Cooke's of Dublin -- Lunch/Dinner -- Quick Service -- Disney Springs

*This dining experience took place in March 2015.Cooke's of Dublin located in Disney Springs (aka Downtown Disney) has to be my favorite quick service location at Downtown Disney. Sharing some kitchen facilities with Raglan Road Irish Pub, Cooke's of Dublin offers a convenient way to grab your fish and chips and other Irish fare. One of my favorite things about Cooke's of Dublin is that they offer tons of gluten free (and dairy free) options including many fried options. Of course, I tend to prefer dining in at Raglan Road, but Cooke's of Dublin is my go-to when I need a delicious meal quickly at Disney Springs. If you're looking for a full review of Cooke's of Dublin, check out the review on the Disney Food Blog. There are tons of photos and background about the restaurant itself. (note: the food featured on the Disney Food Blog is not gluten free or dairy free). On this particular visit, I wanted to grab dinner after a work seminar before I headed home but didn't really want to go to a table service restaurant. And, I was craving fried shrimp. Cooke's of Dublin was definitely the obvious choice for my meal. When I arrived, I noticed that some of the menu options had changed and that the fried scallops & chips (which I adored) was no longer on the menu. This is such a bummer that they no longer carry this, but never fear. You can still get your fried scallops and sweet chili jam craving fixed by heading next door to Raglan Road. Raglan Road is still serving the scallops as an appetizer option. I placed my shrimp & chips order at the counter and always double-check with the staff that the batter is still gluten free and dairy free. I have to admit that the wait for this was a bit longer than normal, which was a surprise as the restaurant wasn't that busy (it was the end of Spring Break, so that was surprising). When it arrived, I could tell that my shrimp looked over-fried; however, it wasn't until I ate them that I realized how over-fried they were. They still tasted good enough, but weren't as delicious as they normally are due to the over-frying. Still, I had condiments on hand to smother the poor shrimp which helped.I've never had a bad frying experience at Cooke's of Dublin before, so I'm chalking this one up to some weird kitchen fluke and would still definitely get the shrimp & chips again. Cooke's of Dublin now has a gluten free dessert option (not dairy free): zucchini cupcakes. You can see photos and read about this new treat at Gluten Free in Orlando's website. Or, you can stop around the corner to Erin McKenna's Bakery NYC and grab tons of delicious gluten free and allergy friendly treats (which is exactly what I did!). Have you been to Cooke's of Dublin? What did you order when you dined there? 

Beaches & Cream Soda Shop -- Snack -- Table Service -- Beach Club

*This dining experience took place in March 2015. Located in Disney's Beach Club Resort is Beaches & Cream Soda Shop. This ice cream parlor reminds me of those classic 1950s ice cream and soda shops -- complete with hamburgers & fries, milkshakes and amazing sundaes (and let's not forget the infamous Kitchen Sink - a gigantic serving for four of literally every sundae item the restaurant has). It's been a while since I've dined at Beaches & Cream, in fact my last review here on the blog was from 2011. That was when I discovered the awesomeness that is the Beaches & Cream peanut butter sauce! Beaches & Cream has two options for ice cream goers. The first is the traditional table service where you can order ice cream treats and a savory items like burgers and fries. The second is a quick service counter style, located directly next to the table service seating area and accessible by a separate door. This place is pretty darn busy, and it used to be that you could only get walk-ups to dine here. That's right, no ADRs! Luckily, that has now changed and you can make reservations to enjoy a visit here. On this particular occasion, we actually did not have a reservation but stopped by to see if we could get a walk-in. Luckily, we were able to get counter seating which was terrific. Before we were even seated, I notified the hostess of my special dietary needs, and she marked our ticket with "allergy." Once seated, the manager came out to discuss options for me. Since I love the peanut butter sauce, I asked if I could have a modified version of the No Way Jose ice cream sundae. She said not a problem, and offered me a choice of Tofutti (which they have in chocolate and vanilla) and Rice Dream (in vanilla only). The No Way Jose typically comes with chocolate and vanilla ice cream, so I opted for the Tofutti. When you order special diets sundaes or food at Beaches and Cream, they will prepare it entirely in the back to avoid cross contamination. Watching the servers make sundaes at the counter, I can definitely attest to the high level of cross contamination that posed there.  After a fairly minimal wait, I was brought out a huge sundae. I was not prepared for the size of this thing! Tons of non-dairy ice cream smothered with peanut butter sauce, chocolate syrup and chocolate chips was the way to go. I'm fairly certain I didn't speak for a good 15 minutes while I ate this sundae. If you like peanut butter and chocolate this is the combo to get.*Note: A blog reader mentioned that they were told the chocolate chips were not safe to consume for dairy free special diets; however, I was told by the manager that the chocolate chips only contained soy (likely soy lecithin). I didn't feel sick afterwards, so I'm hopeful that these are indeed a safe option! The manager did not include the peanut butter morsels on my sundae, which did contain dairy (same with the whipped cream).Overall, I had a great sundae at Beaches and Cream. It's a great go-to sundae stop, and they do have a large variety of options for toppings. I'm looking forward to going back again in the summertime when I need a sweet (and cool) treat!Have you been to Beaches and Cream? What did you order when you dined there? 

Good's Foods to Go -- Lunch/Dinner -- Quick Service -- Old Key West

*This dining experience took place in February 2015. Good's Foods to Go is literally my "go-to" place for quick service options when I stay at Disney's Old Key West resort. As a small quick service location, their menu isn't lengthy, but they do provide many gluten free and dairy free options. One thing I love about this location is that their kitchen is shared with Olivia's (a wonderful table service restaurant and home to one of my favorite salads), so the chefs from Olivia's will work with you on your special diets order.On this particular occasion, I was coming in late in the evening the night before the runDisney Enchanted 10K held during the Princess Half Marathon weekend. Good's Foods to Go was an easy spot to grab a quick bite around 8 p.m. When I arrived, I let the cast member at the cash register know I had special dietary needs. From there Chef Matt came out to assist me. I've met Chef Matt quite a few times at Olivia's, and he is always great at helping me get a tasty and safe meal. With it being late and as a pre-race tradition, I ordered allergy friendly chicken tenders and french fries.It took about 10 minutes before they came out, and when I got them, they were placed in a nice to-go container and bag. Perfect for taking back to my DVC room to eat, rest and unwind. Also, it was freezing outside (well, that's relative but 40 degrees is pretty cold for us Floridians!), and Good's Foods to Go is an outdoor walk-up counter with outdoor seating, which is something to keep in mind when it's hot or cold outside.The chicken tenders and fries were great. They were well-fried and piping hot. I'm always really glad that most quick service locations carry these, because they are a great go-to gluten free and dairy free option (and totally kiddo friendly).One of these days I'll request some of the other special diets options at Good's Foods to Go (burgers, sandwiches, etc.), but I do always enjoy getting allergy chicken tenders there!Have you been to Good's Foods to Go? What did you order when you dined there?

Gasparilla Island Grill -- Dinner -- Quick Service -- Grand Floridian Resort & Spa

*This dining experience took place in December 2014.Gasparailla Island Grill is located in Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa on the first floor. If you've ever been to the Grand Floridian Cafe, which serves a nice breakfast, you'll find this quick service location nearby with a quick trip outside the building. I've been at this quick service restaurant a few times, but never really ordered dinner there. Our family wanted to check out the holiday decorations and also visit the famous gingerbread display at the resort, so it was the perfect spot to grab a bite to eat.The menu itself has some standard quick service offerings and a few unique items. One of the things that you don't always see at quick service locations is house-made chips. I was curious to see if these were going to be safe for gluten free diners.When I spoke to the manager, he said that much of the menu can be easily altered for gluten free diners but that many items were out for me as options because of the dairy. I ended up ordering the Chicken Cordon Bleu Sandwich which came with grilled chicken, ham, cheese (mine was made without), lettuce, and a choice of house-made chips, fries or a cucumber salad. Of course, I got the house-made chips, since I was told they are made in a dedicated fryer.The manager gave me a table stand with a number on it for the table and said he'd bring it out to me when my food was ready. Meanwhile, I grabbed a beverage and relaxed in the comfy booths found in the restaurant.The sandwich itself was pretty good. It came on a Local Oven bun which was nicely toasted. The chicken was flavorful, and the ham added a nice variation. For me, the winner was the house-made chips. They were nice and thick and really tasty. I will definitely have to head back to Gasparilla Island Grill.Overall, I enjoyed my meal at Gasparilla Island Grill. I found the options for gluten free & dairy free diners to be good, and the manager who assisted me that day was really helpful.Have you been to Gasparilla Island Grill? What did you order there?

Everything Pop -- Breakfast -- Quick Service -- Pop Century

*This dining experience took place in November 2014. It's been a while since I've dined at Everything Pop, Pop Century's quick service location. It hasn't been my favorite quick service breakfast spot on property but it's not my least favorite either. If you are staying at a value resort and are near to the Art of Animation, I highly recommend the visit to Landscape of Flavors which has terrific allergy Mickey waffles and great healthful options. On this particular visit, I dined at Everything Pop the day before the Food Allergy & Celiac Convention. With set-up happening that day, I definitely needed some fuel, and I am glad that Everything Pop could fill that void, at least for breakfast. Upon arrival, I headed to the shortest breakfast line and there told a cast member that I had special dietary needs. They then got the chef who came out fairly quickly. Having dined here before, I knew pretty much what I wanted. I ordered a variation of the Bounty Platter with scrambled eggs, bacon, and Udi's toast, dry. Unfortunately, they do not have dairy free potatoes and the chef didn't offer to make an alternative for me. Since I was in a hurry, I was fine with that. The chef brought out my platter which was piled high with eggs and bacon. He also added in a side of fruit for me, as well. Overall, the meal was fine. A bit bland, but basically the same as most quick service meals across the Disney property. Everything Pop is an easy standby and one I'll stop by whenever I stay at Pop Century (which isn't too often). If you're looking for an amazing quick service, I can highly recommend the Mara at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge! Have you been to Everything Pop? What do you recommend getting there?

Pepper Market -- Dinner -- Quick Service -- Coronado Springs Resort

*This dining experience took place in November 2014.Pepper Market at Disney's Coronado Springs is a fast casual location hailed as a quick service. On a previous visit, we had a server but on this particular visit during the Food Allergy & Celiac Convention, I stopped by later in the day 10 p.m. and found it to be like a traditional Disney quick service where you picked up your own meal items and paid at a cash register.The last time I visited Pepper Market was August 2013, and I found the food to be pretty unappetizing. Normally, I would have probably avoided this restaurant but with it being so late and the evening before FACCWDW, I really didn't have time to be too choosy.When I arrived, I saw a manager and a chef and let them know about my dietary needs. They were pretty aware that the Food Allergy & Celiac Convention was happening, and I'm glad they seemed to be a bit more at the ready than on my previous visit.I really wanted just plain allergy chicken tenders and fries and asked the chef if they had those on hand. He said they did have chicken tenders that were gluten free and dairy free (and used a dedicated fryer) and went to prepare them.When he returned, I was surprised to see a version that didn't look anything like the ones normally served on Disney property (here's a comprehensive list), and as I learned, because Coronado Springs restaurants are not Disney-owned, they carry completely different brands. I didn't learn which brand this was, unfortunately.Well, I can't say I loved these chicken tenders. They were just bland. They were plentiful which was evident from my huge plate but really were not at all as delicious as the ones from Columbia Harbour House (which I love). It wasn't a terrible choice but also not a great one either. Still, it was a vast improvement from the previous dish I ordered at Pepper Market.Overall, I still think Pepper Market is a pretty weak choice for meal options at Disney. I would likely only eat here if I were staying at Coronado Springs or try to find other options. I hear Maya Grill is great, and I found Las Ventanas to be reasonably good so my hope is the other locations are much better. For now, I'm going to continue to look for better options elsewhere.Have you been to Pepper Market? What did you think of this quick service location?

The Mara -- Lunch/Dinner -- Quick Service -- Animal Kingdom Lodge Jambo House

*This dining experience took place in October 2014.The Mara, located at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge - Jambo House, is one of my favorite quick service locations at Disney. Where else can you get African stew and gluten free (not dairy free) zebra domes?Because I have Disney Vacation Club, I often stay at the Animal Kingdom Lodge when I'm at the parks and resorts for a long weekend, especially during holiday events and runDisney races. This visit timed up with my first runDisney race of the season, the Happy Haunted 5K during the Tower of Terror 10 Miler race weekend. Sure, I don't really need to carb-load before a race, but that doesn't mean I don't enjoy a few pre-race treats.I decided to stop by the Mara for lunch and was greeted by Chef Frank, who recently made me some amazing allergy Mickey waffles with toppings at Boma. Good thing I'm going to visit there for a post-race breakfast after the Jingle Jungle 5K!On a previous visit to the Mara, Chef Chris made me the Barbecue Bacon Burger, and it was outstanding, especially the barbecue sauce. When I arrived a the Mara, I saw it was back on the menu. Yep, that sounded like the perfect lunch to me. Chef Frank asked if I wanted to try it on an Udi's Pizza Crust, as a bit of a twist along with some additional toppings. Always one to try something different, I told him I was game.What he presented to me, was a beautiful (if that's the right word for a burger) presentation. It just looked delicious! The burger was topped with barbecue sauce, sauteed peppers and onions, cucumber slices, fresh tomato and lettuce -- all wrapped neatly in an Udi's Gluten Free pizza crust that was perfectly heated. On the side, Chef Frank added extra barbecue sauce for the French fries. Talk about a condiment upgrade!The burger itself was delicious and the accompaniments were a nice twist. As much as a loved the regular barbecue bacon burger, this was as equally delicious. I would definitely order it again jazzed up this way.Chef Chris also popped by during my lunch and brought me a nice treat - an OMG It's Gluten Free (and dairy free) chocolate chip cookie. You know, to keep my race strength up!As always, the Mara continues to be a delicious quick service option. If you're staying at the Animal Kingdom Lodge (either Kidani Village or Jambo House), this is the place to go.Have you been to the Mara? What are your favorite offerings there?

Riverside Mill -- Lunch/Dinner -- Quick Service -- Port Orleans Riverside

*This dining experience took place in September 2014.Riverside Mill, located in Disney's Port Orleans Riverside Resort, offers up quick service with a Southern and Cajun twist. Set to resemble a working cotton press, I really enjoy the atmosphere of this location - in addition to the great food offerings available. On a previous occasion, I stopped by here for lunch and had the mahi sandwich, which was great. On this visit, I was stopping by for another lunch while on break from a work conference. Never one to order the same thing twice in two visits (unless it's crawfish bites, then I'm always ordering them!), I wanted to try something different from Riverside Mill for lunch. While browsing the menu, the Carved Cajun Turkey Sandwich caught my eye. I was greeted by Chef Paul, whom you'll recall from my other visits to Boatwright's and Sassagoula Floatworks & Food Factory for beignets. Chef Paul always does a great job (as do all of the chefs at Port Orleans), so I knew I would have a great meal. We went over options, and when I mentioned the Carved Cajun Turkey Club Sandwich I learned that it had a Cajun mayo and was made with house-roasted turkey breast, not deli style turkey. Well, that sold me quickly! I also ordered it with a side of coleslaw.Well, I gotta say, this was one of my favorite quick service sandwiches. The house-roasted turkey breast was killer. It was nicely seasoned and not dry. Everything is better with bacon, and this sandwich was no exception. What made it complete for me was the Cajun mayo. Yes, you know I love a good condiment and this was another winner for me. Next time, I'm getting fries with this as a dipping sauce (I think I say that every time I'm at Port Orleans and I try one of their sauces). I was so glad to see that the coleslaw was not a mayonnaise-based slaw. Those can be overpowering, bland, and heavy. This was a light, vinegar-based slaw that was just a little sweet. It was the perfect accompaniment to the turkey sandwich with it's robust Cajun mayo. Overall, I was thrilled to find this sandwich on the menu. I am always impressed when a restaurant takes the time to roast their own meats, as opposed to using deli meats. Chef Paul said they also cook their roast beef for the roast beef sandwiches in-house too. This team really knows what they are doing here. Port Orleans Riverside Mill and Sassagoula Floatworks & Food Factory are two fantastic quick service locations and some of the best on property. They really take the time to make quality meals that go above and beyond the burgers and fries realm (which, of course, you can always still order there and are also delicious). I'm looking forward to getting this sandwich again. It just might have to be a repeat on my next visit!Have you been to Riverside Mill? What special diets offerings did you order there?   

Mara -- Lunch/Dinner -- Quick Service -- Animal Kingdom Lodge Jambo House

*This dining experience took place in September 2014.The Mara, located in Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge, is one of my favorite resort quick service restaurants. I frequently stay at the Animal Kingdom Lodge, as a DVC member, and it's my go-to spot for a quick bite that's a little out of the ordinary (and beyond allergy chicken tenders -- though they do serve them there!). With African inspired flavors, you're sure to have a variety of options that will delight your taste buds.On this particular occasion, I stopped by for lunch before we headed to the pool for an afternoon swim and then later to Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party. On a previous visit, I enjoyed the African Stew, a dish that I had to check out after reading my friend Alexis over at Gluten Free in Orlando's review! This time, I knew I wanted something else, and I saw a dish that caught my eye on the daily menu specials -- the Barbecue Bacon Burger. Once I got up to the ordering station, I notified the cast member that I had special diets and he called over Chef Chris. Chef Chris also works at Boma, and I've seen him many times at breakfast, so I knew I'd be taken care of. I asked Chef Chris if they could make the burger gluten free and dairy free, and I was excited when he said yes. Woohoo! I love a good sauce, and I was hoping that the sauce was house-made. (it was). While I waited, I was given a pager and made myself cozy in the Mara dining area. The Mara has such amazing murals and decor. It's a great place to just sit and rest, especially in the afternoon when it's slow.Once my pager went off, I met Chef Chris near the ordering area. I was ready for my burger and fries. Chef Chris told me that the bun was Local Oven and that the bacon was a nice thick cut bacon, not that stringy stuff they normally serve. Gotta love that chefs aren't fans of the stringy bacon either!It might not be much to look at this, but this burger was really quite good. The bacon was excellent and the burger was well cooked (you could add cheese to this, if you wanted to). But the house-made barbecue sauce really made it. It was a little sweet and super flavorful. It had some type of spices in it but I couldn't identify them. It was the perfect sauce though, and if it's featured the next time I'm there, I'm asking for extra sauce on the side...for dipping in fries, of course!I wasn't planning on getting dessert but Chef Chris surprised me with some OMG It's Gluten Free & Dairy Free chocolate chip cookies for the road. What a nice extra touch!I also could have purchased a 4 pack of the mini brownie cupcakes from Babycakes NYC. The Mara is one of the locations that always has them on hand.Overall, the Mara continues to be one of my favorite resort quick service spots. It's quality and the chefs there are always terrific. I'll be heading back there soon, and I can't wait to try other offerings available!I'd give this a solid 8 out of 10.Have you been to the Mara? What are your favorite items to order here? 

Riverside Mill Food Court -- Lunch/Dinner -- Quick Service -- Port Orleans Riverside

*This dining experience took place in August 2014. Visiting Riverside Mill Food Court at Disney's Port Orleans Riverside Resort makes you feel like you're transported back to the days of Mark Twain and riverboats, with a distinctly Southern feel. The restaurant is set to resemble a working cotton press and has massive amounts of working gears that are powered by a large water wheel. It's pretty impressive to say the least. It's also a massive food court with lots of seating and Southern inspired menu.On this particular occasion, I stopped by for a quick lunch before a meetup over at Port Orleans French Quarter for my favorite gluten free and food allergy friendly beignets. I also had dinner planned for Boatwright's with friends, so it was a very Port Orleans inspired day! While the food at Sassagoula Floatworks & Food Factory is decidedly New Orleans, the menu at Riverside Mill is a little more standard for a food court, with a few standouts with Southern flare including a Muffuletta flatbread and a Southern fire chicken sandwich. I was having a hard time deciding what to order.I was greeted by Chef Page, and I asked him what might be safe to eat. We discussed several options including the Southern fire chicken sandwich and the Mahi sandwich which sounded really interesting. I opted to go for the Mahi sandwich which came with fries from a dedicated fryer. It was rather busy at the food court, so I took the time while I waited to explore the restaurant a bit. There are lots of amazing details in there!Once my meal came out, I got a seat and dug in. The Mahi sandwich had Cajun seasoning on it and was seasoned nicely. Served on a Local Oven brand bun, this was a fairly substantial sandwich. The sandwich was topped with coleslaw and a remoulade sauce (which is mayonnaise based). You know how I feel about condiments and this sandwich satisfied my sauce cravings. Now if I would have asked for some remoulade on the side for the fries... The French fries were the standard fries you get at Disney World, so nothing special there. But had I dipped them in remoulade...genius! The restaurant itself had quite a few offerings available to me, which was terrific. I liked the food a lot here and I love the atmosphere. It's a great place to dine and enjoy the atmosphere and for a quick service it has a lot of charm to it. I enjoyed my Mahi sandwich a lot and would definitely order it again without hesitation.Overall, I'd give this a solid 7 out of 10. I am looking forward to grabbing breakfast here soon, when I stay at Port Orleans Riverside for a work conference. I do have to say that I think I prefer Sassagoula Floatworks & Food Factory's menu overall, but happily would dine at Riverside Mill again for lunch or dinner.Have you been to Riverside Mill? What did you order there? 

Guest Review -- Studio Catering Co. -- Lunch/Dinner -- Quick Service -- Hollywood Studios

This guest post comes to us from Lindsay, blogger over at Gluten Free Mom To Be. She writes about her recent trip to Disney as a gluten free diner. Lindsay's site has many gluten free resources including tips and information about gluten free pregnancy. If you're looking for Disney content, she also shares trip reviews as well as Gluten Free Guides to Disney Parks on her blog. In this guest post, Lindsay is reviewing Studio Catering Co. at Disney's Hollywood Studios!Almost midway into our summer Disney vacation, the infamous Hollywood Studios Day came around. For anyone that knows my family's history with Disney vacations, we are well known for having any ailments peak on the Hollywood Studios day causing little to no time being spent in that particular park. Well, I'm happy to report that we did indeed thoroughly enjoy Hollywood Studios this trip, however we didn't quite get off Scott free when it came to our vacation sickness. For the time being though I can't wait to regale you on our adventures through Hollywood Studios.We were up nice and early to take advantage of the extra magic hours and ready for the mad dash to the Toy Story ride that ensues at park opening. With a short wait though we made it onto the Toy Story ride, which just so happens to have been in a broken car. So needless to say we were unlucky or lucky enough to be able to ride the Toy Story ride twice in a row first thing in the morning, the first time just for the ride itself and the second for the carnival game fun too.As soon as our Toy Story adventure had ended, we headed over for the group of Tower of Terror riders to use their fastpasses. Although the system for Fastpass+ is a bit chaotic since it's all bright, shiny, and new, I have to say it is quite nice to pre-plan a few of your desired attractions before you even arrive for your vacation.After a short wait with their fastpasses, our family members were out and ready to join us for some more Hollywood Studios fun. We stopped in for a few character meet and greets and then made our way over to snag some passes for the Frozen sing-a-long that afternoon. And finally it was time for us to head over and catch the Disney Junior show, you know the infamous show that we missed last vacation due to my little one's impromptu trip to the Urgent Care center.And let me just say, it was definitely worth the wait, she just loved each and every part of the show including her favorite stars on the stage, the interactive bubbles and streamers coming down from the ceiling, and the live music and dancing all around her, all of which is right up my little one's alley.By the time we had finished with the Disney Junior show it was nearing lunch time and we decided to pop over to the Studio Catering Co. for an early lunch to avoid a little bit of the craziness that never fails to appear at the peak lunch hour. I was third in line at my register and first to place an allergy order with the manager.I knew that the Studio Catering Co. was home to Udi's white sandwich bread, hence making their sandwiches, wraps, and salads all available to the gluten free diner. With a little confirmation from the manager that this was the case, I was so excited that I could choose any sandwich off of their menu. They offer a Sloppy Joe, a Spicy Buffalo Chicken Sandwich, a Chicken Caesar Wrap, a Toasted Tuscan Deli sandwich, Grilled Vegetable Sandwich, Greek Salad, and a Pressed Turkey Club.For me, the Toasted Tuscan Deli sandwich caught my eye which has smoked ham, salami, pepperoni, provolone, pesto-marinated vine ripened tomatoes, and caesar dressing. The manager assured me that everything on here was completely gluten free so I ordered the sandwich as is but without the caesar dressing, which can be a little too fishy for me at times.After ordering my little one's kids meal and my husband's sandwich, my ticket went through and the wait began. It's not completely unusual to wait a bit longer for allergy orders at Disney's quick service locations so I wasn't surprised when the manager forewarned me that the wait could be about 15 minutes.While our little girl slept, my husband switched places up at the counter with me while I stood watch with the stroller and sleeping baby. True to the manager's word, the wait definitely was around 15 minutes or so but completely worth it. As the people began to trickle into the Studio Catering Co. and the lines began to grow, my husband came around the corner with the manager beside him carrying my allergy free tray of food.The sandwich looked DELICIOUS! It was held perfectly intact, thanks to the Udi's gluten free bread, and had layers of Italian yumminess inside, oh yeah and it was accompanied by a generous side of Disney's signature fries. The gluten free bread was lightly toasted with warmed meats, tomatoes, and melted cheese layered inside.The flavors were perfectly combined and would probably have been accented excellently with the caesar dressing, I just like to steer away from caesar dressings. After the first bite, I knew I had found my new favorite Hollywood Studios lunch location. I literally devoured this sandwich, partially because my little one was sleeping and I actually was able to enjoy my hot sandwich hot but mainly because it was just that good.The fries on the side were of course delicious but by far the star of the plate was the sandwich. To go along with my meal, the manager gave me some Enjoy Life Chocolate Chip Cookies which I tossed in our bag for later since there was no room left for any more food after that sandwich.As we finished our lunches, our little girl woke up to enjoy hers. A short while later, with full bellies and some of us being freshly rested, we were off to enjoy the rest of our day in Hollywood Studios.First up was our last fastpass for another round on the Toy Story ride. Next, our show time had rolled around for the Frozen sing-a-long which our little girl LOVED! With some live performers, appearances by Elsa, Anna, and Kristoff, and some scenes and songs from the movie, not to mention some much needed air conditioning for an extended period of time, it was the perfect early afternoon treat for our whole group.Finally, we stopped into the Frozen wonderland where we got to play in a little snow and make our very own Olaf, watch some ice skating, and even get a Mickey pretzel and a bonus Elsa and Anna cookie for our little princess (neither of which were gluten free, tear). Good thing we snagged some treats because while we were enjoying the winter wonderland inside, outside was the signature Orlando downpour. Soon enough the storm had let up and after donning ponchos we trudged through the puddles, grabbed the stroller, and were on our way to see what our third night in Disney World would bring.All together we had a great lunch at Hollywood Studios' Studio Catering Co.. I've already added this location to my itinerary for our next vacation, whenever that may be, and cannot wait to either indulge in the sandwich which I enjoyed this time or maybe try something new. One thing I'd like to recommend though would be to arrange an early lunch here to avoid the crowds and get first dibs on the manager for your allergy order.Have A Magical Day, Lindsay

Mara -- Lunch/Dinner -- Quick Service -- Animal Kingdom Lodge Jambo House

*This dining experience took place in August 2014.The Mara, located in Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge - Jambo House, is one of my favorite quick service locations in the resorts. With African inspired fare, they have a really great variety of options that are also very special diets friendly. It's one of my go-to spots for quick service breakfast (their breakfast potatoes are outstanding), though I also enjoy it for lunch and dinner. On this particular occasion, I stopped by for lunch. I was staying at the Animal Kingdom Lodge for a long weekend, and I had grand plans to sit around the pool, read, and relax. So, having lunch at the Mara was on my short list of things to do.The menu at the Mara has  a lot of traditional offerings, like the ones on the image above from the menu in the restaurant. However, I wanted to check out the African Stew. It had been a very long time since I'd had it and my friend Alexis from Gluten Free in Orlando had raved about the African Stew when she visited recently. I was greeted by Chef Frank who came over from the Boma kitchen (one of the benefits of having the Mara and Boma share many of the same kitchen facilities), and he went over options with me. I knew fairly early on that I was interested in the African Stew, and he let me sample a bit to see if I still wanted to order it. The African stew is made beef, turkey, ham, carrots, potatoes, peas, chickpeas, and raisins - in a coconut milk broth. It is served over Basmatic rice, which means it's a hearty dish.I decided to get that, and I loved that the dish needed no modifications at all for gluten free and dairy free diners. As you can see, the portion is huge. So huge, in fact, that I was unable to finish it. With sweet and salty notes, this dish gives you a lot of different flavors in a small bite. The curry flavor was very mild, so even if you think you might be overwhelmed by curry, I would recommend asking for a sample. It really is an approachable version of this stew. I liked the variety of vegetables and meats in this dish, and I equally enjoyed the hint of sweetness from the raisins and the coconut milk. It was subtle but definitely there. Overall, I really enjoyed the African Stew. It was something different to order outside of the typical allergy chicken tenders that I so often order there and at other quick service locations. It would be the perfect entree for a cool winter day in Florida (and yes, we do get those) or a filling dinner. I would definitely order this one again!A solid 7 out of 10 for this dining experience for great flavors and a naturally gluten free and dairy free dish. Have you been to the Mara? Have you tried the African Stew? What are your favorite dishes to order at this quick service location? 

Guest Review -- Disney World with Special Dietary Needs Trip Recap Day 2

This series of guests posts comes from reader Kathleen. Her love of Disney and passion for bringing awareness to special dietary needs on her college campus makes her the perfect guest writer for Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW. I’ve been following along on her college journey where she blogs about dining at college with special diets. Check out this great article on allergy friendly dining that she wrote last fall for her campus. Thanks again, Kathleen, for taking us along on your Disney special diets journey! (if you aren’t hungry, you will be after you read these reports)I’ve broken up Kathleen’s posts, and today we’re checking out her last days at Disney World on her vacation. You can catch days 1-3 on her previous post, and you can also recap with her visit to Universal Studios Orlando on her previous guest post! Hi everyone! My name is Kathleen and I’m currently a senior at NC State University in Raleigh. A few years ago, I found out about several food allergies that I have (gluten, corn, dairy, tomatoes, apples and peanuts) and ever since then, I’ve been on the lookout for new and exciting foods to try. Disney is a big deal in our family, and on our annual trip each summer, we love eating at new restaurants to mix things up. This was my third Disney trip with allergies, but my first without dairy, since I found out about that only a year ago.Day #3 – 7/23On Wednesday, we didn’t have any dining reservations for once, so we ended up having a big lunch at Whispering Canyons Café in between MGM – errr, Hollywood Studios – and Magic Kingdom. This time, Chef Angela helped me out. She said that she could do plain pulled pork for me (unlike the other night), and that she had a gluten and corn free bun in the kitchen that I could have to make a sandwich. I was going to order the sweet potato fries and coleslaw, but after checking the ingredients, she ended up making my coleslaw with balsamic vinegar and olive oil (the regular one had apple juice), and a cucumber-dill salad, both of which were great. That sandwich was huge, but not to worry – I polished off the entire thing!The bagel that she gave me for the bun was also very good, but she later told me that it was an Udi’s bagel. Since I ended up having another skin flare up later that day, I checked the ingredients that night and corn syrup solids was one of them. I’m not sure why two different chefs (this one and Margaritaville) who were so adamant about the bread not having corn, would overlook that. However, the experience was still really good.That night we were all set to watch the Spectromagic Parade at 11 (wayyyy past my normal bedtime of 9 PM – look at me staying up!), and I used that opportunity to try out the Rice Dream ice cream at the ice cream parlor on Main St. When I ordered, the cashier asked if it was an allergy or a preference, and when I told him it was an allergy, he got one of the servers to put it in a cup instead of a cone. Pretty impressive for a quick service stop.The ice cream itself had an interesting flavor – I liked it, but not as much as the So Delicious coconut milk ice cream I get at home. Still, I’m glad I got to try it. Unfortunately, right after I sat down with my ice cream, they announced that the parade was cancelled due to the one drop of rain that had apparently hit someone. Well, just kidding…there was supposed to be an impending storm that never ended up happening, so for the first time in forever, we were unable to see the parade. Oh well!Day #4 – 7/24Thursday was our “day off” from the parks. Usually on these days we’ll hang out at the pool for a while before moseying on over to Downtown Disney to shop and eat dinner. This year, I convinced my family to try out Whispering Canyons Café for a third time – breakfast! I was happy to see Chef Angela again, and she remembered me from the day before (regular, at last!).Now, there were two things that I was on a mission to find and try before leaving Disney. One of them was the famous allergy Mickey waffles. Chef Angela said that there were two types of batter – one with corn and one without. The batter also has applesauce. Usually they mix the two batters together for the allergy waffles, but she was able to make me Mickey waffles with no corn and no apples, and with pure maple syrup and earth balance butter on the side! She told me that the waffles were lighter in color and had a different flavor due to the lack of applesauce, but honestly, I wouldn’t have known the difference. They were fantastic! I stayed away from the earth balance since I knew it had corn in it, but the waffles and syrup were so good, I didn’t miss it. The waffles also came with bacon or sausage. I was in a bacon mood (who isn’t?), and let me tell you, the chefs at Whispering Canyon know how to cook their bacon. It was perfectly crispy – just how I like it.Later that evening, after soaking up some rays by the pool and going on an impromptu bike ride to the campgrounds, we took the bus to Downtown Disney to eat dinner at Raglan Road. Originally, I was planning on getting the gluten free fish and chips or chicken curry with an appetizer of onion rings (provided that the batter was corn free). Unfortunately, the onion rings were not dairy free so I couldn’t get those. (*Note from Sarah: These have been dairy free in the past; however, ingredients and recipes do change, so it's important to always check with a manager or chef when you dine at a restaurant at Disney)This was not my week for curry, because it contained at least one of my allergens. Three strikes and it was out. In the end, I ordered the butternut squash “Raglan Risotto” because I love butternut squash, and it was something unexpected. Plus, the fries looked like steak fries and I’m not a huge fan of those, so I was unsure about the fish and chips. The risotto was really good – it was super creamy. I’m not sure how they got it to taste like that without milk or cream, but I liked it. The pear cider was also good. It’s possible that the risotto was too creamy to be true, however, because I ended up having a really bad skin reaction right after dinner. (*Note from Sarah: in the past this has been the restaurant's default vegan dish; always check with a manager or chef when you dine at a Disney restaurant for current ingredient listings, as products and recipes can change). Overall, I think this was my worst experience during my week at Disney. Not to say that it was awful, because the waitress was really nice and attentive to my allergies, but it was a little hard to hear and I wish I could have spoken with the chef since there ended up being some sort of cross contamination or unwanted ingredient in my dinner. Next time, I think I’ll try the fish and chips and hopefully that will work out better.Day #5 – 7/25On Friday, our only reservation was at Crystal Palace and it was an early dinner. The rest of my family had gelato in Italy, and I just brought a snack from the hotel to tide me over between breakfast and dinner. Normally we do a lot more character meet and greets, but this ended up being the only one we did this year!The chef was great – she took me around the buffet to show me what was okay for me to eat, and said that she could prepare a couple of the hot bar vegetables plain for me. Remember when I said I was on a mission for two specific things? Well, the allergy chicken tenders were the second. I knew that Crystal Palace offered them, so I asked the chef if she could make those for me. She said that was not a problem, and that she would bring those out with the vegetables. I was able to try the sweet potato salad (!!), beet salad, and cucumber/pickled ginger salad from the salad bar. They were all good. You know I love sweet potatoes, and I’m also a fan of beets and fermented vegetables so it was a good appetizer.I was very excited for my entrée to come out. The colors on the plate were so pretty I almost didn’t want to mess up the food. Ha! Yeah right! I haven’t had chicken fingers in quite a while, and these were definitely worth all of the hype I’ve been reading about them.After bringing that out, the chef told me there was rice dream and a chocolate brownie that I could have, and she brought those out for me for dessert. I already knew what the rice dream was like, but that chocolate brownie was the bomb. In the words of Princess Anna, I wanted to stuff some chocolate in my face, and I did. Just more gracefully. I think Crystal Palace was the best experience I had during the trip – those chicken tenders and brownie sealed the deal!Day #6 – 7/26The last day of the trip is always sad for our family, but luckily we’re so busy enjoying the parks that we don’t really realize it until we’re in bed. Our last dinner reservation was at Hollywood and Vine in Hollywood Studios. I’ve come to realize that I prefer buffets for dining with allergies because I can see what’s available and know what it is instead of just reading a name off of a menu.The chef, Chef Trevor, was very nice. He was surprisingly young, and cute too! This buffet had a lot more protein options that were safe (as opposed to Crystal Palace), so I had the carved turkey. I also got the steamed broccoli, and broccoli salad from the buffet. The chef brought me some plain green beans and plantains (twice in one week, what up!) that I could eat as well. Not to sound like a broken record, but everything was delicious. That broccoli salad was so good, I went back for seconds! I love mixing fruit and nuts into my salads, and the combination of broccoli, soy nuts and cranberries worked really well.The allergy brownie at this place was made with corn flour, so I couldn’t have that, but Chef Trevor brought me out a bowl of So Delicious Coconut ice cream. I’ve never had the coconut flavored one before, and I think it’s my new favorite! To make it even better, I topped it with an enjoy life cookie that I brought from the hotel. Ta da! Cookie Sundae.Overall, this trip to Disney was fabulous. I got to spend time with my family, eat good food, and hang out in the happiest, most allergy friendly, and my personal favorite, place in the world – Walt Disney World! Now I just need to grow three inches so I can be a princess and I’ll be set. All I can say is, thanks to Sarah for letting me share my experience with you all. I had a wonderful time and I’m so excited to see what’s in store for next year!A huge thank you to Kathleen for her great trip report! If you want to learn more about Kathleen’s experiences as a college student with special dietary needs, you’ll get that chance at the upcoming Food Allergy & Celiac Convention held at Disney World on November 22, 2014.

Guest Review — Disney World with Special Dietary Needs Trip Recap Day 1

This series of guests posts comes from reader Kathleen. Her love of Disney and passion for bringing awareness to special dietary needs on her college campus makes her the perfect guest writer for Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW. I’ve been following along on her college journey where she blogs about dining at college with special diets. Check out this great article on allergy friendly dining that she wrote last fall for her campus. Thanks again, Kathleen, for taking us along on your Disney special diets journey! (if you aren’t hungry, you will be after you read these reports)I’ve broken up Kathleen’s posts, and today we’re checking out her first few days at Disney World. You can also recap with her visit to Universal Studios Orlando on her previous guest post! Hi everyone! My name is Kathleen and I’m currently a senior at NC State University in Raleigh. A few years ago, I found out about several food allergies that I have (gluten, corn, dairy, tomatoes, apples and peanuts) and ever since then, I’ve been on the lookout for new and exciting foods to try. Disney is a big deal in our family, and on our annual trip each summer, we love eating at new restaurants to mix things up. This was my third Disney trip with allergies, but my first without dairy, since I found out about that only a year ago.Disney Day #1 – 7/21After lunch at Bubba Gump’s, we packed up the car and headed over to the Wilderness Lodge to begin our Disney vacation. We hadn’t been to that hotel in over 10 years, and it was fun to go back.We had a reservation at the Whispering Canyon Café in the lobby of the hotel. Having done my research (on GFDFWDW of course!) on all of the restaurants we had reservations at for the week, including this one, I had a basic idea of what was okay for me to eat. I was looking forward to the family style platter that Sarah reviewed in her post a while back, but no one else wanted it so we ended up each getting our own entrée.The service was great. When the waiter found out about my allergies, he sent for the chef to come talk to me while he took everyone’s orders. Chef Williere came out and asked me what I was thinking of ordering. I told him that I really like pulled pork, and asked him if I could get that with the grilled vegetables. He said he would check on the gluten free sauce to make sure it was corn free, and I told him that the roasted chicken would be my back up. A few moments later, he came back to inform me that the gluten free pulled pork sauce had corn starch in it, so I ended up with the chicken. I’m glad I did, because it was the best chicken I’ve ever had. It was cooked just right, and the skin was perfection. The charred bits are always my favorite part and there were plenty. It was like half a chicken though, so I was able to bring my leftovers back to the room to eat for breakfast the next day.After we finished dinner, Chef Williere came back out to ask me about dessert. Like I said, I did my research, and I told him that my friend Sarah recommended the gluten and dairy free chocolate cake. He chuckled when I asked about it and regrettably informed me that I had to call ahead, so I wasn’t able to get that. Oh well. He told me that he’d go figure something out and surprise me. Boy, did he ever.I was expecting a pack of those enjoy life chocolate chip cookies, and I would have been completely happy with that, but he came out with a blueberry cobbler topped with berry sorbet and fresh berries. It was incredible. I couldn’t believe that it didn’t have any of my allergens in it, and told him just that. He laughed and said he was glad I liked it and to tell Sarah hello and to come visit him (just in case you forgot, Sarah! Haha). I was so impressed with this restaurant, and I convinced my mom that we had to try their breakfast and lunch if we could (which you will read about shortly – I was persuasive).Day #2 – 7/22Tuesday was our first day at the parks! It was also our first time using the magic bands and the fast pass plus system. Now, over the years, we have mastered our Disney schedules and ride orders down to an art (while planning our parks around which restaurants we go to – we’re Italian, we have our priorities). We know exactly when to get to certain rides, and what order to go on those rides to make the most of our trips. With the new system, we were even more efficient. We actually ended up having a lot more time than we thought, which means we’ll be re-strategizing for next year. Woo!Anyways, we started off at Animal Kingdom. I was particularly excited for this park because of the new Allergy Friendly Kiosk that opened up. We were planning on just getting some sort of snack since we had early dinner reservations at Epcot, but since we had just recently signed up for the Landry restaurants membership, we decided to use that to get a discount at the Yak and Yeti.As always, our server was great. He was really nice, and sent the chef out to speak to me very quickly. I actually had a lot of options, which was nice. I almost got the seafood curry (again with the curry!) but since it was a zillion degrees outside, and the curry was a large portion, and we had an early dinner reservation, I instead decided to go with the chicken lettuce boats appetizer. It was really good, and such a simple meal – I’ll definitely be making it at home. It was basically just stir-fried ground chicken mixed with a variety of vegetables that I could scoop into lettuce wraps and top with gluten free hoisin sauce and sriracha!My family ended up trying the famous fried wontons for dessert, but I knew I had a bounty of sugary options waiting for me at the allergy kiosk, so we headed there on the way out so I could get some goodies to go.I was very impressed with all of the options there. They had four Babycakes items: mini cupcakes, chocolate donuts, cinnamon donuts, and chocolate chip cookies. They also had boxes of enjoy life soft-baked cookies, rice chips and cakes, surf sweets gummies, raw granola bars, fresh fruit, hummus and veggies, and pints of Tofutti ice cream. Wow! I ended up getting one of each Babycakes item because I can’t get them in North Carolina, and because, you know, baked goods. Those cookies were the first to go, and the best chocolate chip cookies ever. I was so happy to eat them, as you can see. I spread the other three items out for the rest of the week. I don’t think I’ve eaten a donut in three years, and they were so yummy!That night, we dined at Teppan Edo, the Japanese steakhouse in Epcot’s World Showcase. I ate there on my first allergy friendly Disney trip, so I looked forward to going back. This was my first trip after turning 21 in December, so I ordered the Takara plum wine. It was really sweet, but I’m not a big alchohol fan so that was a-okay with me.The manager told me that I could get any of the entrees made without noodles, with white rice instead of the beef rice, and without any of the dipping sauces. They also provided me with gluten free soy sauce. The service was also really good. They offered to cook my food in the back instead of on the grill in front of us, but since they clean the grills very well in between each table, I told them that I’d be fine if they just cooked my food before everyone else’s. I was a little wary because the last time I went there, I ended up with a really bad stomachache, which has also happened after eating chipotle burrito bowls, so this time I decided to stay away from the rice (the common ingredient). I ordered the scallops and vegetables, and I was completely fine. I’m not sure if it was the rice or the sauce that was such a problem three years ago (pre-dairy allergy), but I’m glad that I didn’t have the same issue again. Plus, the scallops were great!Are you hungry now? Stay tuned for Kathleen's last trip report guest post which recaps days 3-6 of her Disney vacation! If you want to learn more about Kathleen’s experiences as a college student with special dietary needs, you’ll get that chance at the upcoming Food Allergy & Celiac Convention held at Disney World on November 22, 2014.

Guest Review -- Universal Studios Orlando

This series of guests posts comes from reader Kathleen. Her love of Disney and passion for bringing awareness to special dietary needs on her college campus makes her the perfect guest writer for Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW. I've been following along on her college journey where she blogs about dining at college with special diets. Check out this great article on allergy friendly dining that she wrote last fall for her campus. Thanks again, Kathleen, for taking us along on your Disney special diets journey! (if you aren't hungry, you will be after you read these reports)I've broken up Kathleen's posts, and today we're checking out her review of Universal Studios Orlando! Hi everyone! My name is Kathleen and I’m currently a senior at NC State University in Raleigh. A few years ago, I found out about several food allergies that I have (gluten, corn, dairy, tomatoes, apples and peanuts) and ever since then, I’ve been on the lookout for new and exciting foods to try. Disney is a big deal in our family, and on our annual trip each summer, we love eating at new restaurants to mix things up. This was my third Disney trip with allergies, but my first without dairy, since I found out about that only a year ago.Universal Studios 7/19-7/21We started out our trip at Universal Studios, to celebrate my younger sister’s recent high school graduation. I’ve had wonderful allergy service at Disney, so I was excited to compare it to that of Universal’s restaurants. I figured I’d include reviews of these places as well, since a lot of people travel to both parks.After arriving at the Hard Rock Hotel on Saturday night, we ventured over to City Walk to eat dinner at Pat O’Brien’s. I’m not sure if it was Cajun or Irish themed – it seemed to be a mix of both – but the menu looked good either way. It had a cool atmosphere too – we were seated in the “piano room,” where a very entertaining lady took requests and performed all kinds of songs.They did not have a gluten free/allergy menu, but I let the server know about my allergies and she checked with the kitchen to see what I could have. Dining gluten free is becoming easier due to the increased awareness of gluten allergies and Celiac disease, but the corn allergy makes things a little more difficult. When the waitress came back, she told me I could get green beans and either grilled meat or a hamburger patty. I ended up ordering grilled chicken and green beans. It was good, but not anything special. I was a little disappointed with the limited options, but I still enjoyed what I ordered.The next day, after seeing the amazing new Diagon Alley and braving the Escape from Gringotts ride (after a 1.5 hour wait – not too bad, considering it opened two weeks prior!), we took a break for lunch and ate at a favorite of my dad’s (and mine), Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville. Having been here before, I knew that they had a gluten free menu so I was able to look at that and had a lot more options than the previous night.The server was extremely helpful. She noticed my menu, and asked if I had any questions about it. I asked her about the bread, since a lot of gluten free bread has corn products in it. She checked with the chef, and came back to let me know that it was corn-free! I ordered the Key West blackened fish sandwich, which came topped with cilantro cole slaw. Since the restaurant used soybean oil and a dedicated fryer, I could also get sweet potato fries! I was happy because sweet potatoes are one of my favorite foods of all time.The sandwich was delicious and the bun was so good! I’m normally not much of a bread person, just because I can’t have many gluten free brands, but this was great. It wasn’t too dry, which was nice. I asked the server what brand it was, and she told me it was Udi’s. I was surprised because normally I can’t have Udi’s baked products because they have corn derivatives in them, but she told me the bun was corn free so I thought that maybe Udi’s changed their recipe.Unfortunately, I ended up having a skin flare up later in the day, and when I looked at the ingredients online, the buns still had cornstarch, maltodextrin and xanthan gum. If it’s a small enough amount, it won’t bother me, but in this case, it was enough to provoke a reaction. Boo. I guess I’ll still have to continue my search for the perfect gluten and corn free bun. That night, we ate at Bob Marley: A Tribute to Freedom. This place was really cool. I’m not a huge Bob Marley fan, but it was still a fun place to try. Plus, I love Caribbean food, so yay! The restaurant did not have a gluten free menu, but I was eyeing the Jamaican Curry, since I know a lot of curries are gluten and dairy free. When I told the very friendly, very dreadlocked server about my allergies and asked about the curry, he checked with chef and told me the curry was out because it was cooked with tomatoes (unlike the Indian and Thai curries I’m used to making at home – I just made a mental note to make a me-friendly version ASAP when I got home).Just like Pat O’Brien’s, the only options for me were grilled chicken or fish. I ended up ordering grilled Mahi. (Instead of the Mahi Mahi, can I just have the one Mahi? Because I’m not feeling that hungry) However, I was super stoked to learn that the yucca fries and plantains were safe for me to eat. Now, I love plantains more than any other fruit. In fact, they are probably my favorite fruit. Give me plantains, and I’ll be your best friend. And THESE plantains came topped with shredded coconut. My two favorite foods combined? Done. Heaven. Forget an engagement ring, a guy could propose to me with that side dish and I’d be sold. The fish was really good too. It was perfectly seasoned, and was especially delicious after I added the scotch bonnet pepper sauce. Overall, I was sad that I didn’t have many options, but not too sad, because what I could get was awesome.The next day, we were all set to leave Universal and head over to Disney World! After checking out, we walked over to have lunch at Bubba Gump’s Shrimp Co. I’ve never seen Forrest Gump (don’t judge me!), so some of the significance was totally lost on me, but I had a great experience nonetheless. I was excited to see that they had a gluten free menu! Plus, the service was incredible.Our server was so nice, and extremely funny. He cracked me up when he asked me, concerned, what I do for desserts. I told him, not to worry, dessert is obviously the most important meal of the day, and I made it my priority to find some kind of sweet treat whenever I could. I ended up ordering the pear and berry salad with grilled shrimp and no cheese. Since the glazed pecans that normally topped the salad were cooked with heavy cream, our waiter offered to bring me plain pecans. Even better, he told me that they make their salad dressings in house, from scratch, so there were no corn syrup or corn products in the raspberry vinaigrette dressing. I was glad, too, because that dressing tasted just like melted raspberry sorbet. Dee-licious.Universal was not as allergy friendly as Disney, but I definitely enjoyed what I ordered. Margaritaville and Bubba Gump’s were the best of the four places we tried, probably because they are chain restaurants and are better equipped to deal with food allergies.Stay tuned for Kathleen's review of Disney World! If you want to learn more about Kathleen's experiences as a college student with special dietary needs, you'll get that chance at the upcoming Food Allergy & Celiac Convention held at Disney World on November 22, 2014.

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

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

Tamu Tamu -- Lunch/Dinner -- Quick Service -- Animal Kingdom

*This dining experience took place in June 2014. Nestled in Harambe in Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park lies Tamu Tamu. Serving up quick service fare with an African twist, this restaurant has a limited menu with a few special diets offerings. They also have recently added a Pineapple Soft Serve which many have been wondering is a full fledged Dole Whip.This was the first time I've ever dined at Tamu Tamu, and I wasn't sure what offerings were going to be available to me. I didn't get a chance to pop by the Garden Kiosk (aka Food Allergy Information Kiosk) in Discovery Island, but I have to say that it's my go-to when looking at quick service in the Animal Kingdom outside of my staple dining spots.As you can see by the menu, it is rather limited in terms of offerings. I'm actually slightly bummed because they did have two dishes previously served that might have been gluten free & dairy free and actually sounded quite yummy:

• Slow-cooked Chicken Curry - mild African-spiced chicken curry served over Jasmine rice
• Vegetarian Curry - roasted vegetables and tofu served with Jasmine rice

These have now been removed and the menu has been replaced with more traditional offerings that were actually on the menu before the curry dishes were added. I was hoping that they might be able to serve house-made chips gluten free & dairy free too (which I've heard rave things about).When I arrived, the cast member at the cash register gave me the allergy binder to look at. I asked if I could speak with a manager, and she was a bit hesitant to get them, noting that the binder had the information; however, she did not know if there was a dedicated fryer for the chips or other substitutions for dishes.Once the manager came out, he went over some of the options for me, which were relatively limited. The quinoa salad sounded good but it does have feta in it. I settled on the Roasted Chicken Salad - diced chicken and dried fruit blended with mild African spices, served with tomatoes, and apple slices. It normally comes with pita but they served it to me without it. I also asked if they had any substitutions for the apple slices, and the only other option is carrot sticks (both pre-packaged). I personally prefer grapes, but that is partially because I have some issues with apples and having Crohn's disease.During the time while I waited for the manager I took the time to check out the DOLE Pineapple Soft Serve ingredients. I kept hearing that this was not gluten free, let alone dairy free, and I was definitely curious. Thankfully, both the ingredients and the team at DOLE Soft Serve have reached out to me for clarification and ingredients (and good news for us special diets folks!)Here are the ingredients (photo taken with permission of the cast member) of the Pineapple Dole Whip at this location.The best image I got was a little blurry. However, thanks to the team at DOLE Soft Serve, here is the ingredients list from their website. The allergen noted at Tamu Tamu Refreshments is coconut. You can compare the ingredients photo from January 2013 here on the site, and the Pineapple Dole Whip ingredients are the same. DOLE Soft Serve's website notes: Fat-free. Dairy-free. Gluten-free. And Lactose-free, and suitable for a Vegan diet. DOLE Soft Serve is manufactured by Kent Precision Foods Group. You can find out more information from the DOLE Soft Serve website. Thank you again to the team at DOLE Soft Serve for the detailed information!I did not inquire about dedicated soft serve machines at Tamu Tamu Refreshments or if any other flavors of soft serve were present, so readers will want to check with cast members about this, particularly for dairy in vanilla and chocolate flavors (if they are served at this location, which I cannot confirm at this time). Once I got my chicken salad, we grabbed a seat in the Tamu Tamu eating area which is quite lovely and peaceful. I have to say, in the summer though...it's pretty hot! Thank goodness it's slightly shaded and covered. On top of that the chicken salad was really refreshing on a hot day.As far as tastes goes, the chicken salad was just OK. I was did enjoy the bright flavors and the dried fruit. I was hoping (as a fan of curry and African spices) that the flavors would be more pronounced but they were definitely very mild. Don't be afraid to order this if spice isn't your thing. This tasted like a regular chicken salad with some dried fruit in it.One of the things I might have to get the next time I'm there is the fruit salad served in a half of a pineapple. Not only is it a huge portion but the fruit variety is awesome and it looks really refreshing. And anything in a pineapple is OK by me!Overall, I wasn't wowed by Tamu Tamu but was glad that they had at least an option that I could get. I can't say I would frequent this location and will likely stick to staples like Flame Tree BBQ or Restaurantosaurus. To read about Tamu Tamu from a non-special diets perspective, check out Jambo Everyone's blog post.I'd give this a 6 out of 10 for a few, but limited options.Have you been to Tamu Tamu? Will you go there to check out the pineapple Dole Whip?

Pinocchio Village Haus New Menu Updates

*This information was valid as of June 2014. I consulted with a manager at this location but chose not to dine there due to limited choices.Nestled in Fantasyland, Pinocchio Village Haus is a quaint quick service restaurant with tons of seating and great atmosphere. With a view of Small World from some of the seating area, you can't help but feel immersed in the Disney magic when you are there.As a gluten free and dairy free diner, I haven't eaten at Pinocchio Village Haus in years. The menu has always seemed fairly limited for those of us with special dietary needs, so it hasn't been high on my list to revisit. However, with the recent refurbishment of the restaurant, I was curious to see if any of the menu offerings had changed.On this particular occasion, I popped by earlier in the day, around 11 a.m. It was already busy. This place is popular! In looking at the menu, I could see that it consisted primarily of flatbread pizzas. Not really so much my speed but I thought I'd see what they could do.I happened to catch a manager very quickly during my arrival, and she met me over by the cash register. There she got out the allergy binder and started going over options. I had mentioned that someone posted to Twitter that they had enjoyed the Caprese Flatbread gluten free (not dairy free), and I asked if that was possible dairy free too. According to her, she said it was not available for either gluten free only or gluten free & dairy free diners. She said my options were the following:

• Gluten free (and also dairy free option) pepperoni pizza
• Gluten free (and also dairy free option) cheese pizza
• Mediterranean Salad with non-dairy cheese

She said these were my only options and also suggested that I go to Columbia Harbour House or Be Our Guest Restaurant if I wanted more of a variety (which I agreed with). With that in my, I opted not to eat lunch here. On the way out I did take a few photos of the lovely interior.As you can see, the restaurant is really charming. I wish that they had more options here for special diets diners. It is nice to know though that they do have a few options and that they do carry a non-dairy cheese (at the time of this review Tofutti Soy Cheese). However, if you're dining in the Magic Kingdom, I would recommend Columbia Harbour House, Be Our Guest, or Pecos Bill Tall Tale Cafe & Inn for quick service lunch.Have you been to Pinocchio Village Haus either before the new menu updates or after? What kinds of special diets offerings were you able to get?

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

*This dining experience took place in June 2014.Hear ye, Hear ye! Columbia Harbour House is one of my top go-to quick service locations on Disney property. With it's special diets menus and nice variety of options, including healthful ones, Columbia Harbour House makes for a great spot in the Magic Kingdom to grab a meal.It's been a while since I've done a review, mostly because I tend to order just the allergy chicken tenders here. However, on this most recent visit, I split a couple of entrees with family and ordered a new dish.On this particular occasion, we stopped by for a late lunch right before the typical Florida summer afternoon thundershowers hit. It was a great thing we did because we avoided the massive storm and got into the restaurant, ordered and were seated before the floods of guests came through (which always happens during rain).When I approached the cast member at the cash register, I let them know that I have special dietary needs. What's nice about Columbia Harbour House is that they give you a special diets menu before the manager comes out to meet you. This is so very handy because it gives you a sense of what you might or might not be able to order. Of course, the manager always has the allergy/ingredients binder on hand to refer to as well, especially if your special dietary need is not covered on the menu.I decided to get my standby allergy chicken tenders and fries along with the Garden Harvest Salad with chicken and Zinfandel dressing. It was a hot day out, so the salad seemed like a great idea to split. It looks to me like the salad doesn't need really any modifications as is straight off the menu, so it's nice they have a naturally gluten free and dairy free option at the restaurant.I have said it before, and I will say it again. Columbia Harbour House sure knows how to fry food! They have the hands down best fried allergy chicken tenders on property. They always come out so crispy and delicious. I can't say a bad thing about the tenders and fries. They are delicious!As far as salads go, everyone who tried this thought it was just so-so. Not a terrible salad but not great either. The accompaniments were a little weird. It was lettuce, lots of carrots (as you can see), steamed green beans, raw red bell peppers and grilled chicken. The salad dressing, while good, was given to us in a very small portion, so next time I would ask for more. The salad was certainly fresh, but I will probably skip this and stick to my chicken tenders from now on. Or get a salad from someplace like Hollywood Brown Derby for their famous (and delicious) Cobb salad. I'm a big fan of it, and I know Alexis from Gluten Free in Orlando enjoys it as well!Overall, I think the allergy chicken tenders will continue to be my go-to meal at Columbia Harbour House. I'm curious to try the grilled salmon with steamed broccoli sometime for something different. I give this particular experience a 7.5 out of 10.Have you been to Columbia Harbour House? Are you as big of a fan of the allergy chicken tenders as I am?

Liberty Square Market -- Snacks -- Quick Service -- Magic Kingdom

*This dining experience took place in June 2014.Hear ye, hear ye! Liberty Square Market located in Liberty Square at the Magic Kingdom is a surprisingly great choice for special diets diners to grab a quick bite to eat. With standard grab and go options along with special diets pre-packaged products and a few unique treats, this is a must-do for those looking for a snack or a treat. From the exterior, Liberty Square Market might not look like it would have much, and it can also be easily overlooked. Situated in between the Hall of Presidents, Liberty Tree Tavern, Columbia Harbour House, and the Haunted Mansion, it's outdoor seating and atmosphere will make you feel like you've gone back in time to colonial New England.When you enter the market, you'll notice lots of grab and go stations as well as a main ordering station that display Liberty Square Market's most unique offering - the popular baked potato. This is the perfect substantial snack or light lunch for a special diets diner. These are served salt crusted and do not have any toppings added to them unless requested. This means if you're non-dairy like me, you can bring a non-dairy substitute with you and top it on your potato. If you're gluten free and can have dairy, ask for butter and sour cream.Under $4, the baked potatoes also count as a snack on the Disney Dining Plan!Perhaps the coolest part of Liberty Square Market is that they have an entire section devoted to special dietary needs and products. Yay! These include:

• Varieties of Lundberg Rice Chips
• Surf Sweets
• Rocky Mountain Caramel Corn
• OMG It's Gluten Free Brownies
• OMG It's Gluten & Dairy Free Chocolate Chip Cookies
• Enjoy Life Crunchy Cookies

Note that not all of these items cover all allergens or special dietary needs. For instance, OMG It's Gluten Free Brownies contain dairy.The location also carries fresh fruits and vegetables - some whole fruit (like bananas and apples) and others in packages, like apple slices.Overall, Liberty Square Market has an abundance of great choices for special diets diners visiting the Magic Kingdom. From sweets to fresh fruits and veggies, there is a nice variety to choose from.Have you been to Liberty Square Market? What's your go-to snack from this quick service location?