Her entry was randomly drawn from all of the Disney food allergy reviews we received from readers, some of whom sent us multiple reviews.

We’re going to continue the contest for May!

Every quick review you send will become an entry for the random drawing, so please share as many as possible. It really helps other people with food allergies plan their Disney vacation.

We occasionally receive a few that we can’t really consider as reviews. We like to share the full experience; tell us about the restaurant, why you chose it and about the service, especially as it relates to food allergies. Include  a picture, if you want. If you send us a review that isn’t about a great experience, please include as many details as possible. We occasionally receive reviews that are mediocre or even bad, however, we need to know the details in order to help learn from the experience. We want the good and the bad reviews, but details make the difference and help the next reader make their plans.

Send us your Disney food allergy quick reviews and you could be our next winner!

The drawing will occur in early June and we’ll publish the winner online again.

We first started the website for 2 reasons:

1. Even with Disney’s help (via the fabulous Special Diets team) and food handling processes, it was still incredibly difficult to plan a Disney World trip. In fact, it’s difficult to plan without the added complication of a food allergy.
2. Disney doesn’t promote their Special Diets process. So many of us with food allergies aren’t even aware that Disney can help you take a true vacation, in ways no other vacation destination can. We still encounter people in the park who either don’t know about it or didn’t find out until they arrived!

We’d love to hear more from you, even if it’s just to say “Hi” on our Contact form, Forum, Facebook, Twitter or Google+.

In lieu of gifts, please send us your Disney food allergy dining experiences (good or bad) and food allergy tips.

About 5 minutes after being seated, a chef arrived at our table to walk us through the appetizer buffet. He wouldn’t prepare anything for us in the kitchen, but just told us to avoid baked items like bread. I was not impressed. The chef came back to our table and said he could make baked chicken and potatoes with carrots, corn and fresh fruit.

Even though it was ordered before the rest of our party’s entrees, DS’s allergy-free plate didn’t arrive until a full 10 minutes after everyone else had started eating. I’m glad we had brought our “just in case” stash of food for him to snack on while our 3yo waited impatiently for real food. His older sister was the reason we ate here (princess dinner), but the 3yo boy enjoyed it all, too. If you have a girl enamored with princesses, it might be worth it. But for boys….I’d pass and find somewhere else.

If you would like to review Akershus Royal Banquet Hall or any Disney restaurant, submit a food allergy dining Quick Review.

This is one of our family’s favorite restaurants. The chef came out and spoke to us. Checked to see if they had the allergy free nuggets and came back to let us know that they did. They made him fries and got him apple slices, too. The chef checked on us numerous times. The characters really help when you have food allergies. Often the food takes longer to make, so it was a nice distraction for our son. They offered desert but my son didn’t want any. He loves this restaurant and asks to come back all the time.

If you would like to review Chef Mickey’s or any Disney restaurant, submit a food allergy dining Quick Review.

As soon as we got there my husband got in line with the kids and I asked the first cast member I saw if I could speak to the manager about allergy safe choices. The manager came right out and went over the menu with me. Because we had the dining plan and our children with allergies are 3 and 4 we only had 3 items to discuss.

The children’s menu includes grilled cheese, pizza sandwich and turkey and cheese. The bread is all egg free there but the pizza sauce is the same as the sauce for the meatball sandwiches and the meatballs are cooked in peanut oil. The turkey and cheese sandwich is fine if you order it without mayonnaise.

By the time we reached the front of the line all 7 of us had figured out our order. The meals on the dining plan come with entrée, drink and dessert. All the desserts are made in-house and labeled with the ingredients. Unfortunately the ingredients list on some things were vague. The chocolate pudding listed ingredients as chocolate pudding, whipped cream and strawberry. Now Jell-O chocolate pudding is okay but I asked about theirs’ since it’s homemade. Good thing I asked, it had egg in it. The strawberry shortcakes ingredients were listed the same way but I knew their was no way the pound cake would be egg free. We settled on strawberry Jell-O with fruit on top. They basically ate the fruit off the top and wanted to go on to the Mr. Potato Head store.

Over all we were happy with the experience. The sandwiches were wrapped and bagged separately and we felt like our concerns were handled appropriately. Our first Disney dining experience with allergies: Success!

If you would like to review Earl of Sandwich or any Disney restaurant, submit a food allergy dining Quick Review.

The red tiled roof on the stone siding on the tower looks more like a high end Southern California home than an Italian restaurant. I drove my mobility scooter through the double doors thanks to an employee opening the door. After being warmly greeted by the staff I took in the lobby’s decor. Along the wall are cases with various platters and other service pieces. I was quickly seated in the main dining area. I like that the lights are dim but still bright enough to read the menu and see the Italian theme. Finally I see an Italian theme of brick arches, electric candle wall sconces, bric brac, and wooden partitions that divide the restaurant into more private seating areas with tablecloth covered tables that have paper covering. Guests who want privacy should tell their seater that they need privacy before being seated.

I was told that the chef would be out shortly so I headed to the beautiful bathroom with hot and cold water faucets. It is nice to see marble and hot water in a bathroom. I came back to find Orlando the chef waiting for me. He walked me through the menu and around my restrictions of no wheat/gluten and no soy. I was not going to do the Tuscan bean soup because I am not a fan of bean soup. The waitress brought out an orange bowl of soup with a small slice of cheese. This is one of the best soups I have ever. There were good pungent notes of herbs and tomatoes, tiny bits of ground meat, ground beans, white cheese to sooth the mildly spicy burn of the soup, onion bits, and carrot bits. The dish can be made free of most top allergies. I like best that the beans were smashed to bits thus not overpowering this hearty homestyle soup. Next came a cart with a big white porcelain charger with a cute little cast iron pan. The waitress set the pan on fire then she squeezed lemon juice on the pan then served me the Shrimp Sambuca. In the pan was tender small potato wheels topped garlic and 4 perfectly cooked shrimp. The dish was baked in a wood oven. I loved the potatoes that tasted like home fries and that the shrimp were veined with tails on. Another perfect dish suggested by the chef.

Finally comes the star dishes. I chose the Penne Bolognose in an orange tomato basil sauce using rice penne pasta. The bowl was huge and filled with rice pasta cooked perfectly then topped with Bolognose sauce and fresh parmesan cheese. This is a huge bowl of pasta. It is hard to make a large serving of rice pasta perfectly but this is something I would go back again to eat. The sauce is similar to Mario Batali type of sauce with a bright orange hue that for some folks may seem strange. The meatballs were a good size but did not have onion bits and it seems that even the little bits of meat was just that, meat. It is a hearty dish that is very mild in spices and nuance.

I like to take home food for breakfast the next day so I ordered the duck leg This is not presented as duck confit but more of a roast that is braised apple cider and dried cherries for over 3 hours. The slow cooking imparts subtle flavors to the duck leg that actually is the thigh and leg not just a drumstick. It reminds me of the carnitas and carne asada that are slow roasted. The meat left me wanting a few more orders. Being a whole thigh and leg meant some skin and fat that I did not eat. I took this home for midnight snack. The duck was so flavorful yet I could not name one note other than cherry sauce and duck, it was a medley of herbs and spices that made for a harmonic entree, OMG this was AWESOME!! The polenta is good but it is not as fine grained as at The Wave. There are kernels of corn that added a nice change in the mouth feel that one gets from nonstop polenta. The one major flaw was that the polenta was sitting under grease dripping duck leg and a pool of cherry whatever sauce. Some people love potatoes or polenta under their meat to sop up the meat juices but the pool of sauce was soaking into the polenta. I think if I ordered this again I would order the polenta on the side.

The grand finale was a Panna Cotta that hit me with pure cream smoothness and a POW of vanilla, the berries and sauce are delicious alone but here they are kazoo players playing in the philharmonic. The service was spotless and the table was kept free of dirty dishes while the tea glass was kept filled. They brought out the bill and took my Tables in Wonderland card. I loved Orlando and the staff that made this one of my more memorable meals. Orlando and the Portobello staff can handle most dietary requests. There is an outdoor dining area and staff will try hard to meet special requests such as a semi-private area for an autistic guest or a table for a guest in a wheelchair. There is an outdoor patio for watching the DTD waterfront comings and goings.

If you would like to review Portobello or any Disney restaurant, submit a food allergy dining Quick Review.

Once again, we talked to our waitress and the chef came out and took my wife to the buffet tables and explained all that she could eat. Great experience, we will go back on our next trip. Thanks for the good time Disney!

If you would like to review Biergarten Restaurant or any Disney restaurant, submit a food allergy dining Quick Review.

My wife has Celiac disorder and thus must have a gluten free menu. The service staff at Olivia’s could not have been any more helpful.The chef on each of our visits made a visit to our table and explained her options. Each of our meals brought tears to Maryann’s eyes as she had foods such as pancakes and waffles. Gluten-free Sandwich rolls were also part of her lunch menu. Keep up the great work Olivia’s we will be back soon! Thanks for making our vacation special!

If you would like to review Olivia’s Cafe or any Disney restaurant, submit a food allergy dining Quick Review.

Traveling with food allergies is at the very least a challenge but at the very most completely dangerous. Most places are not careful enough with cross contamination or diligence in ingredient literacy. I feel a little like I’m playing Russian Roulette. With multiple food allergies, several autoimmune disorders and  IBS, I was very nervous before our trip.

At Disney I had little to be concerned about. The quality of care taken to prevent cross contamination and label misreading is extraordinary. Though I wish they would use more modern dairy and egg substitutions for desserts, there were a few food highlights I would like to mention. If you are vegan and/or gluten free, you must try the Chef’s Vegan Burger with avocado (instead of mayo) on a lettuce “bun” at Carnation Cafe in Disneyland.  Wow!!!!! It was so amazing I asked the chef for the recipe. To my knowledge it is the only bean burger in Disney. But it isn’t just any bean burger, it is incredible! And yes it is fully gluten free. It’s the chief’s own special recipe. It was so delicious that I asked the chief for the recipe, and he really sent it to me! Apparently you can ask for any recipe at Disney and they will actually send it to you.

If you have an allergy to gluten, eggs and dairy, go ahead and eat the raspberry sorbet once. After that try the kettle corn, the Dole Whip (Disneyland) and BYOC (bring your own chocolate). I wrote a post on my complete vegan/gluten free experience at Disneyland. Click here to check it out.

I want to thank Liz for this website. I like the collection of Disney experiences represented here.

If you would like to review Carnation Cafe or any Disneyland or Disney World restaurant, submit a food allergy dining Quick Review.

Eating at this restaurant was a dream come true for me for so many reasons. The atmosphere was amazing and the service was even better. Not to mention the food was delicious.

I have a very lengthy list of allergies. The chef was wonderful (I wish I could remember his name) and was very knowledgeable. I had the Cornish hen with roasted potatoes. They gave me broccoli instead of the normal vegetable that I was allergic to. But the best part was that I was able to have the dessert!! They make all their desserts in-house. I ordered 2! I had the lemon meringue cupcake and the strawberry cupcake with cream cheese icing. Absolutely delicious and the best birthday present I could have asked for.

It is best to make your reservations as early as possible because it fills up extremely quickly. I HIGHLY recommend this restaurant, and can’t wait to go back!

If you would like to review Be Our Guest or any Disney restaurant, submit a food allergy dining Quick Review.

We always make a point to eat at The Plaza our first and last day at Magic Kingdom. We have been going here for at least 8 yrs now, and The Plaza has never disappointed us. It is one of the most allergy friendly restaurants you can find. My son has a peanut and tree nut allergy. When we get seated, our waitress asks us about our allergy.

She then brings over the book of food with all the ingredients, while we wait for the Chef to come to our table. Chef Ken, is the greatest Chef there. He comes and sits down with us and talks to my son about what he would like to eat. He goes out of his way to just talk about our trip, and he always remembers something about our past dining experience at The Plaza. With all the costumers that come and go there, it’s nice that Chef Ken cares enough to remember. Our last trip my son had the grill cheese and fries. Chef Ken also offered to make my son more food if he was still hungery after his first dish. He also brought out fruit and salad for appetizers. The first dressing they put on the salad my son did not like, so he offered to bring out another salad with different dressing.

For dessert Chef Ken makes him the Mickeylodeon with allergy friendly cookies. For the ice cream he opens a new container every time, so there is no chance of cross contamination. Chef Ken will also come out through out the meal to check on us and just chat. If you are looking for good food and a friendly, happy place, The Plaza is the place to be. We are planning our Nov trip and the first thing the family asks is, When are we going to The Plaza.

If you would like to review The Plaza or any Disney restaurant, submit a food allergy dining Quick Review.

I ate at Kouzzina for the first time on my recent trip. It was the BEST meal I have ever eaten! Dee was the chef, and she was amazing! I have a VERY long list of allergies, and she was so nice and understanding. She knew the ingredients inside and out.

I had the braised short ribs with feta mashed potatoes and a side order of herbed orzo. DELICIOUS!!! She made me broccoli special because I could not eat the regular vegetables. And then, to top it all off, I was able to eat the Greek doughnuts for dessert!! Because the normal frying oil was fish contaminated, she made a separate fryer all for me. And if that wasn’t enough, because it took them a long time to make, they gave it to me for free.

I may plan another trip just so I can eat there again. I HIGHLY recommend this restaurant and am only sad I hadn’t discovered it before.

If you would like to review Kouzzina or any Disney restaurant, submit a food allergy dining Quick Review.

We recommended that he call Special Diets again, requesting to speak with the head chef at the Caribbean Resort where he was staying, and ask for his or her assistance. When the need arrises, a Disney Cast Member will typically go above and beyond for you, if you simply ask and it’s not extravagant. He did just that, and the chef said he would arrange to have plenty of Silk Soy Milk available when arrived.

He even followed up just before leaving for the trip, and all was set.

Unfortunately, when Gary arrived with his family, no one at the Caribbean Resort was aware of the arrangement. They had no record of the request at Special Diets, either.

Out of desperation, Gary rented a car and purchased the Silk Soy Milk for his granddaughter.

We were heartbroken to hear this news. It was a real surprise to us, after all the wonderful stories we hear about Disney, and the experiences we have had while at Disney World and on our Disney Cruise. Had we been in this situation, we probably would have done the same thing, or possibly even paid the price to have a GardenGrocer.com delivery.

Just a few days ago, we learned of another option, Orlando Theme Park Shoppers, who provide a personal shopper service, including special dietary needs. They are a much more economical option. Unfortunately, we were not aware of this service until Gary already had his plan with Disney.

So what went wrong with the plan at Disney? No one will ever know. Disney often delivers magical moments, and are known for their protocol for doing so. They have systems in place that work within the logistics of a massive food service organization. And Joel Schaefer told us that he implemented a protocol for dealing with food allergies, within this giant food service organization, that makes a special dietary need a red alert priority. Everyone takes it very seriously and the operation adjusts accordingly to ensure extreme care is taken. We feel like Gary’s request fell outside of the protocol. It was essentially promised by someone, outside of the normal procedures, and the massive logistical operation at Disney possibly overlooked this promise, since it was not part of the normal process.

It’s a real shame that it happened, but Disney is a huge operation run by people. And people make mistakes and forget things. Therefore, it’s always a great idea to have a backup plan with food allergies. We still do it, but it’s much “lighter” than it used to be. Disney has never let us down, but we still have a plan for it. In fact, we’ve booked our next Disney Cruise, even after the Carnival Triumph. And while we don’t expect any issues like that, we’ve decided to take a week’s worth of dairy-free supplies, just in case. Nothing fancy, but enough for our daughter to have in case things don’t go quite as planned.

Has anyone else ever needed something and found a solution with or without Disney’s help? We’d love to hear about it in the comments section.

Liberty Inn was a good place to eat. I ordered the dairy-free chicken strips and french fries. Although it was simple, it was yummy! We spoke with the manager and he assured me the meal would be prepared safely. I think Liberty Inn is a good place if you are looking to get a safe meal in a fairly short amount of time.

If you would like to review Liberty Inn or any Disney restaurant, submit a food allergy dining Quick Review.

After being seated, we had a chef arrive within 8 minutes to walk us through the buffet. He said we could just pick up things from the buffet but stay away from baked goods. I told him I would prefer something be prepared in the kitched for him so we could avoid cross-contamination. He said all they could make was Van’s frozen waffles and fresh fruit. So that’s what DS ate. We eat this at home, so he was fine.

I’m glad he was just a week shy of 3yo, because I’d hate to pay the character meal, table-service price for a 3yo to just eat frozen waffles! But my son was all about Special Agent Oso and loved every minute here. One note…the chef said strawberries aren’t normally on the breafast buffet, but he brought some out for DS, which he loved. So, that was nice.

If you would like to review Hollywood & Vine or any Disney restaurant, submit a food allergy dining Quick Review.

We had the best experience with Chef Faythe at Yak and Yeti. Our reservation was at 4:45. Our son has a sensory disorder and would only eat nuggets during our trip. Chef Faythe went out of his way. He stayed past his shift, and made our son his own Chinese style nuggets, and sweet and sour sauce, with rice.

I was so amazed that he made him sweet and sour sauce. He also mentioned that he would stay and cook him more or something else if he wanted it. Well our son was falling asleep at the table, he would wake up eat a little fall back asleep he was so happy and said this is yummy in between falling asleep. I tried some before we left, and omg it was amazing for being allergy free!

It had to be the best meal we had during our 9 day trip. I wish we could have gone back. It is on our must do list now. I was extremely worried about this restaurant and when he started to fall asleep I was ok with it. Other people in our party have allergies and their food was amazing, too.

If you would like to review Yak and Yeti or any Disney restaurant, submit a food allergy dining Quick Review.

A chef was at our table within 3 minutes of being seated. He walked us through the buffet and told us what they would prepare for our DS in the kitchen free of his allergies and cross-contamination.

It took about 15 minutes, but a HUGE plate of food was prepared and delivered to my 3yo son. Baked chicken, broccoli, carrots, cucumber, and fresh strawberries. At the end of our dinner, a 1st visit cupcake was brought to my DS that was all allergy-free complete with icing. My DS was in heaven! “For me? I can eat it?” We plan to eat here at least once on every return visit! Plus, the character interactions are some of the best around!

If you would like to review Chef Mickeys or any Disney restaurant, submit a food allergy dining Quick Review.

We heard from others this was not the most allergy-friendly counter-service place at Disney, so we came prepared with food we brought in from our room for my DS. When placing our order, we asked if they could make french fries allergy-free. The Cast Member said we’d need to speak to a manager, so we just ordered all our other food and stood to the side and waited for a manager. We waited 5 minutes after receiving our food and just gave up.

About half-way through our meal, my DS was begging to eat some of our fries, so my husband went back to wait for a manager. After 10 minutes, one finally arrived and said they could bake some fries but it would take 15 minutes. We received a pager and got them in the time stated. They were fresh from the oven and, of course, not able to be eated right away by a 3yo son.

So, we just took them with us on the road (in the tupperware we brought his lunch in from our room). Those fries were a good snack later while waiting for the train and parade. Disney really needs a more allergy-friendly option in the heart of Fantasyland – which is where all the kids are!

If you would like to review Pinocchio Village Haus or any Disney restaurant, submit a food allergy dining Quick Review.

• Raglan Road
• La Hacienda de San Angel
• Chefs de France

January: Amy

• ‘Ohana

We’re going to start a new contest TODAY for the month of March!

Send your Disney food allergy Quick Review using this form.

Please include as much detail as possible, including your food allergies, what you ate and who took care of you. We love photos, too! View some past food allergy quick reviews here, submitted by readers.

It doesn’t take a lot of time to share your experience, but we typically don’t use the quick reviews we get that are just a sentence or two, saying “Disney is great!”. We really want a few details that help other readers make informed decisions for their planning purposes. Even if your experience was less than positive, send it to us. We all learn from those, too.

Send us your quick review today! Drawing will occur in early April 2013.

p.s. Past winners can win again!

As a mother of a child with many allergies it’s always scary eating out, any where you are. Disney REALLY takes most of that fear away. We were so pleasantly surprised at how accommodating the staff was and how knowledgeable the chef was of food allergies. The chef came to our table and took me and my son around the buffet and cautioned us against certain foods and assured us of allergy free foods. They even went the extra mile and brought over a custom allergy free dessert.

Love Disney and their exceptional service!

If you would like to review 1900 Park Fare or any Disney restaurant, submit a food allergy dining Quick Review.

We ate here for lunch with our 2 allergic children. Spoke to a manager who was FANTASTIC! He prepared the kid’s meals. They were not so healthy (hah!) but they were safe

I was also very happy to find he swapped out some of the sides for “Enjoy Life” brand cookies and grapes. SO GREAT they have these packaged items because most of the Disney packaged items are not safe.

If you would like to review ABC Commissary or any Disney restaurant, submit a food allergy dining Quick Review.

The chef came out and went over everything at the buffet that had nuts or peanuts in it, so my husband or I did not take anything with nuts. Then asked my son what his favorite foods were and told him that he would make him anything he wanted. They brought him chicken fingers, mac and cheese, fries and veggies. All prepared safe and separate. It was so great that they gave him a variety of things and made him feel like he was eating at the “buffet”, too! Then they made him a safe very special dessert!!

If you would like to review Boma or any Disney restaurant, submit a food allergy dining Quick Review.

My Mom and I took my son to stay at Pop Century when he was 4-yrs-old in Aug. 2011. We were there 4 nights on the dining plan. The chef called me several times before our trip to plan for my son who has over 20 allergies. Due to all of his allergies, there really isn’t much on most of the kid’s menus that he can eat safely. All the hotdogs, pizza, chicken, hamburgers, mac & cheese, pb&J are unsafe for him.

My son loved watermelon, so the chef ordered a watermelon for him to have during our stay. He used 3 out of the 4 quick service and most of his snack credits there. We are not early risers most days, so I decided that the best thing to do would go by Pop dining on our way to the bus and get his lunch to go. The chef prepared shrimp, watermelon, and allowed him to get Divvies popcorn as his dessert. He also got an orange juice as his drink. My son loved the Divvies popcorn so much that he choose that as most of his snack credits too. We are both sad that Divvies is no longer at WDW. I loved the plastic to-go plates the chef sent the food to-go in because they are reuseable. The chef was great to my son and he loved the food at Pop.

If you would like to review Everything Pop Dining or any Disney restaurant, submit a food allergy dining Quick Review.

My son was 4-years-old when we ate there in Aug. 2011 at Cape May on the dining plan. He has over 20 allergies, but he can eat seafood.

The chef called me several times before our trip to plan for him. He wanted to make sure that my son had plenty of safe foods to eat that he would love. The chef offered to make a special rice milk flan for dessert.

We arrived before our ADR time, and waited for a few minutes before we were taken to a table. There was a tv with classic Disney cartoons on in the lobby while we waited. The table had paper on it, and my son loved being able to color on it while he waited for his food. The chef came to the table and walked me around the buffet to get some ideas of what he could prepare safely for my son. He brought him some fresh fish and veggies. My son ate over a bucket of clams and some crab legs too. He ate more there than any where else at Disney. I loved the crab legs, friend shrimp, red potatoes, Oreo Bon Bon, and Key Lime Tarts.

If you aren’t a seafood lover there is still plenty of food to enjoy like barbeque pork ribs, marinated roast chicken, pasta, mac and cheese, and beef tips. We all loved it so much that we are going back this summer!

If you would like to review Cape May Cafe or any Disney restaurant, submit a food allergy dining Quick Review.

This was our favorite gluten free dining of our trip! We loved 50′s Prime Time. We eat gluten free, and we were amazed at our options here. They offered to make my husband gluten free fried chicken. He loved it! My child ordered gluten free chicken nuggets and allergy safe fries cooked in a dedicated fryer. They both devoured their meals, and got their “clean plate club” stickers. . For dessert my son had a gluten free brownie that was made in-house. It was thick and like a flour less chocolate cake. He loved it! My husband had Dad’s Brownie Sundae, with the gluten free in-house made brownie, ice cream, fudge and caramel corn. It was incredible! We will be returning to 50′s Prime Time on all future Disney trips!!

If you would like to review 50′s Prime Time Cafe or any Disney restaurant, submit a food allergy dining Quick Review.

We loved our dinner at Flame Tree. We informed the cashier of our gluten allergy and she immediately sent over the manager. The manager was friendly and immediately brought out the ingredient book. My husband and youngest son are on a strict gluten free diet due to Celiac Disease. My husband ordered the ribs and beans and he ordered the gluten free brownie (OMG brand) for dessert. They gave my son a plate of Grilled Chicken. He was given two chicken legs, a package of grapes and allergy safe French fries that were cooked in a dedicated gluten free fryer. He had the gluten free chocolate chip cookie (Enjoy Life Foods brand) for dessert. It was a delicious meal, and one we look forward to again.

If you would like to review Flame Tree BBQ or any Disney restaurant, submit a food allergy dining Quick Review.

We eat dinner at Ohana every time we visit Disney, but this was the first time with our severely allergic toddler. We told the server we were concerned about the chances of an allergen in the family style dinner or chance of cross contamination. To our surprise the head chef came to our table himself and had wonderful suggestions of steamed rice, fresh vegetables, and an appropriately prepared meat for our son to enjoy instead of sharing our table food. It was excellent service and we were able to enjoy the meal with relatively little worry.

If you would like to review Ohana or any Disney restaurant, submit a food allergy dining Quick Review.

My wife and daughter are gluten free. Going to Park Fare is always a great experience because the chef always takes extra care of them both. For my wife it is a chance to have great pasta. For my daughter she loves the special dessert they always bring out to her. It always produces a wow face from her. Oh, and the characters are great too.

If you would like to review 1900 Park Fare or any Disney restaurant, submit a food allergy dining Quick Review.

I must admit, I was a little nervous about feeding my daughter in Magic Kindgom even though I had been assured by the Special Diets team that we would be taken care of wherever we decided to eat. Just in case, I had packed a bag of food for my daughter to eat. I am happy to say that she did not eat any of my pre-packed food.

The manager and staff at the Pinocchio Haus were absolutely amazing. When I walked into the facility, I immediately asked to speak with a manager as we had food allergies. The manager was paged immediately and came out to speak with us. They told us what was available and asked us what our daughter wished to eat. She then consulted a food binder and had me read the ingredients to ensure that they were safe for consumption. We were then given a food pager and told that when our food was ready for the entire party we would be paged and we could then come and get it. The food took a little longer than projected to arrive but we did not mind because I knew it was safe. After discussing the options with manager, my daughter really wanted french fries and apple sauce.

Thank you to the staff for your care and alleviating all of my concerns.

I saw your post about the Disney Magic with food allergies. I just wanted to share with you my experiences with DCL and food allergies. I have Celiac Disease so I’m gluten free and my mom also has Celiac and has a soy allergy.

I sailed on the Wonder (sister ship to the Magic) and I found experiences similar to yours. I’ve also sailed on the Dream three times and on the Fantasy once. I’m going on my second Fantasy cruise in March.

I’ve found the newer ships the Dream and the Fantasy much more accommodating with our special dietary needs. They seemed more willing to customize meals and make things special just for us. Besides pre-ordering our meals, we could also go up on the pool deck and get a safe meal.

They had the gluten-free chicken tenders you were talking about. They had a dedicated fryer so you could get chicken fingers and fries by the pool. They could also do gluten free pizzas (not sure if the crusts were dairy free) I’m extremely sensitive to gluten and I never got sick from eating at the pool deck.

If you ever decide to sail DCL in the future, I’d highly recommend the newer ships over the older ships for the way they accommodate special dietary requests.

My husband and I had a delicious dinner at Tokyo Dining in Epcot last night (12/22)! I had contacted the Disney Special Diets team in advance and notified them of my food allergies and food intolerances. When we had been shown to our table, the manager of the restaurant came to the table and asked what I would like to order and wrote down my list of allergens. She personally brought the order to the chef and then personally brought the food to our table to ensure that the order was correct and accurate.

I ordered grilled chicken, steamed white rice, and cooked carrots. I asked if it was possible to get some sesame oil to put on the grilled chicken for flavor and so they also brought me some sesame oil on the side. The food was absolutely delicious and most importantly it was a safe meal! My husband said that he wished he had ordered what I had because it looked so good! I did not get sick afterwards and I have never had a reaction from a meal at Disney because they have excellent customer service for guests that have food allergies and intolerances. I highly recommend this place to eat if you have multiple food allergies and intolerances like I do because they were very accommodating!

Yesterday (12/22) my husband and I decided to go to Electric Umbrella at Epcot to grab a quick lunch. I have always had excellent customer service and excellent accommodations made for my food allergies at Disney at sit-down restaurants in the past. I usually pack a light lunch to eat on the go though so that I do not have to worry about getting food at any of the fast food restaurants for lunch. Even though I had packed a lunch and already had dinner reservations for that evening at a sit-down restaurant, I decided to see if they could accommodate my allergies at this restaurant because if they could it would mean I could eat a hot meal (which would be nice since it was cold outside).

When we got to the cashier to place the food order, my husband asked if we could see a food allergy menu. The cashier immediately called over a manager who discussed the special food allergies menu with us and showed us the ingredient list for items on the menu. They offered Annie’s Gluten Free Macaroni and Cheese on the menu, but unfortunately it was the version that had dairy and soy in it so I could not eat it. They also offer Allergen Free chicken tenderloins which are Gluten Free, Dairy Free, and Soy Free which I would have been able to eat except they are made with garlic which I can not have. When I said I could not eat either of those, the manager and cashier were both very apologetic and asked if there was something else they could get me such as maybe a fruit cup at least. I explained that I had packed a lunch just in case I could not eat the food at the restaurant and that I would just eat that.

My husband went ahead and ordered his food though (my husband is blessed to not have any food allergies or intolerances). This experience told me that this restaurant is being accommodating though and has options that are great for people who are gluten free and dairy free. I hope that as time goes on that they will add more items to their special allergen free menu to accommodate people with even more food allergies and intolerances.

Disney is testing a new FASTPASS type system for dining reservations. In a way, this almost turns a dine-in restaurant into a quick service restaurant. It allows you to pick a time, order your food and, when you arrive, you are allowed right into the dining room and your food is delivered to your table. They tested this briefly at Be Our Guest and said it was a big success.

This is not the big news, though.

Back in February of 2012, Disney tested interactive menus at the Hollywood Brown Derby in Hollywood Studios. And, if you specified a food allergy, the menu eliminated those foods that contained your allergen. This was very limiting for some diners. In the end, if you had a food allergy, you would speak to chef as normal, which was much more reassuring anyway. The interactive menu simply presented some options to make you aware of the options the chef might offer.

So, the new system may be a combination of the “FASTPASS dining” and the interactive menu, with one key difference; instead of removing the menu items that contain your food allergen, it can keep those items with ingredient substitutions. This is much better than the Brown Derby test since it gives you even more options. However, like the Brown Derby scenario, you will still speak to a chef, which is the protocol for all dine-in restaurants.

According to the food service manager we spoke to, this is still very preliminary and is about to begin testing, along with many new automation options, like FASTPASS+, testing now. We can’t wait to give it a try! Let us know if you get to participate.

UPDATE: After a Facebook comment, I thought I should clarify one point. In the BOG test, you had the option to order your food ahead of time if you knew exactly what you wanted. It wasn’t a requirement of the service. The reservation priority is a big seller since, especially at BOG, there has been quite a wait, even with a reservation time.

Here is the latest Pineapple Dole Whip ingredient list. Dole tells us this also applies to the orange soft serve, too.

However, while the ingredients are dairy free, Disney Special Diets tells us that it may be served on the same equipment as the vanilla soft serve, which does contain dairy. Therefore, cross-contamination is a potential hazard. Additionally, Aloha Isle may not have the necessary preparation space to prevent cross-contamination.

UPDATE: The equipment used to dispense the Dole Whip product has a nozzle for each flavor. However, while this is good news, you should still mention your food allergies to the Cast Member at the Aloha Isle, making sure they take precautions to avoid cross contamination. You might even request a fresh cup from an unopened package.

Again, proceed with caution if you are allergic to dairy and go with your gut instinct if you feel uncomfortable — walk away, it’s just a Dole Whip.

If you have any firsthand experience and can let us know, please contact us.

Click to view the full size versions:

But that’s not all! We’re kicking off in the Magic Kingdom on Friday and, on Saturday, at last, we’re co-hosting a food allergy free IllumiNations Dessert Party at Epcot, with the Gluten-Free and Dairy-Free at WDW Blog’s author, Sarah Norris.

We’re also going to give away a special “item” in the Magic Kingdom. If you don’t have reservations at the new Be Our Guest restaurant, stay tuned!

More details and our daily agenda will be posted soon.  We’ll also be posting locations via Facebook and Twitter.

Ok, better than that, if you can believe that, is Chef Paul at the Crystal Palace. He was so accommodating and brought my daughter allergy free Micky waffles, bacon, scrambled eggs, grits (we’re Southerners), OJ, chocolate cake, a donut, garnished with strawberries cut into roses. The cake and donut are made with Bob’s Red Mill mix.

Our daughter was so blown away that she gave Chef Paul a blue AllergyFreeMouse.com teddy bear.

Chef Paul — we love you!

He was super-informed and presented so many options for our daughter, and then delivered more. Chef Paul is what Disney is all about — pure magic in the eyes of a child. Plus, he earned lots of respect from two parents who felt everything was truly safe.

We heard that this restaurant has gluten free fish and chips and gluten free onion rings. We were not disappointed. Our experience was a WOW!!! My husband mentioned he was unable to eat gluten and they were fantastic here. The fish was amazing but oh WOW the onion rings were fantastic. I can pretty much eat anything but I tried the onion rings and they were the best I have ever eaten!!!!! A great place to eat! We ended up eating here twice on our last trip!!

However, the Plaza Restaurant offers a variety of sandwichs, soups and salads. Our daughter had a turkey sandwich on an Ener-G roll, fries and fresh fruit. As always, we asked to see the chef, and he took great care of her. She devoured the sandwich, fries and fruit. Then, as an extra special treat, the Chef brought out Enjoy Life Foods cookies for dessert.

This is a great stop with some good healthy options. But, my husband ordered a cheesesteak sandwich, with the usual fries. He was very happy with this. I ordered a hummus sandwich, with cheese. It’s probably my favorite sandwich in the park. We will be back!

• Restaurant tips
• Restaurant reviews
• Restaurant menus
• Dining times – you must pick early (5:45) or late (8:15)
UPDATE: Here is the new section of our Disney Cruise section
• Food safety
• Tipping
• Special order cakes

Also, we will be adding:

• Port Adventure tips (especially food tips!)
• Adult-only experiences
• Shutters (the on-board photo shop)
• The Magic Disney Cruise Line ship map
• The ship directory
• Entertainment on the ship (with an example of what to expect at the Buena Vista theatre)
• Oceaneers Club & Lab and other kid’s clubs, explained with photos
• Must-dos on the ship
• Fish extenders, explained by photos
• Alcohol policies
• Character experiences
• Decorating state room doors
• Packing, with lists
• Autograph ideas
• Guest Services drop-off policies
• Pirate Night
• Our itineraries
• Ship’s Navigator for each day
• Vista spa options

Check back soon, and often, for updates. Or, follow us on Facebook, Twitter or subscribe in the sidebar to get the latest. If you have any questions, comments or suggestions do so below or in our Disney Food Allergy forum.

I learned tons of information and want to share it with you, your families and friends. The trip was a complete success – not one food allergy incident at all! Not one!

I will be sharing allergy tips related to dining experiences, adult dining, dining menus, characters, 1st day must-dos, packing tips & lists, port adventures, the Disney Kid’s Club & labs, and more.

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter or subscribe in the sidebar to get the latest. If you have any questions, comments or suggestions do so below or in our Disney Food Allergy forum.

Chef Frances Vogt is amazing! I always enjoy having her create something new for me to enjoy everytime I’m at the Disneyland Resort. She makes it fun and is able to create new things off menu to work around all my allergies and sensitivities.

If you would like to review Wine Country Trattoria or any Disney restaurant, submit a food allergy dining Quick Review.

Our family is lucky enough to travel to Disney World at least two times a year and until this last trip we have avoided the Plaza restaurant because I was convinced they would not be able to properly handle my 6yo daughter’s peanut allergy. I was aware that the menu featured ice cream sundae’s for dessert and didn’t want to take the risks that usually accompany ice cream parlors. However, one evening we did not make dining reservations in advance and were faced with heading back to our resort, a walk-up, or giving The Plaza a try. We asked the hostess if they could accommodate my daughter’s allergy without advance notice and of course they could.

The hostess took extra time to clean our table in my presence after I voiced my concerns and informed our waitress of my daughter’s allergies. While taking our drink orders she informed us the Chef would be out shortly to talk with us about our allergy concerns. I am very familiar with the allergy policy and practices at Disney and was extremely impressed with the extra time and attention Chef Ken gave to my daughter and our whole party.

When the Chef came to our table he asked my daughter’s cousin what my daughter’s allergy was and explained to them both that it was very important that they both understood what her allergy was and what it meant to have a life-threatening peanut allergy. After discussing this with the girls he asked my daughter what she would like to eat and she replied by asking what she could have. Chef Ken again asked first what she would like to have and when she answered with a sandwich (which
she could have) he continued to offer more options that you can imagine for sides. She was so excited to be able to have a ham and cheese sandwich with fruit and her cousin ordered with the chef at the same time to make her feel special as well. Her cousin chose a turkey sandwich and had soup as her side. The adults in the party had a mixture of burgers, sandwiches and salads which we all thought were very good.

Then the inevitable question came, What would she like for dessert and I was just waiting for my daughter’s disappointment when she was told she could not have ice cream….again. To my surprise Chef Ken said that she could have ice cream and not only that she could have chocolate and have it in a CONE, her first ice cream cone ever! She was all smiles from ear to ear! After many questions from me to Chef Ken assured me that it was peanut free. He even visited our table multiple times to make sure she was okay and enjoying everything. The memory of her being able to share an ice cream sundae in a restaurant is one I never thought I would be able to have, how could I have doubted Disney Magic? I can’t thank Chef Ken enough, that dinner was our best memory of the trip!

If you would like to review The Plaza Restaurant, or any Disney restaurant, submit a food allergy dining Quick Review.

Fortunately, we can have one delivered while we’re on our Disney Cruise, too. They’re not cheap at $49. But it really adds to the experience, since it’s not often she has a dairy-free cake that wasn’t prepared by Mom. They’re also available gluten-free, nut-free and sugar-free, too.

The information, including the order form, is here: http://disneycruise.disney.go.com/planning-center/gifts-and-amenities/

We’re looking forward to trying this. If you’ve ever had the DCL dairy-free cake, or any of the other cakes, let us know what you thought, in the comments, below.

Private IllumiNations Dessert Party

to be held
Saturday, December 15, 2012 from 9:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
at
Rue de Paris in Epcot at the Walt Disney World Resort!

Sponsors

Sponsors

Tickets are $50 per person and include:
*Entrance to the event
*All-you-care-to-eat special diets related buffet
*Access to a private IllumiNations viewing area
*Gift Bags (a few details here)

All items on the buffet are made to be free of gluten/wheat, dairy/milk/casein, soy, egg,  peanut, tree nut, corn, fish, and shellfish.

Disney has assured us that they will use their best practices for food allergies, but maintains their standard statement for cross-contamination.
Please see the WDW Special Diets policy here.

Tickets are required for this event for any guest ages 4 and up. Children ages 0-3 may attend without a ticket if they are accompanied by a paid adult.

Only guests with their full names on our roster will be admitted to the event. Please pay attention to the registration form and PayPal form. Both have notations for you to list the attendees in your party.

Tickets are limited and will be sold first-come, first-served. Should the event be sold out, you can join our waiting list by emailing us at events@allergyfreemouse.com

Tickets are non-refundable.
**Park admission is required and not included in the Dessert Party Ticket price.**

For questions or comments about this event or for donors/sponsor interested in donating to our gift bags, please contact us by email at: sponsor@allergyfreemouse.com

If you’ve already bought your tickets, help us spread the word with a badge!

Get the Attendee Badge!

Can’t attend, but want to help us spread the word with a badge!

Get the badge!

When we checked in, we told the hostess that we had food allergies. This information was passed to the waitress, and she went back and got the chef. I unfortunately don’t know his name, but he was MORE THAN WILLING to help us find something that we could eat. Too bad we had to scream at him to tell him what our allergies were because of how loud the band was. He said “well, I’ll make you up some gluten free pasta with a soy-free cheese sauce with some veggies, how does that sound?” GREAT!!!

He brought out the pasta dishes and I must say, they were HOT, but sooooo good. Brenton helped me finish mine because it was so rich (and he can always eat haha). The food was FANTASTIC, and though it was very loud in there, we wouldn’t hesitate to go back.

La Hacienda de San Angel is a newer restaurant that was put in at “Mexico” in Epcot. The chef here was AWESOME, but I can’t remember his name. He came out and told us what we could and could not have and let us make our own meal, catered to our needs. So we had specially-made veggie tacos on homemade corn tortillas with Mexican rice.

This was, hands down, the absolute best allergy dining experience I have ever had on WDW property, and we will be back. The food was so filling and fresh, and the restaurant staff was incredibly friendly and knowledgeable about allergies.

Before we we were diagnosed with being gluten and soy sensitive, we enjoyed many a meal at Les Chefs de France. Unfortunately, this most recent experience in September 2011 was the worst allergy experience I have ever had on WDW Property.

The chef was less-than-happy to come out to talk to us about our needs. He turned his nose up to our allergies and said “well, I’ll just make you a plate of sauteed vegetables”. Ok, that sounds great, we love vegetables!! The waitress brought out some Ener-G rolls, hot and wonderful, with real butter. They tied us over until we got our meal. What we were served was a blob of spinach, half of a boiled peeled potato, half of a boiled tomato, and some green beans. No salt, no pepper, no oil, no nothing. And we were charged almost $20 per person for this.

Unfortunately, we will not be going back, and I’m saddened to say that I have heard others with equally bad allergy experiences at this restaurant. I called Disney and complained about our experience, and the Cast Member I talked to couldn’t believe it, and apologized for our poor experience, but was grateful that I took the time to share my concerns.

Chef Julie and our server, Holly, were so accommodating and listened carefully to our daughter. Chef Julie made her salad with what she liked and, literally, went out of her way for her dessert — she had to go to another restaurant to get Enjoy Life cookies. She even asked what flavor of cookies she wanted. Chef Julie went above and beyond — a true testament to Disney’s commitment to food allergies.

We ate here in May, when it was very hot. Mama Melrose’s was an oasis of great food, great drinks and cool air conditioning! It was such a wonderful experience. Incidentally, it was also Star Wars Weekends at Disney, so we dined with a few out-of-this-world guests.

I have a severe dairy allergy and had an amazing experience at Walt Disney World. They went above and beyond to ensure I had delicious, dairy-free meals to eat. We were on the Disney dining plan. The one exception to our experience was at The House of Blues. This restaurant is on the dining plan, but NOT owned by Disney. Although the chef came to the table, he was not knowledgeable about ingredients. I asked him to double check on a mayo he said was safe, and sure enough it had sour cream in it. Although my dining plan included desert, they were not able to provide a dairy-free desert. I asked if I could simply have fruit, and was told no, it was not available, despite the fact berries are used as garnish for cheesecake. In short, I would stick with Disney-owned restaurants. They do a phenomenal job.

One of the reasons I initially wanted to take the kids to Disney World was I had heard they accommodate food allergies.  This is always a huge stress for me when we travel.

Disney has food allergy policies in place that really keep there guests safe and relieve some of the stress.  I made restaurant reservations on Disney’s website.  When making the reservation I was asked to check off which allergies are in my party.  Then I was told to contact Special.Diets@DisneyWorld.com and they sent me forms to fill out.  Those forms were sent to each restaurant.  They then sent a confirming email and asked that when we got to restaurant to mention the allergies once again and the chef will come out and talk to us.  The following is our experience at Downtown Disney, Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios.

Rainforest Cafe

The first full day of our vacation we decompressed at the hotel pool and then headed over to Downtown Disney for a late lunch and a little shopping.  We had a reservation at The Rainforest Cafe

Rainforest Cafe has a really fun atmosphere for the kids.  You are surrounded by lifelike jungle animals and huge fish tanks.  Every 20 minutes or so there was a “thunder and lighting storm.”

We informed our server, Shawn, that we had two kids at our table with food allergies.  He sent out the chef.

Chef Richard assured us Nolan could have the chicken tenders and that he would make something special for Sean–two plain hamburgers and fries that would cooked in a separate part of the kitchen.

After a long day at the pool, these boys cleaned their plates—so did the adults, the food was good.

Babycakes NYC

One of the main reasons I wanted to check out Downtown Disney was Babycakes NYC.  This wonderful bakery is peanut and tree nut free, egg-free, dairy-free, gluten-free, soy-free, sesame seed-free.  Correction by AFM: BabyCakesNYC does not claim to be peanut free or tree nut free, due to the way their gluten-free flours are packaged.

I told Sean that this was a very special safe bakery and that he could pick out whatever he wanted.  He couldn’t believe his eyes.

Sean ended up with two cupcakes, some chocolate chip cookies and chocolate frosted donut.  He has never had a donut!  We brought the box of treats back to the hotel and he saved one for each day.  He was so happy.  Mumma was so happy.

The Plaza Restaurant 

The first day in the parks we went to lunch in Magic Kingdom at The Plaza Restaurant.

This time two chefs came right out, armed with a book of everything they served and all the ingredients. Nolan settled on a grilled cheese and Sean once again had a hamburger.  We were again assured that it would be cooked safely in a separate part of the kitchen.

They brought out some apple slices and crayons to keep little hands busy, while we waited for our food.

Sean cleaned his plate once again.

Sean could even have dessert.  They had Rice Dream ice cream, a dairy-free treat that he loves, with Enjoy Life cookies for ears!

Backlot Express

The next day we had lunch in Hollywood Studios at The Backlot Express.

The Backlot was an express type restaurant, which I was a bit apprehensive about.

When placing our order with Cody, I informed him of our food allergies.  I have to say it was one of the best experiences.  Cody was so helpful and then Chef Christa came out with that magic book.  This time there were chicken tenders and natural cut french fries that Sean could have.  And more Enjoy Life cookies

Every restaurant, express and sit-down, has a food allergy book, as well as every snack stand. Even the popcorn stand had a book.  Sean and Nolan could have the popcorn too.

All-in-all we had great experiences eating in Disney World.  Sean and Nolan eat like kings!

Dinner at Liberty Tree Tavern in Magic Kingdom is an all-you-can-eat family style meal. It includes roasted turkey, carved beef, sliced pork, mashed potatoes, mac and cheese, and much more. The kid menu goes well beyond the typical options: Pasta with Marinara Sauce, Macaroni & Cheese, Oven-roasted Turkey, Barbecue Chicken and Pineapple Flat Bread. My 4-year old food-allergic son is extremely limited in his dining options. He is allergic to poultry, eggs, pineapple, and many other foods and is anaphylactic to milk.

The Special Diets form that Disney has asks for specific allergens and that information is forwarded to the chefs once the reservations are made. I received an email from the chef at Liberty Tree within two days after submitting our special diets form. He was concerned that since Liberty Tree serves over 300 pounds of turkey a day it would be more than a little difficult to prevent cross-contamination. Upon further discussion about preparation areas, equipment, and ovens, we determined that it would only be the vapors in the oven where such contamination could occur. I decided that the risk was acceptable and we went ahead with the reservation. Though I was a little irritated that the chef suggested that we eat elsewhere, I was glad that we had the in-depth conversation that we did. It was good for him as well as for me. Chefs need to know the concerns of their food-allergic costumers.

The meal that my son ultimately had was amazing! It included salad, dairy-free mashed potatoes, seasoned vegetables, carved beef, sliced pork, and a delicious sorbet with fruit dessert. He doesn’t like all the attention we give to his food, even when we’re excited about what he actually can have. My wife and I tried hard to simply sit back and smile at each other over this wonderful experience.

Liberty Tree Tavern menu

Liberty Tree Tavern kids menu

My wife and I dined at Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe at the Magic Kingdom Park in Disney World. This place was our second favorite place to dine at any of the Disney World theme parks. The chefs came out and talked to us, and asked what we wanted. We were dining with a milk allergy, so they showed us our options. We chose the 1/2 rotisserie chicken with two sides of french fries. I believe the meal we ordered usually comes with 1/2 chicken, french fries, and a side of green beans. However, we did not select the green beans and instead chose two sides of french fries. We split the meal between both of us, and it was plenty of food and tasted great. Although the french fries may not be the healthiest choice, the chicken seemed healthy and tasted great.

We dined here during the second week of May 2012. Both times we dined here, the chefs were wonderful and brought our meal to us himself. I would suggest bringing many snacks for your trip because many of the quick-service meals at WDW offer very similar options, so it is nice to have snacks.

They do sell some allergy-friendly snacks/treats around the park. We saw Enjoy Life chocolate bars and Surf Sweet’s gummies around the park. We had a wonderful trip, and I would suggest trying Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe to anyone dining with food allergies.

Late in the afternoon last July after a full day on the rides at Disneyland we entered New Orleans Square to dine at the Blue Bayou, a Cajun and Creole style restaurant that is conjoined with the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction.   Boats quietly stream through the dining area filled with families on the Pirates of the Caribbean ride as dim lights twinkle, crickets chirp, frogs croak, and the décor evokes a feel of the bayou after nightfall.   It feels cooler in temperature, calmer in spirit, and comfortable for allowing our minds and bodies to recharge after a day of fun-filled high energy excitement in the hot summer sun.

Although not surprising during summer break; that afternoon every table was filled.   Anticipating this, we had made reservations before visiting the park, and our large party of 12 waited about 20 minutes to be seated.  The waiting area was crowded however and some of us explored the shops at New Orleans Square or watched musicians and jugglers stroll by to pass the time.  During the busy season, many families walk in to escape the sun and heat looking for a cooler and unique place to dine so making advance reservations is highly recommended.

Soon after we arrived we informed the host that we had dietary restrictions in the form of food allergies and intolerances.  Once seated at a very long table we talked with our waiter about our son’s food allergies (dairy, tree nuts and peanuts) and my intolerances.  He graciously explained that he would send the chef out to our table to make sure our order was prepared correctly.  (Thank you Joel Schaeffer…who instituted this service…it is fantastic)  The chef was very helpful and took my order and my son’s order personally, while the waiter took orders from the rest of our table.  He crouched down to our eye level, asked what foods we need to avoid and talked about how he would prepare our son’s meal.   The chef’s presence, assuredness, and menu suggestions were a welcomed relief to me as a parent and someone who also has a limited diet.  We were both able to eat the Tesoro Island chicken, a roasted chicken without any of his allergens or my intolerances …gluten and soy.  A side of pasta rounded out our son’s meal.  The bread was off limits since it contained dairy however not uncommon among restaurant breads.  I was able to indulge in roasted potatoes and vegetables …yum.

When the meals arrived, the allergen free meals had flags in them to identify that they were specially prepared.  The chef again returned and informed us the allergen free meals were prepared by him personally.  Overall our experience was fantastic.  We were very impressed how smoothly things went, especially given how busy it was; we normally dine out only during slow times to minimize risk.  Even though it happened almost a year ago our son is still delighted by his experience at the Blue Bayou.

Enjoy!

Julie

Once again, while we’re at Disney World, we are hosting another Find the Mouse at Disney contest. We’re still working the schedule, but the details, so far, are:

The contest runs from May 24th – 28th.

Current schedule (more details to follow)

• Thursday – 24th – Blizzard Beach (look for our logo on a bag instead of a shirt)
• Friday – 25th – Magic Kingdom
• Saturday – 26th – Hollywood Studios
• Sunday – 27th – Epcot – Girls Scouts 100th Anniversary Celebration
• Monday – 28th – Animal Kingdom

Now, for the really exciting news — Enjoy Life Foods is once again sponsoring this contest!!

Find us in the park for a chance to win the grand prize. We’ll be handing out Enjoy Life treats as we encounter visitors with food allergies. However, if you find us in the park and mention the contest, you’ll be entered into a daily drawing for a Disney Gift Card.

We will also be attending the Girl Scouts “Bridging to the Next Century” event at Epcot on Sunday. Contact us and we can arrange treats for your troop, with no food allergy concerns, since Enjoy Life is free of the top 8 food allergens.

We will also be randomly choosing a winner from our Facebook and Twitter mentions. Be sure to include #findthemouse and we’ll find your post to enter into the drawing.

If you know someone visiting Disney World between May 24th and 28th, be sure to pass this along to them! Start now by using the icons below!

And her name is Danielle. She shared her food allergy dining experiences at Nine Dragons in Epcot and Backlot Express in Hollywood Studios. Danielle is allergic to dairy, but had no problems dining at Disney.

For sharing her experiences, and earning the most “thumbs-ups” and “Likes” on Facebook, Danielle has won a $100 Disney Gift Card, to be used at the Disney Store, online or in person.

Thank you, Danielle, as well as our other contestants. We hope you all continue to share your Disney food allergy dining experiences with our readers. The thumbs-ups and Likes all prove that others are benefiting from these shared experiences.

A new contest is coming soon. So start writing today for the next one!

So, I called the manufacturer and was told that if there was no mention of dairy in the facility, they were safe since they were made before the milk chocolate was introduced into the plant. So, like many of you, I’m going to have to get into the kitchen and figure out how to make my child’s favorite treat. I’ll write about that next Spring!

I used Kraft marshmallows and EnviroKids Organic Koala Crisps. They are dairy-free and gluten-free. Sadly, they are not peanut, tree nut or soy free. I followed the classic rice crispy treat recipe, using Earth Balance buttery spread, to create chocolate nests. I formed them using a big plastic egg, molding around the bottom. Place the peeps inside and bring up the sides of the nest to cover the white marshmallow sides of the chicks — a result of separating the chicks when removed from the package.

My daughter’s classmates went wild when we brought them in for their Easter celebration!

I made both from the stiff cardboard backing of two notepads. I scored them, covered them with paper and stickers. Then, I took pre-cut flowers from an American Girl craft pad that I purchased from Michaels. I then applied self-adhesive chipboard numbers to the flowers.

I added Glue Dots to the glittery clothespins and voilà, a countdown calendar!

The Girl Scouts and Alumni, will bridge together in Epcot, with Disney characters waiting at the end to congratulate the girls.

OK, this is where it really gets exciting.

3 day tickets are only $126! That’s a $96 discount. These are not Park Hopper, but they are available at a discount, too. Add a 3 day hotel at the All-Star Sports Resort for $97 per night (tax included) and you have a Disney vacation for a family of 4 for $795. A discounted moderate hotel may be available, too.

The details are here: Girl Scouts at Disney Pricing and Information

To make reservations, go here:
http://www.disneynow.com/profile/form/index.cfm?PKformID=0x66387dcb4

Follow the Girl Scouts of Citrus Council on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/girlscoutsofcitruscouncil/posts/329931927052793

Copyright Walt Disney Productions. People in the photo: (l to r) Dorothy Jensen, Lucia Basmajian, (mother) Edna Basmajian and, of course, Walt Disney. Source: www.johnbasmajian.com

Allergy Free Mouse will be at Epcot to meet our readers, probably with some sort of food allergy free handout.

Book ASAP – great dining options are still available.

Did you know? Walt Disney was an honorary Girl Scout

The Happiest Place on Earth just got a little happier, because Disneyland serves gluten free food! It’s true! At Rancho del Zocalo, a quaint Spanish-style restaurant near Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, I spoke with the chef, and she instructed the cooking staff how to prepare my gluten free meal. I enjoyed an enchilada for the first time in a long time! Delicioso!

Mexican food isn’t the only thing that’s gluten free at Disneyland, though. Apparently, they offer gluten free pizza at Redd Rockett’s Pizza Port in Tomorrowland and many other items throughout the park! In fact, I ordered an ice cream at Gibson Girl Ice Cream Parlor on Main Street, U.S.A., and the staff turned into the enchanted servants from Beauty and the Beast, washing ice cream scoops and opening new tubs of “non contaminated” ice cream to ensure a gluten free experience!

Now, if only New Orleans Square could come up with a gluten free sourdough bowl with gluten free clam chowder, it really would be the place where dreams come true!=)

For more gluten free tidbits by Karen Pickrell, visit kareninreallife.com!=)

While traveling as a single person in downtown Disney. I ventured into Disney Quest. Had a wonderful time in there enjoying all the sights and sounds, and of course a few games. Even learned how to draw a Disney character while I was there.

But the best part was enjoying my dinner at their cafe. I approached them a little hesitantly because I was doing it ‘single’ and didn’t want to be turned away, I was hungry. I shouldn’t have worried in the least, their staff was SO very helpful in accommodating my allergies (wheat, soy, peanuts, potatoes, black pepper and eggs) asking all sorts of questions in order for me to feel safe and fed. They even assured me of how the product was being cooked and that it had a dedicated way to do so. I even got to read the ingredients on the chicken patties to make sure that nothing was amiss. They were even accommodating as to replace the french fries with a salad so that I could have a full meal.

So in doing Downtown Disney as a single person with allergies I would gladly go there again. As we would say in the Navy “Bravo Zulu” to the kitchen staff!

On a side note, I did venture into Epcot but it was raining the whole day I was there, didn’t get the luxury of time to try eating there! So if you are single with allergies, and doing it alone, don’t be afraid to try Disney, I know I will!

This is great news for Disney fans with food allergies, especially if you need to keep an in-room stock of allergen free foods, have food delivered by Garden Grocer or, maybe, like to keep special treats from BabyCakes NYC on-hand.

As mentioned in our Tips section, don’t forget to give them a little extra cleaning when you arrive, just in case.

Having a fridge in the room is such a huge benefit if you travel with a food allergy, and Disney just made it easier for those who prefer to stay at the Value Resorts.

I made our reservation a few months before we traveled to Disney World. I made the reservation via Disney’s online reservations and it has an area where you can list all of your food allergies or special needs. When we arrived at Tusker House to check in, the hostess was already aware of my sons special needs as our reservation was flagged with “Food Allergies”. Due to the time of year that we went, the dining room wasn’t as crowded as I expected and even though we arrived 20 minutes early, we were seated right away. Our original reservation was for 10 AM.

Because this restaurant is in Animal Kingdom, it has a safari feel to it. The characters themselves (Mickey, Donald, Daisy Duck, and Goofy are dressed in safari type outfits). The seating is comfortable and the tables are not too close together. Even though we were seated at the back of the restaurant, none of the tables were too far from the buffet. As you are dining, the characters come around to the tables to say hello, sign autographs and take photos with the customers. There is also a parade that takes place with the characters and the children are a part of it. Each child receives a percussion type instrument and they parade around the restaurant with the characters to music. Even my 10 years old son enjoyed this. It was a lot of fun.

When we were seated, our server was also already aware of the food allergies. She took our drink order and went to the kitchen to let the chef know that we had a special order. The chef came to our table and let me know exactly what was safe on the menu for my sons allergies. Even though there were other safe options my son chose to have fruit, bacon, hash browns, rice and waffles. Because this restaurant is buffet style and buffets are never safe for food allergies due to cross contamination, my son was brought out a safe plate of food directly from the kitchen by the chef. The chef had also made my son safe Mickey shaped waffles which were really cute. We all ordered jungle juice to drink and it was really delicious.

The waitress and the chef came to the table at various points to make sure that everything was fine for my son. When he needed more bacon, the chef brought out extra from the kitchen along with some extras of the other food items he had originally requested. They really took great care with him and he never wanted for anything. Our dining experience and the staff at the Tusker House was top notch.

Some suggestions that I have are:

1. Make your reservations in advance.
2. Tell everyone and anyone who is handling your dining experience about your food allergies.
3. Make sure to have the chef or the manager facilitate the food allergy order.
4. If you are dining at a facility that has a buffet, make sure that your food comes directly from the kitchen and not the buffet.

You can find out more about our Disney World Dining experience at my blog www.zumfamily.blogspot.com

Janeen Zumerling is a Health Community Manager, Blogger and Food Allergy Advocate. She can be found blogging at: www.zumfamily.blogspot.com (Our Story: The Good, the Bad, and the Food Allergies) and at www.foodallergycooking.blogspot.com (Mom’s Food Allergy Diner). A former Sales and Marketing Representative, Janeen is currently a stay at home mom and lives in Ohio with her husband and two young sons one of whom has multiple life threatening food allergies and asthma.

My family and I recently returned from an annual trip to Disney World. One of the most surprising dining experiences was at the Garden Grill in Epcot, the wonderful revolving restaurant. Reservations had been made, as our party has two people with Celiac disease, no wheat, gluten, barley or oats and one Vegetarian. We were greeted and escorted to our table quickly around 6:00 pm, restaurant was full. This is also a character dining experience, you get to meet Goofy, Pluto and Chip & Dale while you dine. My grandson is getting a little old (almost 12) for pictures with characters, but he humored us adults. The waitress, a lovely woman from Brazil was very pleasant and helpful, when she saw the tickets with the allergies listed she immediately said the Chef would be right out. Chef arrived and talked over everything with us. Surprisingly all the food was Gluten free except the rolls, but gluten free rolls would be provided.

This restaurant is family style with servings of Roast Beef, Roast Turkey and Baked Fish. There is also a wonderful large salad served, which was brought with the bacon bits on the side.The vegetarian offering was really generous, my son received a very large plate of mixed vegetables with mashed potatoes and two smaller sides. The waitress informed him that the rice was cooked in chicken broth and for him to avoid it, she then brought the two smaller sides to fill in his selection for him.

Everything was delicious, and served so nicely, not the usual platters and bowls full of food, but all arranged beautifully on a long platter. We did get a second platter and put a pretty good dent in it. The Turkey was served with mashed potatoes & gravy, the roast beef had a wine butter and the baked fish was served over rice, there was also a dish of green beans. Dessert was warm apple crisp and brownie sundaes for the those who could not eat oats.

This was a very enjoyable dining experience and I would recommend it to anyone with any food allergy, they can accommodate you.

Bye for now, Jane

Formerly called El Pirate Y El Perico and located in Adventureland in the Magic Kingdom, Tortuga Tavern is a quick service restaurant. Like other quick service restaurants, they have the food allergy book at their cash registers. However, always ask for the manager and place your order with him or her. We always ask the manager to prepare our daughter’s meal, but most of the time we don’t even have to ask. We also ask that they prepare her meal “off the line” from new, unopened packages and the fresh batches of ingredients that haven’t been put on the line.

Take a look at the “fixing bar” and see what you might like to add to your meal, so that they may pull that from the fresh ingredients as well. I do this as the manager prepares the meal and we are waiting.

On the last visit, I ordered a black bean burrito with lettuce, rice and salsa for our daughter, who is severely allergic to dairy. We also ask for packaged grapes and Enjoy Life Foods treat.

The manager did a great job preparing the meal, and she wasn’t at all bothered or annoyed about any of our requests. It was another fantastic Disney experience.

Be sure to view the menu (link below) to help you decide what might work for your food allergy. We did ask the manager if they have gluten-free tortillas. She said that they do, most of the time, but the don’t always receive them in their daily supply. So be sure to ask.

Tortuga Tavern menu

Be sure to read the Code of Conduct

When we go to Disney, we love to stay at the Coronado Springs Resort. I’ve heard that a lot of people don’t like it here because it is too big, but that is why we like it. Walking around this beautiful resort, you feel like you are the only one here. And finding your way into the Pepper Market, even better.

Pepper Market is actually a counter service, but you eat like at a table service. Other comments I have heard about this place is that it is too confusing. I don’t think so, and we dine with a severely food allergic child, we KNOW confusing! When you first walk up, a hostess seats you at a table and gives you some food cards. That’s when our waiter showed up to get our drink orders. This is when we told him about our son’s food allergies and he promptly went back to get the chef. Yes, I said chef, not manager, but chef.

Thankfully, the last several years dining here, Chef Cliff has remained. He is a wonderful chef, and very knowledgeable about food allergies. And the presentation of our son’s meal was better than most of the table service restaurants. Kevin selected the Grilled Mahi Mahi with grilled yellow squash and zucchini, and for dessert a cup of milk free ice cream, the same meal he had the previous year.

My husband and I took turns getting our food. This is how the food card works: you take your food card up to one of the many stations where you want something (there are multiple stations serving Italian pastas, pizzas, Mexican dishes, even grilled steak!). You pick out what you want, the attendant stamps what you ordered and you wait on them to freshly prepare your food right in front of you. You then take your food back to your table, and that’s it. The only difference in this counter service with others, besides the amount of food and choices you have, is that you have a waiter, so you must leave a tip. So be sure to have some cash on you, because we were told they couldn’t put the tip on our Key to the World card.  Once you are finished with your meal, you take your cards up to the cashier and she will ring you up.

But back to the food. My husband always chooses something in the Mexican cuisine. I wanted pasta. I picked Chicken Fettuccini with Broccoli. It was so much food. I was able to box it up, put it in the fridge back in our room and eat on it the next day! It was enough for 2 people, but it was so good. Of course, I would have rather had my son’s meal. Too bad they don’t offer this at one of the stations. Chef Cliff told me that it is a real treat to cook for food allergy guests because he can cook “outside the box”. He does such a great job at it too! Even if someday we move up to staying in a Deluxe, we will continue to come back to Pepper Market. Hopefully, Chef Cliff will be there too.

This is one of our favorite places to eat, and it’s only a counter service. Chef Cliff is wonderful. Both visits, he went out of his way to make our son the best meal I have ever seen. We had so many people walk by our table, wondering where they could get that meal. This will be a go to place from now on.

Coronado Springs Resort is a beautiful resort. Walking around this vast area, you feel like you are in Mexico. You have the Cabana area, where it feels like the Mexican Riviera. Then there is the Casitas, with all the fountains, so relaxing. Finally there are the Ranchos, a desert area with lots of cacti. By this time, you are really in the mood for some Mexican cuisine.

We had never eaten at Maya Grill, but when my son saw they had tacos on the menu, he wanted to try it. We ate there the night we were leaving (I try to extend our last day as long as I can). The restaurant is so nice inside, including a musician playing the guitar as we ate. We sat next to a beautiful fountain, it was truly relaxing.

The chef came out to our table and what he could prepare our son that was safe. Kevin choose steak tacos, with no cheese or sour cream, of course. I was concerned about the Spanish rice, but my son tried it and said it was great. This was a great restaurant, we were just so tired and ready to hit the road. We probably didn’t give it as much time as we should have, but we will try it again. Just not on the last day of our trip. Plus, if you are staying in Coronado, it’s nice to have such a great restaurant with different flavors on site.

As for advice on how to dine safely with food allergies, here are a few tips when planning and taking you vacation. We made Advanced Dining Reservations (ADRs) 180 days in advance, noting on the reservations that we had food allergies. We also contacted the Special Diets department at Disney World through email. We filled out all the forms and faxed back with the ADRs listed and the food allergies in detail. Once we arrived at the restaurant, we made sure the Hostess had a note we had food allergies and which ones they were. When we were seated, we mentioned the food allergies to our server who went to get the chef. The chef went over what he could have and let Kevin, our son, decided what he wanted to eat. If we had questions on any product, they would bring us out the ingredient label. Also….the chef should be the one delivering the food allergy safe food, so that there is no cross contamination or mix up. The chef also came out periodically to check on us to make sure everything was ok.

Now, BabyCakes NYC can deliver cakes to Disney World, offering the best of two already great options.

Having a cake delivered to a dining event is already truly exciting for a child with food allergies. And our friends at BabyCakes NYC have the most delicious allergen-friendly and vegan baked goods on the planet. Therefore, having a BabyCakes NYC cake delivered to a Disney dining event has to be just as exciting as dining with Mickey Mouse or the entire Disney Princess Royal Family. At least, for a child with food allergies, it ranks right up there.

BabyCakes NYC offers a 6″ round cake (serves 8-10) in a number of different flavors including:  Vanilla, Chocolate, Carrot, Lemon, Brownie, Blondie, Banana, and Pumpkin. And they can also write personalized inscriptions, too!

Guests can place their cake orders by calling the bakery directly (407.938.9044).  They just need to have their reservation date, time, and confirmation number handy. BabyCakes NYC asks for at least one week notice for these orders, but the earlier the better!

We can hardly wait until our next trip to bring back this tradition. Of course, we’ll still have to stop in at BabyCakes NYC upon arrival in Orlando!

Sci-Fi Dine-In….what a neat place to eat! Tucked in the back area of Hollywood Studios, this is a unique place. At first, I was a little concerned in eating here, since it seems they serve ice cream with everything, and my son is anaphylactic to milk. But once you see the inside, you have to try it. It really feels like you are dining in an old drive in movie theater. The past few years, we were lucky enough to get to eat in a nice car too. And the chefs here really know how to handle food allergies.

When the chef came to our table, he made our waitress clean the table again, with a new clean towel so that there would be no cross contamination. As for food choices with food allergies, there is not much to choose from. It’s basically a hamburger. But since we hadn’t eaten any the whole trip, a hamburger actually sounded like a real treat! My husband opted for a loaded Picnic hamburger, complete with a hot dog and tons of other stuff on top! He said it was good, just a little too much (especially since we had Fast Passes for Rock-n-Roller coaster right after). I went for a burger too. It wasn’t the best burger in the world. But sitting in that car with my son, watching B movies while he ate a safe burger with fries and laughed at Donald running across the screen, it was all worth it.

But the best part…..when the chef came out and offered to make my son his first ever, store bought, milk free milk shake. He loved it, we loved it. Just make sure you have reservations. Even with reservations, we still had to wait almost an hour. Especially if it rains, this place gets packed quick.

As for advice on how to dine safely with food allergies, here are a few tips when planning and taking you vacation. We made Advanced Dining Reservations (ADRs) 180 days in advance, noting on the reservations that we had food allergies. We also contacted the Special Diets dept at Walt Disney World through email. We filled out all the forms and faxed back with the ADRs listed and the food allergies in detail. Once we arrived at the restaurant, we made sure the Hostess had a note we had food allergies and which one they were. When we were seated, we mentioned the food allergies to our server who went to get the chef. The chef went over what he could have and let Kevin, our son, decide what he wanted to eat. If we had questions on any product, they would bring us out the ingredient label. Also….the chef should be the one delivering the food allergy safe food, so that there is no cross contamination or mix up. The chef also came out periodically to check on us to make sure everything was ok.

Having a child with dairy allergies, I would have never thought that Tony’s Town Square would be safe for him, since it is Italian after all. But after my husband and son convinced me to try it (they love The Lady and the Tramp), I gave in. Not to mention the location of the restaurant. It is right on the path for the nightly parades. So, if you find yourself eating there around parade time, ask for a table close to a window or on the patio. I love just looking at all the pictures lining the room. Seeing Lady and the Tramp share a bowl of pasta always makes me want to recreate that with my husband. But having an 8 year old cringing and covering his face kind of kills the mood. But the decor is so beautiful. Only in Disney can you have such themed restaurants.

As for the food, many have said they do not like it here. But we have always had a wonderful meal. In 2010, Kevin had the Grilled Salmon with spaghetti noodles, a safe roll, and apple slices for dessert. The following year, he again had the Grilled Salmon with spaghetti and sauce, green beans & carrots, and for dessert a fruit cup. My husband choose the Pollo Parmigiana, and said it was pretty tasty. I choose the catch of the day, which was Mahi Mahi, over Mushroom Risotto. Wow, no where but Disney can you get such wonderful risotto. But what I mostly love here is the desserts. Every time we eat here, there is something different. Although, my husband always gets the cheesecake, I love to try new things. This year I tried the Chocolate Hazelnut Cake. This was so rich and moist. I hope they have it the next time. Last year, I went for the Lemon Cake. Another winner! There is something about a tart, sweet piece of cake that satisfies the palette after a savory meal. And now, with the location of the Princess’s and Mickey next door, not to mention the complete re-do of the waiting and shopping area, this place is getting more and more crowded.

As for advice on how to dine safely with food allergies, here are a few tips when planning and taking you vacation. We made Advanced Dining Reservations (ADRs) 180 days in advance, noting on the reservations that we had food allergies. We also contacted the Special Diets dept at Disney World through email. We filled out all the forms and faxed back with the ADRs listed and the food allergies in detail. Once we arrived at the restaurant, we made sure the Hostess had a note we had food allergies and which one they were. When we were seated, we mentioned the food allergies to our server who went to get the chef. The chef went over what he could have and let Kevin, our son, decided what he wanted to eat. If we had questions on any product, they would bring us out the ingredient label. Also….the chef should be the one delivering the food allergy safe food, so that there is no cross contamination or mix up. The chef also came out periodically to check on us to make sure everything was ok.

What a beautiful resort! That is what drove us to try this restaurant, because my husband has wanted to stay here since he first saw it. The restaurant is located right in the lobby of the Wilderness Lodge, and just waiting for a table is exciting. But this restaurant is like no other. The first time we dined here, I thought our waitress was slightly rude, only to find out that they just treat you like family!

What a great dinner, although a little loud. And be careful when eating at this restaurant with food allergic kids. There is a lot of people interaction. So, unless you want 10 kids standing around your table with 100 bottles of ketchup and sticky fingers, don’t ask for “KETCHUP”. Not only is there a lot of yelling, there are a lot of kids running around on wooden horses. The first few years, we were a little concerned about letting our severely food allergic kid race around a restaurant filled with “food bombs”, but also touching things that other kids had been touching after eating. But a few trips to the bathroom and a good scrubbing, he had a blast!

Last year, since we were eating there a few days before our 11th anniversary, they waitress presented us with 2 free glasses of champagne. She made us stand up, introduced us to the whole restaurant, lead them all in wishing us a happy anniversary, and then made us kiss. So this is not a restaurant for the shy, or those wanting to have a quiet meal. If you don’t mind the noise, I highly recommend it. My husband usually orders the Canyon Skillet. This is so much food — too much actually. I think they put everything from the kitchen on it! He’s always so full, he’s miserable. This year, he choose the Trout and left happy and full. I always go for the Pot Roast. It is fall-apart-good!

Kevin, our son, had the Grilled Mahi Mahi w/ green beans & french fries, and for dessert a fruit cup. It’s his favorite. The previous year, he had the same with mashed potatoes and a popsicle.

After dinner, don’t forget to walk around this lovely property. Outside, you will find an amazing pool, lots of streams and a geyser that goes off periodically. You can also catch a boat over to the Magic Kingdom. What a great way to end a wonderful meal!

As for advice on how to dine safely with food allergies, here are a few tips when planning and taking you vacation. We made Advanced Dining Reservations (ADRs) 180 days in advance, noting on the reservations that we had food allergies. We also contacted the Special Diets department at Disney World through email. We filled out all the forms and faxed back with the ADRs listed and the food allergies in detail. Once we arrived at the restaurant, we made sure the Hostess had a note we had food allergies and which one they were. When we were seated, we mentioned the food allergies to our server who went to get the chef. The chef went over what he could have and let Kevin, our son, decided what he wanted to eat. If we had questions on any product, they would bring us out the ingredient label. Also….the chef should be the one delivering the food allergy safe food, so that there is no cross contamination or mix up. The chef also came out periodically to check on us to make sure everything was ok.

Whispering Canyon Cafe – breakfast menu

Whispering Canyon Cafe – breakfast kids menu

I want to share my favorite dining experience at Disneyworld, the Backlot Express! Backlot Express is located in Hollywood Studios. I went to this place many times during my trip in the Spring of 2010 because I enjoyed the food and service so much. The manager was well aware of food allergies and took my milk allergy very seriously. He personally served me my meal, even though the restaurant is a grab-and-go type of restaurant.

I ordered the chicken tenderloins (which were free of the top 8 allergens) and french fries. They both tasted great! He allowed me to read all labels, and told me the chicken tenders and fries were fried in a separate fryer apart from the allergen containing fryer. I thought that was great that they were so knowledgeable. I suggest going before the rush gets there, because the lines can be very long and meals get prepared quick as possible during these times, leaving more room for error.

I felt very confident and safe eating at the Backlot Express, and would recommend it to anyone who has one or more of the top 8 food allergies. It is also affordable and my food was prepared quick so we could go ride the rides and enjoy Disney World.

Coral Reef is such an interesting place to dine out. What first drew us to it was the location. Since it is right next to the Nemo ride, and having a 5 year old at the time, we were constantly on they ride and we had to try it. There were some mixed reviews on the food, but we have found it to be a great place for some wonderful seafood. The main attraction is not the food, however. It is the huge aquarium that takes up the whole wall of the restaurant. The layout of the dining room is wonderful. With different levels on which to eat, there is not a bad view of the aquarium. This last trip, we were able to request a table next to the water. This really kept our son occupied while my husband and I could talk.

The hostess presented our son with a “fish finder” card so he could locate and identify all types of fish. Of course, this also lead to him looking for the fish he just ate, wondering if they just got it out of the tank! He had the Grilled Salmon with rice,green beans and carrots. For dessert he had milk free vanilla ice cream with safe chocolate sauce and sprinkles.

It is a very relaxing atmosphere. As for non-food allergy food, I highly recommend the Seared Corvina Fish over Mushroom Risotto. My husband always raves about the Lobster Ravioli and Scallops. Ohhhh, what a wonderful dinner that was.

As for advice on how to dine safely with food allergies, here are a few tips when planning and taking you vacation. We made Advanced Dining Reservations (ADRs) 180 days in advance, noting on the reservations that we had food allergies. We also contacted the Special Diets dept at WDW through email. We filled out all the forms and faxed back with the (ADRs) listed and the food allergies in detail. Once we arrived at the restaurant, we made sure the Hostess had a note we had food allergies and which one they were. When we were seated, we mentioned the food allergies to our server who went to get the chef. The chef went over what he could have and let Kevin, our son, decided what he wanted to eat. If we had questions on any product, they would bring us out the ingredient label. Also, the chef should deliver the food allergy safe food, so that there is no cross contamination or mix up. The chef also came out periodically to check on us to make sure everything was ok.

Oh, the Grand Floridian, so lovely. I love walking around this resort. The gardens are so beautifully landscaped, the lobby is just grand! And the Cafe offers the same. With the white linen topped tables, you feel like you are fine dining, but in a more relaxed atmosphere. We end every trip to Disney with a lunch here. We start our last day at the Magic Kingdom and then catch the monorail for a relaxing lunch at the Cafe. The service here is always top-notch. The chefs are so helpful, and excited to help my son eat something safe. He always chooses some type of fish. This last trip, it was Mahi Mahi. He ate it so quick, I didn’t have time to snap a picture of it. But the highlight of the meal was his fries. They were the best fries I have ever had. I have to admit that I ate half his fries, but I just couldn’t help myself.

The waitress even brought my son an unopened small jar of special ketchup, just to make sure that there was no cross contamination with the large bottles they refill nightly. That was a wonderful touch and just goes to show you that they think of everything!

I also went for the Mahi Mahi, but over a bed of Mushroom Risotto. I believe I ate my body weight in risotto this past trip. It was so good. My husband went for the Shrimp Pasta. It was very good too (I had to taste it).

For dessert, the chef brought out some safe fruit sorbet for my son. I hate to admit it, but I was a little leery about him eating it. I had never seen a milk free sorbet. Thankfully, my son was too full to try it, so my husband and I ate it. It was very creamy, but who knows if there was milk in it or not. I just had to go with my gut. As for my dessert, my husband and I split the Dessert Sampler. What a treat that is!

After lunch, we strolled around the property, and my son and I danced to the orchestra playing in the lobby. Then, back for our last few rides in the Magic Kingdom. This is another restaurant we will keep on the list.

As for advice on how to dine safely with food allergies, here are a few tips when planning and taking you vacation. We made Advanced Dining Reservations (ADRs) 180 days in advance, noting on the reservations that we had food allergies. We also contacted the Special Diets dept at Disney World through email. We filled out all the forms and faxed back with the ADRs listed and the food allergies in detail. Once we arrived at the restaurant, we made sure the Hostess had a note we had food allergies and which ones they were. When we were seated, we mentioned the food allergies to our server who went to get the chef. The chef went over what he could have and let Kevin, our son, decided what he wanted to eat. If we had questions on any product, they would bring us out the ingredient label. Also….the chef should be the one delivering the food allergy safe food, so there is no cross contamination or mix up. The chef also came out periodically to check on us to make sure everything was ok.

I have always wanted to stay at the Contemporary resort. The idea of hopping the monorail over to Magic Kingdom or Epcot, and not having to wait on a bus out in the elements, really appealed to me. Then, when I saw photos of the modern rooms, I knew this was going to be my dream place. Although we haven’t stayed here yet, our last trip, we made sure to eat here. Since it was our 11th anniversary, I wanted to find a nice place where we hadn’t eaten before. And dining with a food allergic child, we always go over the menus prior to our trip, to be sure it will be a safe place, too.

Walking into The Wave, makes me feel like I am going into the Space Mountain ride. It seems so futuristic. We only had to wait for 5 minutes until our name was called. The waitress had already notified the chef. When he suggested a pizza, I was reluctant. My son’s face lit up though. So I peppered the chef with questions: Is the cheese milk free? No whey or casein right? What about the crust? He patiently answered all my questions. As it turns out, he uses Daiya cheese. I use that at home on my son’s pizzas too! Our son was so excited to eat a pizza I hadn’t made for him. He felt so special. No sooner did the chef return with the pepperoni pizza, my son was digging in. It was gone in a matter of minutes. He said he didn’t want to hurt my feelings, but it was the best pizza he had ever eaten. He also had a fruit cup and milk-free ice cream for dessert. He was so happy. And he also declared that this was OUR restaurant from now on.

My husband chose the Chicken with Waffles. He ate his meal almost as fast as our son did his! He said it was delicious. I went for the Filet Mignon. I love a good steak, and this was a great one. It gave Le Cellier a run for its money. But the dessert is one of the best parts. My husband and I both picked two different dessert samplers and shared. We got to try the American Flavor and the Creamy Indulgence. I would be hard pressed to decide which ones I liked best. After dinner, make time to walk around this lovely resort. Even though every resort has a shop, many carry unique items. Then, catch the monorail over to Magic Kingdom and watch the fireworks!

As for advice on how to dine safely with food allergies, here are a few tips when planning and taking your vacation. We made ADR’s (Advanced Dining Reservations) 180 days in advance, noting on the reservations that we had food allergies. We also contacted the Special Diets department at Disney World through email. We filled out all the forms and faxed back with the ADR’s listed and the food allergies in detail. Once we arrived at the restaurant, we made sure the Hostess had a note that we had food allergies and which ones they were. When we were seated, we mentioned the food allergies to our server who went to get the chef. The chef went over what he could have and let Kevin, our son, decided what he wanted to eat. If we had questions on any product, they would bring us the ingredient label. Also….the chef should be the one delivering the food allergy safe food, so that there is no cross contamination or mix up. The chef also came out periodically to check on us to make sure everything was ok.

The Wave menu

It was our first time going on a cruise. The first time taking our children on a cruise. The first time take children with food allergies on a cruise. We are going to be in the middle of the ocean or at an island in the Bahamas. Let the panic commence! But wait, this is a Disney cruise. Remember how great Disney is with food allergies. Begin calming down.

We went on our first Disney Cruise in March/April of 2010. We had loved taking our allergy kids to Disney World in 2008 so I was hoping for the same type of experience on the cruise. Both of our kids are allergic to eggs and our daughter was allergic to milk also. This was a family trip, and I wasn’t in charge of booking anything, so I called Disney with lots of questions. Yes, they would make a note that our two little travelers had food allergies. No, they could not tell me specifically what foods would be available for our allergy needs. I decided we were going to see Mickey and go to the beach, so the kids would have a fabulous time even if they only got cereal and juice on the cruise. Of course, Disney far exceeded my expectations.

We arrived at Port Canaveral an hour before boarding time, and that worked out perfectly. We got checked in, had our picture taken with Mickey, and got our kids their ID bracelets. These bracelets stay on the entire cruise and are used at the kids clubs. You can give medical information during the registration process to get the bracelet and request your child not be given any food at the kids clubs. Once we were allowed on the ship we headed straight to Parrot Cay for lunch. This was a buffet and as soon as we let our server know we had food allergies a chef came and spoke with us. This was just like Disney World. Perfect!

We met our servers that would be with us for our voyage at dinner that evening. Our main server knew in advance that the kids had allergies. We discussed it and at every dinner after that there was no explanation needed. It was beyond fabulous to walk to our table at every dinner and not have to go over our allergies. The soy milk was already waiting for our kids and the server knew their options for the evening. The pizza on board was egg-free and our kids could order plain meats, plain fruits, and plain vegetables or fries. Rice Dream ice cream was available every night, so no skipping dessert for the kids either!

Breakfast and lunch are on your own on the ship. You can walk into a restaurant or eat counter service on the deck and just speak to the chef or manager about your allergies. Most of our breakfasts and lunches we chose to do counter service because they were quicker. Our kids had lots of activities they wanted to do and an hour long meal wasn’t on the list! For breakfast the kids ate lots of cereal and fruits. The cereal was in individual containers, so we had no concerns about grabbing it off the buffet. Lunch options included pizza, hamburgers, and hot dogs. The day spent at Castaway Cay you have the option to eat on the island or reboard the ship for lunch. We were impressed that we were able to feed the kids hot dogs and fruit at Cookies BBQ by the beach. We only ventured into a restaurant once for breakfast since it is hard to avoid egg and dairy at that particular meal. They were wonderful and found a french bread my daughter could have. Magically, our server appeared with this same bread that is only served at breakfast for dinner that night. This is an example of what sets Disney apart. They go above and beyond to make their guests happy!

Eating with food allergies on a Disney cruise was a wonderful experience. There is really minimal planning needed. Just be sure to let the cruise line know when you book or at least a month in advance that you have special dietary needs. Talk to the managers at quick service locations or the chefs at buffets. Don’t be shy about asking for what you want or need because they really are happy to make sure you have a safe and delicious meal. We hope to go on another Disney cruise while our kids are still small. We will pack our bags and head south with complete confidence that our children will eat safely and eat well during our trip!

Flame Tree is a nice place to get a great bite of BBQ and sit in the shade for a while. I’ve never had a bad meal here. The BBQ sandwiches are huge, but I don’t believe are allergy safe. My son just loved the chicken legs though. He kept saying how juicy they were. And their sauce…..WOW! Not too sweet, not too spicy, just right. Kevin also had carrots with his chicken, and grapes for dessert.

There is usually a crowd right around “feeding” time, so try to hit this spot on an off hour. The covered eating area fills up quick too, and few people may be there just to escape the heat. Not to mention the birds too. Be prepared as you are dining, there are tons of birds walking around your feet looking for a handout. Some may even hop up on the chair or table! But the area still remains clean. You see Cast Members constantly cleaning the area. And the restaurant staff really keeps the food moving, so there is no long wait. I just hope that in the future, Disney will decide to add some alternate choices for dessert. It seems I get burnt out on those little chocolate cakes pretty fast, since every counter service offers them.

As for advice on how to dine safely with food allergies, here are a few tips when planning and taking you vacation. Dining at a counter service requires no ADRs (Advanced Dining Reservations), so first thing is to speak to a manager. Explain what allergies you are dealing with and they will show you their Food Allergy Binder. It lists all the products including the ingredients. The manager will personally prepare the food and deliver it to you.

Le Cellier is that place were everyone talks about their great steaks and creamy cheese soup.  We love eating here because this is one of the few places where our son can actually order a steak.  So many table service restaurants have hamburgers or chicken fingers on the kids menu.  But not this place.  Not only is the restaurant tucked into a nice corner area with beautiful gardens, the feeling that you are actually in Canada is so relaxing.  You walk down such a nice path, you feel like you are leaving the crowds of Epcot behind you.  There is also a KidCot Station to the right of the restaurant.  This was a nice way to kill the time as we waited on our reservation.  Even though we always make a reservation here, we always have to wait too.

As for the food, I can’t say enough about the steak.  I always go for Filet.  So tender, you can cut it with a fork.  As for my son’s meal, it was wonderful.  Now, we have had a few incidents in the past visits, but nothing that wouldn’t keep us from coming back.  The first problem was when they were bringing my son out an allergy free roll.  The waitress delivered it to the table, which usually doesn’t happen due to cross contamination issues, but we shrugged our shoulders.  As she was handing me the plate, I noticed there was butter on the plate also.  I asked if it was milk free, and she froze.  She quickly took the plate back to the kitchen and returned with the butter gone.  Now, not knowing if she put the roll on another clean plate, or just simply removed the butter off this one, we were not going to take the chance. So our son did not eat that roll.  Better safe than sorry, right?

The second incident involved dessert.  This was on our last trip.  When the waitress noted that our son’s birthday was just a few days away, she presented him a milk free ice cream sundae, sitting on a plate decorated in chocolate that read “Happy Birthday” and some hearts.  Now, while this is great and festive, I couldn’t help but wonder if this was milk free chocolate.  I chipped a piece of chocolate off and it was MILK chocolate.  Thankfully, the safe food was sitting in a bowl and wasn’t touching the milk.  We also tasted the ice cream to make sure it was indeed milk free, and it was.   I was just a little shocked, as Canada seems to be a leader in food allergy awareness.  But again, these 2 problems didn’t occur with the chef, but with the waitressing staff.

So, would we eat here again?  Most definitely!  Just always keep your eyes open and go with your gut.  And now that it is a 2 credit Table Service restaurant, we eat here at lunch and save a credit.  Same food, just smaller portions….which is fine with my waist line.

As for advice on how to dine safely with food allergies, here are a few tips when planning and taking you vacation.  We made ADR’s 180 days in advance, noting on the reservations that we had food allergies.  We also contacted the Special Diets dept at WDW through email.  We filled out all the forms and faxed back with the ADR’s listed and the food allergies in detail.  Once we arrived at the restaurant, we made sure the Hostess had a note that we had food allergies and which ones they were.  When we were seated, we mentioned the food allergies to our server who went to get the chef.  The chef went over what he could have and let Kevin, our son, decided what he wanted to eat.  If we had questions on any product, they would bring us the ingredient label.  Also….the chef should be the one delivering the food allergy safe food, so that there is no cross contamination or mix up.  The chef also came out periodically to check on us to make sure everything was ok.

In 2010, Kevin had the grilled steak with a safe roll, french fries and fruit salad, and for dessert a cup of milk free ice cream, chocolate syrup and sprinkles. Thanks to Chef Sergio for taking great care in preparing his food. In 2011, he also had the grilled steak, this time with french fries and apple slices with brown sugar, and for dessert a cup of milk free ice cream, chocolate syrup and sprinkles.

When I went to Walt Disney World in the spring of 2010, I dined at Nine Dragons Restaurant, located in Epcot. I have a severe allergy to milk. When we got to Nine Dragons, I looked over the menu and decided on a few things I thought would be safe. I then talked to the manager about my allergy and he confirmed my dish would be dairy-free, and showed me the ingredients present in the dish. I ordered the Honey Sesame Chicken with a side of white rice.

I usually feel pretty safe eating at a Chinese Food restaurant, because they do not use a lot of dairy and cheese products. However, I am not sure if I would dine at a Chinese restaurant if I had a peanut/tree nut, fish, soy, or wheat allergy because I believe they use some of those products frequently in the dishes.

I would suggest going for lunch instead of dinner because I believe it would be less crowded and more affordable.  I would dine here again if I go in the near future because I had a great experience, and the food tasted great.

Danielle Bryant

Would you like one of these?

We’re giving another one away! We’re looking for other families and individuals to share their Disney food allergy dining experience. Our readers need much more than a simple restaurant rating. They are seeking restaurant reviews with recommendations and advice suited to their food allergy or allergies.

As an incentive for your contribution, we’re going to award a $100 gift card to the Disney store to one blogger every quarter.

Guidelines for submission

Your submission must be a Disney dining experience, either in a table service, quick service or resort restaurant, within the past 2 years. Disneyland and Disney Cruise dining experiences count, too!

Include the following:

• Restaurant name
• Your food allergies
• Your food allergy free meal, plus other meals in your party (optional)
• The approximate date of your dining event
• Who served you and the chef or manager’s name, if possible.
• A photo, including the food, if you have one or more to share
• Most importantly, tips that made your experience successful, as well as tips for next time.
• Your Author information – how you want to be credited.
• Your web address, or anything else you would like to promote, within reason.

Feel free to include as much detail as you would like — we prefer a minimum of 3 paragraphs.

Please be sure to write the article as if you were explaining your dining experience to someone, so they can fully envision the event. Include some detail about the restaurant, time of day, crowd level or anything else that adds to the enjoyment of the event as well as your food allergy details.

How to submit your entry

Please email your entry to:

Send your reviews in a Microsoft Word, Apple Pages, Google Docs or plain text format. Photos should be in JPG or PNG format.

How to win

We’re looking for personal, detailed reviews with tips and advice. To pick the winner, we will let our readers judge the posts. We use a thumbs-up rating system for our content and will use this, plus Facebook Likes to count votes.  Therefore, we encourage you to invite your readers, friends and families to our website, so they can help us all spread the word. Think of all the kids and parents you’ll help by sharing your experiences and tips.

You may submit as many times as you like, as long as they are for separate restaurants.

We’ll tally the votes on August 4, 2012 at 12:00PM EST and deliver the prize within a week. In the case of a tie, we will award the prize to the article submitted first.

Official Rules /  Legal info:

• This quarter’s contest starts May 5 23, 2012 at 1:00PM EST and ends August 4, 2012 at 12:00PM EST.
• Open only to persons 18 years of age or older as of the date of entry.
• Void where prohibited and is subject to all applicable federal, state, provincial, and local laws.
• Delivery of Disney Gift Card will occur via U.S. mail.
• We are not responsible for shipping eligibility from the online Disney Store. Make sure you live in a location available for DisneyStore.com shipping. They ship to most places on Earth.
• Winner will be notified via the email used for article submission. Be sure to provide your valid email with your article. You will also be notified when your article is published.
• Your article must be your own and it must be original, about dining at Disney with one or more food allergies.
• All articles become property of AllergyFreeMouse.com with attribution to the author, as provided by the author. We reserve the right to publish or remove the article as we feel necessary.
• We are not responsible for articles lost “in the email” and will confirm receipt of all entries within 24 hours. Therefore, if you do not receive acknowledgement of receipt, please email us again or use our contact form for confirmation.

The kitschy decor is fabulous. It’s as if you entered someone’s home in the 50′s, for real! Each table has a TV with old clips, in black and white, of course. Make sure to ask the waitress to take your picture, or better yet, ask someone else to get your family picture with the waitress at your table.

The chef comes out to discuss your food allergy and options, and our daughter chose the chicken strips, macaroni with marinara sauce, steamed veggies and a fruit salad. We asked for more marinara, which she used to “dip” her chicken. We also ordered some fries, just in case she didn’t like the marinara, but she loved it! Our waitress brought her an illuminated Tinker Bell attached to her drink straw. This nice gesture works every time.

My husband ordered Grandma’s Chicken Pot Pie and I was in heaven. I don’t think he said a word until he finished it. I had Cousin Amy’s Iceberg Lettuce Wedge. The bleu cheese, bacon and chives somehow tastes better on iceberg.

Oh, I almost forgot – the 50′s Prime Time Cafe also has wonderful cocktails, if you like that sort of thing. We ordered a Magical Star Cocktail and Dad’s Electric Lemonade, with Dad’s “Experimental Electric Ice Cubes.” Yum, just what we needed. We also stopped back a few hours later for a much-needed AC break. We sat on the sofa, watched TV and had another cocktail, while our daughter played with another little girl. This was one of the best breaks you can get at the Parks!

50s Prime Time Cafe menu

50s Prime Time Cafe kids menu

50s Prime Time Cafe dessert menu

Chef Laurent came to our table and asked about our daughter’s allergy, and gave us our options. We were shock that there were so many for her that were dairy free.

First of all, she enjoyed her first French baguette in a restaurant. He reassured us that it was made on site without dairy. She would have been thrilled with that alone! But, she ordered a romaine hearts salad with a dressing, that I made at the table, of olive oil, pepper, salt, garlic , mustard and vinegar. They were very accommodating and brought ingredients we requested to make our own dressing.

She had the demi poulet fermier roti, pommes rissolées et tomate grillée, or a roasted chicken, herb-roasted potatoes, and a grilled tomato. This was the best chicken we’ve eaten in Epcot, hands down! There is no photo, because she dug in immediately.

Then, just when we thought it couldn’t get any better, the Chef brought out raspberry and kiwi sorbet, again made on site  in their kitchen. He assured us, again, that it was safe and completely free of dairy, and gave her a scope of each. She was thrilled and I don’t know how to express the joy it gave us to see her able to enjoy a meal in a French restaurant for the first time. This is why we love Disney!

My husband and I both had the filet au Poivre, a delicious peppered steak in a peppercorn cream sauce. They were fabulously prepared and delicious, though not dairy free. Of course, we took precautions to keep everything separate on the table. We had to order our own French baguette, anyway, since our daughter had already claimed the first one as her own! She loved that so much.

Chefs de France dinner menu

Chefs de France dessert menu

When you check in, you’re given a special wristband so that you can come and go, to use the restrooms without worry. You have an assigned table where, after being seated, the host will explain the dessert buffet. We were a little skeptical as to what our daughter would be able to eat, if anything. We knew she definitely would not be eating from the buffet! In fact, we even stopped by Main Street Bakery and bought some Divvies and French Meadow treats, just in case. However, once we arrived, the maitre ‘d explained that the chef had prepared a special dairy-free plate of desserts and that he would bring it to her, which he did wearing gloves for added protection. We also asked for clean utensils (not from the buffet) and napkins for her. He also brought here a glass of water from the back, instead of the buffet area.

Well, we were pleasantly shocked!

Her dessert plate was incredible! She was presented with a beautiful assortment of generous cake slices, including hummingbird cake, chocolate cake with chocolate frosting and vanilla cake with vanilla frosting. Surrounding the cake were lovely roses cut from strawberries. An assortment of fresh berries finished off this amazing presentation. She felt so special and I felt so safe. We were all amazed beyond belief! I can’t say enough about those folks at Disney!

My husband and I treated ourselves to the buffet without any guilt! We feasted on mini dessert shots of key lime pie, creme brulee, brownies, ice cream, cookies, chocolate mousse, butterscotch pudding, blondie truffle and lots more. As we were finishing, the fireworks started and Tinker Bell herself flew right over our eyes, directly over us on the terrace! We didn’t notice, until after the fireworks, there was a PhotoPass photographer setup to take pictures in front of the Castle and fireworks. Next time, we’ll take advantage of this incredible opportunity. This is a “don’t miss” event!

And the winners are Susan and Bill, and their children Will and Lainey, from Pennsylvania.

Will and Lainey have severe food allergies tree nuts, peanuts, milk, egg, soy, wheat, shellfish and sesame. However, a box of treats from BabyCakes NYC was a perfect prize and they collected their prize the next day, on their way out of town.

A big thanks to BabyCakes NYC for sponsoring our contest. We had a great time and we are so happy to see the smiles on the faces of Will and Lainey.

Look for an updated review of BabyCakes NYC soon, with some exciting news we learned while visiting the bakery, one of the many times. Additionally, Susan has mentioned that she plans to send us reviews for some of the restaurants they visited while at Disney World. We look forward to sharing those, too.

UPDATE: Will is now telling his family his favorite part of Disney was Downtown Disney “because he got to eat doughnuts.”

One fabulous find, this trip, was Le Chefs de France. They make their own sorbet, and have dedicated equipment with no cross-contamination with dairy. They also make their own French rolls, again without dairy or cross-contamination. Our daughter enjoyed eating fresh French bread for the first time. More about this later when we write the review.

Two more highlights were The Plaza in the Magic Kingdom and the 50s Prime Time Cafe in Hollywood Studios. Prime Time Cafe was literally a blast from the past, and the chef prepared a special plate for our daughter. Later, we found the lounge was an excellent place to stop and cool off.

Akershus was great as usual, for breakfast, and the Princesses were wonderful with Mary Poppins paying a visit this time.

When we first arrived in Disney World, we dined at Wolfgang Puck’s Cafe, where Chef Carlos carved beautiful roses out of fresh strawberries after serving a wonderful grilled chicken for Charlotte. That night, we also flew through BabyCakes NYC to pickup some items to have around in the hotel. We stopped in the next day and discovered another gem in Downtown Disney. Fresh-A-Peel, in the same building as BabyCakes NYC and Pollo Campero, has a smoothie stand that never uses dairy, nuts, or gluten in their blenders. It was the first smoothie our daughter has ever had that we didn’t prepare. They also have other gluten-free options, healthy snacks, juices and fresh fruit.

Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party was a big thrill! We plan to go next year, too. It was so much fun but we didn’t get to do everything. The Disney Villains were behaving as one might expect, wicked and scary, but not too scary. We didn’t have any problem avoiding the candy and there was so much excitement everywhere that our daughter didn’t even noticed the candy stations. We simply brought our favorite Enjoy Life candy bars, Divvies Jelly Beans and other treats so that she had a basket of candy like everyone else. During the Boo to You Parade, Charlotte was offered candy from Goofy’s Candy Company crew, but politely declined.

Another great experience was the Tomorrowland Terrace Fireworks Dessert Party. We had no real expectations for our daughter’s dessert, but we were absolutely impressed. On top of all the delicious dessert samples available for the masses, the waiter met with us and said the chef had prepared a special plate of fabulous desserts for her. And boy did he ever deliver! More about that in our review.

Look for more reviews to come.

So, until we return to the Happiest Place on Earth, we’ll be dining out at our local “allergy free haunts,” Moes, California Pizza Kitchen, Red Robin and Dulce Vegan bakery.

Friday, October 7

Find us at Epcot today to win a delicious box of treats from our sponsor, BabyCakes NYC in Downtown Disney. Look for someone wearing a blue AllergyFreeMouse.com t-shirt, like the one pictured below.

Here is our plan for the day, subject to change at which time we’ll update the page, if possible:

• Akershus Royal Banquet Hall at 10:50 AM
• Via Napoli at 2:00 PM
• Le Chefs de France at 7:30 PM

We’ll also post some locations on Twitter, follow us there @AllergyMouse.

Look for this guy (not Pinocchio)

Thursday, October 6

Find us at Magic Kingdom today to win a delicious box of treats from our sponsor, BabyCakes NYC in Downtown Disney. Look for someone wearing a blue AllergyFreeMouse.com t-shirt, like the one pictured below.

Here is our plan for the day, subject to change at which time we’ll update the page, if possible:

• The Crystal Palace at 9:15 AM
• Liberty Tree Tavern at 1:00 PM
• Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party (TBD)

We’ll also post some locations on Twitter, follow us there @AllergyMouse.

Look for this guy (not Pinocchio)

Wednesday, October 5

Find us at Hollywood Studios today to win a delicious box of treats from our sponsor, BabyCakes NYC in Downtown Disney. Look for someone wearing a blue AllergyFreeMouse.com t-shirt, like the one pictured below.

Here is our plan for the day, subject to change at which time we’ll update the page, if possible:

• Hollywood Studios around 10:30 AM
• 50′s Prime Time Cafe at 12:10 PM
• Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater at 3:30 PM

We’re also going to the Contemporary for the MK fireworks and a 9:15 dinner at the California Grill, one of our favorites.

We’ll also post some locations on Twitter, follow us there @AllergyMouse.

Look for this guy (not Pinocchio)

Tuesday, October 4

Find us at Downtown Disney or the Magic Kingdom today to win a delicious box of treats from our sponsor, BabyCakes NYC in Downtown Disney. Look for someone wearing a blue AllergyFreeMouse.com t-shirt, like the one pictured below.

Here is our plan for the day, subject to change at which time we’ll update the page, if possible:

• Back to Downtown Disney Marketplace around 9:30 AM
• Wolfgang Puck Express around 11 AM.
• Quick stop at BabyCakes NYC.
• Magic Kingdom – 2-ish
• The Plaza Restaurant – 5:20 PM
• Tomorrowland Terrace Fireworks Dessert Party at 8 PM

We’ll also post some locations on Twitter, follow us there @AllergyMouse.

Look for this guy (not Pinocchio)

This time we have another delicious prize from another great sponsor – BabyCakes NYC in Downtown Disney!

We are so excited to have this fabulous sponsor for this fun and exciting contest. Don’t know BabyCakes NYC? You should! Read about the great allergen-friendly bakery here.

Look for an Allergy Free Mouse shirt around Disney World

Now, the details of the contest.

• This time, you must be present to win.
• We will post our itinerary soon. Simply find us.
• Win a surprise box of delicious treats from BabyCakes NYC.

That’s it! Easier than gluten-free cupcakes.

Whether you find us at Disney, or not, you should still stop by BabyCakes NYC located in the Fresh-A-Peel / Pollo Campero building, near T-Rex and Lego in Downtown Disney. The bakery is gluten-free, wheat-free, dairy-free, casein-free, egg-free and everything is absolutely delicious.

Tucked away, but well worth looking for in the Downtown Disney Marketplace.

Look for the day’s itinerary to be posted on our blog.

The party is held on select nights, starting in September and ending in November, at the Magic Kingdom theme park. You have to buy an additional ticket to attend, but it’s well worth it.

Since guests are encouraged to dress in Halloween costumes, we’re planning to attend as a mummy family. And the kids get to trick-or-treat their way through the park. Like a normal Halloween, this will be somewhat challenging with a food allergy, dairy in our case. More about that below.

Along with special lighting, music and Halloween effects that turn the Happiest Place on Earth into “happy haunted hallows,” a special fireworks display replaces “Wishes” with “Happy HalloWishes,” where Disney Villains go trick-or-treating in the sky.

We are really looking forward to Mickey’s “Boo-to-You” Halloween Parade, which kicks off with a ride down Main Street by the Headless Horseman and includes Disney Characters and stars of the Haunted Mansion.

And, we are really excited to meet the Disney Villains, like Captain Hook, Ursula, Doctor Facilier and Maleficent.

In preparation for our trip and attendance at Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, we inquired about the candy. Disney World Special Diets told us the candy handed out in the park is a mixture of Skittles, Twix, Snickers, Milky Way, peanut chews, M&M’s (peanut and plain), lollipops and a few other small candies.

We also emailed the team at The Disney Blog, who recently attended the party, and they provided this list of gluten free treats that they collected, and inspected. Please, as always, check the manufacturer’s website for the most up-to-date list of ingredients.

• Reeses peanut butter cup
• M&M’s plain and peanut
• Mickey shaped lollipops
• Milky way
• Skittles
• Snickers
• Laffy taffy
• Foil covered chocolate monsters
• Almond Joy
• Peanut chews
• Tootsie roll
• Smarties
• Lemon Heads
• Sassy sours
• Nerds
• Sour Patch Kids
• Tootsie fruit rolls
• Tootsie pops
• Dots

Disney Special Diets also tells us that vendors and suppliers occasionally swap out product and this is subject to change, and to visit City Hall for other options.

With her food allergy, our daughter can’t eat many of the items on this list. We plan to supplement this with candy we bring that we know is safe and free of her food allergy. Of course, we don’t go to Disney for the candy. We go because our daughter can eat at most of the restaurants, knowing the chefs will take good care of her.

We’ll provide an update to this next week. Subscribe to our RSS feed or contact us if you want to be alerted to the update. If you’ve attend this year’s party, let us know what your or your children could eat with your food allergy.

 
We will!

And we’re putting together a new contest!

Stay tuned for more details. And, contact us and let us know that you’ll be there, too.

 
We’re looking forward to more food allergy free meals, Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party and, of course, all the great rides and treats at Disney World.

We all want to see the world, right?  And have experiences and memories, right?  But when you sit in that room and your doctor says your kid (or you!) have a food allergy; the thought of travelling seems unattainable.  At least that is how I felt when my son was diagnosed with a life-threatening peanut and tree nut allergy 5 years ago.  I have found that Disney is the answer to how to safely travel and have the confidence to leave the house again.

Walt Disney World is an amazing place to visit.  The rides, the shows, the sights and the sounds are life-long memories for everyone.  And then there’s the food, and yes, the food is an amazing part of any Disney vacation—yes, even those with food allergies.

Walt Disney World is almost legendary in their service, including their service to those of us with dietary restrictions.  I know that many great ideas for managing your food allergies at Walt Disney World are on this valuable resource, Allergy Free Mouse, so I will not get into too much, just briefly run thought the main things to do.

1. Make your dining reservations in advance, if you can.
2. Mention your allergy when you make the reservation. They will give you a phone number to the restaurant to call the day before your reservation, you will also get a special needs form to fill out and they will send it to all the restaurants that you will be going to.
3. When you arrive, remind them of your food allergy.

Once you are seated the chef will come out to talk with you.  We have had many chefs at different restaurants, come to our table and walk us through the buffets.  They will also make certain items back in the kitchen and bring them directly to you to avoid cross contamination.  That’s the only way my son gets a Mickey waffle, and he loves them.

At quick-service restaurants, they have binders with allergen information in them, just ask for it.  And don’t be afraid to ask for the manager or chef, they are more than happy to come up to talk with you.  There are lots of different options for safe snacks, as well.  Many are labeled, some are not, but if you are in doubt, just ask.  They are very kind about it.

Ok, so maybe you have Disney World down and you are ready to go someplace different?  Let’s look at Disneyland in California first.  Disneyland is very accommodating.  There is not as much information online, like there is for Disney World but you can call Disneyland and ask them everything you want to ask.  They are very helpful.  And again, mention your allergy when making a reservation and be sure to return the special needs form.  When you arrive, if you want to keep asking questions, great!  Just stop in at City Hall and they can give you a list of restaurants that can easily accommodate food allergies.  And just like Disney World, the chefs are more than happy to come out and speak with you.  My family has been to Disneyland twice with nothing but great experiences with my peanut-allergic son.

Disney’s Aulani Resort in Hawaii has the same policies…..and wouldn’t you know it, so does Disneyland Paris and Disneyland Tokyo.  Mention your food allergy or dietary restriction when you make your dining reservations, fill out the special needs form and send it back, then speak to them at the restaurant and you will be good.

Feeling like a cruise?  Disney Cruise Line is definitely ready and willing to accommodate your needs.  Just mention it when you make your reservation, mention it again when you board, and remind your wait staff at your first meal. You will have the same wait staff for the duration of your cruise, so you won’t have to keep mentioning it to people, which is always nice.  However, you will need to mention it if you eat some places other than the main dining area but, again, they are pleased as punch to help you out.  You can also bring food onboard, if that makes you feel a little better, as well.

Adventures By Disney is an amazing vacation experience.  Travelling the world with Disney’s adventure guides will give you a vacation that you could never have if you went on your own.  However, they are a little different, since you are not staying within a Disney Resort with all the food controlled by Disney.  However, I have spoken with them a couple times and they are more than happy, cheerful even, to work with their vendors to make sure that the food is safe for you or your family members.

Seeing the world is back on my to-do list, food allergies and all, and I hope it is back on yours.  We can travel and have amazing experiences around the world.  Does it take a little more work and a few extra steps, yes, but that is ok to ensure a fabulous, safe vacation.
 

 
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When I first went gluten-free, we had an upcoming trip to Disney planned. I had slowly started to see how the diet had a positive impact on my health, and was concerned with how I was going to maintain the diet away from home. With a little research and hearing from others experiences, I was ensured I would be in good hands.

I had no idea what to expect (it was literally my first dining experience away from home!) Boy, was my bar set high after dining at Disney! From having the chefs come out and personally speak with me to enjoying all the delicious gluten-free meals, I was blown away by how accommodating Disney was. It was an extra special trip, because it was the first vacation that I had experienced in five years without being sick. I truly experienced the “magic of Disney.”

After having a wonderful experience two years ago my family and I recently returned to Orlando knowing that I would be able to enjoy great, safe meals throughout the week (since dining at Disney the first time I am now also dairy-free). Though we came to relax at a resort, and did not specifically go to any Disney parks we dined at many restaurants on Disney’s Boardwalk, Downtown Disney Area, as well as the Grand Floridian Hotel. Below is a breakdown of my experience.

Paradiso 37, is a hip, but casual South, Central, and North American inspired cuisine restaurant located at Downtown Disney’s Paradise Island. They offered many GF items, and many things could be made without cheese. Items that were fried were off limits because of cross contamination, however instead of frying the items you can request it be grilled. I order chicken tacos, with onions and peppers in a corn tortilla. On the side, I got a salad. The meal was flavorful and very yummy.

The next night we dined at Portobello (also at Downtown Disney) restaurant. For dinner I got the “value meal”. It came with a house salad, a giant dish of GF pasta (I chose tomato basil sauce) and a dessert. Though I opted not to have dessert (I allowed my brother to have mine), the GF/ DF dessert option was mixed berries. Note: They do recommend that you make your reservation in advance to guarantee that they will have GF pasta on hand.

It is too hard for me to decide what my favorite meal was when dining at Disney.  However, it would have to be between the Tilapia dish I had at the Flying Fish Café (Disney’s Boardwalk), and the Roasted Chicken Dish I had at the Grand Floridian Café. Not only did I love the atmosphere of the Flying Fish Cafe, but I loved before my meal I was able to enjoy a warm gluten-free roll! This was something I had not been able to enjoy at any of the other restaurants, so it was a really nice treat.

One of the places I was most excited to visit on our trip was Babycakes NYC! Their newest location is now open in Downtown Disney! I have been to the NYC location, and own both of their cookbooks. Needless to say I think their gluten-free treats are amazing! In addition to being gluten-free Babycakes is casein, wheat, soy, and refined sugar free, and is a kosher and vegan bakery. The bakery is a great new addition to Disney, and adds to the “magical experience” for us with food intolerances and allergies.

To say that I had a wonderful dining experience at all of the restaurants is an understatement. The experience that I had at Disney is one that can bring tears to my eyes. It was so nice knowing that each time I dined at Disney; I would be able to enjoy a safe meal without the worry.

Quick Tips for Dining at Disney with a Food Allergy or Intolerance:

• Make your reservation in advance! Though many restaurants will accommodate you the day of, booking your reservation will eliminate stress and guarantee they will have the items on hand in order to make you a safe meal.
• Many Reservations can be made online (some have to be done over the phone). Remember to click the food allergy notification option.
• Before heading off to Disney, contact a representative regarding your dietary needs.  (SpecialDiets@DisneyWorld.com). They will send additional instructions as to how to request special meals, and will also provide you with a list of safe food items that you can find throughout the parks!

Disney character autographs on an embroidered pillow

I found this really cute pillowcase on Etsy. Originally offered in red, yellow and black thread, I asked CrossbonesandCastles to change the thread color to Cinderella pink and blue. It matches my daughter’s sheets perfectly!

Not only does it look really cute, it was a lot of fun having the Disney characters sign it. We used a clipboard inside the case and four big paper clips to provide a solid surface to sign. It also kept the fabric markers from bleeding on to the back side of the pillow case. We chose matching colors for each character, where we could, and then positioned the case for each signature, then handed them the pin. Most of them loved it and looked at all of the other autographs. I love Eyore’s signature, and have a special place on the case for him to sign it on our next trip.

Our daughter wants all of the Disney Fairies to sign the back.

We’ve planned our next trip for October for the Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party and we’re going to make a Halloween version for our living room. I’m thinking about a white zipped oblong sofa pillow to have all of the Disney villans sign! We’ll post it once we get back.

Great Disney character autographs in beautiful colors

Disney character autographs on an embroidered pillow

Disney autograph pillow on the bed

The pillowcase autograph kit ready to go in our hotel room

Cinderella signing the pillow case

Ariel autographing the pillowcase at Aukershus

Alice signed the pillowcase at 1900 Park Fare

Snow White autographing the pillowcase

Disney World and Disneyland are the gold standard for food allergy handling. But what about Disney Cruise Lines? Do they have the same options and experience? Yes, they do, but it takes a bit more planning. In fact, the Special Diets program for Disney Cruise Lines was created by the same guy, Chef Joel Schaefer, who created the program for Disney World. Unfortunately, it’s even more difficult to get details for the DCL program than it is for Disney World. Therefore, since we don’t have any first-hand experience, we found someone who did!

Jennifer is from Canada and has been on many cruises with her food allergies, both Disney and other cruise lines, with a variety of experiences. She tells us that DCL is the best, by far. Read her fabulous Disney Cruise food allergy tips here. She collected them over time for DCL just as we have for Disney World.

We found Jennifer thanks to another reader and Twitter friend, Jenni Hilton, who tweets for Food Allergy Kids Atlanta and herself. She mentioned, on Twitter, that she was taking a cruise on the Disney Dream. So, we reached out to her and asked her to tell us about her experience once she returned. However, she also posted the question on the Allergic Living Talking Allergies forum, and received an extensive response from Jennifer. We asked Jennifer to provide a few tips for our website, and she delivered a very detailed list of procedures, tips and first-hand experience for taking a Disney Cruise with food allergies.

Thank you, Jenni and Jennifer!

This summer my family and I went to Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida for the very first time.  Now I know one family’s summer vacation isn’t all that remarkable in and of itself.  But, for this food allergy family, enjoying a summer vacation without having to pack any food is no small thing.  It’s HUGE!

My son has allergies to peanuts, tree nuts, sesame, and chickpea/garbanzo and I have dermatitis herpetiformis (a form of celiac) and am gluten-free.  Dinner is at our house is a challenge, much less an out of state vacation.  So, I won’t lie…I was a little nervous when my husband suggested we go to Walt Disney World (WDW).

Although I’m an organizer and planner by nature, my hubby steals that title from me when it comes to vacation planning.  He could moonlight as a travel agent and do pretty well for himself.  For this trip he tapped into all the usual resources:  travel guides, http://disneyworld.disney.go.com, http://allears.net, and dozens of other online resources.  Believe it or not, there is even a smart phone app complete with current ride wait times to help you better navigate the park.

Food allergy information for WDW wasn’t as easy to come by with the bulk of our information coming from WDW or online forums (what I would have given to have found Allergy Free Mouse before our trip).  When making our vacation reservations (we stayed at The Wilderness Lodge on park grounds), my husband let them know about our family’s multiple food allergies.  The WDW representative was extremely helpful in connecting us with dining services and was able to email us some basic information about eating inside the park.

Looking through all the information we collected, I was thrilled at the detailed gluten-free menu options available throughout the park and in Downtown Disney.  There is no question I would be eating well!  But I was slightly dismayed at the lack of other allergy specific menu options (think peanut, nut, dairy, and egg free) we were provided with before making the trip.

The only real nod to the other top seven allergens is a catch-all statement that promises WDW dining establishments employ highly trained culinary staff that will be able to provide families with safe meal options.  Now, for most food allergy moms, such a general statement strikes fear in our hearts.  What if we arrive depending on someone else to provide our family with a safe meal and there isn’t one to be had?  What if the restaurant isn’t really all that well versed in food allergies?  What if…what if…what if?

We can’t really help our cynicism, after all it’s what we rely on to protect our family.  With that said, we can’t become paralyzed by fear or rule out family activities just because they will take a great deal of research and planning.

Try this one on for size.  What IF your family has a safe vacation?  What IF your family has the best time ever?  What IF this is the family vacation of a lifetime?

The positive what if’s won me over and we had a fabulous, reaction-free, safe, fun, magical family vacation!  My nerves and skepticism couldn’t have been more misplaced.  When they say Walt Disney World is the happiest place on earth, they aren’t kidding!

We spent two days at the Magic Kingdom eating lunch and dinner on park grounds, a day at Hollywood Studios eating lunch on site, and a day at Epcot where we ate lunch and dinner.  Every single meal we ate accommodated both my son’s allergies and my own.  There was something for everyone…and not just apple slices and a soda.  We are talking gluten-free chicken fingers, peanut/nut/gluten-free brownies, gluten-free pizza, gluten-free hot dogs, peanut/nut-free chicken nuggets, peanut/nut/gluten-free cupcakes, and much much more.  I’m getting hungry just thinking about all of it again!

True to Disney’s word, there were highly trained culinary staff at every dining establishment (snack, counter, and table service).  They were very well versed in food allergies, knew exactly what accommodations needed to be made, and went out of their way to make our meals special.   I hope you’ll stop by The Food Allergy Mom blog (www.thefoodallergymom.wordpress.com) to read more specifics on our amazing dining adventures.

If you’re a family with food allergies and you want to take a magical vacation, Walt Disney World is a great place to start!  I’m so grateful to Allergy Free Mouse for creating such a valuable online resource for food allergy families!

So what are you waiting for?  Pack your bags, sprinkle the family with some pixie dust, and get ready for the time of your life!

Kimberly, The Food Allergy Mom

As always, remind the Cast Members of your food allergy as you check in. Remind you waiter and ask to see the chef — they usually offer when you mention a food allergy. They are extremely accommodating here and want you to truly enjoy yourself. I always view the menu online to find meal options to suggest to the chef, for our dairy allergy. However, I’m always pleasantly surprised to find that the chef has more options — often better than I had imagined.

Be sure to make your advanced dining reservations as soon as possible, 180 days in advance, if possible. They really fill up quickly. I’ve phoned in at 7:00 AM to find a 30 minute hold time to make reservations 180 days ahead of time. Try to book online, if you can. Also, if you plan to visit the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, make that reservation 2 hours before your reservation at Cinderella’s Royal Table. They tend to run very slow and you can always overlap your dining reservation. If this happens, inform the hostess at Cinderella’s Royal Table how long your Bibbidi Bobbidy Boutique appointment is running behind and they will usually make the necessary changes in your dining reservation.

Along with the magic of Cinderella, her castle and the other Disney Princesses, we pre-order an allergy free cake to be delivered as dessert. This never fails to excite our daughter, since it’s rare that she has dessert if we’re dining out. After our meal, we ride a few more rides, then return to our hotel to store the cake in the refrigerator to be enjoyed all week!

Our last visit was just as magical as our previous visits. Our daughter had the allergy free chicken tenders, a mixed garden salad with raspberry dressing, mixed fruit plate (strawberries, melon and cantaloupe), roasted home fried potatoes, and the custom-delivered chocolate cake.

We both had Major Domo’s pie — shredded beef simmered in a rich cabernet sauce, served with mashed potatoes, veggies all on top a pillowed puff pastry. We also had an opportunity to order dessert, because our daughter was able to have dessert (the chocolate cake that we ordered)! We ordered the chocolate cream cheese buckle. It was creamy, subtly tart and all around delicious!. Chef Nicholas and the other Cast Members took excellent care of our daughter. We love you Chef Nicholas!

Click to see a large version of the menu

Read about our first visit to Cinderella’s Royal Table

The lunch menu

Back of the menu

Chef Nicholas - the best!

Allergy-free chicken fingers - prepared to order

Major Domo's Favorite Pie - our favorite, too

Ingredients

• 1/2 c. SunButter Natural Crunch Sunflower Seed Spread
• 1/2 c. orange or plain honey
• 3 T. canola oil
• egg replacer – to replace 2 eggs
• 1/2 c. grated carrots
• 2 bananas, mashed
• 1/4 c. coconut or rice milk
• 1/4 t. ground cinnamon
• 1/4 t. ground cloves
• 1/4 t. ground nutmeg
• 1 t. vanilla extract
• pinch of salt
• 1 t. baking powder
• 1 t. baking soda
• 1 3/4 c. whole wheat or all purpose flour (or Authentic Foods Gluten Free Classical Blend)

Preheat the oven to 300 degrees. Butter (Earth Balance) a 9 x 5 inch loaf pan.

In a bowl, blend together the sun butter, honey, oil, egg replacer, carrots and bananas.

Add the milk, spices, vanilla, salt, baking powder, baking soda and flour. Blend together well.

Pour the batter into the prepared pan.

Bake for 1 hour and 15 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Cool the bread on a wire rack.

Dairy free pop tarts with frosting and sprinkles.

Our daughter had her first pop tart today! The recipe below is dairy-free and nut-free, but can also be made gluten-free and egg-free. This is a fabulous treat that we discovered in a very interesting way — see below.

Dough ingredients

• 2 1/2 c. all-purpose flour
• 1 t. salt
• 2 T. granulated sugar
• 16 T. Earth Balance Buttery Sticks (2 sticks)
• 6 – 8 T. ice water
• 1/2 c. filling (preserves, jam or brown-sugar cinnamon)
• 1 egg, beaten with 1 t. water
• sprinkles (optional)

In a food processor, pulse together the flour, salt and granulated sugar until combined, about 5 pulses. Add the butter and process until the mixture resembles coarse meal, about 10 pulses. Add 6 T. of the ice water and pulse 2 or 3 times. The dough should hold together when squeezed with your fingers but should not be sticky. If it is crumbly, add more water 1 t. at a time, pulsing twice after each addition. Turn the dough out onto a work surface, divide in half and shape each half into a disk. Wrap the disks separately in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or up to overnight.

Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. On a lightly floured work surface, roll out 1 dough disk into a rectangle 1/8 inch thick. Using the outer ring of a toaster pastry press mold (Williams-Sonoma), cut shapes out of the dough. Replace the inner ring of the mold inside the outer ring. Using a small offset spatula or butter knife, spread 1 T. filling on each of 4 pieces of dough, leaving a 1/2 inch border. Brush the edges with the egg mixture. Top each with a plain piece of dough, place the mold on top and press the inner ring down to seal the edges. Remove the mold. Transfer the pastries to a prepared baking sheet and refrigerate for 30 minutes. Repeat with the remaining dough and filling.

Position 1 rack in the upper third and 1 rack in the lower third of your oven. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Bake the pastries until golden, about 25 minutes, reversing the positions of the baking sheets on the racks  and rotating them from front to back halfway through baking. Let the pastries cool on the baking sheets for 10 minutes, then transfer the pastries to wire racks and let cool completely.

Brown-sugar cinnamon filling

• 1 egg white, at room temperature
• 3/4 c. powdered sugar
• 1/4 c. brown sugar
• 1 T. cinnamon

In a food processor, combine all ingredients and blend until well combined. Add more powdered sugar if the mixture needs thickening.

Frosting

• 1 1/2 c. confectioner sugar
• 2 T. coconut milk

Combined until a thick icing is formed. Spread on cooled pop tart and sprinkle with cinnamon or mix.

THESE ARE NOT TOASTER POP TARTS! REHEAT IN WARM OVEN IF NOT FROSTED! However, they taste great at room temperature!

I’m going to try these (omitting the sugar in the dough) with savory fillings, like BBQ chicken, pesto and tomatoes, spicy sloppy joe filling, Italian sausage and Daiya cheese. Wrapped in parchment and foil, they would make a great school snack or lunch item!

Thanks to one of our Facebook friends who “pinned” our July 4th Mason Jar desserts on her Pinterest page. We discovered this and had to find out more about Pinterest. Wow! I couldn’t believe my eyes! An incredible site for those who love beautiful, visually interesting, images. I’ve requested an invite and can’t wait to start my Virtual Pinboard.

Even better, one of her pinboards included a link to an image on TasteSpotting. Whoa! This is a visually driven recipe site. Each submission must have a link with more info, by way of a personal blog, news article, video or catalog. In other words, beautiful, stimulating images with links to detailed information for each one. Gotta love it!

Thanks also to Williams-Sonoma. The dough recipe was modified from their recipe on the toaster pastry press box.

Be our guest, be our guest, put our pop tarts to the test!

Dairy free pop tarts with frosting and sprinkles.

Earth Balance Buttery Sticks

Filling with brown sugar and cinnamon

The top and bottom of the pop tart

Dairy free pop tarts ready for the oven

Coconut milk and powdered sugar frosting ingredients