauce on it, and a peanut sauce on the top. So good.

Entree at 'Ohana! So tasty!

My entree after I was done. You can see how much I had left!

Chef T.J. came back out again and asked how it was. Of course, I couldn't help but gush over the wonderfully prepared meal. It was so good. I asked T.J. if I could take it home with me, and he said that with special diets he allows to go bags, so I got to take everything back to our room and eat it later. Good leftovers, let me tell you!

Then, it was time for dessert! T.J. brought out the most amazing decadent and FUN dessert! Chocolate brownies, soy chocolate ice cream, pineapple, bananas, and cotton candy with some chocolate syrup on top. Holy cow! I had help eating this one. We couldn't let it go to waste. It was so good.

That's one big tower of dessert!

I can't say enough good things about this restaurant or Chef T.J. It was tasty, amazing, and so wonderful to have an attentive and concerned chef. He was just great. I highly recommend this, and will continue to make this a must-do on my list, especially if T.J. is there! 10 out of 10 for great food, great service, and going above and beyond my expectations.