I've just returned from my near annual trip to WDW. I developed a gluten allergy several years ago and cannot tolerate even small amounts of gluten without getting sick. The past few vacations have become more difficult for me at WDW. Initially, several years back, I was very impressed with gluten allergy accommodations. My family and have one table service meal and one quick meal daily, and for the most part, staff have bent over backwards to ensure I am satisfied with my meals. Sadly, this is no longer the case.
For those who cannot afford to eat at table service restaurants, be forewarned. You will have a very hard time at resort food courts and many quick service locations. Availability of gluten free items, or even the management or a chef's willingness to help you, especially during busy meal times, is very uneven. The new chef at Pop Century is unknowledgeable about the gluten free diet enough that he actually told me I could eat something, but when I read the ingredients, I had to explain that regular soy sauce contains wheat. He also was unaware of modified food starch possibly being wheat derived.
At Art of Animations food court, the chef there was downright rude and seemed to think that my gluten allergy was a lifestyle decision and not necessary. He got my order wrong, I had to repeat it 3 times, and then when I asked that the bisquit be replaced with gluten free bread, I was ignored. I actually had to use another quick service meal allocation to get more food. While in line for cappucino, I overheard another woman speaking with the same chef about the cereals available for gluten free guests, and she was very upset as she told him that this was not a choice for her son, and that gluten that could make him very ill.
At Pecos Bill in Magic Kingdom, I've had my second trip in a 12 month period where the same manager has assisted me in ordering. He doesn't offer a dessert, I have to ask, and he is unhappy about it, and then he tries to get me to order tap water instead of a soft drink or bottled water. I will no longer go there. This saddens me as I normally look forward to eating there every vacation with my family.
This trip was the first time I ever used a meal plan, it was free for me. It was also all quick service, something we are not used to doing. Every meal, I dreaded ordering, not knowing what resistance I would face. I actually got into heated debates twice at the Pop Century and Art of Animation foodcourts, explaining that I had a gluten allergy and could not eat the majority of food offered. Once, I brought prepackaged carrot sticks and hard boiled eggs, with no dessert, and asked that this be my meal. I was refused by two people, and when I persisted, they brought over the manager. I seemed to be perceived as a trouble maker! I told her of my allergy, and she approved the meal. In the meantime, I had impatient people waiting to purchase their meals behind me. Every meal, this is what I have to deal with. At Art of Animation, when I had to order a second meal as the first one was so meager, they actually refused to let me have a cappucino and Dannon yogurt as a meal! I had to pay $3.00 for that yogurt. I was disgusted.
For those who cannot afford to eat at table service restaurants, be forewarned. You will have a very hard time at resort food courts and many quick service locations. Availability of gluten free items, or even the management or a chef's willingness to help you, especially during busy meal times, is very uneven. The new chef at Pop Century is unknowledgeable about the gluten free diet enough that he actually told me I could eat something, but when I read the ingredients, I had to explain that regular soy sauce contains wheat. He also was unaware of modified food starch possibly being wheat derived.
At Art of Animations food court, the chef there was downright rude and seemed to think that my gluten allergy was a lifestyle decision and not necessary. He got my order wrong, I had to repeat it 3 times, and then when I asked that the bisquit be replaced with gluten free bread, I was ignored. I actually had to use another quick service meal allocation to get more food. While in line for cappucino, I overheard another woman speaking with the same chef about the cereals available for gluten free guests, and she was very upset as she told him that this was not a choice for her son, and that gluten that could make him very ill.
At Pecos Bill in Magic Kingdom, I've had my second trip in a 12 month period where the same manager has assisted me in ordering. He doesn't offer a dessert, I have to ask, and he is unhappy about it, and then he tries to get me to order tap water instead of a soft drink or bottled water. I will no longer go there. This saddens me as I normally look forward to eating there every vacation with my family.
This trip was the first time I ever used a meal plan, it was free for me. It was also all quick service, something we are not used to doing. Every meal, I dreaded ordering, not knowing what resistance I would face. I actually got into heated debates twice at the Pop Century and Art of Animation foodcourts, explaining that I had a gluten allergy and could not eat the majority of food offered. Once, I brought prepackaged carrot sticks and hard boiled eggs, with no dessert, and asked that this be my meal. I was refused by two people, and when I persisted, they brought over the manager. I seemed to be perceived as a trouble maker! I told her of my allergy, and she approved the meal. In the meantime, I had impatient people waiting to purchase their meals behind me. Every meal, this is what I have to deal with. At Art of Animation, when I had to order a second meal as the first one was so meager, they actually refused to let me have a cappucino and Dannon yogurt as a meal! I had to pay $3.00 for that yogurt. I was disgusted.
Table service meals are normally much more accommodating than QS!
