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Restaurant reviews aren’t my thing. Blogging about where I choose to dine beyond donut shops when away from home isn’t my thing either, even though I eat out and travel a lot. That said, I had an experience last week I wanted to share.
Last week I went to Orlando to run in the Disney Princess Half Marathon. I’m not a huge Disney fanatic, but do enjoy the parks. My husband and I got married at Disney World and we’ve enjoyed many trips there, all before my recent diagnosis that prevents me from eating gluten. This trip provided a challenge for me, one I was surely up to. Prior to this trip, I lived my life believing it was possible for me to eat safely as a gluten-free vegetarian anywhere in the world. I no longer believe that.
To start planning this trip, I read every food blog entry I could find about eating safely at Disney with food intolerances and allergies. I found so many positive reports. I felt confident I could do this!
A month before leaving, I contacted Disney for their list of gluten-free options. I also told them I am vegetarian, which I realize complicates the situation. The response I received was that every restaurant had at least one vegetarian option, which may or may not be gluten-free. I would have to ask at each restaurant. So once I chose a gluten-free option, I would then need to go to the restaurant to verify if it was vegetarian? This already seemed time-consuming.
Then I contacted Disney’s race division to ask if any of the post-race food would be gluten-free. With 17,000 runners, I knew I wasn’t alone in my need for gluten-free post-race food. My first e-mail went unanswered. I e-mailed a second time and got this response. “We will have oranges and bananas at the finish line. There will also be bagels and Luna Bars available, but both those products contain wheat. If you want products other than the fruit mentioned above, it may be a good idea to have your family bring something additional for you.” I paid the same $150-ish to participate as wheat-eaters but wouldn’t receive the same benefits. I was thankful for bag check and on-site family to make sure I had adequate recovery nutrition after running 13.1 miles. Fruit alone doesn’t cut it.
Yet I remained positive. I’ve traveled extensively since going gluten-free and have never gone hungry. I have completed 40-some races since going gluten-free and have always been able to properly fuel prior to a race with little effort on my part to locate safe food options. Off we went, me with my positive attitude and a small stash of emergency food.
The first day proved challenging. I ate breakfast at our hotel (food from home) and went with 3 other people to the Magic Kingdom. From Disney’s list, I noticed I could eat at Columbia Harbor House, which was near an attraction my friends wanted to ride. I popped inside the counter-service restaurant and asked the first castmember I encountered if she could direct me to the person who could help me with gluten-free dining. She responded by telling me they offered no gluten-free options. I pulled my list from my pocket and asked if the list was erroneous. She looked puzzled and went to look for a manager. It took more than 10 minutes for someone to come to speak to me. I found out my option was Amy’s mac ‘n cheese, a frozen meal I eat at home in a pinch, and it would take 20-25 minutes to prepare it.
The time it took for me to have this conversation was the amount of time it took my group to wait in line and go on a ride. My friends suggested we go to a pizza place instead, so we went to Pinocchio Village Haus. I again asked the first person I came across and she went looking for a manager, which took more than 15 minutes. The manager came out, took my order and walked thru the line with me to the cashier and instructed me not to take food from anyone other than her. I ordered an Amy’s cheese pizza (another frozen meal) for $10. My friends got pizza with salad for $9. My pizza didn’t include a salad. Everyone else got their food while I waited. And waited. And waited. Twenty minutes later I got my pizza. My friends were great to wait, but it is awkward to feel like you are taking up so much of someone else’s time and I enjoy sharing a meal. There would be no sharing of meals here, their food would long be cold by the time mine arrived. To explain this to the already harried counter staff and attempt to get our food at the same time would have been pointless.
In the late afternoon/evening we went to EPCOT. I was convinced this would be easier, there were so many options on the list Disney provided. We went to the Biergarten at the Germany pavilion. Before we paid to enter, I asked to speak to the chef about my dietary restrictions. I waited 20 minutes. The chef was rude, abrupt and told me that while he could accommodate gluten-intolerance, the combination of gluten-intolerance and vegetarianism wasn’t feasible. Then he walked off. Hot, tired, hungry and in tears, I plopped down with my friends who were having a beer from the counter service area outside of the Biergarten. The most conscientious service I received on this whole trip was from the darling cashier Markus who said he would do anything he could to help but also pointed out he wasn’t empowered to do much. Seriously, at this point the chef could have offered me the gluten-free roll on their list and a bowl of pickles to make me happy. It wouldn’t have taken much but he offered nothing. Thankfully, my husband had a protein bar in his pocket….it was oooey, gooey and mushy but proved to be the best food I would eat while in the parks that day. I planned poorly, assuming I was going to be able to eat well in the parks. I should have packed more food.
We left the parks and had a terrific dinner experience off Disney property at a Chevy’s. The hostess gave me a gluten-free menu, rounded up the manager and sent him quickly to our table. While their menu said they would provide baked tortilla chips if you called in advance, the manager offered to do that for me right then and there. He did say it would take a few minutes, but how nice of him to offer! I had delicious gluten-free fajitas with corn tortillas, beans and rice. I have never been happier to eat at a chain restaurant in my life!
The next day was my pre-race day, a day when nutrition is imperative. I chose to avoid park food. I had an amazing lunch at Crave. Their menu is very clearly marked for gluten-free and vegetarian diners (every menu is marked, no special menu needed here!). The server was well-informed and made an unprompted note on our order that I am gluten-intolerant. My food was served on a separate tray, a nice nod to the level of attention paid to dietary requests here.
A large group of us planned to meet for dinner at Portobello, a Levy Restaurant, at Downtown Disney that evening. One of my traveling mates made the reservation through Disney’s dining reservation system several weeks in advance, telling them at the time the reservation was placed that one member of our party was gluten-intolerant. I called that day to confirm the reservation was marked with my dietary restriction and was informed that it was and that a chef or manager would be visiting our table to discuss options with me. I had read in many blog reviews that Disney was quick to send a chef out to speak to gluten-free diners but had yet to see this.
We were promptly seated and I had to ask the server for assistance. She said, “Umm…okay. Well, let me ask.” That was reassuring! She came back a few minutes later and said the chef said I could order any pasta on the menu and they would replace it with gluten-free pasta and that I shouldn’t have the meatballs. No mention of appetizers (many of which were breaded) or any other options. I knew she didn’t really mean I could order ANY pasta, since there were raviolis and other filled pastas on the menu. I chose to order basic spaghetti with marinara and hope for the best.
The server, who remarked several times that she was new, brought bread baskets and roasted garlic to the table. She made a big show of saying to me that she had been careful to plate the garlic with clean utensils in case I wanted to have some of it. On what? There was no gluten-free bread available and she brought one plate of garlic to share with each half of our group. So should they avoid it, since they were putting it on gluten-containing bread?
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| Pasta at Portobello |
When my dinner arrived, it wasn’t spaghetti. It was penne with dried-out marinara sauce like it had sat under a heat lamp for a long time. And to top it off, it was delivered on the same tray as everyone else’s food, the lips of the large pasta bowls overlapping onto each other. This was not a good way to prevent cross-contamination. I ate it, knowing I should have sent it back, I should have drawn attention to this matter to make sure I stayed healthy.
Race day came and I ate a safe breakfast at my hotel and took a snack to the start line with me, since I would be in the corral for an hour and a half prior to the start. After finishing the race, there were oranges and bananas, muffins and protein bars with gluten. I was thankful I had packed an Udi’s bagel and packet of Justin’s Peanut Butter plus some protein powder to eat after the race. Then I got the best post-race food EVER–my husband surprised me with a box of gluten-free vegan donuts and breads from Babycakes NYC’s Downtown Disney location.
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| A box of goodness from Babycakes NYC Downtown Disney |
After the race and a nap, we headed to Universal’s City Walk and had a terrific lunch at Margaritaville. Their regular menu has a great marking system for denoting gluten-free dishes and vegetarian dishes (and those that cover both are marked). I am used to paying more for gluten-free eating (there is often an upcharge for a gluten-free crust, bun, etc…) and was surprised when the check arrived to notice they had reduced the charge of the nachos I ordered since I couldn’t have the chili on them. I had a safe meal here and the server was incredibly well-informed. This was a welcome relief.
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| Gluten-Free Nachos at Margaritaville |
We went to Raglan Road at Downtown Disney for a late dinner. I didn’t expect to eat much at an Irish pub and had a stash of snacks handy just in case. Boy, was I surprised! The server sent the manager over to speak to me. He told me the salads would all be fine, the house-made Parmesan crisps were all safe for me and the risotto would make a great entree. I wasn’t overly-hungry and thought a salad would do the trick. Imagine my surprise when the server came back, told me they had checked further with one of the other servers who has Celiac disease. She had pointed out to them that the gluten-free breading available on their fish can also be used on onion rings which are fried in a dedicated fryer. I HAD ONION RINGS!!! To those who can eat gluten, this is no big deal. To me, this is HUGE. Onion rings were on my list of things I thought I would never eat out again. They were delicious. My husband encouraged me to order a second round, but I was stuffed and happy.
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| Gluten-Free Onion Rings at Raglan Road |
The next day we planned to go to Animal Kingdom and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. I took snacks to get me through the visit to Animal Kingdom and planned to have lunch at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
Our first lunch choice, Backlot Catering Company, was closed. A castmember stationed there told us another restaurant across the park had a comparable menu and we should go there. (Their menu did not look comparable on the gluten-free list) Instead we decided to go to Toy Story Pizza Planet. Yep, pizza again.
I asked the cashier if she could help me order a gluten-free pizza. She confidently said yes and told me this was the 3rd gluten-free pizza order she had had so far, and it was only 11:50. Wow, seems there is demand for gluten-free food here! She then asked me if I wanted the pizza just plain cheese or if I would like vegetables added to that. YES! I’d love that. She entered our order and then tried using a radio to contact her manager, Rocco, who apparently is responsible for gluten-free orders. She finally shouted across the restaurant to get his attention. He begrudgingly said he would take care of it, never once acknowledging me or determining who he would bring the order to.
As seems to be standard at counter-service restaurants, the rest of our order was shoved onto the counter while I waited. And again, I waited and waited and waited. After waiting 25 minutes, I spotted Rocco having an issue with another gluten-free diner (she, too, had been waiting a very long time) and asked how long it would be. That is when I was told my pizza had just then been put into the oven, it would be at least another 15 minutes. Forty minutes to get my meal? As had become typical of my in-park dining experience, everyone else was done eating by the time I was served my food.
But it got even worse from here. Rocco entered the kitchen, visible from where I was waiting at the counter, and paused to press down a large blue bag of something that was protruding from the open trash can in the kitchen. He did this with bare hands, then immediately picked up my pizza which was covered with a paper plate and brought it out to the counter to serve me. I don’t care if food is gluten-free or not, this was just plain disgusting. To top off the whole experience, I got sick from cross-contamination here, which didn’t make for a comfortable amusement park experience or flight home.
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| Amy’s Pizza at Toy Story Pizza Planet |
My suggestion to those of you eating vegetarian and gluten-free at the Disney parks: pack a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and plenty of snacks. While I could purchase fresh fruit in the parks, meals (especially of the quick-service variety) were difficult. If I were to return, I would be packing food for the day and not spending any time and money trying to eat safely in the parks. Alternatively, I could save my pennies and plan to eat only at table service restaurants, not quick-service counter restaurants. While this definitely takes more time and money, I think it would make for a safer dining experience. At least I hope it would.
Disney, here is my suggestion to you. Set up a nice little spot in one store at each park loaded down with the goodies below. While this isn’t the perfect solution, it would offer quick alternatives to eating the same options over and over again. Pizza or mac ‘n cheese, brownies or cookies wouldn’t have worked for anything other than an extended weekend trip. I saw an amazing snack cart in the Tampa airport a month ago, fully loaded with allergen-free cookies, gluten-free snacks, dried fruits, protein and nuts bars…if an airport can do this, why can’t Disney? Imagine the money they would make selling Udi’s gluten-free granola packs, Enjoy Life snickerdoodles, Food Should Taste Good chips, Mary’s Gone Crackers snacks, Glutino pretzels, protein bars, KIND fruit and nut bars…I could go on but I think I have made the point. There are so many options and having a few more would have made this experience a bit more enjoyable. Navigating the restaurant food experience may never be easy at Disney, but there is a way to at least make snacking simpler and a bit more healthy.
A few learning moments came from this trip. My traveling mates got a glimpse into what the worst case scenario can be for me when dining out and saw that I am not always tough enough to take it in stride. I have learned to ALWAYS pack a stash of food, especially when racing. I learned a pink vanilla glazed donut from Babycakes NYC came make the worst of days better. And I also learned it is not always going to be easy. I have been spoiled by eating in cities like Chicago, Denver, L.A., San Francisco, Tampa, Louisville, Las Vegas, Dallas, Little Rock (I know! Little Rock!), Des Moines, Omaha–the best kept vegan secret in the country and my beloved Kansas City. The amazing chefs and restaurateurs in these cities have plated food for me that is beyond delicious and I have rarely been sick from eating out. This trip reminded me it won’t always be easy but it won’t stop me from trying to make it better. I hope Disney will step up and make it better for others like me.
Agh, just the thought of going back to Disneyland makes me want to cry!
My partner Vince zand I were helping his mom move from Phoenix, AZ to Redlands, CA, which is about an hour from DL. We weren't planning on going to DL, but on the last day there his mom decided we HAD to go because I had never been before. I wasn't super excited, even though I love Disney movies, the park just didn't seem like it would be too fun for me.
We ate lunch at Ihop because his mom and aunt didn't really understand what I could and couldn't eat, and I could only eat the fruit salad, which consisted of incredibly unripe fruit. Meaning, I was still STARVING. I had a few snacks with me, like GF granola bars and Glutino pretzels, but when I'm hungry I need something warm and filling. The pretzels just made me even more hungry.
On the way to DL, we somehow got lost and it took us 2 hours longer than normal to get there. We finally got there and were entering the park, and I was already frustrated because I was so darn hungry. The 'security' people at the front saw I had food in my bag when they checked it, and told me that I had to dispose of it. I was shocked, but explained I have celiac and can't eat anything inside. He said he couldn't make an exceptions and that I could either dispose of it or bring it back to my car. Then he tacked on that there were GF food options available inside. Considering that we had to walk 1/2 a mile and then wait for the trolley thing for an hour, I wasn't going back to the car so I ended up throwing about $60 worth of food away. While I was pissed about that, i just wanted to get inside so that I could finally eat! Vince and I seperated from his mom and aunt who just wanted to shop, and tried to seek out food for me. After going to over 10 restaurants, we had no luck. There weren't even options! Even if Amy's pizza was an option, I wouldn't be able to eat it because that pizza is processed on the same equipment as gluten. I'm so sensitive to it that I can't even kiss someone on the lips after they drank a beer or I get diarrhea! Grr.
I finally decided to go to the little stands and pay $2 for a banana, $6 for dried apples {ha, as if they did anything to fill me} $3 for potato chips and $7 for a mini Naked juice. I just got hungrier and hungrier even though I was eating, and I just stared crying. At that point, Vince was also getting a little grumpy because he was getting hungry, so I told him he could eat. Of course, he decided to get those huge turkey thighs! That made me cry even more and I just wanted to go.
After we left everyone could tell that I was so hungry and unhappy, so we went to PF Changs, and I don't think I have ever been happier to eat in my entire life. Living off fruit all day is NOT for me!
Steff–
Thank you for sharing your experience! It makes me feel a little better knowing I'm not alone in my Disney experience. I'm so thankful to have found good gluten-free food nearby, but wish I could have enjoyed the parks, too.
Ya, my experience was ruined for sure! If there's a next time, I'll know to plan ahead and contact DL.
How frustrating with your experience at Disney. Plus I wonder if Disney Land and Disney World have different policies, because unlike Steff, I brought in tons of snacks with me, including Udi's bagels, raisins, nuts and our own bottled water, to avoid paying for one bottle what I could pay for a case.
I do eat fish, so that did make it a bit easier, and I could see how some restaurants did not have many vegetarian choices, since I eat vegetarian 99% of the time, but I did end up eating a lot of fish there.
We ate a quick service meal in Epcot, and the food was actually very good and about 50% was GF…I had a beet and goat cheese salad with candied pecans, and then fish with olives green beans and potatoes, but they also had hot meals that were vegetarian…just to keep in mind for next time, if you decide to go back.
I can totally sympathize though, I have definitely had moments of being at a restaurant where everyone else is enjoying themselves and realizing I can have nothing, and being on the verge of tears, that is the worst 🙁
Babycakes donuts….hmmm….I never even liked donuts when I could have gluten, but there was the best!!!
That's so annoying that they would have different rules! I'll definitely have to call before hand to make arrangements so I can bring my own food in.
That meal from Epcot sounds so good! And it truly is torture to sit and watch everyone eat a good meal and have to stick with water. Grr!
Many people with celiac Disease have reported wonderful experiences at Disney World. I am one of them. I am sorry you had such a rough time; do you think some of it was the fact that you were recently diagnosed and maybe not happy about that, plus being tired from the running? If you were to write to Disney, they would have taken care of you like they have many of us. All sit-down restaurants on Disney property can accomodate a gluten intolerance.
Next time, contact specialdiets@disneyworld.com
Barbara–Thank you for your comment. I'll try to address each of your points:
*When I said “recent” in regard to my diagnosis, that means I was diagnosed two years ago at the time of my Disney visit. I'm not unhappy at all with my diagnosis, in fact it has given me much happiness to finally have been diagnosed. I've traveled extensively since my diagnosis and am well-equipped for handling the challenge of eating out.
*I wasn't tired from running, as the marathon was the last day of the trip reviewed in this post.
*I DID contact Disney World, using the e-mail address you referred to and this is detailed in the blog post. I also contacted Disney Sports and was told to bring my own food to a Disney event. I did ask to speak to a manager at every restaurant we dined at. Reservations for our one sit-down restaurant meal were made ahead of time, a copy of the list of quick-service restaurants Disney sent to me was carried with me for reference and I still had difficulty. I think I described those experiences in enough detail to show that.
My visit was made difficult because I am vegetarian and gluten-free. Disney was happy to provide information for either dietary restriction, but was not helpful in helping with the combination. I'm happy so many people have great dining experiences at Disney, however I was not one of them.
Thanks for this. We have one Table Service reservation each day so far but now I'm thinking of adding more, or plan on getting more at the food court at the hotel since I know they do a lot of Gluten-free. I did just read that Art of Animation now carries Baby Cakes NYC cupcakes at their food court, so that should help with the snack department.
It's great that Disney World now caters to the vegan and gluten-free population. Seems like the happiest place on earth just got a little happier!
I totally agree with Chris. Its about time that they started catering for the health conscious people.
I believe in Animal Kingdom there is an Allergy dining cart. Serving gluten/ dairy free items. I will find out for sure in December. My son we recently found out is gluten intolerant. And also a vegetarian. And very picky.
Hope it goes well?????
I think if you eat at sit-down restaurants as opposed to quick-service, you will do fine. Quick service restaurant gluten-free vegetarian choices were mostly Amy’s frozen meals on my visit. Also keep in mind you can take food into the parks with you. Pack a lunch and snacks if you are an on-the-go person like me. I didn’t want to wait for sit down restaurants, I wanted to check things out!
If your son is a fan of French fries and onion rings, make sure to visit Raglan Road. Dedicated gluten-free fryer and amazing foods that I don’t usually get to indulge in. Safe travels!