4/23/21 4/23/21

Whispering Canyon Cafe Lunch Review

Whispering Canyon Cafe, located at Disney's Wilderness Lodge Resort, offers guests a rootin' tootin' good time with shenanigans aplenty and barbecue/homestyle inspired food. While both Brandon and I have enjoyed the food at Whispering Canyon Cafe, we admittedly have not always enjoyed the shenanigans. On our last visit together back in 2017, we did not have a great experience. So, it's taken us a while to finally go back to Whispering Canyon Cafe for a meal. Spoiler alert, this dining experience definitely redeemed the restaurant for us, and we are looking forward to going back again.

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

Lunch at Whispering Canyon Cafe

COVID-19 & Reopening Notes

On this particular visit, we made reservations for the restaurant a few days before we dined there. I used the My Disney Experience app and found that there was a late afternoon seating, which we decided to book (the restaurant closed for lunch at 2 p.m.). The app worked as it normally does, and we were able to add in our special dietary needs in the app and alert cast members of our needs when we arrived at the restaurant. We were also able to successfully check in to the restaurant using the mobile app with no issues (it has been hit or miss in our experience).

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

Whispering Canyon Cafe is located in the main lobby area of the Wilderness Lodge Resort. You can't miss the giant sign and during the normal times a lot of noise! It's a very lively restaurant with a lot of atmosphere, that's for sure.

Whispering Canyon Cafe / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

The restaurant itself has a lot of great decor. There's a lot of wooden beams and Western decor. It includes bright, rich colors, in the carpet, paintings, and chairs.

Whispering Canyon Cafe - Seating / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

As you can see by this photo, there's ample seating -- a lot of which can accommodate big parties (and the restaurant is very popular with large groups). You can also see that it includes social distancing markers on tables currently.

In addition the main part of the dining room, there are a few corners and nooks for smaller tables, and we have often been seated there. Of course, the Western theme is still ever present in every part of the restaurant.

We especially like the side nooks with colorful booths for a bit of a quieter, more relaxed dining experience. Of course, if you like to be in the middle of it all, the main part of the dining room is for you!

The Food

Like most Disney owned restaurants, Whispering Canyon Cafe does have an allergy-friendly menu. You can, of course, always speak to a chef when you dine at the restaurant to discuss different options, modifications, and any questions that you might have. On this visit, we ordered primarily using the allergy-friendly menu and coordinated options with our server Lee.

We always recommend using your own judgement and comfort level about navigating the allergy-friendly menus and speaking with a chef. We do typically recommend speaking with a chef if you feel comfortable doing so, especially if you have questions or want to discuss additional options not listed as safe for you on the allergy-friendly menu (or if you have multiple dietary needs).

For my lunch entree, I decided to get the popular all-you-care-to-enjoy skillet. This came with: Maple-Chipotle Barbecued Slow-smoked Pork Ribs, Barbecued Pulled Pork, Citrus Herb Chicken, Mashed Yukon Potatoes, Buttered Corn, Charred Carrots, Roasted Peppers, and Sautéed Green Beans. It was marked safe for Gluten/Wheat, Egg, Fish/Shellfish, and Peanut/Tree Nut Allergies. You can make this dairy free by swapping out the mashed potatoes for roasted potatoes and getting vegetables without butter. The great thing about these skillets is that there is a lot of flexibility to customize depending on your special dietary need (they even have a plant-based option too!).

This was an absolutely delicious skillet. The chicken was very flavorful and not overly dry. The ribs were tasty. The pulled pork was definitely outstanding too. And, the veggies were all fantastic. Let's just say I totally devoured this entree happily and was very pleased with the quality of the food and flavors. I would order this again with no question -- though I'd really like to get dinner at Whispering Canyon Cafe and try the other skillet options that are available during the dinner time.

Brandon and I were also served an allergy-friendly bread service. It's not marked on the menu, but be sure to ask your server! This cornbread is gluten free, egg free, fish/shellfish free, dairy free, peanut/tree nut free, and vegan. I believe it may be soy free too but didn't check on this visit. This has been served at Whispering Canyon Cafe for years, and it's always a winner. Made with Namaste Vanilla Cake Mix (believe it or not!), the cornbread is a bit more on the sweet side. But, it's a great option. If you're dairy free or vegan, be sure to ask for vegan buttery spread which is available upon request too.

While I always love this and did on this visit, it wasn't Brandon's favorite. So, your mileage may vary depending on your food preferences and the kinds of bread you like. But, it's great that restaurant offers this to guests and worth a try if it's safe for your special dietary need.

For Brandon's entree, he opted to get the Bison Burger on a House-made Bun, Chipotle Aioli, Candied Hickory-smoked Bacon, White Cheddar, and French Fries. This dish was made safe for Brandon's allergies: fish/shellfish, peanut/tree nut, chicken & turkey, and cabbage.

The Bison Burger at Geyser Point -- also at Wilderness Lodge Resort -- is a favorite of Brandon's, so he was interested in comparing these two burger options. Overall, he really loved it and said that he would get this again. He enjoyed the candied bacon on the burger and even said the chipotle aioli was pretty good. It's nice to know that there are a couple of different bison burger options at the Wilderness Lodge that he really enjoys. Like me, he said he would definitely order this again.

And, of course, because Brandon can't help himself, he ordered a second side of French fries -- made in a dedicated fryer. These fries are also gluten free and dairy free too.

For dessert, we ended up splitting the Whispering Canyon Pioneer Chocolate Cake. This dish is marked safe for Gluten/Wheat, Fish/Shellfish, Milk, and Peanut/Tree Nut Allergies. Both Brandon and I loved the rich flavors of the this dessert. It was so good. I believe the restaurant is also using Namaste mixes for this cake too. If you love chocolate, this is hands down a winner!

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

Overall

While our experience a few years ago at Whispering Canyon Cafe deterred us from dining at the restaurant for a long time, we're both so glad that we finally gave it another try. We were both impressed by the quality and flavors of the food that we ate. And, we appreciated the accommodation to special dietary needs and our server keeping the shenanigans to a minimum. We both felt the experience warranted going back again sometime soon because we liked it that much. We are looking forward to dining at dinner and maybe even breakfast!

Have you been to Whispering Canyon Cafe? What was your experience when you dined there?

12/31/19 12/31/19

Whispering Canyon Cafe Dinner Review

Whispering Canyon Cafe, located in Disney's Wilderness Lodge Resort is a table service restaurant that offers hearty Western-style fare in a unique setting that includes colorful cast members who treat you to good food and hilarious shenanigans throughout your meal. Recently, I had appetizers and dessert there with my friends Alexis from Alexis's Gluten Free Adventures and Christy from Pack Your Pixie Dust.

*This gluten free dining experience took place in November 2019. It includes information about dairy free options too.

Dinner at Whispering Canyon Cafe

Atmosphere

I absolutely love Disney's Wilderness Lodge Resort, especially during the holiday season. Both Whispering Canyon Cafe and the lodge have a fantastic design and rustic feel to them.

Whispering Canyon Cafe Sign / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

I really loved seeing all the seasonal decor throughout the restaurant and the resort.

Whispering Canyon Cafe - Holiday Decorations / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

I somehow didn't manage to get many photos that night though, so if you're interested in seeing more about the restaurant, I recommend checking out my previous lunch review that I wrote. I included a lot more photos and discuss the theme in more detail.

The Food

On this visit, none of us wanted anything too heavy, so we opted for appetizers and dessert instead of a full meal. One of these days, I do want to go back for their dinner skillets, especially since they've added some new options.

Whispering Canyon Cafe Menu / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Like most Disney-owned restaurants, Whispering Canyon Cafe does have an allergy-friendly dinner menu. You can also always speak to a chef or manager at any time to discuss options. On this visit, we ordered directly from the allergy-friendly menu because we ordered just a few simple dishes.

For a while now, I've been wanting to try out the "Burnt Ends" Nachos which are marked safe for Gluten/Wheat, Egg, Fish/Shellfish, and Peanut/Tree Nut Allergies. Christy and I decided to split these because we both really enjoy nachos.

Overall, we both really enjoyed these, though I think the weakest part of the nachos was the cheese sauce. I'm always super excited to see a nacho cheese stye sauce, but this one was pretty bland. And, I think we all agreed that the brisket, pulled pork, pico de gallo, and tortilla chips were all really good, despite the so-so cheese sauce. I would still get these again and split them as a starter -- though I wouldn't want to order them for a full meal.

For dessert, Christy and I attempted to split the Whispering Canyon Pioneer Chocolate Cake, which is marked safe for Gluten/Wheat, Milk, and Peanut/Tree Nut Allergies. But, when it came to the table, we noticed it looked pretty burnt. In fact, we tried to eat it and neither one of us could get it out of the dish. We each took a bite and decided that the cake was indeed completely burnt and inedible. This was a real shame because I'd had it on previous visits and thought it was delicious. Because it was late, and we'd eaten a lot of nachos, we opted to send the cake back and not get a replacement. It was definitely a bit of a bummer to see the cake so poorly prepared.

Overall

While I do generally enjoy the food at Whispering Canyon Cafe, this visit had hit or miss dishes. The nachos were definitely a dish I'd order again. And, while I've had delicious versions of the Pioneer Chocolate Cake before, this time the dessert was completely inedible. I might try to get it again, but it will be a long time before I do so. I think the restaurant shines with its Western fare, so I would recommend Whispering Canyon Cafe for breakfast or dinner if you like BBQ style or Western inspired meals.

Have you been to Whispering Canyon Cafe? What was your experience when you dined there?

7/7/19 7/7/19

Whispering Canyon Cafe Lunch Review

Whispering Canyon Cafe, located in Disney's Wilderness Lodge Resort, is a table service restaurant that is known for its wild West theme and server antics and hijinks. This is one of those restaurants, similar to 50s Prime Time Cafe that people either love or hate, depending on their enjoyment of the antics and hijinks. I admit, I can take or leave the antics, but my family is partial to Whispering Canyon Cafe. So, when my mom and stepdad were in town recently, they requested lunch at Whispering Canyon when it's a little more low-key and for the 20% off lunch prices for Annual Passholders.

*This gluten free dining experience took place in June 2019. It includes information about dairy free options.

Lunch at Whispering Canyon Cafe

Atmosphere

I have to admit that if the restaurant didn't have such high energy hijinks, I'd probably eat at Whispering Canyon Cafe a bit more. I absolutely love the theme of the Wilderness Lodge and the wild West theme throughout the interior of Whispering Canyon Cafe, which is located off the main lobby of the Lodge.

From the moment you walk inside, you'll find charming wild West touches -- from the carpet to the chairs. I always feel like Whispering Canyon Cafe looks exactly as I would imagine a childhood Lincoln Log project to look like if it came to life.

Whispering Canyon Cafe - Interior / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Whispering Canyon Cafe is spacious and the seating is quite comfy too.

I also really enjoy any of the tables near the windows, because you get a nice chance to enjoy the wooded area near the Lodge.

The Food

Whispering Canyon Cafe offers guests with special dietary needs allergy-friendly menus for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. You can also always speak to a chef at any time if you have questions or wish to discuss additional options too. '

On my last visit for dinner, I had a terrible experience with a server who did not want to break character when I mentioned having celiac disease. Thankfully, on this visit, the server was excellent and really gauged our level of interest in antics, so that made my dining experience much more pleasant.

Side note, I absolutely love that all the drinks at Whispering Canyon Cafe are served in Mason jars. Super cute!

Also, for those who are concerned about paper straws now being served at Disney World and gluten, check out the Disney Mom's Panel response from Special Diets about this. The gist is that if it's a Disney-owned restaurant, they are using Aardvark brand paper straws that are 100% paper and do not contain gluten. Always trust you own judgement and comfort level if you're concerned about potential gluten in the straws.

For my entree, I ordered the Slow-smoked Pulled Pork Sandwich. This was made gluten free by serving it on a gluten free bun and with fries made in a dedicated fryer. The sandwich itself was served with Caramelized Onion and a Vinegar-Barbecue Sauce. It also had coleslaw on the side too. I did not ask about the dairy free modifications for this dish, but I would guess this could be made dairy free by omitting the caramelized onions.

Overall, the sandwich was good, but not amazing. Both my mom and I ordered this, and we both agreed that the sandwich was on the dry side. We got some additional BBQ sauce, but I am not a huge vinegar sauce fan. I actually ended up adding the coleslaw to the sandwich and that worked perfectly for a bit of moisture and texture. The fries were nothing special, but I always enjoy Disney French fries whenever I can get them.

Normally, I'm not a huge dessert person, but I had to order the Whispering Canyon Pioneer Chocolate Cake. It was marked as safe for Gluten/Wheat, Milk, and Peanut/Tree Nut Allergies.

I'm so glad I ordered this because wow, was it good! The cake was served in an adorable little campfire dish and was topped with a chocolate syrup. Our server told us that the version on the regular menu is the same as the gluten free version, which is pretty great. Essentially, it is a flourless chocolate cake that was super rich and delicious. My mom, stepdad, and I all got this, and we all agreed it was the star of the meal. Next time, I might just go there for an appetizer and this dessert! This is definitely a must-order if you're visiting Whispering Canyon Cafe and love chocolate.

Overall

While I don't always love the antics and hijinks at Whispering Canyon Cafe, I do really enjoy the atmosphere and food at this table service restaurant. If you're like me and prefer a more low-key meal, lunch and breakfast at Whispering Canyon Cafe are always good options. You'll still get lots of delicious food and the restaurant vibe is definitely more relaxed. Of course, no matter when you go, be warned if you ask ketchup, you're going to get more than you bargained for!

Have you been to Whispering Canyon Cafe? What's your experience dining there been like?

11/2/18 11/2/18

Geyser Point Bar & Grill Dinner Review

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

Dinner at Geyser Point Bar & Grill

Geyser Point Bar & Grill, located at Disney's Wilderness Lodge Resort, is a hybrid of quick service and table service dining options. That's because you can order from a quick service counter or dine in the lounge/bar area of the restaurant. We really enjoy Geyser Point Bar & Grill for it's affordable and delicious sandwiches -- and especially for their gluten free waffle fries! Recently we stopped by Geyser Point for a late dinner after a movie at Disney Springs.

Atmosphere

Because it was late, I totally spaced on taking any photos at the restaurant. Here's a photo from a previous visit. As you can see it shows the covered al fresco dining area at Geyser Point Bar & Grill. If you want to see more photos of the restaurant, check out a previous review I wrote here on the blog.

Geyser Point Bar & Grill Seating / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

One of my favorite things about Geyser Point is dining there in the evening and sitting closer to the water so that we can watch the fireworks or the Electric Water Pageant. There's just something relaxing and magical about that!

The Food

I am always so surprised at how great the food is at Geyser Point Bar & Grill. There are plenty of gluten free options too. Currently, the restaurant does not have an allergy-friendly menu. But, you will get a chance to speak with a chef who will go over options with you. On this visit, I opted to order something different instead of the burger that I usually get.

Geyser Point Bar & Grill - GF Turkey Sandwich / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

The chef prepared for me the Smoked Turkey Sandwich which comes with Lettuce, Tomato and Cranberry Mayonnaise served with Waffle Fries. The only modification to this dish is the gluten free (and dairy free) bread. In fact, this dish was entirely gluten free and dairy free with just that modification.

I have to admit that I was pleasantly surprised by this sandwich. It was very flavorful and the turkey was really delicious. I loved the cranberry mayonnaise which added the perfect amount of tang to the dish. It was nice and light -- perfect for a late dinner in the evening or on a hot day. Of course, the waffle fries made in a dedicated fryer continue to be my favorite thing at Geyser Point. I don't know what it is but these waffle fries are epicly good!

Overall

Geyser Point Bar & Grill continues to be a low-key and pleasant place to get a quick service style meal that's filling, delicious, and not too pricey. It's best enjoyed when the temperatures are a little "cooler" or later in the day when the sun has gone down. For us, the combination of food and atmosphere make it a must-do on our regular rotation of Disney restaurants.

Have you been to Geyser Point Bar & Grill? What did you think of the special dietary needs options?

7/14/18 7/14/18

Geyser Point Bar & Grill -- Dinner -- Quick Service -- Wilderness Lodge

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

Dinner at Geyser Point Bar & Grill

Geyser Point Bar & Grill, located at Disney's Wilderness Lodge, offers al fresco dining with a view of Bay Lake. The food and drinks served there are inspired by the Pacific Northwest. We dined there once last year and absolutely loved the relaxed atmosphere and low-key vibe, but we haven't had a chance to go back. Recently, we decided to go back on an evening when the temperatures were really mild for the summertime and made for a beautiful evening dining outside.

Atmosphere

The Wilderness Lodge has always been one of my favorite Disney resorts. Taking the walk from the main lodge to the new Disney Vacation Club area (Copper Creek) where Geyser Point is located definitely reminds me how much I love the resort.When we arrived at Geyser Point, we had two dining options. Go to the walk-up window to order or be seated in the bar area. We definitely recommend and prefer the bar seating area with all of its cozy seats and perfect views of Bay Lake. On an evening when the temperatures are mild, it's a perfect spot for outdoor dining.Initially, we were offered a seat in the back of the bar/lounge area. But, we asked if we could have a seat closer to the water, and they were able to accommodate us as the restaurant wasn't too busy.You can also sit at the bar area too, if you're not ordering food or just prefer the high top seating.Over the course of our meal, the day went from sunset to dark in the course of an hour. Just in time for Fireworks and for the Electrical Water Pageant. You'll get great views of the Water Pageant from here (a classic!) and if you move closer to the water you can see the fireworks with a better view too.

The Food

Geyser Point Bar & Grill does not carry an allergy-friendly menu. However, a chef will come out to speak with you about options. Chef Connie took care of us and was fantastic. I asked about the burger and waffle fries -- both of Chef Connie said could be made gluten free. The waffle fries are made in a dedicated fryer, so you can eat waffle fries with abandon! (and we probably could have; they are that good).Keeping it simple that night, I ordered the Classic Bacon Cheeseburger with Bacon, Tillamook Cheddar, Lettuce and Tomato served on a Gluten Free Bun and served with Waffle Fries. These were made gluten free but the entree could be dairy free by omitting the cheese on the burger. I also asked for a side of the Marionberry Barbecue Sauce and Garlic Aïoli that are normally served with the Bison Burger.The burger itself was very good. While it's not quite as good as the burgers at D-Luxe (which I think are hands down the best quick service burgers at Disney World). But, it was good. What really made the burger was the thick cut bacon and Tillamook Cheddar. The sides of Garlic Aioli and Marionberry Barbecue Sauce were also nice touches too. If you're not a fan of sweet barbecue sauce, I might avoid this one as it is very sweet -- almost like a jam. It's good, but a little bit goes a long way. The garlic aioli was perfection and made for an awesome dipping sauce for my waffle fries.The hands down winner of this meal were the waffle fries. Oh my goodness gracious. These are delicious. Seasoned and crispy and just perfect. It's so rare to get waffle fries out at a restaurant, so I'll never turn down an excuse to order them when I can safely. And, these were downright addicting. We actually contemplated ordering another side of these; they were that good!

Overall

If outdoor dining is something you enjoy on occasion or you're just looking for a quick service meal that's a bit more relaxed and off the beaten path, you can't go wrong with Geyser Point Bar & Grill. The food here offers some solid special diets options. And, the dishes we have tried have all been very good. It's definitely a location we'll plan to visit again on cooler evenings for a low-key and affordable meal...and those delicious waffle fries!Have you been to Geyser Point Bar & Grill? What did you order when you dined there?

12/29/17 12/29/17

Whispering Canyon Cafe -- Dinner -- Table Service -- Wilderness Lodge

*This dining experience took place in December 2017.

Dinner at Whispering Canyon Cafe

Whispering Canyon Cafe is a table service restaurant located at Disney's Wilderness Lodge Resort that is known for good food and fun hijinks. If you enjoy the charm of 50's Prime Time Cafe's servers, you'll love Whispering Canyon Cafe where if you ask for ketchup, you're bound to get more than you bargained for. Recently, my family enjoyed a meal here during the holiday season. It's been 2 years since my last dinner at Whispering Canyon Cafe, so I was looking forward to a some good BBQ.

Atmosphere

Whispering Canyon Cafe definitely has a rustic charm to it. Unlike the rest of the lodge and restaurants, like Artist Point, Whispering Canyon Cafe features bright colors in its decor.From the moment you see the sign, you know you're in for a rootin' tootin' good time!We visited during the holiday season. And, one of the things I loved most were the holiday decorations. Even the wreaths had a bit of that rustic decor incorporated into them.As you can see, Whispering Canyon Cafe features chairs and tables with lots of art on them. Watch out for those antics! During your meal, big and little kiddos can take a spin around the restaurant on wooden horses.We loved that the restaurant included some holiday decor to it, which made for an even more festive experience. You'll also notice that there are a lot of big tables in Whispering Canyon Cafe. We definitely noticed a lot of larger parties (including our group) dining there.

The Food

Whispering Canyon Cafe has two claims to fame: The BBQ skillets and the server antics. Usually when you dine here, you are given a card that says you want to either participate in the antics or just watch. We didn't get that option. So, our server was all antics all the time. I definitely don't mind antics, except when special dietary needs are concerned.When I mentioned that I have celiac disease, my server said, "I don't care," and it took me a bit to get her to bring the chef to the table. While I know this was part of the schtick (and even the chef got into the antics), I still was a little off put by that. Usually, the servers break character when it comes to discussing special dietary needs. I've been to Whispering Canyon Cafe enough times that I wasn't too fazed by it. But, I could see how this might be off-putting. So, just be aware that this could happen on your visit. Whispering Canyon Cafe does have an allergy-friendly dinner menu that you can look at too, which helps.Up first, I was brought the Whispering Canyon Cafe allergy-friendly cornbread with Earth Balance vegan buttery spread. The cornbread is made to be gluten free, dairy free, and fairly allergy friendly. And, it's delicious! Made with Namaste Vanilla Cake Mix as the base, if you love a more cake like cornbread with a hint of sweetness, this is your cornbread. My family actually prefers this version too.Don't forget to ask your server for more too, if you only get one piece. I could eat this cornbread just about any day.I ended up getting the All-You-Care-to-Enjoy Skillet meal which also comes with Family-style Mixed Greens tossed in an Apple Vinaigrette Dressing. This dish is marked safe for Gluten/Wheat, Egg, Fish/Shellfish, and Peanut/Tree Nut Allergies. You can make it dairy free by omitting the cheese in this dish.This was a really nice salad with bright, fresh flavors. The apple slices in it were nice -- though they were a tad grainy. The blue cheese added a nice rich tang to the salad. Overall, I think the salad is really nice both with and without the cheese. And, I really enjoy the fresh fruit in it too.Once we finished with our salad and cornbread, the table was brought out a giant skillet to share. I ended up getting my own skillet on the side, but the main All-You-Care-to-Enjoy Skillet meal is actually safe for Gluten/Wheat, Egg, Fish/Shellfish, and Peanut/Tree Nut Allergies, as is. It comes with Slow-smoked Pork Ribs, Barbecued Pulled Pork, Roasted Glazed Chicken, Oak-smoked Beef, and Western-style Sausage served with Seasonal Farm Fresh Vegetables, Mashed Yukon Potatoes, Corn on the Cob, and Cowboy-style Baked Beans.My family loves this skillet and everyone really enjoyed it. Brandon said the mashed potatoes were really delicious too.I didn't want the mashed potatoes for my entree and asked if I could get roasted potatoes (which are gluten free and dairy free) instead. So, I was brought my own mini All-You-Care-to-Enjoy Skillet meal. It came with Slow-smoked Pork Ribs, Barbecued Pulled Pork, Roasted Glazed Chicken, Oak-smoked Beef, and Western-style Sausage served with Seasonal Farm Fresh Vegetables, Roasted Potatoes, Corn on the Cob, and Cowboy-style Baked Beans. This dish is safe for Gluten/Wheat, Egg, Milk, Fish/Shellfish, and Peanut/Tree Nut Allergies with the potato modification.The is such a hearty meal. I have to say that the oak-smoked beef was probably my favorite of the proteins, then the pulled pork. But, they were all really good. The only thing on the skillet I don't really love are the Baked Beans. They just seem like they should cook a bit longer, and I don't love the BBQ flavor in them all that much. Still, for this meal it's a huge portion with lots of great bold flavors.I was also served a huge plate of roasted potatoes on the side. And, they were delicious. Both Brandon and I ate these and were wowed by the nice roasted flavor on them. I would definitely ask for these again.

Overall

Whispering Canyon Cafe is a fun and charming restaurant to visit. The food is always plentiful and tasty, and the atmosphere makes it even better. If experiencing some hijinks during your meal is not your thing, Whispering Canyon Cafe may not be for you. But, if you don't mind a bit of silly fun throughout your meal, it's a great option for guests who enjoy a good barbecue meal.Have you been to Whispering Canyon Cafe? What did you think of your experience dining there?

12/23/17 12/23/17

Roaring Fork -- Lunch -- Quick Service -- Wilderness Lodge

*This gluten free dining experience took place in December 2017.

Lunch at Roaring Fork

Roaring Fork, a quick service restaurant located at Disney's Wilderness Lodge Resort, is a hidden gem of a quick service resort restaurant with lots of rustic charm. I recently stopped by Roaring Fork with my family for a low-key lunch while they were staying at the Wilderness Lodge during the holiday season. I hadn't been to Roaring Fork since they had been closed for refurbishment, so I was looking forward to trying out some of the new menu options.

Atmosphere

One of the things I love most about Roaring Fork is the rustic decor. The decor takes a lot of nods from the overall rustic lodge feel of the resort.Inside, you'll find a lot of grab and go stations, including a prominently featured Snacks with Character display. Snacks with Character is Disney's special diets friendly snack line. And, in Roaring Fork, I saw several options and even some special diets brands like Glutino and Surf Sweets featured.Once you order your food, you'll find yourself in the seating area. It's not super spacious. But, it does provide a nice spot to sit and enjoy a meal. It reminds me of a bit of the cafeterias or mess halls of the camps that I used to work at as a college student.

The Food

Roaring Fork did not have an allergy-friendly lunch and dinner menu when I visited. One of the cast members said this may be because of the recent menu change. But, the good news is that you can speak to a manager or chef to ask about options.Because I've reintroduced dairy back into my diet in limited amounts, I decided to get the Brisket Burger with Tillamook Cheddar Cheese, Cranberry Barbecue Sauce, Cast Iron Onions, and Apple Frisée on a Gluten Free Bun. The cheese and cast iron onions would need to be removed in order to make the dish dairy free. I also got a side of Baked Potato Barrels (aka tater tots) because everything is better with a side of potato barrels.The burger was definitely a huge step up from most of the burgers you find at Disney. The brisket served on top of the burger was tender and super delicious. I also really enjoyed the cranberry barbecue sauce and totally wish I would have ordered a side of it for the potato barrels. The potato barrels themselves were also really delicious -- though maybe not as good as fried ones. Still, it was nice to have a different option.One thing to remember about the potato barrels is that because they are baked you may have to wait a bit longer for your order. Mine took about 20 minutes to get due to the baking time.

Overall

I was pretty pleased with the meal I had at Roaring Fork. The burger was outstanding and the potato barrels made for a perfect side dish. I'd also like to try several of the other dishes, especially the pulled pork sandwich, which I was told could also be made gluten free too. Overall, I thought they had some nice options for a small quick service restaurant. And, I'm looking forward to going back again sometime soon. Between this and Geyser Point Bar & Grill in the new Copper Creek DVC area of the Wilderness Lodge, there are definitely some really nice quick service options at the resort.Have you been to Roaring Fork? What did you order when you dined there?

9/15/17 9/15/17

Territory Lounge -- Dinner -- Wilderness Lodge Resort

*This dining experience took place in August 2017.

Dinner at Territory Lounge

Territory Lounge, located at Disney's Wilderness Lodge Resort, is a charming and cozy lounge area with drinks and limited food options. Brandon and I stopped by here recently for a late evening nightcap and a bite to eat after a movie at Disney Springs. We hadn't been to Territory Lounge in a while, and I'd never tried any of the food offerings there, so with that in mind, we decided to check things out.

Atmosphere

The Wilderness Lodge Resort is one of my all-time favorite resorts at Disney. I just love the rustic theme. It always feels like you're in the Pacific Northwest and far away from the palm trees and humidity of Florida -- so it's a welcome place to visit and even chill and relax when you need a break from the parks.The Territory Lounge has always been a favorite Disney bar/lounge for me because of how dark and cozy it is. It just feels like a good place to sit with a drink, chat with friends, and relax.Unfortunately, on this visit, we noticed one major change. The lighting.It was super bright and almost a bit jarring when we walked in. We asked a server about the lighting, and said that they recently had to increase the lighting for security reasons. This seems slightly odd given that there are plenty of other dark-ish locations on property, but I suppose it's up to the resort whether they want to keep the lighting more brightly lit or not.I kind of hope they go back to the dimmer lighting, but for now...it's bright.Territory Lounge does have lots of artwork in it, and I love the mural of a map on the ceiling. It's all very cozy, and you feel like a roaring fire should be going while you enjoy a good drink.

The Food

Having only ever dined at Territory Lounge for drinks before, we were curious about the food. Unfortunately, we arrived a bit too late in the evening, as Artist Point had just closed. And, certain dishes are only served during Artist Point's business hours.As we mulled over the options, we did get some drinks. One of my favorite things about Territory Lounge are the drink swizzle sticks. Check out the adorable Wilderness Lodge branded ones. They make terrific (and free!) souvenirs for trip. I have a nice little collection of Disney themed swizzle sticks at home, so I can have a bit of Disney with me when I make drinks at home.Brandon ordered the Poutine, a classic dish of fries, cheese curds, and gravy. Unfortunately, they were not gluten free. They looked amazing though, and I totally wish I could have ordered them.I didn't have a lot of options available since Artist Point was closed, so I ended up getting the Gourmet Burger with Land Lettuce, Tomato, House Pickles, Truffle Fries, and Aïoli. This dish is served on a gluten free bun and can be made dairy free by omitting cheese.First up, the good part of this dish. The truffle fries and aioli (aka mayonnaise). Holy moly. These were outstanding. Truly delicious and amazing. Dipping the fries in the aioli was the perfect combination, and I never turn down a delicious plate of fries smothered in truffle oil. So good. I would hands down order these again, and honestly, probably just ask for a side of these if I needed a snack.The bad part of the dish was the burger. It was, unfortunately, a bit of a disaster. It's not often that I have a truly terrible dish at Disney, but this one was pretty bad. The bun was poorly heated and very crumbly. But, the real bummer was the burger itself which was super dry, bland, and very overcooked (I ordered it medium).Worst of all was the condiment on the burger. It didn't note that it had any sauce on it on the menu. But, it came with this dreadful, almost marinara-like sauce. It was not quite marinara and not quite a tomato jam. It was sweet but odd tasting, and just not good. As a self-proclaimed condiment queen, I almost never dislike a condiment, but this one was just terrible.While I would hands down order the fries again, I would not get the burger again, unless it was radically changed. One thing we learned from this visit. Stick to the appetizer basics and staples and go someplace else for a more substantial and flavorful meal, like Geyser Point Bar & Grill at the Wilderness Lodge DVC villas.

Overall

While I adore the theming of Territory Lounge, this visit had some major bummers -- including the bright lighting and not so great burger. This used to be such a favorite spot for me, that it makes it even more of a bummer. We'll probably be skipping this lounge for a while and stick with some of our favorites like the Wave or Hangar Bar -- both of which have better lighting, atmosphere, and food.Have you been to Territory Lounge? What did you get when you dined here?

3/27/17 3/27/17

Geyser Point Bar and Grill -- Lunch -- Quick Service -- Wilderness Lodge

*This dining experience took place in March 2017.

Lunch at Geyser Point Bar and Grill

Geyser Point Bar and Grill is Disney's newest restaurant to open. Located in the new Disney Vacation Club Boulder Ridge Villas area of Disney's Wilderness Lodge, Geyser Point Bar and Grill offers quick service food in an open-air bar setting. It's a unique concept that includes a quick service counter to order breakfast, lunch, and dinner along with a seated lounge area that includes the quick service menu along with a special bar menu that offers additional food options. I've been hearing a lot about the new restaurant, so we finally had a chance to check it out. I dined with a large group, including some friends who were visiting from out-of-state, so we got a chance to see a lot of the menu.

Atmosphere

I have to say that the restaurant / lounge seating area is very nice. It's all open-air which means, you'll be technically eating al fresca (aka outside) with a covered roof. At this time of year, the temperature was perfect with a nice breeze and a bit of warmth, but I can see that it could get a bit uncomfortable in very hot or cold temperatures. They do have fans and heaters so it will be interesting to see how it is at less than ideal temps.We had a big table near the edge of the restaurant with a great view of the water. I really loved the big comfy chairs, though I'll admit they presented a bit of a challenge trying to eat later on. But, if you're there just getting appetizers in drinks, you'll be so comfortable that you may not want to leave. We sure didn't!The seating area does include a large bar. I really liked that they had the cocktail menu on a screen along with Disney park information too.The best part about this restaurant is the view. The outdoor dining on a nice breezy and warm day was just perfection. The views of the water were so nice and just made for a really relaxing and low-key meal.Unfortunately, I didn't get as many photos as I would have liked to. For more photos of the interior of the restaurant area, definitely check out Disney Food Blog's review for tons more photos!

The Food

I've been dying to check out the food options here. I've always had great luck at the Wilderness Lodge restaurants, so I was figuring I would have the same great options at Geyser Point Bar and Grill. Currently, they do not have an allergy-friendly menu, but I was able to speak with a chef. They must be really popular with special diets now, as I was asked to come up with several options prior to ordering as the chefs were busy and may not be able to speak with me that long.I had been eyeing the salmon BLT, bison burger, and crab cakes on the regular menu. I didn't ask about the lounge menu, but I really want to next time because it looked like there were some nice options. When the chef came out, he said that the crab cakes were not gluten free (they contain panko) and that the cheeseburger, bison burger, and Salmon BLT could all be made gluten free. The waffle fries are also gluten free and made in a dedicated fryer. Well, you know what I had to order...waffle fries! I asked the chef his recommendation, and he said the Salmon BLT, which is what I ordered. He noted that the Bison Burger was a bit gamey, and it's not something everyone likes. Brandon and his friend ordered the Bison Burger did mention that it was a bit gamey, so if you're not a fan of game meat, you may want to get a regular burger instead.The Salmon BLT was served on Udi's Gluten Free bread with arugula and a Lemon Caper Mayonnaise. I found the sandwich to be good, but not amazing. I actually thought the Salmon was not the best quality. It definitely wasn't as amazing as the Salmon BLT I got at the Boathouse. The mayonnaise on it was good but definitely nothing too special.The best part of my meal were the waffles fries. Holy cow they were good. Everyone at the table raved about them. They had a slight seasoning to them and were extremely well fried. I seriously could have eaten a plate of them. On the side, I actually tried the Marionberry Barbecue Sauce that comes with the Bison Burger, and it was good. It's more like jam and sweet, so if you're not up for sweet barbecue sauce, you may want to avoid it. I seriously just wanted to take it home and put it on gluten free toast in the morning.On a side note, I did not ask about dairy free at this meal. Because I've been reintroducing dairy back into my diet a bit, I did just ask about gluten. I would suspect that the only potential dairy in this dish was in the mayonnaise. Otherwise, none of the other components would have had dairy. That being said, there are definitely dairy free options here if you ask.

Overall

We all thought that Geyser Point Bar and Grill had solid lunch options. The portions were large and the food quality was definitely a step up from most quick service options. I would definitely like to go back again and try some other dishes, especially from the lounge menu. Brandon and I loved the view here and can see just coming back for a drink and relaxing. Plus, it looks like it'd be a killer place to have brunch!What do you think of the newly opened Geyser Point Bar and Grill? What would you like to order on the menu.

1/20/16 1/20/16

Artist Point -- Dinner -- Table Service -- Wilderness Lodge

*This dining experience took place in December 2015.Artist Point at Disney's Wilderness Lodge is an intimate signature dining location that often gets overlooked by Disney guests. Serving Pacific Northwest inspired fare in a rustic setting, Artist Point truly reflects the theming of the Wilderness Lodge Resort and then some.Dining here in the past, I've had hit or miss experiences. On my last visit back in April 2015, I dined with Alexis from Gluten Free in Orlando after they had recently launched the allergy friendly menus at Disney restaurants. Both Alexis and I enjoyed the meal overall (you can read her full review on her blog), though I didn't have a huge desire to go back anytime soon. However, that changed when I heard they had a new chef at the helm of the restaurant.On this particular occasion, we dined at Artist Point in celebration of my boyfriend's birthday. Brandon is originally from the Pacific Northwest, and so, we thought this was the perfect location to celebrate his birthday dinner.After being seated, I was presented with the updated allergy friendly dinner menu at Artist Point. The menu lists a good amount of options on it, but I did ask to speak with a chef, as there were some menu items that sounded enticing that I was hoping would be easily gluten free and dairy free. I was in luck, as I was able to order the Pacific Seafood Cioppino which sounded delicious.While waiting for our drinks, our server brought out Deanna's Gluten Free Rolls (formerly known as GNI Brand Rolls). I was pleasantly surprised to find them well heated. Oddly, Artist Point in visits past have not heated these rolls well.If you are a gluten free diner, you can indeed order the cheese plate gluten free. They will remove and/or place the gluten-filled accompaniments on the side to avoid cross contamination, which is a nice touch. If you're able to tolerate goat or sheep milk cheeses, Artist Point offers several on their cheese board, which makes for a great non-cow's milk option.The Pacific Seafood Cioppino was a perfect entree for Artist Point. The black cod, which was the highlight of this dish, was cooked perfectly, as was all of the other seafood that accompanied it. The Carolina gold rice was delicious, and the pigeon peas were a unique addition to this version of cioppino. It was hands down one of the best entrees I've ever had at Artist Point, and I wouldn't hesitate to order again!Brandon's entree was the Grilled Filet Mignon which came with crushed new potatoes, charred local eggplant, green onions, and herb vinaigrette. Listed as gluten free on the allergy friendly menu (not dairy free), he said the filet was excellent, as were the crushed potatoes. He wasn't keen on the eggplant, as the texture wasn't very appealing (and it tasted rather bland).After our very filling meal, neither one of us really wanted dessert. I could have ordered the no sugar added berry cobbler as an option, though having had it in the past, I hadn't been very impressed with it. Brandon opted for an espresso and was treated to a birthday macaron. And, our server also brought out two flutes of champagne to help celebrate the occasion, which was a wonderful Disney magic moment.Overall, we both really enjoyed the meal at Artist Point, as well as our service. The restaurant's atmosphere made our meal quiet and cozy, which was the perfect way to celebrate Brandon's birthday. We both agreed that with the new menu we'd definitely be up for going back again for dinner.Have you been to Artist Point since their new chef arrived? What did you think of the menu offerings?

11/30/15 11/30/15

Whispering Canyon Cafe -- Dinner -- Table Service -- Wilderness Lodge

*This dining experience took place in August 2015. Whispering Canyon Cafe, located at Disney's Wilderness Lodge, is one of those fun-filled dining experiences at Disney World. The cast members really get into character, and hijinks most definitely ensue. Don't believe me? Just ask for ketchup one time dining here, and you'll see what I mean.On this particular occasion, I dined with two blogger friends of mine, Amanda from Eating Out Without and Alexis from Gluten Free in Orlando. Both are huge foodies like me, so it's great to enjoy a meal with fellow special dietary needs foodies.Remember those hijinks I mentioned? If you're not into all the fun, you can always observe from a distance by flipping a card at your table that states you prefer to watch. My family loves all of that, so this was a rare occasion where I didn't participate.Though the restaurant does have an allergy friendly menu, we did have some questions for the chef, including seeing if the dinner skillet could be make both gluten and dairy free, for the chef. I was excited to see that I could still get the skillet, and I couldn't wait to dig in.Up first was a house salad made with an apple vinaigrette. This was light and fresh and a nice beginning to our meal.The next course was the allergy friendly cornbread, which is a not to be missed side for dinner at Whispering Canyon Cafe. Made with Namaste vanilla cake mix, it has a sweet taste to it, and is a lovely dense, cake-like, cornbread. It's a hands down favorite with some Earth Balance vegan margarine.For my skillet, I received corn on the cob, green beans, roasted potatoes (instead of mashed potatoes), baked beans, roasted chicken, brisket, ribs, and pulled pork. I have to say the pork and chicken were probably my favorites of the meal. The brisket being my least favorite. I liked the sides well enough, though I wasn't a big fan of the beans. Overall, it's a huge portion, and I was completely stuffed from this meal.I don't normally get dessert, but I absolutely had to try the new campfire style chocolate cake. I topped mine with Rice Dream non-dairy ice cream and with the heated chocolate cake, it was the perfect topping. Overall, this was a delicious way to end the meal. It was nice to have something a bit different, and I loved the ooey gooeyness of the cake. I wouldn't hesitate to order this one again.This meal was definitely a good one. Though I didn't love everything in my skillet, I enjoyed the overall meal experience and offerings. The skillet is a great value and will fill you up easily.Have you been to Whispering Canyon Cafe? What did you order when you dined there?

11/25/15 11/25/15

Whispering Canyon Cafe -- Breakfast -- Table Service -- Wilderness Lodge

*This dining experience took place in October 2015.Whispering Canyon Cafe, located at Disney's Wilderness Lodge, is sure to be a rootin' tootin' good time when you dine there. Well-known for its cast member hijinks and antics (ask for ketchup, and you'll soon find out what I mean), Whispering Canyon Cafe has long been a family favorite.On this particular occasion, we dined there for breakfast, before we headed to the Magic Kingdom for a full day of in park fun. Like most Disney restaurants now, Whispering Canyon Cafe has an allergy friendly menu. You can also still talk to a chef, which I did, as I was interested in a gluten free and dairy free version of the breakfast skillet.I love how the restaurant serves up drinks in Mason jars. Watch out if you drink a lot, you might get yourself a gallon jar!My modified skillet included breakfast potatoes, scrambled eggs, bacon, apple raisin sausage, and allergy friendly Mickey waffles. If I were gluten free only, I also could have gotten biscuits and gravy with this skillet. You can read a gluten free only review on Gluten Free in Orlando's blog.For the most part, I didn't find this breakfast to be anything special. It was good, and there was a lot of food. My favorite part was actually the apple raisin sausage which had a mild sweet flavor to it and was something different.If you're looking for a filling and hearty breakfast, Whispering Canyon Cafe fits the bill nicely. It's not someplace I'd go all the time, but every once in a while, it's great. And for $16.49, the all-you-care-to-eat breakfast skillet is a great value.Have you been to Whispering Canyon Cafe? What did you enjoy about this restaurant?

4/28/15 4/28/15

Artist Point -- Dinner -- Table Service -- Wilderness Lodge

*This dining experience took place in April 2015. Artist Point, located in Disney's Wilderness Lodge, is a signature dining location with Pacific Northwest inspired food and decor. It's been several years since I've been to this restaurant, and after reading Eating WDW's recent review, I was hoping to go back soon. As luck would have it, my friend Alexis from Gluten Free in Orlando had also been hoping to visit Artist Point, especially after reading about the new allergy-friendly dining menus being launched at signature dining locations at Disney in April. So, when she invited me for dinner, I of course said yes! Disney's Wilderness Lodge is one of my favorite resorts. I adore the theming and the general look and feel of the resort. Each of the restaurants has a distinct theme to them, and Artist Point reflects the Craftsman style of the early 20th century. The decor is simple and understated, which I love given the sprawling window views of the lodge grounds. After being seated, we were given the new allergy-friendly menu for Artist Point, which includes the top 8 common allergens: gluten/wheat, dairy/milk, egg, soy, peanut, tree nut, fish and shellfish. Our server noted that we could also order items not on the special diets menu and that the chef could work to create something delicious. Because of the new menu, the chef does not come typically out, unless we requested (which we did, to ask questions).One interesting thing to note is that our server indicated that some dishes on the regular menu were indeed gluten free or allergy friendly but not listed on the new menu, which seemed a bit strange; however, my guess is the restaurant chose to feature the most allergy-friendly dishes on their new allergy-friendly menu, rather than just gluten free dishes. I had been eyeing the Pho on the menu, which was not on the allergy-friendly menu. Pho is typically gluten free and dairy free, so I was curious as to why it wasn't listed. Alexis and I also had some questions about the no sugar added cobbler. When the chef came out, he mentioned that the Pho was gluten free & dairy free and that he could substitute rice for the rice noodles, if I wanted. I opted to get the pho with the rice noodles, since that is how it is traditionally served and how it was listed on the menu. I debated about getting the salmon but decided the pho sounded delicious (and after ordering the seafood hot pot the last time, I didn't think I would be disappointed ordering it). Alexis ordered the salmon (which looked delicious) and you can read her full review on Gluten Free in Orlando. First up, we were brought GNI brand rolls. I really like these rolls when they are properly heated, but on this visit (like the last time I went to Artist Point), they were not. In fact, one of my rolls was still cold in the middle. I was served extra virgin olive oil with my rolls, and I missed the version I had the last time that had turmeric in it. When my entree arrived, I have to say that I was fairly impressed by the giant prawns in my dish. Like the last time I visited Artist Point, they were served with the heads on, which may be unappealing to some. Pro tip: ask for an extra bowl. Between the mussels and head-on shrimp, I needed all the extra room I could get. The broth itself was very flavorful and a bit spicy. The broth was red curry based, and I loved that the dish contained fresh ginger and garlic. The seafood was cooked perfectly, and the shrimp were outrageously good. If only I could get those on a regular basis! My only complaint for this dish was the bowl in which it was held. It was a bit too fancy and oddly shaped for the rustic and messy deliciousness that is pho.For dessert, I decided to order the berry cobbler. I had heard rave reviews of this, and I was excited to try it (though less thrilled that it was sugar free - I'm not personally a fan of sugar free substitutes). The chef said this was made using a product called "one to one" which I'd never heard of & the crust was made with Namaste.I have to be honest in that I was disappointed with this dessert. It wasn't very warm and the cobbler crust seemed almost stale to me. It was dry, crumbly, and not particularly tasty. The shining stars in this dessert were the berries (which I love regardless of what dish they are in) and the house-made sorbet that had huge chunks of fresh berries in it. It's unfortunate that my experience wasn't so great, but I've heard so many great reviews of this, that I'm hoping I just had an off day experience. I'm not sure I'd order it again. At $11, it was pretty steeply priced, and I think that I'd rather go make a trip to Port Orleans French Quarter for gluten free and food-allergy friendly beignets. I enjoyed my meal at Artist Point, though I can't say that I'd probably go there again anytime soon. There are loads of places on property, like Sanaa or Boatwright's that I enjoy more. For signature dining, I would probably choose Jiko, Hollywood Brown Derby, or California Grill over Artist Point. It's not that it was bad by any means, but my personal taste prefers those other restaurants. I also did just visit Portland, OR for a week where I had amazing Pacific Northwest fare, so my experience may have been a bit shadowed by that. I will say that if you're looking for a quiet and romantic signature dining experience, Artist Point fits the bill quite nicely. The new allergy-friendly menu is proof that the menu has a lot of offerings for those with special dietary needs. Have you been to Artist Point? Will you go now that they have new allergy-friendly menus?

9/10/13 9/10/13

Roaring Forks -- Lunch/Dinner -- Quick Service -- Wilderness Lodge

*This dining experience took place in September 2013.

Wilderness Lodge Lobby--One of my favorite resorts!

Anytime you visit the Wilderness Lodge, you're bound to experience the joys of this resort and really feel like you're transported to a turn-of-the-century national park lodge at the Grand Canyon. Every dining experience gives you that feeling from Whispering Canyon Cafe with its family style meals to the grandeur of Artist Point and its Arts & Crafts movement inspiration. Roaring Forks is the quick service location at the resort, and you will feel like you're saddling up for a day of exploring after you fuel here for a meal. Each time I've been I've been pleasantly surprised by the special diets offerings.On this particular occasion, we stopped by to grab a late lunch/early dinner. It was actually quite bustling in the restaurant which was surprising at 2:30 p.m. We'd spent the day in the Magic Kingdom, so it was a nice place to take a break and rest from it the busy day. I love that going to the lodge makes you feel completely removed from the theme parks. In fact, I spent my 30th birthday week here and it's one of my favorite places to relax!

Self portrait while relaxing in the big chairs in the lobby

Roaring Forks is located near the pool area of the resort (if you see Artist Point keep going down the long corridor and turn left). It's a bit of a tiny quick service location with a small ordering and dining area. It gets really busy in the mornings!

I will say that the menu isn't super big for this location, so we didn't have a ton to choose from overall, but there were a few good choices. I am a big fan of the Wilderness Salad which comes with grilled chicken, walnuts (plain, not candied), diced apples, and an apple vinaigrette. It also has cheese and croutons but can be easily made GF/DF without them. So, I knew I wanted to get the salad. We also decided to try the Grilled Pacific Northwest Chicken Sandwich which sounded intriguing. It's grilled chicken, Canadian bacon, wilderness sauce (which I assumed was not safe) and cheese (omitted for me) and fries.When I got up to the ordering station, I asked for a manager who came out and spoke with me. He said both of these options would be good and the salad was very easy. He then asked what kind of bun I wanted. I was surprised and delighted to hear that they carry both Udi's AND GNI buns! See that's what I'm talking about--carry both; this is a win-win for guests and the kitchen! I prefer the Udi's since I can have egg, so I asked for an Udi's bun. It was nice to know though that they would ask my preference and carry both. Love that! The manager said he'd have to check the Wilderness Sauce ingredients. While I waited, I looked around and checked out some of the great authentic decor.

Part of the Ordering Area

And the other part--very small!

Who's ready to go exploring?

I will say that this manager was very conscientious. He had the cast member assisting him make my salad in a completely separate area with clean dishes, utensils and gloves (it was open so I watched). They opened everything fresh and not at the salad station. The manager prepared my sandwich in the back as well. He came out and showed me the ingredients for the Wilderness Sauce (which is a concoction of mayo, cranberry sauce, mustard, etc.) which looked say to me based on the ingredients. It did say that it contained egg and soy.Then it was off to the dining room to dig in. The family split the meals because we'd eaten at Columbia Harbour House earlier for the allergy friendly chicken tenders! First up was the salad. This was the big hit. My mom said she loved this and would get it again. I also really enjoy this salad. It's fresh, crisp, tasty and great on a hot day. And huge! You get a ton of food.

Then it was onto the chicken sandwich. I'm gonna say this was OK but a little weird. I liked the chicken. I liked the Canadian bacon and I liked the Udi's bun. But the Wilderness Sauce?! That just seemed weird for the dish. Maybe the cheese would have given it more of a complete dish vibe. We had the sauce on the side--it was good to dip fries in! lol I'm not sure the chicken sandwich would be my top choice but it wasn't terrible either. I'd get the salad over the sandwich hands down.

Wilderness Sauce

Overall, I'd give this location a 7 out of 10. Not quite as many options as I would like but what they did have was nice. They were also very accommodating. The manager even came out to our table in the dining room to make sure it was all OK and that I liked the food. I really appreciated that, and it's nice to see that he was so diligent and wanted to make sure I was satisfied and comfortable with the food. Definitely someplace I'd go back to, especially if I were staying at the lodge!

4/29/13 4/29/13

Artist Point -- Dinner -- Table Service -- Wilderness Lodge

*This dining experience took place in April 2013. It also includes a gluten free & yellow food coloring review.I recently asked blog readers for recommendations for a signature location (and one I hadn't been to in a while) and Artist Point was heads and tails above the rest. And Chef Williere over at Wilderness Lodge has also been recommending that I visit, so I took their advice and made an ADR. The last time I visited was 3 years ago, so I was looking forward to a great meal.I admit, I was bad on this visit and somehow spaced taking photos. Blame it on my afternoon tasting filled with desserts--I was sort of in a sugar coma by that point. But, if you're interested in a great detailed review of the decor, I would recommend heading over to the Disney Food Blog for a good review.On this particular visit, I was hoping to catch up with Chef Matt, whom I'd met a few ago through Chef Williere while dining at Whispering Canyon Cafe. We were greeted by Chef Marco, who was kind but not as helpful as I would have anticipated for the caliber of restaurant. Nothing wrong with his interaction per se, but I didn't feel like he was really up for customizing dishes, which I definitely expect at a signature location. After going over the options, I asked if Chef Matt was around to say hi. I feel badly because I don't think he was thrilled with me because he never did come back--Chef Matt ended up taking care of things.When Chef Matt came out, he was willing to do more customization but I think we were all losing steam from the day, so we all ended up with simple dishes. I ordered the appetizer salad that came with blackberries, sunflower seed granola, and ice wine vinaigrette and for my entree I ordered the hot pot which came with crab, shrimp, mussels and pork belly. My friend who is GF and yellow food coloring actually ordered the salad because he's not a big beef eater or seafood lover. The chicken was not gluten free, but they did offer to make him plain chicken if he wanted. He ended up just ordering the salad as an entree. My other friend who doesn't have food allergies got the salmon which I almost ordered--looked delicious.First up at the table were the rolls. Sorry to say, this restaurant did not at all know how to heat them up. And yes, GNI brand rolls need to be heated properly or they are nasty. It was even worse because the last time my friends were here for Valentine's Day, they had to send the rolls back 3 times because they were frozen. Seriously. So, they were at least not frozen this time. But yes, they needed some heating assistance. Mine was served with extra virgin olive oil that had turmeric in it and my friend got butter with some type of sea salt on it. The oil was fantastic. The only thing that could have made it better was the proper heating of the rolls.

GNI brand rolls

Next I got my salad (and this is the same salad my friend ordered for his entree), so both of our thoughts on this are listed here. It was a very refreshing salad. Mine was modified to remove the Manchego cheese, but was on my friend's salad. I loved that cheese pre-dairy free days, so I can imagine it paired quite well with the dressing, berries, and granola. Note that the granola on it was really not what you would think of as traditional granola. It was sunflower seeds, egg whites, and honey mixed and baked. It was delicious. The ice wine dressing was really nice and delicate and played well with the greens, berries, and granola. The two things that we both noticed about the dish: 1) it needed more granola! (yep, we really liked it) and 2) it felt really underdressed in terms of the vinaigrette--just a bit more of the dressing and it would have been perfect.

Salad--the sunflower "granola" was out of this world!

Then on to the entrees. This was really the star of the meal. I ordered the hot pot which had crab, shrimp, mussels, coconut milk, and rice..oh yeah and crispy pork belly. This was insane! It was actually the perfect meal for me that night--light, filling, and heavily protein based. The mussels were cooked to order and perfectly cooked (hard to do sometimes), the crab was tender and the shrimp was full-head on shrimp. That means TONS of flavor. Of course, I can't do the creole/cajun suck the heads part but I appreciate the flavor that it imparts the dish. The sauce was very light and flavorful. Had some great fresh herbs in it and the coconut milk was perfect in terms of flavor. They included fresh limes and that was an excellent touch--the lime juice definitely added to the flavor of the dish. And then the pork belly. THE BEST PART OF THIS DISH. Ok, sorry for the all caps, but I just had to shout out how good it was. The pork belly was perfectly cooked and offered the best salty bite to the dish. Seriously, I'm still craving that pork belly.

Hot pot. Check out all that goodness!

Just for those who are interested, here's a non-allergy dish, though the salmon could be made GF. Looked amazing.

*Note this is NOT allergy safe--the salmon can be made GF/DF though--not the sides.

We all opted for no dessert--we were over desserts at that point (and yes, for those interested the dessert tasting was for the upcoming special diets dessert party--more details to come!). It sounded like the were willing to customize something, but I definitely wasn't feeling it--and we got spoiled by Disney's catered events.Overall, I was extremely pleased with my meal at Artist Point. I found the quality of the food to be exceptional--though there were a few things I'd like to see the restaurant work on. They need to learn how to cook those rolls better. Such good accompaniments shouldn't go to waste on poorly heated GF carbs! The other slight criticism I have is that they didn't seem to be willing to customize as much as some other signature dining locations are. Brown Derby, California Grill, Jiko, Narcoosee's..they have all gone above and beyond to work with me (Brown Derby made homemade truffle mayo for goodness sakes!). I had a lot of choices because I enjoy seafood but for those who aren't in to seafood or beef, this might not be a great location.In general though I found the food to be excellent and the service was impeccable. Our server was on top of all of our beverages, dishes, silverware, etc. In that respect, they excelled above many restaurants. Additionally, the atmosphere is relaxing and gorgeous. I personally love the arts & crafts style, so I found it to be very appealing.I certainly wouldn't hesitate to visit again--that hot pot is now on my favorite dish list! I'd give this an 8 out of 10 due to the poor rolls and semi-lacking customization. But overall, would highly recommend this location.

4/18/13 4/18/13

Whispering Canyon Cafe -- Dinner -- Table Service -- Wilderness Lodge

*This dining experience took place in April 2013.Hoooowdy! I'm back for another rootin' tootin' good time at Whispering Canyon Cafe. It's been a while since I visited last and one of the biggest reasons I wanted to head over this time was to check out the newly revamped dinner menu. I've been to lunch since the menu was revamped and you find find that review HERE. I also wanted to catch up with one of my favorite chefs on Disney property, Chef Williere. Words can't do him justice--he's just awesome!

My family came with me for this meal, and we were all VERRRY hungry, having spent an afternoon moving my brother into his new apartment. Family style places are a great place to scarf down after a long day of moving boxes!Upon arrival, we all got ourselves some cool beverages. Really, we should have asked for the big Mason jars because let me tell you, we sure drank enough iced tea and soda. While getting our cool drinks, we looked over the menu. I knew that the entree choice was the family style platter. It gives you the choice of picking out 3 different meat choices including:

Kansas City style Smoked Pork Ribs
Herb-baked Chicken
Hand-carved Oak-roasted Beef Strip Loin
Citrus-crusted Market Fish
Western-style sausage
Pulled Pork

From the meats I remembered, I had a sense that the ribs were safe as was the chicken. For sides, you don't have to choose but you get:

Seasonal Farm Fresh Vegetables
Mashed Yukon Gold Potatoes
Cowboy-style Baked Beans
Corn on the Cob

Chef Williere came out, and we chatted. The restaurant was swamped so I can imagine how crazy the kitchen was, plus he was at a lot of tables to assist. Who knew Sunday was an oddly busy evening there. He went over the meat options and said everything was gluten free & dairy free, except the fish. This is due to the crust that they top the fish with. However, Chef Williere could make it plain without the crust. Our table went with the pulled pork, ribs, chicken and fish. As far as the sides, everything was safe except the mashed potatoes which had dairy in it. Aw bummer. I really really liked those herb crushed potatoes from the last time we had a skillet (before it became the platter) there. Instead my option was plain rice. Really, in the end I didn't need it because I had so much other food to eat. The good news was that they still have the allergy friendly cornbread--hallelujah!!!First up, came the cornbread. Yum. I got a nice big piece and I swear my family was eying my cornbread the whole time. I did give my family some samples, including my brother & sister-in-law who hadn't tried it before. They actually really liked the cornbread, saying it was more "cornmeal" flavored that the cake cornbread that they had. I should have asked for more :)

Yum! Allergy friendly cornbread. Delish!

The one thing I will say that I actually missed from the old "skillet" days was the salad. I really liked the salad with apple vinaigrette. It made for a nice refreshing appetizer before the big meal. But as long as the cornbread stays, I'll forgo the salad!!Then onto our platter. The meats, except the fish, were all on one platter. The corn and veggies were on another (all safe for me to eat). The beans and potatoes were in separate bowls, so I was able to easily avoid the potatoes.

Ribs, chicken, baked beans

Pulled Pork, ribs, chicken, corn, and green beans & carrots

Rice, my plate with chicken, ribs, veggies

So, I have to apologize for the lack of composed photos. I sort of realized I forgot pictures mid-way through the meal. Whoops. This is what happens when you are REALLY hungry. First up, the veggies. I don't eat corn on the cob--it's a Crohn's thing. Really messes my stomach up. But the family said this was good (and they ate it all). The green beans and carrots were good but very crunchy. Another Crohn's no-no. I tried a little bit didn't want to push it. The bbq baked beans are also a little firmer than you might expect from baked beans, but I do like the bbq flavor.I have to say, my favorite part was the meat. I know if you are vegan or vegetarian, they can offer you the quinoa cakes still but in reality this place is kind of a meat-lover's paradise and maybe not the best veggie choice. The pulled pork was actually my favorite because it had a nice smoky flavor (and it wasn't sauced--this is key in pulled pork). The ribs were good. I'm always on the fence with ribs, but I liked these. Still, they are a lot of work for little in the end in my opinion! I'm not a fan of messy eating :) The herb chicken was my second fave of the evening. I really enjoy the rosemary flavor on this. I ate a couple of pieces of this. The fish was also good. It was very fairly plain--some type of cod or tilapia seasoned with salt and pepper. But it was cooked properly. That's very much the key to good fish. (and something I constantly screw up at home). Chef Williere really loaded me up with food options, so I walked away from this meal stuffed.And then it was on to dessert. Last time I had a skillet, we had a really lovely chocolate cake that the bakery had specially made for us. This time, I was glad that Chef Williere had a lovely sorbet for me. It was one of those perfect palate cleansers at the end of the meal--not too heavy, light tasting and yummy. It was raspberry sorbet, with a raspberry sauce, fresh berries. After seeing the dessert sampler my family got I think they were wishing they had the sorbet! They liked it but they were very very full.Overall, I liked the new platter. I admit, the old skillets tug at my Disney traditions and heartstrings. I miss them as much as I miss the lazy Susan skillets at Ohana. But, I do realize that change is good in restaurants in order to keep them fresh, current and vibrant. There are a few things I missed (like the salad) but overall, I think Chef Williere and the team have done an excellent job of updating the menu without losing the heart of Whispering Canyon Cafe. Most of the meats are the same, just a few changes here and there.I'd give this a solid 8 out of 10 and will definitely be back again to say hi to Chef Williere and the rest of the gang at Whispering Canyon Cafe!

11/11/12 11/11/12

Whispering Canyon Cafe -- Lunch -- Table Service -- Wilderness Lodge

*This dining experience took place in November 2012.

Wilderness Lodge

Howdy! I just got back from a rootin' tootin' good time at Whispering Canyon Cafe. For those who have never been, it's a table service restaurant located in the Wilderness Lodge resort. It's known for its "antics" -- just make sure you ask for ketchup and you'll see what I mean! One of my favorite chefs on property, Chef Williere moved here a few years ago from 50's Prime Time and I've been so happy to see him over here (of course I still miss him at 50's!). In fact, it's been great because I've been able to eat a lots of the same items as my family. And the gluten free/dairy free (allergy friendly) corn bread is to die for! Get the dinner skillet with it, and you'll see what I mean.This was my first time ordering a la carte, as we always get the skillets. Chef Will was there that day and he helped me navigate the menu. I will say that a lot of the menu options are gluten free, which is great. I like that this restaurant has a lot of allergy friendly options. He also told me that despite the removal of the skillet for lunch, you can still get it along with many of the old options like the vegetarian quinoa cake. Being that it was early, we opted not to go for the skillet (a good choice because I was very full by the end of the meal).I ordered the appetizer of Western Chips with Buffalo Chili, Cheese Dip, and Fresh Salsa. The only thing I couldn't have was the cheese dip, so that was placed on the side. What we got was a really large portion of chips and dips. The buffalo chili was pretty good--almost had a sweet taste to it. Very hearty and went will with the chips. I imagine with the cheese dip it was great (the other guests had it with both and liked it a lot). Then there was the salsa. This was a big hit at the table. Chef Will had given us an extra portion I think of the salsa, which was great. It didn't taste like the traditional salsas to me--had again a sweet taste to it. I think we managed to scarf all of that down!

Western Chips with Buffalo Chili and Fresh Salsa

For my lunch, I ordered the Slow-smoked Pulled Pork Sandwich with Cowboy-style Baked Beans, Sweet Ancho-Barbecue Sauce, and Western Slaw. I asked if they had the Udi's buns and Chef Will said they had the sliced bread. This made me happy because that meant if I came for breakfast I could get the toast. I'm always looking for what locations serve Udi's.The sandwich was really good. I loved the smoked pork. It had a great smoke flavor and the BBQ sauce was delicious (though admittedly I could have asked for a small dish of it on the side--was great to dip fries in). The beans are also quite good. I used the bean sauce to dip my fries--what can I say, I like a good dipping sauce! The slaw was good but a little spicy. For me, especially with the Crohn's and the fact that I ate salsa that day, I opted to forgo the slaw more than just a taste. Fine because others at the table ate it. I also got regular fries as my side dish.

Slow-smoked Pulled Pork Sandwich with Cowboy-style Baked Beans, Sweet Ancho-Barbecue Sauce, and Western Slaw.

Overall, I was really pleased with my meal. The choices were great, and the food as always was really good. I was surprised how busy it was there for lunch. Means it's a great lunch option, especially if you're staying in the lodge. It was great seeing Chef Williere again and getting a great meal. Next time, I'm going to make a plan to eat dinner there because as much as I liked the a la carte options, I really missed the skillet and the cornbread!!!A solid 9 out of 10, for a great meal.

Don't forget to ask for ketchup!!!

7/15/12 7/15/12

Whispering Canyon Cafe -- Lunch -- Table Service -- Wilderness Lodge

Yeehaw! This was quite a meal!

**This dining experience took place July 2012.Howdy! Who's ready for a rootin' tootin' review of Whispering Canyon Cafe?! I know I'm sure ready to head back here for another meal. Yum! I haven't eaten here for dinner since 2003 (and that was pre-allergies), so I was looking forward to this meal. On top of that, I had been in contact with Chef Williere Justin, formerly of 50's Prime Time (and who many of you know has provided some really amazing experiences and darn good GF/DF fried chicken there) who is now at Whispering Canyon Cafe. I will say that there are a few chefs on WDW's property that I will follow from restaurant to restaurant because they are that good. Chef Williere might just possibly be my favorite of all chefs on WDW property. His dedication to providing safe and tasty dining experiences for guests is unparalleled. In fact, there was another guest there with allergies at the same time was so happy, our server said she must have hugged Chef Williere for 5 minutes! He's that good! So, I was very excited about this meal. We had been in contact prior to my visit, and I knew I was able to get GF/DF cornbread, and that there would be a chocolate cake made. Wahoo! Cornbread and chocolate cake sounded A-OK to me!Upon arrival, we were greeted almost immediately by Chef Williere who said he was ready for us. He just confirmed that we were having the lunch skillet (a slightly, and only slightly because it's huge, smaller version of the dinner skillet) with cornbread. He also said that he had the bakery make me a special cake. Yum! I was excited. We were also greeted by our server Jeffro, who Chef Williere said was just great. We were off to a good start!Now for those of you unfamiliar with Whispering Canyon Cafe, you should know that there are lots of fun hijinks that happen here. The chefs kid around a lot and tend to be "surly." Just ask for some extra ketchup some time. You'll see what I mean! :)We really didn't have much time at all to wait for food, which was good because we were hungry! Chef Williere brought out two huge pieces of GF/DF cornbread. Wow, it looked good!

GF/DF Cornbread! So good my family kept trying to eat it!

The cornbread was extremely moist (which those of us who bake GF/DF know that can be sometimes difficult) and delicious. It was dense and almost cake-like. The taste was phenomenal. I gave my family some to sample (they had regular gluteny cornbread), and they loved it. In fact, later they asked for some more because they liked it so much.Next up was the coleslaw. This was not mayonnaise based, so it was nice and light. But, be warned it had a slight kick to it. So, if you don't like spicy food, just keep that in mind. Still, it was extremely good.

Coleslaw

Up next, was the mammoth skillet that we were served. Mammoth is an understatement. Jeffro told us to make sure to make room, and he sure wasn't kidding! Wowie! Initially, I made the assumption that I would be brought a separate skillet; that usually happens at most restaurants, so I didn't dig in immediately. I asked our server, and he said, no the whole skillet was safe. Wow. That was pretty amazing because that never happens, not even at WDW. But, we could all share. I loved this. The skillet consisted of: BBQ pork ribs, chicken, and sausage, baked beans, garlic smashed potatoes, and corn on the cob. That's a lot of food.

A mighty skillet filled with GF/DF goodness!

My first plate consisted of chicken, ribs, potatoes, and beans. OMG. So good. The chicken was very good and moist. It tasted like it had some rosemary in it. The beans were also very good, nice BBQ flavor. Then there were the ribs. Those were a surprise, because I'm always on the fence with ribs. I either love them or hate them. These were of the love kind. Very smoky and tasty. Then there were the potatoes. Those were to-die for. I ate about 3 servings of the potatoes...seriously.

Round one of my meal...there were several!

So between the cornbread and the skillet, I was one full girl. But, we knew there was cake coming. Oh boy was there cake coming. I was talking to Jeffro, our server, at the time, but my stepdad and mom said that Chef Williere peeked out from the kitchen and gave the thumbs up signal to see if we were ready for dessert. Yep, we were! And what a surprise dessert it was! Chef said that he had the baker make a special chocolate cake. It was so amazing. The most artful and special looking GF/DF cake I've ever had on property (and the most tasty, I must say). It was also pretty huge! The cake consisted of chocolate cake, strawberry jam layered in the cake, and a strawberry jam layer on the top of the cake with white frosting and fresh strawberries. I'm still not sure how I packed all the food away or made space for the cake, but I did. It was so amazing. My family was raving about how good it was and how it did not at all taste like a "special diets" dessert.

Full view of the gorgeous cake.

Close-up view of the cake top

Cake serving. Yum!

I am telling you, when I need a special occasions cake, I'm contacting their bakery again. They have officially blown any other WDW bakery out of the park. Divine! Luckily, we were able to take the cake home with us; otherwise we would not have been able to eat the whole thing (and admittedly, I ate some for breakfast the next day!).A word about special cake orders. These have varying costs, and you can arrange this ahead of time with the bakery or chefs at the various restaurants and hotels. Typically, desserts at restaurants are usually gf/df non-dairy ice cream, cookies, house-made brownies, and sorbets. So, this was a specially prepared cake. So, if you want something like this, you'll want to contact the restaurant ahead of time and consider that there will likely be an additional cost incurred. Restaurants are also now able to order cakes from Babycakes at Downtown Disney if you prefer.Overall, I can't say enough good things about this experience from the servers to Chef Williere and his amazing staff, my whole family was blown away by this meal.Definitely a 10 out of 10! Run don't walk to this restaurant and expect a really great meal. Hijinks definitely included :)

8/9/11 8/9/11

Whispering Canyon Cafe -- Breakfast -- Table Service -- Wilderness Lodge

HOOOOWDY! When you head to Whispering Canyon Cafe, you're in for a rootin' tootin' good time! We like this place a lot for the antics. It's a very fun restaurant...and if you've never been...well, just ask for ketchup! You should get some INTERESTING responses :)For this trip, we met up w/my friend who's gluten/dairy/soy free too. Here's what we got:We decided to share the breakfast skillet--minus the biscuits and gravy, etc. We got scrambled eggs, sausage, bacon, breakfast potatoes. Unfortunately for my friend, he could not partake in the waffles, as they only have Van's frozen waffles there, and they have soy in them. I was able to get them, as they are safe for gluten and dairy allergies.

Breakfast skillet, modified...

Van's Waffles...

Overall, we enjoyed the food. Nothing fancy, but good old home cooked food. I do wish they'd get Mickey waffles here, but otherwise a solid meal.A 8 out of 10 for consistency and fun atmosphere!**This dining experience took place in summer 2011.

4/5/10 4/5/10

Club Level--Wilderness Lodge

Let me begin by saying that I had high hopes for Club Level. I've stayed at AKL's club level and loved the experience, but this was also pre-dietary restrictions, so I knew this was a gamble. Here is a play by play of the pre-trip correspondence and during the trip experience.

Pre-trip Correspondence:
To begin with, the IPO (Itinerary Planning Office) staff were friendly enough, but I noticed a bit of difficulty in obtaining much information about my dietary restrictions and the lounge. I explained to them how important it was to know ahead of time what would be available at breakfast. I got the muffins, waffles, and whatever else the chefs prepare response. Well, fair enough. I guess they wouldn't know, but when I asked them to contact the chef, they never got through to them. I asked about specific items (like earth balance margarine) and they said I could buy it but they wouldn't guarantee it would be there. Sigh. I guess this means they aren't going to be any help. We did arrange for a 6 inch gluten free, dairy free (but had eggs and soy) chocolate birthday cake. I was told it was $29.50 (which I think I got charged less, but that is what they quoted) Overall, the staff wasn't really helpful with dietary restrictions or even contacting restaurants outside of my hotel (as far as directly asking specific questions to the chef) They did however, make notations on all of my meal reservations, so that was very good.

Club Level first-hand:
Well, I must warn you. This isn't a great review. I will say the concierge downstairs were more friendly and helpful than the CL staff were. And I'm not that picky. I just want people to be straight with me about what's available and not treat me like a leper or a huge burden. I'd love to have these people live one day in my dietary life and maybe they'd understand. From crimeny's sake...Red Robin can get it right with dietary restrictions why can't WDW's club level?! To begin with, in general, we found the CL staff to be very rude and in general not very friendly. Compared to the AKL CL staff this was a bit of a shock. When I arrived, I wanted to confirm the birthday cakes (one for me and one for my mom). They said they would check and call me, and they never did. I got the "I forgot" answer. Greeeeaaaat. Day 1, we didn't really look for any evening options, although I did get a French Meadow brownie from the staff. You have to ask the CL staff for them to get it for you. Boy, they didn't like having to get me one every day. And yes, I got one every day! I like those brownies and when it's the only option you have, well, you go with it.

The first breakfast, I was given 4 blueberry muffins. Uggg. Not good for my Crohn's. I don't digest blueberries well at all. I did try to eat a few of the muffins because I was really hungry, but I was surprised I didn't get much of anything else. I could have eaten fresh fruit, but didn't. I did talk to the CL staff and just explained that berries were rough on my stomach (specifically blueberries) and said something like a chocolate chip muffin would work or waffles. Well lo and behold the next day, I got chocolate muffins. Holy cow! These were like dessert brownies. Yikes. Not so great at 7:30 a.m. In fact, it was the only thing they gave me for the rest of the week. And they said I couldn't get anything else. Gee, thanks. I ended up getting food or snacks other places because of this.

Brownies..I mean muffins and tea. Quite the breakfast.

A couple of times, I was able to find some evening appetizer options that I thought would work. They had to call down to the chefs, which did not appear to make the CL staff too trilled. But, there were a few items that I thought would be OK, that weren't. So it pays to ask. Even if people aren't thrilled with you. It's your body, and it doesn't pay to be sick. And yes, it happens. I got sick later in the week. I still am not sure if it was Crohn's or cross contamination. I know that I get sick a lot with GF pasta, and I had it the night before I got sick, so maybe it was that. In any event, here were a few of the items I could eat:

Coffee rubbed, Ancho spiced Grilled Chicken

Ancho Chili Scallops Wrapped in Bacon...Very good!

There were also veggies and hummus. None of the other dips or soups seemed like I could eat them. It was a bit of a gamble as to what was up there, so some days I got food, other days I didn't.

Dessert was a no-go. There were never any options for me other than the French Meadow Brownies (which was the only afternoon option for me too...talk about brownie overload) Except one night, the night that I was sick, they made ANOTHER chocolate brownie dessert. This was actually very good, once I ate it the next night. It was brownies with a chocolate fudge frosting in the middle, covered in powdered sugar. I didn't pick it up, but my mom said the CL staff gave her a stern talking to as to why I didn't get it. Um, no one told me I had a dessert and I never had one the previous 5 nights! So why would I expect a dessert?! Sigh.

Chocolate brownies.

And back to the getting sick. I got sick and felt terrible. I spent a day in bed. Yuck. In the mean time, my mom decided that CL was so unhelpful, that she went to the concierge staff downstairs for help to get me protein shakes. I use them a lot when I'm sick, so I get some nutrition even if my stomach hurts. I drink Odwalla Vanilla Al'Mondo Non-dairy shakes. So, the concierge staff was very helpful. They arranged a van and got a runner to take my mom (free of charge) to the nearest Super Target (which is where I get them) to get me shakes. Sure enough, they found them and were able to get everything sorted. My mom then tried to get my birthday cake (which was to be delivered that day) delayed so I could sleep, but the CL staff somehow got that messed up, when she attempted to try that. Again, a reason to check with concierge not CL staff.

I'm feeling icky, but the mousekeeper brought me a bunny so I'd feel better! (true story!)

Birthday cake...gluten free and dairy free.

The logo is made of sugar, I called and asked.

I didn't end up eating the cake while at WDW, but we brought it home. Yes, strangely I took it in my carry on and didn't have it confiscated, guess it wasn't a threat! HOWEVER, I do want folks to know that I was sick most of the week after I got back on the days I ate this cake. I am guessing there was some sort of cross contamination in it. It was clearly GF, but in general, I felt a big icky. Perhaps I was recovering from being sick, but the items I had on other days didn't make me sick, only the cake days. So, it seems pretty likely there was an issue with the cake. But, I didn't get sick from my Contemporary dessert, so there are some safe dessert options. I'm not going to say for sure this was a cross contamination issue, but be mindful that this could happen.

Overall, I wish the CL staff would have been more friendly and less "put out" when it came to my dietary restrictions. I don't expect special treatment, but I don't like being made to feel like I'm a pain in the butt. Yes, I ask a lot of questions, but it's for safety reasons. I was happy with the few options when I had them, just wish the overall ambiance would have been more friendly. I would not recommend CL for people with dietary concerns. In fact, I would have rather just spent the extra money and had table service for breakfast every day. But, in general we enjoyed the Wilderness Lodge (love the hotel!) and would come back here, just not at CL. Perhaps other CL's are better equipped, but I would definitely hesitate to try it again.

Lunch at Whispering Canyon Cafe

COVID-19 & Reopening Notes

Atmosphere

The Food

Overall

Dinner at Whispering Canyon Cafe

Atmosphere

The Food

Overall

Lunch at Whispering Canyon Cafe

Atmosphere

The Food

Overall

Dinner at Geyser Point Bar & Grill

Atmosphere

The Food

Overall

Dinner at Geyser Point Bar & Grill

Atmosphere

The Food

Overall

Dinner at Whispering Canyon Cafe

Atmosphere

The Food

Overall

Lunch at Roaring Fork

Atmosphere

The Food

Overall

Dinner at Territory Lounge

Atmosphere

The Food

Overall

Lunch at Geyser Point Bar and Grill

Atmosphere

The Food

Overall

Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW