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Fl Trip, Need Ideas-cooking, Bringing Food Into Parks, Etc

Sweetfudge

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Sweetfudge Community Regular
Sweetfudge
Posted

So we're planning our big trip to Florida! Yay! I'm excited, and nervous. I've been reading all I can about how to do this safely. I've got a few questions though:

1- What are good snacks/meals to take into the parks?

2- What are quick/easy meals I can make (as we are renting a condo w/ a kitchen)?

3- What's the best dining choice (in your opinion) at WDW or nearby?

4- What should I pack before heading there (gluten-free specifics)?

Thanks everyone!!!

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Guhlia Rising Star
Guhlia
Posted

We managed to do Disney without a kitchen in our hotel room. We didn't even have a microwave. I kept applesauce, pudding, pretzels, fruit, and water in the hotel room for snacking and quick breakfasts. You could also do milk and cereal. If you can, stay at a Disney Resort with a restaurant, they can cook gluten free meals. I didn't get glutened once while in Disney.

I would highly recommend any meals eaten outside of the parks to be eaten at Downtown Disney. It's still owned and operated by WDW, so they have high standards. I recommend the Portabello Yacht Club for lunches and dinners. They carry Tinkyada pasta and they will make any of their pasta dishes with it. They even made me things that weren't on the menu like spaghetti. :) The service there is friendly too. You can make reservations through the Disney World Dining phone number and you can also get information about the gluten free status of other restaurants.

As far as getting food into the parks, so long as you don't have a big cooler, you shouldn't have a problem. Just tell them before they search your bags that you have allergies. I would just take things like Ener-G pretzels, lara bars, etc. They have SO many gluten free options that you really don't need to bring any food at all.

If you go to MGM Studios, eat at the Prime Time 50's cafe and get the fried chicken!!! It's really, really, really good and it's just a really fun place to eat. The chef will come out to explain the menu to you and he'll go over everything with you. They have a seperate area in the kitchen so there's very little chance of CC. They even cover the gluten free dishes to bring them through the other section of the kitchen. I think this is pretty standard in WDW, but I was so impressed by the chef, Nelson, that I ate there again and again.

Disney area is the best place to vacation gluten free, IMO. You're going to have a blast! It's so nice to feel like people actually WANT to accomodate you and your diet.

Guhlia Rising Star
Guhlia
Posted

Drop me a PM with your e-mail address. I will forward you Disney's list of gluten free foods for the parks. It will make your trip so much easier. I have gluten free lists for MGM and Magic Kingdom as well as a general listing for all parks.

natalie Apprentice
natalie
Posted

Hi,

I am also planning a trip to WDW. You could please email me that list of restaurants. Thank you so much.

natalie@northland-inc.com

Guest KG in FL
Guest KG in FL
Posted
Drop me a PM with your e-mail address. I will forward you Disney's list of gluten free foods for the parks. It will make your trip so much easier. I have gluten free lists for MGM and Magic Kingdom as well as a general listing for all parks.
Guest KG in FL
Guest KG in FL
Posted
Drop me a PM with your e-mail address. I will forward you Disney's list of gluten free foods for the parks. It will make your trip so much easier. I have gluten free lists for MGM and Magic Kingdom as well as a general listing for all parks.

Whoops! Posted before writing! Could I get the Disney gluten-free list as well? I live in FL but the list is not so handy- if you don't mind sharing! I'll PM as well.

dlp252 Apprentice
dlp252
Posted

I stayed at one of the Disney property hotels which only had a food court. They were wonderful in helping me each day. I had the best gluten free pancakes with real maple syrup. One day they made me a hamburger with gluten free bun and french fries which they cooked separately for me. All I did was mention that I needed help with a special diet and they brought the chef out who went over what all they could make for me.

I also had good luck at the little food stalls within the parks. I found many of the workers were very knowledgeable about what I needed.

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dlp252 Apprentice
dlp252
Posted

Oh, and I took into the park with me nutrition bars and home made trail mix. For the room I also had peanut butter, which in the mornings I put on my nutrition bars until I could get to the food court for my pancakes and bacon. :lol:

In the park I supplemented what I took with fresh fruit and sometimes had a turkey leg.

Sweetfudge Community Regular
Sweetfudge
Posted
  • Author

Some great ideas. Thx! Is it all affordable though? I'm a bit nervous to be eating out every meal for that reason, as well as trying not to gain any weight from the trip :rolleyes:

What about hypoglycemia? I have a hard time w/ this regularly, haven't quite mastered the combined diets. I'm worried about getting blood sugar sick...not really sure what I'm asking here. ;)

Hm, maybe I won't need a full kitchen. Man, it would be nice not having to make all my meals, and feeling safe about eating them! Ok, when do we leave?!?!?

Guhlia Rising Star
Guhlia
Posted

Well, I guess that kind of depends on what affordable means to you... I think in Disney, two adult meals and a child's meal, we spent about $25 or less at lunch and about $40 at dinner, sometimes less. We had a night or two where we splurged and spent about $60 plus tip, but those were special nights out and you can certainly eat there for much less than that. The Portabello Yacht Club is decently priced at about $12 for lunch and $17 for dinnner. If you look at the maps for the Disney parks they will have dollar signs letting you know how expensive a meal will be. You can gauge things off of that. Just be careful with the quick service restaurants. Make sure if you go to one that you deal strictly with the manager. We had a VERY bad experience at one of the hamburger joints in Magic Kingdom. I posted about it before and apparently I was the only one who had a problem, but be careful. Some of the places have lots of kids working the front who have no clue.

Each park serves Amy's rice crust pizza (some spots are only open for lunch though). I think at MGM it was $5 for a personal pizza, at Magic Kingdom I think it was $8. Turkey legs make for a decent snack (though very greasy) at about $5 a piece. For dinner I would choose a sit down restaurant because you really can't beat the service in Disney World parks. There are even some restaurants in the parks that carry Tinkyada pasta!!! I think we found that gluten free meals were cheaper inside the parks than they were outside the parks, so consider that when you're planning your days. You'll save a lot of money if you do breakfast in your room and then eat lunch and maybe dinner out.

Guhlia Rising Star
Guhlia
Posted
I stayed at one of the Disney property hotels which only had a food court. They were wonderful in helping me each day. I had the best gluten free pancakes with real maple syrup. One day they made me a hamburger with gluten free bun and french fries which they cooked separately for me. All I did was mention that I needed help with a special diet and they brought the chef out who went over what all they could make for me.

I also had good luck at the little food stalls within the parks. I found many of the workers were very knowledgeable about what I needed.

Which resort did you stay at? We were looking at some with food courts, but I didn't think they'd have gluten free food there so I opted for a cheaper hotel instead.

Sweetfudge Community Regular
Sweetfudge
Posted
  • Author

Are Amy's crusts ok to eat? I've gotten sick, and not just glutened-sick, from Amy's food before. I'm real scared to eat it now.

Do you need to talk to the manager at every meal? I'm not real good at the eating out thing...lol

Thanks for the help :)

dlp252 Apprentice
dlp252
Posted
Which resort did you stay at? We were looking at some with food courts, but I didn't think they'd have gluten free food there so I opted for a cheaper hotel instead.

It was the Port Orleans. They had only the food court. I noticed on one of the signs a note that they could help with special diets, so I asked the girl at the counter if I could have help with a special diet and she went and got the chef. I didn't know food courts had chefs, but they do, lol, at least at Disney.

The first day, I just was asking for a hamburger patty without the bun, then the girl asked if I wanted french fries and I said "are they made in a dedicated fryer"...she brought out the chef, who that they were, but that he would make my food in the back so that there would be no chance of contamination. When they brought that out to me, the chef went over all the stuff they could make for me: gluten/casein free pancakes with real maple syrup and gluten free bacon, gluten-free hamburgers (on gluten/casein free buns, gluten free pizza, and if I wanted dessert, they'd make me gluten free brownies, etc. For the dessert they said it would be best if I let them know in advance, but the other stuff were things they had already made up.

I dealt with two chef there, both were fantastic.

Do you need to talk to the manager at every meal? I'm not real good at the eating out thing...lol

Thanks for the help :)

Yes, I did at each meal, but it wasn't a big deal, maybe because I ate regularly at the same place. They'd already gone over with me what they had on hand or could make up for me, and they had a file card for me with my restrictions, so that the other chefs could see what was what with me. The chef was the one who prepared all my food and they always did it in the back.

Sweetfudge Community Regular
Sweetfudge
Posted
  • Author

awesome! very good to know. now if only i could really go...we're not sure financially if we can go anymore :(

GeoffCJ Enthusiast
GeoffCJ
Posted

Wow! Does anyone know if the park in California is as accommodating? My wife and I went on our first date to Downtown Disney several years ago. Maybe we should go back! We live in Northern California now, but travel back to LA/Orange County frequently.

Geoff

Guhlia Rising Star
Guhlia
Posted

Geoff, supposedly all Disney parks can accomodate special diets. I recommend you call Disney and ask to speak to someone in charge of dining. They should be able to help you.

natalie Apprentice
natalie
Posted

I am in the middle of planning our vacation to Flordia and WDW. I booked lunch and dinner reservations for 3 days and I explained about my daughters Celiac. They made notes during the booking of times and then gave me the phone number for each restaurant to speak to the chefs. They are completely accomadating. Apparently they will be ready to serve her all gluten-free food. I'll let everyone know how it went.

Natalie

krissiedog Newbie
krissiedog
Posted 



Drop me a PM with your e-mail address. I will forward you Disney's list of gluten free foods for the parks. It will make your trip so much easier. I have gluten free lists for MGM and Magic Kingdom as well as a general listing for all parks.



 



Hi - was bouncing around the web trying to find info on gluten free foods in Disneyland and came upon your message. Would it be at all possible to email me a list of gluten free foods for disneyland?? I am taking our 6 year old autistic daughter on April 1st - she is so excited to go - but I'm so worried about food issues. Thanks so much in advance if it is possible. Really appreciate any help. Best wishes, Kris/ B):D   krissiedog@aol.com



			
		


		

		
	


	
    



	




					
					
					
				
			
			



		

	


	
	
	
		

			
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     Lkg5
	


 



						
      
						
      
							
       Unexpected gluten exposure risk from cultivated mushrooms
      

							
      By 



Lkg5 · Posted 
      

							
      
								Thank’s for addressing the issue of mushrooms.  I was under the impression that only wild mushrooms were gluten-free.  Have been avoiding cultivated mushrooms for years.
 


	Also, the issue of smoked food was informative.  In France last year, where there is hardly any prepared take-out food that is gluten-free, I tried smoked chicken.  Major mistake!
 

							
      
						
      
					
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     catnapt
	


 



						
      
						
      
							
       results from 13 day gluten challenge - does this mean I can't have celiac?
      

							
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catnapt · Posted 
      

							
      
								my IGG is 815
 


	IGA 203 
 


	but tTG-Iga is   <0.4!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 


	 
 


	oh my god- 13 days of agony and the test is negative?
 


	 I don't even know what to do next.
 


	There zero doubt in my mind that I have an issue with wheat and probably more so with gluten as symptoms are dramatically worse the more gluten a product has
 


	 
 


	I am going to write up the history of my issues for the past few years and start a food/symptom diary to bring with me to the GI doctor in March.
 


	 
 


	I googled like crazy to try to find out what other things might cause these symptoms and the only thing that truly fits besides celiac is NCGS
 


	 
 


	but I guess there are some other things I maybe should be tested for ...? like SIBO?
 


	 
 


	I will continue to eliminate any foods that cause me distress (as I have been doing for the past couple of years) and try to keep a record.
 


	Can anyone recommend an app or some form or something that would simplify this?
 


	I have a very full and busy life and taking the time to write out each symptom name in full would be tedious and time consuming- some sort of page with columns to check off would be ideal.
 


	I am not at all tech savvy so that's not something I can make myself ... I'm hoping there's some thing out there that I can just download and print out
 


	 
 


	do I give up on testing for celiac with such a low number?
 


	I am 70 yrs old
 


	I have been almost completely off gluten for the most part for about 2 yrs.
 


	I had a meal of vital wheat gluten vegan roast,  rolls and stuffing made from home baked bread and an apple pie- and had the worst pain and gas and bloating and odd rumblings in my gut etc - almost went to the ER it was so bad.
 


	I was thinking, since I'm spilling a lot of calcium in my urine, that perhaps this was a kidney stone (never had one before but there's always that first time, right?) 
 


	 
 


	Saw my endo on Jan 20th and after hearing the story about the symptoms from eating that holiday meal, she suggested doing a gluten challenge.
 


	She said 2 weeks was fine- she said stopping it in the middle if symptoms got bad was fine-
 


	In the meantime I'd read that 2 weeks was not enough- called and argued with the nurse about this, but ultimately decided to stop the gluten on the 13th day and get the test done because I was in too much pain and almost suicidal and knew I could not continue.
 


	 
 


	so..............
 


	that's where I am now
 


	I have had no bread since Sunday.
 


	I did have some rolled oats today and had some gas and bloating afterwards
 


	I did have some wheat germ in a smoothie on Tuesday and had a stomach ache later that night.
 


	 
 


	but overall I feel so much better! all the joint pain is gone! the nausea is gone. The stomach pain and gas and bloating are going away.
 


	Still a bit gassy but no more of that horrible odor.
 


	wow, that would clear a room if I was out in public! 
 


	I see a GI nurse March 4th 
 


	I hope she'll be able to help sort this out!
 


	can you think of what my next steps might be?
 

							
      
						
      
					
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     par18
	


 



						
      
						
      
							
       Is it gluten?
      

							
      By 



par18 · Posted 
      

							
      
								Thanks for the reply. 
 

							
      
						
      
					
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     Scott Adams
	


 



						
      
						
      
							
       nothing has changed
      

							
      By 



Scott Adams · Posted 
      

							
      
								What you’re describing is actually very common, and unfortunately the timing of the biopsy likely explains the confusion. Yes, it is absolutely possible for the small intestine to heal enough in three months on a strict gluten-free diet to produce a normal or near-normal biopsy, especially when damage was mild to begin with. In contrast, celiac antibodies can stay elevated for many months or even years after gluten removal, so persistently high antibody levels alongside the celiac genes and clear nutrient deficiencies strongly point to celiac disease, even if you don’t feel symptoms. Many people with celiac are asymptomatic but still develop iron and vitamin deficiencies and silent intestinal damage. The lack of immediate symptoms makes it harder emotionally, but it doesn’t mean gluten isn’t harming you. Most specialists would consider this a case of celiac disease with a false-negative biopsy due to early healing rather than “something else,” and staying consistently gluten-free is what protects you long-term—even when your body doesn’t protest right away.
 

							
      
						
      
					
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     Scott Adams
	


 



						
      
						
      
							
       Is it gluten?
      

							
      By 



Scott Adams · Posted 
      

							
      
								Yes, I meant if you had celiac disease but went gluten-free before screening, your results would end up false-negative. As @trents mentioned, this can also happen when a total IGA test isn't done.
 

							
      
						
      
					
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