Liberty Square Market -- Snacks -- Quick Service -- Magic Kingdom

*This dining experience took place in June 2014.Hear ye, hear ye! Liberty Square Market located in Liberty Square at the Magic Kingdom is a surprisingly great choice for special diets diners to grab a quick bite to eat. With standard grab and go options along with special diets pre-packaged products and a few unique treats, this is a must-do for those looking for a snack or a treat. From the exterior, Liberty Square Market might not look like it would have much, and it can also be easily overlooked. Situated in between the Hall of Presidents, Liberty Tree Tavern, Columbia Harbour House, and the Haunted Mansion, it's outdoor seating and atmosphere will make you feel like you've gone back in time to colonial New England.When you enter the market, you'll notice lots of grab and go stations as well as a main ordering station that display Liberty Square Market's most unique offering - the popular baked potato. This is the perfect substantial snack or light lunch for a special diets diner. These are served salt crusted and do not have any toppings added to them unless requested. This means if you're non-dairy like me, you can bring a non-dairy substitute with you and top it on your potato. If you're gluten free and can have dairy, ask for butter and sour cream.Under $4, the baked potatoes also count as a snack on the Disney Dining Plan!Perhaps the coolest part of Liberty Square Market is that they have an entire section devoted to special dietary needs and products. Yay! These include:

• Varieties of Lundberg Rice Chips
• Surf Sweets
• Rocky Mountain Caramel Corn
• OMG It's Gluten Free Brownies
• OMG It's Gluten & Dairy Free Chocolate Chip Cookies
• Enjoy Life Crunchy Cookies

Note that not all of these items cover all allergens or special dietary needs. For instance, OMG It's Gluten Free Brownies contain dairy.The location also carries fresh fruits and vegetables - some whole fruit (like bananas and apples) and others in packages, like apple slices.Overall, Liberty Square Market has an abundance of great choices for special diets diners visiting the Magic Kingdom. From sweets to fresh fruits and veggies, there is a nice variety to choose from.Have you been to Liberty Square Market? What's your go-to snack from this quick service location? 

Grand Floridian Cafe -- Breakfast -- Table Service -- Grand Floridian

*This dining experience took place in June 2014.Disney's Grand Flordian Cafe is one of those locations at Disney that makes you feel like you've stepped back in time. I almost expect the animatronics from Carousel of Progress to be here celebrating Valentine's Day during the turn-of-the-century. If you're looking for a little bit more of an upscale breakfast with a quieter atmosphere, breakfast at the Grand Floridian Cafe is the way to go.On this particular occasion, I stopped by for breakfast before heading to the Magic Kingdom. It makes for a convenient stop before entering the park. My breakfast reservation was early - 8:15 a.m., as I had Fastpass+ reservations for the newly opened Mine Train ride in New Fantasyland. With such an early breakfast, let's just say it was very quiet. In fact, there were very few of us in the back half of the restaurant.The chef greeted me to go over the options, and I knew more or less what I already wanted - the American which comes traditionally with: Two Eggs served with Biscuits, Bacon, Sausage and Breakfast Potatoes and a choice of Juice. For $13.99 it's a decent bargain with the juice included.I decided to go for apple juice, scrambled eggs, bacon, turkey sausage, breakfast potatoes (made differently as the regular version contains dairy), and instead of toast or Mickey waffles, I asked for steamed asparagus. I don't know why, but I seem to always want asparagus when I go to the Grand Floridian Cafe.When I got my entree, there was a bit of a mix-up, as I was served dairy filled hashbrowns. And weirdly enough, it had the allergy pick right in the middle of them. I know enough about the potatoes there to know they had dairy in them, but this is just a reminder to be vigilant about your food orders. Because the hashbrowns were all on the same plate as the rest of the meal, the chef needed to completely remake everything which did take a wee bit of time.Once I got my entree, I was ready to dig in. I needed to fuel up for that Mine Train ride! The eggs, bacon, and asparagus were great as were the hashbrowns. I have to say, maybe it's just the turkey sausage at Disney but I've decided I'm not a fan. It seems like every time I order it, it's dry and not that tasty. Next time I will just go for the bacon instead of the turkey sausage. As you can see by the decor, this is a lovely and bright restaurant. Because it was so quiet it made for a very enjoyable and relaxing meal.Overall, I would give this a 6 out 10 for this experience.Have you been to the Grand Floridian Cafe? What do you like to order here for breakfast?

Gaston's Tavern -- Snacks -- Quick Service -- New Fantasyland

*This dining experience took place in June 2014.Gaston’s Tavern located in New Fantasyland is something truly out of the animated film. They say, he uses antlers in all his decorating and boy is that sure true. From the exterior of this quick service restaurant to the interior decor, it looks like a hunting lodge and tavern all in one. While I can’t say I personally love Gaston’s decorating tastes, I do enjoy some of the items served in Gaston’s Tavern. On this particular occasion, I stopped by to try out the roasted pork shank and Le Fou’s Brew. I actually hadn’t been since the opening of New Fantasyland (during the annual passholder preview, actually!), so it had been a long time. On that first visit, I tried both, and I even got a chance to see the bottles and ingredients, thanks to a kind manager there. You can read more about that in my original post.But back to today’s visit, when I entered the restaurant, I notified the cast member that I had special dietary needs. She then went and got the special diets binder and a manager. She gave me permission to take a photo of the binder cover, as you can see it here. In looking at the ingredients binder, I noticed that the roasted pork shank (made very simply with a few spices) was made using Badia brand spices, which were listed as certified gluten free. I always like when I see Badia listed because it’s one of the brands I buy for my own kitchen.  You can see detailed info on my original post about Le Fou’s Brew and also on Gluten Free in Orlando’s website. The mango foam on top is really quite good and has that creamy texture that is often lacking from dairy free items. Thankfully, no dairy there!As far as taste goes, I have to say Le Fou’s Brew is way to sweet for my tastes. It’s seriously sweet, and I found myself wishing Disney would offer a smaller size version. I really like the topping but halfway through the drink, it just felt super heavy to me, mostly because of the sugar.  The roasted pork shank, on the other hand is just delicious. It’s a little pricey at $9.79 but still delicious. (Fun fact: In December 2012 it was $7.99, so there's been a definite price increase on these!) My family says they prefer it to the turkey legs these days, which surprised me a bit. But, I have to agree with them. It’s simply seasoned, slow roasted and delicious. While there may be a few snack items that are gluten free and dairy free at Gaston’s Tavern besides the pork shank and Le Fou’s Brew, most people come just for these two items.I have to say that it’s a great little spot to rest and enjoy a snack, though I wouldn’t make it a must-do every time I go. The pork shank I would absolutely get again. The Le Fou’s Brew I might again but split with someone. The sweetness just overtook this drink for me.I rate this a 6 out of 10.Have you been to Gaston’s Tavern? What did you think of Le Fou’s Brew?

Boatwright's -- Dinner -- Table Service -- Port Orleans Riverside

*This dining experience took place in May 2014. It includes a gluten free and shrimp allergy review in addition to my gluten free and dairy free review. Boatwright's located in Disney's Port Orleans Riverside Resort has quickly moved up the ranks as one of my favorite table service locations on Disney property. With great food, special diets accommodations, service and reasonable prices, I truly think it's a hidden gem on property (much like Sanaa one of my other favorite table service locations). With a rustic atmosphere and New Orleans and Southern inspired food - it really has a homey feel to it. I often wonder why it took me so long to go here.On this particular occasion, I was joined by a GF friend who also has a shrimp allergy. This was her first visit to Boatwright's, so I was excited to have dinner there with her. She knows what big fans Alexis from Gluten Free in Orlando and I are of this place, so it seemed only natural to have a meal there!   I had also seen that were some new menu changes to Boatwright's since my last visit, and I was excited to try something new. Of course, that didn't mean I wasn't going to get my favorite gluten-free crawfish bites. A girl's gotta stick with her favorite fried foods! We were greeted by Chef Wes who went over the options on the menu with us. I was having a hard time deciding what to get, but Chef Wes sold me on the new ribs on the menu. They typically come with a Turbodog BBQ sauce (Turbodog is a beer), so the sauce was out for me, but he said he would try to find some safe BBQ sauce that I could have. He said the ribs were fall off the bone tender, so I was looking forward to trying them. My friend and I got the Crawfish Bites to split, and man were these delicious as always. The only slight change to this dish since the restaurant's menu change is that the Remoulade typically served with the Crawfish Bites now contain dairy. Ever the condiment queen, I inquired if they could make a version dairy free. Without advance notice, this wasn't able to happen for this meal; however, as of June 18, 2014, the remoulade has officially changed back to being dairy free. Hurrah! You know what I'm getting next time I visit...As always, the Crawfish Bites did not disappoint. Crunchy and flavorful - you really get the full essence of Crawfish when you eat these. We also had some GNI brand rolls brought to our table, along with extra virgin olive oil for me and butter for my friend. I have to say that Boatwright's consistently heats these rolls up so they are soft and delicious. Not every place on property has the heating down to an art, but Boatwright's sure does!  My friend ordered the Jambalaya which I had on my last visit. Her version did not include shrimp as she has a shrimp allergy. She said it was really delicious too. If you're looking for a hearty dish, this is definitely it! As you can tell by this picture, my entree was huge. The ribs were a nice sized portion. Chef Wes said they were really tender and fell off the bone, and he was not kidding. These were excellent and really well seasoned. Ribs need to be cooked low and slow, and these fit the bill quite nicely. The BBQ sauce served on the side tasted like the BBQ sauce they serve in most QS locations. It wasn't bad, but man it makes me wish I could have had the Turbodog BBQ sauce. I bet it was amazing.The entree also came with seasoned steak fries and coleslaw, both of which were excellent. I really enjoyed the seasoning on the steak fries. And pro tip, dipping them in BBQ sauce was a nice option too! The coleslaw was fresh and crisp - perfect for a rib dinner. My only complaint of the meal? It was messy. But then again, ribs are supposed to be messy. If you're eating ribs and it's NOT messy, I think you're doing something wrong! Thank goodness for wet naps. Overall, this was another really wonderful meal from Boatwright's. I enjoyed my ribs a lot, and it was a great dinner choice. I can honestly say that I haven't had a bad meal at Boatwright's yet...or even a mediocre one! This continues to be a new favorite for me!A solid 9 out of 10 for me. Have you been to Boatwright's? What are your favorite menu items? 

Star Wars Character Breakfast at Sci-Fi Dine-In 2014 -- Table Service -- Hollywood Studios

*This dining experience took place in June 2014.Note: The Star Wars™ Dine-In Galactic Breakfast is a special character dining experience that took place during the 2014 Star Wars™ Weekends.This year's Star Wars™ Weekends offered several new meal experiences: Star Wars™ Dine-In Galactic Breakfast and Jedi Mickey’s Star Wars™ Dine at Hollywood and Vine. Of course, as soon as I heard the announcement about these two meals, I had to make sure to go to both of them. They sounded like awesome events and as a Star Wars™ fan, they were totally up my alley.My family and I attended the Jedi Mickey’s Star Wars™ Dine at Hollywood and Vine during the first Star Wars™ Weekends in May and had a great time. I was pleased to see the special diets offerings available and really enjoyed the experience. We had heard tons of buzz about the character breakfast at Sci-Fi Dine In and were really excited to check it out! First up, I have to say that this was a very popular breakfast. When we got there during our visit at 8:30 a.m. it was pretty packed. Our reservation wasn't until 9:10 a.m. but we checked in and figured we'd just hang out and take in the atmosphere (we'd already rode Star Tours at 8 a.m. so bonus for us. Nothing says Star Wars™ Weekends like riding Star Tours early on in the day!). Imagine our surprise when we got called about 10 minutes later. Talk about going light speed to our breakfast! Before our breakfast, we took a minute to pose with Darth Vader and Boba Fett. My family were wearing Rebel Spy t-shirts which did NOT make Darth Vader happy. And Boba Fett decided he wasn't too thrilled with me either. The reactions they gave us were priceless. Then it was off to the Sci-Fi Dine In dining area where we took in the sights and transformation which suited the character meal really well. On the screen, you got to watch Star Wars clips and even the special 1978 Christmas Special. Talk about awesome and corny all at the same time.  Our server greeted us and the very first thing she asked was, "Does anybody have an allergy or special dietary need." This was great because they made sure to ask right away. She took our drink orders and then got the chef while we looked over the menus and check out our surroundings.Breakfast is a fixed price and includes a plate of breakfast pastries per guest, a choice of fruit & yogurt with granola or just fruit, an entree, and drinks of your choice. There's also a special dessert surprise, but more on that later...The chef greeted me with a plate of breakfast pastries knowing that I couldn't have gluten or dairy. I have to say, it's really hard to see what you're getting on your plate, so taking a picture was about the only way I could identify my treats. I got an Udi's blueberry muffin and chocolate chip muffin, and a Kinnikinnick cinnamon sugar donut. All things I really enjoy! I was also served fresh fruit with some cute Star Wars inspired cut-outs. Yoda as melon...adorable! If your'e like me and not a melon fan...beware. The fruit salad is mostly honeydew and other melons. Not really my most favorite. I could go for grapes, pineapple and strawberries, but as with most fruit cups, they weren't too plentiful. Another great feature of the clips is that they show Star Wars™ Weekends specific things, like weekend host James Arnold Taylor and even information about characters walking around. It was all perfectly themed, and I have to say really made the meal experience feel special. For my entree, I ordered the Tatooine Sunrise which included bacon, sausage (which I exchanged for extra bacon), scrambled eggs, and breakfast potatoes. The potatoes that normally come with it contain dairy, so I was given garlic roasted fingerling potatoes. And they were delicious! Very well seasoned and cooked. The rest of the meal was good. I wouldn't say anything special but well cooked and hearty. Enough to feed a Wookie, that's for sure. And speaking of more food...I asked if there were any other options available to me for gluten free and dairy free breakfast. They did carry Van's waffles, which I opted to skip. I like Van's but they aren't the same as my beloved allergy Mickey waffles. I did however, order a side of the shrimp that accompanies the shrimp and grits. And these were a yummy and delicious add on to my meal!  Throughout our meal, we were treated to Star Wars™ music and film clips and also got to meet lots of Star Wars™ characters. One caveat, lighting in Sci-Fi Dine In can be a challenge. My mom got a shot of me and Greedo but the flash wasn't on. The photo turned out pretty dark, which I had originally posted here, but thanks to reader Ron G., who worked some Disney pixie dust on it, it looks awesome! (Thanks, Ron!!)Stormtroopers were around a lot. As I said quite frequently to them, "This is not the breakfast you are looking for!" Of course, they really got into things and lots of stormtrooper hijinks ensued!  Once we finished our meal, we were also treated to a special dessert. Another nice touch was that this cast member also asked about special dietary needs. Unfortunately, the dessert contained dairy (but it was gluten free!). I was able to get a bowl of fresh strawberries. My family did like the dessert, it seems like it was a pudding/custard of some type with pop rock type fruit in them. Talk about a galactic treat!  Perhaps my most favorite thing about the character breakfast were the Jawas. Omigosh. Were these guys adorable! They roamed the character breakfast and yes, if you had something shiny and interesting, they were into trading with you. My family decided to see what would entice the Jawas and they sure do like Star Wars™ bling. My stepdad traded them a Magic Band Star Wars™ gadget, and they were pretty thrilled. One thing is that they don't talk, and you have to translate what they say by their gestures. It took me entirely too long to figure out this Jawa needed to go get the other Jawa's trading pouch. Yep, clearly I needed C3P0 because I do not speak Jawa! When they returned, they made the trade (a shiny limited edition cast member pin) and a spoon. Because apparently, I needed a spoon. Thanks Jawas!  Overall, I had a fabulous time at the breakfast. In fact, the whole family thought out of the two character meals this was by far and away our favorite. It wasn't cheap by any means at nearly $50 but for a once a year experience, we would definitely do it again. It had nice gluten free and dairy free meal options, and the food was quite good too. I give this Star Wars™ character meal a solid 8 out of 10. By far and away of our favorite things to do during Star Wars™ Weekends 2014. And those Jawas? They totally made the meal too! Have you been to the Star Wars™ Character Breakfast at Sci-Fi Dine In? 

Landscape of Flavors -- Lunch/Dinner -- Quick Service -- Art of Animation

*This dining experience took place in June 2014. Located in Disney's Art of Animation Resort, Landscape of Flavors is one of my favorite quick service locations in the resorts on property. Filled with tons of variety and unique options, it's well...a Landscape of Flavors (sorry, I couldn't resist the pun). Guests who visit Landscape of Flavors will appreciate the unique options and even real plates and silverware - no plastic or paper plates here!On this particular occasion, I stopped by Landscape of Flavors after Star Wars Weekends. It had been a really hot and humid day, typical for Florida in the summer, and I really wanted something light. I've been wanting to try some of the Indian dishes but for dinner after a day in the hot sun? Not so much. I decided to see what options they had for their create your own salad bar.It was a slow evening there, and I stopped by the salad station and asked the cast member if I could speak with a chef or manager. After a short wait the chef came out to see me. She did say there were several options in the Indian station, but we quickly turned to the salad bar. Their toppings aren't as large as I would have like but it wasn't bad either.I decided to go with a romaine lettuce as my salad base (you have an option of romaine, spinach or shredded lettuce). I then was able to add diced cucumbers (one of my favorites), diced onion, bacon, grilled chicken and grilled shrimp. The only challenge was the salad dressing. Every option had dairy except the Italian they had on hand. Italian's not my most favorite dressing option but I'm glad that they at least had something.The salad itself was refreshing, and I was glad to have it after being outside all day. Portion-wise, I felt it was fairly small for a $11 salad. The toppings were a bit skimpy. The salad dressing was on the side, as they got dressing from the back for me. With a salad bar that included a lot of mix and match, it was much safer getting the items from the back, especially the dressing.Next time, I'm not sure I'd get a salad from Landscape of Flavors, not because of the taste but more because of the cost to portion ratio. I think there are better values in terms of salads on property. If only Hollywood Brown Derby had been taking walk-ups that night. I totally would have gotten the Cobb salad there (one of my favorites).On a side note, if you are looking for a gluten free beer, Landscape of Flavors carries Redbridge and now Estrella Damm Daura which is a made from Barley Malt and has had gluten removed from it. As one who has tried these kind of beers and gotten sick from them, I stay away from them even if they test under 20ppm. Note that neither of these options are listed as "gluten free" on the labeling (except on the bottles).Overall, I still really enjoy visiting Landscape of Flavors for the food and atmosphere. Art of Animation is a neat resort, and I really think this restaurant puts it on the map as having one of the best resort quick service locations.I'd give this particular visit a 6.5 out of 10.Have you been to Landscape of Flavors? What is your favorite thing to order?

Bluezoo Lounge -- Dinner -- Table Service -- Swan and Dolphin

*This dining experience took place in May 2014.It's amazing to me that even after all this time visiting and now living near Disney how many restaurants on property I still haven't dined at. One of those places was Todd English's bluezoo located in the Swan & Dolphin resorts. For those who might not be familiar with Todd English, he is a celebrity chef who's roots are based in Boston. On this particular occasion, I decided to visit the bluezoo lounge (located in the front of the main restaurant) to check out the drink and appetizer offerings. I had heard such rave reviews about bluezoo lounge and restaurant from my friends over at Extra WDW Magic, and couldn't wait to check things out. We grabbed a booth at the front of the lounge area (which was fairly quiet for on a Wednesday night) and took a look at the drink menu which is vast. They have tons of signature cocktails along with wine and beer. I didn't see if they had GF beers on hand, but I'm sure they had at least one like most Disney property restaurants.If you like cocktails, bluezoo lounge is definitely the place for you. They have some of the best that I've seen on property. I must admit, I'm still partial to my African Starr Mint Mojito at Sanaa. That is my favorite drink on property...hands down. While scoping out the menu, we got a chance to meet with Chad Lobner one of the managers at bluezoo. He was terrific at going over the menu offerings both on the main menu and on the bluezoo lounge menu for gluten free & dairy free options. Ultimately, there really isn't much on the lounge menu that is gluten free and dairy free but the regular menu has some great ones that need minimal modifications. Note to self, go back for dinner sometime! I ended up ordering the BZ Burger which is made from meats ground and smoked in-house – 50% chuck, 15% brisket, and 35% smoked pork shoulder. The fries served with this are not made in a dedicated fryer (bummer) but we ordered them on the side for my brother. I'm sure we could have subbed out something extra if I had wanted to. They also double-checked and the GF bread available there is also dairy free as well. Hurrah! Meanwhile, Chad brought us out an amuse bouche (a little small bite appetizer) which was a flatted cucumber with I believe daikon and radish in a broth. It's been a while now since I visited, so I apologize for forgetting all the ingredients! This was delicious and very earthy. A great palate cleanser before our burger. So, I'm not usually a burger eater as most of you know. I try to avoid beef in general (partly for Crohn's and partly because I'm not a huge fan) but I do order an occasional burger. I've had a lot and I mean a lot of burgers over the years at Disney but this is hands down the best burger I've ever had on property. HOLY MOLY. (Sorry for the bold caps, I just really loved this burger)Served on gluten free & dairy free bread (I believe Ener-G), the presentation and smell of this dish were so taste-bud tempting. The burger is composed of two patties with house-made bread and butter pickles and a mustard aoili. If you have never had a smoked burger before, this is the one to get. It was outrageously good.  Overall, I really enjoyed bluezoo a lot. The inventive drinks, fabulous food, and impeccable service make it a wonderful spot for a drink and dinner. It's a wonderful spot on property to get away from the hub-bub of the parks. I really appreciated Chad's attention to my special diets and to making sure everything went smoothly and safely for me. I really hope to be back again for dinner soon or at the very least drinks and that fabulous burger. I may dream about that burger for a while to come! So amazingly good! Overall, I give this experience a 7.5 out of 10. I hope that in the future, they'll carry some easily modified lounge items and consider a dedicated GF fryer. Have you been to bluezoo? What did you order here? 

ESPN Club -- Lunch/Dinner -- Table Service -- Boardwalk

*This dining review took place in May 2014. Well, it's probably safe to say I'm not a super sporty girl. I like two things - running and hockey. Otherwise, I'm fairly sports illiterate (no denying it here). So, with that in mind, ESPN Club located in Disney's Boardwalk area was not particularly high on my list of places to visit. It's hugely popular with the sports crowds, and always busy when sporting events are taking place.I decided to pop by for dinner on a whim while at Disney World recently for a work conference. The menu is somewhat reminiscent of Red Robin to me, and I thought it would be the perfect time to check out the sandwiches and burgers.When we arrived, we were seated quickly -- I think we timed our dinner well and there wasn't really anything going on sports-wise. Our server whose name escapes me, was really wonderful. Before I was even seated, he and the hostesses made sure to get the chef so that he could come talk to me about options.There were quite a few things that could be modified to accommodate a gluten free and dairy free diner. From burgers and other sandwiches to fish and steak, I did have quite a few things to choose from. When in a sports bar, it seems the obvious choice to go for a burger and fries, right?I don't normally eat beef, except for burgers on occasion. This has to do with having Crohn's disease; ground beef is the one thing that I can tolerate on occasion, just not all the time. To me, the choices were better than what I would get at Red Robin, and I settled on the Cuban Burger  which came with shaved ham. They did have to remove some of the other options because of gluten and/or dairy, but that was OK by me. They currently carry Udi's gluten free (and dairy free) buns for the burgers. And, you can get French fries as well.Speaking of the fries, these are made in a fryer that cooks the French fries, as well as chicken wings and nothing else. The chicken wings are made in a gluten free and dairy free brine and are also safe...at least plain without sauce. So that's pretty exciting!If you are a gluten free beer or cider drinker, the restaurant carries Redbridge, Omission (not something I would consume), and Magners Irish Cider. You can also ask your server about other alcoholic options.The entire staff at ESPN Club was really conscientious about my food. I mean everyone was talking about the safety precautions and handling my food to ensure it was gluten free and dairy free, so that was very reassuring.When I got my burger, I was excited to see it on an Udi's bun. Man, I do love the Udi's buns. I wish they were safe for egg free diners too because for me, this is the most bun-like gluten free bun I've been served at Disney.The burger was cooked well and the shaved ham was a nice addition. I had the normal condiment options as well (ketchup, mustard, mayo). The French fries were well cooked and thick cut. These are definitely steak fries and not the fries you see at most quick service (or even table service) locations on property.Overall, I was pleased with my meal choices at ESPN Club. I'd like to go back sometime and see what other offerings are available. To me, this is like a step up from Red Robin in terms of variety and options for gluten free and dairy free diners. The prices were really pretty reasonable as well, making it a good bargain, a convenient spot to eat if you're looking for something in that area or on the way to Epcot.I'd give this experience a solid 7 out of 10.Have you been to ESPN Club? What did you think of the offerings there?

Raglan Road -- Lunch/Dinner -- Table Service -- Downtown Disney

*This dining experience took place in May 2014.Raglan Road, located in Downtown Disney (soon to be Disney Springs), has been one of my favorite gluten free and dairy free go-to places for a while now. It's my hands down favorite spot in Downtown Disney (with Cooke's of Dublin a close second!). The received the 2014 Best Restaurant in Orlando award and have also received the best gluten free restaurant award in the past as well. With it's offerings of gluten free (and dairy free) fish and chips, onion rings, and more, it's fair to say it's a great dining option at Disney.I recently attended a work conference at Disney and the conference was located near Downtown Disney, which meant I was there a lot. Every day for the 3 day conference, actually. I also visited Cooke's of Dublin during the conference and enjoyed the scallops and chips which were divine. Trust me, go visit them too!But back to Raglan Road. I stopped by for lunch with my friend Alexis from Gluten Free in Orlando. I can't say that we've been there together since the Lunch & Learn this past fall, and it was nice to go for a long lunch break and catch up with her.When we arrived, we both decided to order the Citrus Salmon Salad. It's naturally gluten free and dairy free on the menu, and a great light choice for a lunch (or dinner). The salad is served with fresh salmon, orange segments, almonds, and a citrus vinaigrette. I had it for the first time in December 2013, and I fell in love with it immediately.I found the salmon to be cooked perfectly again and the salad well dressed (key with a good salad!). I love the almonds and citrus segments in the salad too. So good! I think the presentation the first time was a little nicer but overall, it's still a gorgeous plate of food. And tasty as well as safe - the most important thing to me! Alexis also ordered dessert (there just really aren't great gluten free AND dairy free options there), and I have to say that I wish they'd make a dairy free version of her dessert. She got the strawberry and apple crumble with vanilla ice cream and fresh cream. It looked amazing! Head over to Gluten Free in Orlando to see the pictures and full review. I have to say, gluten free diners should definitely order this dessert.Overall, it was a great meal, as always. The staff are very knowledgeable and always ask if there are dietary needs before they even take any orders which is great. It's also nice to get a fair amount of variety in a restaurant, so you don't just always order the same thing (although I am partial to those fish and chips!).I give this a solid 8 out of 10 for great service, special diets offerings, and of course, fabulous company (that gets a 10 out of 10!).Have you been to Raglan Road? What are your favorite gluten free and dairy free dishes to order there?

ABC Commissary -- Lunch/Dinner -- Quick Service -- Hollywood Studios

*This dining experience took place in May 2014.Hurray for Hollywood! ABC Commissary is the dining location to the stars...or at least the stars when they are on the movie set. This quick service location is my go-to restaurant for allergy chicken tenders while in Hollywood Studios. The managers are always excellent at this location, and I truly feel like a celebrity when I make my routine chicken tender order.On this particular visit, I stopped by ABC Commissary for a quick bite to eat before we headed to the Star Wars character dinner at Hollywood & Vine. We didn't want to eat to much throughout the day after having a really hearty breakfast at Kouzzina and knowing that we would have a huge dinner. When I arrived at the cashier station, I told the CM that I has special dietary needs. When the manager arrived, I asked for the allergy chicken tenders and french fries. One thing that is interesting about this location is that they almost always ask if this is a health related request (i.e. Celiac Disease, non-celiac gluten sensitivity, or allergy) or if this is a dietary preference. I do appreciate that they are very cognizant of health related issues that might require a gluten free diet. Once ordered, I was given a pager and told that the pager works throughout the perimeter of the restaurant. We popped by the benches near the bathroom - this is a great spot to charge up your phone, as there are outlets by the phone booths and under the benches. About 8-10 minutes later, my chicken tenders were ready!And oh how delicious these are, especially when piping hot! It's funny how my family remarks how much they like these just about every time we order them and split them. Yep, non-gluten free & allergy free folks like them too. They are just plain delicious. I have to say that ABC Commissary continues to be one of my favorite locations for allergy chicken tenders. You can find a full list of locations (including my favorite place, Columbia Harbour House) here on the site. Overall, I give this review a solid 8 out of 10. Great allergy chicken tenders, special diets knowledge, and service. Have you been to ABC Commissary? What do you order when you go to this quick service location?  

Kouzzina -- Breakfast -- Table Service -- Boardwalk

*This dining experience took place in May 2014.As many of you know, Kouzzina is closing permanently on September 30, 2014. It's sad to see one of my favorite breakfast spots going away, so you know that I have to visit as many times as I can before the restaurant officially closes. I love the Mediterranean inspired food, and the breakfast is simply one of the best on property. From the turkey sweet potato hash to the glorious allergy Mickey waffles, there is something for everyone. Whenever I have visitors come in to town, I take them here (and it's always a hit!). On this particular occasion, I stopped by with my family for breakfast before the first Star Wars Weekend event. We needed to get a hearty breakfast in before we headed to Hollywood Studios for a very busy day. Our server, Amy, was fabulous and very nice. She took our drink orders and then Chef Sergio came out to take my order. You know you dine someplace often when the chefs know you and your special dietary needs. It also helps that I know the menu pretty much inside & out and what I like to order. I asked Chef Sergio if they still had the Bob's Red Mill pancake mix because it is being phased out and replaced with Cup4Cup (*Note: You can still get allergy Mickey waffles made with Namaste mix - The Cup4Cup mix used at Disney contains dairy). I was so excited when he told me they still had it. I venture to say that I think they have the best allergy Mickey waffles on property (they have got the perfect crispy outside & chewy inside). I ordered the American breakfast entree with scrambled eggs, bacon, sweet potato hash and replaced the toast with allergy Mickey waffles. I have to say that this breakfast, as usual, did not disappoint. The scrambled eggs are made here using a high quality extra virgin olive oil. The bacon is Nueske's which is thick cut and applewood smoked - none of that stringy bacon! And the sweet potato hash is divine. Add in the Mickey waffles, well, it's just a perfect breakfast. The waffles are served with real maple syrup, which I promptly smother them in.One of the things that makes me happy is that while Kouzzina is closing, much of the staff will still remain. As regulars here, we're pretty used to seeing all of them. As our server put it, "Everyone here seems to know you all." Yep, we like Kouzzina for breakfast...just a smidgen! I'm told there will still be breakfast served here as well - thank goodness! I need my Boardwalk breakfast spot! I'm looking forward to hearing announcements about the new restaurant and seeing what they come up with. Will you get a chance to dine at Kouzzina before it closes? What will you miss the most from this popular Disney restaurant? 

Star Wars Character Dinner at Hollywood & Vine 2014 -- Table Service -- Hollywood Studios

*This dining experience took place in May 2014. Note: The Star Wars™ Character Dinner at Hollywood & Vine is a special character dining experience that took place during the 2014 Star Wars™ Weekends.A long, long time ago in a galaxy far, far away I got a chance to enjoy the first Star Wars™ Weekend  festivities with a character meal dinner at Hollywood & Vine in Disney's Hollywood Studios. Meeting Jedi Mickey and the rest of the gang, it was a chance to have a galactic meal to commemorate the special event weekends.When Disney first announced special character meals during Star Wars™ Weekends, I knew I had to try them at least once. Hollywood & Vine hosted a dinner with Jedi Mickey, the rest of the Fab Five (in Star Wars costumes) and Chip & Dale as Ewoks (how you could not see these cuties!?). This was my first visit ever to Hollywood & Vine; however, I was able to connect with the chefs from 50's Prime Time who also work at Hollywood & Vine (they share a kitchen) and check with them on food offerings for gluten free & dairy free diners. Before my visit, they shared with me a lot of the options available to me, and I was looking forward to checking them out.When we arrived for dinner, it wasn't too crowded, though we planned for an early dinner. I tend to make early dinner reservations for buffets, so that I can ensure I get to make a big pass through the buffet before as many other people do, to help with cross contamination risks (chefs will bring you food from the back typically, but in some instances they aren't too keen to do so, so I always prepare just in case). We first got in a line to check in. The kiosks set-up for the event made the check-in process go quickly & smoothly.Once we got checked in, we were sent to another line near the entrance. There, we waited for a few minutes before taking photos with Chip & Dale dressed as Ewoks. Can I just say how adorable these two are? I mean, seriously. Adorable. They had the best costumes of the entire meal. Chip & Dale should dress as Ewoks all the time.Once we got seated were were given our Fantastmic Dining package vouchers (which was a $4 upcharge to the meal) and paper light saber cutouts. Fun!As you can see from our photos, the restaurant was pretty quiet once we got in. Hollywood & Vine has a retro diner theme, and you can see the touches throughout the seating area.Once our server took our drink order, we were greeted by Storm Trooper Donald. He was awesome. The photo we took came out really dark, but trust me. It was good! Once Donald moved along (nothing to see at our table), out came Chef Eugene. He took me around the buffet and showed me what were safe options - which were plentiful. He also offered to bring me back rolls as well. I had pre-ordered dairy free mashed potatoes but that memo didn't get to him. He offered to make me some in the back (more on this later).Here are some of the gluten free & dairy free options. And check out the names. They are totally Star Wars™ inspired. From what I understand, this is the regular menu just with Star Wars™ names. Get ready now for the onslaught of pictures...These photos don't include all the choices but there were definitely a lot. I will say though, that if you are a vegetarian or vegan, this might not have the best offerings. It's very meat protein heavy, as you'll see by the photos of my buffet plates.One strategy I use when buffet dining is getting all of my food at once. I load up multiple plates so that I don't have to go back to the buffet again and I have lots of food. As you can see here, I loaded up quite well. I do this in case the chefs don't want to bring me food from the back, which happens on occasion. I feel more comfortable getting items straight from the buffet, when it's early (i.e. restaurant just opens) or a fresh plate has been added with new serving spoons. On this occasion, only some items were brought from the back for me. First up were the cold salad options. I love peel & eat shrimp, so I got a lot of these. I also got the mussels, potato salad, a slaw with soy nuts and cocktail sauce. My favorite thing on this plate was the slaw with soy nuts. Really quiet delicious, and I loved the various textures in the slaw. The potato salad was pretty plain, so I wouldn't probably get that again, but the shrimp & mussels were good.As you can see by this plate, I wasn't kidding when I mentioned there were lots of meat options. Most of this was just OK - I wouldn't say it was the best buffet options but not the worst either. My favorite thing on the buffet was hands down the Chipotle BBQ chicken thighs with citrus. This was fantastic and a real standout for the meal. I am really glad I got a bunch of this too. The only thing on my plate I really didn't enjoy was the plantains. I'm not a huge fan of them to begin with mostly because of the texture, so that's a bit of a personal dislike.With my dinner I had GNI brand rolls. They were heated fairly well, but did not come with any accompaniment (Earth Balance or extra virgin olive oil). Next time I'll be sure to ask for some.Remember those dairy free mashed potatoes I mentioned? I have to say that I really appreciated that Chef Eugene offered to make them for me; however, something got lost in the translation of making these. They used to be made at 50's Prime Time with extra virgin olive oil and were amazing. These were made with Soy Milk & Earth Balance - which would have been OK except that the soy milk was vanilla flavored. I don't know about you but vanilla & mashed potatoes just don't go together. My whole family tried them and everyone agreed these weren't very yummy. Next time, I think I'd skip these unless I knew they were made with EVOO ahead of time.When it came to dessert, I wish there had been some options on the buffet safe for gluten free & dairy free diners; however, there were none. That being said - that was one impressive buffet. Check it out!I was glad to hear that I did have a dessert option that I enjoy - the allergy house-made brownie with non-dairy ice cream. And I was even more excited when I learned it was So Delicious vanilla ice cream. Holy moly, you have no idea how excited that made me! I am a huge So Delicious fan, so knowing it's now on property just made me so giddy. Sure, it's currently only the vanilla flavor, but that's fine by me!This was so amazing. The combination of a rich brownie and coconut milk ice cream with Hershey's syrup makes me happy. It's the little things! Of course, I was so stuffed by the meal's end I'm surprised I got the whole thing down...but of course, I did.Overall, I thought that Hollywood & Vine offered a lot of options which is great. It was nice that there were so many items that were gluten free & dairy free on the buffet line. I also really love the dessert here which makes me happy. As far as a buffet goes, it's certainly not my favorite. I would likely choose to go to 50's Prime Time over Hollywood & Vine if it were between the two or another Hollywood Studios restaurant. For the event, the price was really high - high enough that I wouldn't do it again next year if it's offered. That being said, the character interaction was really good here, and I felt like we had ample time to see characters if we wanted.I'd give this experience a 6.5 out of 10.Have you been to the Star Wars™ Character Dinner at Hollywood & Vine this year? What did you think of the special diets offerings?

Cooke's of Dublin -- Lunch/Dinner -- Quick Service -- Downtown Disney

*This dining review took place in May 2014.Ok, you guys, I have a problem. And it's name is Cooke's of Dublin. I have been to this quick service restaurant at Downtown Disney kind of a lot lately. Um, it's that good. As you know, I'm a sucker for great gluten free and dairy free fried foods, and this place fits the bill more than nicely. What can I say? I like great places like this that give me variety. On this particular visit, I stopped by on my lunch break during a work conference. The good news is my conference was at a hotel in Downtown Disney. That bad news...I wanted to eat at Cooke's of Dublin for every lunch (ok, maybe that's not bad news, but I wanted to go here a lot). On a side note, go to Downtown Disney in business attire and see the funny side looks you get from Disney guests. It's rather hilarious. I looked a wee bit out of place. But I digress.Back to the awesomeness that is Cooke's of Dublin. As you can see from my previous post, the offerings available at Cooke's of Dublin fried gluten free & dairy free is pretty vast. Where else can you get fried scallops, shrimp, fish, chips, chicken tenders, and onion rings? (OK, with the exception of chicken tenders & scallops, you can get these all next door at Raglan Road too!)On my previous visit, I got the shrimp & chips which is my favorite so far at Cooke's of Dublin. This time, I really wanted to try the scallops. I had them at Raglan Road over the holidays and while expensive, they were divine and also got me fully addicted to the best condiment there - sweet chili jam. Order this when you go. You'll thank me for it.The scallops & chips is a reasonable $12.95 (or maybe it was $13.95 with an upcharge. I was too excited to pay attention). The scallops are only available at Raglan Road as an appetizer and are $15, so this was a bargain in my opinion. Not only did you get the same condiments as you get at Raglan Road but you also get chips. Win and win. The scallops were really well cooked - not rubbery at all. The chips were also well cooked. I just love that they cook all the fried items to order. Nothing's getting soggy and your food comes out piping hot. The way fried food should be! Again, my only slight complaint is a common theme of undersalting, but I think salting is problem subjective here. I also think it's a bit of an art (see my dinner review of Boatwright's for perfectly salted crawfish bites). I always add a bit of salt to mine as soon as I get an order at Cooke's of Dublin. My meal came with sweet chili jam and a lime cilantro mayonnaise. When I had it at Raglan Road, I didn't eat the mayonnaise because I didn't know the ingredients. This time I asked, and they said it was just mayo no dairy ingredients like sour cream or milk. Yay! You know I love my condiments. I admit, I didn't love the lime cilantro mayonnaise. It just wasn't my favorite. It was good but not great. Now that jam. Oh the sweet chili jam. That stuff is amazing. Next time I may just ask for two containers of it instead of the mayo.Overall, I was very pleased with my choice of lunch that day. The scallops are a fabulous option, and I have to say, between the shrimp & scallops is a tough choice. I'll probably order these two exclusively at Cooke's of Dublin when I visit. I think the scallops really are a great money saving option at Cooke's of Dublin versus Raglan Road.I'm taking a bit of a Downtown Disney break during the Disney Springs construction this summer, but if I find myself there, this will likely be my lunch spot of choice! I give this a solid 8 out of 10 for great food and special diets accommodation...and sweet chili jam! Have you been to Cooke's of Dublin? What's your favorite fried thing to order there GF/DF?

Shutters -- Dinner -- Table Service -- Caribbean Beach

*This dining experience took place in May 2014. It includes a vegan review in addition to my gluten free & dairy free review. Tucked away in the corner of Old Port Royale at Caribbean Beach Resort lies Shutters the resort's table service location. With a quiet atmosphere, dim lighting, and a view of the lake, it's a welcome respite amidst all the park & resort hubbub. Having not stayed at Caribbean Beach since 2008, I really hadn't visited the resort for food options since then.On this particular occasion, I met up with my friend Tony from Disney by the Numbers for dinner at Shutters. This is the only meal in which Shutters is open, which is a shame because I'd love to see a table service breakfast option here!Tony & I were greeted by Chef Bruce who was very nice. He asked if there was anything that we were interested in, and I had been eying the Pan-seared Jerk-rubbed Mahi Mahi which came with Caribbean Yellow Rice, Green Beans, Ancho Barbecue Sauce, and Vegetable-Pineapple Salsa. Chef Bruce said they could do everything except the rice which would be subbed out for a rice pilaf and the barbecue sauce. Tony opted for the Vegan Pasta Piquant. We also got an order of the GNI brand rolls with Smart Balance margarine (it is vegan & gluten free).Our rolls were fairly well cooked, and a lot better than the last rolls we got when Tony, Krista from Disneyways.com, and I had dinner at Be Our Guest Restaurant. Those Ener-G rolls sometimes turn into hockey pucks once cooled. These were well heated, though I have to admit, I'm not a fan at all of the Smart Balance margarine. It tastes super fake and not at all like Earth Balance. I would prefer extra virgin olive oil over this any day. I was really looking forward to my entree, but I honestly can't say I was blown away. It was just meh. The fish wasn't bad but I didn't love the jerk seasoning on it. The rice tasted a bit like it was out of a box. The green beans were plain and nothing special, and I didn't get that wow factor from the pineapple salsa that I hoped I would. Was it a terrible meal? No. Was it an amazing meal. Not really. If I had my choice, I would head over to Boatwright's at Port Orleans Riverside (which I did the next evening) and order the fish dishes with the dirty rice & seasonal vegetables. Now that's a fish dish! Tony's pasta dish was a bit spicy but as he noted nothing special either. He did have a generous amount of veggies and the portion was quite large. I think we both agreed that this was a place we wouldn't probably frequent but wouldn't be the worst place to dine either. The prices were fairly reasonable for Disney ($16.99 for the pasta dish!). Overall, I give this a 6.5 out of 10. The atmosphere was charming but the food was lackluster. I appreciated all that Chef Bruce did to make sure we had a great meal and thought the chef interaction was great. I was just a wee bit underwhelmed by the food options.Have you been to Shutters? What did you order while there? 

Old Port Royale Food Court -- Breakfast

*This dining experience took place in May 2014.Set amidst the tropical paradise that is Caribbean Beach is Old Port Royale, home to the food court, Shutter's table service restaurant, and a gift shop. It's a one-stop shop as you relax and enjoy all that the resort has to offer. Island inspired, you'll feel like you stepped into a Caribbean dream. While staying at Caribbean Beach recently, I stopped by two mornings for quick service breakfast offerings. This review combines both visits and includes what I ate both days.One of the first things that you notice when you head to Old Port Royale is that it's setup like an outdoor market (only inside). Each area houses a different type of food - pizza, sandwiches, etc. at lunch and dinner and different breakfast entrees during the morning hours. Because I needed to speak with a chef about the offerings, I popped into the first area I saw with breakfast options. It happened to be the section that served the Bounty Platters which you can find at every resort quick service location on property and includes: Eggs, Breakfast Potatoes, Bacon, Sausage, French Toast, and Biscuit all for around $8.99.I spoke with the chef and asked for scrambled eggs, bacon, breakfast potatoes and toast. They carried Udi's Gluten Free bread on hand. I also asked if they carried the allergy Mickey waffles (they do - see my list of Mickey waffle locations) with the Namaste & Bob's Red Mill combination mix being what they are currently using. I opted to get the Mickey waffles on morning #2.The wait wasn't very long, and soon I was eating in a very quiet area of the food court (with a nice view of the lake). Ahhh, relaxing! My breakfast was really pretty good. The eggs weren't anything special per se, but they were tasty and free of dairy. The bacon is that thin stringy bacon commonly found on property (again nothing special) but the breakfast potatoes here were the big winner. I don't know what they seasoned it with (seemed like just salt and pepper) but they were roasted perfectly. They were delicious! The bread didn't come with any Earth Balance but was fine with the other accompaniments.Day #2 was an early morning for me. I was at the food court at 6:30 a.m. Yes, you read that right. 6:30 a.m. Not my most favorite time to be up while at Disney. I was at a work conference, and had to present at that conference at 8:30 a.m. so no time for me to dilly dally. I literally was the 1st person in the food court that morning. Yeah...that's early.I met with the chef and asked for the allergy Mickey waffles and a side of scrambled eggs. I knew I needed something protein based along with my sugar.I have to say that the Mickey waffles weren't the best I've had, nor were they the worst. They were good but nothing special. The eggs were way overcooked but still edible. Overall, I preferred my entree from Day #1 over the Mickey waffles, but that's just me.In general, Old Port Royale Food Court had nice options for gluten free & dairy free breakfast diners like me. I found my meals to be perfectly adequate and safely prepared. Sure, it wasn't my favorite place on property, but if you're staying at Caribbean Beach this is a great option for a meal.I'd give these visits a 7 out of 10. Solid quick service meals with good special diets accommodations.Have you been to Old Port Royale Food Court? What meals did you enjoy there?

Cooke's of Dublin -- Lunch/Dinner -- Quick Service -- Downtown Disney

*This dining experience took place in May 2014.When it comes to fried food, you know that I'm a total sucker. I adore chicken tenders, fish and chips and just about anything that comes out of Cooke's of Dublin. This is a brief post, as I popped by recently to meet up with a friend and her family while they were vacationing at Disney. She's also gluten free and dairy free, and let me tell you sharing this restaurant with her was so exciting. She & her family liked it so much they came back that evening for dinner! (never underestimate the power of gluten free & dairy free fried foods!)On this particular visit, we stopped by right at 11 a.m. when they open. I like doing this because this place gets super packed at lunch time. I ordered my new favorite - shrimp & chips and my friend ordered the gluten free fish & chips. For a full list of gluten free & dairy free options, see my previous post about Cooke's of Dublin.I think the only thing I can say is that this restaurant consistently under-salts their food. I try to make sure I get a packet or two of salt and put it on as soon as I get my hot fried food. Salting is key with fried foods for me. Add in some cocktail sauce, and you're good to go.Overall, I always enjoy my visits to Cooke's of Dublin, and it has become one of my go-to spots at Downtown Disney for quick service. It's fast, delicious, and affordable.I give this experience a 7 out of 10.Have you been to Cooke's of Dublin? What is your favorite thing to order there?

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

*This dining experience took place in May 2014.It doesn't happen often that I eat at a Disney restaurant this closely together, but this lunch was a last minute meal. My family had made ADRs here, and I joined them unexpectedly for lunch (they were in the parks & I met them there). I never turn down an excuse to enjoy the Polynesian, although I have to say the current construction makes it a bit more challenging to visit. I also had to take photo of the water feature in the middle of the lobby. It's being removed for the new refurbishment of the resort, and I have to say I will miss it!But back to the food! While waiting for my family, I noticed the dinner menu was up for display. It looks like there are a few changes with the recent April 30th menu switchover in the parks & resorts. The lunch menu has virtually no changes, so I pretty much knew it was between a salad, sushi, or my favorite Kona Island Chicken Sandwich.We were greeted by our server, and I mentioned that I didn't see the sushi menu (we got one last week for lunch), and he said they are no longer serving sushi at Kona. Say what?! He said it was just a test, and that they decided to remove it for now. Well, that was a bummer. I wanted something light and had been hoping for some sushi. Which meant option #2 was on the table...salad.After a few minutes we were greeted by Higgins who is the manager at Kona. I was surprised to see him with the special diets yellow pad. He explained that they were short staffed that day and the chef was unable to come out and assist me. A first for me at a table service. I know this menu really well so I asked if I could have the Grilled Steak Salad with chicken instead of steak. He said that he was pretty sure that was possible, and he said he'd take this meal request to the chef and make sure that everything was safe. I will say that I didn't see a chef once during my meal (and it was a bit lengthy), so it sounds like they were a bit busy. This salad comes with mixed greens tossed with grilled chicken, vegetables, and cashew-lime vinaigrette. I have to say, the chicken was grilled perfectly and the salad itself was very fresh. It had sesame oil in the dressing, which was light and flavorful. I am a big fan of vinaigrettes so this worked perfectly for me. I will say, flavor wise, the steak is the better protein option with the vegetables served here, but chicken does work well too. I just don't really steak, so chicken tends to be my go-to protein.My only complaint would be that I think the price and portion ratio was a bit off. This salad is $15.99, and I would order the cobb salad at the Brown Derby any day over this. That salad is huge and this one is just a bit small (it looks bigger in the picture). As a light meal though, it was absolutely perfect for me. I just wouldn't want to order it if I were really hungry!Overall, I found the salad to be a good meal choice. The experience here was a bit mediocre this time. Our server was nice but we have found the last few lunch visits to be extremely slow paced. I hope that having a manager come out and speak to a guest isn't a normal occurrence here now. The manager was great but his knowledge of the food options is a bit more limited.Overall, I'd give this experience a 6.5 out of 10 for this visit to Kona Cafe. 

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

*This dining experience took place in April 2014.Aloha! It's been a while since I've dined at Kona Cafe for lunch. It's long been one of my favorite spots for a quiet and low-key table service lunch option, with one sandwich being a staple in my lunch rotation - the Kona Island Chicken Sandwich.On this particular occasion, I stopped by for lunch with my mom in between a visit to the salon (Bamboo Salon - close to Disney with great service & rates) and shopping in Orlando. While there are fabulous restaurants in Orlando (and you can see many of them listed on sites like Gluten Free in Orlando, Celiac in Orlando, and Eating Out Without), I tend to make a trip to Disney because I know that I'll have a safe meal.When we arrived, we were greeted by Chef Brett, who has assisted me before. I already knew that I wanted the Kona Island Chicken Sandwich, so that was the easy part. I asked him if I could have a combination of both sweet potato and regular fries. It's a combination I love with a bit of the best of both worlds when it comes to fries. I also always ask for the curry mango mayonnaise that is typically on the sandwich to be served on the side. As you know, I'm the condiment queen, and I will dip my fries in the curry mango mayo. It's amazing (and highly recommended!).The sandwich typically comes with fried onions and cheese, both of which are removed. Sometimes they can make me grilled or sauteed onions but this time Chef said he was unable to do it. Onions don't make or break the sandwich so that was OK with me (if it had been the curry mango mayo, well...that might have changed my mind!).I also asked about the bun. I knew that Disney was beginning to transition into a new bun from a company called Local Oven. Chef Brett said he thought that they had GNI still but as it turned out, they ended up with Local Oven. He also mentioned that my food was going to take a bit longer to prepare, as they were down a dedicated fryer and he would have to fry them in a pot.My sandwich looked great, though I noticed that I was missing bacon (which it comes with). This was quickly rectified and my bacon made the perfect accompaniment to the sandwich. The French fries were excellent as always, and made even better by the delicious curry mango mayonnaise. I should have asked for more because it's great slathered on your sandwich and with fries.I was surprised to see how big the new Local Oven buns were. They seem to be somewhere in the middle texture wise to Udi's & Ener-G. A bit soft but somewhat spongy in texture. The taste was actually quite pleasant. I think it might have needed to be heated up just a bit, but otherwise, I could definitely seem myself eating these readily the next time I visit. I was never a big fan of the GNI buns which were very small and had a really weird texture. I still prefer Udi's buns but I'm glad these are available. Local Oven buns are gluten, dairy, soy, and corn free. They contain egg whites, so they are not egg free.Overall, I really enjoyed my meal. There was a lengthy wait time due to the frying but that was to be expected. The service was a little off that day but the restaurant was a bit busier than normal.For this visit, I would rate the experience a 7 out of 10.

Sanaa -- Dinner -- Table Service -- Animal Kingdom Lodge Kidani Village

*This dining experience took place in April 2014 and includes my gluten free & dairy free review as well as two gluten free reviews.Ah, Sanaa. Many of you know this is one of my favorite restaurants on property. I adore the Indian and African inspired flavors, the decor, and well...just about everything that this restaurant has to offer. I recommend this restaurant a lot to Disney guests looking for a great special diets meal that is just a little different than burgers and fries. It's so friendly for many special dietary needs - gluten free, dairy free, vegan, vegetarian and more. Plus, they have gluten free & dairy free menus which is pretty awesome!On this particular visit, I was joined by my friends Alexis from Gluten Free in Orlando and Jennifer Harris from Gluten Free Go-to Guide. We were all really hungry after a busy day at Blogger U for the Gluten-Free Living Conference in Orlando. So, this was definitely a much needed meal. We were greeted by Chef Carroll who really took the time to go over the special diets offerings, as well as how the restaurant prepares special diets dinners. And then something funny happened. She asked if I was Sarah and explained that she had actually been one of the Disney's Catered Events teams that worked on the Special Diets Dessert Parties that I host at Disney. How cool is that? She said she worked on the menu development but didn't get a chance to be at the tastings or the event. So, it was really neat to meet her in person. She's now moved on from catering to work in Sanaa, and I'm looking forward to seeing a familiar face the next time I go in to dine.The group decided to order drinks - white & red sangrias for both Alexis and Jennifer (which looked fabulous) and an African Starr Mint Mojito for me. Yes, I'm totally addicted to these. One thing I will say is that the bartender didn't do quite as good of a job on my drink. It wasn't as balanced as it could have been and almost seemed like it was missing something. For our appetizers, we all chose different items. Alexis got the Butternut Squash Soup which looked good, but very dairy filled. Jennifer got the salad sampler which has one of my favorite lunchtime salads - the chickpea and cucumber salad. I usually get it with the turkey sandwich and it's delicious. For my appetizer, I restrained myself from the bread service (which I normally get) and ordered the Chana Tikki - chickpea cakes. I have been eyeing them for a while, and decided to switch it up.Taste-wise, these were very good. I really enjoyed the taste of the cake - though I will say the texture was a little "mushy." I think they could have been a wee bit more textured or crispier and that would have worked better. The accompaniments were spot on. I never met a chutney or coriander sauce I didn't like and both were fabulous. For entrees, I was torn. I really love the sustainable fish entree, but I also loved the curry/gravy dishes. I still really really miss the green curry shrimp because it was the perfect balance with Durban chicken. Chef Trish recreated it for me the last time I had dinner there, but it's not the same without it on the menu. I opted for the Durban chicken and spicy Goan Fish Curry. Now, this seemed like it may not be a good decision on my part - so much spiciness, but I decided to be a gambling lady that night. Both Jennifer and Alexis ordered the lamb dish and both raved about it. The Durban chicken was spicy but flavorful as it always is. I really do love this dish. There's a lot of complexity to it, and the flavors (though spicy) meld really well together. The Goan Fish was actually not at all spicy like it had been the time before. The last time it was practically nuclear and my mouth was on fire for what seems like forever. But, this time it was pleasantly spiced and seasoned and the mahi mahi was excellent in it. If it stays like this, I'll readily order it again.Alexis also ordered dessert, while the rest of us were too stuffed to attempt it. You can read Alexis's full review of Sanaa from that visit on her website Gluten Free in Orlando.Overall, it was a fantastic meal with great company and ambiance. I love sharing new Disney restaurants with friends, and it was great to hear what Jennifer thought of it as well. I'd give this experience a solid 8 out of 10. Have you been to Sanaa recently? What are your favorite dishes there?

Boatwright's Dining Hall -- Dinner -- Table Service -- Port Orleans Riverside

*This dining experience took place in April 2014 and also includes a gluten free only review in addition to my gluten free & dairy free review.I have to admit that when I find a restaurant that I like at Disney, I tend to be a repeat guest, and Boatwright's Dining Hall located at Port Orleans Riverside has quickly become one of those places for me. I actually think it's quite a hidden gem on property, and I like it better each time I go back!Boatwright's culinary theme is definitely a mixture of New Orleans and Southern cuisines -- something I'm always a fan of. It's definitely comfort food which is both appealing to broad range of diners and very friendly on the budget.On this particular visit, I brought a friend and fellow GF diner who was working at the Gluten-Free Living Conference held in Orlando. He's also a huge Disney fan and loves restaurants like Boma. He and his family frequently stay at Port Orleans Riverside but had not eaten at Boatwright's before. Well, you know that I had to change that!We were greeted by Chef Paul who also took care of my party during my birthday meal at Boatwright's, and it was great to see a familiar face. He went over the various options available to us (see my previous post on my birthday for a full list). I had a couple ideas of options that I was interested in after my birthday dinner and it was a hard decision to make! However, I knew we had to get the Crawfish bites that I had my on birthday and I had made sure to let the chefs know ahead of time that I wanted these (they are normally not GF/DF). I'm not even sure how I could go to this restaurant and NOT order these!While we waited for our crawfish bites, we were served some GNI brand rolls with extra virgin olive oil. Now, I've probably commented on this ad nauseum, but heating up GNI rolls is essential in making these taste good. Otherwise, the texture gets totally crumbly and weird (and unpalatable in my opinion). I have to say, these were perfectly heated! And I am a big extra virgin olive oil fan with bread, so this was definitely a great accompaniment.Ah, crawfish bites. So delicious! I think it's pretty clear that I love all things deep fried (really, who doesn't?!) These honestly are just deep fried perfection (and well seasoned too). Deep fried and seafood just go together. Add in the remoulade sauce...and you just can't go wrong! As you can see in the photo, there were two sides of remoulade sauce. My friend and I shared this appetizer so there was a bowl for each of us of remoulade. But, you know me...I honestly could have eaten them both myself!As an aside, if you took all of these components and made them a Po'Boy, I would be in some serious GF/DF heaven. That would be amazing!It took some serious decision making but I ended up ordering the Jambalaya. It was fantastic. It did have to be slightly modified because of me being GF/DF but it was still fantastic! I andouille sausage was excellent and the shrimp were perfectly cooked. Seafood has that tendency to get overcooked and this was not the case with this dish. If you like Jambalaya, then you simply must try this version! And be prepared to be full. The serving is quite large.My friend had about as much of a challenge trying to decide what to order as I did (testament to how many great options there are for GF & DF diners). Chef Paul recommended the Blackened fish, which was mahi mahi, and the sides from the Andouille-Crusted Catfish - which included dirty rice, seasonal vegetables, cayenne-butter sauce (which was removed) and a chive aioli.My friend, awesome person that he is, asked that it also be made GF/DF so that I could try it too. This is another reason I love having friends with special diets - Most of my friends will make sure things are safe for others in the party so we can share.So, I have to say....I nearly asked my friend to switch. OK, not really, but honestly this dish was outstanding. Like beyond outstanding. The mahi mahi was perfectly blackened and perfectly cooked. I adore asparagus (I'm probably a bit of a weirdo on that one. I adore asparagus and not just on things like Eggs Benedict). And the dirty rice was ridiculously good. Chef Paul mentioned it was made with chicken liver (which is how it's traditionally made). I know that many people might think that doesn't sound appetizing, but if you're a meat eater I would encourage you to try this dish. It will totally change your mind!Note to self...next time order this dish!Dessert options for me included non-dairy ice cream and an Enjoy Life Foods cookie "fondue" of sorts. Given that I was a bit full, I opted for no dessert this time but my friend got the Bananas Foster without the angel food cake. Despite the awful picture that I took - this dish looked really delicious and according to my friend was amazing. Actually, I don't think he talked the entire time he ate it...it was that good! I have also heard rave reviews about the Bananas Foster dessert from Alexis at Gluten Free in Orlando too, so I think that means it's a winner! And her review has a great photo of the Bananas Foster too!As I mentioned early on in this review, I truly think Boatwright's is a hidden gem on property. Not only is the food amazing and affordable, but the culinary team there is hands down one of the best. They really take the time to make sure they go through the options with you and ensure safety for your meal.I can't thank Chef Paul enough for the great meal, and I'm looking forward to heading back again soon (yep, I'm already planning my next visit).I give this experience an easy 10 out of 10!Have you been to Boatwright's? What were your favorite dishes for special dietary needs?