3/17/21 3/17/21

Rainforest Cafe Dinner Review

Rainforest Cafe is a table service restaurant owned by Landry's that has two locations on Disney property -- one at Disney Springs and one at Disney's Animal Kingdom. Recently, we decided to get dinner at the Animal Kingdom location, because we are Landry's Select Club members had I had a $25 birthday reward to use for our meal that would expire at the end of the month. We have dined at Rainforest Cafe on several occasions, and while it's not our favorite of the Landry's restaurants on Disney property, we always enjoy our meals there.

*This gluten free dining experience took place in February 2021. It includes information about dairy free options, as well as fish/shellfish, peanut, hazelnut, cabbage, and chicken & turkey allergies.

Dinner at Rainforest Cafe

COVID-19 & Reopening Notes

On this particular visit, we made reservations for the restaurant a few days before we dined there. I used the My Disney Experience app and found that there was a reservation for the final seating of the evening, which we decided to book. If you're a Landry's Select Club member, you can also show up to the restaurant without a reservation and simply show your card for priority seating. This has served us really well in the past, and we've found that we typically experience a little to no wait for a table. The MDE app worked as it normally does, and we were able to add in our special dietary needs in the app and alert cast members of our needs when we arrived at the restaurant. There was no online check-in though, so be sure to stop by the podium to speak with a cast member when you arrive.

The restaurant itself had mechanisms to provide sanitization, social distancing, and safety for both guests and cast members. All cast members wore facial masks and all servers in the restaurant wore both facial masks and protective shields.

As a note, at the time of writing this review, we have been to several of the Disney Resorts, including the Animal Kingdom Lodge, Boardwalk Resort, Contemporary Resort, Coronado Springs Resort, Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, Old Key West Resort, Polynesian, Riviera Resort, and Wilderness Lodge Resort along with all of the theme parks. All locations have the same protocols, as far as we have observed. Be sure to check with restaurants and the official Disney World website for additional information about current guidelines and recommendations.

Atmosphere

Rainforest Cafe is a chain restaurant that has been around since the 1990s. It has a decidedly jungle look and feel with animal animatronics and various "shows" that take place about every 20 minutes. I personally find the restaurant to feel a bit dated but nostalgic. There are still several Rainforest Cafe locations in the U.S. (a lot can be found in malls). And, we have been told that this specific restaurant at Disney is the largest of all the locations. It's definitely a large restaurant!

Rainforest Cafe - Sign / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Somehow we managed to not get very many photos during our visit. If you're curious about the seating or more about the interior, check out our previous blog posts where we included more photos of the restaurant.

Rainforest Cafe / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

It's a very boisterous and noisy restaurant with a lot to look at. It can be a little bit of overstimulation on all the aesthetics, so be prepared! The tropical storms that take every 20 minutes or so are also quite loud and feature flashing lights and lightning and rain sounds. It's a lot to take in! Kiddos seemed especially excited by all the restaurant happenings. So, if you have kiddos this could be a perfect family restaurant for you.

The Food

Because Rainforest Cafe is not owned and operated by Disney, they do not have an allergy-friendly menu. But, a manager or chef will speak to you about special dietary needs options. We have found it to be hit or miss whether a manager or chef comes to the table. And, on this visit, we spoke with a manager who also radioed a chef as we discussed options.

For my entree, I decided to order the Aloha Salmon and Shrimp. This came with Hawaiian-glazed Salmon and Shrimp, Fresh Vegetables, and Japanese Rice. The manager noted that this dish was gluten free as is with no modifications and confirmed with a chef via radio that the sauce was gluten free. It's always good to double-check, especially if you have questions or concerns about the status of an ingredient. I always double-check sauces, especially, because they can be an overlooked source of gluten. If you are dairy free, I was advised that there is dairy in the sauce itself and that it cannot be modified. So, you'll want to either ask for this dish plain with no sauce or explore other options on the menu.

Overall, I really liked this dish. Both the salmon and shrimp were cooked well and the Hawaiian-glaze was really nice. It was both sweet and spicy and quite tasty. The vegetables were standard and nothing too special, as was the rice. But, everything really came together and made this a solid dish. I would definitely order it again.

For Brandon's entree, he ordered the Primal Steak which includes NY Strip and mashed potatoes. It also comes with seasonal vegetables, but Brandon requested a double-portion of mashed potatoes instead. This dish was made safe for Brandon's allergies which include: fish/shellfish, peanut, hazelnut, cabbage, and chicken & turkey. I have also been told this is gluten free in previous visits, but you'll want to double-check that if you're interested in this dish as a GF guest.

Like me, Brandon said his dish was quite solid and very tasty. He really enjoyed the grill flavor of the steak, and he especially liked the mashed potatoes. If you're a steak fan, this could be a great entree to enjoy when you dine at Rainforest Cafe. Brandon has ordered this dish on several occasions, and it's definitely a repeat entree for him.

If you want to get more information about our visit to Rainforest Cafe at Disney's Animal Kingdom, we did film our visit for our YouTube channel.

Overall

We both enjoyed our entrees at Rainforest Cafe. While the restaurant doesn't offer a ton of variety for guests with special dietary needs, we both appreciate that the restaurant does work to accommodate and provide safe and tasty dishes. If you're interested in a lively, family friendly restaurant, this could be a great option for you. Or, if you're a Landry's Select Club member, it's a great go-to especially if you don't have a reservation and want a walk-up at a table service restaurant while at the Animal Kingdom. We usually dine at Rainforest Cafe once or twice a year, and we're glad we had a safe and delicious meal on this visit.

Have you been to Rainforest Cafe? What was your experience there with special dietary needs?

1/29/21 1/29/21

Tiffins Dinner Review

Tiffins, located at Disney's Animal Kingdom, is a signature dining location that serves international cuisine inspired by the explorations and adventures of Disney Imagineers. Opening in 2016, both Brandon and I have been wanting to eat at this restaurant for a long time now. We finally decided to make a reservation and enjoy an early evening dinner there before the park closed at 5 p.m.

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

Dinner at Tiffins

COVID-19 & Reopening Notes

On this particular visit, we made reservations for the restaurant a few days before we dined there. I used the My Disney Experience app and found that there was a late afternoon seating, which we decided to book (the restaurant closed at 5 p.m.). The app worked as it normally does, and we were able to add in our special dietary needs in the app and alert cast members of our needs when we arrived at the restaurant. The last few months, we have had some pretty big challenges using the app to check-in, but we easily checked in with a cast member at Tiffins.

The restaurant itself featured many mechanisms to provide sanitization, social distancing, and safety for both guests and cast members. We were actually asked to wait outside versus inside before our table was ready to ensure social distancing. All cast members wore facial masks and some cast members also wore protective shields, as well. All servers in the restaurant wore both facial masks and protective shields.

As a note, at the time of writing this review, we have been to several of the Disney Resorts, including the Animal Kingdom Lodge, Boardwalk Resort, Contemporary Resort, Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, Old Key West Resort, Polynesian, and Riviera Resort along with all of the theme parks. All locations have the same protocols, as far as we have observed. Be sure to check with restaurants and the official Disney World website for additional information about current guidelines and recommendations.

Atmosphere

Tiffins is inspired by the globetrotting experiences of Disney Imagineers and animal experts who helped build and shape the Animal Kingdom theme park.

Tiffins - Sign / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

The restaurant is named after Tiffins which are little tiered lunch containers are used in many different countries, and most notably, India.

Tiffins / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

In fact, when you first enter the restaurant, you'll see several different kinds of beautifully decorated Tiffins on display.

Tiffins - Entrance / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

The exterior of the restaurant features some wood carvings and is very welcoming. It's almost as if you're entering a lodge.

Tiffins - Interior Entrance / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Inside the restaurant's lobby area features a beautiful wood carved map of the world. It really lets you know that you're about to enjoy a global journey through design and food!

Tiffins - Interior / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

There are several unique dining rooms in the restaurant. Each honors the spirit and design of Africa, Asia, and animals from around the world. We were in a room inspired by Africa, and as you can see there were some pretty amazing design elements and pieces of art all around the interior.

I especially loved the tiles and decorative woodwork that you could see as the basis for buildings, sidewalks, and furniture. Though not in our photos, there was also a small baobob tree on the wall that was actually used by Imagineers when designing the park.

Here is a view of one of the other dining rooms -- more inspired by Asia. While there are some similar design elements, I love how unique each dining area is. There was a lot to look at and the restaurant's aesthetics definitely made it feel like even more of a special dining experience.

The Food

Like most Disney owned restaurants, Tiffins does have an allergy-friendly menu. You can, of course, always speak to a chef when you dine at Tiffins too to discuss different options, modifications, and any questions that you might have.

On our visit, we not only looked at the allergy-friendly menu, but we also talked directly to a chef. The chef came to the table to discuss options and was very helpful and going through the ingredients on sauces and concerns regarding shared fryers and cross-contamination for products. We were both really impressed at how detailed the chef was when assisting us with our questions.

Both our server and the chef recommended the Tiffins Signature Bread Service. While the dish is normally only marked safe for Peanut/Tree Nut and Shellfish Allergies, the chef walked us through all the components and made versions safe for us.

For me, I was served a plate of papadums, which are crispy flatbreads made of chickpea flour. These are fried in a dedicated gluten free fryer and are also dairy free. But, they are fried in a shared fryer with fish, so they were not a safe option for Brandon. If you're vegan or vegetarian, you'll want to consider if you are OK with a shared fryer or talk to a chef about other options.

Both Brandon and I were able to eat the trio of dips served with the bread service. During our visit this included: Red Pepper Hummus, Spicy Coriander Yogurt, and Ginger-Pear Chutney. All of the dips were gluten free, fish/shellfish free, chicken & turkey free, cabbage free, and peanut/tree nut free. Both the hummus and ginger-pear chutney were also dairy free and vegan. The yogurt, of course, contained dairy.

We absolutely loved all of the dips. The red pepper hummus was flavorful and nice -- though a pretty standard hummus. The ginger-pear chutney was super flavorful with some nice ginger flavor and very inspired by the flavors of fall. The coriander yogurt was also good but quite spicy. If you're not a spicy foods fan, you might want to proceed with caution when eating the yogurt! Both of us thought our favorite of the three was the ginger-pear chutney.

Tiffins - Breads in Photo are NOT Gluten Free / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW — Tiffins - Breads in Photo are **NOT** Gluten Free / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

While I couldn't eat them, Brandon was given two of the other breads normally served with the bread service. This included a naan bread and a molasses pomegranate bread.

Brandon said the naan bread was nice and reminded him a lot of the naan from Sanaa. But, he was wowed by the molasses pomegranate bread and ate every last bite of it. It looked and smelled delicious, so if you can have gluten, this bread is sure to impress.

Having not been to Tiffins before, we couldn't resist some of the drinks there. Brandon opted for the Tempting Tigress, which includes a homemade tamarind syrup. This drink is also available at the Nomad Lounge too. Brandon absolutely loved this drink and said he would 100% order it again.

I decided to get a wine on this visit, particularly because Tiffins has a large collection of South African wines. I went with a South African Cabernet Sauvignon called "Tokara." The flavors were absolutely outstanding, and I would definitely get this wine again. It also paired beautifully with my entree.

Both Brandon and I ordered almost identical meals. At the recommendation of the chef and our sever, I ordered the Tamarind Braised Short Rib with Parsnip-Potato Puree, Cauliflower, Cipollini Onion, and Medjool Date Vinaigrette. This was marked safe for Gluten/Wheat, Egg, Fish/Shellfish, and Peanut/Tree Nut Allergies.

This was one of the best meals that I have had at Disney in a long time. The short rib itself was super tender, rich, and flavorful. The sauce served with it was incredible, and there was just so much flavor in every bite. The milder parsnip-potato puree and vegetables all paired really well with the rich meat. I can't recommend this enough. It was so good. Although I want to go back and try other dishes at Tiffins, it would be hard to resist this dish on future visits!

Brandon got essentially the same dish, except his was served with grilled beef tenderloin instead. His dish was also safe for fish/shellfish, chicken & turkey, peanut/tree nut, and cabbage. Sauces are often challenging for Brandon, because they tend to contain chicken broth or stock. So, he was very excited to hear that the sauce served with this dish was veal stock based and that he could have it.

Like me, Brandon absolutely loved the flavors of this dish and everything about it. I think his only complaint was that he wished there were a bit more of the parsnip-potato puree. Other than that, it was a huge hit. And, Brandon said he would be interested in trying the short rib next time too after seeing what mine looked like.

After seeing the dessert menu and some interesting items on it, we couldn't resist getting dessert. I opted for the gluten free, dairy free & vegan dessert -- Passion Fruit Tapioca Creme with Chocolate Crumble, Citrus Fruits, and Coconut Creme. This dish was marked safe for Gluten/Wheat, Egg, Fish/Shellfish, Milk, and Peanut Allergies.

This dish was not at all what I expected. But, it was really tasty. The tapioca was unlike any other tapioca pudding I've had. It was almost like boba balls in more of a jam than anything. The dessert was very citrusy, which I liked, and the coconut creme on top was outstanding. Overall, after such a rich meal it was nice to have something a bit lighter to round out the evening. I think I might want to try another type of dessert on our next visit, but I would recommend this dessert and would order it again.

Brandon ordered the South American Chocolate Ganache with Caramelized Banana, and Cocoa Nib Tuile. This dish was marked safe for Fish/Shellfish and Peanut/Tree Nut Allergies. It can also be modified to be gluten free by omitting the cake elements.

Brandon said this was extremely rich and fudgy. In fact, he could barely cut the dessert with a spoon and a knife when he was trying to eat it. So, if you like rich, dense, chocolate, you will probably enjoy this dish a lot. I don't think Brandon loved it, but he didn't hate it either. It was a very dark chocolate, which is not his favorite, so if you like dark chocolate this might be a great option for you.

If you want to get more information about our visit to Tiffins, we did film our visit for our YouTube channel.

Overall

We were both beyond impressed with both the food and the theme of Tiffins. The food options were interesting, unique, and really high-quality. We also really appreciated how attentive the chef and our server were to our special dietary needs and worked to ensure we had a safe and delicious meal. The restaurant itself is also beautifully designed and elegant -- making it a wonderful signature restaurant to enjoy a relaxed meal or special occasion at. We both recommend it highly and are looking forward to going back to eat at Tiffins again.

Have you been to Tiffins? What was your experience dining there?

12/31/19 12/31/19

Yak & Yeti Dinner Review

Yak & Yeti, located in Disney's Animal Kingdom, is our go-to table service restaurant in the park. Recently, we stopped by Yak & Yeti a few times over the holiday season, including once to use Brandon's birthday reward as Landry's Select Club members.

*This post contains two dining reviews that took place in November and December 2019. It includes information about gluten free options, in addition to dairy free, fish/shellfish free, cabbage free, peanut free, hazelnut free, and chicken & turkey free options.

Dinner at Yak & Yeti

Atmosphere

Yak & Yeti can be found in the Asia area of the Animal Kingdom. And, its theme reflects its location acting as a home in the fictional land of Anandapur that has been turned into a restaurant.

Yak & Yeti Sign / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Landry's did an exceptional job with the theme of this restaurant, and you'll be transported to a far off place the moment you walk up to the Yak & Yeti's entrance.

Yak & Yeti Interior / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

The restaurant includes two levels for dining. On our first visit, we dined on the first floor in an area that has posters and other artifacts related to traditional Bollywood films.

On the first floor, you'll also find various artifacts -- some in fact are actually from locations throughout Asia, which is really neat.

On our second visit, we dined on the second floor, which both Brandon and I prefer. We both remarked that the second floor seems to have a lot more artifacts and cozy areas to dine. But, no matter where you are in the restaurant, you're bound to enjoy the delightful and charming theme.

The Food

Because Yak & Yeti is not owned and operated by Disney, they do not have a traditional allergy-friendly menu. They do, however, offer a gluten sensitive menu for guests. If you dine at Yak & Yeti, I always recommend that you speak directly with a chef.

Yak & Yeti / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

As I learned awhile back, the gluten sensitive menu is not necessarily safe for those with celiac disease, as some items are actually made in shared fryers. On both visits, we looked at both the gluten sensitive menu and spoke directly with a chef.

On our first visit, both Brandon and I got noodle bowls. I ordered a beef and shrimp noodle bowl (a modified version of the vegetable bowl listed on the menu), which was made using rice noodles and gluten free tamari sauce. This dish was both gluten free and dairy free.

While I really enjoyed this dish, it's not my favorite at Yak & Yeti. In fact, the previous time we visited, I had a modified Teriyaki Beef and Shrimp Stir-Fry from the seasonal menu. And, it was by far my favorite dish that I've had at Yak & Yeti in a while. Unfortunately, it's no longer on their seasonal menu, so I opted for a noodle bowl instead. It's definitely a solid option and one I try to get every once in a while.

Brandon absolutely loves the noodle bowls at Yak & Yeti. He ordered the beef noodle bowl, which was made fish/shellfish free, peanut free, hazelnut free, cabbage free, and chicken & turkey free. The big differences between my bowl and his was the GF tamari sauce and the omission of bok choy and shrimp. His dish was also made with rice noodles.

As per usual, Brandon really loved this dish a lot. He got it again on our next visit, though the chef that time made some slightly different changes to the vegetables in his noodle bowl.

Yak & Yeti - GF Consomme — Yak & Yeti / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

On our second visit, I wasn't feeling like a super heavy meal, so I decided to try one of their new salads and the Chicken Consomme soup. The soup is both gluten free and dairy free and contains Chicken Broth, Tofu, Onions, and Carrots. I've had this on several visits, and I do really enjoy it. I would say that the flavors are very mild and understated, but it's definitely a nice change of pace for something lighter. Like everything at Yak & Yeti, the portion for the soup was really big too.

Yak & Yeti - GF Wedge Salad — Yak & Yeti / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

For my entree, I ordered the Asian Wedge Salad which is gluten free and contains Baby Iceberg Lettuce, Tomatoes, Cucumbers, Blue Cheese Crumbles, Carrot Ginger Dressing, and Pork Belly. I also opted to add Grilled Cilantro-Lime Chicken to the dish too.

The chef recommended this to me, and while I was a bit dubious at first, because the flavors sounded a bit odd to me, I was actually pretty impressed with the salad. I absolutely loved the carrot ginger dressing, and the addition of pork belly was a great one. Oddly, the blue cheese worked really well, and all of the flavors ended up making for a great meal. Next time, I probably would just order a salad and not get any appetizer (like the soup), because this salad was legitimately huge. Yak & Yeti definitely does not skimp on the portions.

Yak & Yeti - Noodle Bowl — Yak & Yeti / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Brandon went with the beef noodle bowl again on our second visit. This time, the chef only included carrots, green onions, and some cilantro instead of the vegetable medley he had on the first visit. Brandon loves both carrots and green onions, so he was pretty good with this vegetable medley. As per usual, he really enjoyed his noodle bowl a lot.

Overall

Yak & Yeti has been a consistently great option for us for a table service meal when we're visiting Disney's Animal Kingdom. We both really enjoy the pan-Asian food, and we've been pretty impressed with the options and the attention that the chefs give to guests with special dietary needs. It's definitely a location we'll keep going back to again and again.

Have you been to Yak & Yeti? What do you think of the special diets options there?

12/31/19 12/31/19

Rainforest Cafe (Animal Kingdom Park) Dinner Review

Rainforest Cafe is a chain of restaurants owned and operated by Landry's with two locations at Walt Disney World. This review is specific to the location at Disney's Animal Kingdom, though Brandon and I have also been to the Disney Springs location too. We recently had dinner at the Animal Kingdom location as we had several Landry's Select Club rewards that we needed to use before the end of the year.

*This dining review took place in December 2019. It includes information about gluten free options, in addition to dairy free, fish/shellfish free, cabbage free, peanut free, hazelnut free, and chicken & turkey free options.

Dinner at Rainforest Cafe

Atmosphere

The Rainforest Cafe chain has been around since the early 1990s. And, I've been to several locations throughout the U.S. When we dined at the Animal Kingdom location, we were told by our server that it's the largest Rainforest Cafe. After dining in there, I can definitely believe it because the restaurant is pretty large.

While all Rainforest Cafes have a similar look and feel, each one is somewhat unique. The location in Disney Springs, for instance, has a giant volcano attached to it, while the Animal Kingdom location is more tropical in nature.

Rainforest Cafe Holiday Decorations / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

One of the things I really enjoyed about this visit and the restaurant's theme is that they actually decorated a bit for the holidays. I joked that it felt like we were dining in the Jingle Cruise (the holiday overlay of the Jungle Cruise at the Magic Kingdom) because many of the animatronics had holiday attire one.

Rainforest Cafe Interior / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

There was definitely a lot of great atmosphere, and every 20 minutes or so, you can expect the restaurant to have some type of "show" that happens and the animatronics come to life.

Rainforest Cafe Interior / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

We went on a weekday, about an hour before the park closed. The restaurant itself did have quite a few people in it, but the spacious seating area didn't make it feel too busy or crowded.

As you can see, there was a lot to look at throughout the restaurant. So, no matter where you're seating, you're bound to get a fun view.

Rainforest Cafe Waterfall / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Continuing the Jungle Cruise theme, I present to you the backside of the Rainforest Cafe waterfall!

The Food

Because Rainforest Cafe is not owned and operated by Disney, they do not have an allergy-friendly menu. But, a chef will come and speak to you about options. The chef we met on this visit was very friendly and helped talk through what options might be safe for each of our special dietary needs.

Rainforest Cafe - Sarah with Menu — Rainforest Cafe / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

The menu is quite large, both literally and figuratively! There were many items from salads to pasta and steaks that could be easily made gluten free (and dairy free).

I ended up ordering the Bollywood Chicken & Shrimp dish which included Sautéed Chicken and Shrimp, Stir Fry Vegetables, Spicy Curry Sauce served with White Rice. The chef told me that this dish is naturally gluten free as long as you omit the fried shallots normally served on top. I really enjoy curry so I was excited to try this option.

While I did enjoy this, I found the curry to be very spicy. I'm a big spicy food fan, and this was almost too spicy for me. So, if spicy foods are not your favorite, I would definitely recommend avoiding this. I'm not sure I'd get this again, simply because I thought the spice level was just a bit too much. I think I prefer the salmon I got at the Rainforest Cafe at Disney Springs over this dish.

Brandon opted to get something simple and easy to make allergy-friendly for him -- The Primal Steak. This dish is not only gluten free, but it's also fish/shellfish free, peanut free, cabbage free, hazelnut free, and chicken & turkey free too. The dish normally comes with mashed potatoes and a choice of another side, but Brandon decided he wanted double mashed potatoes that night. He said the steak was excellent, as were the mashed potatoes. And, as you can see, the portion was huge too!

Overall

While it wasn't the best meal I've ever had at a Rainforest Cafe location, both Brandon and I agreed that both the food and that the special dietary needs accommodations were solid. The chef seemed very willing to make a variety of dishes and provide several suggestions to us. And, the food was overall fairly good. While I didn't necessarily love the spice level on my curry, it was a sizable portion with good flavor. I would probably try something else on our next visit, but it's definitely worth going back again -- although Brandon and I do prefer Yak & Yeti (another Landry's restaurant) located in the Animal Kingdom.

Have you been to the Animal Kingdom Rainforest Cafe location? What did you think of the special dietary needs options?

7/15/14 7/15/14

Updates from the Food Allergy Information Kiosk (Garden Kiosk) at Disney's Animal Kingdom

*This visit took place in June 2014.It's been a while since I've stopped by the Food Allergy Information Kiosk, also known as the Garden Kiosk, at Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park. When it opened last August, it was a huge deal for those of us with special dietary needs, and I'm so glad that after a year it's still running at Disney's Animal Kingdom. It's just great to see something like this keep going in the parks. It's an excellent place to stop by for a snack or get information about special dietary needs dining in the Animal Kingdom.Since my last post update was in November 2013, I thought I would write up a brief post about some of the updates at the kiosk in 2014.Perhaps some of the biggest changes this year include the addition of Toutti brand non-dairy ice cream, either in vanilla or chocolate, Surf Sweets gummy candies, fruit cups, and perhaps the most popular of all...Babycakes NYC Donuts. Since Babycakes NYC's building closed due to Downtown Disney (aka Disney Springs) construction, there have been relatively few locations in which you could get Babycakes donuts. Thankfully, the Garden Kiosk now serves the cinnamon sugar and vanilla chocolate flavors. When I stopped by around 1 p.m. on a Saturday, they only had a few left, so they are definitely very popular. You can check the site for a listing of where you can get Babycakes NYC products now at Disney (this includes the Beach Club Quick Service which also carries donuts).The location also carries grab and go fruit, Enjoy Life Cookies, Lundberg Rice Chips, granola bars and more. You can also get Redbridge gluten free beer, Omission Beer (made with gluten ingredients which are later removed in the process), and Angry Orchard hard cider if you fancy a beverage (although, I have to say, I'd recommend a sugar cane mojito at the Dawa bar or the new pineapple soft serve and rum drinks over at Tamu Tamu. I haven't had the soft serve but I hear it's delicious!).While you are at the kiosk, you can also speak to a cast member about the ingredients of products and which menu offerings might be the best choice for your dietary need. I highly recommend using this, especially if you're dining quick service in the Animal Kingdom, as it is really helpful to know which locations carry the best options for you to eat, saving you time and potential frustration. The cast members are always really helpful, and it's great to have a one-stop shop for dietary needs.Overall, I'm so glad that this kiosk is still running successfully at Disney's Animal Kingdom. I hope it continues to stay and serve our special diet community. And maybe they'll open more kiosks in other parks!Have you been to the Garden Kiosk? What did you think of this special diets focused location in the Animal Kingdom?

Rainforest Cafe Dinner Review

Dinner at Rainforest Cafe

COVID-19 & Reopening Notes

Atmosphere

The Food

Overall

Tiffins Dinner Review

Dinner at Tiffins

COVID-19 & Reopening Notes

Atmosphere

The Food

Overall

Yak & Yeti Dinner Review

Dinner at Yak & Yeti

Atmosphere

The Food

Overall

Rainforest Cafe (Animal Kingdom Park) Dinner Review

Dinner at Rainforest Cafe

Atmosphere

The Food

Overall

Updates from the Food Allergy Information Kiosk (Garden Kiosk) at Disney's Animal Kingdom

Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW