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Vacations And A Gluten Free Diet

r-newsome

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r-newsome Newbie
r-newsome
Posted

My 5-year-old was just diagnosed with celiac disease. We have a vacation planned to Disney World. Does anyone have suggestions of what to eat while visiting amusement parks all day? Most gluten-free foods seem to need time to prepare them. The first few days will be fine. I can cook a big meal and then heat it up when needed. But I am at a loss for the rest of the trip. Ideas??

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DawnM Newbie
DawnM
Posted

Hello: My 3 year old son has celiac disease. We went to Disney World in July. If you are staying at a hotel, ect. Call them. They are very familiar with celiac disease in Disney World.

I stayed at the Grand Floridian. I let them know ahead of time that I would need gluten free foods. They were extremely accomodating. Since we ate at a different restaurant each night, I called each and every one to speak to the Chef. (Call at least a week before you go). Most places actually made me Gluten Free bread from scratch!!!!!!!. Most places have Gluten Free waffle and pancake mix also. There is also a category on the Disney World website for food specialties. I would call the 1-800 # for that also. Good luck!!!

DawnM Newbie
DawnM
Posted

P.S. I forgot to answer your original question: At the amusement parks I brought my own food. I packed a cooler full of fruit, juices,gluten-free peanut butter (they come in squeezable single serving sizes now!!!! (by Skippy), Organic crispy rice bars made by Invirokidz. I would also make a sandwich of peanut butter and Jelly on rice cakes. I used the apple cinnimon flavored by Quaker. I hope this helps!!

Have a great vacation!!!!

gf4life Enthusiast
gf4life
Posted

I found this really good article about vacationing at Disney World Gluten Free.

Here is the link Open Original Shared Link

It is from one of their old newsletters.

Once there click on "Doing Disney World Gluten Free".

I hope you have a wonderful vacation. don't let them hassle you about bringing in your ice chest full of food either! You have a right to bring in anything that is medically necessary.

God bless.

Mariann

  • 2 weeks later...
seeking-wholeness Explorer
seeking-wholeness
Posted

I'm just curious: do you have to be officially diagnosed and/or carry a doctor's note to be able to take medically necessary food into amusement parks and such places, or do they actually take your word for it that you have celiac disease? My in-laws want to take all of us to Idlewild park this summer, and the last thing I would want is to find myself all tangled up in red tape--my life is already complicated enough, and I need a lot of work on being more assertive when I am face-to-face with someone who disagrees with me!

r-newsome Newbie
r-newsome
Posted
  • Author

Thank you everybody for all the great suggestions. It makes me feel so good to know that there is some support, especially when you are new to this whole gluten-free thing. About the amusement park, I was also wondering the same thing: Do you need a letter or do they take your word for it that you have Celiac Disease? I actually just got a letter from my daughter's doctor, so I will be sure to keep copies handy...one for income taxes, one for parks, backup, etc.

Thanks again everybody!!

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    • knitty kitty
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      By knitty kitty · Posted

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    • Jane02
      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      By Jane02 · Posted

      Thank you so much @knitty kitty for this insightful information! I would have never considered fractionated coconut oil to be a potential source of GI upset. I will consider all the info you shared. Very interesting about the Thiamine deficiency.  I've tracked daily averages of my intake in a nutrition software. The only nutrient I can't consistently meet from my diet is vitamin D. Calcium is a hit and miss as I rely on vegetables, dark leafy greens as a major source, for my calcium intake. I'm able to meet it when I either eat or juice a bundle of kale or collard greens daily haha. My thiamine intake is roughly 120% of my needs, although I do recognize that I may not be absorbing all of these nutrients consistently with intermittent unintentional exposures to gluten.  My vitamin A intake is roughly 900% (~6400 mcg/d) of my needs as I eat a lot of sweet potato, although since it's plant-derived vitamin A (beta-carotene) apparently it's not likely to cause toxicity.  Thanks again! 
    • knitty kitty
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    • Scott Adams
      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      I do not know this, but since they are labelled gluten-free, and are not really a product that could easily be contaminated when making them (there would be not flour in the air of such a facility, for example), I don't really see contamination as something to be concerned about for this type of product. 
    • trents
      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      By trents · Posted

      Contact them.
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