5/22/20 5/22/20

Cookie's BBQ Lunch Review on Castaway Cay

Cookie's BBQ located on Castaway Cay is the main restaurant on Disney's private island. There are two other dining locations: Cookie's Too and Serenity Bay BBQ that also provide guests with meals during their visit on Castaway Cay. On our recent cruise in January 2020, we enjoyed a lunch at Cookie's BBQ, which is the recommended location for all guests with special dietary needs (because it's the location that accommodates pre-ordered meals). We always look forward to a BBQ lunch at Cookie's!

*This gluten free dining experience took place in January 2020. It includes information about dairy free options, as well as a review of fish/shellfish free, peanut free, cabbage free, hazelnut free, and chicken & turkey free options.

Lunch at Cookie's BBQ

Atmosphere

Any day at Castaway Cay is a great one (in my opinion), and on our visit, the skies were clear and it was a beautiful sunny day.

Cookie's BBQ Sign / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Bright and cheery, Cookie's BBQ is always an inviting place to enjoy lunch. I love the signs and details that let you know your meal at Cookie's BBQ is all about the barbecue food.

Cookie's BBQ - Fresh Fruit Stand / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

The restaurant features many different buffet style stations. I especially love the fruit station which features just about every fruit you can think of from grab and go options, like apples & bananas, to freshly sliced fruit like papaya and pineapple.

Every aspect of Cookie's BBQ is bright and inviting. And, you'll be ready to dig in to great BBQ food when you smell the grills going at Cookie's BBQ too!

The Food

Cookie's BBQ typically does not offer an allergy-friendly menu; however, on our most recent cruise, we were presented with a gluten free and dairy free menu the night before we arrived at Castaway Cay that featured many items available at Cookie's BBQ. In addition to the items listed, you can also request other items like French fries made in a dedicated fryer too!

We pre-ordered several items, including our favorite burgers and fries combo. We were also excited to pre-order some desserts, which haven't been as easy to order on Castaway Cay on previous cruises.

Cookie's BBQ / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

When we arrived at Cookie's BBQ, we went to the station where you talk to a coordinator about your pre-order. It's usually in the middle of the restaurant area. If you're not sure where to go, as a cast member! They're always happy to direct you.

Once our pre-order was confirmed, Brandon went and found a picnic table, and I picked up some fresh fruit from the fruit station. I don't mind getting fruit from the station, because it's completely removed from the regular buffet and only contains fruit. But, you can always request fruit to be brought with your pre-order too.

I don't know what it is, but the fresh fruit on Disney Cruise Line, and especially at Castaway Cay, is always so fresh. Pineapple is always a must, and it never fails to disappoint! So good!

Our pre-order arrived, and we didn't waste any time digging in. Both Brandon and I got burgers and fries. The burgers are served on a gluten free, dairy free, peanut/tree nut free, egg free, and vegan Ener-G bun. While it's not our favorite, I'm always glad we have a bun option. The burgers can be made gluten free and dairy free by omitting the cheese; or, you can add cheese if you do not have an allergy or can tolerate it.

Fun fact! Only guests with special dietary needs can get fries on Castaway Cay. They are a pre-order item only, and a very special treat to get when you're on the island. We always enjoy them lots and are super grateful that they offer guests with special dietary needs this option!

For dessert, we were served a Namaste chocolate cake with fresh fruit. This was gluten free, dairy free, egg free, peanut/tree nut free, and vegan. While I usually love Namaste cake, for some reason this one wasn't very good.

We both agreed that the cake was very rubbery and hard to chew. I'm not sure if it was over-baked, sat too long, or had some other issue with the replacement ingredients to make it allergy-friendly. All the desserts we had the ship that were top 8 allergy free were fantastic, so we figured this was just a weird fluke. But, I'm so glad to see Disney Cruise Line step up their game with lots of additional options!

If you want to see our visit to Castaway Cay in video form, check out our vlog, which includes our lunch review of Cookie's BBQ!

Overall

Cookie's BBQ is always such a fun tradition for us for lunch whenever we visit Castaway Cay. The BBQ vibe always feels just right for being on the island, and you can't beat burgers and fries and fresh fruit! There are also a lot of other options that we didn't get on this visit, but you can read some of our older reviews for options too. We can't wait til our next cruise and visit to Castaway Cay and Cookie's BBQ for delicious food in an island setting.

Have you been to Cookie's BBQ on Castaway Cay? What did you get when you dined there?

7/16/19 7/16/19

Cookie's BBQ Lunch Review on Castaway Cay

Cookie's BBQ is one of three restaurants on Castaway Cay, Disney's private island. On our recent 3-day cruise on the Disney Dream, we had lunch at Cookie's BBQ, which is the main restaurant on the island, and the location that handles special dietary needs requests. On our last two cruises, we've pre-ordered our lunches, and this has worked really well for us. So, Cookie's BBQ is our go-to spot to eat.

*This gluten free review took place in May 2019. It includes information about peanut free, fish/shellfish free, and chicken and turkey free options.

Lunch at Cookie’s BBQ

Atmosphere

Somehow I always manage to forget to take a lot of photos of Cookie's BBQ when we eat there. I'm sure this is due to being super relaxed and chill while we're on the island!

When you go to Cookie's BBQ, you'll want to find the giant boat with potato chips on it. This is exactly where you need to go to check in if you're pre-ordered food or to talk to a coordinator about special diets options.

Cookies's BBQ Potato Chips / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

You can always grab a bag of plain Lay's potato chips too while you're there. These are individually packaged and gluten free and dairy free too!

Cookie's BBQ - Fruit — Cookie's BBQ / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

One of the things I always appreciate about the food options with Disney Cruise Line is that they always have lots of fresh fruit and vegetables around for guests to grab and take with them. Cookie's BBQ is no exception. They have tons of fresh fruit available. And, I always make sure to grab at least one plate of fresh pineapple, mango, and grapes.

Another nice touch is that while you're on your way to your picnic bench to enjoy lunch, you'll find fresh condiments individually prepared by cast members. This is great for those of us with special diets who need to avoid cross-contamination.

The Food

Although we didn't pre-order food at any other location, we always make sure to pre-order our lunch on Castaway Cay. In May 2018, we didn't pre-order and attempted to eat at the Serenity Bay BBQ (the adults only restaurant). And, I had very limited options. So, we've pre-ordered on the last two cruises and had great success.

One important note about pre-ordering. It does not guarantee that you get your food the moment you walk up to the restaurant. What it does is help the restaurant and coordinators prepare the right amount of food for special diets guests and help streamline the process when you arrive. We sadly saw a guest who came to Cookie's BBQ who was extremely irate that the special diets food options for her kids was not ready immediately. For us, even with a small wait, we're just grateful we can eat safely while we're on our cruise, so I do recommend having a little patience and understanding with the cast members who are helping make your experience safe and delicious.

After speaking with a coordinator who found our order, we were given a number to take with us to whatever picnic table we wanted to sit at. While Brandon grabbed us a table, I went to get some fresh fruit. I don't know what it is, but I swear the fruit on the cruises is so fresh. I could eat the pineapple they serve for days!

Cookie's BBQ - Gluten Free Burger — Cookie's BBQ / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

A cast member arrived at our table with only one of our orders. Unfortunately, the coordinator got confused and only grabbed my pre-order and not Brandon's. So, the cast member went to prepare Brandon's food, which did arrive pretty quickly considering.

I pre-ordered a cheeseburger on a gluten free bun, French fries, and grilled mahi mahi. Everything was gluten free, and the burger could have been made dairy free by omitting the cheese. While I wouldn't say anything we get at Castaway Cay is super amazing, we both really just enjoy a basic grilled burger while we listen to the ocean nearby. I also really enjoy the grilled fish too.

You'll find that there are other options that are gluten free safe too -- like the grilled chicken, potato salad, and coleslaw. Always double-check with a coordinator to confirm that the items you're interested in are safe for your special dietary need. I also recommend that when you pre-order that you ask for specific items that you want. We have found that if you're too vague, you're likely to get plain and bland food. The more specific you are, the better your experience!

As you can see, Brandon got virtually the same thing -- minus the fish because of his allergies. This burger was fish/shellfish free, peanut free, and chicken & turkey free. He was served a regular gluten-filled bun since that was safe for his special dietary needs.

Overall

We both really enjoy the simple pleasures of getting classic BBQ food when we eat at Cookie's BBQ on Castaway Cay. There's something charming and nostalgic about eating BBQ at a picnic table and lounging afterwards on the beach. If you have special diets, I strongly recommend pre-ordering your food and eating at Cookie's BBQ (and avoiding Cookie's Too and Serenity Bay BBQ) for the best special dietary needs options while you're at Castaway Cay.

Have you been to Cookie's BBQ on Castaway Cay? What did you get when you dined there?

11/19/18 11/19/18

Cookie's BBQ Lunch Review on Castaway Cay

*This gluten free dining experience took place in October 2018. It includes notes about dairy free modifications and options too.

Lunch at Cookie's BBQ

Cookies's BBQ is a buffet style BBQ restaurant located on Castaway Cay, Disney's private island. On our October 2018 3-day cruise on the Disney Dream, Castaway Cay was one of our ports of call. Both Brandon and I adore Castaway Cay, so we were so thrilled to be heading there again. On our previous cruise, we had a rather mediocre lunch at Serenity Bay BBQ at the adults only beach area. And, this cruise, we decided to go to Cookie's BBQ for additional options and better handling of special dietary needs.

Atmosphere

Somehow I managed to forget to take a photo of the entrance and sign for Cookie's BBQ. We had run the Castaway Cay 5K that morning and were definitely a bit tired and hungry and missed photos.

One of the things that Brandon and I liked most about Cookie's BBQ is that it's fairly large. There was a lot of picnic bench seating, and it was shaded too, which helps on a very sunny day. On our visit, we sat in the back area of the covered seating as it was a bit quieter and calm back there.

On a side note, Cookie's BBQ does open at 11:30 a.m. for lunch. We expected it to be really busy like Serenity Bay BBQ was on our last cruise. But, we found it to be pretty low-key. But, we may have just been lucky that day with an easy-going lunch. So your mileage may vary on crowds and busy times.

The Food

The last time I went to Cookie's BBQ back in 2014 with my mom, I had an OK experience. I had a decent meal with a good amount of options though I did end up waiting a bit for my food because I did not pre-order it. I had friends on the same cruise who had pre-ordered food and received very bland, boring options. So, when our server Jude recommended that I pre-order on this trip, I was a little nervous.

I ended up asking for specific items that I knew they had at Cookie's BBQ, like the mahi mahi, chicken, and a cheeseburger. Jude also recommended adding fries to that pre-order too.

When we arrived at Cookie's BBQ, I asked a cast member where I needed to go for pre-orders. She directed me to a spot where two cast members would assist me. From there, they found my pre-order sheet and told me that they would begin preparing my food then. I was given a table marker and told I could sit anywhere that I liked and that they would bring me my lunch. With that, I went to go get a drink and some fresh fruit.

Cookies BBQ - Fruit / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Getting fresh fruit is a must-do anytime I'm at Castaway Cay. I absolutely love the fresh pineapple, papaya, grapes, and other fruit offered there.

While I waited for my food, Brandon went to the buffet to get his lunch. I have to admit that I expected a long wait. But, my food came out in about 10 minutes, which was great.

Cookies BBQ - Burger & Fries / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

I was so happy to have a Cheeseburger with French Fries. The fries are made in a dedicated fryer. And, I believe only pre-orders get these as I've never seen French fries anywhere else on Castaway Cay. The burger was served on an Ener-G bun, which was a bit dry, but worked OK. The burger itself was nothing special. But, there's just something about ordering one on Castaway Cay. If you're dairy free, you can simply order without the cheese to make it gluten free and dairy free.

In the background of the photo above, you can also see the roasted chicken they served me. Super flavorful and really delicious, it's another must-do when I'm eating on Castaway Cay.

Cookies BBQ - Mahi Mahi / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

I also got the Mahi Mahi with fresh salsa on it. I would say it was good, but not as good as it has been on previous visits. Still, it's another must-do for any Castaway Cay lunch.

Overall

While my lunch wasn't anything fancy, I was really pleased with what I ate and how efficient the pre-order option was. It was fairly quick, and I had a good amount of options. I could have also had items like potato chips, coleslaw, and potato salad too upon request. After this experience, both Brandon and I agreed that we would go to Cookie's BBQ instead of the other restaurant options on the island for variety and the ability to pre-order there. It was the perfect spot to fuel us for the rest of the day chilling on Castaway Cay.

Have you been to Castaway Cay? Where do you dine when you visit?

6/12/18 6/12/18

Serenity Bay BBQ -- Lunch -- Castaway Cay -- Disney Dream

*This dining experience took place in May 2018.

Lunch at Serenity Bay BBQ

During our three day cruise on the Disney Dream, we spent an amazing day at Castaway Cay, Disney's private island. And, our favorite spot on the island had to be Serenity Bay -- an area exclusively for adults. It is truly a place of serenity. And, we loved every minute of relaxing there on the beach. Guests who visit Serenity Bay can also enjoy lunch at Serenity Bay BBQ, which includes many of the items served at the other Castaway Cay BBQ spots. Because we were having dinner at Remy that night, we decided to enjoy a light lunch at Serenity Bay BBQ.

Atmosphere

Serenity Bay BBQ has a relaxed vibe. Just like any good beach BBQ, it includes all all the BBQ fixins' along with outdoor seating, including covered picnic tables.Serenity Bay BBQ opens at 11:30 a.m. for lunch. And, as we found out, it is packed during the opening rush. The upside to waiting in line is that we got to take a look at the restaurant theming and decor.Unlike Cookies BBQ or Cookies Too BBQ, the other dining locations on the island, Serenity Bay doesn't have a ton of seating. We found a lot of people scrambling to find a spot. And, we ended up sharing a picnic table with another couple. Of course, this may be because we got here right when they opened. But, it's definitely something to consider.

The Food

On the Disney Cruise that I took with my mom in 2014, we had lunch at Cookie's BBQ, which is the largest dining location on Castaway Cay. During that cruise, we had tried to eat at Serenity Bay BBQ. But I was advised to eat at Cookies BBQ instead. Typically, Cookie's BBQ will be your best bet for special dietary needs. And, those guests who pre-order meals before arriving on Castaway Cay will pick their meals up at Cookies BBQ. But, since I wanted to eat light and had already had a hearty breakfast, I decided to just see what Serenity Bay BBQ could offer me.Serenity Bay BBQ does offer more or less the same types of items that Cookies BBQ and Cookies Too do. This includes, burgers, ribs, chicken, and fish. The one exception is that Serenity Bay also offers ribeye steaks, which are not typically offered at any other dining location on Castaway Cay.As I approached the buffet, I found a cast member and inquired about special dietary needs assistance. Another cast member, who appeared to be a lead cast member at the BBQ advised me that I could not have a lot to eat there. He noted that I could not have any of the items on the standard buffet (including condiments) due to potential cross-contamination.He did not offer to bring me any fresh items, but did say that he could get me a plain burger, chicken, fish, and steak if I wanted it.I did end up with Mahi Mahi, Chicken, and a Plain Burger. The chicken was definitely my favorite of the three proteins that I was served.In addition to the plain grilled meats, I could also have some Fresh Fruit. That is definitely one of the things that I like most about Castaway Cay and the Disney Cruise Line buffets. They always have lots of fresh fruit available. I got some mango, papaya, and pineapple.Serenity Bay BBQ also offered pre-packaged Lay's Potato Chips, which are marked gluten free on their packaging.

Overall

If I was looking for a more substantial lunch on Castaway Cay, I would skip Serenity Bay BBQ and eat at Cookie's BBQ. Unfortunately, Serenity Bay BBQ is not really able to accommodate special dietary needs guests well while Cookie's BBQ included lots of options. On top of that, the managers at Cookie's BBQ made sure I had gluten free & dairy free buns and even condiments for my lunch. If you're looking for just a small snack or bite to eat, Serenity Bay BBQ has a few options, but not a lot. While I'm glad we got a chance to dine here and check it out, next time Brandon and I both agreed we'd head to Cookie's BBQ instead.Have you been to Castaway Cay? What was your experience with the dining options there?

11/7/14 11/7/14

Cookie's BBQ -- Lunch -- Castaway Cay -- Disney Dream 2014

*This dining experience took place in October 2014Castaway Cay is Disney's private island, and when you sail on a Disney Cruise Line that is near it, you will get a full day to enjoy this amazing location. It was the highlight of my trip, and I admit, I could have stayed here forever. It was so much fun to rest and relax and enjoy the crystal blue waters. Even as a Florida resident who has access to amazing beaches, I was pretty blown away by the water at Castaway Cay.One of the things to note at Castaway Cay is that it has 3 dining options - Cookie's BBQ, Cookie's Too BBQ, and the Serenity Bay BBQ. Serenity Bay is the adults only beach, and a welcome place to get away from it all. So it was nice to see that they had an adults only restaurant available there. After an early breakfast at Cabanas, my mom and I got off the ship bright and early around 8:30 a.m. We were one of the first folks off the ship and decided to take advantage of that by taking lots of photos and meandering. My mom and I took a leisurely stroll from the dock to Serenity Bay (fair warning, it's a hike). Along the way we took photos of the various meal locations (among other things). We planned on dining at the adults only restaurant since it was easily located at Serenity Bay. We spent much of the morning at the beach and when the time came for lunch we headed to the Serenity Bay BBQ. I spoke with a cast member there who said they could make up some options but that they recommended we go to one of the other two dining locations as they would be better equipped to handle my requests. First up, we went to Cookie's Too BBQ which was closer than Cookie's BBQ. When we got there the cast member I spoke to told me that they were unable to accommodate there at all (versus Serenity Bay which said they could offer me stuff just reduced options). They told me to head along to Cookie's BBQ for special diets accommodations. Let's just say my mom and I worked off our food that day! Cookie's BBQ is an open air buffet with a lot of great BBQ type food. I spoke with a cast member who got the manager on duty. They went over some of the options with me that included, mahi mahi, roasted chicken, and burgers. They said they had gluten free and dairy free buns on hand. Unfortunately, they told me the ribs were not gluten free. That's a bummer since I had heard about them from Gluten Free in Orlando. I was told they contained soy sauce. While I waited for my plate to be made, I also grabbed a bag of Lay's plain potato chips which are gluten free. I also caught up with my friends who as luck would have it were dining at the same time and had pre-ordered their food. Unfortunately, they lost my friends pre-order but somehow had her daughter's. After seeing the pre-order, I was glad I ordered food when I got there. Plain chicken is not particularly a highlight for me culinary-wise.You'll notice that her plate was from Animator's Palate, as that is where they dined the night before. I was pleased to get my plate which was huge. I had a generous portion of Mahi Mahi, Roasted Chicken, and a Burger. The mahi mahi was OK. It wasn't my favorite but it wasn't bad either. The burger was also nothing amazing, but it was good. I did not enjoy the bun, as it was rather dry and not very heated. In hindsight, I'd just get a burger, no bun with all the fixins'. The roasted chicken was the absolute star of this meal. It was insanely delicious! Note to self, skip the mahi and order extra chicken next time!Cookie's BBQ also has a huge fresh fruit station, which was awesome! In this photo, they are still setting it up, but during lunch they were carving fresh pineapple and papaya among other things. It was the perfect light dessert, and I loaded up on freshly cut pineapple slices. Delicious! If you're just gluten free, you'll have access to soft serve ice cream too, which I'm told is safe.Overall, despite being shuffled to three locations, I really enjoyed the lunch at Cookie's BBQ. The roasted chicken was so amazing, and I will definitely be getting it again on my next cruise. Next time, I might gamble with the Serenity Bay BBQ, as it looked like the menu was mostly the same. I can always go for a burger with no bun! Have you been to Castaway Cay? What did you get at Cookie's BBQ?

11/7/14 11/7/14

Cookie's BBQ -- Lunch -- Castaway Cay -- Disney Dream 2014

*This dining experience took place in October 2014Castaway Cay is Disney's private island, and when you sail on a Disney Cruise Line that is near it, you will get a full day to enjoy this amazing location. It was the highlight of my trip, and I admit, I could have stayed here forever. It was so much fun to rest and relax and enjoy the crystal blue waters. Even as a Florida resident who has access to amazing beaches, I was pretty blown away by the water at Castaway Cay.One of the things to note at Castaway Cay is that it has 3 dining options - Cookie's BBQ, Cookie's Too BBQ, and the Serenity Bay BBQ. Serenity Bay is the adults only beach, and a welcome place to get away from it all. So it was nice to see that they had an adults only restaurant available there. After an early breakfast at Cabanas, my mom and I got off the ship bright and early around 8:30 a.m. We were one of the first folks off the ship and decided to take advantage of that by taking lots of photos and meandering. My mom and I took a leisurely stroll from the dock to Serenity Bay (fair warning, it's a hike). Along the way we took photos of the various meal locations (among other things). We planned on dining at the adults only restaurant since it was easily located at Serenity Bay. We spent much of the morning at the beach and when the time came for lunch we headed to the Serenity Bay BBQ. I spoke with a cast member there who said they could make up some options but that they recommended we go to one of the other two dining locations as they would be better equipped to handle my requests. First up, we went to Cookie's Too BBQ which was closer than Cookie's BBQ. When we got there the cast member I spoke to told me that they were unable to accommodate there at all (versus Serenity Bay which said they could offer me stuff just reduced options). They told me to head along to Cookie's BBQ for special diets accommodations. Let's just say my mom and I worked off our food that day! Cookie's BBQ is an open air buffet with a lot of great BBQ type food. I spoke with a cast member who got the manager on duty. They went over some of the options with me that included, mahi mahi, roasted chicken, and burgers. They said they had gluten free and dairy free buns on hand. Unfortunately, they told me the ribs were not gluten free. That's a bummer since I had heard about them from Gluten Free in Orlando. I was told they contained soy sauce. While I waited for my plate to be made, I also grabbed a bag of Lay's plain potato chips which are gluten free. I also caught up with my friends who as luck would have it were dining at the same time and had pre-ordered their food. Unfortunately, they lost my friends pre-order but somehow had her daughter's. After seeing the pre-order, I was glad I ordered food when I got there. Plain chicken is not particularly a highlight for me culinary-wise.You'll notice that her plate was from Animator's Palate, as that is where they dined the night before. I was pleased to get my plate which was huge. I had a generous portion of Mahi Mahi, Roasted Chicken, and a Burger. The mahi mahi was OK. It wasn't my favorite but it wasn't bad either. The burger was also nothing amazing, but it was good. I did not enjoy the bun, as it was rather dry and not very heated. In hindsight, I'd just get a burger, no bun with all the fixins'. The roasted chicken was the absolute star of this meal. It was insanely delicious! Note to self, skip the mahi and order extra chicken next time!Cookie's BBQ also has a huge fresh fruit station, which was awesome! In this photo, they are still setting it up, but during lunch they were carving fresh pineapple and papaya among other things. It was the perfect light dessert, and I loaded up on freshly cut pineapple slices. Delicious! If you're just gluten free, you'll have access to soft serve ice cream too, which I'm told is safe.Overall, despite being shuffled to three locations, I really enjoyed the lunch at Cookie's BBQ. The roasted chicken was so amazing, and I will definitely be getting it again on my next cruise. Next time, I might gamble with the Serenity Bay BBQ, as it looked like the menu was mostly the same. I can always go for a burger with no bun! Have you been to Castaway Cay? What did you get at Cookie's BBQ?