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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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		knitty kitty
	

							
				
					
		
      
		
      

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						Supplements for those Diagnosed with Celiac Disease
					
					
				
      
				
      
					

	
      
		
      
			Hello, @asaT,
 


	I'm curious to know whether you are taking other B vitamins like Thiamine B1 and Niacin B3.  Malabsorption in Celiac disease affects all the water soluble B vitamins and Vitamin C.  Thiamine and Niacin are required to produce energy for all the homocysteine lowering reactions provided by Folate, Cobalamine and Pyridoxine.  
 


	Weight...
      
	
      


					
				
      
			
				
				
			
      
		
      
	

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						Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.
					
					
				
      
				
      
					

	
      
		
      
			Hi Jane:
 


	You may want to try the D3 I now take. I have reactions to fillers and many additives. Sports Research, it is based in the USA and I have had no bad reactions with this brand. The D3 does have coconut oil but it is non GMO, it is Gluten free, Soy free, Soybean free and Safflower oil free.  I have a cupboard full of supplements that did not agree...
      
	
      


					
				
      
			
				
				
			
      
		
      
	

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

	
      
		
      
			highly unlikely 
 


	NOTHING and I mean NOTHING else has ever caused me these kinds of symptoms
 


	I have no problem with dates, they are a large part of my diet
 


	In fact, I eat a very high fiber, very high vegetable and bean diet and have for many years now.
 


	It's considered a whole foods plant based or plant forward diet (I do now eat some lean...
      
	
      


					
				
      
			
				
				
			
      
		
      
	

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		cristiana
	

							
				
					
		
      
		
      

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cristiana replied to 

hjayne19's topic in Post Diagnosis, Recovery & Treatment of Celiac Disease
          
          	

				
				
					
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						Insomnia help
					
					
				
      
				
      
					

	
      
		
      
			Thank you for your post, @nanny marley
 


	It is interesting what you say about 'It's OK not to sleep'. Worrying about sleeping only makes it much harder to sleep.  One of my relatives is an insomniac and I am sure that is part of the problem.  Whereas I once had a neighbour who, if she couldn't sleep, would simply get up again, make a cup of tea, read,...
      
	
      


					
				
      
			
				
				
			
      
		
      
	

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

	
      
		
      
			It could be a fructan intolerance? How do you do with dates?  
	 
	https://www.dietvsdisease.org/sorry-your-gluten-sensitivity-is-actually-a-fructan-intolerance/
		
      
	
      


					
				
      
			
				
				
			
      
		
      
	

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     knitty kitty
	


 



						
      
						
      
							
       Supplements for those Diagnosed with Celiac Disease
      

							
      By 



knitty kitty · Posted 
      

							
      
								Hello, @asaT,
 


	I'm curious to know whether you are taking other B vitamins like Thiamine B1 and Niacin B3.  Malabsorption in Celiac disease affects all the water soluble B vitamins and Vitamin C.  Thiamine and Niacin are required to produce energy for all the homocysteine lowering reactions provided by Folate, Cobalamine and Pyridoxine.  
 


	Weight gain with a voracious appetite is something I experienced while malnourished.  It's symptomatic of Thiamine B1 deficiency.   Conversely, some people with thiamine deficiency lose their appetite altogether, and suffer from anorexia.  At different periods on my lifelong journey, I suffered this, too.  
 


	When the body doesn't have sufficient thiamine to turn food, especially carbohydrates, into energy (for growth and repair), the body rations what little thiamine it has available, and turns the carbs into fat, and stores it mostly in the abdomen.  Consuming a high carbohydrate diet requires additional thiamine to process the carbs into energy.  Simple carbohydrates (sugar, white rice, etc.) don't contain thiamine, so the body easily depletes its stores of Thiamine processing the carbs into fat.  The digestive system communicates with the brain to keep eating in order to consume more thiamine and other nutrients it's not absorbing.  
 


	One can have a subclinical thiamine insufficiency for years.  A twenty percent increase in dietary thiamine causes an eighty percent increase in brain function, so the symptoms can wax and wane mysteriously.  Symptoms of Thiamine insufficiency include stunted growth, chronic fatigue, and Gastrointestinal Beriberi (diarrhea, abdominal pain), heart attack, Alzheimer's, stroke, and cancer.  
 


	Thiamine improves bone turnover.  Thiamine insufficiency can also affect the thyroid.  The thyroid is important in bone metabolism.  The thyroid also influences hormones, like estrogen and progesterone, and menopause.  Vitamin D, at optimal levels, can act as a hormone and can influence the thyroid, as well as being important to bone health, and regulating the immune system.  Vitamin A is important to bone health, too, and is necessary for intestinal health, as well. 
 


	 I don't do dairy because I react to Casein, the protein in dairy that resembles gluten and causes a reaction the same as if I'd been exposed to gluten, including high tTg IgA. 
 


	I found adding mineral water containing calcium and other minerals helpful in increasing my calcium intake.  
 


	Malabsorption of Celiac affects all the vitamins and minerals.  I do hope you'll talk to your doctor and dietician about supplementing all eight B vitamins and the four fat soluble vitamins because they all work together interconnectedly.  
 

							
      
						
      
					
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     Florence Lillian
	


 



						
      
						
      
							
       Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.
      

							
      By 



Florence Lillian · Posted 
      

							
      
								Hi Jane:
 


	You may want to try the D3 I now take. I have reactions to fillers and many additives. Sports Research, it is based in the USA and I have had no bad reactions with this brand. The D3 does have coconut oil but it is non GMO, it is Gluten free, Soy free, Soybean free and Safflower oil free.  I have a cupboard full of supplements that did not agree with me -  I just keep trying and have finally settled on Sports Research. I take NAKA Women's Multi full spectrum, and have not felt sick after taking 2 capsules per day -  it is a Canadian company. I buy both from Amazon. I wish you well in your searching, I know how discouraging it all is.
 


	Florence.  
 

							
      
						
      
					
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     catnapt
	


 



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

							
      By 



catnapt · Posted 
      

							
      
								highly unlikely 
 


	NOTHING and I mean NOTHING else has ever caused me these kinds of symptoms
 


	I have no problem with dates, they are a large part of my diet
 


	In fact, I eat a very high fiber, very high vegetable and bean diet and have for many years now.
 


	It's considered a whole foods plant based or plant forward diet (I do now eat some lean ground turkey but not much) I was off dairy for years but recently had to add back plain yogurt to meet calcium needs that I am not allowed to get from supplements (I have not had any problem with the yogurt)
 


	 
 


	I eat almost no processed foods. I don't eat out. almost everything I eat, I cook myself
 


	I am going to keep a food diary but to be honest, I already know that it's wheat products and also barley that are the problem, which is why I gradually stopped eating and buying them.
 


	When I was eating them, like back in early 2024, when I was in the middle of moving and ate out (always had bread or toast or rolls or a sub or pizza) I felt terrible but at that time was so busy and exhausted that I never stopped to think it was the food.
 


	Once I was in my new place, I continued to have bread from time to time and had such horrible joint pain that I was preparing for 2 total knee replacements as well as one hip!
 


	The surgery could not go forward as I was (and still am) actively losing calcium from my bones. That problem has yet to be properly diagnosed and treated
 


	 
 


	anyway over time I realized that I felt better when I stopped eating bread. Back at least 3 yrs ago I noticed that regular pasta made me sick so I switched to brown rice pasta and even though it costs a lot more, I really like it.
 


	 
 


	so gradually I just stopped buying and eating foods with gluten. I stopped getting raisin bran when I was constipated because it made me bloated and it didn't help the constipation any more (used to be a sure bet that it would in the past)
 


	 
 


	I made cookies and brownies using beans and rolled oats and dates and tahini and I LOVE them and have zero issues eating those
 


	I eat 1 or more cans of beans per day
 


	easily can eat a pound of broccoli - no problem! Brussels sprouts the same thing.
 


	 
 


	so yeh it's bread and related foods that are clearly the problem 
 


	there is zero doubt in my mind
 


	 
 


	 
 

							
      
						
      
					
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     cristiana
	


 



						
      
						
      
							
       Insomnia help
      

							
      By 



cristiana · Posted 
      

							
      
								Thank you for your post, @nanny marley
 


	It is interesting what you say about 'It's OK not to sleep'. Worrying about sleeping only makes it much harder to sleep.  One of my relatives is an insomniac and I am sure that is part of the problem.  Whereas I once had a neighbour who, if she couldn't sleep, would simply get up again, make a cup of tea, read, do a sudoku or some other small task, and then go back to bed when she felt sleepy again.  I can't think it did her any harm - she lived  well into her nineties.
 


	Last week I decided to try a Floradix Magnesium supplement which seems to be helping me to sleep better.  It is a liquid magnesium supplement, so easy to take.  It is gluten free (unlike the Floradix iron supplement).  Might be worth a try.
 


	 
 


	 
 


	 
	 
 


	 
 

							
      
						
      
					
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     SilkieFairy
	


 



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

							
      By 



SilkieFairy · Posted 
      

							
      
								It could be a fructan intolerance? How do you do with dates?  
	 
	https://www.dietvsdisease.org/sorry-your-gluten-sensitivity-is-actually-a-fructan-intolerance/
 

							
      
						
      
					
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