Frontera Cocina Dinner Review

*This gluten free dining experience took place in May 2019. It includes information about dairy free modifications and peanut/tree nut and sesame free options.

Dinner at Frontera Cocina

Frontera Cocina is a table service restaurant located in Disney Springs. Not owned and operated by Disney, this is a restaurant owned by James Beard Award Winning Chef Rick Bayless. I am a huge fan of Frontera Cocina and Chef Rick Bayless, and I really appreciate that the restaurant can accommodate a variety of special dietary needs. Recently, I had dinner at Frontera Cocina with my friend Kate who was passing through Orlando on her way to Miami. She also has special dietary needs, so a dinner at Disney was definitely in order!

Atmosphere

I have to apologize that I forgot to take photos during our dinner of the restaurant. I do have some photos on some older reviews that I've written about dining at Frontera Cocina.

Frontera Cocina Menu / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Overall, the theme in Frontera Cocina is modern and clean. There are pops of bright colors, like orange and blue, along with Mexican-inspired decor that's very inviting.

My biggest complaint on this visit was that the restaurant was fairly crowded, which made the seating and volume a bit challenging. We were seated so close to the table next to us, that it actually was difficult getting out of the booth area. We also dined at happy hour, so the bar located in the middle of the restaurant was very crowded and quite loud. If you're looking for a quieter experience, I would recommend dining at lunch or during off-hours.

The Food

Of course, my main reason for dining at Frontera Cocina is always the excellent food. I love Mexican food, and Frontera Cocina does an excellent job with authentic offerings.

When you dine there, you won't get an allergy-friendly menu. But, you'll find that the regular menu actually notes common allergens on it. For instance, if a dish contains gluten, it will note that or if it has milk it will too. You can also discuss options with your server too. I've found the servers at Frontera Cocina to be quite helpful at navigating special dietary needs options. On this visit, we did ask several questions as Kate is allergic to peanuts, tree nuts, and sesame.

Frontera Cocina / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

The first priority on our must-order list was getting chips and guacamole. It's my hands down favorite appetizer at Frontera Cocina. Our server did let us know that since we were dining during happy hour, we could get the Verde Guacamole half off. Talk about a bargain!

The Verde Guacamole includes roasted poblanos, roasted tomatillo, toasted pepitas (aka pumpkin seeds), cilantro and onions. The chips are made in a dedicated fryer, so if you have celiac disease like me, you can actually enjoy safe tortilla chips. The chips and guacamole were gluten free, dairy free, peanut free, tree nut free, and sesame free. It's also very likely that it's vegan too -- though I did not ask. We both agreed the chips and guacamole were outstanding and would not hesitate to order them again.

Frontera Cocina / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

For my entree, I ordered the Pork Belly Tacos with crispy pork belly, smoky bacon, grilled knob onions, black beans refritos with queso fresco, guacamole, red onion, cilantro, and three chile agave sale. This dish is gluten free but does contain dairy. Dairy free guests should check with their server, as I was told the only dairy free modification would be the queso fresco.

These tacos were so good! The pork belly was super crispy and had great flavor. I admit that I was not expecting the tomato based sauce that the pork belly was cooked in. But, it was really delicious. You do get warmed corn tortillas served on the side to make your own tacos, and the tortillas do help soak up some of the sauce. Overall, I would definitely get these again.

Frontera Cocina / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Kate ordered the Grilled Chipotle Chicken Tacos with grilled chicken in a tangy chipotle sauce, caramelized red onions, black beans refritos with queso fresco, guacamole, and chipotle salsa. Her tacos were gluten free, peanut free, tree nut free, and sesame free. Like the pork belly tacos, these contained dairy. But, I believe the only modification is the cheese on the beans.

Our server did let Kate know that these tacos might be a little spicy. But, Kate said that overall they weren't that bad. The looked delicious and both of us agreed that the tacos were excellent choices.

Overall

Frontera Cocina is a great restaurant if you're craving Mexican food while you're at Disney World. I especially love that I have lots of options and that items, like tortilla chips, that are often off-limits to me at Mexican restaurants are safe options for me at Frontera Cocina. And, now that I know they have half off guacamole during happy hour, I just might have to go back again soon!

Have you been to Frontera Cocina? What did you order when you dined there?

Kona Cafe Dinner Review

*This dining experience took place in May 2019 and includes notes about gluten free, dairy free, peanut free, fish and shellfish free, and chicken and turkey free options.

Dinner at Kona Cafe

Kona Cafe, located at Disney's Polynesian Village Resort, is a table service restaurant with a la carte options that include sandwiches, sushi, and ramen bowls for lunch and dinner. Brandon and I have both been fans of dinner here for their rice and noodle bowls for meals that are easy, filling, and reasonably priced. On this visit, we stopped by for a quick dinner after returning from a 3-day cruise on the Disney Dream. Neither one of us wanted to cook dinner the day we got back and Kona Cafe is always easy to get last minute reservations to for dinner.

Atmosphere

Both of us love the atmosphere of Disney's Polynesian Village Resort. As one of the first resorts opened at Walt Disney World back in the 1970s, we both appreciate the nostalgia and retro vibe that this resort has too.

Polynesian Village Resort / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

When the lobby of the Polynesian Village Resort was refurbished back in 2015, I was pretty sad to see the water fixture that was a mainstay in the lobby go. But, I have to admit, some of the new updates, like the decorative lights shown in the photo above, were pretty terrific additions.

Kona Cafe is located on the 2nd floor of the Polynesian Village Resort -- just above the lobby. With an open-air concept, the restaurant really feels like a lobby restaurant. You'll get plenty of chances to people watch while you dine.

Kona Cafe - Seating Area / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Inside the restaurant itself, the colors are bright and vibrant -- though I do think it could use a bit of an update. It feels a little like the decor is stuck in the 90s with Polynesian flair. Still, the seating is fairly comfortable and the theming is generally pleasant and low-key -- a bit like the overall experience I feel you get at Kona Cafe. It's all very nice, but I wouldn't say it's particularly special.

The Food

Like most restaurants on Disney property, Kona Cafe does carry an allergy-friendly lunch and dinner menu. You can, of course, always ask to speak with a chef when you visit too to discuss options and potential customization. I recommend asking for a chef, because the menu is often very easy to accommodate for gluten free guests (and even dairy free) with simple modifications.

On this visit, we requested to speak with a chef due to Brandon's new allergies. Our biggest concern were his chicken and turkey allergies, which are fairly unusual. The chef was fantastic at talking through options and ensuring that Brandon had something safe for his special dietary needs.

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

After speaking with the chef, our server brought us rolls for the table. I had the Deanna's Gluten Free Rolls which are gluten free, dairy free, and free of the top common allergens. Kona Cafe serves the rolls with Macadamia Nut Butter or Earth Balance Vegan Buttery Spread, depending on your special dietary need.

Brandon was given the regular gluten-filled rolls, as they were safe for his peanut allergy.

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

Since we had been eating a ton on the cruise ship, I wasn't all that hungry. I opted to get the Seafood Coconut-Curry Soup which was listed as safe for Gluten/Wheat, Egg, Fish, Milk, Peanut/Tree Nut, and Soy Allergies.

This was a really delicious but spicy soup. The flavor was excellent, but I think I would have not enjoyed it if it was much spicier because it was fairly close to being too spicy for me. I also enjoy spice a lot, so if you're not a fan of spicy food, you may want to skip this soup. Overall, it was very good and had a good amount of seafood in it. So, I would definitely order it again.

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

For my entree, I chose to get sushi. Many of the sushi options are gluten free or can be easily modified. I opted for the classic California Roll with Jumbo Crab, Citrus Mayonnaise, Cucumber, and Avocado. This is listed as safe for Gluten/Wheat, Fish, Milk, and Peanut/Tree Nut Allergies.

I have to say that Kona Cafe always does an excellent job with sushi. If you're looking for reasonably priced sushi at Disney, this is a great option. I always find that the seafood in my sushi is really fresh and very tasty. They also have gluten free soy sauce/tamari on hand for sushi too. Be sure to ask the chef and your server about it.

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

Brandon was really craving the noodle bowl that Kona Cafe used to serve. But, since it's no longer on the menu, he ordered the Pork Belly Noodle Bowl with Bone Broth, Rice Noodles, Soy Egg, Mushrooms, Bok Choy, and Hot Sesame Oil. This dish was listed safe for Fish/Shellfish, Milk, and Peanut/Tree Nut Allergies, and it was also safe for Chicken and Turkey Allergies too.

Brandon raved about this Ramen bowl. He said the broth was really flavorful. And, he loved the crispy pork belly. I was shocked as he was eating it just how much pork belly they included in the dish. So, if you're looking for a hearty portion, the noodle bowl is definitely a great value.

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

Brandon didn't think the noodle bowl would be very big, so he asked to order a side of mashed potatoes. Clearly, we were both still on cruise mode asking for lots of options! You can imagine how surprised we both were when we were brought a giant platter of mashed potatoes. The serving was huge and definitely a shareable dish meant to accompany one of the steaks on the menu.

The Creamy Mashed Potatoes were very good. Were they the best mashed potatoes we've ever had? No. Would we get them again? Maybe depending on what we ordered. We both agreed that next time we'd stick with our main entrees and skip the side.

The mashed potatoes are safe for Gluten/Wheat, Egg, Fish/Shellfish, Peanut/Tree Nut, and Soy Allergies.

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

I had heard that Kona Cafe and 'Ohana both had a vegan tapioca pudding dessert. When the chef mentioned that the desserts came in smaller portions, I decided to give it a try.

The Coconut Tapioca with a Pineapple-Coconut Jam base topped with Fresh Fruit and Assorted Boba is safe for Gluten/Wheat and Milk allergies and is vegan. Brandon did not want to try this, so we did not ask about peanut or tree nut allergies.

Overall, I really enjoyed this dessert, but I didn't love it. I really really dislike boba balls, so I made sure to remove these immediately. I just do not like the texture of them at all. The pudding itself was creamy and rich tasting. And, I loved the fresh crushed pineapple on the bottom of the dish. It added a nice bit of sweetness and acidity to a very rich dessert. I would definitely order this again minus the boba balls.

Overall

Both Brandon and I really enjoyed our dinner at Kona Cafe. Neither one of us thought the new combined lunch and dinner menu was that amazing. But, we really enjoyed what we ordered. We both agreed that we'd come back again for the sushi and noodle bowls without hesitation. We'd skip it for steaks though because there are far better restaurants for steak on property. But, if you're looking for sandwiches, sushi, or noodle bowls, Kona Cafe is a great choice.

Have you been to Kona Cafe at Disney's Polynesian Village Resort? What did you think of the dinner options?

Shula's Steak House Dinner Review

*This gluten free only dining experience took place in February 2019. It includes notes about dairy free options and modifications.

Dinner at Shula's Steak House

Shula's Steak House, located in Disney's Swan and Dolphin Resorts, is a table service restaurant and one of the high end steak houses on Disney property. Both Brandon and I had never been to Shula's. But, I had received a birthday "free entree" coupon as a part of the Team Shula e-club. So, of course, we had to go check it out to see how they accommodated special dietary needs.

Atmosphere

It's been ages since we've been in Disney's Swan and Dolphin Resorts. We ended up wandering around the resort a bit before dinner because it was a beautiful evening with mild temperatures right around sunset.

Disney's Swan & Dolphin Resort / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

As you can see, it made for some great photos.

Shula's Steak House Sign / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

We arrived at Shula's Steak House a little early - about 30 minutes before our reservation. So, the restaurant host let us know that we might not be seated until closer to our reservation time. The restaurant lobby was very busy while we were there, as it was runDisney Princess Half Marathon race weekend.

Shula's Seating Area / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

After waiting a bit, we were seated near a large mural in the restaurant and near several large parties (which dramatically affected our service and overall restaurant experience).

As you can see, the restaurant has a classic steak house vibe with lots of dark wood paneling. It also has a lot of sports references because the restaurant was founded by Don Shula, former head coach of the Miami Dolphins.

Shula's Table Setting / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Both Brandon and I love the classic steak house decor, with Steakhouse 55 in Disneyland being our favorite steak house we've ever been to. We were hoping that Shula's would live up to the hype that we'd heard about it. While we enjoyed the theme, the experience in the restaurant, unfortunately, wasn't amazing.

Shula's Mural / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

As you can see the football theme is throughout the restaurant -- from the mural behind us shown here to the football menu presented at tables shown below.

Shula's Steak House Football / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

As we head into the food portion of this review, it's important to note that we had some really odd service throughout this meal that impacted our experience.

Our server, Fabiano, was virtually non-existent throughout our meal, and spent the majority of his time taking care of several large parties, including one large party next to us. Another server, Doug, took care of us but seemed very overwhelmed by the tables that he was managing.

We waited nearly an hour for bread and appetizers to arrive at our table, and we spent about 20 minutes waiting for an initial visit to our table from our server. So, the experience, overall from the service perspective was not great. With that in mind, let's get into the food offered at Shula's.

The Food

Shula's Steak House is not owned and operated by the Disney Company. But, they do carry a gluten free and dairy free menu. The chef did not come to the table, but our server Doug did go back and forth a few times asking the chef questions for me.

Shula's Steak House / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

I was offered gluten free rolls, which took a really long time to get, unfortunately. They were, however, worth the wait because it turns out they had Deanna's Gluten Free rolls which are both gluten free and dairy free. I am a huge fan of these rolls. So, I was excited to see them. Because I've reintroduced dairy back into my diet, I did not ask about dairy free / vegan buttery spread as a dairy free alternative.

Shula's Steak House / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

One of my favorite steak house appetizers is the classic wedge salad. I adored the one I had at Steakhouse 55, so I was curious about this one. The wedge salad is marked gluten free but does contain dairy. If you're dairy free, I would recommend the seafood appetizers as a good alternative for starters.

Overall, I liked the wedge salad but didn't love it. The blue cheese dressing virtually tasted like ranch dressing and had no taste of blue cheese in it. That being said, it was a huge portion and could easily be split by two people.

Brandon ordered the classic French onion soup and said it was the best version he'd ever had of this soup.

Shula's Steak House / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Brandon and I decided to order two different potato sides to share. Our server questioned us about three times asking if we really wanted two sides of potatoes. Yep. What can I say? We love potatoes.

We chose to order the Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes and Double Baked Potato. Both were marked gluten free but did contain dairy. If you're dairy free, I would recommend ordering vegetables, like broccoli or the regular baked potato -- both of which were labeled dairy free.

As far as sides go, goodness gracious get the Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes if you can have dairy. They were rich, creamy, delicious, and SO flavorful. Both of us loved these mashed potatoes. We also really liked the double baked potato, which had bacon and cheese in it. It was a good side, but the mashed potatoes were even better.

Shula's Steak House / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

For my free birthday entree, I ordered the 10-oz filet mignon. This is marked both gluten free and dairy free. We did not ask for a sauce, but our server brought us a side of Bearnaise Sauce, which is gluten free but contains dairy. I didn't really love this sauce but Brandon loved it.

As far as steaks go, I thought it was good, but not amazing. The portion size was huge. So, if you're looking for a large steak, this place is for you. It was well-cooked, but we waited an excessive amount of time for the food to arrive -- making it a little underwhelming of an experience. We both agreed that we've had better steaks at other restaurants on property.

Shula's Steak House / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Since it was my birthday, Brandon asked our server if they had any gluten free desserts. Several tables around us were treated to birthday desserts, so he wanted to see if there were any options for me. The server did talk to the chef who said I could have the creme brulee trio with some modifications gluten free.

This included a classic creme brulee, an orange creme brulee, and a chocolate creme brulee. I'm not usually a very big fan of creme brulee, but I loved the chocolate one. Hands down both Brandon and I thought that was the best of the bunch. We also agreed that we wouldn't order it again and would just skip dessert.

Overall

We had some highs and lows with the food that we had at Shula's Steak House. Some of it was really good, like Brandon's soup and our potato sides. Some of it was just OK, like the steak, salad, and creme brulee. Even with a free entree, we still spent a fairly large sum of money to eat here. Neither one of us said we would go back from the price and for what we got. Adding to it, the service was very odd and generally not very good. For that reason alone we wouldn't go back or will wait a very long time before we go. If you're looking for a steak house on Disney property, you'll find plenty of gluten free options at Shula's Steak House, but I would recommend dining someplace else for overall price and service based on the experience we had.

Have you been to Shula's Steak House? What was your experience dining there?

ABC Commissary Dinner Review

*This gluten free dining experience took place in April 2019 and includes notes about dairy free options and peanut free options.

Dinner at ABC Commissary

ABC Commissary is a quick service located in Disney's Hollywood Studios and is one of our go-to spots for a quick bite to eat when we're in the park. We recently stopped by here for a quick dinner. Unfortunately, this would be Brandon's last experience enjoying the allergy-friendly chicken tenders, because we found out after some allergy testing that he has a rare allergy to chicken and turkey. Thankfully, there are other options he'll get to enjoy. But, on this trip, he got to have one final meal of allergy-friendly chicken tenders.

Atmosphere

ABC Commissary is set to resemble a traditional working commissary for actors and crew at a working TV studio or movie lot.

ABC Commissary Seating Area / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Because of this, I would say that the theme of the restaurant is pretty basic.

ABC Commissary Seating Area / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

As you can see, there is ample indoor seating, with cafeteria style tables and booths. On this particular visit, both Brandon and I were talking about how this restaurant really does need a refurbishment. Everything really feels like it's straight from the late 1990s.

The Food

Of course, we're really visiting ABC Commissary for the food. We have visited ABC Commissary quite a few times this past year for dinner, and when we've asked for an allergy-friendly menu, we've been told that they do not have one at dinner time. The cast members, including the managers, have been great about walking through the options for guests with special dietary needs.

There are quite a few gluten free options at dinner time. But, we always ask for the allergy-friendly chicken tenders. They aren't listed on the dinner menu, but they are available to order if you ask.

ABC Commissary / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

We ordered two orders of allergy-friendly chicken tenders with French fries. These are safe for gluten/wheat, egg, milk, fish/shellfish, and peanut/tree nut allergies. Now that Brandon also has a peanut allergy, we also have to make sure anything he orders is peanut free too.

I also asked for several sides of the Ken's cocktail sauce which is both gluten free and dairy free. Just be sure to ask a cast member, and they can bring it to your table with your meal (which they do at dinner time at ABC Commissary).

The allergy-friendly chicken tenders and fries are always delicious here, and this visit was no exception. Brandon loves that they offer steak fries instead of the regular Disney fries. I personally prefer the regular fries, mostly because I find the steak fries to usually be a little undercooked. But, on this visit, they were great.

I also ordered the new gluten free brownie being sold at Disney World. The brand is Sweet Street Desserts. I wouldn't say it's very allergy-friendly because it contains egg, milk, and soy. It also had a note about being processed in a facility with peanuts and tree nuts, so Brandon skipped trying it with his nut allergy. Taste-wise, it was delicious. If you like super chocolately treats, this one would definitely be a good option for those who are gluten free only.

Overall

We are always such big fans of ABC Commissary for an easy, quick, and tasty quick service meal in Hollywood Studios. With Brandon's new special dietary needs, we'll probably have to be more creative when it comes to food options if we dine here. But, if you're gluten free, dairy free, or have other top 8 common allergens, you'll find a good amount of options at ABC Commissary for lunch and dinner.

Have you been to ABC Commissary? What do you order when you've dined there?

The Wave Breakfast Review

*This gluten free dining experience took place in April 2019. It includes notes about dairy free options and modifications.

Breakfast at The Wave

The Wave, located at Disney's Contemporary Resort, is one of my favorite hidden gem table service restaurants on Disney property. Both Brandon and I really enjoy it for dinner, and I love it for breakfast. Recently, I had to have a medical procedure as a follow-up to my resection surgery for Crohn's disease. And, afterwards, I knew I wanted food since I hadn't eaten any solid food in nearly two days. My mom and I decided on a last minute breakfast at The Wave was in order.

Atmosphere

Although I wouldn't say that The Wave's atmosphere and theme are the best on property, I do like that the "wave" theme is found throughout the restaurant, starting from the moment you walk in.

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

The entrance has metal designs that look like waves, and you'll feel like you're heading underwater as you walk into the restaurant's lobby area.

The Wave - Seating Area / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Inside the wave theme continues -- from the light fixtures to the chairs -- you'll feel the "wave" of American flavors throughout this restaurant.

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

On our visit, the breakfast rush had passed, so we got to enjoy a very low-key meal, which was nice (especially, when I was still tired and loopy for anesthesia).

The Food

Like most table service restaurants at Walt Disney World, The Wave offers an allergy-friendly breakfast menu. They also have a breakfast allergen-guide for their all-you-care-to-enjoy buffet breakfast option. You can also, at any time, ask to speak with a chef.

On this visit, I requested to talk to a chef, specifically because I wanted to know what allergy-friendly Mickey waffle mix they were using. The chef told me that they are currently using a house-made allergy-friendly mix that includes rice flour and sorghum flour. I didn't get the entire list written down because I was still a bit out of it from the procedure, but I will try to get that list on my next visit. The chef did say that Chef Mickey's is also using this mix, as well.

The Wave / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

For breakfast, I decided to get a Custom Omelet with Breakfast Potatoes. This is listed as safe for Gluten/Wheat, Peanut/Tree Nut, and Soy Allergies. You can also make this dairy free by omitting the cheese from the omelet.

I love the custom omelets at The Wave because they are always well-cooked and SO tasty! I loaded my omelet with ham, onion, spinach, and bacon along with some cheddar cheese (since I have reintroduced dairy back into my diet). It was an excellent choice, and I will definitely get it again. The breakfast potatoes were also really good too.

The Wave / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

I was curious about the house-made allergy-friendly Mickey waffle mix, so I asked the chef if I could get a side order. I thought I was getting two waffles, but the chef made me a plate of four. So, needless to say, my mom and I shared this plate. She actually prefers the allergy-friendly Mickey waffles over the regular waffles and was excited to try these out too.

The Wave / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

The Allergy-Friendly Mickey Waffles are listed as safe for Gluten/Wheat, Egg, Fish/Shellfish, Milk, Peanut/Tree Nut, and Soy Allergies. They were served with a side of 100% pure maple syrup too. I also asked for non-dairy vegan buttery spread and was served Smart Balance (not Earth Balance) on this visit.

Overall, both my mom and I really enjoyed these waffles. They were well cooked with a crisp outside and soft inside. The flavor was also really good too. You could definitely some of the vanilla that they used in the batter (which the chef mentioned). I would definitely order these again. And, my mom agreed that she would too.

Overall

The Wave never disappoints me when it comes to a solid and delicious breakfast. While it may not be anything fancy, the food is always prepared well. And, there are plenty of options for guests with special dietary needs. The chefs are also fantastic at customizing dishes too. If you're looking for a low-key breakfast or brunch option in the resorts, The Wave is a great table service restaurant to visit.

Have you been to The Wave? What did you think of their breakfast options?

Electric Umbrella Dinner Review

*This gluten free and dairy free dining review took place in December 2018.

Dinner at Electric Umbrella

Electric Umbrella, located in Future World in Epcot, is a quick service restaurant that serves up classic theme park food, like sandwiches and salads. Whenever we're in Epcot and want a quick service meal, we tend to go to Liberty Inn for allergy-friendly chicken tenders. But, during the holiday season while I was recovering from resection surgery for Crohn's disease, we stopped by Electric Umbrella to get a quick bite to eat.

Atmosphere

I'm not sure there's a real major theme going on at Electric Umbrella -- short of its very 1990s futuristic feel. There's lots of neon and bright colors. But, the restaurant itself feels very dated and worn down inside.

I ended up not getting many photos while we were there because I was feeling pretty exhausted just getting into the park. We ended up only being there for about an hour & 1/2 because we needed to pick up a Christmas present for a family member. But, recovering from a surgery meant I was moving slow and not feeling the greatest.

But, as you can see from the photo above, the restaurant is pretty much all neon and 90s color schemes.

The Food

We ended up utilizing mobile ordering, although Electric Umbrella does have an allergy-friendly lunch and dinner menu. The mobile ordering works really well if you only have one special dietary need. I do definitely recommend speaking with a manager about any special dietary concerns and especially if you have multiple dietary needs.

Electric Umbrella / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Brandon and I were both hugely disappointed by our allergy-friendly chicken tenders at Electric Umbrella. Taste-wise, they should have been just fine since they were the Ian's brand allergy-friendly chicken tenders and the normal Disney French fries. But, the manager ended up undercooking them slightly (the chicken was cooked, but the breading was slightly doughy in spots). And, they were very greasy, as though the fryer hadn't been up to temperature. My guess is because we stopped by near the end of the day that the allergy-friendly fryer had been turned off.

Because this was only my 2nd meal out at Disney after resection surgery and my stomach was still very fragile post-surgery, I only ate a small bit of the tenders and gave the rest to Brandon. It was a bummer especially because they weren't well-cooked. The French fries were actually overcooked and veering into burnt territory too, which was odd.

Overall

Both Brandon and I agreed that we won't be going back to Electric Umbrella any time soon. It's a shame that our meal wasn't so great because this is a restaurant that's owned and operated by Disney (which is a bit rare in Epcot), and we had high hopes that it would be another good go-to option for allergy-friendly chicken tenders. We'd much prefer going to Liberty Inn in the World Showcase for allergy-friendly chicken tenders.

Have you been to Electric Umbrella? What was your experience dining there?

Columbia Harbour House Dinner Review

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

Dinner at Columbia Harbour House

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

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

Atmosphere

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

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

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

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

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

The Food

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

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

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

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

Overall

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

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

Liberty Inn Dinner Review

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

Dinner at Liberty Inn

Liberty Inn, located in the American Adventure Pavilion in the World Showcase at Epcot, is a quick service restaurant that serves sandwiches and salads. It's also one of the few restaurants in the World Showcase that is owned and operated by the Disney Company (most restaurants are leased by outside companies). So, it's always nice to stop by this quick service restaurant where I know they have an allergy-friendly menu, and I can speak to a manager about options. Plus, they serve allergy-friendly chicken tenders here, which is almost always what we stop by to get. On this occasion, Brandon and I were at Epcot to check out the Festival of the Arts and wanted a quick bite as we explored all the festival fun.

Atmosphere

I wouldn't say that Liberty Inn has a very detailed atmosphere. It's meant to resemble colonial America. But, the theming is fairly sparse. You'll find a few corners, like the photo below that include some colonial decor.

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

Overall, you'll mostly just find a ton of tables for seating because generally this restaurant gets really crowded.

Liberty Inn - Seating Area / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

When we visited, it was only a few hours before the park closed, and we found the restaurant to be pretty quiet. That's a rarity, so we really enjoyed having lots of seating options.

The Food

Since Liberty Inn is a Disney owned restaurant, they do carry an allergy-friendly lunch and dinner menu. You can also speak to a manager at any time if you have additional questions or have multiple dietary restrictions. I always recommend this, especially if you want to discuss food preparation, ingredients, or are looking for customized dishes.

Liberty Inn - Mobile Ordering / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Liberty Inn is also currently offering mobile ordering. If you have a special dietary need, you can utilize this option. But, it only allows you to select one dietary restriction when ordering. With this in mind, I would only order through mobile ordering if you have one special dietary need that's listed on the option (currently, this includes the top 8 common allergens). If you have any questions or multiple dietary restrictions, I would order in person.

We have used mobile ordering at Liberty Inn and at Backlot Express. We've only ordered allergy-friendly chicken tenders with mobile ordering service too, so I'm still testing out the waters with this ordering option.

Liberty Inn / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

On this occasion, we both ordered allergy-friendly chicken tenders and French fries through mobile ordering. Brandon prefers the allergy-friendly chicken tenders to the regular ones, even though he can have gluten/wheat.

When our orders arrived, we dug in. Currently, Liberty Inn is serving the Ian's brand allergy-friendly chicken tenders. Both, Brandon and I thought our servings were generous, and we both left the restaurant very full.

Overall

While I wouldn't say the food at Liberty Inn is anything special, I'm always glad it's an option in the World Showcase. And, even better is that they have allergy-friendly chicken tenders there, making it a great go-to spot for a gluten free and dairy free fried food option.

Have you been to Liberty Inn? What did you order when you dined there?

The Wave Breakfast Review

*This gluten free and dairy free review took place in December 2018.

Breakfast at The Wave

The Wave, located at Disney's Contemporary Resort, is a table service restaurant that has been on our favorite go-to restaurants on Disney property. Both Brandon and I like the low-key atmosphere and the style of food that is served at the restaurant for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. On this particular occasion, I joined my family about 3 weeks after I had resection surgery for my Crohn's disease. It was my first meal out at any restaurant. Even though I was cleared to eat solid food and had no major dietary restrictions, I was still not eating much and taking it extremely easy. Thankfully, breakfast can be fairly easy going. And, the chefs at the Wave did an excellent job accommodating me.

Atmosphere

The Wave has a "wave" theme that is present in the chairs, ceiling decor, and just about everywhere you look. If you want to know a bit more about the theming, check out the dining review I posted where I go into a lot of detail about it.

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

One of the things that I liked about this visit was that they had some cute holiday decorations up throughout the restaurant.

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

As you can see, when we had breakfast here at around 9 a.m., the restaurant was not very busy at all. We were all surprised that it wasn't more crowded. Of course, it was a Sunday morning which may have affected the crowds.

The Wave - Bar & Waiting Area / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Even though it wasn't crowded, we did actually have to wait for our table. I always love just hanging out in the lobby area, which includes a bar too. I love the almost underwater vibe the lobby and bar area have.

The Food

The Wave offers both an a la carte and buffet style breakfast options for guests. The a la carte options can be found on a standard allergy-friendly menu, while the buffet options for special dietary guests can be found on an allergen guide. I do recommend that you use these as a starting guide and ask to speak to a chef. They are fantastic at customizing and providing additional options not listed on their allergy-friendly menus.

The Wave / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

I did ask to speak to a chef because I wanted to see if they could help make some super plain breakfast items for me. The chef, whose named I cannot remember, was so awesome. I explained that I'd just had a resection surgery and that I needed to eat pretty simply and blandly. She totally hooked me up with some easy-going breakfast items.

First up, she did bring me some Ener-G gluten free and dairy free toast with Earth Balance Vegan Buttery Spread. I was told they had a dedicated toast, but do be sure to double-check this before you go. I am always glad they have a GF DF toast option with vegan butter.

The Wave / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

For my entree, I ordered the American breakfast which included two eggs cooked to order (in my case I got poached eggs), breakfast potatoes, and choice of bacon, pork sausage, or chicken sausage.

The normal version of this entree includes breakfast potatoes that include peppers and onions. I knew that would definitely not go well with my stomach, so I asked the chef if she could make plain breakfast potatoes, which I've had at the Wave before. I was also on the fence about the chicken sausage, so the chef gave me both sausage and bacon to try. This was a good thing too because I absolutely hated the chicken sausage. My brother, who is a chef, also tried it and said it reminded him of sausages from Sysco (a food vendor) that he's tried before. None of us were fans of the sausage.

I really didn't eat too much of my breakfast, not because it wasn't good, but because my body simply couldn't tolerate too much food. The poached eggs, plain potatoes, and toast were a perfect simple breakfast though. And, my brother and family who were with me at breakfast happily devoured the remains of what I hadn't eaten.

Overall

The Wave is a consistently good experience in terms of food and special dietary needs options. I'll admit that the last few visits we've had have had hit or miss experiences with service. But, in general, the service is typically very good at the Wave too. My family all got the breakfast buffet on this visit and really enjoyed it too.

Have you been to the Wave? What was your experience dining there?

The BOATHOUSE Dinner Review

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

Dinner at The BOATHOUSE

The BOATHOUSE, a table service restaurant in Disney Springs, quickly rose in the ranks as one of our favorite restaurants in the Disney Springs area at Walt Disney World. Though not owned and operated by the Disney Company, both Brandon and I have been impressed by the level of service and quality of food served there. About a month or so after my resection surgery for Crohn's disease, we ended up attempting to get dinner there for my first dinner eating out at Disney post-surgery. Thankfully, the chefs there were able to customize a dish for me and serve me something I could easily tolerate while my body was still healing.

Atmosphere

Both Brandon and I love the atmosphere of The BOATHOUSE. It's nautical theme reminds me of restaurants I might dine at in an East Coast coastal town.

The BOATHOUSE Entrance / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

The BOATHOUSE includes both indoor and outdoor seating. Because we did not have a reservation that night, we ended up getting a walk-up table for outdoor seating only. That was OK by us because the temperatures were really pleasant when we visited, making outdoor dining perfect.

The BOATHOUSE Water View / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Plus, the views of the lake here were pretty spectacular from where we were seated. So, we enjoyed watching the ferries and boats sail on by.

The Food

Because The BOATHOUSE isn't owned and operated by the Disney Company, they do not currently offer an allergy-friendly menu. But, a chef will always come talk to you about options.

The Boathouse / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

While we were waiting for the chef to come out, our server brought our drinks. I am a huge iced tea drinker, and I have to shout-out the iced tea at The BOATHOUSE. It's some of the best iced tea on property.

After the chef arrived, I mentioned that I was interested in the Cedar Planked Norwegian Salmon entree, figuring that fish would be easy for my stomach to tolerate. However, the dish came with a salad and green beans. Because I knew my stomach wasn't up for this yet, I asked the chef if he could make me something super simple. He offered to bring some plain vegetables and plain potatoes for me to try. He also noted that the only seasoning on the fish would be salt, pepper, and olive oil.

The Boathouse / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

While the chef was preparing my entree, I was brought a gluten free roll with butter. This roll is both gluten free and dairy free the last time I checked, but they do not have Earth Balance Vegan Buttery Spread available for dairy free guests. If you're dairy free, I would recommend asking for extra virgin olive oil as a dipping sauce.

The roll that they bring out is really just their gluten free bun. I'm pretty sure it's Udi's brand from the taste and texture. It's not something I always eat. But, I'm glad they bring out some type of "bread" service for special dietary needs guests.

The Boathouse / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

When my entree arrived, I was really pleased to see a super simple meal. The salmon was the best part of the entree and was so full of flavor and freshness. Being prepared simply really brought out how high quality the seafood is at The BOATHOUSE.

The roasted potatoes and sauteed green beans were also nice. I didn't much of the green beans, mostly because they were just a little too crunchy for my taste. This dish was both gluten free and dairy free too, so this might be a good option for those with multiple dietary needs.

Overall

I really enjoyed my salmon entree, even if I couldn't eat all of it at the time. I would definitely order it again. I also really appreciated that the chef was willing to customize and be flexible with my special dietary needs and needs post-surgery. This will definitely continue to be a go-to restaurant for us in Disney Springs.

Have you been to The BOATHOUSE? What was your experience dining there?

Rainforest Cafe Dinner Review

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

Dinner at Rainforest Cafe

Rainforest Cafe is a jungle-themed table service chain restaurant owned by the Landry's company and has two locations at Walt Disney World -- Disney Springs and Disney's Animal Kingdom theme park. It has been years since I've dined at a Rainforest Cafe. And, recently, Brandon and I decided to have dinner here after watching a movie at the AMC Theater in Disney Springs. After our recent positive experience at T-Rex Cafe in Disney Springs (another Landry's restaurant), we decided it was worth a revisit.

Atmosphere

Even though it's a chain restaurant, every Rainforest Cafe location has a slightly different theme, at least on the exterior. The location at Disney Springs looks like a Volcano outside. And, you can even see the volcano erupt if you time it right.

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

One thing is for sure. The interior of the restaurant definitely fits the jungle theme. Everything is bright and screams tacky jungle, which I kind of love.

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

When you first arrive at the restaurant, you'll see a gift shop with just about every tropical and jungle inspired souvenir you can imagine. It's a lot of fun to look around if you get the chance.

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

Because Brandon and I are Landry's Select Club members, we did not make a reservation at Rainforest Cafe. Typically, as a member, you get priority seating. And, we've had very good luck with this. I think the most we've ever waited for a table has been 10 minutes at any Landry's restaurant located at Disney.

After showing our Landry's card, we were told to go to the Gorilla line (shown in the photo above). We were seated about 10 minutes after that. For this alone, I highly recommend a Landry's Select Club membership. You pay $25 for the membership. And, you get the $25 right back to use. On this visit, we actually used my $25 birthday reward, which you get every year on your birthday.

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

The seating area of Rainforest Cafe continues the jungle theme. There are lots of large animatronic jungle animals and lots of theming from the floor to ceiling. It's definitely a restaurant you want to look around in. And, it's perfect for kiddos who will absolutely love the theme.

The Food

Because Rainforest Cafe is not owned and operated by the Disney Company, they do not have an allergy-friendly menu. But, I was pretty pleased that they bring a chef to your table to discuss options.

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

Before the chef came to the table, I took a look at the menu to get an idea of what options I thought might be safe for me. At every Landry's restaurant I've been to, the chefs tend to recommend steak as an easy gluten free option. The chef did also note that the restaurant had gluten free buns available for sandwiches but that they did not have a dedicated gluten free fryer for French fries. They also offer a quinoa pasta.

Because I'm still not 100% after my resection surgery from Crohn's disease, I'm trying to take it a bit easy with food. I asked if the Honey-Sriracha Salmon with Sweet Honey-Sriracha Glaze, Steamed Rice, Asian Green Bean Stir-fry, and Cilantro could be made gluten free. The chef noted that they could make this option for me and that the dish was also dairy free.

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

When my entree arrived, I noticed that it did not have the Sweet Honey-Sriracha Glaze which I had asked for on the side. Our server was excellent, and he double-checked with the chef who said the sauce did, in fact, contain gluten. I'm glad that they took measures to ensure I avoided any sauces that were not a safe option.

Essentially, what I was served was pan seared salmon, sticky rice, and sauteed vegetables. While it wasn't anything fancy, it was quite good. The salmon was well-cooked, and I really liked the sauteed vegetables. I would have liked a bit of sauce with this. But, it was still good without one.

Overall

While I wouldn't say the food at Rainforest Cafe is the best I've ever had at Disney, I appreciate the fact that there were several options available to me. I also was really glad to see that a chef came to the table to talk through options and customization too. We both agreed that of the Landry's restaurants at Disney World, Yak & Yeti is by far our favorite. We also think T-Rex is a bit better too, in terms of options and atmosphere. But, if you and your kiddos want to have a wild time at a jungle themed restaurant, Rainforest Cafe is the perfect option for you.

You can also read reviews from Alexis's Gluten Free Adventures about her experiences with Rainforest Cafe on her blog.

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

Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater Restaurant Dinner Review

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

Dinner at Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater Restaurant

Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater Restaurant, located in Hollywood Studios, is one of those quirky and unique restaurants at Disney World that I absolutely love. There's just something so fun and nostalgic about this retro theme and unique dining room. Plus, over the years, we've found the gluten free and dairy free options to be really good. On this recent visit, Brandon and I decided to go to Sci-Fi Dine-In for dinner last minute so that we could enjoy the holiday decorations and shows at the park. We did not have a reservation, so we were very lucky that we were able to do a walk-up for dinner that evening.

Atmosphere

Sci-Fi Dine-In is inspired by classic 1950s drive-in theaters. That means inside the restaurant, you'll find a giant movie screen that shows retro sci-fi movie clips and commercials along with a set that looks like an actual drive-in.

Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater Restaurant Sign / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

You can't miss the giant glowing sign that lets you know you've found Sci-Fi Dine-In at Hollywood Studios.

Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater Restaurant - Vintage Car / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

I love the retro touches before you even enter the restaurant. This vintage car and movie poster sign outside the restaurant are the perfect backdrops for fun photos.

Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater Restaurant Movie Screen / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Once you are inside the restaurant, a "parking attendant" will take you to your car or your flying saucer (aka a table). Most of the restaurant has tables that look like vintage cars -- all lined up to watch those classic movie clips.

Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater Restaurant Seating Area / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

There are all sorts of sizes, shapes, and colors of cars which makes the restaurant super fun to look around.

Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater - Seating Area / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

On this particular visit, we were seated at one of the "flying saucers" in the back of the restaurant. These are picnic table style seating areas that are often reserved for small parties or for those who have walk-up reservations. This was actually the first time we've ever been seated in this area, and we actually liked it a lot. We were able to talk a bit more and the lighting was so much better.

The only downside is that most of the chairs at these tables do not have backs. So, if you have back problems or just don't like seating without backs to them, you may want to avoid this seating area. We both agreed we would sit there again though.

The Food

Like most Disney restaurants, Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater Restaurant does carry an allergy-friendly lunch and dinner menu. I do encourage you to speak with a chef at this location if you have any questions or don't see options available for your special dietary need. For instance, you can get a gluten free, dairy free, and vegan milkshake if you ask. But, it's not listed on the allergy-friendly menu.

Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater Restaurant / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

On this visit, I debated between a few options, as there were quite a few gluten free dishes that I was interested in.

Sci-Fi Dine In / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

I ended up ordering the Oven-roasted Turkey Wrap with Oven-roasted Turkey, Crispy Bacon, Lettuce, and Vine-ripened Tomato with Cilantro-Avocado Aioli on an Allergy-Friendly Wrap. This is listed on the menu as being safe for Gluten/Wheat, Fish/Shellfish, Milk, and Peanut/Tree Nut Allergies.

At first, I was a little dubious about how tasty this sandwich would be when I saw the gluten free wrap was a standard rice flour wrap that I've had before. I'm not usually a big fan of these, but the restaurant did a good job of heating the wrap tortilla up. The sandwich itself was quite tasty, and I really enjoyed the flavors. I ended up somehow missing the bacon but only realized that after we left the restaurant. My favorite part of the sandwich was the cilantro-avocado aioli. I only wish there would have been a bit more on the sandwich.

The best part of this entrée may have been the French fries. Both Brandon and I were just wowed by the fries that night. They were super crisp and very well seasoned. I'm not usually a big steak fry fan. But, they cooked them a little more on the well-done side, so I really enjoyed them a lot.

Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

For dessert, I ordered the gluten free brownie. It is the OMG It's Gluten Free brand and does contain dairy. I did ask if I could get vanilla Tofutti and Hershey's chocolate syrup with this, as it normally comes with vanilla ice cream and hot fudge. Even though I do eat dairy now, ice cream is just a little too much for me. So, I always ask for dairy free ice cream when possible.

The brownie was nicely heated, and the Tofutti and chocolate syrup were the perfect toppings for this. I would definitely get this again, although I really do love their gluten free, dairy free, and vegan milkshakes too.

Overall

Both Brandon and I really enjoyed our meals at Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater Restaurant. We both thought the food was excellent when we went and our service was fantastic too. Shout-out to our server Vanessa who was seriously one of the best servers we've had at Disney in a while. For reasonable prices, good food, and a fun atmosphere, we'll definitely continue to have Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater Restaurant on our short list of fun, affordable restaurants at Disney.

Have you been to Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater Restaurant? What was your experience dining there?

Room Service on the Disney Dream

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

Room Service on the Disney Dream

On our 3-day cruise on the Disney Dream in October 2018, we did get a chance to try room service with a special diet. Although we only ordered room service once, I wanted to write-up a bit about our experience and what we ordered. For those who have not been on a Disney Cruise, select food and beverage are included in your cruise fare and do not cost any extra. That means, you can order room service "for free" when you sail. There are a few exceptions to this, such as alcoholic beverages and certain food items.

Castaway Cay View / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

We decided to order room service in the afternoon on our Castaway Cay day. We had come back to the room after spending time at Serenity Bay and wanted to rest and relax with our amazing view, shown here, of the island. It made for the perfect back-drop as we sat on our verandah before we sailed away.

Castaway Cay / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Castaway Cay is pretty gorgeous, so we definitely wanted to soak as much of this sunny view as we could!

Disney Cruise - Room Service / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

I ended up calling room service to see if they could make the cheese plate gluten free. We also noted that the Greek Salad and Fresh Fruit Bowl were listed as GF on the room service menu. When I called, they said they could make the cheese plate gluten free by swapping out the crackers, which was great. We ended up ordering that and some Angry Orchard Hard Cider, which is naturally gluten free.

There are definitely other options that can be made gluten free too. So, it's always worth calling to ask.

Our room service arrived with our cheese plate (and Brandon's gluten-filled mac & cheese) along with our hard cider. Do be careful when ordering this. We ordered two Angry Orchards because we assumed that they were the normal glass bottles of hard cider. But, when they arrived, we had two giant wine sized bottles of hard cider. We ended up having the cast member take one back, as we both only wanted a glass of hard cider and two bottles would have served 4 glasses in total.

Disney Cruise - Cheese Plate - Room Service / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Sitting on the verandah was the perfect spot to enjoy views of Castaway Cay along with our cheese plate and hard cider. The cheese plate came with several types of cheese, grapes, celery, and gluten free crackers. I believe they were Mary's Gone Crackers, but I did not confirm that with room service. They were definitely a grainier type of gluten free cracker.

Overall

We were both so glad we took a chance and called room service to see if they could accommodate a gluten free cheese plate. It was the perfect late afternoon snack on our verandah and made spending our last few hours on Castway Cay relaxing and magical.

Have you ordered room service on the Disney Cruise ships with a special dietary need? What did you order?

Enchanted Garden Debarkation Breakfast on the Disney Dream

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

Enchanted Garden is one of the three main rotational dining restaurants located on the Disney Dream. On our 3-day cruise on the Disney Dream in October 2018, we ended up skipping Enchanted Garden dinner because we had dinner reservations at Palo on our last night. After our cruise, we both wished we had gotten to get dinner there because we prefer the dinner there than at Animator's Palate. The only time we ended up eating at Enchanted Garden was on debarkation morning before we left the cruise. Debarkation breakfast was served at 7:15 a.m., as we had early dining throughout the cruise.

Atmosphere

Enchanted Garden is themed after the gardens of Versailles in France. There are statues, a fountain, and other touches that will remind you of these famous gardens.

Enchanted Garden / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

When you arrive at Enchanted Garden, you'll notice that the lighting in the restaurant is quite bright. However, if you're eating dinner there, you'll notice the lighting dim and fade throughout your meal. At breakfast, the lighting remained bright.

Enchanted Garden - Fountain / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

There is a small fountain in the middle of Enchanted Garden. At the top of the fountain is this charming Mickey statue.

Enchanted Garden - Seating / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

One of my favorite things about Enchanted Garden's theme are these amazing booths. These are super cute and cozy. We've had the good fortune to sit in them a few times -- both at embarkation and debarkation meals. I have heard that these booths used to rotate but haven't done so in years.

Enchanted Garden Interior / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

As you can see by the photo here, Enchanted Garden is bright and spacious. After thinking about it, I think Brandon and I might like the theme in Enchanted Garden best of the three main rotational dining restaurants.

Enchanted Garden - Table / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

I also adore the art nouveau style dishes served at Enchanted Garden.

The Food

Like embarkation lunch, debarkation meals are a bit more limited than a normal breakfast menu that you would find on your cruise. It's also very early in the day, so I can't say that either one of us was super hungry at that point.

Enchanted Garden - Debarkation Menu / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Both Brandon and I wanted to get something in our stomachs before we headed home. So, we tried to eat a little lighter. Unfortunately, our server Jude had other plans!

Enchanted Garden - Debarkation Menu / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Brandon ordered the Eggs for the Road entree, while I just ordered some items a la carte.

Enchanted Garden - Drinks / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Before then, we both needed some beverages to get us going. Iced tea and apple juice for me are always a good breakfast combo.

Enchanted Garden - Muffins & Donuts / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Jude brought Brandon and I some fresh fruit. He also gave Brandon some gluten-filled pastries, while I got gluten free and dairy free donuts and a chocolate chip muffin. These are all made by Kinnikinnick Foods. The chocolate chip muffin is one of my all-time favorites, and I used to get this at Disney World at select restaurants for breakfast. But, Disney World stopped serving it a few years ago. So, you can bet I was very excited to have this muffin. The donuts are always excellent, and I enjoyed the cinnamon sugar one that morning

Enchanted Garden - Omelet / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

I knew I wanted a bit of protein for the road. So, I asked for a ham and cheese omelet, which is listed on the debarkation menu. This was just OK. It wasn't anything special but was tasty enough. If you are dairy free, you can opt for a variety of egg options too.

Enchanted Garden - Allergy Friendly Pancakes / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

My last request for breakfast were gluten free and dairy free pancakes. On debarkation day, they do not offer allergy-friendly Mickey waffles and only have Van's gluten free frozen waffles on hand. So, I usually ask for pancakes. I have to admit that on this visit, I was very disappointed. I think that the cruise ships are now using the Carbon’s Golden Malted Gluten Free Waffle and Pancake Mix.

Not only is the mix absolutely terrible tasting, but the company does not disclose shared lines that are used to make the mix. The product is certified gluten free. But, the company’s transparency is pretty concerning. Next time I will actually ask about the mix before ordering, just like I do at Disney World. I’ll also be letting Disney Cruise Line know my thoughts on this mix and encourage them to use Namaste and Bob’s Red Mill mixes which are must tastier and safer options.

Overall

While our breakfast wasn't anything fancy, we always appreciate having one last table service meal before we leave our cruise. Our entire service team, especially Jude, made sure we weren't super rushed and that we had plenty of food before we headed home. It was the perfect way to end a fantastic 3-day cruise on the Disney Dream.

What do you think of debarkation breakfast options on the Disney Cruise ships?

Palo Dinner Review on the Disney Dream

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

Dinner at Palo

Palo is an adults-only restaurant located on all of the Disney Cruise Line ships. This is a restaurant that is not one of the main rotational dining options on the ships and must be reserved in advance to dine at. It also has an additional per person fee to dine there (currently $30). Palo offers both brunch and dinner. And, on our October 2018 3-day cruise on the Disney Dream, we decided to have dinner there on our final night of the cruise. Both Brandon and I loved Palo brunch, so we were looking forward to dinner on this cruise.

Atmosphere

Palo is a restaurant that serves Northern Italian inspired food. And, the theme of the restaurant is inspired by Venice, Italy. Palo means "pole" in Italian, so you'll find nods to Venice's beautiful waterfront and gondolas throughout the restaurant.

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

We dined at Palo for dinner. And, I'm absolutely amazed at how this restaurant transforms from day to night. We noticed a huge difference in the atmosphere during brunch versus dinner. The evening was nice, as we arrived before sunset and got to experience the restaurant shift from day to night.

Palo Seating / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

As you can see, the Venice theme is throughout the restaurant, from the artwork to the tables.

Palo Seating / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

On this trip, we also noticed there was some outdoor seating, as well. I'm not sure if this is only offered during brunch or at night too. You can see a lot more photos of the restaurant's interior in our brunch review.

Palo - Ocean View / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Our table was located at the "front" of the restaurant with a lovely view of the ocean. We absolutely adored the ocean view throughout our meal.

Palo - Table / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Prior to our dinner at Palo, we met up with blog readers Sue and Joe, which was an absolute treat. Joe also has celiac disease, and we got a chance to chat about the options on the cruise. Sue and Joe had dined at Palo the evening before we did, and they recommended that we request Mircea to be our server, as they had rave reviews about him. We were able to make that request. And we knew we were in for a treat when we met Mircea who was very lovely throughout our meal.

The Food

Unlike the main rotational dining restaurants on the ship, Palo does not note if an item is gluten free or dairy free on the menu. That is because Palo operates like a traditional restaurant on land. They will prepare your food and customize it as you order it, instead of preparing it in a catering kitchen. This means that you may have more options and customization at your meal both at Palo and Remy, the other adults-only restaurant on the Disney Dream.

Palo - Gin & Tonic / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Prior to our meal, we met up with readers Sue and Joe at Meridian, which is a lounge located in between Palo and Remy. Meridian is a must visit lounge for me, as they have a gin and tonic cart, where you can make customized gin and tonics.

Though I've mentioned it before, most distilled alcohol, like gin, are gluten free due to the distillation process, despite being made with gluten-filled grains. According to the University of Chicago Celiac Disease and peer-reviewed scientific research, “As for pure spirits, (vodka, gin, scotch), the distillation process makes these beverages safe because the protein is removed. However, flavored spirits may contain malt, and should be avoided.” If a certain type of distilled alcohol does not agree with you, always be sure to trust your gut and avoid. For instance, I can't tolerate vodka well -- enough those that are potato based and do not contain gluten prior to distillation -- but gin is fine with me.

With that in mind, I ended up with a dry London gin and some aromatic spices. It was very refreshing and earthy tasting. Definitely one I'd get again.

Palo - Iced Tea / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

One of my most favorite things about Palo is their iced tea. That's because they used iced tea ice cubes instead of regular ice cubes. This helps ensure that your tea never gets diluted with water and retains its flavor and concentration. It's the little things in life that make me happy. And, iced tea ice cubes is one of those things!

Palo - Antipasti Plate / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Before our meal, the antipasti cart came to our table. The manager actually prepared our antipasti plate and was super friendly every time we spoke with him throughout the evening. The antipasti cart items are naturally gluten free and include a variety of meats, vegetables, and Parmesan cheese. You can make it dairy free by omitting the cheese. In 2014, my mom and I had dinner here while I was still dairy free and enjoyed the antipasti plate minus the cheese.

Palo - Antipasti Plate / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Here's a close-up of the plate that Brandon and I shared. We both loved the prosciutto and Parmesan cheese with balsamic vinegar on it. He also enjoyed some of the other meats, while I loved the marinated artichokes and olives.

Palo - GF Bread / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

While we were enjoying our antipasti plate, we were both brought bread to enjoy. I received a basket of Udi's Gluten Free Pizza Crust cut into wedges and toasted with extra virgin olive oil, basil, and other herbs. This is both gluten free and dairy free. It's so good and ranks at the top of my favorite bread services of all time. And, this photo shows food and drink duo that makes me so happy -- the bread service and iced tea.

Palo - GF Bread / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Here you can see the bread service, up close. You can tell there's lots of garlic and herbs on this bread, which makes it oh so tasty.

Palo - GF Calamari / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

For my starter, I asked in advance during embarkation at the dining session offered if I could get the calamari and shrimp appetizer served at Palo gluten free. I learned is a possibility with advance notice from my friend Alexis at Alexis's Gluten Free Adventures. As the manager and chef told me on this visit, if you do not pre-order and arrive at the restaurant early, your chances of getting it deep-fried is pretty slim. That's because the restaurant does not have a dedicated fryer and needs to fry the gluten free calamari and shrimp before they begin using the fryer for the night. I was so thankful that they were able to make this happen for me on our visit.

The Fritto di Calamari e Gamberi is a mixture of gluten free fried shrimp and calamari, sweet peppers, fresh herbs, and lemon served with two sauces -- a lemon-garlic mayonnaise and marinara sauce. The seafood is fried in corn flour and the batter was very light. This worked perfectly with the delicate seafood. Never a big fan of marinara sauce, I preferred the lemon-garlic mayonnaise for both the shrimp and calamari. Although I know it takes some advance notice to get, I think it was worth the effort.

Palo - GF Scallops / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Up next, Mircea suggested we get either pasta or seafood. Brandon opted for pasta because he's allergic to fish and shellfish. And, I took Mircea's recommendation and ordered the Sea Scallops with Celery Root Puree, Baby Vegetables, and Crispy Leeks served with a Prosecco and Black Truffle Sauce. This is gluten free but does contain dairy.

Overall, I really enjoyed this seafood dish and thought the scallops were cooked perfectly. The celery root puree was also really tasty. While I liked the prosecco and black truffle sauce, I thought it was a bit too rich for the delicate scallops. But, it added some nice flavor in small doses. If you're dairy free, I might recommend the tuna if you're interested in a fish course, as this seemed to be the most dairy free friendly.

Palo - Lemon Sorbet / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

In between this course and our main entree, we were served lemon sorbet with blueberries. This is both gluten free and dairy free and makes for a nice palate cleanser in between courses.

Palo - Steak / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

For our entree, both Brandon and I ordered the Grilled Prime Beef Tenderloin with Pancetta Potato, Sauteed Spinach, Barolo Chinato Wine Sauce, and Gorgonzola Cheese Sauce. This is gluten free and fish/shellfish free but does contain dairy. I think this dish could be easily modified to be dairy free too.

Wow. Both of us thought this dish was super decadent. We both really enjoyed our steaks, and we both agreed that mixing the sauces together was actually the tastiest combination. I really enjoyed the potatoes and spinach too. I have to admit, that I probably should have ordered something a bit less rich than the scallops as my second course and next time I would get a caprese salad or soup instead. That's because I couldn't finish this due to the richness. Thankfully, it did not go to waste as Brandon happily enjoyed the remainder of my steak.

Palo - GF Chocolate Soufflé / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

For our dessert course, I ended up debating but ultimately ordered the gluten free version of the Chocolate Soufflé with Vanilla Bean Gelato and Vanilla and Chocolate Sauce. This has lots of dairy in it, so if you're dairy free, I would order another dessert instead, as it won't be able to be modified. But, if you can have dairy, I highly recommend this dessert.

I can't say that I've ever had a gluten free soufflé out at a restaurant, so this was a real treat. The soufflé itself was super chocolatey and very tasty. I skipped the vanilla bean gelato but did enjoy the vanilla and chocolate sauces on top of my soufflé. If you're gluten free, you can order this dessert without advance notice too, which is great. Brandon and I both agreed we would get this dessert again.

Palo - Birthday Wishes Plate / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Funnily enough, I had forgotten about Brandon's birthday notification. Our cruise was originally slated a few weeks after Brandon's birthday, so we had noted his birthday. Because we switched the cruise dates last minute, the birthday notification was still on the reservation. Mircea sweetly brought a lovely plate with early birthday wishes for Brandon, which was very thoughtful.

Palo - Orange Almond Cake / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Mircea had also heard me debating desserts, as I had ordered the Warm Orange Almond Cake with Orange Fennel Salad with Rhubarb Puree and Lemon Cream on the cruise I took in 2014. The cake itself is gluten free and dairy free. And, the dish can be entirely dairy free by omitting the lemon cream.

After I chose the soufflé, Mircea offered to have room service bring me the orange almond cake to our stateroom so that I could enjoy it later. That was such a thoughtful touch, and I was so pleased that they could let us enjoy this outside of the restaurant. I have been told that Palo is pretty strict about taking any food out of the restaurant, so I'm lucky that we were able to get this delivered to our stateroom that evening.

Though I'm glad I had the soufflé in the restaurant, this is definitely a great gluten free dessert option that I can highly recommend too. It's a little dense but the flavors are very light. And, the dish isn't too sweet. So, if sweets aren't your thing, this might be a good option for you too.

Overall

We enjoyed a very lovely and delicious meal at Palo. Both of us agreed that the food was very good and definitely decadent. My favorites of the night had to be the calamari and the chocolate soufflé. But, everything was really delicious and well-cooked. After dinner, we both agreed that we prefer brunch over dinner just a bit more mostly because we liked the meal offerings at brunch better overall. But, both brunch and dinner at Palo are excellent and a great option for any adults sailing on the Disney Cruise Line.

Have you been to Palo? What do you prefer, brunch or dinner?

Cookie's BBQ Lunch Review on Castaway Cay

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

Lunch at Cookie's BBQ

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

Atmosphere

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

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

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

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

The Food

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Overall

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

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

Animator’s Palate Dinner Review on the Disney Dream

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

Dinner at Animator’s Palate

Animator's Palate is one of the three main rotational dining restaurants on the Disney Dream. On our October 2018 3-day cruise, we had dinner at Animator's Palate on the second day of our cruise. It was both pirate night and Halloween costume night, as well, since we sailed on a Halloween on the High Seas themed cruise. During the shorter cruises, the pirate night menu is the same as the regular rotational night, so you won't get any special menus when you go. Both Brandon and I were looking forward to this restaurant the least on our cruise, because neither one of us liked the menu here all that much.

Atmosphere

Both Brandon and I love the theme of Animator's Palate, which is inspired by Disney animation. Our biggest complaints about the restaurant are that it's very noisy and that the seats are pretty close together.

Animator's Palate - Seating / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

We do love all of the decor and theming. But, as you can see, it's a pretty packed restaurant in terms of space.

Animator's Palate - Seating Area / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

I have to admit that I was absolutely loving all of the Halloween costumes on our cruise. Shout-out to the table next to us that dressed up as life-size Beanie Babies!

Animator's Palate / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

One of my favorite little touches in Animator's Palate is the table marker you get on your table. I love that it looks like an paint bucket with brushes in it.

Animator's Palate / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Since it was both pirate night and Halloween night, we decided to go with the pirate theme. We each wore the pirate bandanas given to us in our stateroom. As you can see, I decided to wear mine in a subtle way. The great thing is you can dress up or not in whatever way you feel most comfortable, which is great.

Animator's Palate - Table Games / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Although not a theme of the restaurant, I do love that your servers will share table games with you. On this trip, our assistant server shared several with us. A few we recognized, but some of them really tricked us. I won't share any secrets or surprises, but it's a nice touch when you dine during dinner.

The Food

Animator's Palate, like all of the main rotational dining restaurants, have menus that note which items are gluten free and dairy free on their menu. Having dined at Animator's Palate for dinner back in May 2018, I knew that I wasn't all that excited about the menu options. In fact, I actually used a few pro-tips to help make a fantastic meal this trip. Keep reading for those!

Animator's Palate - GF Rolls / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Up first, our server Jude brought me some Ener-G rolls with extra virgin olive oil and herbs. While I still don't love the Ener-G rolls, I will give our service team props for making sure they were well-heated on the trip. Both Brandon and I really liked the extra virgin olive oil with herbs too.

Animator's Palate - Salmon Appetizer / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

The one thing I had to order at Animator's Palate was the Smoked Salmon Tartar with Dill, Capers, Onions, Pickles, and a Horseradish Cream. It is marked gluten free on the menu but does contain dairy. Oh goodness is this appetizer good. I loved the smoky salmon and the combination of salty flavors with the rich salmon. It is a must-order anytime I'm Animator's Palate. And, I highly recommend it for anyone who likes seafood and can have dairy.

Animator's Palate - Chicken / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Here's where my pro-tips started to come in. On our last dinner at Animator's Palate, I ordered Lemon-Thyme Marinated Chicken and just found it to be very boring and bland. I had learned prior to this cruise that you can actually order any dishes from the other main dining rotational restaurants when you have dinner. So, I asked if I could get the Marjoram Scented Roast Chicken with Crushed Sweet Potatoes, Buttered Baby Spinach, and a Thyme Red Wine Chicken Jus from Enchanted Garden. I was so happy to hear that this was an easy request.

This is such a delicious entrée, and I love all the accompaniments with it. It didn't disappoint again this time either. Everything was very flavorful and the chicken was super moist. I have to admit that if we have dinner at Animator's Palate again, I'll probably request this dish if we aren't dining at Enchanted Garden due to adult dining reservations. It's so good.

Animator's Palate - Indian Food / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

My other pro-tip is that the Disney Dream actually prepares Indian food just about every night of your cruise. It's not listed anyway, and you kind of have to know it exists. On our last cruise, I got some bonus Indian food when the table next to us got it one night. This time, I actually spoke to John, our head server, about it and pre-ordered a gluten free plate of Indian food the night before our dinner. I was also told that the Indian food menu changes every night too.

Omigosh was this amazing. I got what I had on our previous cruise, and it was the hands down best thing I ate on the cruise. Of course, I love Indian food, so I am easily pleased by any plate of curry. I was served Curry Chicken, Spiced Potatoes, and Basmati Rice. Everything was expertly cooked, and I seriously could have eaten platefuls of this. I may have to order Indian food every night on my cruise from now on!

Animator's Palate - Walnut Cake / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

For dessert, I ordered the Crunch Walnut Cake with Dark Chocolate Mousse and Raspberry Coulis. This is marked gluten free on the menu and does contain dairy. I really enjoyed it last cruise. So, I knew I had to get it this time too. Next time, I may skip dessert because I was SO full from everything I ordered during dinner. But, it was so worth it for the Indian food.

Overall

While both Brandon and I love the theme, we both agreed that Animator's Palate just isn't our favorite restaurant. We find it way too noisy and crowded when we dine there. We both would skip this in favor of dinner at Palo or Remy on our next cruise. That being said, I loved the smoked salmon and being able to get an entrée from Enchanted Garden and my bonus plate of Indian food.

Have you been to Animator's Palate? What did you think of your experience there?

Royal Palace Lunch Review on Disney Dream

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

Lunch at Royal Palace

Royal Palace, located on the Disney Dream, is one of the three main rotational dining restaurants on the ship. On our October 2018 3-day cruise on the Disney Dream, we ate at Royal Palace quite a bit. That's because it's one of the restaurant options for breakfast and lunch, in addition to dinner. On this particular occasion, we had lunch at Royal Palace on the day we were in Nassau, Bahamas. We had opted to stay on the ship most of the day and wanted to get a quick bite for lunch.

Atmosphere

Royal Palace has a Disney princess theme -- complete with artwork featuring several different princesses. We absolutely loved the theme of this restaurant and found it to be simple, understated, and the most spacious feeling of the three main restaurants on the ship.

Royal Palace - Seating / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Royal Palace definitely has a lot of seating and many large tables for group dining. We were seated at a 4-top table during our dinner at Royal Palace because we requested to dine by ourselves.

Royal Palace - Wallpaper / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

You can read a bit more about the theme in my dinner and breakfast review of Royal Palace. But, you can see some charming touches in the photos shown here. I loved the intricate wallpaper found in the restaurant shown in the photo above.

The Food

I have to admit, Brandon and I both weren't really that hungry before we went to lunch. We had already enjoyed a filling breakfast at Royal Palace and decided to have a late lunch after spending some time relaxing in the Rainforest Room in Senses Spa. Because I had pre-ordered lunch, both Brandon and I thought we should at least go to lunch and then eat as lightly as we could. Of course, we both forgot how much food you tend to get on the ship -- even when you try to eat light!

Royal Palace - Menu / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

The lunch menu at Royal Palace included a variety of options. And, like breakfast and dinner, options that are gluten free and dairy free are marked on the menu. You can always still ask about other options too. I have found that breakfast and lunch had a lot more flexibility to customize than dinner.

Royal Palace - Gin & Tonic / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Up first, Brandon and I did each order a Signature Gin and Tonic from the lunch menu. It included fresh apple slices and berries which was a nice twist on my favorite drink. For those who aren't sure what alcohol is gluten free, you can always bring a list of options before your trip. Typically, hard alcohol made distilled with gluten containing grains are considered gluten free, due to the distillation process. Gin does not seem to bug me (vodka does), so it's one that I have found I can tolerate.

Royal Palace - Tuna Nicoise / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Up first, I was served the Ahi Tuna Nicoise Salad. This was marked gluten free and dairy free on the menu. Disney Cruise Line's salads are typically pretty boring and bland. I have no idea why, but they just are. This particular salad, however, was really good. The tuna was absolutely outstanding and all of the other ingredients were perfect. The Dijon Mustard Dressing was light, flavorful, and well-seasoned. Definitely a home-run. Because I wasn't that hungry, I could have honestly just had this, my gin & tonic, an allergy-friendly roll and have been completely satisfied. I will definitely be ordering this again on a future cruise.

Royal Palace - Halibut / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

For my main entrée, I ordered Grilled Filet of Halibut with a White Wine Tomato, Olive, and Garlic Reduction served with Saffron Rice. It was marked gluten free on the menu and contained dairy in some way. Overall, I thought this was just OK. The fish was overcooked. The rice was decent. But, I really did not like the sauce that came with this dish. I am not a red sauce fan, and this one was just oddly flavored. It's not one I would prioritize ordering again.

Royal Palace - Sundae / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

For dessert, I was given "chef's choice," again. I wasn't at all hungry and tried to tell them that I did not want to have dessert. But, I was still given one anyway. It was a modified version of the Italian Style Ice Cream Sundae and included Dulce de Leche Ice Cream, Caramel Sauce, and Whipped Cream.

I really do not like regular dairy filled ice cream, even though I've reintroduced dairy back into my diet. I find it way too sweet and rich. I did take a few bites and thought it was definitely way too sweet and rich for me. Brandon ended up eating part of my sundae and thought it was pretty good but preferred the chocolate molten cake he ordered.

One of the biggest lessons I learned on this cruise was to be very specific about desserts. It was probably the only part of any of my meals that I wasn't all that keen on. Next time, I'll be making specific requests instead of going with "chef's choice."

Overall

Both Brandon and I were pleased with our lunch options at Royal Palace. Brandon enjoyed his cheese plate and lamb burger, and I absolutely loved my Ahi Tuna Nicoise Salad. We both agreed that next time we'd eat lighter but that we'd definitely eat lunch at Royal Palace for table service again on another cruise.

Have you been to Royal Palace for lunch on the Disney Dream? What did you think of the options? 

Royal Palace Breakfast Review on the Disney Dream

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

Breakfast at Royal Palace

Royal Palace on the Disney Dream is one of three main rotational dining rooms on the ship. And, during the day, Royal Palace was one of the dining rooms open for table service breakfast and lunch. On our most recent cruise, we ended up dining at Royal Palace on day 2 of our cruise, which was our Nassau, Bahamas day. Both Brandon and I prefer the table service restaurants on the ship instead of dining at Cabanas, mostly because we like how much calmer it is and how much easier it is for special dietary needs.

Atmosphere

Royal Palace - Seating Area / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

You can read a bit more about the atmosphere of Royal Palace in my dinner review. But, here's is a photo that shows you a bit more of the main dining room at Royal Palace.Both Brandon and I thought the theming of Royal Palace, which is themed after the Disney princesses, was our favorite. We especially liked how spaced out all of the tables were in the restaurant. It felt the most spacious to both of us for dining.

The Food

During our dinner the evening before, our server Jude recommended that we pre-order our meals for the next day. On the other two cruises that I have taken, including our most recent cruise in May 2018, our servers said it wasn't necessary to pre-order our food. But, I have to admit that pre-ordering on this trip made some of our dining experiences a lot easier. So, I can definitely see why you might want to take advantage of it. For our breakfast, I did pre-order several items.

Royal Palace - Breakfast Menu / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Like the dinner menus on the Disney Dream, items that are gluten free or dairy free are noted on the menu. But, I have found that breakfast and lunch have a lot of flexibility for getting modifications to dishes, so be sure to ask your server about options.

Royal Palace Eggs Benedict / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Like our cruise in May, I ordered the Eggs Benedict gluten free. The only modification to the dish was to serve the eggs on allergy-friendly buns. This dish does contain dairy and cannot be modified. So, if you're dairy free, I would recommend ordering another dish. You can get eggs any style, most of the breakfast meats, pastries, and other options gluten free and dairy free, which is great.

If you can have dairy, this is definitely a must-order gluten free. I don't know why but ordering this is just now a tradition for me. I absolutely must get it at least once on our cruise. I love Eggs Benedict, and while this one isn't anything fancy, I've found it to be a really solid breakfast entrée. This visit to Royal Palace it didn't disappoint either.

Royal Palace - Allergy Friendly Mickey Waffles / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

In addition to the Eggs Benedict, I also ordered the Allergy-Friendly Mickey Waffles. These are both gluten free and dairy free. I always love allergy-friendly Mickey waffles, and I was very excited about these after having them at Palo brunch on our recent May 2018 cruise. The ones I had at Palo were so good. So, I was pretty sad when the ones I got at Royal Palace just tasted off.

At first I thought maybe they were using Namaste mix. But, after having some absolutely dreadful gluten free and dairy free pancakes on debarkation day, I'm pretty sure they are also now using the Carbon's Golden Malted Gluten Free Waffle and Pancake Mix.

This is such a huge disappointment because not only is the mix absolutely terrible tasting, but the company does not disclose shared lines that are used to make the mix. The product is certified gluten free. But, the company's transparency is pretty concerning. Next time I will actually ask about the mix before ordering, just like I do at Disney World. I'll also be letting Disney Cruise Line know my thoughts on this mix and encourage them to use Namaste and Bob's Red Mill mixes which are must tastier and safer options.

Overall

Both Brandon and I really enjoyed the low-key atmosphere of our breakfast at Royal Palace. And, we both liked our main entrees. I would definitely get the Eggs Benedict again, though I would probably skip the allergy-friendly Mickey waffles unless they were using one of the mixes that I prefer for taste and safety. Overall, Royal Palace provides a substantial and easy breakfast for anyone who wants to dine at a table service restaurant instead of the buffet in the morning on the ship.

Have you been on the Disney Cruise Line? What's your preference for breakfast options? 

Royal Palace Dinner Review on the Disney Dream

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

Dinner at Royal Palace

Royal Palace is one of the main rotational restaurants located on the Disney Dream. This means that it is one of three restaurants that you will dine at on your cruise for dinner. It is included in your cruise fare and does not have any additional charges (except for alcoholic beverages or select beverages on the menu). On our recent cruise on the Disney Dream in May, we missed out on dining at Royal Palace due to dinner reservations at Remy on our last night. For our cruise in October, we actually requested with Disney to dine at Royal Palace on our first night, if possible. Luckily, this request was accommodated. And, we also dined at Royal Palace for breakfast and lunch on our cruise.

Atmosphere

Royal Palace has a theme of Disney princesses. You'll find lots of art work and decor themed to several of the princesses, including Cinderella and Aurora.

Royal Palace - Menu / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

We requested our own table in advance and were excited to see that our request had been granted. We were seated at a 4-top table and had a nice view of the restaurant from our location.

Royal Palace - Seating Area / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Our table was in a section devoted to Princess Aurora from Sleeping Beauty. As you can see, there was a lot of artwork to represent the animated film.

Royal Palace - Table Marker / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

I also loved our table number that was also themed to the restaurant. Ours had a image of Cinderella and Prince Charming on it.

The Food

Unlike the Disney World theme park, the Disney Cruise Line does not have allergy-friendly menus for meals. Their regular menus do have listings that note GF or DF for dishes that are gluten free or dairy free. However, these typically aren't the only offerings available at a restaurant. And, unlike Disney World, you don't typically speak with a chef on a Disney Cruise. So, I often find myself ordering through a head server which then gets relayed to the kitchen. It feels a bit like a telephone game sometimes. But, I've gotten pretty good at navigating things on the ship.

On this particular occasion, I actually stopped by the Dining Session offered on embarkation day to pre-order two dishes at Royal Palace. Pre-ordering is simply a way for you to request a dish that might need a slight modification instead of ordering directly off the menu with its limited gluten free offerings. I had heard from Christy at Pack Your Pixie Dust that you could pre-order the Chateaubriand steak and even get the deep fried Brie made gluten free with advance notice. When I went to the Dining Session, which was held at Enchanted Garden on our cruise, they made a notation in my reservation and said they might be able to make these requests happen.

After arriving at Royal Palace, our server Jude noted that he had my pre-order request ready to go, which was amazing. As an aside, we absolutely loved our server Jude. He was so on top of both of our special dietary needs and ensured we had delicious food at every meal.

Royal Palace - Ener-G Rolls / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

First up, I was given Ener-G brand rolls. On the cruise I was also served regular butter because I have reintroduced dairy back into my diet. On previous cruises, I was told they did not have Earth Balance Vegan Buttery Spread, but I have heard reports that it might be available now on the Disney Cruise Line upon request. Overall, I wouldn't say I really love the Ener-G rolls, but for the most part, they actually heated my rolls well throughout the cruise, which makes a huge difference.

Royal Palace - Seafood Appetizer / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

First up, I received the Iced Lobster and Jumbo Shrimp appetizer, which is served with asparagus, horseradish cream, and dill dressing and is marked gluten free on the menu. This was absolutely delicious and a dish I would order again without hesitation. I love seafood, and this was light and refreshing.

Royal Palace - GF Fried Brie / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

Up next was the Breaded and Deep Fried Brie, which was made gluten free with advance notice. It was served with an orange and cranberry chutney. Brandon ordered the gluten-filled version of this and also tried mine. He thought both were really good and that mine was a nice alternative for guests who can't have gluten (he actually finished my Brie because I couldn't eat it all). I loved the orange and cranberry chutney that came with it. That was a nice contrast to the rich and buttery fried Brie.

Royal Palace - Chateaubriand / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

For my entrée, I ordered the Chateaubriand-Roasted Filet Steak with Crushed Mashed Potatoes, Green Beans, and Red Wine Jus. This was made gluten free with advance notice. Overall, I thought the steak was well cooked and seasoned. I also enjoyed the potatoes a lot. The green beans were pretty bland, so nothing special there. The Red Wine Jus was excellent, but I have to admit that I wished I had more on the plate. The only entrée on the menu at Royal Palace marked gluten free was the duck, which I am not a fan of, so I would definitely order this again instead of opting for duck.

Royal Palace - Creme Brulee / Photo Taken by Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW

For dessert, I was given "chef's choice," which is a fancy phrase for whatever gluten free dessert they can find. One thing I learned on this cruise was to be very specific if I have requests, because I had several desserts I did not really enjoy. The Creme Brulee I was served here was definitely not one that I enjoyed. I have never been a fan of creme brulee, mostly because I do not like the texture. This version was no different, so I really didn't eat more than a bite or two of it. It seemed like it was a decent creme brulee, just not my personal preference. Next time I'd ask for something chocolate based instead.

Overall

Both Brandon and I agreed that Royal Palace was our favorite main dining room option on the cruise. We liked the food a lot there, and we both felt that the restaurant was much calmer and quieter than say Animator's Palate which is always very crowded and noisy. We would definitely make sure we get to Royal Palace on our next cruise on the Disney Dream instead of skipping it for adult dining.

Have you been to Royal Palace on the Disney Dream? What did you think of this restaurant?