Columbia Harbour House -- Lunch/Dinner -- Quick Service -- Magic Kingdom

*This dining experience took place in July 2013.

 Hear ye, hear ye! If you visit the Magic Kingdom, you've probably seen Columbia Harbour House located in Liberty Square. Situated across from the Haunted Mansion, Columbia Harbour House offers quick service that proves to be more than just burgers and fries. With lots of New England inspired dishes, you'll see chowder and lobster rolls as well as fried fish on the menu. You might assume that guests with special diets won't be able to get much here; however, they carry one of my favorite quick service options on property: allergy friendly chicken tenders and french fries in a dedicated fryer!I decided to go to Columbia Harbour House on a whim while visiting the MK one day. The chicken tenders sounded like a good idea, and I will say I've always had a particular fondness for the ones prepared at this location. Even though they are the same chicken tenders served across property for special diets, there's something about the way they fry them at CHH.It was lunch time when I arrived here, so it was slightly busy but not as bad considering how busy the park was. I was greeted by a manager who brought over the famous allergy binders. She showed me the chicken tenders as one allergy option. The only other allergy option they had was Amy's mac & cheese--yeah that wouldn't quite work for me! I asked her if other options like the Lobster Roll had GF/DF alternatives. She let me look at the ingredients, but said they didn't have any buns. Well that's a bummer! It looked like the lobster salad was safe for GF/DF based on the ingredients I saw. The manager said they could serve it on a bed of lettuce, but I went with the allergy chicken tenders. On another note, it looked like the salmon served without the couscous might also be a safe option.

Seating in CHH

The seating at this quick service is located on two floors. The cool thing is there are lots of nooks and crannies and places to find quiet spots. I recommend heading to the second floor if you're looking for a quieter meal.

Allergy Chicken tender yumminess!

As you can see from the photo, the portion is quite large. They charged me for the tenders and fries separately. I believe the tenders were a little over $5 and the fries were around $2.75. All in all, I found them to be just as delicious as ever. The tenders were extra crispy and piping hot, as were the fries. From start to finish, they take 8 minutes to prepare according to the manager. The only downside is that they don't have any individual packets of ketchup or other condiments. Besides being a cross contamination risk, they also don't list what company or ingredients are in the sauces, so I ate everything plain. This wasn't a huge loss, as they both were quite delicious!Overall, I still think Columbia Harbour House prepares the best version of the allergy chicken tenders. There's just something about them! As far as other options, they are more limited than say Cosmic Rays or Be Our Guest. If you're looking for allergy chicken tenders this is the place to visit, but look elsewhere if you want other options. I give this a solid 7 out of 10.Have you been to Columbia Harbour House with a special diet? What did you get?

Beignets -- Sassagoula Floatworks & Food Factory -- Port Orleans French Quarter -- Quick Service

*This dining experience took place in July 2013.

 There's nothing like a beignet. Deep fried and smothered in powdered sugar, it's a confectionery delight! And any proper N'awlins experience wouldn't be complete without one. But what if you're gluten free, dairy free or even egg free and soy free? Luckily for guests at WDW, they can experience this treat even with a special diet! Back in May, a blog reader emailed me to tell me that they were able to get special diets beignets at Port Orleans French Quarter (POFQ) at Sassagoula Floatworks & Food Factory. You know that meant I needed to investigate and try them out for myself.The first thing I did was contact the WDW Special Diets Department. They let me know that you can indeed get these beignets with advance notice. At first, they only noted that they were gluten free, but after further investigation revealed that they were also dairy, egg, and soy free--making them vegetarian and vegan friendly. I asked Special Diets to let POFQ know that I would be arriving about a week in advance; however, I didn't actually hear from them until 1 day before I went to confirm. I would recommend arranging this well in advance because as I learned later, there were some miscommunications that occurred partially due to my last minute request.

The Bakery Station is currently to the far left of this photo.

When I arrived at POFQ, we headed to Sassagoula Floatworks & Food Factory. Like many QS locations at resorts, they have various food stations (such as the Po'Boy station, Pizza station, etc.). Since the beignets were prepared at the Bakery station, I inquired there about the chef. Once the chef came up, I explained that I had emailed ahead of time for the beignets. He said that they were told by Special Diets that I was coming in the morning and had a dedicated fryer with hot oil running for part of the day but had shut it off because they assumed I wasn't coming. I felt bad there was some confusion, as I had noted lunch or dinner time and visited at 5 p.m. I told the chef that I understood if he couldn't make it happen that night, but he was very obliging and agreed to make them. He said it would just take a bit.While we were chatting I mentioned that I had a friend who was vegan who might want to try them and wondered what the ingredients were. He didn't bring out the ingredients but he did say they were vegan. In fact, they sounded a bit like the ingredients for the allergy Mickey waffles! He said they used Bob's Red Mill Pancake Mix, rice flour, applesauce and he thought apple juice and cinnamon. As I mentioned before, they do use a dedicated fryer and they seem to only use it when special requests are made.While we waited, we checked out the layout. I will say that I really like this resort. It's really small but has a great vibe to it. Very mardi gras like!

Dining area

The chef gave me a pager so that we could wait at the tables and then come back to pick up the beignets. Once I got them, I was super excited to try them. I also told the chef that I would come back the next day because he said that they had several orders the next day, so to stop by.

Beignet gloriousness!

The first thing I noticed about these, is that they are smothered in powdered sugar. You will be on a sugar high once you eat these (and also, if you are vegan you'll need to confirm the powdered sugar ingredients to confirm they are safe). The other thing is that they aren't quite as light as "regular" beignets. But that being said, they were delicious. Like a little deep fried donut. And so often allergy friendly donuts are not deep fried, so this was amazing. I will say, they weren't as hot as I expected, but it didn't stop me from scarfing them down. The taste is very very similar to the allergy Mickey waffles. (oh, if someone could deep fry an allergy Mickey waffle, I bet they would!)So, the next day I stopped back again for the beignets. This time it was about 3 p.m. The chef was a little busy because the regular deep fryers for the beignets out front went down and there were a couple of other kitchen crises, so he was very distracted. But, he said they had the fryer ready and that he'd have them ready for me. He was in such a hurry, he did not give me a pager, and I waited for a while out by the stations. Once they were ready, he brought them out. This time I scored 4 beignets because he said the oil wasn't as hot as he liked it to be, so he wanted to give me an extra one. That's ok by me!!

Beignets take 2!

Oh my, these were glorious!! Super piping hot and crispy. I don't know why he said they wouldn't be as good, but I thought they were better the second time around. Lots of powdered sugar deep fried deliciousness! Because they were so hot, I really had time to savor each bite. As I mentioned, they aren't quite as light and fluffy and are a little chewy, but hey...deep fried beignets are deep friend beignets! These would go great with a nice cup of coffee in the morning.One other great thing about this location is that they take Tables in Wonderland here, which means 20% off your ticket for food and beverage. That meant my beignets were only $2.55 for a serving. Not too shabby.Overall, I can't say enough good things about the beignets themselves. They were quite delicious and a nice rare treat. I wouldn't do this all the time, but definitely on special occasions. Make sure you get a hold of Special Diets well in advance to arrange these and it is a good idea to check in with the restaurant, especially if you are staying there at the resort itself.For me, I'd give this a solid 7 out of 10! Head over there to check these out and let me know what you think!Have you been to Sassagoula Floatworks & Food Factory for the allergy friendly beignets? What did you think?

La Hacienda de San Angel -- Dinner -- Table Service -- World Showcase

*This dining review took place in July 2013 and includes a gluten free and yellow food coloring allergy review.

View of the Mexico Pavilion

Let's take a trip to La Hacienda de San Angel at the World Showcase in Epcot. With authentic food and decor, it's easy to think you've traveled to Mexico. La Hacienda de San Angel is a great option for guests who are gluten free & dairy free. As I discovered there are tons of choices and the menu is almost completely gluten free naturally! On this particular visit, I enjoyed the Pollo al Pastor, chips and salsa and other authentic accompaniments.When we arrived at the restaurant, we were surprised to see how quiet it was. The last time I went there (see my first review HERE) it was quite bustling. It was actually nice to have it be quiet and low-key. We were seated at a really nice table right by the windows. It had a terrific view of the World Showcase Lagoon! This would have been an awesome view for IllumiNations!Our server came over to discuss the menu options with us. I was also dining with another special diets diner. My friend is gluten free and also allergic to yellow food coloring. Both of us had dined at La Hacienda before, so we were looking forward to the meal and also felt comfortable that we knew the menu. Since this location is non-Disney owned the chefs do not come out and talk to you (something that can be a little bit of a bummer). Most of the servers are really knowledgeable and can help you with options, but be prepared to ask a lot of questions. And don't hesitate to ask for a chef or manager if you do not feel comfortable with your server's knowledge or suggestions. This location seems to be a decent one for gluten free diners, as everything on the menu is said to be gluten free (by both servers I've encountered) except the shrimp tacos which can be made gluten free by using corn shells and grilling the shrimp instead of frying them. We also double-checked again and the server said they use dedicated fryers for the chips. She also said both salsas were safe (which they said the last time I was there too).I decided to try the Pollo al Pastor dish which is Achiote marinated chicken served with roasted vegetables, beans and pineapple relish. My friends ordered the La Hacienda Parrillada which is the similar to the Del Mar platter that I ordered last time. It came with Mixed grill offering New York strip, chicken al pastor, chorizo and vegetables, served with beans and fresh salsas.First up were the chips and salsa. I'm a fan. I really like the salsa verde which isn't too spicy at all. The salsa roja has quite a kick (pretty sure it has chipotle in it), so I stayed away from that one.

Salsa and chips

Up next came our entrees. My chicken al pastor was sooooo delicious. The chicken was really nicely marinated and very tender. I am also a huge fan of squash and zucchini, so I loved having that as the veggie. And the pineapple relish/sauce was amazing. Sweet and spicy. Perfect with the chicken. I would say that it wasn't a huge portion by any means. It was a just right portion for me, especially after having the parrillada the last time.

Pollo al Pastor

The platter that my friends ordered was HUGE! Just as huge as the platter I had the last time with seafood. It's a lot for two people. In fact, they had leftovers of everything and were able to take them to-go.

La Hacienda parrillada

As you can see, it's a big meal. Overall, I'd say it was another hit for me. This is the 2nd time I've been there in the past two months, and I've really enjoyed it a lot. The only downside for me is that they don't take Tables in Wonderland which would be a nice thing, especially if you order a drink.

Orange Mango Fire Margarita on the rocks

This is definitely a nice gluten free friendly restaurant, and pretty good for dairy free diners too. I was able to get a lot of the options with the cheese and/or sour cream removed. I love that. In addition, if you are a vegetarian or vegan diner, there are some choices for you, and I believe they have a separate menu for those choices. Here's the listing that I saw:

• Empanadas de Queso - cheese empanadas served with rice and beans
• Tacos de Vegetales - grilled vegetables and queso fresco on flour tortillas, served with esquites (roasted corn)
• Ensalada de la Casa - spinach salad with queso fresco, tomatoes, pomegranate, pine nuts, and avocado, with mustard vinaigrette dressing
• Enchaladas de Vegetales - corn tortillas filled with vegetables, served with salsa verde, rice and beans 

I think you could easily remove the queso fresco and make thinks dairy free (with the exception of the empanandas). Additionally, blog reader Jenn notes that the rice made at La Hacienda is made with chicken stock. I would contact Special Diets in advance to see if vegetarian/vegan stock could be used as an alternative.Overall, I'd give this an 8 out of 10 for good service, great food and decent gluten free & dairy free offerings.

Boma -- Breakfast -- Table Service -- Animal Kingdom Lodge

*This dining experience took place in July 2013.

Boma: Flavors of Africa

Jambo and welcome to Boma: Flavors of Africa at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge! It feels like it's been forever since I've been to this restaurant. Recently named in U.S.A. Today as the number one Theme Park Restaurant, it's no wonder why Boma consistently has ranked high on my list of favorites and a great option for gluten free, dairy free and other special diets diners. On this particular visit, we went for breakfast to enjoy the African-themed food.Our breakfast was really more like brunch, as we had a 10 a.m. reservation. When we arrived, we were quickly seated and found the restaurant to be very quiet considering it was 4th of July. Holidays can be a mixed bag at Disney--sometimes really busy and sometimes very quiet. Boma, was the latter. (On a side note, if you are a Tables in Wonderland card holder, 4th of July is a blackout day on the card, so you can't use it for discounts. Lesson learned first-hand. Always read the fine print!)

Nice quiet view by the window

Once seated our server brought over drinks including the famous Jungle Juice. From the recipe's I've seen, Jungle Juice is a combination of pineapple juice, mango juice (which is a prevalent flavor), orange juice, and lemonade. It is delicious--and very sweet! I can usually only muster a cup of it. I always get unsweetened ice tea, since I don't drink coffee anymore, but when I did, Boma was the place for coffee. The regular coffee is great, but if you want to have an extra treat, try the pressed pot coffee (it's an extra upcharge).After we got our drinks, Chef Chris (oh crazy Chef Chris!) came over to meet me. I don't go enough that he completely knows me, but I been there enough when he is that he recognizes that he's helped me before, which was the case this time. He asked if I needed him to walk the buffet with me, which of course is a no brainer, even if I have a good idea. If you ever meet Chef Chris, he's a bit of a jokester, so be prepared. Sometimes, he's kidding (like the millions of remarks about adding extra cheese to everything). I like a sense of humor, but not necessarily when it comes to my food prep!We walked the buffet, and pretty much everything was the same as usual. In terms of omelets, if you want a custom omelet the chef will make it in the back. I chose a ham and onion omelet. In addition, I asked for Allergy Mickey waffles (made on a dedicated waffle maker), donuts (Kinnikinnick) and muffins (Udi's blueberry) from the back. What can I say? I like carbs! From the buffet, the fruit station is safe, as is the carving station (except the Boma mustard--this has soy sauce in it), the veggie station is good (more on that later), the quinoa is also safe, and if you want gluten free oats, they carry Bob's Red Mill GF oats which are prepared specially in the back. The oatmeal on the buffet is not certified GF. You can have regular scrambled eggs, but I personally find that station to be heavily at risk for cross contamination and ask for eggs in the back. Potatoes, breakfast meats are also OK but do let the chef know if you are uncomfortable with any cross contamination risks.I also looked for some good vegan options, as I think Boma has a good variety for breakfast goers who are vegan or vegetarian. Here are some photos and a list of good choices that are vegan specific:

Completely vegan and vegetarian, gluten free, dairy free, egg free & more!

First up is the veggie station:

• Grilled asparagus
• Chakalaka
• Pap (made with water)
• Grilled tomatoes

Fresh fruit

Fresh fruit station:

• Grapes
• Pineapple (my personal favorite)
• Honeydew
• Canteloupe

Hot Cereal Station: Vegan, Vegetarian, Not completely GF (ask for GF oats in the back)

Hot cereal station:

• Quiona (made with water)
• Oatmeal (made with water--not certified GF oats, ask for them to be made in the back)
• Raisins 

*ask for a brown sugar supplement for vegans (it might not be vegan) or for those worried about cross contamination.

Quinoa with brown sugar and raisins

I also didn't ask, but I'm betting that they have tofu on hand and could make a tofu scramble or something vegan friendly.Here's what I got as a gluten free & dairy free diner:

Carb plate!

First-up I got the Kinnickinick glazed donuts, the Udi's Blueberry muffin and allergy Mickey waffles. All yummy. The waffles weren't the best in terms of crispiness and texture, but hey, a Mickey waffle is a Mickey waffle, right?! I also had pure maple syrup for the waffle (no Earth Balance this time).

Care for some maple syrup with your omelet?

The ham & onion omelet was very un-hammy (is that a word?). They definitely skimped on the ham. Otherwise, it was a good omelet. A little overcooked but good.

Fresh fruit

The fruit was a great palate cleanser at the end of the meal and very good. Love their pineapple.

Buffet plate

For my buffet plate, I grabbed some meat from the carving station which was outstanding that day. The ham and turkey were flavorful and perfectly cooked. The turkey was really moist! The pap was great as usual, as were the breakfast potatoes. The asparagus was just so-so. It's not in season in Florida, so it's the "wimpy" asparagus. You can always tell really fresh asparagus from the not so fresh stuff. Still, the grill flavor is excellent with it.Overall, I ended up really stuff at my meal. I never go hungry at Boma, and what I love is that I can really enjoy a lot of great goodies. The buffet really lends itself to a lot of special diets, which is important. Plus, it's just plain delicious! For me, this is a solid 8 out of 10 for great food and service. U.S.A. definitely picked one of my favorite choices for great Disney food!

Spirit of Aloha Dinner Show -- Table Service -- Polynesian Resort

*This dining experience took place in June 2013.

This way to Luau Cove!

Talofa! That's "hello" in Samoan! It's one of the many things I learned from my first visit to the Spirit of Aloha Dinner Show (SoA) at the Polynesian Resort. As a first timer for any dinner show at Disney (can you believe that?!), I wasn't sure what to expect, so this was completely new territory for me as a Disney vacationer and a GF/DF diner. However, I was pleasantly surprised at the way Disney handled my food and the options that I had. It was also a really fun experience for the whole family.When I first found out that my family was booking the Spirit of Aloha dinner show, I really had no idea what to expect. I also didn't really find any other reviews out there for gluten & dairy free--other than people mentioned that they had been. So, I was really interested in seeing what they would have available. When we booked the reservation (we did it in person at the concierge desk at the Polynesian), they noted my special dietary needs. However, one thing they didn't mention was that I needed to contact Disney no later than 48 hours in advance. Thankfully, I had emailed the Special Diets Department and they let me know that I needed to let the SoA catering kitchen know ahead of time. They said I could call them or have them call me. Knowing how that can go, I had them call me by giving Special Diets my reservation information. Two days later, they called and we discussed the menu. Now, I will say, the CMs were very nice but unless you talk to a chef, they may or may not know all of the complete details for what you'll get for dinner. They noted that I needed to have gluten & dairy free items, but they really only knew much about the gluten free. They said that the chicken was marinated in gluten free soy sauce and that they had it available. They also noted that they would have rolls. They mentioned brownies but as I discovered when I arrived, the brownies are gluten free but not dairy free (I think they are the OMG It's Gluten Free brand). 

Keep walking past the marina to Luau Cove!

So, once we were set ahead of time, it was a matter of waiting. We made our reservations a week in advance which is pretty late considering, but we were OK with that. We also booked a category 3 which are essentially the "cheap seats in the back." Note if you are using the Disney Dining Plan (DDP), the dinner show will require 2 TS credits per person for Categories 2 and 3 only. For guests not using the DDP, tickets range from $73.99 to $58.99 per person for adults and $39.99 to $29.99 for children ages 3 to 9 depending on the seating category purchased. Categories are based on seating areas in the theater. Category 1 seating is located on the main floor and lower level. It offers a premium view and is also the closest to the performers. Category 2 also offers a small amount of main floor and lower level seating (located to the right and left of the Category 1 seating area). It also offers seating on the upper level with a direct view of the main floor and stage. Category 3 offers tables on both the lower and upper level that are to the extreme right and left of the stage. None of us personally felt the need to do the category 1 or 2 (at that time only 2 was available).

We were in a Category 3 seating area--in the far left, close to the SoA sign on this image.

Shows are held Tuesday through Saturday with shows at 5:15 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. Pre-payment for the dinner show is required and includes all tax and gratuity. Refunds are given if cancellations are made 48 hours before the show. We chose the 8pm show because it had a Tables in Wonderland Discount. 20% off the entire bill including tax and gratuity. For us, we had a party of 5 in a Category 3 seating area and it cost:$314.95 with tax and gratuity. With a 20% discount it is $251.96. That’s a savings of $62.99 which is the cost of 1 ticket! So, it really pays to ask about discounts. Depending on the season, you can get Annual Passholder, Disney Vacation Club or even Disney Visa Card discounts in addition to TIW. It's not a bad deal!

 Another important thing to think about is the weather. If it's summer time or even winter--you'll want to check to see if they are going to cancel. They don't usually b/c the theater is covered, but still. Better to be safe than sorry. They do give you a full refund if they cancel for any reason. But then you have no reservations and that could be a tricky thing. We had rain that day but it had stopped thankfully by the time 8 pm came around.

 Before you go to the show, you get your tickets from the Concierge desk. Then you check in to the show 30 minutes prior to the show and dinner starting. We ended up there around 7:40 pm. After checking in, we ducked out of any photo opportunity (they do Photopass there--you've been warned!!) and waited. Then they start seating. You have assigned seating, so there's no need to bomb rush the front of the line. We saw a lot of people doing that thinking they'd get a better seat--yeah not so much. 

Seating area--we were all the way in the back.

Once you get find your seat, you'll notice that they have food already set up. And at our table, I noticed that there was a special section for me. You can always tell the special section when you see those GNI rolls! I had GF tamari (San-J), a salad with honey lime dressing (hallelujah, I missed this from Ohana!!) and two GNI rolls. My family's salad was segregated in another area (they had pasta salad and slaw, etc.)

Mine is the plate in the front.

The person who seated us was not our server, but they noted my allergy and explained that our server would bring the other items out. This was good. I forgot to mention that when we arrived, they actually walkie talkied the kitchen who told them I had a dietary restriction and then they stamped my ticket. Good that they check in even before you ask. But back to the food. I knew immediately that this was the true Honey Lime Dressing from Ohana. Oh how I've missed that honey lime dressing. It's seriously addicting. And yes, I have the recipe to make it at home :) I was so glad they were extra generous with it too. This meant dipping those poorly heated GNI rolls in lots of dressing. Yum!

Closeup of my salad, rolls, and tamari

Our server, Manny, came out and greeted us. He then talked about my dietary needs and explained that the kitchen had it all prepared on a separate plate. He also mentioned dessert which was going to be a fruit plate b/c of the dairy issue. He also took our drink orders and off he went. I will note, I've heard a lot of people say that their server wasn't very attentive or good on refills. Ours was the bomb! Manny kept our drinks rolling in (and only my brother ordered a specialty drink and that was later in the night) and offered refills on the food, so we had a great server.In the meantime, we were busily taking pictures and hanging out while some of the intro entertainment began. Here are some of the funny gems from the meal. My mom took a lot of the pics with my iPhone and it was pretty hilarious to see some of the ones that came out.

This is me, trying to explain how to use the iPhone!

So half of the family isn't looking!

Self-portrait...err not much better!

View of the stage

So onto the main dinner! Our food came out fairly quickly, I must say. I had a plate that had plain white rice, roasted chicken on the bone, BBQ pork ribs, pulled pork, and veggies. Then I had the GF tamari to add to the rice and such.

My dinner plate

As far as taste-wise, it actually wasn't bad at all! I still prefer Ohana when you get right down to it, but this really wasn't bad. I think it kind of gets a bad rap. I also know that they've changed the menu recently, so maybe things are improving for the better. The rice was actually cooked really well. Last time I had rice at Ohana it was really gummy. The veggies were also really good. They were really garlicky which is how I liked them! A little crunchier than I would have liked for my Crohn's but really good. The chicken was probably my favorite thing on the plate. It was really well cooked and super seasoned. Delicious!! I also like the pulled pork as my second favorite thing. The ribs? I could have done without those. Mine wasn't sauced like everyone else's so maybe the sauce helps, but I found them way too fatty and bland tasting. The rest of the table got those.For dessert, I got the fresh fruit plate, plus Manny brought out a sugar free fruit bar. It is sweetened with splenda though and I avoid artificial sweeteners so I shared that with the family. I personally loved the fruit though. I could eat pineapple for days and it was really ripe and delicious!! The grapes and strawberries were also good. Melon isn't my fave so I didn't really eat that much.

Fruit platter

Not my cup of tea, but at least nice they offered an alternative!

Once dinner is over the show begins. It's a little corny, but you expect that from Disney. It gets really cool once they start the traditional Hawaiian dancing. The best part was probably the fire dancers. And if you go at the 8pm show, it's even better because it looks really cool in the dark!!Meanwhile, my brother got himself a little coconut monkey friend that I thought I would share for those who like cocktails. If you order the Pele's Fire Punch, you can get a real honest to goodness coconut monkey!! that you get to take home!! Pretty cute, and efficient, they add a plastic cup with your drink in the monkey so he doesn't get all nasty! And I believe it doubles as a coin bank. Gotta hand it to Disney for the inventive marketing. My brother had been wanting one for a long time, so this was his opportunity at the bargain price of $18.95! My brother named is Manny in honor of our server...go figure!

Isn't he cute?!

When you're done with the dinner show, if you time it right, you can go right out on the beach and watch the MK fireworks. It's an amazing spot to watch them, if you've never done it.Overall, we had a really fun time and with the discount I think it wasn't a terrible price. To have a show and a meal, it wasn't really that bad. If you can have wine to drink, you can score with the unlimited wine refills (same with beer but that really is a GF no-no, and I don't think they had Redbridge--though I may have missed it). We talked about the DDP, and I don't think any of us would have wanted to part with two credits, so that would be something to consider. The show was definitely not 100% authentic, but it wasn't bad either. It was def. a Luau Disney style, but we still loved it.As far as the allergy accommodation, I was also surprised. Not only did I get a fair amount of food, but it also was pretty good. It definitely is important to follow through and contact them ahead of time; otherwise you might not be eating much or have limited options. Also, for vegans and vegetarians, I'm not sure what options would be open, but I would hope that they could accommodate by adding in some other interesting dishes with some protein sources like tofu. If anyone has been vegan or vegetarian, I'd love to hear what you got!Overall, I'd give this an 8 out of 10! I wouldn't expect everyone to like this but for our family, we enjoyed it.Have you been to the Spirit of Aloha Dinner Show? How did it go for you?

Pecos Bill's -- Lunch/Dinner -- Quick Service -- Magic Kingdom

*This dining experience took place in June 2013.

 Howdy partners! This here is the wildest meal in the wilderness! Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn and Cafe proves to be a rootin' tootin' good time, every time I visit it, and the food isn't bad either. On this particular visit, my family and I stopped by Pecos Bill's for lunch. Known for it's burgers and fries, this restaurant offers quality Angus burgers and a variety of other sandwiches. Many of you know that I'm not really a beef eater (I eat about 1 or 2 hamburgers a year and that's about it), so I headed here hoping to grab a chicken sandwich.

 We arrived at Pecos Bill's around 1 p.m., which on a June afternoon was still particularly busy. In looking at the menu, I noticed it wasn't a very big one. Items include:

• BBQ Pork Sandwich
• 1/3lb Angus Cheeseburger
• 1/3lb Deluxe Angus Cheeseburger 
• Veggie Burger
• Chicken Sandwich
• Taco Salad

When I arrived at the cash register station, I asked for a manager and the CM paged one. When the manager arrived, we went over the allergy ingredients book. I really wanted a chicken sandwich but the manager said that the chicken sandwiches were taking a really long time to prepare and would probably take 10-20 minutes longer than the other sandwiches. Wow, that's a little crazy! Does everyone want chicken sandwiches?! Feeling saucy, I decided to get a burger. One of the big reasons I did this was because I noticed that the beef appears to be locally sourced (from Lakeland, FL which is about 30 minutes away). That always is an important thing for me, especially since I don't eat beef much. I noticed that they had Udi's buns, and the manager confirmed that this was the case. Is it me or is Udi's making a comeback? I still think they should carry both options (one that is egg free like GNI) for guests who have multiple allergies, but am personally glad to see Udi's buns back. I also got french fries which are made in a dedicated fryer. You can also get pre-packaged carrots and grapes.I also asked if I could have some condiments from the back and toppings from the back. If you have never been to Pecos Bill's before, there is actually a toppings bar that is out front that people can use to get lettuce, grilled onions and mushrooms, cheese sauce, etc. However, as a gluten free/dairy free person, you would be best to steer clear of this area. It's a free-for-all and often heavily cross-contaminated. If you're interested in certain items, just as the manager and they will bring you some from the back that are safe. Some managers may offer to grill onions and peppers for you and others might not. On this particular occasion I was offered raw onion (which I don't mind). I also got shredded lettuce and pickles. You can also find lots of pre-packaged ketchup (Heinz), mayo and mustard available (I also steer clear of the self serve condiments).

Toppings bar in all of its cross contamination glory--stay far away partners!

Once I completed my order, the manager gave me a pager and they stamped my receipt with a boot...ha, they literally gave me the boot!! (ok, sorry the western humor was too tempting) Then he told me to meet him near the fireplace when the pager went off. I will note that it did take a bit to prepare. Also, one important thing to consider. They monitor seating at Pecos Bill's. You need to be with your party when you find your seats. That can be a little tricky when you have dietary needs. We ended up having my family go find seats and I waited in the main area and then found them once I got my food. The staff were actually very helpful with this. Just something to keep in mind if you have a hungry group.

I got the boot!

Once my food arrived, I headed over to meet the family. First thing I noticed was that they were very generous with the toppings. That was nice! The hamburger itself was a little thin looking for a 1/3lb burger. It could have been a little bit bigger if you ask me. The bacon was the typical "stringy" bacon you get at Disney. I'm sort of used to it, so it wasn't a big deal. I added a little ketchup, mayo and mustard to the burger and topped with the extra toppings. Yum!! Taste wise, the burger was actually good. I didn't find it overly greasy at all. It was a little on the dry side, but not bad. The extra fat from the bacon and the accompaniments helped. The fries were nothing special. Same fries you get anywhere else. But still good. I mean, where else can you get french fries?! I was very excited to see the Udi's bun. It's just plain tasty and it makes the hamburger, if you ask me.

Extra toppings--not from the topping bar!

Burger and fries--yeehaw!

Overall, I thought the meal wasn't bad. The burger had a nice grill flavor and was probably one of the better quick service burgers around. My family who isn't GF/DF all really enjoyed them. My one gripe is that they don't really have great vegetarian options (a veggie burger does not count as a variety!) or options in general. It really is a burgers and fries joint. If you're looking for locations that have more varied options, check out Cosmic Rays or Columbia Harbour House in the Magic Kingdom. But, if you want a burger and fries, this is the place to go!I'd give this a 7 out of 10 for this trip.

Kona Cafe -- Breakfast -- Table Service -- Polynesian

*This dining experience took place in June 2013.

Entrance to Kona Cafe

Aloha yet again! As you can tell, I have a serious love for Kona Cafe. I recently stopped here with my mom and stepdad for breakfast, and as always Kona did not disappoint. I really thought about getting a different breakfast option that morning but wouldn't you know it, I ended up getting the same thing as always! Hey, you gotta stick with what's good, right?!

 After we arrived, we were greeted by Chef Amber (formally of Boma) who famously made me a GF/DF Bobotie (check HERE for the review from 2010). She had recently transferred to Kona, and I caught up with her on my last visit when Chef Brett introduced her (at lunch time). It's funny, you know when you go places a lot because the chefs start to know you. It's actually really a great thing because they usually know my special diets and what kinds of foods I usually order. When we started talking, she immediately said: "gluten and dairy free, right?" Love it!I decided to go for my traditional standby of a modified Big Kahuna. We got the eggs scrambled, ham and bacon (no sausage), breakfast potatoes, and allergy Mickey waffles with a side of Earth Balance and maple syrup. Yum!!When the food arrived, I saw Chef Amber had been EXTRA generous. I got 4 Mickey waffles. Holy smokes!! She actually came back out later and asked how things were, and I mentioned that she was really generous. Her rationale was that you normally get french toast and pancakes with the Big Kahuna, so you should get 4 waffles. I think I like her thinking!

That's a lot of Mickey waffles!!

We also got to talking about California Grill and how the chefs from CG are over at Kona right now. Chef Kevin who helped me on my recent dinner was a CG chef. I also asked her if she knew when they were opening back up. She said she thought it would be by late July or August sometime. Well, let's all keep our fingers crossed and hope that's true! I'd love to see it opened up before the fall.On a side note, the menus slightly changed in the past few months. Not really much to report in terms of entree choices, but the look is different.

 Overall, I have to say Kona Cafe remains a favorite breakfast spot. A solid 9 out of 10!

Captain Cook's -- Lunch/Dinner -- Quick Service -- Polynesian

*This dining experience too place June 2013.

Arggh mateys!!

Ahoy! Captain Cook's located in Disney's Polynesian resort offers casual pan-Asian inspired quick service fare. This was the first time I had eaten a meal at this location, and I wanted to see if they would be as good at gluten free/dairy free meals as the rest of the Polynesian restaurant. While I can't say it was the best meal I've ever had, they were able to provide me with a meal that proved to be just a little different than burgers or fries.When I arrived at the restaurant, I wasn't sure how to order. The restaurant is really small by many quick service standards. It has a large menu above the ordering area, which consists of several self-service ordering kiosks (similar to those in Contempo Cafe or many new restaurants like Be Our Guest). I tried using the kiosk first, and it didn't have special diets options, so I asked a cast member working the register. She then paged someone to come talk to me. I was greeted a by a manager who seemed rather frazzled. I told her that I couldn't have gluten or dairy and expressed interest in a children's meal because it was later in the day and I had already had a bratwurst at Sommerfest as a snack. She that was fine and then gave me some options.

Ordering stations--that guy doesn't know what he wants either!

She had I could have a kid's hamburger meal, the seasonal fish, and the chicken and pineapple skewer (which I should have ordered). I ordered the fish because I'd seen a couple of kids with it and thought it looked good. Turns out they had ordered the adult version but more on that later. I mentioned that I would like some gluten free soy sauce for the rice and she said "Oh no problem." I sort of don't think she heard me or understood me because the meal didn't actually come with rice.Once I had my order, she gave me a card that said "STOP" food allergies for the cashier and then my order. Once I paid, I waited for my meal. And waited...and waited. It took an incredibly long time to make make considering. Granted, I always would rather wait than have something brought out quickly and incorrectly. Once my food came out, I noticed there was no rice. The same manager was there, and she said "Oh it doesn't come with rice." To which I replied, "Oh, but you said I could have soy sauce for the rice." Well, whoops. It was later in the day, so I just took the meal as it was and will remember to get the adult version the next time or the chicken and pineapple skewer.

Fish, vegetables and mandarin oranges

As far as the dish goes, it wasn't bad really. I think they must have seasoned the fish for me because there's no way that they could have served something that spicy to a kid. It had a rub on it and was quite peppery. The vegetables were nice and mild--It had bok choy which is one of my favs in it! And the mandarin oranges were a nice touch to the end of the meal--a little sweet treat. The portion size was great for a kid and worked well for me eating later in the evening.

Seating area--still quite busy at 7:30 pm

Beverage station

Overall, I found the food to be decent. I wouldn't say the menu is very extensive and so doesn't have a huge variety, but they seem to have some options that are easy to modify or are naturally safe. I also like that they have less burgers and fries options. I wish I would have gotten the chicken and pineapple skewer because I'm pretty sure that would have been a winner! On a side note, if you like Pineapple Dole Whips, they have a dedicated self serve station at Captain Cook's. This would be a delicious dessert option if you're in the mood for an "ice cream" treat (it's still gluten free & dairy free according to the site and allergy books).

Dole Whips coming right up!

I wasn't wowed by Captain Cook's but I didn't think the food needed to "walk the plank." :) I'd give it a 7 out of 10 for this experience. I might go back and try the other options or stick with the table service here over this location. However, I know a lot of people who have been here a lot on their vacations and love the chefs and have had great meals there. On the fly, it was just sort of so-so.Have you been to Captain Cook's? Would you say Aye or Nay to their food?

Sommerfest -- Lunch/Dinner -- Quick Service -- Epcot -- World Showcase

*This dining experience took place in June 2013.Forget the pretzels und beer! A visit to Sommerfest will make you forget about those glutenous treats. The menu is extremely limited, but those who are gluten free & dairy free will rejoice in being able to enjoy a bratwurst or frankfurter on a GF/DF bun.

Entrance to Sommerfest

This was my first visit to Sommerfest. I had never thought of going because it didn't seem like they'd be able to really accommodate or even have GF/DF buns. I had heard though that GF/DF diners would indeed be able to get a GF/DF bun and that the bratwurst and frankfurter, as well as the sauerkraut were naturally GF. On a whim, my brother and I decided to go there for a snack.

Limited menu

When you enter the pavilion, you expect a larger QS but really it's more like a kiosk with tables. It's located close to Biergarten, so it can often get busy in there with folks waiting for their ADRs. When I was at the cash register, I said that I was gluten free/dairy free. The CM said that the bratwurst and frankfurters were safe as was the sauerkraut and that they bring out an allergy bun. She said it might take a bit for the bun, as she paged someone--it turned out that they get their buns, etc. from Biergarten.While I waited, I observed how the kiosks runs. I would say if you are a Celiac, you may want to clear your choice with the chef and make sure it comes out from a safe area. I didn't think too much about it, until I realized there are pretzels in the same area, and of course, regular buns. When the chef came out from Biergarten, I confirmed with him again that these options would be safe, and he said "yes."

Bratwurst with sauerkraut on an Udi's GF/DF bun

I have to say, I've been really scoring with the Udi's buns lately. It seems like they are at more locations than I previously thought, or I've just been going to a lot of places where the GNI buns have replaced the Udi's. Man there's a big difference. For those who can have eggs, they are a different world from the GNI buns. I was really glad to see them at Sommerfest because for a bratwurst and sauerkraut you need a sturdy bun.Taste-wise, I found both the bratwurst and sauerkraut to be really mild in flavor. I'm not a big 'kraut fan, but this I could totally eat easily and really enjoyed. They have plain mustard, but make sure to ask for some from the back b/c they are at self serve stations and cross contamination could occur.While this is a pretty basic kiosk, it was great to try something different. I really liked the bratwurst. It was the perfect evening snack. And of course, I was glad to have that Udi's bun!There aren't a lot of options at this location, so I wouldn't consider this a great place for allergies. I'd say it's good for what it is, but not a great spot for a meal. A solid 7 out of 10 for this experience.Have you been to Sommerfest or Biergarten? What was your experience?

Be Our Guest Restaurant -- Lunch -- Quick Service -- Magic Kingdom

*This dining experience took place in June 2013.

 Bonjour mademoiselles and messieurs! I've once again returned back to Be Our Guest Restaurant at the Magic Kingdom for another quick service lunch experience. I recently went there and enjoyed lunch for the first time (see review HERE). On my second visit, I opted to be more adventurous on my food choices, as well as explore all of the gluten free & dairy free options available to me both on the adult and children's menus.When I arrived this time, it was a weekday (I normally go on weekends) and right around the noon time frame. Because it had been quite busy the few days earlier, I expected it to be really busy at noon. The line itself was longer than it was that previous Saturday, but it seemed like there were more cast members working to ensure people were hydrated and had umbrellas. Have I mentioned how much I really want one of those umbrellas?! Those Disney golf umbrellas are quite sturdy--perfect for Florida rain! I have to admit our wait time outside was actually shorter than it was that Saturday (even though the line was longer).

That's a lot of umbrellas! Or should we call them parasols?

Once we got in the building, we followed past the suits of armor and onto the rose distribution station. For some reason, I never seem to get the self service station. I ended up going to a cast member manned cash register. When I told the CM that I was gluten and dairy free, she added it to the computer, and then told me I could come around and look at the screen. Of course, I didn't get any pictures but I did make sure to note all of the options both on the adult and children's menus. Here's what is available GF/DF:Adult Menu:

• French Onion Soup (without the cheese and crouton)
• Tuna Nicoise Salad (no modifications needed)
• Quinoa Salad (no modifications needed)
• Carved Turkey Sandwich (on an Udi's bun)

Children's Menu:

• Carved Turkey Sandwich (with french fries and peach applesauce on an Udi's bun)
• Slow-cooked Pork (with green beans and NO mashed sweet potatoes) 

I was a bit surprised at the few options available. Of course the menu itself isn't huge, but still. In any event, I ended up deciding on the Tuna Nicoise Salad. It was really humid that day, so I wanted something light and cool.

Ordering Station

RFID Rose & receipt

 

We ended up in the main ballroom to eat, but the rose gallery was by far the calmest room to enjoy lunch in. In fact, we ended up going there to get our drink refills!

Drink station

The food is delicious! Don't believe us? Ask the dishes!

Tuna Nicoise Salad

I very much enjoyed the salad--it was the perfect kind of food for a hot summer day. The tuna was seared well and was good quality. The egg was hard poached and the veggies on the salad were good but a little stingy on the amount. I would say for the price ($17 with a drink), it wasn't very much food. I could easily get a decent salad at a table service location for that price. I'm thinking I'd get the cobb salad at the Brown Derby any day over this! It's a much better bargain!Overall, I enjoyed the lunch and as always the ambiance is unparallelled. I wouldn't say it's the best food ever, but it's one of the better options in the Magic Kingdom and it's a good alternative to burgers and fries. My one disappointment is that there is a major lack in variety for multiple allergies. I think gluten free folks have better options that those of us who have multiple special dietary needs. I was a bit bummed by the kids choices alone!

I'd give this a solid 8 out of 10 for great atmosphere and good food.

Be Our Guest -- Lunch -- Quick Service -- Magic Kingdom

*This dining experience took place in June 2013.

Check out those lines...

"Be Our Guest, Be Our Guest, put our service to the test..." Why that's just what I did recently when I finally made it over to Be Our Guest (BOG) for lunch service. I've been trying to visit this location for lunch for what seems like forever (really just a few months), and I was thrilled that I finally had the opportunity to enjoy lunch during their fast casual service.As a general tip, plan ahead if you are hoping to dine at this location. For lunch BOG is a quick service location, meaning there are no reservations. It is a very large restaurant; however, it's also hugely popular and popular means long lines and wait times. Additionally, when you come to this location, you will line up outside of the restaurant (which is slightly different from many locations that have indoor lines that accommodate huge crowd) until they clear you to come into the ordering lines. If you're really hungry, you might want to find another location unless you're ok with waiting. It also pays to get there earlier or later in the day if you're hungry. My family and I showed up, for instance, at almost 1 pm and were told the wait time was 35 minutes. Yikes!! Fortunately, our wait time was more like 15 minutes, but still. If you're hungry, you could have a very rumbly tummy by the time you get in and eat. Also, if you're heading out during the summer months, it is HOT out there. And I mean hot. Fortunately, Disney is prepared. As of June 2013, they were handing out large Disney golf umbrellas and cold ice water. That's good because I'm pretty sure suffering from heat stroke does not make a magical vacation or lunch for that matter!

I'm one hot chickadee in the summer sun!

Once you are cleared to enter the building, you proceed to another queue. There, you walk past suits of armor that actually talk! You also see the menu displayed on screens between 2 rows of line queues. This is good because it gives you an idea of what's available while you wait. You can also ask a Cast Member for a paper menu, and they should be able to give you one.

Menus

We are the knights who say "Nii!" Ok, they didn't say that, but it would be cool if they did!

Once you get further up in the line, you are met by a cast member who asks you how many in your party. They then give you a plastic RFID rose (love the theming of this) to hold on to while you order and then find a table. Now comes the interesting part for special diets. You are either taken to a Cast Member manned station or a self serve station to order. In both cases, you either tell the CM your special diet or you select it on the screen. At anytime you can ask for a manager and they will come out. But, still...it's a little strange. It's rather like what they did for a while at Hollywood Brown Derby, where they used iPads to make interactive menus. In this case, once the special diets are entered, the menus then display what you can and can't have. For me, I wanted to order one of the kids meals because I wasn't overly hungry. I wanted the mahi mahi but evidently it's not safe for one of my dietary needs (I was at a CM booth, I'm hoping to go to the self serve station next time because I actually want to see all the choices). Boo! So, I ended up with the Carved Turkey Sandwich on a GF bun. It was supposed to come with Sweet Potato Wedges and Peach Applesauce. Th e sweet potato wedges are not safe (probably gluten is my guess), so I couldn't have those but the applesauce was. I ended up getting regular fries...sorry, Pommes Frites, n'est-ce pas?!

Cast Member manned station

More of the menu--the screens cause too much glare with a camera!

Next up, it was on to find a seat. At lunch, it's pretty much a free-for-all. There are 3 rooms in which you can dine. The main dining area - ballroom (which is hugely popular) and also the West Wing and the Rose Gallery. Personally, I'd avoid the ballroom unless you are there for dinner. It's 1) highly crowded and 2) ridiculously loud. It's much better at dinner, imo. The West Wing is quite dark and some younger children may find it scary. The Rose Gallery is bright and lively and where we ended up--and thankfully not that crowded!!As we waited, we helped ourselves to the drink station and to the silverware (no plastic forks here! Only the real stuff!).

View of paintings and the drink station

Centerpiece in the rose gallery

You keep your roses on the table with your receipts and the cast members bring the food to you. They use the same carts that they use for desserts at dinner. In one respect, I'm actually glad that they bring the allergy food in person outside of those carts, because those things carry a LOT of glutenous desserts in them. And while I'm sure they are well cleaned, I just don't love the idea of it. But that's just me. And interestingly enough, my food came out really quickly compared to the rest of the family's! Sometimes, it's good to be the food allergy person! :)

My receipt, so you can see how it rings up

Carved turkey sandwich with fries

What I love about this location is that everything is served on real dinnerware. It's like Landscape of Flavors--which has that fast casual vibe. Very nice! I will say, that I was shocked at the portion of my meal. It was quite generous and really almost the same size as the regular adult meals. I liked it especially because I got dessert and a drink included. That's a bargain!! I'm going to start doing this more..sheesh! First up were the fries. Yes, they were nothing to write home about. They are the regular fries you get at Disney. Good...yes. Special...err not so much. The turkey sandwich came only with tomato and turkey. I imagine this is partially due to the fact that this is a kid's meal and those usually are filled with tons of condiments. We asked a CM by the drink station for plain mayonnaise which they were happy to oblige. The turkey was the real star of this sandwich. In fact, it was quite moist and flavorful. I was surprised by it. But the thing that made me the most happy....it was an Udi's bun! hallelujah!!! It seems like they have a variety of bread products at BOG because I've been served Ener-G rolls for dinner. So, this was great to have at least variety. And, I personally love Udi's buns. They even toasted it a little. Overall, the sandwich would have been better with a little bit of greens (like some arugula) and/or some Dijon mustard. Maybe that's what the adult version includes!Another fave of the meal was the peach applesauce. Yummy. I'm a huge applesauce fan and this one was delicious. It was really peachy in flavor, and the texture was quite nice. It was the perfect "dessert" after the meal.

Serving carts

Peach applesauce--looks bland but was delicious

Busy ballroom

Beautiful snow in the windows

While, I wouldn't say my meal was anything overly spectacular, I would say that for a quick service it was quite good. It was so much better than typical burgers or fries. And my family really enjoyed their non-special diets entrees (they got the croque monsieur & the steak sandwich). My hope is to go to a self serve kiosk the next time so that I can actually see more of the menu. I also want to try something different. I hear rave reviews about the quinoa salad as a great gluten free option.Also, as an adult ordering the kids meal, why you couldn't beat the portion or the price. They had some really good healthful options and the applesauce made for a great addition. Also, where else can you get a complete meal at Disney with a drink for $9?! Love it!I'm giving this a solid 8 out of 10 for this experience and hope to be back soon to get more details and try something new. Also, gluten free diners will have a lot more choices. Let's just say dairy free and French food don't always mix so well!!In the meantime, what do you recommend? Is there something there I simply must try?For a full review of dinner (on the opening menu): Check here!

Brown Derby -- Table Service -- Lunch/Dinner -- Hollywood Studios

*This dining experience took place in May 2013.

View from our booth...such a glamorous location!

Lights! Camera! Action! Welcome back to the glamorous Hollywood Brown Derby restaurant. This has become a recent favorite of mine, and I was happy to head back here again for their famous cobb salad. It was a perfect meal for a hot summer day.On this particular occasion, I brought my mom and stepdad with me as they had never been before. They also wanted to check out the cobb salad. Once seated, we waited for quite a long time (the longest I've ever waited in this location) for a server, let alone a chef. It was reasonably busy in there, but I'd been during busier times, so I was surprised at the lack of service. The server finally came over and said that he was waiting for the chef to come which is why he didn't come over. Not perhaps the best thing to do, considering it was hot and we sure could have used a beverage, but no matter. At least the chef came out promptly after that and we were in business! Since I knew what I wanted, there wasn't much discussion about the menu. I ordered the cobb salad with no blue cheese. The chef also asked me if I wanted to have the GNI brand rolls with olive oil. Since they know how to properly heat them at this location, I was happy to get them.

Back of the menu

While we waited for our drinks and rolls, we enjoyed looking around at the various caricatures. My mom was trying to find Lucille Ball (one of her favs), but we couldn't find her. It is really cool to see all of the unique decor and it really feels like you are sitting in an old Hollywood restaurant.

The chef was extra generous with the rolls that day, so I had a lot to eat. I've never turned down a carb! They are very good with the extra virgin olive oil and thankfully, they stay nice and warm.

I can eat a lot of bread, but I couldn't make it through 4 rolls!

Up next were our salads. Yum!! As usual, this was excellent. As someone with Crohn's disease, I often have to avoid or limit my amount of fresh fruits and veggies and salad especially. But, the great news is that because this is so finely chopped up, my stomach doesn't freak out when I eat it. That is excellent for me because I often crave salads and this one is one of my hands down favorites of all time. I love the avocado and the turkey and I especially love the dressing (which is naturally GF/DF!).

Delicious Cobb Salad

In addition to the cobb salad, the Brown Derby can also make lots of other great dishes gluten free & dairy free. It's a wonderful location for special diets. Overall, I can't say enough great things about this restaurant. It continues to be one of my favs. I really adore the salad and it's reasonably priced too ($15). In the future, I hope to come back and try out some of the other dishes and seeing what wonderful dishes the chefs can whip up! This is a great place for a special occasion too!A solid 8 out of 10 for this visit!

Kona Cafe -- Dinner -- Table Service -- Polynesian

*This dining experience took place in May 2013.Mahalo to Kona Cafe for being one of my favorite places to eat on WDW property. It's one of my go-to places for breakfast and lunch; however, I rarely go for dinner. On this particular occasion, I had the pleasure of visiting with my friend Krista from Disneyways to grab a light meal.

Check out that view from the balcony by Kona!

We were greeted by Chef Kevin, who I have never met before. He was very friendly and helpful. Since he didn't know me, he didn't know I knew the "spiel" and most of the menu offerings, but I wanted to hear his take on things, so I sat back and listened. He told me a few items that would be easiest GF/DF. TheTeriyaki Style New York Strip is the best choice (personally, I don't eat steak so no go for me) and the Pan Asian Noodles were the second best choice (they use rice noodles for GF) and you get your choice of protein: tofu, chicken, shrimp. I thought about the noodle dish but then decided to ask if I could get sushi and a salad with protein added to it (this turned out NOT to be cost effective but more on that later).The sushi is made in-house and I've had it before, specifically the California Luau Roll. I decided I wanted that again (gotta love Cali Rolls that have no crab with a K!) which was still deemed safe. I'm sure they can make other rolls (blog readers have mentioned the cucumber roll), especially since the sushi folks from California Grill are currently over at Kona Island Sushi Bar! But, I stuck with the California Roll. I made sure to ask for GF soy sauce (that's important with sushi!!) and then I ordered the Kona Salad without the blue cheese. I realized later I should have opted for the Spinach Salad which sounded like it had more too it. Chef Kevin did say the Kona Salad was more plain...should have listened to him. I asked him if he could add some protein and I asked for shrimp.While we were waiting for our meals, Chef Kevin brought out the GNI rolls and some Earth Balance (and I didn't have to even ask for the EB--love that!). I will say, the rolls appeared to be heated well until I bit into one. This was the first time one was what I consider to be overheated meaning they were just a little tough/chewy. Well, you stick enough EB on it and it tasted ok to me.

GNI Brand Rolls & Earth Balance Vegan Margarine

I asked for both the salad and sushi to be served as an entree together. It was great to go back and forth between the two. It was also a nice light meal, which was much needed after a hot afternoon in the park--summer had officially arrived!The sushi was delicious as always. What I like about theirs is they use premium ingredients and I love the pineapple addition to the California Roll--it adds a nice bit of sweetness that marries well with the sweetness of the crab and the creaminess of the mayo and avocado. I also like the touch of sesame seeds on the outside. I admit, I'm not a big fan at all of fish roe and many California Rolls or sushi rolls in general have them, so I appreciate that it hasn't been added. I also love that I get GF soy sauce. Thank you San J Tamari! (that's the brand Kona uses) The sushi isn't the cheapest thing in the world $12.99 for the roll with 8 pieces. But it's also a great option as an appetizer or something to share.

California Luau Roll

My salad was good but it really seemed under-dressed--like a lot. It had a citrus vinaigrette but I'll be honest, I didn't taste it much. The smoked almonds in this salad were excellent (I picked through and ate a lot of them), the red onion was nice and the Asian pear was a delicate touch. It would actually be perfect with the blue cheese. The shrimp was very well cooked and very large. At least they weren't skimpy! They were nice although maybe in hindsight chicken would have played better with the ingredients in the salad.

Kona Salad with shrimp added on

I really should have gone for the Spinach Salad - with Heirloom tomatoes and duck prosciutto. It also had candied walnuts too. It came with a hoisin dressing which I did not clarify if I could have it or not (would need to be made with GF soy sauce) because I knew I didn't want to get it. But, maybe next time. The idea of duck prosciutto sounds interesting...

My dinner--love the cute chopsticks and the bowl behind the salad has the GF soy sauce in it!

Overall, I really enjoyed the dinner. It was a great light meal, perfect for summer. It also goes to show you that you can pick and choose and really make a meal out of various components rather just ordering an entree. The only downside was that I got upcharged for the protein - $7.00 so a salad & sushi cost $29 with tax and tip included. Had I ordered the noodle bowl, it would have been $16.99-$17.99 and around $20.00 with tax and tip. Whoops! I wouldn't do it all the time, but it was nice to have the option.I'd give this a solid 8 out of 10!

L’Artisan des Glaces Sorbet and Ice Cream Shop -- Snacks -- World Showcase -- Epcot

*This dining experience took place in May 2013.Bonjour from the France Pavilion! I had the opportunity to check out L’Artisan des Glaces Sorbet and Ice Cream Shop which just opened at the end of May 2013 in the France Pavilion at Epcot. I tend to avoid the France Pavilion as it has a reputation for being horribly unaccommodating for special diets, but I decided to give it a chance since it had been a while. As a writer over at Chip & Co., I reviewed this with my friend Krista from Disneyways, who thankfully was able to review it from a non-allergy perspective which was great. I was hoping that since they had sorbet, I'd at least be able to have one dessert option there (which wasn't necessarily the case). Here's what I discovered when I went.

Entrance

The Good:  First off, the setting is beautiful. I love the decor and the entire setting in the pavilion makes you feel like you are in France. The decor inside the shop is charming and so well done. Imagineers did a great job at paying attention to every detail--from the milk jar chandelier to the pitchers for milk--it was all perfect. The colors in the shop are gorgeous pastels, very soothing and make for a pleasant almost rustic environment. Also, there is a fair amount of space in there, which I can imagine with summer crowds will be much appreciated (especially since there's no indoor seating). If you don't have a food allergy this is a great new place to visit and one to make a new tradition.

What a cute chandelier!

Glass cases as you enter the shop

In terms of the desserts, I was happy to see that there were several flavors of sorbet: Strawberry, Mango, Melon, Lemon, Pomegranate, and Mixed Berries.

 When you want to get dessert, you have to go to a counter to pay per scoop (one or two at a whopping $3.99 to $6.10), then you go to another station to pick either a cup or cone and then your flavors. Weird. So, what I decided to do was go to the order station and ask about the sorbet. I explained that I can't have dairy or gluten and the cashier brought out an allergy book. (*Point of clarification. I asked the cast member if I could take photographs from the allergy binder) From there, I was able to look at the sheets. Unfortunately, I was only to get 2 very bad photos before I got yelled at to stop taking photos. Whoops! Just call me a gluten free/dairy free renegade!! Here are the two I was able to get:

Here's where things went downhill...The Bad:The cashier snatched the book from me, and yes I wasn't able to look at it again (there I am again with this GF/DF renegade thing!). *Point of clarification: this was a secondary cast member who took the binder from me. There were two cast members at the cash register area, as there are two point of sale machines. He explained to me that while the sorbet was technically dairy free, they use the same machines to make it. He said they wash it well, but that traces of dairy could still exist. Wait? What?! Seriously...after all the time to make this location, they couldn't be bothered to have a dedicated sorbet machine? Sighs... On top of that, some of the ice cream contains gluten in it (profiterole flavor has pretzels in it), so it's not even a 100% safe place if you're just GF. Double sighs...

Sorbets are located in the middle...

 And finally... The UGLY:Worse yet, they keep everything together in the front (sorbets are in the middle surrounded by all the dairy). When asked if they used dedicated spoons, they said no. They use the same spoons for everything and just dip them in water to clean them. I asked if they could use a fresh scoop and fresh batch of sorbet from the back to serve to me. This did not go well. The server literally argued with me for many minutes and told me it didn't matter it was all the same. Holy smokes!! Way to exceed my customer service expectations in France...yet again. :(

 And then I did something that I have no clue what possessed me to do (other than sheer blind judgement), I actually decided to try a scoop and see if another server would accommodate my request. Well, she did. Iwent for a flavor that I figured wasn't that popular--strawberry (people seemed to be going for the other flavors). And so I got my first and only scoop of sorbet at L'Artisan des Glaces Sorbet and Ice Cream Shop.In terms of the taste, it was nothing special. It was good but the flavor wasn't out of this world. I will say it had great texture. Very smooth and creamy. So that was where the sorbet here would stand out. The other strange thing was that it sort of tasted freezer burnt. I asked Krista who got the profiterole ice cream and she said it didn't taste like that to her, so maybe it was my taste buds or just the sorbet.

Strawberry sorbet...

While I think this is a terrific place for guests without special diets, it's not the place to go if you are gluten or dairy free. In the beginning I thought maybe GF folks would be ok; however, I would avoid this place big time. If they use the same spoons and argue about getting fresh scoops from the back, it's not worth it. Trust me. If you have a dairy allergy do not waste your time here. Thank goodness my dairy issues are less about an allergy and more about an autoimmune response with Crohn's because I would have been in serious trouble. On top of everything, the CMs were extremely rude and unaccommodating here. They were perfectly lovely to people without special dietary needs but really not very nice to me.Save your time, money, and effort and go to someplace Disney owned where you can get terrific desserts and safe ones too. The Sanaa raspberry mint sorbet and the strawberry / mango sorbet from Brown Derby blow this sorbet out of the water. Yes, it's a great addition to Epcot but it's just not a great place for folks with special needs.While I can't really recommend this location for special dietary needs, I will say (despite the rotten service), I had a terrific time with Krista. We felt like we were in Paris strolling through the streets and enjoying an afternoon snack. We had a blast but that was only because I enjoyed hanging out with a friend and didn't let the crummy allergy accommodation ruin my time (besides I had sushi that night, so I didn't miss out on enjoying great food!). Overall though, I give this a big fat 2 out of 10 for special diets.

La Hacienda de San Angel -- Dinner -- Table Service -- World Showcase -- Epcot

*This dining experience took place in May 2013.Nestled on the World Showcase Lagoon is La Hacienda de San Angel. A non-Disney owned restaurant, this location has been open for a couple of years now, and this was my first experience going here for dinner. I've long been wanting to head here but for some reason hadn't made it yet. I recently heard rave reviews about this from some friends, one of whom is gluten free, and so I decided to check it out ASAP.

View of La Hacienda & La Cantina de San Angel

I had reservations for this location during the Disney 24 hour event, which meant that the parks were exceptionally crowded. Holiday weekend + special event = Disney chaos! Luckily, Epcot wasn't as bad as other parks, and so we were very lucky we nabbed ADRs for La Hacienda. From the outside, we checked in and it didn't seem that busy (5:30 p.m.) but once we got into the main lobby area, we discovered it was swamped. Very busy. Luckily, we were seated quickly and were able to get settled in without waiting for long in the crowded lobby. What I love about this restaurant is the decor and ambiance. Everything is very spacious and big. My brother and I had a huge booth that offered a lot of space. Good thing because we got a lot of food!

Once seated our server Eduardo came by to greet us and take our drink orders. Now here is where things differ from a Disney owned restaurant. Instead of having a chef come out, Eduardo went over the menu with me. One thing I'll give him, he was actually fairly knowledgeable (like he blew most servers away with his knowledge). He said pretty much the majority of the menu was gluten free which was the easy part. The dairy was also not a big deal as they don't use a lot of dairy. Of course no queso, but I could have figured that out!! :)

My friends reported to me that only the salsa verde was safe and not the red salsa. So, I was surprised when he said both were OK. I mentioned to him that a friend had dined there semi-recently and said only the verde was safe. He said that it used to the be the only safe salsa but that they changed it and now both the red and green were safe. Since I knew the salsa at La Cantina is not safe, I opted to not eat the red salsa and only have the verde. (I'm paranoid what can I say?!) It's probably a good thing too because it had chipotle in it according to my brother and was spicy. Um no thanks. I like spicy but not THAT spicy. The salsa verde was a nice amount of spiciness with some tang to it from the tomatillos. Very good. Note that the chips here are not at all the same as the ones from La Cantina (no crazy dyes in them) and they are made in a dedicated fryer. Thank goodness. I would have been an unhappy camper without chips!

Chips & Salsa!

We decided to split the Parrillada (platter) De Mer (seafood) which is a mixed grill platter. It came with mahi mahi, scallops and shrimp. The other platter came with beef, chicken and chorizo which my friends ordered on their visit and said was excellent. Since I'm not a beef eater, I really wanted to go with the seafood option. It also comes with corn tortillas, black beans (which are normally topped with cheese but was removed for us) and rice (which I didn't eat--it was the one thing that didn't look appetizing to me but my brother said was quite good).

Black Beans

Rice

The platter was huge! I mean huge!!! It could have easily been shared by 3 people if they had added just a little bit of extra protein to it because the amount of veggies was ridiculous. And we ate a lot of them too! It came with grilled zucchini and squash and onions, as well as sweet corn with lime (this was awesome even though I only took a few bites--Crohns and corn do not mesh well). Lots of fresh lime was on the platter too for topping on the meats. The mahi mahi ended up being one of my favorites. I loved the chimichurri on top of it. So flavorful. And the fish was well cooked, not overcooked. The shrimp was good--nice seasoning and the scallops were also yummy. My brother thought they were a little underseasoned but they were fine to me. The veggies were all delicious. The black beans were also great fav, and I ended up dipping some of the leftover tortilla chips in them. They were also very generous with the corn tortillas. They brought us seconds which was good because they were a bit on the small side.

Parrillada De Mer

We opted for no dessert because we left way too much food even though we both porked out (and yes, we can both pack away the food!). I think it's just a very large portion for two people. I can see it is a very popular option too, as many people also orders the platters. Eduardo did mention that they had sorbet for dessert if I wanted it.

Overall, I really enjoyed this restaurant, and I plan on visiting again. I love that most of the menu is naturally gluten free, which means there are a lot of choices and a whole lot less chance of cross contamination. I would definitely come back again to eat here. Very good! I'd give this a 8 out of 10. It would be nice if the chefs came to the table and chatted with but I was pleasantly surprised by my server's knowledge.

Olivia's -- Breakfast -- Table Service -- Old Key West

*This dining experience took place in May 2013.

 Put on your Jimmy Buffett and your best Key West inspired duds because it's another visit to Disney's Old Key West Resort and their table service restaurant, Olivia's. Having been to this restaurant many times, I'm always reminded why I enjoy the atmosphere of this location every time I visit. I love how casual and low-key it is. The relaxed vibe is why Old Key West is such a great place. I also like that they can accommodate me at Olivia's. On this visit, we actually stayed at OKW and decided to pop over for a late breakfast after the Disney 24 event. We were all quite tired from the previous day's festivities so this proved to be a perfect uncrowded location.

Menu outside of the restaurant

The last time I went to Kona Cafe, I was told that Chef Julie was now over at OKW and this visit I got a chance to see her. She's very nice and was very accommodating. The chef who assisted me at Good's Foods to Go the day before was also with her. Normally I get their Olivia's breakfast--basic eggs, breakfast meat, etc. however I really wanted something a little different that morning. So I asked Chef Julie if she could make a breakfast Cuban with no cheese and on GF bread. They have the Udi's sandwich bread there, so she said they could do a variation of it. The major changes were the switch of bread which was toasted rather than pressed and fruit instead of breakfast potatoes. Their breakfast potatoes here are loaded (and I mean LOADED) with dairy. Sometimes they'll make me plain potatoes but today they offered fruit. I was actually fine with that. I sort of pigged out the day before. Plus a breakfast Cuban seemed pretty filling.

View of the restaurant while waiting for our meal

When the Cuban came out, I was pleasantly surprised. I actually think I'd get this again over the Olivia's breakfast. What I liked about it was that they had ham and roast pork on it, scrambled eggs, and tomato. It was just a nice change of pace from some of the other breakfast items I tend to get. The fruit was OK. I really am not a melon fan and it seemed like I got an awful lot of it. Next time I will ask for specific fruits.

My breakfast Cuban and fruit!

In general, I wouldn't say that Olivia's food is super spectacular. It's never going to be my favorite place for breakfast, but it's not bad either. It's a basic place with moderately good food. I wish they had some better potato options handy but I think this particular breakfast didn't warrant potatoes. I do like the Key West inspired theming and the low-key vibe. I would definitely get this breakfast option again.Overall, I give this a solid 7 out of 10.

Good's Foods to Go -- Lunch/Dinner -- Quick Service -- Old Key West

*This dining experience took place in May 2013.

 Welcome to the relaxed vibe of Old Key West. With the easy-going atmosphere and Jimmy Buffett playing in the background, OKW is truly inspired by the Florida Keys. And the restaurants here also reflect that vibe. That includes the quick service location, Good's Foods to Go. Having never eaten at this quick service, I wasn't sure what to expect, especially after I discovered it was an open air restaurant with outdoor seating. I have had hit or miss luck with these types of locations, so I was really hoping to get something safe. The first thing that I noticed was that they had a fairly limited menu and pretty small storefront to wait on people.

Menu from Good's Foods to Go--definitely a burgers & fries type place

When I got up to the counter, I asked the cashier for a chef or manager, and they were happy to oblige. They quickly went back and got someone who also came out rather quickly. The chef that I spoke with said that they had the allergy buns there (assuming GNI brand but didn't end up getting them) as well as a dedicated fryer for french fries & allergy chicken tenders. Since I hadn't had the chicken tenders in a while, I decided to go with them. Plus, it was crazy busy at this location, and I figured these would come out fairly quickly.

View of the counter area, as you can see the line was getting busier

I'll note that they rang my order up as regular chicken nuggets, so I paid the exact same price as my brother who got the regular chicken nuggets ($8.99, I believe). So it was nice to get something that didn't cost an arm and a leg. No upcharges for special diets food is always appreciated. While I waited, I was given a pager (as was everyone).  It took a little longer than my brother's meal, but it wasn't too slow. While I waited I got an iced tea from the drink area, but I will say, that it was quite clustered. It is also the location for the refillable mugs & drinks and they only have 1 drink station for this restaurant. Many people stop by quickly to fill up and it can get a little busy. Seating was equally challenging. Since it was a hot day (well over 90 degrees) all of the shaded outdoor seating was taken. Bummer. We ended up sitting on benches near the designated smoking area (yuck) and then headed back to the room to finish up our meal. So, during peak times seating can be challenging.

 My allergy chicken tenders were delicious as usual and my fries were also good. What I did appreciate about this location is that they boxed my food up and marked it allergy which was very nice considering how crazy the counter was there. It also made it really convenient to take back to the room.

Allergy friendly chicken tenders & fries. Yum!

Overall, I'd say this was a fair choice at OKW. As far as quick service goes, it wasn't my favorite by a long shot, but was it safe? Yes. I appreciated that their quick service location can accommodate despite its size and limited menu. Sure, you won't be getting much more than basic food, but then again so is everyone ordering from the non-allergy options. The cons to this location were the limited menu for sure and also the outdoor seating. But, if you're staying at OKW and looking to take something back to the room, this isn't a bad choice. I'd give this a solid 7 out of 10.

Kona Cafe -- Lunch -- Table Service -- Polynesian

*This dining experience took place in May 2013.Aloha! I'm back at Disney's Polynesian Resort for a lunch at Kona Cafe. On this visit, I had every intentions of getting something new to try out, but after getting impaled by a torrential down pour of rain (I was soaking wet from head to toe), I decided not to tempt the meneheune or tiki gods and go for one of my standbys.

 Apologies for the lack of photos, but I was soaked to the gills and my iPhone was buried in plastic bags to protect it form the elements. (a girl's gotta save her phone!!)When we arrived (and after I settled in...), we were greeted by Chef Brett (who has now taken over from Chef Johnny, who's now at Ohana) and Chef Amber, who I immediately recognized from Boma. She once made me GF/DF Bobotie there (OMG it was fabulous!). If you missed it, here's the review (and yes, it was worth ordering in advance). I told Chef Brett what I'd like...Island Chicken Sandwich modified. They are still using the GNI buns. The onions they said they would caramelize, though I wish they'd have grilled them like the ones I got from Chef Johnny. I basically got the sandwich without cheese and the curry mango mayo on the side. Yep, I like to dip! I also went a little different by ordering half sweet potato fries and half regular fries. Funnily enough, as we talked Chef Amber said she remembered me from Boma. Yep, I have that effect on people :)When the food arrived, I noticed that the bacon was missing. My family said I should ask for bacon, but I was still pretty shell-shocked from the rain, so I opted not to ask. The grilled onions on the sandwich were a little undercooked as far as "caramelizing" them. Grilled definitely would have been better. The chicken was excellent as usual. And then there was the bun. Blech! Ok, now I really appreciate that GNI covers other allergens (like egg), but I really really wish they'd have Udi's as an alternative or at the very least learn how to heat the GNI buns properly. What happens is that if they are not heated correctly, they are very crumbly, dry and unpleasant. If they are heated correctly, they actually aren't half bad. Enough that I wouldn't complain! However, these were barely heated and quite unpleasant texturally. Thankfully, a dirty shoe would taste good if you added enough curry mango mayonnaise to it! The french fries were excellent both the regular and sweet potato. The sweet potato really works well with the curry mango mayo. I would say that in the future, I would do the half and half combination again, as it satisfied my cravings for both kinds of french fries.

Hey, where's the bacon?! Island Gluten Free Sandwich modified

Overall, there were a few hiccups in the meal, but in general the food was excellent as always. I never hesitate to visit Kona, especially for lunch. I will note that the menu was newly updated and had a few new items on it, as well as a new look to the menu itself. It's good to see a few updates.

As far as the meal, a solid 7 out of 10. If you're looking for a calm and inexpensive resort table service location, this is a great choice.

Kouzzina -- Breakfast -- Table Service -- Boardwalk

*This dining experience took place in May 2013.This is just a brief updated review of breakfast from Kouzzina. I've posted quite a few reviews of Kouzzina recently (you can tell I'm a big fan!), so not much new to report here. Chef Brad took care of us this time, and he is always happy to customize as needed; however I went pretty basic.I really wanted the sweet potato hash, and I guess I wasn't paying attention that the American breakfast entree comes with "breakfast potatoes." I didn't ask for any special modification of the potatoes thinking they would be the sweet potato hash. I was pleased though with the potatoes I got--regular white potatoes with herbs and onions and peppers. Yum! I actually really enjoyed them--though I wouldn't order them every time (mostly depending on my stomach and Crohn's). I got the eggs scrambled and bacon. Nothing different there. I did add the Udi's white sandwich bread/toast with Earth Balance vegan margarine. I also got a side of Mickey waffles. I'm pretty sure I can't make a trip there without ordering them! lol

American breakfast entree

Mickey waffles with maple syrup & earth balance

On a side note, my family ordered the "Breakfast Skillet" and it looked REALLY good. My mom ordered it without cheese, and we all thought they could probably easily modify it for GF/DF. Essentially, it was the same potatoes I had with an omelet on top with peppers and onions (and cheese for those who can have it) and then garnished with an arugala salad. My family members really enjoyed it and said they would get it again. So, I'm thinking of asking to modify this the next time I'm there. Or get the sweet potato hash.One thing I know for sure, I'll be treated to a wonderful breakfast. Solid 9 out of 10 as usual. Great food, allergy accommodation and service.

50's Prime Time Cafe -- Lunch/Dinner -- Table Service -- Hollywood Studios

*These dining experiences took place in April & May 2013. This is a combined review of two dining experiences.

Time warp!

It's a blast from the past...50's Prime Time Cafe. It feels like I was just there hanging out with all of my favorite "cousins." Oh wait, I was just there not that long ago!! This review is a combination of two meals that I had in the past month at 50's PT. They are important to share because of what I was served that was different from my normal order of fried chicken and mashed potatoes. So here we go. Let's do the time warp again...

These two hosts are some of my fav folks here

On these particular trips, I contacted the chefs at 50's PT ahead of time to order the GF/DF/SF fried chicken and GF/DF mashed potatoes with GF/DF gravy as a part of the "Mom's Sampler" menu item. I had been told that the meatloaf was GF/DF and was a combination of pork and beef. Now I don't normally eat beef, so this was a gamble for me (beef and I don't get along too well). I normally eat like one hamburger or two a year, so this was going to probably be my threshold for a long time. But I really wanted to try it and was hopeful that it wouldn't settle too badly. I weirdly don't too as badly with ground pork, so I was hoping the mix would also deflect some of the potential tummy ache.Upon arrival, I was greeted by Chef Eddie who was very busy helping others, including a table next to us who hadn't noted their child's allergies and were having difficulty with the child finding anything they wanted. Poor kid only wanted Mickey waffles lol When I told him that I contacted them ahead of time he remarked, "Oh you're the lady!" Guess my reputation proceeds me :) He said he had everything ready and raring to go. When the dish came out, I noticed the pot roast was on it. (which normally comes with the Mom's Sampler) I didn't really think about it at first but then I remembered that some blog readers mentioned it was not safe. Yikes!! I think I had taken 2 very small bites before I remembered that. Uggh. I tried to flag down Chef Eddie but he was slammed, so I decided to email when I got home and eat nowhere near the pot roast just to be safe since I couldn't confirm it's safety. The fried chicken was definitely gluten free and the meatloaf was just ground meat from what I could tell. Also, I really REALLY disliked the meatloaf. Like, I won't ever order it again meatloaf. Yuck. It tasted like sausage! And not even good sausage. My stepdad is from Sweden and he said that they must use allspice in their recipe because that's what it tasted like to him. Either way, it wasn't a personal winner for me. I liked the texture of it though, but that is not a redeeming enough quality for me to order it again.

Mom's Sampler modified--note that the pot roast in the back is NOT gluten free.

The mashed potatoes were really good--and they gave me an extra portion (which I didn't eat half of anyways due to proximity of the pot roast)--I think they know I love the carbs! The veggies were also good and it was nice to have the green beans & carrots AND the collards (my favorite). On a side note, they somehow forgot my gravy which got brought to me a little later in the meal.For my dessert, I ordered the gluten free/dairy free brownie with rice dream and chocolate syrup. Only I got hot fudge sauce. Yup, I knew right away before I even ate it that it was hot fudge sauce. Yikes. So, I wasn't feeling overly confident with this meal, and 50's PT has always been exceptional with the allergy service.

This is NOT the sundae you are looking for--hot fudge city=not dairy free :(

Now THIS is the sundae I'm looking for!

Once I returned home, I contacted the restaurant and sure enough they should NOT have given me the pot roast. It contains trace amounts of gluten according to Chef Brandon (who's over at Hollywood & Vine now). He assured me that they would make sure this did not happen again. How scary. This is probably one of the first most blatant near glutenized moments I've ever had at Disney. I was glad I had some knowledge and only ended up with a slight stomach ache, but still--this could have been disastrous for someone else. It just goes to show that you can never be too vigilant and even when you think you are safe mistakes can happen. As I learned from my next visit, this was turning into a common theme....

Here we go back in time...

My next visit fared a little better, but still had some bumps in the visit that made me want to wait for a while before I go back again. Once again I emailed beforehand confirming that I really only wanted the chicken and mashed potatoes and gravy. Forget that other stuff! This time I wanted to stick with what was tried and true.I was once again greeted by Chef Eddie. This time, he said that they were ready for me, but then he asked if I really wanted mashed potatoes. Uh-oh, I see where this is going...someone didn't get the potatoes ready. He said that it's not so much that they didn't have them ready but that I should really try something different. huh? He said he could still make the potatoes but that it would take some time and didn't I really want to try something like the sweet potato mash that they have with their seasonal fish? Sigh. Now, I'm not really that picky so rather than go in circles with him (which we sort of did), I said fine. But really...mashed sweet potatoes with coconut milk doesn't seem like it would go w/fried chicken and collard greens, but maybe it's just me?! He actually wanted me to try the broccolini too which I opposed. I really love those collards and didn't want to miss out. Some of the discussion that he and I had is actually why I email ahead of time. If you know you want the fried chicken and mashed potatoes and gravy, it's easier for everyone involved to notify them ahead of time. But clearly, they just forgot it because it did take a while (more than normal) to get the food.

GF/DF fried chicken, collard greens and mashed white sweet potatoes with coconut milk

While we were waiting, Chef Eddie actually came back and asked if I still wanted gravy. Now, for the life of me I can't figure out why they would have gone to the trouble of making gravy and not the potatoes. But never mind--too little too late. Once the dinner came out I dug in. The chicken was delicious as usual. The one good thing is that he did give me two chicken breasts which was great. The collards were excellent as well. Now onto the sweet potatoes. Now don't get me wrong--they were very good. They would have been excellent with the new seasonal fish dish (mahi mahi) but for the rest of the meal--a little weird. I gave my family samples to try and they mostly liked the flavor but everyone said it did not go well with fried chicken. Yep, that's why I ordered mashed potatoes ahead of time!Then it was on to dessert. I ordered the same thing as the time before--the allergy brownie sundae. But this time, I made sure to specify no hot fudge sauce and told the server why and to make sure they didn't do the same thing as the time before. I truly had thought the time before was that our server must had put the fudge on (b/c she was very frazzled) and that it wouldn't happen this time, but now I'm convinced it was a kitchen issue because sure enough....hot fudge. Sighs...what is going on with my 50's PT?! Well, back to the kitchen it went. And when it came out, I had extra syrup. I guess they really wanted to prove a point that it was syrup! lol

Brownie sundae with a shot of syrup?

Overall, I was pretty disappointed with both of these dining experiences primarily because someone could have gotten extremely sick. Had I consumed more than two bites of pot roast I would have been violently ill and probably out of commission for days. As it was my stomach was a disaster for a day or two though at least I was functional. On top of that the dairy consumption would have been equally bad and life threatening for someone highly allergic. What concerns me is that the hot fudge situation happened twice. Once I could have chocked it up to user error, but twice? That's a pattern of non-allergy attention. I understand that the kitchens are busy and that it happens. But I try to do due diligence by contacting them ahead of time to help make their lives and mine easier. This just was a little bit of a back slide for me with 50's PT.On a side note, I saw Chef Frank as I left and I wish I had had a chance to work with him. He's always been really great and I haven't had any problems when he's handled my meals. Chef Eddie seems like a really nice guy and he seemed like he wanted to try to accommodate but someone there were too many errors to make me feel overly confident in him right now.I plan on waiting a few months before I head back there to try it again. I think I need a break and hopefully, in the meantime they will improve their procedures so nothing like this happens again.Normally, I'd give this a 9 out of 10, but these two experiences were about a 6 for me in terms of major issues.What have your experiences at 50's Prime Time been?