4/29/21 4/29/21

Be Our Guest Restaurant Dinner Review

Be Our Guest Restaurant, located at the Magic Kingdom, is a table service dining location in Fantasyland that is inspired by Beauty & the Beast, as you dine in the Beast's castle. Brandon and I have been here for lunch together and really enjoyed it. I have dined there for dinner but it's been years. So, we finally decided to give the restaurant a try for dinner with a late night seating to try out their updated fixed price meal offerings.

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

Dinner at Be Our Guest Restaurant

COVID-19 & Reopening Notes

On this particular visit, we made reservations for the restaurant about a week before we dined there. I used the My Disney Experience app and found that there was a later evening seating, which we decided to book (the restaurant closed at 8 p.m. when we dined there). 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. We were able to easily check in using the mobile app, though we have found checking in using the app to be very hit or miss.

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, 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

Be Our Guest Restaurant is inspired by Beauty and the Beast and like Cinderella's Royal Table is located inside a castle. The restaurant features three unique dining rooms that will make you feel like you're transported into the animated film.

Be Our Guest Restaurant / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

We dined later in the evening, so it was fairly dark outside the restaurant when we arrived. But, as you'll see from the photos, they include colorful lighting at night for a totally different look and feel depending on what time of day you eat at Be Our Guest.

I especially love the grand entrance, which features busts and stained glass features. It's all really elegant and beautifully designed.

Do take a bit of time to look at the stained glass throughout the restaurant's entrance and front interior. You'll see moments from the story of Beauty and the Beast in these intricate designs.

Be Our Guest Restaurant - West Wing / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Once inside the restaurant, you'll be seated in one of three rooms: The Grand Ballroom, The West Wing, and the Castle Gallery (which I've also seen referred to as the Rose Gallery too). We were seated in the West Wing -- which is the Beast's study -- and is dimly lit and features elements from the film.

The West Wing includes the iconic rose slowly losing its petals. Be sure to check it out no matter what area you're seated in the restaurant.

Brandon lightened up a photo of the West Wing so you could see a bit more of what it looks like. Here's a bit of the seating area and some of that unique decor.

For comparison, you can see a photo that is a bit more dark that also highlights what the Grand Ballroom looks like. As you can see, the lighting is very different between the two rooms and really distinguishes the different themes in each of the spaces.

Be Our Guest Restaurant - Ballroom / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

The Grand Ballroom is probably the most impressive of the three rooms with ornate chandeliers, pillars, and even a unique fresco in the ceiling. I especially love the floor to ceiling windows in the back of the ballroom that features a snowy landscape that actually "snows" while you dine there.

The biggest downside from our viewpoint of the Grand Ballroom was that it was extremely loud and very busy. If you prefer a quieter meal, you might request dining in the West Wing or Castle Gallery. But, you really can't beat the atmosphere in the main ballroom dining area.

The Food

Like most Disney owned restaurants, Be Our Guest Restaurant does have an allergy-friendly menu -- which during our visit was found on the mobile app. You can, of course, always speak to a chef when you dine at at the restaurant too to discuss different options, modifications, and any questions that you might have.

On our visit, we utilized the mobile app for the allergy-friendly menu and discussed options with our server who talked to the chef on our behalf. Of course, if you feel more comfortable speaking directly to a chef, be sure to let your server know too. We saw chefs come out several times during our visit to speak with other guests.

For the first time ever in the Magic Kingdom, Brandon and I got alcoholic beverages during our meal. Be Our Guest Restaurant is one of the few places in the park that does carry wine and beer. We enjoyed two different wines including a sparkling wine (Charles de Fère Cuvée Jean Louis Blanc de Blancs Brut).

We also ordered one of the private label wines made for the restaurant -- the Enchanted Rose. Both of the wines we had were good, and we really liked the Rose. If you're a wine drinker, you can get better options at other restaurants on Disney property, but these were not bad either. We'd definitely get both of them again.

For my bread service, I was served the gluten free, dairy free & allergy-friendly Bloomfield Farms brand rolls. These were served with regular butter, but if you're dairy free, you can get non-dairy vegan buttery spread or extra virgin olive oil for your bread service too. While these weren't heated as well as other locations, I really love these rolls and enjoy them for any bread service. If you can have dairy, the whipped butter with a French sea salt served at Be Our Guest is really excellent. Somehow we didn't get a photo of Brandon's bread, but he was served regular gluten-filled bread which he said was good but made even better with the butter. Both Brandon and I said the butter really made the bread service.

During our visit to Be Our Guest Restaurant, the meal was a fixed price -- meaning you were served an appetizer, entree, and dessert of your choice. For my appetizer, I ordered the Mixed Field Greens which was marked safe for Gluten/Wheat, Egg, Fish/Shellfish, Milk, and Soy Allergies. We were also told this was vegan too.

While, the salad itself was super fresh and light, I wouldn't say it was the highlight of the meal. It was a fairly plain salad -- so if you're looking for something a bit more decadent, this dish is probably not what you want to order. However, if you're dairy free or vegan, this might be the best option that's safe for your special dietary need. I would personally like to see maybe a different salad option that is safe for those special dietary needs but maybe has a bit more of a wow factor to it. On the upside, it was a very nice size portion!

For Brandon's appetizer, he got the French Onion Soup one we were able to confirm that it did not contain chicken or turkey broth in it. Our server did tell us that the current version contains beef stock, so if you're vegan or vegetarian, it looks like the French Onion Soup is no longer a safe option as it was in the past. In addition to covering Brandon's allergies, this dish can also be made gluten free. It is marked safe for Gluten/Wheat, Fish/Shellfish, Peanut/Tree Nut, and Soy Allergies on the allergy-friendly menu. It is also chicken & turkey and cabbage free (Brandon's other allergies).

If you know any of our reviews or seen any of our YouTube videos, you know that Brandon absolutely loves soup. He especially loves French Onion Soup, so this was a double-win for him. He absolutely loved it and said he wish he could have ordered a second bowl of it -- it was that good. If it is safe for your special dietary needs, and you like soup, this is a strong appetizer contender at Be Our Guest Restaurant.

For my entree, I ordered the Herb Salted Pork Tenderloin with Crispy Pork Belly, Seasonal Vegetables-Two Ways, Pork Jus, and Candied Pecan. This dish was marked safe for Gluten/Wheat, Egg, Fish/Shellfish, and Soy Allergies. I did not ask if it could be made dairy free, but if you're interested in the dish, I have a feeling they could make some easy modifications by removing some of the purees on the dish.

Overall, I really liked the dish. The pork, both the tenderloin and pork belly, were well-cooked and flavorful. I liked the root vegetables and the sauce on the dish. I think my only slight complaint were the pickled beets on the plate. I'm not a huge beet fan to begin with, and I found the pickling on the beets to be very strong in flavor compared to the rest of the dish. Had the beets been removed, I think the dish would have been much stronger and more balanced. That being said, I would still probably order this again, though I might opt for a different entree on our next visit.

For Brandon's entree, he ordered the Grilled Center Cut Filet Mignon with Robuchon Yukon Potatoes, Seasonal Vegetables, and Cipollini Marmalade with a Red Wine Glaze. This dish was marked safe for Gluten/Wheat, Egg, Fish/Shellfish, Peanut/Tree Nut, and Soy Allergies. It was also made safe for chicken & turkey and cabbage allergies.

Like me, Brandon was pleasantly surprised with his entree. He really liked the filet and how well it was seasoned. As a mashed potato connoisseur, he said the version he had in this entree were OK but not amazing. I think both of us were impressed at the presentation and quality of the food -- with a few elements in each of our dish that were just slightly off or just OK. That being said, we both agreed the entrees were surprisingly good based and exceeded our expectations.

For dessert, neither of us expected that we would be given more than some allergy-friendly cookies. So, you can imagine how surprised we were when we were each served a dessert trio. For the gluten free option (contains dairy), I was served a lemon raspberry macaron, white chocolate "Chip" cup with a gluten free version of the Grey Stuff, and dark chocolate truffle filled with Grand Marnier.

I was impressed that there were some options for gluten free guests. I'd like to see what the dairy free options are next visit, especially as I do try to limit my dairy. But, I'm glad I got to try the gluten free options and that they were all served in small portions. The lemon raspberry macaron was extremely sweet, but I liked the sharpness of the lemon flavor combined with the raspberry jam cream. This would a skip for me next time, as it was just too sweet for me. The grey stuff was a real treat, as I wasn't sure they could make a GF option. In this case, they just omit the Oreo cookies that are normally mixed in with the vanilla mousse. I loved the presentation and thought it was such a fun treat. That being said, it was a really bland dessert. I think kids would love this no matter what, but to me, the flavors weren't anything too exciting. And finally, my favorite of the dessert trio was the dark chocolate truffle. It was rich, decadent, and super flavorful. I liked the citrus punch from the Grand Marnier too. I'm pretty sure I would have been happy with three of these truffles version the trio sampler instead!

For Brandon's dessert trio, he was served slightly different options. Like me, he was able to get the Grey Stuff but his came with Oreoe cookies in it and had the decorative chocolate pearls that were omitted from my dish. He was also served two truffles that did not contain any nuts. Brandon also agreed that his truffles were the winner on the dessert trio and that the Grey Stuff was just OK. Still, both of us were just thrilled that we were served something besides sorbet or allergy-friendly pre-packaged cookies.

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VatCi0axcBs[/embedyt]

If you want to get more information about our visit to Be Our Guest Restaurant, we did film our visit for our YouTube channel.

Overall

We were both really pleasantly surprised by our meal at Be Our Guest Restaurant. We both had more options for all components of our meal than we expected. And, based on my previous dinner experiences, the food was definitely a step up in quality, presentation, and flavor. At the price point, we would probably not go back for a while so that we can try other restaurants, but if you're looking for a special experience in the Magic Kingdom or have kiddos, this might be a great table service option for you. It was fun to dine in the castle and see the Beast -- all while enjoying a tasty and safe meal.

Have you been to Be Our Guest Restaurant? What was your experience dining there with special dietary needs?

12/31/19 12/31/19

Liberty Tree Tavern Dinner Review

Liberty Tree Tavern, located in the Magic Kingdom, is a table service restaurant that serves Thanksgiving-style meals year-round. Recently, Brandon and I went to Liberty Tree Tavern just before Thanksgiving to celebrate the season with a holiday meal we didn't have to cook ourselves.

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

Dinner at Liberty Tree Tavern

Atmosphere

Because Liberty Tree Tavern is located in Liberty Square, the restaurant's theme is based on a colonial inn. The restaurant serves both lunch and dinner, with lunch including a la carte options and dinner serving an all-you-care-to-enjoy Pilgrim's platter.

Liberty Tree Tavern Sign / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

I absolutely love the charm of Liberty Tree Tavern. It's been a restaurant that my family has been going to since 2003, and it holds a lot of nostalgia for me. I especially love that the colonial theme has pretty much stayed the same since the first time I visited the restaurant.

Liberty Tree Tavern Lobby / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

When you enter the restaurant, you'll notice a classical colonial scene, including a fireplace and lots of decor by the hearth.

Liberty Tree Tavern - Holiday Tree / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

During the holiday season, they also have a lot of colonial themed holiday decor. I really loved this Christmas tree which featured lots of fruit and hand woven decorations.

Liberty Tree Tavern - Seating / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

The restaurant's dining rooms are themed to represent important figures from American history. This includes:

Benjamin Franklin
Thomas Jefferson
John Paul Jones
Paul Revere
Betsy Ross
George Washington

Liberty Tree Tavern - Jefferson Room / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

On this visit, we dined in the Thomas Jefferson room. On our previous visit, we dined in the Betsy Ross room, which I think might have been a bit better themed. But, the Jefferson room was quite charming. I especially loved the fireplace lined in toile designed tiles.

The seating area in the Jefferson room was fairly standard -- though we both felt the seating was a little close together. Still, you can see that the cozy room was filled with dark wooden decor, adding to the colonial theme.

The Food

Of course, the main reason we dine at Liberty Tree Tavern is the Thanksgiving-style food. Over the years, the menu has changed some, with different options being featured on the all-you-care-to-enjoy menu. The past several years has included allergy-friendly stuffing, mashed potatoes, and gravy -- definitely a big reason why we visit the restaurant!

Like most Disney owned restaurants, Liberty Tree Tavern offers an allergy-friendly menu. Guests with special dietary needs can also speak directly to a chef about options too. On this occasion, we looked at both the menu and talked to a chef directly too, as we had a lot of questions related to Brandon's special dietary needs.

Liberty Tree Tavern / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

As we started our meal, the chef brought Brandon and I the Declaration Salad to share. This is served family style, and our version was gluten free, dairy free, fish/shellfish free, peanut free, cabbage free, hazelnut free, and chicken & turkey free.

The salad dressing was a honey shallot vinaigrette that was very mild but tasty. We both liked it a lot, though I thought it could have used just a bit more vinaigrette. You can, of course, always ask the chef and your server for additional vinaigrette if you need it.

Both Brandon and I were served our own platters, rather than sharing them. This is because we both have very different special dietary needs, and the chef wanted to ensure we both had a lot of options.

For my platter, I was served a Pilgrim's platter that included: roasted turkey breast, pot roast, oven roasted pork, mashed potatoes, herb rice stuffing, seasonal vegetables, and gluten free gravy. Everything on this platter was gluten free and dairy free.

I am a huge fan of Thanksgiving-style food, so I always love the Pilgrim's platter at Liberty Tree Tavern. My only slight complaint this year was the gluten free stuffing. I have been a pretty big fan of it in year's past. But, this year, I found the texture to be really gummy. The flavor was still good, but the texture was just a bit off. They also used different bread it seemed, and the stuffing was much chunkier than it had been before too. I'm not saying I wouldn't eat it again, but it definitely wasn't my favorite version of this stuffing. Everything else was fantastic as usual.

Liberty Tree Tavern - GF Mac & Cheese — Liberty Tree Tavern / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

I had heard from blog readers that if you ask at Liberty Tree Tavern that you can get gluten free mac & cheese. I did ask our chef about this, and he brought me a plate of Amy's GF mac & cheese.

I wouldn't say this was anything to write home about, but it was nice that they offer this to gluten free guests. (Note that this version does contain dairy, and I do not believe they offer the gluten free & dairy free version of Amy's at this time.)

For Brandon's Pilgrim's Platter, they brought out a similar but slightly different version. Because he cannot have chicken & turkey, he couldn't have the roasted turkey, herb stuffing, or gravy. Generally, Brandon isn't a stuffing or gravy fan, so he was pretty OK with those omissions. His platter was fish/shellfish free, cabbage free, peanut free, hazelnut free, and chicken & turkey free.

Both Brandon and I really enjoyed our platters, and we both said we thought the pot roast was the best part of the meal. You'll also notice from the photos that Brandon's meal has two allergy picks on the platter. The chef made sure to mark my food with one pick and Brandon's with two so that he could ensure neither of our food got switched in any way. That was a nice touch and definitely something I hadn't seen before.

Liberty Tree Tavern - Mac & Cheese — Liberty Tree Tavern / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Brandon was also served mac & cheese, but he got the regular gluten-filled version. Like mine, he said his wasn't anything to write home about. We both liked having it as an option but it wasn't the best part of the meal by any means.

As you can see by this photo Brandon took of me, we were served a ridiculous amount of food. It definitely lived up to the Pilgrim's platter name. And, if you're still hungry after round one, you can actually order more of anything you like. We both opted to have small second helpings of our favorites like the pot roast and mashed potatoes.

Liberty Tree Tavern - GF Brownie — Liberty Tree Tavern / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

For dessert, the chef brought me a gluten free brownie. This was the Sweet Street brand, which is one of the newer brands now served at Disney. Unfortunately, it does contain dairy.

Dessert really isn't the reason I come to Liberty Tree Tavern, and I'm usually way too full by the time we get to dessert. On this trip, I did eat a bit of this but only a few bites. The chef did bring me a side cup of raspberry sorbet too, which was gluten free and dairy free.

One of the things that we noticed on the allergy-friendly menu was that the dessert options listed the gluten free brownie and Oooey Gooey Toffee Cake as safe for peanut allergies. I knew that the Sweet Street brand GF brownie had a peanut cross-contamination warning, and as we confirmed with the chef neither of the dessert options were safe for peanut allergies -- despite being listed safe on the allergy-friendly menu. Because of this Brandon was served pre-packaged Enjoy Life Foods Cookies and raspberry sorbet.

If you have any type of nut allergy, I would highly recommend double-checking with a chef, as we were both pretty sure before talking to him that neither dessert was an option. Unfortunately, allergy-friendly menus aren't always accurate and can sometimes have misinformation, especially if the restaurant makes a product change.

Overall

While the dessert component wasn't great, the rest of the meal we had at Liberty Tree Tavern was. We both really enjoyed getting a Thanksgiving-style meal that was perfectly customized for both of our special dietary needs. And, I'm always really excited when I get to eat a restaurant that serves gluten free stuffing, mashed potatoes, and gravy! It's definitely become a yearly tradition to eat at Liberty Tree Tavern during the holiday season, but it's a great option year-round too.

Have you been to Liberty Tree Tavern? What did you enjoy when you dined there?

3/4/19 3/4/19

Columbia Harbour House Dinner Review

Columbia Harbour House, located in Liberty Square in the Magic Kingdom, has long been one of my go-to quick service restaurants for gluten free and dairy free options. Well, really, it's my go-to spot for allergy-friendly chicken tenders. I don't know what it is about this location, but I've always just loved the way they cook their allergy-friendly chicken tenders. The rest of the special diets options are pretty limited. But, the chicken tenders are just so good, they're hard not to order anyway!

*This gluten free and dairy free dining review took place in February 2019.

Dinner at Columbia Harbour House

On this particular visit, we stopped by Columbia Harbour House before attending the Disney Vacation Club Moonlight Magic event held in the park that night. As a part of the event, we were given a voucher to redeem a complimentary quick service entree and beverage at select locations. Thankfully, Columbia Harbour House was on that list, which meant free allergy-friendly chicken tenders!

Atmosphere

Unlike other Liberty Inn in Epcot, which is also colonial America themed, Columbia Harbour House is a beautifully themed restaurant with a sea faring colonial village theme.

Colubmia Harbour House - Sign / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Although I didn't snag many photos that night, you can see a lot of the colonial theming and touches throughout the restaurant.

Columbia Harbour House - Interior / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Although the photo here highlights more traditional theming, both Brandon and I always love the nautical touches and even the sea shanty songs you can hear in the background when you dine here.

The Food

Of course, our big reason for going to Columbia Harbour House is always the allergy-friendly chicken tenders and the huge portion sizes they serve at the restaurant. Like most Disney owned restaurants, Columbia Harbour House does carry an allergy-friendly lunch and dinner menu. You can also always ask to speak with a manager to discuss any concerns and additional options for special dietary needs. The location is pretty limited on options. So if you don't want a salad, baked salmon, or chicken tenders, I would recommend dining at another location.

Columbia Harbour House / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Last summer, Brandon and I discovered that the restaurant had changed the brand of allergy-friendly chicken tenders they were using. Most locations on Disney property still serve the Ian's brand allergy-friendly chicken tenders. But, at this location, you'll find the Chef's Line brand being served. If you want to know more about this brand and ingredients, check out the post I wrote back in July 2018 about it, which includes photos of the ingredients that the manager shared with me.

Overall, these particular chicken tenders remind me a lot of the AllergyFreeFoods brand that Disney used to serve. These are more chicken nugget style, and they do have a lot of breading on them. Brandon prefers the Ian's brand over this one. I like both, but after this last visit, I think I lean slightly towards the Ian's brand in preference -- only because I found these chicken tenders to be a lot saltier. They're still really good though, and we both agreed we'd still order these any time. And, as you can see from the photo, my portion was pretty large too.

Overall

No matter what brand of allergy-friendly chicken tenders they are serving, Columbia Harbour House always does a great job of frying the allergy-friendly chicken tenders to perfection (and in a dedicated fryer too). It's a great go-to spot if you're craving allergy-friendly chicken tenders or even a healthier option, like baked salmon, when you're in the Magic Kingdom.

Have you been to Columbia Harbour House? What did you think of the food options there?

11/14/18 11/14/18

Liberty Tree Tavern Dinner Review

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

Dinner at Liberty Tree Tavern

Liberty Tree Tavern, located in Liberty Square in the Magic Kingdom, is a table service restaurant that serves classic Thanksgiving-style meals in a setting inspired by colonial America. Recently, we had dinner at Liberty Tree Tavern before Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party to enjoy a meal that made us think of the holidays. I've been to Liberty Tree Tavern quite a few times over the years. But, this was Brandon's first visit, and I was looking forward to hearing what he thought of the all-you-care-to-enjoy meal there.

Atmosphere

Liberty Tree Tavern - Fireplace / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Liberty Tree Tavern - Christmas Tree / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Liberty Tree Tavern is set to resemble a colonial style inn. And, you can see touches of this theme as soon as you approach the restaurant.Once you step inside the restaurant, you'll find lots of colonial style touches, including a large fireplace when you first enter the building.Although the fireplace isn't functional, it does really add to the theming of the restaurant. I also love all the other touches, like colonial style cookware and china.During the holiday season, Liberty Tree Tavern has simple, but festive decor, including this charming Christmas tree.You'll dine in one of 6 themed rooms that represent important figures from American history. This includes: Benjamin Franklin

Thomas Jefferson
John Paul Jones
Paul Revere
Betsy Ross
George Washington

Liberty Tree Tavern Betsy Ross Room / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Liberty Tree Tavern Interior / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

While you can request specific rooms, depending on when you visit request may not be able to be accommodated due to how busy it is.On this visit, we were seated in the Betsy Ross Room. Because Betsy Ross was credited with making the first American flag, you'll see touches of this throughout the room. That includes several flags and sewing tools.There is a ton of detail in every dining room in Liberty Tree Tavern. So, I definitely encourage you to take a look around after your meal to check it all out.

The Food

Of course, we were there for the Thanksgiving-style food. We were both starving and definitely ready for a hearty meal. And, we were definitely not disappointed with our experience at Liberty Tree Tavern. If you have a special dietary need, you'll be given an allergy-friendly menu before ordering. Everything at the restaurant is served family style. Depending on your special dietary need and those dining with you, you may be brought platters to share or your own platter. On this occasion, our server noted that we would each be given our own plates to ensure safety.

Liberty Tree Tavern - Allergy Friendly Rolls / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Up first, I was brought Deanna's Gluten Free brand rolls. These are my favorite on Disney property. And, they were well heated at Liberty Tree Tavern. The rolls are gluten free and dairy free. If you are also dairy free, be sure to ask for Earth Balance Vegan Buttery Spread, which the restaurant has on hand. If you can have dairy, you will be served butter with your rolls.

Liberty Tree Tavern - Salad / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Next up was a platter of Declaration Salad which is safe for gluten/wheat, egg, fish/shellfish, milk, peanut/tree nut, and soy allergies. I was a bit sad when I learned that the salad dressing was no longer a strawberry vinaigrette -- which Liberty Tree Tavern has been serving for years -- and is not instead a honey-shallot vinaigrette. While the salad was just OK, I found the honey-shallot vinaigrette to be pretty bland, especially when compared to the original vinaigrette served here. Neither one of us ate that much salad, as were weren't that impressed with the dressing, and we were saving room for the rest of the meal.

Liberty Tree Tavern - Dinner Plate / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

The great part about Liberty Tree Tavern is that you can get an entire Thanksgiving-style meal gluten free and even dairy free. That's because the restaurant has made easy modifications to prepare dishes that are safe for a variety of special dietary needs. On this visit, I was served a plate that included gluten free mashed potatoes, green beans with garlic, stuffing, cranberry sauce, turkey, roast pork, pot roast, and gravy. The only component on my plate that contained dairy were the mashed potatoes. But, if you're dairy free, you'll be able to get a dairy free version of the mashed potatoes too.

In terms of the meal quality, I was super impressed. Both Brandon and I agreed that the mashed potatoes were excellent and that all of the meats were really good too. Of the meat, we both thought the pot roast was the most flavorful. The turkey was also good. We both liked the roast pork the least, and I think that's primarily due to the sauce that was on it. It was some type of spicy mojo sauce that did not fit in at all with the meal or the theme of the restaurant. I really do miss the days when they had ham on the menu. My favorite parts of the meal had to be the gluten free (and dairy free) stuffing and gravy. Goodness gracious I could eat both of these everyday. I also have to have to give Liberty Tree Tavern credit for making really flavorful green beans too.

One of the benefits of an all-you-care-to-enjoy restaurant is that you can order as much as you want. I did end up getting a second plate with turkey, pot roast, gravy, mashed potatoes, and stuffing. I'm not gonna lie, I was plain stuffed from all the stuffing I ate at this meal!

Liberty Tree Tavern - Gluten Free Brownie / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

For dessert, I was served a gluten free brownie with ice cream. If you're dairy free, you can get allergy-friendly cookies or sorbet for dessert as an option, which I've had in the past. I have to admit that I probably should have asked for sorbet because I was so full. But, Brandon and I ended up splitting the brownie as he actually preferred it to the Ooeey Gooey Toffee Cake that he was served. I believe they used the OMG It's Gluten Free brand brownie, and we both thought it was delicious, especially because it was nice and warm. Next time, I would probably just order the sorbet or the brownie minus the ice cream.

Overall

Both Brandon and I thoroughly enjoyed Liberty Tree Tavern for dinner. We both thought the meal was very tasty and extremely filling. Although we both agreed that this is a restaurant that we wouldn't go to all the time, we love the idea of dining here during the holiday season for a holiday inspired meal. It was absolutely perfect for as our dinner before Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party. If you're interested in going to Liberty Tree Tavern but don't want the all-you-care-to-enjoy dinner, you can also dine here a la carte for lunch. That's definitely a much lighter way to enjoy Thanksgiving-style food.

Have you been to Liberty Tree Tavern? What did you enjoy when you dined there?

7/18/18 7/18/18

Columbia Harbour House -- Dinner -- Quick Service -- Magic Kingdom

*This dining experience took place in July 2018.

Dinner at Columbia Harbour House

Columbia Harbour House, located in Liberty Square in the Magic Kingdom, is a one of my go-to quick service restaurants in the theme parks for allergy-friendly chicken tenders. Even though the allergy-chicken tenders are typically the same across Disney property, for some reason, I just like the way they cook them at Columbia Harbour House. Recently, we stopped by the restaurant for a quick early evening dinner as Brandon and I were both craving allergy-chicken tenders.

Atmosphere

There's something really charming about Columbia Harbour House's theme. It's meant to reflect a Colonial era sea-faring town (like Boston).From the decor to the cast member costumes, everything definitely says Colonial times.One of my favorite spots in the restaurant is the second floor. It's a great spot to enjoy a quiet meal and get away from the hustle and bustle of the theme park crowds. Plus, it's perfect for getting a bird's eye view of the restaurant and Liberty Square outside.As you can see by this photo, there is ample seating on the second floor. But, depending on the time of day, you just might have the restaurant seating to yourself. We dined around 4 p.m., and as you can see it was pretty quiet.

The Food

Like most restaurants in Disney World, Columbia Harbour House does carry an allergy-friendly menu. Although I didn't think much of it when we ordered, I did notice that the menu had changed slightly from our most recent visit in March 2018.We ordered two orders of the allergy-friendly chicken tenders and were given a pager to come back when they were ready.When we arrived back at the counter, the manager at Columbia Harbour House presented us with our allergy-chicken tenders. But, both Brandon and I noticed immediately that they looked completely different from the Ian's brand allergy-friendly chicken tenders that Disney has been serving at locations across property. We both asked if this was a new change, and the manager told us he was told that this was a property wide change that would be happening due to issues with supply for the Ian's brand.He also offered to show us the packaging for the the chicken tenders, which were Chef's Line brand. These are gluten free, dairy free, and egg free and may cover some other special dietary needs, as well. They are also certified gluten free. You can find out more about the brand and ingredients on their website.As we learned from some blog readers, Disney's Special Diets Department has advised guests that they are testing out several different allergy-friendly chicken tender brands, including those that are top 8 free. Many readers have expressed disappointment that these contain soy. Unfortunately, even when Disney has served soy free allergy-friendly chicken tenders, they have not been an option for soy free guests at some locations due to the oil used to fry them. So, sadly, the allergy-friendly chicken tenders have been hit or miss with those are who soy free. Still, it's nice to know that Disney is testing a variety of options to ensure the tastiest and safest options for guests.As you can see, two orders of Allergy-Friendly Chicken Tenders and Fries made in a dedicated fryer is a ton of food. So, if you're not that hungry or have a small appetite, you can easily split one order. I also always ask for Ken's Steakhouse Cocktail Sauce, which is gluten free and a nice condiment for the chicken tenders and fries.Once we were seated, we had to dig in and see how the new allergy-friendly chicken tenders tasted. The verdict? I think they taste very similar to the original AllergyFreeFoods brand of allergy-friendly chicken tenders that Disney used to serve. So, if you had that particular brand and loved them, you will really enjoy these chicken tenders. They do have more breading on them, so under-cooking is a bit more of a potential too (which Brandon noticed).If you are a fan of the crunchier Ian's brand allergy-friendly chicken tenders, you might be disappointed by these. Brandon much prefers the Ian's brand, so he was pretty saddened by the new brand change. He doesn't mind the new ones, but he loves the Ian's brand, so this was a bummer for him. Of course, taste is all subjective, so it completely depends whether you will like one version or the other. I like both, and didn't mind the new version for some different variety.

Overall

Columbia Harbour House is still our go-to spot for allergy-friendly chicken tenders at Disney World. We'll be interested to see how the new allergy-friendly chicken tenders changes continue. And, we're interested to try some other brands too. In the meantime, we might be at Hollywood Studios at ABC Commissary or the Backlot Express for the Ian's brand allergy-friendly chicken tenders so that Brandon can get his cravings in before they switch to a new brand.Have you been to Columbia Harbour House or another location for allergy-friendly chicken tenders? What did you think of the brands served at Disney?

6/4/18 6/4/18

Be Our Guest Restaurant -- Lunch -- Quick Service -- Magic Kingdom

*This gluten free dining experience took place in June 2018.

Lunch at Be Our Guest Restaurant

Be Our Guest Restaurant is a restaurant in Fantasyland in the Magic Kingdom that serves both quick service breakfast and lunch and table service dinner. I haven't eaten lunch at Be Our Guest Restaurant since 2013, so it's been a very very long time. Recently, we asked you, the readers, what quick service restaurant we should eat lunch or dinner at, and Be Our Guest was the most requested. So, given how long it had been and your requests, we had to go! Brandon has also never eaten at Be Our Guest for any meal, so he was looking forward to checking it out too.

Atmosphere

When it comes to a well-themed restaurant, Be Our Guest is definitely one of the best. From the moment you arrive, you'll feel like you're transported to the Beast's Castle with Belle.If you do have the time, I highly recommend taking a moment to look around at the exterior of the restaurant. There's so many beautiful touches and great photo opportunities.I love everything about all the details and theme, including these amazing beast busts built into the outside lighting fixtures.There are three dining rooms in Be Our Guest -- each with a distinct and unique theme. The first is the main ballroom. From the gorgeous chandeliers to the impressive floor to ceiling windows that make it look like it's snowing outside, this is definitely the definition of grand ballroom.This room also has the most seating, which is helpful if you're eating lunch here on a busy day.The second room is where we ate -- the Rose Gallery. This is a smaller but equally impressive room. There are lovely paintings of Belle and the Beast and even a large music box style scene of Belle and the Beast dancing that actually moves.The third and final room is the West Wing. This room is well themed and detailed, that it is a must visit anytime you're at Be Our Guest Restaurant. I've never been able to dine in here because it's so popular. But, it's definitely worth taking a quick peek into just for the theming.Pro Tip if you have children. This room is both dark and can be a bit scary. If you have children who might get scared by this, I would probably avoid visiting or dining in this space (and would request to not be seated there during dinner).

The Food

Of course, we were at Be Our Guest Restaurant, not just for the theme, but the food! This restaurant does not include an allergy-friendly lunch menu. That's because guests typically order meals from a self-serve kiosk. These kiosks will let you add your special dietary need to the selection and automatically tell you what you might be able to order. This can be handy if you have a common or single special dietary need, but not in other cases (or if you have questions). So, definitely speak to a cast member if you want to talk to a chef or manager.On our visit, a cast member directed us to stations typically used for mobile ordering. Because it was so busy, the cast members there assisted us with the ordering and did let me look at their ordering screen to determine the options. As it turns out, everything Brandon wanted was also available as a gluten free option, so we ended up making our entire order gluten free so that we could try multiple dishes.Once we placed our order, we then found seats in the Rose Gallery and waited for our food to arrive. I was at the drink station when the food arrived. But Brandon noted that the manager was actually with several cast members to ensure that everything arrived safely and was gluten free.The first dish we ordered was the French Onion Soup. This dish can be made gluten free by omitting the bread/croutons. It was also listed as a vegetarian option, and I have heard mixed reports as to whether this is a vegetable stock base or beef broth based soup.Both Brandon and I thought this soup was the better of the two soups we tried. It was also insanely cheesy. So, if you enjoy cheesy French Onion soup, you'll be very happy with this option.The next item we ordered was the Potato Leek Soup. This dish is marked gluten free on the menu and does contain dairy. Both Brandon and I liked this soup a lot. But, the French Onion was hard to top. We would recommend ordering this soup, especially if you're not a fan of French Onion or want a soup that isn't as filling.For entrees, we ordered two. The first was the Braised Pork (Coq Au Vin Style) which included Eight Hour Slow-cooked Pork with Mushrooms, Onions, Carrots and Bacon served with Mashed Potatoes and Green Bean Jardiniere. This dish can be made gluten free by omitting the gravy but does contain dairy.Both Brandon and I thought this was the better of the two entrees. The pork was extremely tender and flavorful, and the mashed potatoes were also very good. I actually loved the green beans with onions and peppers and ate a good amount of them. Brandon is not a green bean fan, and even he liked them when combined with the pork and mashed potatoes. We both agreed we would not hesitate to order this again.The second entree we ordered was the Carved Turkey Sandwich served warm on a Millet Chia gluten free bread with Dijon Mayonnaise and Pommes Frites. This dish is both gluten free and dairy free. Both Brandon and I thought this was a solid lunch option and a huge portion -- perfect for sharing. The turkey was actually proper real hand carved turkey -- not deli turkey. The millet chia bread (which is from Udi's Gluten Free) was quite tasty and paired well with the turkey, Dijon mayonnaise and arugula on the sandwich. The only real bummer from this entree were the French fries which seemed lukewarm by the time they got to our table.Though we both preferred the pork, we would also order the turkey again. Plus, it's a great option for guests who are gluten free and dairy free.And, finally, we had to order the Lemon - Raspberry Cream Puff which is gluten free. Unfortunately, this does contain dairy. But, I've heard you can get sorbet at Be Our Guest too.I should have known better ordering this, as it is a gluten free and no-sugar added dessert, and I do not typically think those two combinations mix well. Even though I love lemon, this dessert was super dry and had a weird flavor. I can guess it was due to the sugar free substitutes used in the cream puff. What a bummer and a missed opportunity, to make a decadent and fantastic gluten free cream puff!I have to admit that I do not like sugar substitutes or no sugar added desserts typically and have not usually enjoyed the ones I've tried at Disney. Next time we'll skip the dessert and get one elsewhere. However, I've heard lots of guests rave about this cream puff, so if you think you might like it, I would say give it a try. It's just not something I personally enjoyed.As you can see from this photo, we had a TON of food! We definitely over-ordered for lunch (even a late one at around 2 p.m.) and were full for the rest of the day. Next time we would skip the dessert and maybe share a soup and split two entrees.

Overall

We were pleasantly surprised by the lunch we had at Be Our Guest Restaurant. It's not a location we'd dine at all the time. But, it's nice for something completely different than traditional quick service in the park. We both thought the soups and entrees were quite good and moderately priced. My only negative would be that some of our food wasn't as warm as other dishes. But, this may also have been due to the timing and special dietary needs requests. But, this wouldn't deter us from going again. With great theming and a ton of gluten free options (and some dairy free options), we will definitely go back sooner than 4 years now!Have you been to Be Our Guest Restaurant? What did you order when you dined here?

3/4/18 3/4/18

Columbia Harbour House -- Dinner -- Quick Service -- Magic Kingdom

*This dining experience took place in February 2018.

Dinner at Columbia Harbour House

Columbia Harbour House, located in Liberty Square at the Magic Kingdom, is one of my go-to quick service spots in the park. Though it's allergy-friendly lunch and dinner menu is somewhat limited for guests with special dietary needs, they serve allergy-friendly chicken tenders there -- one of my favorite quick service meal options. On this occasion, we stopped by for a quick dinner in between some fastpasses on a random weeknight in the park.

Atmosphere

Columbia Harbour House has a ton of charm and lots of great theming. Set to resemble a sea-side Colonial New England town, you'll see lots of colonial decor, along with sea-faring art and collectibles. You'll find lots to look at in every nook and cranny of the restaurant.My favorite spot to dine is on the 2nd floor. A lot of guests don't know it exists, but it's a perfect spot to rest, recharge, and refuel with some allergy-friendly chicken tenders.On the night we visited, it was a bit later in the evening, so the 2nd floor was closed. Still, we found lots of seating on the main floor and even tucked away in a quiet side room.

The Food

Although there are some other gluten free and dairy free meal options, I have to order allergy-friendly chicken tenders whenever I dine at Columbia Harbour House. Even though these are the same allergy-friendly chicken tenders you can get a variety of locations at Disney, for some reason they taste best at Columbia Harbour House. Maybe it's because they have frying down to an art?Both Brandon and I ordered allergy-friendly chicken tenders. Brandon actually prefers these over the regular chicken tenders, if you can believe it. So, he's taken to ordering these, as well. We got 2 orders -- 1 with French Fries, Green Beans, and Carrots, and 1 with a double order of French Fries.As you can see from the photo, we had huge portions. The amount of food we both got was way more than we expected. And, we both joked that we could have easily split one meal. Each of us got about 6 allergy-friendly chicken tenders and a huge heaping of fries. I also got the green beans and carrots, which comes with the meal normally (Brandon asked for Double Fries, as he isn't a fan of green beans). The green beans and carrots were pretty bland, but everything else was delicious.I have also started getting a package of Ken's Steak House Cocktail Sauce with my meal. Ken's dressings are marked gluten free. These sauces are not shelved in the main dining area, but are stored in the kitchen area. So be sure to ask a manager if you want a container of this.

Overall

We absolutely loved our meal. At around $10.99 a piece, this is a huge value. Between the large portions and terrific taste, this is definitely a spot we continue to have as our go-to for a quick service dinner at the Magic Kingdom. We always enjoy the chicken tenders and never leave hungry!Have you been to Columbia Harbour House? What's your go-to menu item there?

11/15/17 11/15/17

Columbia Harbour House -- Dinner -- Quick Service -- Magic Kingdom

*This dining experience took place in November 2017.

Dinner at Columbia Harbour House

Columbia Harbour House, located in Liberty Square at the Magic Kingdom, has been a long-time favorite quick service location for me. I don't know what it is, but they have frying gluten free and allergy-friendly chicken tenders down to an art. And, so, I stopped by recently to grab a quick dinner -- my favorite allergy-friendly chicken tenders.

Atmosphere

Although I didn't get very many photos on this visit, I absolutely adore the theme of Columbia Harbour House. With all of the nautical touches, you'd swear you were visiting a colonial New England seaside town.The seating includes upstairs and downtairs options -- all filled with dark wood and nautical touches everywhere you look. One of my favorite spots is upstairs in some of the corner rooms, where I can enjoy my meal and look out at the Disney guests below visiting the Magic Kingdom. It's a really nice spot that not a lot of people know about too.

The Food

But, of course, the real reason I go to Columbia Harbour House is the food. The restaurant doesn't have a really extensive Allergy-Friendly Lunch and Dinner Menu, but what it has is really good. I seriously don't know what Columbia Harbour House does, but I swear their allergy-friendly chicken tenders are the best. They are literally the same brand at every location, but there's something about how they fry them there that just works.It is important to note that Columbia Harbour House, like any Disney-owned restaurant, takes cross-contamination seriously. They use a dedicated fryer only for allergy-friendly chicken tenders and fries, so you don't have to worry about not having safe fried food.On this visit, I ordered the chicken tenders, and I was surprised to see that it also came with green beans and carrots. The Allergy-Friendly Chicken Tenders, French Fries, and Vegetables are both gluten free and dairy free.As you can tell by the photo, the portion I got was HUGE! So much food, and that made it a great value at around $9 and could easily be split by two people. One important thing to know is that if you have a fish/shellfish allergy, Columbia Harbour House does have a lot of fried seafood. And, the allergy-friendly menu actually discourages from anyone with a fish/shellfish allergy from eating there. With that in mind, we actually got Brandon (who is allergic to both fish & shellfish) food someplace else before I got allergy chicken tenders, just to be safe.

Overall

The allergy-friendly chicken tenders at Columbia Harbour House are a frequent meal option for me, especially when we're in the Magic Kingdom. It's easy to get, safe for me to eat, and delicious. Though their menu is pretty limited, you won't miss the options when you can get these allergy-friendly chicken tenders!Have you been to Columbia Harbour House? What did you think of this quick service restaurant?

6/5/17 6/5/17

Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn & Cafe -- Lunch -- Quick Service -- Magic Kingdom

*This dining experience took place in May 2017.

Lunch at Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn & Cafe

It's the wildest meal in the wilderness, when you dine at Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn & Cafe, located in Frontierland in the Magic Kingdom. You'll have a rootin' tootin' good time enjoying Southwestern inspired burgers and rice bowls. Pecos Bill's has long been a favorite lunch and dinner spot for Disney guests, and I've always enjoyed the special diets options here.In the past few years, Pecos Bill's has changed its menu, going from burgers, fries, and chicken tenders to more Southwest inspired foods. They've brought back a burger option but have stuck with the Southwest theme with rice bowls and more. It's a solid option if you're looking for something different and filling when you're in the Magic Kingdom, and I stopped by recently with my brother to grab a filling lunch.

Atmosphere

The interior of Pecos Bill's is pretty much what you would expect it to be from a Frontierland restaurant. It's rustic and southwest-inspired. Depending on where you sit in the restaurant will depend on your view, but I have to say that my favorite room is the one directly to your left when you enter the seating area. It includes some building exterior that makes you feel like you're eating outside.Seating in Pecos Bill's can get tight. I like to sit in a cozy corner or nook if I can to get away from the crowding and close quarters. But, sometimes that is hard to avoid -- especially during peak hours. Overall, I do always love the cozy atmosphere in Pecos Bill's.

The Food

Of course, my favorite thing about Pecos Bill's is the food. This quick service restaurant does carry an allergy-friendly menu, which covers the top 8 common allergens. If you have any questions or have multiple dietary needs, I do recommend speaking with a manager. I also recommend speaking with a manager if you're concerned about cross-contamination and Pecos Bill's famous fixins bar.On my last visit, I ordered a chicken rice bowl, which came with seasoned rice. Because I've been re-introducing dairy back into my diet over the past few years, on that visit, I got only gluten free options and not dairy free. This is an important note because previously the seasoned rice contained dairy (cheese).When we went this time, all special diets options, including gluten free only dishes contain white rice. The seasoned rice is now gone. I'm wondering if they changed vendors or products and the seasoned rice now contains gluten. It's a good thing there's plenty of fixins to make the rice bowls tasty no matter what kind of rice they serve.I did ask to speak to a manager on this visit, and I asked for toppings from the fixins bar to be brought from the kitchen. This is to help avoid cross-contamination from gluten. The manager told me this was no problem and offered to bring me all the fixins.As you can see from the photo, I ordered the Chicken Rice Bowl. It was listed as both gluten free and dairy free. I only indicated gluten as a special dietary need, so I was given all the toppings you see in the photo plus cheese and sour cream -- which I gave to my brother, as I try limit my dairy consumption.Of the toppings, my favorite has to be the roasted corn salsa, but I was also glad to see some fresh limes along with the other toppings. This added a nice fresh flavor to the rice bowl. The rice bowls are a solid option, and they are so filling. This is really true if you add a lot of fixins to your dish. The fixins really do make it too, so be sure not to miss out!

Overall

I always find Pecos Bill's to be a solid option for lunch and dinner at the Magic Kingdom. It's a great quick service spot that offers a lot of options for special dietary needs. Plus, the food is filling and plentiful. It's a regular on my Magic Kingdom quick service list and a restaurant I tend to visit again and again. Plus, at the time this post is being published, annual passholders get 20% off their meal, which makes it pretty affordable too!Have you been to Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn & Cafe? What do you think of their options?

6/5/17 6/5/17

Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn & Cafe -- Lunch -- Quick Service -- Magic Kingdom

*This dining experience took place in May 2017.

Lunch at Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn & Cafe

Atmosphere

The Food

Overall

4/29/17 4/29/17

Skipper Canteen -- Lunch -- Table Service -- Magic Kingdom

*This dining experience took place in April 2017.

Dinner at the Skipper Canteen

The Skipper Canteen, located in Adventureland at the Magic Kingdom is a table service restaurant themed after the Jungle Cruise attraction. If you're a fan of the Jungle Cruise, chances are you're going to love the Skipper Canteen. On a recent visit to the Magic Kingdom, I met my mom and stepdad for lunch here. It's always fun to visit the Skipper Canteen, because the theme and cast members here are terrific.

Atmosphere

The Skipper Canteen has a terrific backstory that ties into the Jungle Cruise attraction. The theme and backstory make for the perfect backdrop for a restaurant. To learn a bit more about the theme of the restaurant and its backstory, check out my review of our first visit for dinner at the Skipper Canteen. One of my favorite things about the restaurant are the uniquely themed dining rooms. There are three of them: the S.E.A. Room, the Falls Family Parlour, and the crew's mess hall.We were seated in the Crew's Mess Hall. It's the largest dining room in the restaurant and also the first room that you'll see when you enter the Skipper Canteen. Though I like the theming, I do find it to be the most generic room of the three compared to the impressive Falls Family Parlour and S.E.A. Room -- but there's still a ton of detail in the room.Dining in the mess hall gives you a lot of backstory about the history of the restaurant, and there's tons of details everywhere you look. Don't forget to look up too -- there's tons of hidden and not-so hidden details on the second floor of the mess hall too.

The Food

One of the reasons I keep going back to the Skipper Canteen is the food. Sure, the theming is great, but what I really love is that the restaurant has an extensive allergy-friendly lunch and dinner menu with a ton of gluten free and even dairy free options. I really appreciate that the restaurant thought of special diets when they created the menu and made sure to use gluten free tamari and even made some dishes gluten free so that there was no modifications needed for gluten free diners.After ordering our meal on this visit, I was brought Ener-G rolls along with Fenugreek-infused Honey. I also asked for some Earth Balance too. I have to admit that of all the things I've been served at the Skipper Canteen, I'm the most let down by these rolls. They don't seem to be able to heat them properly, so they turn hard almost instantly. It's a shame because I like the honey and having a unique bread service option. I've heard that some people have gotten Deanna's Gluten Free Rolls here (formerly GNI brand), but I forgot to ask about them on this visit.My mom ordered the Orinogo Ida’s Cachapas. This dish replaces the arepas that were formerly on the menu. I really liked the arepas, so I was surprised to see them gone. But, the cachapas are basically the same type of dish, just changed up a bit. The cachapas are gluten free on the menu (but do contain dairy). They include mojo-braised pork, black bean salad, and avocado cream. My mom said they were really delicious, and they looked delicious too! If you're gluten free, it sounds like these are worth ordering as an appetizer or even your main meal.For my entree, I ordered the Tastes Like Chicken” Because It Is! dish which includes Crispy Fried Chicken, Citrus and Ginger-scented Rice, Chili Glaze, and Seasonal Vegetables. I ordered this on my last visit and was blown away at how good it was. Believe it or not, it's made naturally gluten free for every single diner in the restaurant. The chicken is coated in cornstarch which is gluten free! How cool is that?!This dish is gluten free and dairy free and just outstanding. The chicken is super crunchy and delicious. I always ask for the chili glaze, which has gluten free tamari in it, to be served on the side. That way I can dip my chicken in it along with my seasonal vegetables and gets lots of extra sauce. Everything in this dish is excellent and really makes a complete meal. While, I contemplated ordering something else, this dish is just too good to pass up.

Overall

When it comes to a lot of gluten free and dairy free options with an pan-Asian flare, you can't go wrong with the Skipper Canteen. Some of the dishes on the menu may be a bit exotic, but there's a bit of something for everyone. Plus, there are very few places where you can get actual gluten free fried chicken, so it's a must-do for me. Add in a great theme and cast member interactions, and you've got a great meal in the Magic Kingdom.Have you been to the Skipper Canteen? What did you think of the special diets options?

4/21/17 4/21/17

Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn & Cafe -- Dinner -- Quick Service -- Magic Kingdom

*This dining experience took place in March 2017.

Dinner at Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn & Cafe

When it comes to quick service options at the Magic Kingdom, Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn & Cafe and Columbia Harbour House have long been my two favorite spots. Pecos Bill's has always offered burgers and the famous fixins' bar, but over the past year or so, they restaurant has changed its offerings from burgers and fries to more Tex-Mex inspired options. On a recent visit, we checked them out for dinner. I've become a fan of their rice bowls, so it was nice to grab a solid meal in between riding attractions.

Atmosphere

The atmosphere at Pecos Bill's is bustling. It seems like it's always busy in here, which sort of goes well with the Frontierland theme of a nearby saloon or watering hole. The seating in here is ample, but usually pretty full. I do love that the interior of the building looks like you're outside. There's lots to look at when you explore the restaurant, and my favorite room has to be the one to your immediate left when you enter the seating area (pictured below). If you go further into the restaurant, you'll actually wind up in the seating area for Tortuga Tavern in Adventureland, since they are technically right beside each other.

The Food

When it come to Pecos Bill's, it's all about the rice bowls. Pecos Bill's does have an allergy-friendly menu, and you can also speak to a manager about special diets options. In fact, when I ordered, I asked to speak to a manager so that I could make sure I got fixins' from the fixins' bar from the back of the kitchen to avoid cross-contamination. The manager I spoke with was happy to oblige, and I was able to pick and choose the fixins' I preferred. The process to get my meal took about 10 minutes or so, which wasn't too bad.I ordered the Chicken Rice Bowl. Because I'm reintroducing dairy back into my diet, I did not ask for white rice, which is gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegan. The regular seasoned rice contains dairy (cheese) in it. If you have an allergy or want to avoid dairy, do make sure to ask for white rice when you order your rice bowl.My rice bowl came with seasoned rice, black beans, and chicken. On the side, I received several very generous portions of fixins'. I got guacamole, cheese (which I use sparingly), regular salsa, and corn salsa. You can also get other toppings like jalapenos, salsa verde, and sour cream -- depending on your special dietary need. My favorite topping has to be the corn salsa. It's ridiculously good.Overall, the rice bowl was good. It's not the best I've ever had, but compared to some of the other quick service options in the Magic Kingdom, it's a pretty good option. Plus, it's super filling. If you add enough toppings, you can easily split them with your family.On a site note, someone asked me about the Secret Nachos Rio Grande Challenge at Pecos Bill's and if you could get it gluten free. At first the manager told me yes. Then she said no. She mentioned the chips were safe. Then said they weren't. And, she also noted that the ground beef would need to be swapped. With this in mind, I'd say proceed with caution if you're interested in the nachos. Of course, I wasn't getting them so I didn't ask to see the ingredients list which would have helped a lot. For me, I'm sticking to the rice bowls for now!

Overall

Pecos Bill's always hits the spot when I visit there. If you are looking for a solid quick service meal that's filling, Pecos Bill's is definitely a place to go to. Plus, those fixins' from the back make a perfect addition to the rice bowl.Have you been to Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn & Cafe? What did you think of the rice bowls and other options there?

3/8/17 3/8/17

Liberty Tree Tavern -- Dinner -- Table Service -- Magic Kingdom

*This dining experience took place in March 2017.

Dinner at Liberty Tree Tavern

Hear ye! Hear ye! Liberty Tree Tavern, located in Liberty Square at the Magic Kingdom is a table service restaurant that offers a la carte offerings and a family-style all-you-care-to-eat dinner. I've always enjoyed my meals at Liberty Tree Tavern because it's like getting Thanksgiving style food any time of the year. Plus, where else can you get gluten free and dairy free stuffing, mashed potatoes, and gravy?! The last time I visited was at lunch-time, where you can get a version of their dinner Pilgrim's Feast. I haven't been to dinner at Liberty Tree Tavern in at least a good year & 1/2, so I was excited to go when my family made reservations to dine there.

Atmosphere

Liberty Tree Tavern's theme reflects the colonial times in America. It's rustic and homey. Just like you'd expect from an inn if you stopped by for a meal after a long day's journey. The outside has nice benches where you can sit and relax while you wait to be seated. It's generally very relaxing there!Once inside, you'll find the rustic theme keeps going. You'll find a fireplace in the main lobby and every inch of Liberty Tree Tavern is decorated in a colonial fashion. You just about expect George Washington to join you for dinner.Even more lucky, you can dine in the cozy rooms, including the George & Martha Washington room, where we ate. The room is filled with paintings and knickknacks and is quite charming.And pro tip. It's the only room in the restaurant with a hidden Mickey. It's in this picture, though it might be hard to find unless you are there in person.Overall, you'll find the theming of Liberty Tree Tavern to be perfectly matched with the comforting food.

The Food

I love Liberty Tree Tavern for its simple and delicious food. I admit, I miss the days when they served carved ham instead of roasted pork and offered two seasonal vegetables instead of one. But, you really still can't go wrong with a meal from Liberty Tree Tavern.To start your bill of fare, you'll be served the Declaration Salad which is pretty simple but comes tossed in a strawberry vinaigrette. It's really light and super yummy. Our entire group, gluten and gluten free eaters shared the same salad bowl, but you can ask for a separate one too, if you are concerned about cross-contamination if you're family is enjoying rolls with their meal.On this visit, I was served Ener-G brand allergy friendly rolls (they are also vegan) along with Earth Balance vegan buttery spread. I'm not sure what the chef did to these rolls, but they were actually well-heated and tasted quite good. Usually, I find the Ener-G rolls to be poorly heated and a bit like styrofoam, so this was a welcome change.But, the real star of the meal is the Pilgrim's Feast. Served family style it includes roasted pork, roast beef, roast turkey breast, seasonal vegetables, mashed potatoes, gravy, and stuffing. On some visits, I've had this served communally where everyone can eat the vegetables and meats, while I've been given separate platters for gluten free and dairy free stuffing and mashed potatoes. But, on this visit, I got my own platter.For my preferences, the roast turkey is the best meat offered. I found the beef to be too rare and very fatty. We actually asked to get some more well-cooked beef at the table, and we received a plate of microwaved beef. It both looked gross and tasted terrible too. The roasted pork was good, but I don't think it fits well with the meal theme. The pork actually had cumin in it, which was good, but it really did not go in any way with a "Thanksgiving" type dinner. I know that they share a kitchen with the Skipper Canteen, so I half wondered if the pork is there so it can be used for both restaurants. Either way, it just wasn't my favorite.The stars of my meal were the gluten free and dairy free stuffing, mashed potatoes, and gravy. I loved them all. Getting gluten free and dairy free stuffing anywhere besides home is such a rarity. So, it's nice to see Liberty Tree Tavern add this to their menu. The same goes for dairy free mashed potatoes too. These were quite good.And even better?I got a whole gravy bowl of gluten free and dairy free gravy to enjoy. It's so good that my family actually prefers it over Liberty Tree's regular gluten-filled version. So, we usually get gluten free gravy for the whole table.For dessert options that are gluten free and dairy free, your only options are fruit and sorbet (or both). I do wish they had some better dessert options like they used to have. A few years ago, Chef Alfonso created a gluten free & dairy free waffle with non-dairy ice cream and cranberry compote. It was SO good, and I wish they still had this for special diets guests.Of course, I was really full after my meal, so sorbet wasn't a bad option when you're stuffed to the brim with gluten free & dairy free stuffing!

Overall

Liberty Tree Tavern is a great place to have dinner. It's comfort food and holiday food, perfect for just about any day of the year. Plus, the fact that they offer gluten free and dairy free stuffing, mashed potatoes, and gravy is a huge bonus. It's a restaurant that has solid options and will satisfy your holiday meal cravings for sure.Have you been to Liberty Tree Tavern? What did you like when you dined there?

3/4/17 3/4/17

Maple Popcorn -- Snacks -- Quick Service -- Magic Kingdom

*This post contains ingredient information from March 3, 2017. Always double-check with a cast member to ensure that an item is safe for your special dietary need before consuming. I admit it. I'm a popcorn addict. I love just about any kind of popcorn, as long as it's gluten free, dairy free and fresh. So, you can imagine how excited I got when I read on the DisneyFoodBlog that there was a new fresh popcorn option in Frontierland in the Magic Kingdom -- Maple Popcorn. I love fresh kettle corn, so knowing that the maple popcorn was similar, I knew I had to at least go to the stand to see if the ingredients would be safe for me to eat.I stopped by the Frontierland Popcorn Cart recently, and asked the friendly cast member there if I could look at the ingredients binder. The ingredients binder will let you know all of the ingredients in a particular snack item at a kiosk and notes allergens. I was super excited to see that the Maple Popcorn ingredients didn't indicate any gluten or dairy in it -- making it gluten free and dairy free. It's also free of many other allergens too, but does contain soy, tree nut (coconut), and corn. It also appears to be vegan, which is great!But, let's get to the popcorn! We decided to get a regular popcorn container of the Maple Popcorn. At $5.25, it is definitely pricey and more expensive than the regular freshly popped popcorn (which is also gluten free, dairy free, and vegan). But, I'm told that if you buy a regular popcorn bucket in the park, you could easily get the $1.50 refill with Maple Popcorn, which would be a great deal.Of course, if you ask me, the $5.25 was totally worth every penny. Plus, if you're on the Disney Dining Plan, it is a snack credit too.We were lucky enough to get freshly popped Maple Popcorn. It was slightly sticky and warm, and a cross between kettle corn and caramel corn. The popcorn itself was sweet, but not overly sweet and a little salty. And, yes, if you like kettle corn, you're gonna love maple popcorn. I wouldn't say the maple flavor was very strong, but it definitely had a slight hint of maple.To put it simply. It was SO good!I can't tell you how excited I was to see that this popcorn was gluten free and dairy free and that it lived up to my expectations. I can't wait to go back to the Magic Kingdom again, just so I can get this!What do you think of the Maple Popcorn offered at Frontierland at the Magic Kingdom? Is it on your must try list?

6/16/16 6/16/16

Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn & Cafe -- Lunch/Dinner -- Quick Service -- Magic Kingdom

*This dining experience took place in Fall 2015. Note: Pecos Bill's menu has changed yet again, and burrito bowls are only available upon request at the time this post was published. Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn & Cafe, a quick service location in Disney's Magic Kingdom, has seen some changes to its menu in 2015 and 2016. Originally a burger and fries kind of restaurant, in 2015, Pecos Bill's switched up its menu and began offering rice bowls. You can check out the allergy friendly menu from February 2016, but note that the menu has changed since then.When I visited, I was able to get a rice bowl with chicken, beans, and plain white rice. The chicken does contain dairy, so do check with the restaurant when dining here for ingredients. I have been re-introducing a bit of dairy back into my diet, so I decided to try the chicken burrito bowl.While waiting, I had to laugh because not only did I get "the boot" on my receipt to show that I had a special dietary need but I also had the cast member Jessy. Loved the Toy Story reference (although I'm sure it was completely incidental).Pecos Bill's also has a fixins' bar, which looked amazing with a variety of salsas, gaucamole, and other toppings for my rice bowl, but because there is a huge risk of cross contamination there, I asked the manager if I could get some fixins' from the back of the kitchen. The manager brought me: mild salsa, pico de gallo, salsa verde, corn salsa, banana peppers, cheese, and guacamole. That's a lot!The great thing is that I could mix and match what I wanted, and I had so many toppings that there was no way I was running out. The toppings definitely helped make this rice bowl more filling and tasty, as it was served with plain white rice, semi-bland black beans, and plain chicken.Pecos Bill's menu now has fajita platters which would be very similar to the rice bowl above, as well as a taco burger and some other options. Be sure to check with a manager when you go to ensure you get safe rice (the cilantro rice contains both dairy and gluten) and fixins' from the back of the kitchen.Have you been to Pecos Bill's since the menu has changed? What did you get when you dined there?

3/7/16 3/7/16

Cosmic Ray's -- Dinner -- Quick Service -- Magic Kingdom

*This dining experience took place in March 2016.Cosmic Ray's, located in Tomorrowland in the Magic Kingdom, is a quick service location that I don't tend to frequent very often. It's not that they can't provide good gluten free and dairy free options (they definitely do), but that I don't really enjoy the food here as much as say Columbia Harbour House or even Pecos Bill's. What can I say, I can't help but head to Columbia Harbour House more often than not for the allergy friendly chicken tenders!Cosmic Ray's is your basic burgers and fries kind of quick service location, and like Pecos Bill's, they also have a toppings bar. Toppings bars are great but they are a cross contamination nightmare for those of us with special dietary needs, so if you want any toppings for your sandwiches, let a cast member know to get them from the back for you.When I arrived on this particular visit, I'll admit I wasn't too thrilled to eat here. Brandon and I were attending the Disney Vacation Club 25th Anniversary Magic Kingdom Bash, and literally the only restaurant opened was Cosmic Ray's. I had my heart set on allergy friendly chicken tenders & Brandon had his heart set on the gluten filled but very popular pot roast mac & cheese. Needless to say, we were both disappointed!Cosmic Ray's does carry an allergy friendly menu, which you can find on the menus page here on the blog. There are several options to choose from, and on this particular visit, I ended up getting a cheeseburger. Since I've been adding cheese back into my diet, I thought it would at least jazz up my bacon burger.The wait for my burger wasn't too long, and before I knew it we had a prime seat in Cosmic Ray's to catch a show with Sonny Eclipse. I gotta admit, Sonny Eclipse is the best part of Cosmic Ray's in my opinion. I absolutely love this quirky animatronic show, and I would be so sad if they got rid of Sonny. Cosmic Ray's is not Cosmic Ray's without listening to Sonny and the Space Angels sing Planetary Boogie!For my meal, I would say it was OK and certainly nothing special. The French fries were your basic Disney fries, and at least a decent size portion. My burger was served on an allergy friendly bun (I believe Local Oven) and was nothing to write home about. I ended up just eating it plain with the cheese, as I couldn't find any packets of ketchup or mustard and didn't feel like going back to the line to ask for some.Overall, Cosmic Ray's serves up solid gluten free and special dietary needs options. While I can't say it's my personal favorite place to dine, I'm glad it's available as a safe option in Tomorrowland.Have you been to Cosmic Ray's What did you order when you dined there?

1/25/16 1/25/16

Skipper Canteen -- Dinner -- Table Service -- Magic Kingdom

*This dining experience took place in January 2016.Disney's newest restaurant, the Skipper Canteen, recently opened in December 2015 in Adventureland. Themed after the world famous Jungle Cruise, the restaurant is somewhat of an extension to the Jungle Cruise attraction. That means lots of witty (or not so witty, depending on your sense of humor) banter and hijinks. The decor and food are all reminiscent of the attraction, and it's fair to say, you'll feel like you stepped in the 1930s when you dine here.Currently, the Skipper Canteen is only taking walk up reservations. This means that you cannot book online or via the My Disney Experience App to make ADRs. However, that being said, so far the restaurant seems to have fairly reasonable wait times if you're interested in dining there.On this particular occasion, my boyfriend, Brandon, and I decided on a whim to dine here. We walked up around 8:30 p.m. and were told there would be up to a 30 minute wait (though the wait time was actually about 15 minutes). The restaurant currently closes fairly early at 9:30 p.m. and wasn't too busy when we go there.There are three dining areas in the Skipper Canteen. The main area is themed like a Mess Hall. You can imagine the Jungle Cruise skippers dining here in between their 2 week journeys into the Jungle.The second area is the Falls Family Parlour and is where the Falls Family would often have meals and relax. You'll recognize the name of the Falls Family because of the famous African explorer Dr. Albert Falls from the Jungle Cruise.The decor in this room was amazing, with so many details. The chandeliers were made up of stained glass parrots. How cool is that?!We dined in the third area which was known as the S.E.A. Room. As we learned from Skipper Bri (who assisted us with our meal, and was amazing -- more on her later!), Dr. Falls was a member of the Society of Adventurers and Explorers, and this is is the secret room in which he host fellow members. If you were a fan of the Adventurer's Club, this will all feel very familiar to you.To find out more about the rooms, decor, and theming, check out the Disney Food Blog's first look at the Skipper Canteen for more photos and detailed review.Like most restaurants at Disney now, the Skipper Canteen carries an allergy friendly menu. And, it's huge! You can see a side-by-side photo of me with both the regular and allergy friendly menus. Talk about lots of choices!The food here is inspired by the jungles of the world. You'll notice a wide variety of flavors that include Middle Eastern, Asian, and South American.The restaurant offers complimentary bread service, and Skipper Bri let me know that the restaurant did carry Ener-G brand rolls with the Skipper Canteen's signature fenugreek-infused honey. I was bummed they didn't have the GNI Brand rolls, as the honey was delicious.Even Skipper Bri knew the rolls weren't amazing..."They aren't Udi's, that's for sure." You got that right, Skipper Bri!Ginger’s “Croc” of Hot-and-Sour Soup is both gluten free and dairy free. If you like hot and sour soup, this is a great option for an appetizer. Though, be warned, it's a bit spicy. Yes, watch out because Ginger's "croc" of soup does snap!Brandon ordered this and was not a fan.I've been reintroducing a bit of dairy (in the form of cheese) into my diet this past year, and I decided to try the arepas. They are an amazing gluten free appetizer (it does contain dairy with the cheese), and is a big enough portion that it could serve well as a small entree. The shredded beef was well seasoned, as were the beans. The arepas had a nice flavor, as did the tostones - though the plantains were a bit soggy.Arepas are normally prepared with the toppings on them; however, this was a deconstructed version. I suppose, if anything, it gives you the flexibility to customize your dish.Hands down, this was the favorite dish of the night. For another review of the arepas and the Skipper Canteen, check out Gluten Free in Orlando's review.While waiting for our entrees, we did take a bit to look at the S.E.A. Room theming. The Skipper Canteen is impressively themed, and you could literally be here for hours exploring all the little details.From photos to hidden compartments, you are sure to find something new every time you visit.Don't forget to ask your Skipper about any questions you have.Skipper Bri gave us loads of information about the history of the Skipper Canteen and the Falls Family.For our entrees, we both ordered items that were marked gluten free and dairy free. I opted for the Trader Sam's Head On Shrimp, which came with white rice, seasoned Chinese broccoli and four very large shrimp.The shrimp were very good, well cooked and seasoned. I liked the sweet chili sauce that accompanied them. The white rice was nothing special, but I loved the Chinese broccoli. With a nice soy sauce glaze, the broccoli was easily something I could eat a ton of. I also absolutely love that the Skipper Canteen uses gluten free soy sauce for all dishes. That means there are so many choices normally not available.Of course, ever the bargain hunter, Trader Sam tried to make us a deal for those four head on shrimp. Oh that Trader Sam, always trying to get a "head" of the trading market!Brandon ordered the grilled lamp chops seasoned with a North African berber spice blend served with green lentil stew. He thought the lamb was well cooked and flavorful but wasn't too keen on the lentil stew.After seeing the table next to us order Skip's Mac & Cheese, Brandon decided it was a must order on his next visit (sadly, not gluten free!).After our meal, Skipper Bri gave us a bit of a tour throughout the S.E.A. Room. One amazing touch were the bookshelves that you walked through to get into the S.E.A. Room itself. As a librarian by day, this made me super excited. Skipper Bri even pointed out her favorite book.If this feature wasn't amazing enough, we learned after listening to WDW Radio's Skipper Canteen Live Review that there's a hidden compartment in the bookshelves. And now, we need to make a field trip back to the Skipper Canteen to find it...and for the food, of course, too!Skipper Bri even took a selfie with us. Though since she's from the 1930s, she wasn't quite sure what a selfie was.The Skipper Canteen has so many amazing hidden (and not so hidden) touches, with unique food offerings -- making it a welcome addition to the Magic Kingdom. We very much enjoyed our meal here, and I'd like to try some of the other many options available.And, of course, we can't wait to go back just for the atmosphere and theming.If you dine at Skipper Canteen, do ask for Skipper Bri. She was a real hoot and made our meal extra magical!Would you like to go to the Skipper Canteen? What dishes are you interested in trying there? Let us know in the comments section below!

1/13/16 1/13/16

Liberty Tree Tavern -- Lunch -- Table Service -- Magic Kingdom

*This dining experience took place in January 2016. Hear ye, hear ye! Liberty Tree Tavern, located in Liberty Square in the Magic Kingdom, finally re-opened a few months ago after a lengthy refurbishment to accommodate for the newly opened (and shared kitchen space for) Skipper Canteen in Adventureland. Having missed out on Liberty Tree Tavern during the holiday season (a family tradition), I finally got a chance to get in my Disney turkey dinner cravings.Liberty Tree Tavern offers an a la carte lunch and family style all-you-care-to-eat dinner. Typically, my family dines here during dinner, which offers a full Pilgrim's Feast with all the trimmings; however, on this occasion, we chose to grab lunch. Though no allergy friendly menu is given for dinner, guests will receive an allergy friendly menu when they dine a la carte for lunch. In looking at the menu, I was glad to see some options, including the New England Pot Roast with mashed potatoes which can be served gluten and dairy free.Our server did ask several times if I preferred to speak to a chef or order directly from the allergy friendly menu. Having dined at Liberty Tree Tavern numerous times and ordering the Pilgrim's Feast, I felt comfortable ordering without speaking with a chef.Typically, I do still speak to a chef but since the dishes were completely gluten free and dairy free without modifications (and the server wrote my order on the yellow food allergy notification pad), I felt OK ordering straight from the menu. Of course, if you ever dine at a Disney location and don't feel comfortable with the options or allergy friendly menu, you can always talk to a Disney chef. Just ask your server!First on my order was the traditional house salad served with a strawberry vinaigrette. It's a classic Liberty Tree Tavern dish, and a must order for me. I did ask for an extra side of vinaigrette as in previous years (and on this visit), the salad was woefully under-dressed.I also inquired about gluten free and dairy free rolls and Earth Balance Vegan Margarine. Unfortunately, I was given Ener-G rolls, which I don't really enjoy. Last year when I dined here, I was given GNI brand rolls which I love, but Ener-G gets very dry and has a Styrofoam texture that is very unappealing. Though I appreciated the offering, I didn't eat much of them. Sadly, not even dipping it in their gluten free and dairy free gravy could save these rolls.For my entree, I chose the Pilgrim's Feast which is a lighter version of the dinner offering. It only comes with turkey instead of three meats, but this was fine with me. Accompanying the turkey were dairy free mashed potatoes, green beans, and gluten free and dairy free stuffing and gravy.The turkey was super moist and delicious and the mashed potatoes were outstanding. Is it wrong that I get that excited over a dairy free mashed potato? It's a rarity in restaurants, but seriously so easy to make. To add to this is Liberty Tree's gluten free gravy, which I adore. My whole family also prefers it to the regular gluten-filled version of gravy that is served in the restaurant. It's probably because we grew up eating holiday gravy based in cornstarch instead of flour, and this version tastes very similar to what we have always served at home.The green beans were nothing spectacular. Just a plain steamed veg.The gluten free and dairy free stuffing was just OK on this visit. The taste was great but the texture was off. I'm not sure if they are using a different type of bread or if they just added too much liquid to the mixture. The texture was very mushy and almost a bit gritty. When I went last November, I had this and absolutely loved it. It was the perfect texture and taste. This time, it just wasn't as good as it was the year before. That being said, I'd definitely give it a try again.Overall, Liberty Tree Tavern consistently serves up holiday inspired fare, making it the perfect holiday season restaurant. It's not one I'd dine at all the time, but during Thanksgiving and Christmas it's an absolute must-do for me. There's really no other restaurant around that can serve up gluten free and dairy free stuffing, gravy, and mashed potatoes!Have you been to Liberty Tree Tavern? What did you think of their allergy friendly offerings?

8/7/15 8/7/15

Pinocchio Village Haus -- Lunch/Dinner -- Quick Service -- Magic Kingdom

*This dining experience took place in August 2015.Pinocchio Village Haus located in Disney's Magic Kingdom is a charming restaurant -- one that I've visited many times but actually never eaten at. I've never been keen on the options available, which have always seemed limited at best.Recently, blog reader Priscilla G. shared the new allergy friendly lunch and dinner menu from Pinocchio Village Haus. After reading the new menu, I saw there were at least a couple of options to choose from. And good thing too, as I recently stopped by the restaurant to grab lunch.When I got to the cash register to inquire about special dietary options, the cast member presented me with the new allergy friendly menu. I could quickly see that the Mediterranean Salad was on both the gluten and dairy free menu options, and I asked to order it. The cast member did not flag a manager, but rather, flagged gluten and dairy in the order and gave me a pager, which would alert me when my food was ready.About 10 minutes later, my pager went off, and I was greeted by a manager who served my food on a green tray (to denote food allergy) and saw that my salad contained what looked like "cheese." She confirmed that it was Daiya cheese. The one thing they did not tell me was that I needed to grab the salad dressing from the condiment bar. I quickly found the dressing noted as safe (and double-checked the ingredients) but found it odd that they didn't tell me this.As far as the salad, I found it to be just OK. It wasn't my favorite quick service salad but certainly not the worst (one of my least favorites being the Garden Harvest Salad at Columbia Harbour House).I actually don't prefer the non-dairy cheese on my salad, so I have to admit I picked off the Daiya cheese (though the other diner with me - who is not gluten or dairy free - actually really liked the Daiya shreds, so I think I'm just picky in this regard).Overall, I would probably dine at Pinocchio Village Haus in a pinch, though it wouldn't be my first choice for a Magic Kingdom quick service location. My go-to is always Columbia Harbour House, but if I was with others dining at Pinocchio Village Haus I know now that I have at least a few options when ordering, which is great.Have you been to Pinocchio Village Haus in the Magic Kingdom? What did you order when you dined there?

12/2/14 12/2/14

Liberty Tree Tavern -- Dinner -- Table Service -- Magic Kingdom

*This dining experience took place in November 2014.Liberty Tree Tavern located in Liberty Square at the Magic Kingdom is one of my family's favorite seasonal places to dine during the holidays. We almost always eat at this restaurant for Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party and Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party. Something about the turkey dinner reminds us all of the holidays.On this particular visit, I was joined by blog reader Laurie as we enjoyed a meal before the Food Allergy & Celiac Convention held at Disney's Coronado Springs Resort on November 22nd. It was the perfect meal in the few days before the event, as I needed all the fuel I could get while setting up and getting ready for guests.One of the things I love about Liberty Tree Tavern is the holiday decorations during the winter season. I love the Christmas trees with touches that are inspired by colonial times.Liberty Tree Tavern's menu is an all-you-care-to-eat feast that includes all the fixins' and have included dairy free mashed potatoes (upon request) and gluten free gravy for many years now.I also really adore the mugs that they serve dinner with (of course, I miss the days when the mugs were actual glass and not made of plastic).One thing that has always alluded me was stuffing. I crave that traditional stuffing every time I go there, and as I learned recently from Gluten Free in Orlando, they were now carrying a gluten free version. My hope was that it was also dairy free, and luckily I was not disappointed!We were greeted by Chef Alfonso, who said he would take good care of us. Laurie is just gluten free, but he asked if he could make the entire meal gluten free & dairy free and that worked for her (which was awesome).First up, came GNI brand rolls along with some Earth Balance vegan margarine. The rolls were heated well and tasted great with a bit of the Earth Balance.Next up came the house salad with strawberry vinaigrette. The last few times I've visited, I've found the dressing to be very underwhelming both in flavor and seasoning but this time I found it to be spot on. They had a huge container of it on the side, which was great for adding as much or as little as we wanted. As you can imagine, I was pretty excited about the prospect of stuffing. In fact, I think it was the thing I was looking forward to most! The meal came with turkey, roasted pork and roast beef, along with dairy free mashed potatoes, stuffing, green beans, and sweet potatoes.The turkey is by far my favorite meat served at Liberty Tree. I like the roasted pork but do really miss the ham that they used to serve here. I never eat the roast beef, but Laurie said it was good. The mashed potatoes were excellent but the star along with the gluten free gravy was the stuffing. I'm a sucker for stuffing of all types, and this one was fantastic. Very moist and full of traditional stuffing flavor, it really made my meal complete.The steamed green beans were probably my least favorite dish, mostly because it's just plain steamed green beans. They're good, but really nothing special.The seasonal vegetable at Liberty Tree is always an interesting one. Sometimes it's great -- like sauteed squash and zucchini and sometimes it's not the best match for the locale - like sauteed broccoli rabe. This time, it was sweet potatoes in brown sugar.These were quite yummy, and I'm partial to sweet potatoes. They were a bit overcooked though and the texture was just slightly off. Overall though I found these to be a welcome addition, as the last few visits I haven't enjoyed the seasonal vegetable much (due to overseasoning or overcooking)After our main meal, Chef Alfonso came out and shared with us the recipe to his stuffing, which I'll share soon here on the site! It's made with Udi's Gluten Free Bread and classic stuffing ingredients. You could tell he was really proud and dedicated to making offerings that are safe for multiple special dietary needs.For dessert, Liberty Tree Tavern typically carries sorbet with fruit for gluten free and dairy free diners; however, Chef Alfonso said he was going to create something special for our meal. I was a bit surprised with with he came up with!For dessert, Chef Alfonso created something really unique and very nicely themed for the restaurant. It included homemade gluten free & dairy free waffles along with a cranberry compote and Tofutti ice cream. It was definitely a wow moment for the meal, as neither of us were expecting this kind of dessert.I really enjoyed the waffle which paired well with the cranberry compote. The compote was tart, as you would expect cranberries to be which combined with the ice cream was a great combo. Of course, despite being really full from the meal, I managed to make my way through almost all of my dessert. It was too great to pass up!Overall, I was really pleased with my visit to Liberty Tree Tavern and loved what Chef Alfonso is doing with the special dietary options. He really went above and beyond to make a great meal for us, and everything was really well prepared.The last few visits I've had, I've haven't enjoyed as much but this visit totally redeemed my love for Liberty Tree Tavern. It's a staple in my family's holiday traditions and I look forward to keeping it that for years to come.Have you been to Liberty Tree Tavern? Are you looking forward to trying the gluten free and dairy free stuffing?

Dinner at Be Our Guest Restaurant

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Dinner at Columbia Harbour House

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Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW