Having Celiac Disease is hard; being on vacation with Celiac Disease can be a nightmare. For those of you who don’t know what Celiac Disease is or why it may be a pain, the easiest explanation is that I cannot eat gluten, which is in everything. Gluten can be found in bread, pasta, soups, sauces, and bakery goods. You can imagine how this may make a vacation difficult.
Well Disney makes it everything but difficult. Disney was the first place that I had a gluten free meal, and nowhere since stands up to their variety and service.
The first gluten free meal I had at Walt Disney World was at the Sci-fi Dine In. The chef came to my table and asked me what I wanted, anything I wanted. I was so caught off guard by being given such a wide range of choice that I had no clue what I wanted. After seeing my astonishment he began listing things. He said French fries and immediately I said yes. Normally I cannot have French fries because the fryer usually is used to fry other things with gluten in them. He then mentioned a turkey sandwich and milk shake, my mouth watered in anticipation. Shortly after my dinner arrived. It was everything I dreamed it could be. A normal size sandwich, not the little bread slices that you can get in the frozen section, and a mountain of fries. I ate the entire thing!
At Olivia’s Café at the Old Key West Resort I can get a gluten free egg sandwich for breakfast that is delicious and not something I can get everywhere. Or at the Whispering Canyon Café at the Wilderness Lodge they make amazing gluten free corn bread, which isn’t always the easiest thing to find. If you want to go to a character dinner you can go to the 1900 Park Fare in the Grand Floridian Resort and Spa. There a chef walked me around pointing out all of the gluten free options and then offered to make me a gluten free salmon of my own that would come straight out of the kitchen!
And did I mention the desserts? Even most of the quick service places have gluten free desert options. They’ve made me gluten free brownie sundaes, gluten free cookies, and lots and lots of ice cream (my personal favorite).
Disney has made it so easy for me to eat on vacation and know that I’m safe. There is such a variety of food at all the dining locations that I can really eat what I’m in the mood for rather then just what they have. Disney makes vacations easy for everyone. I know that when I think vacation I automatically think Disney because I know I will be able to eat amazing food and not get sick. So next time you’re worried about what you’ll be able to eat if you have an allergy you can breath easier knowing that Disney will take care of you. So try new food, indulge in the food you love, and enjoy the pixie dust that Disney has to offer.
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Jess was born and raised on Long Island, New York but once college began so did her adventures. She’s lived in Florida, Wisconsin, and now South Carolina. Her family is part of the Disney Vacation Club and has been visiting since she was a little girl, and continuously goes every year. Besides being a big Disney fan she has also been a Disney Cast Member working in Magic Kingdom, and she counts it as one of the most magical experiences. She worked with everyone’s favorite elephant Dumbo, Cinderella’s Carousel, and Mickey’s Philharmagic. Jess has also visited Disneyland, Disney’s Vero Beach Resort, and gone on two Disney Cruises. She has so many great memories from Disney besides running half marathons and 5ks, birthday parties, and family reunions. If asked where she would want to go it is almost always Disney, and when asked why, it is almost always because she can eat awesome gluten free food! And it doesn’t hurt that there is always faith, trust, and pixie dust with magic in the air!
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As someone who is allergic to grains (including rice), I love going to Disney restaurants. I remember I started to cry once in Le Cellier (fast dash to the bathroom) because the chef went so above and beyond to make me a great and safe meal!
Shutters at the Caribbean was one of the first times I had a chef say, anything you want, I can make it!
A lot of gluten free bread items contain rice so I can’t have them but the gluten free brownies are great and are in most of the food court or food shopping areas at the resorts.
I do all my own cooking and going to WDW is such a respite from being in my kitchen!
Thanks so much for sharing Gaylin! I have heard from many people that Disney is one of the best places around for those with food allergies!
Best gluten free cornbread:
Cornbread
400° – 20 minutes, 1 10 inch cast iron skillet (if you don’t have a skillet, use a 9×9 pan and don’t preheat it)
1 egg
1 1/2 cups plain yogurt
1/2 cup water
2 tbsp melted butter (or oil)
1 1/2 cups yellow or white cornflour
1/2 cup coarse ground cornmeal
1 tsp each, salt and baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder (I skip this as I can ‘taste’ baking powder & don’t like it)
Optional: if you want a sweeter cornbread add up to 1/2 cup sugar (I usually add 2 tbsp)
Optional: 1 tbsp molasses
Preheat oven to 400°
Mix wet ingredients in one bowl.
Mix dry ingredients in another.
Oil & wipe clean a 10 cast iron inch skillet. Put in hot oven for 10 minutes.
When pan is hot, mix the wet & dry ingredients together. Pour a bit of oil in the pan and swirl around. Pour in batter and bake. 20 minutes.