Not a cloud in the sky, in fact a cool breeze started our 5th day in Disney as we approached the boat to head over to Magic Kingdom for an early breakfast. We hadn’t done this breakfast before so we super excited to get into Magic Kingdom before park opening and enjoy some food with friends. With the streets pretty empty we just had to snap a picture of our little girl all by herself in front of the castle with her favorite balloon!
Our little girl, so happy to be in the happiest place on earth!
Once we sprung her from her stroller, she was off and going, just so happy to be able to run around and roam Main Street on her own; and then we were able to capture this moment! She really is the light in our life! After we took a few more pictures we made our way over to the Crystal Palace, where we couldn’t wait to enjoy good food with Winnie the Pooh and some of his friends too. We checked in, and just as we were unloading the stroller we were called to be seated. As were getting our cameras out, settling little one into her high chair, and ordering our drinks, we saw the chef approaching. He told me that they had gluten free Vans waffles (sadly, no Mickey waffles here) and donuts along with traditional breakfast staples. I decided to go with scrambled eggs, bacon, hashbrowns, and toast and to also try the donuts that they had, way too much food for myself but just had to try a bit of everything. Also, the chef did say that I could get the eggs, bacon, and hashbrowns from the buffet as they were gluten free, but I instead opted to have the chef put together my dish in the kitchen to prevent any cross contamination. While waiting for my food, the characters started circulating and first up was Eeyore.
My love and her love. She just loved each and every one of the characters!
As you can tell, my daughter absolutely LOVED Eeyore! Just as she was with all of the other characters we had visited, she couldn’t stop hugging him. Some moments, she would just close her eyes and smile as she wrapped her tiny arms around his nose and he squished her back! After Eeyore and Pooh had passed by, Dan visited the buffet to pick out a plate for himself and our little girl. While he was doing that my plate arrived!
Crystal Palace gluten free scrambled eggs, hashbrowns, and bacon.Crystal Palace gluten free donut and toast.
Between scrambling around to meet the characters and feed our toddler who was too distracted to really eat, I’ll be honest I didn’t really enjoy too much of my breakfast. But, I was sure to try each item on my plate, especially the donut! The scrambled eggs and bacon were pretty good, just what I was in the mood for, especially with a side of toast! The hashbrowns were okay, really not my favorite; I prefer a shredded potato kind of hashbrown, like the one at Chef Mickey’s Breakfast. Finally the donut, it was pretty good, a bit too cakey, but it was just nice to add something sweet to a gluten free breakfast for a change. I believe the donuts that they have here are Kinnikinnick, which are kind of tiny and more cakey; I definitely prefer a Katz donut which is a bit more dense and also a little bigger too!
All in all, breakfast at Crystal Palace for the experience was fantastic, a little too much fun as my little girl wasn’t keen on the sitting down and eating part of the meal, and food wise it was pretty good. I would definitely eat here again, more so for the fun of getting into the park early and enjoying some close up time with Pooh, Piglet, Tigger, and Eeyore than for the actual food though. Keep an eye out for another Be Our Guest lunch that we managed to squeeze in!
Disney Day 4 was filled with lots of rides and meet and greets at Magic Kingdom so it was certainly nice to end it with a relaxing dinner and dessert in Epcot! I had scoped out the Flower and Garden Festival food options awhile before being there in person so I had a general idea of what they had in the gluten free department. On my list of potential treats to try were the Candied Strawberries in China, Frushi in Japan, and the Orange Blossom Macaron in France. Since I’d already tasted the Candied Strawberries, I was eager to either go with the Frushi or Macaron. I was in more of a pastry mood that night than a fruit one so macaron it was.
It was a beautiful night despite the excessive wetness during the day, so we took our time heading over to France, making sure we caught all of the beautiful topiaries on the way. Some of our favorites by far were Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs in Germany,
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Germany, Epcot
Lady and The Tramp in Italy,
Lady and The Tramp, Italy, Epcot
and finally Beauty and The Beast, and all of their enchanted friends, in France.
Beauty and The Beast, France, Epcot
These were so beautiful and the attention to detail was amazing! Now, after we had taken a few photos of the gorgeous French topiaries we spotted France’s Fleur De Lys Flower and Garden Festival stand.
Flower and Garden Festival 2014 in Epcot
I quickly ordered the Macaron a la Fleur d’ Oranger which was an orange blossom macaron with white chocolate ganache in the center. These were kept separately and already on their individual plates so I didn’t have to worry about the person handling the other gluten-filled options at the stand also touching mine as well. After picking up my macaron, we headed through France to the Les Halles Boulangerie & Patisserie to pick out a sweet treat for our little girl. She picked an impressive fruit parfait which was yogurt mousse with berries, a combination of ingredients that she happens to adore at home so I knew this one would be a hit. We headed out and picked an outside table to sit and enjoy our desserts together.
Gluten Free Macaron a la Fleur d’ Oranger, Orange Blossom Macaron with White Chocolate Ganache
After watching my little one enjoy her first few bites of her fruit parfait I turned my glance to my sweet, gluten free macaron. It was put together so beautifully that I hated to take a bite and ruin the presentation, but no worries I certainly did my research.
Delicate, gluten free orange macaron!
The macaron was pretty large with a generous helping of the white chocolate ganache inside. It was incredibly soft and delicate, just how a macaron should be. The orange flavor of the cookie side was perfectly complemented by the chocolatey center. All together it was a sweet, gluten free ending to a wonderful day!
I must say, it was certainly special to be able to experience the Flower and Garden Festival for the first time. Disney did a fantastic job, as always, with all of the gardens throughout Epcot and added another exciting element with food stands in each country offering tasting size bites. I have to share just one more of my favorite topiaries that we spotted after walking through Canada, whose character was inspiration for my daughter’s nursery so this one holds a little sentimental value and really stole the show for me.
Bambi, Thumper, and Flower, Canada, Epcot
When we walked past, my little one nearly jumped out of her seat with excitement as she recognized Bambi, Thumper, and Flower. I think probably each of us had one of those moments as we walked through the countries, spotting favorite characters from childhood, depicted now in huge, flower displays. It was truly a remarkable event to attend! Thanks Disney!
A typical vacation in Orlando wouldn’t be complete with a rain storm or two. Day 4 of our trip was the lucky day for a couple showers, but altogether wasn’t too wet considering the predicted high percentage of rain. After making it through a beautiful sunny morning and delicious lunch at Be Our Guest, we hopped on the Haunted Mansion and Pirates of the Caribbean before little one couldn’t help but close her eyes. Nap time for us when we’re in the parks means that it’s time for Mommy and Daddy to sit down in the shade and relax or meander through air conditioned stores and soak up the nice cool air. While we started nap time shopping, we watched the dark clouds roll in and decided to find a nice place under some covering to rest our feet and keep all of us dry during the impending, classic Disney World downpour.
Sure enough, only moments after parking under the awning by The Hall of Presidents, the dribbles began. We covered our little girl with the rain cover for the stroller which kept her nice dry while the wind picked up and started whirling around the now pouring rain. Thankfully we had ducked under the covering early so we stayed pretty dry but not as dry as my little girl who slept safely and soundly in her reclined seat. A short while later and the clouds had begun to move along, leaving a still murky looking sky. We decided to hang around to see if an afternoon parade would occur despite the rainy skies but disappointingly they had to cancel for the day. So we headed up to Main Street and shopped a bit along the row of stores, picking a few toys out for our little one that we knew would make perfect birthday or Christmas gifts. All of the sudden we heard a chirping from in the stroller and were greeted by an ecstatic little girl who couldn’t have been more excited to spot all of the Minnie merchandise in front of her as she woke up.
As the rain picked up again, we armed ourselves with our ponchos and covered the stroller to head over to the monorail for Epcot. On tonight’s menu was La Hacienda de San Angel in Mexico, we hadn’t been before but we were interested to check the waterfront restaurant. I personally do not like spicy food by any stretch, but my husband, on the other hand, pretty much loves all food, especially spicy food. Last time we had dined in Epcot’s Mexico we ate at the San Angel Inn and Dan tried the Jalapeno Margarita which he raved about so he definitely wanted to give the other restaurant in Mexico a try too. I try not to let my very picky palate and not to mention my gluten free restrictions get in the way too much of Dan’s adventurous foody side, so I always keep in mind that I’ll definitely be able to get something at the restaurant we’re going to, whether it be a salad or grilled chicken.
We were seated right at the windows and had a great view of the lake and the World Showcase around it. After perusing the menu a bit, I started to get a little nervous that this restaurant might be the exception to my rule of thumb. I had read ahead of time that their corn tortillas were delicious and gluten free so I was hoping to try the Queso Fundido sans peppers and sausage, maybe substituting chicken, really trying to avoid any spice whatsoever. The chef came out and went over my gluten free options with me and I asked if my idea was a possibility. He was so great and assured me that it could be done and that the homemade corn tortillas would be sent out instead of the flour tortillas. Not too long after ordering, our dishes arrived!
Gluten free Queso Fundido with chicken and corn tortillas at La Hacienda de San Angel in Epcot.
After cutting up my little girl’s chicken tacos, which she had for the first time that night and apparently loved, I finally caught a glimpse of my dish. I have to say the homemade corn tortillas looked delicious!
Homemade gluten free corn tortillas.
Let me just say that I’ve never been a fan of store bought corn tortillas. Texturally, they’re kind of rubbery to me and the taste is equally off putting. However, these were amazing! They were soft and not rubbery by any means, just like the flour tortillas that I used to enjoy in years past. Their flavor was mild and perfect to pair with the melted cheese that accompanied them. Not to mention that they’re gluten free!
Melted cheese with chicken.
As far as the gluten free melted cheese and chicken combo, it was perfection. Okay, so everyone’s level of spicy is different, but for me, I even find pepper can be too spicy; so as far the spice level on the chicken, I have to admit that it was a bit too spiced for me, but it was still incredibly delicious and went perfectly with the melted cheese! Layering the chicken and cheese on the corn tortillas reminded me of homemade quesadillas that I once enjoyed. The soft and tender gluten free corn tortillas were mildly flavored and embraced the flavorful cheese and chicken amazingly! Despite the smidgen of too much spice on the chicken, I would absolutely order this one again on future visits.
By the time we had finished with dinner, it had finally begun to dry up a bit outside, just in time for us to enjoy a nighttime stroll around Epcot. We wandered through the countries and even made a stop for a little sweet treat thanks to the Flower and Garden Festival. Stay tuned to find out which gluten free treat caught my eye!
Overcoming the previous day’s events, we were very excited as Day 4 rolled around with extra magic hours at Magic Kingdom. We were up and ready to go nice and early, little one seemed in much better sorts the next day after a full night of sleep and another dose of medicine in her. We were so excited to explore Magic Kingdom, which by far is one of our favorite parks and our little one’s as well.
Our morning was spent flying through the sky on Dumbo, boating through the world on Small World, meeting Cinderella and Rapunzel at Princess Fairytale Hall, spinning round and round on Alice’s Tea Cups, and soaring through Neverland on a pirate ship on Peter Pan. My precious little girl enjoyed each and every ride and experience, looking around and taking it all in, all with a smile on her face. Soon enough it was almost time for lunch and we decided to give Be Our Guest a whirl; while Dan waited in line for a bit before it opened, I took our little girl shopping through some of the fantastic Fantasyland stores. Finally, it was time to enter the castle and enjoy a delicious lunch in an even better location!
Ordering lunch at this location is super easy and convenient, using touch screen computers you can quickly enter what you’d like, scan your magic band, and you’re on your way to pick out a table of your choice throughout the restaurant. For ordering with food allergies, their system can show you options that are available without specific allergens, however I always prefer to speak one-on-one with a chef. As per my request, a chef came over as we were entering our order and reviewed my options with me. I wanted to give the Croque Monsieur sandwich a try which is carved ham, gruyere cheese, and bechamel sauce with pommes frites. The chef said I could certainly enjoy a gluten free version of this one, so I was super excited to give it a try! We quickly finished entering our order and picked a table in the Rose Room. This room is exquisitely decorated with tapestries and paintings of Belle and the Beast during their time at the castle. While we were taking in the beautiful scenery around us, our meals magically found us and were delivered via food carts.
Be Our Guest’s Gluten Free Croque Monsieur
What I happen to love about this restaurant is that instead of simply substituting the regular sandwich with one on much smaller gluten free bread, they actually give you two sandwiches to equal the size of the regular one. Also to indicate that you have an allergy order they stick these little allergy flags in your sandwich, which for me definitely gives me much needed reassurance that there was no mix up along the way.
Gluten free bread with carved ham and gruyere cheese at Be Our Guest
As far as the actual sandwich is considered it was pretty good. I loved the combination of the carved ham and gruyere cheese on the gluten free bread (which tastes and looks like Udi’s), but the downside is that it was pretty dry. The bechamel that was supposed to accompany the sandwich was missing so I assumed that it was a no go for the gluten free order (which wouldn’t be totally surprising, as many a sauce have gluten in it). Sadly, the chef didn’t indicate this ahead of time though when I was ordering, otherwise I probably would’ve requested some kind of sauce for the sandwich. Nonetheless, this sandwich was still delicious and a great departure from your typical options of burgers, hot dogs, chicken fingers, etc.. I have to also mention too that the pommes frites or french fries were delicious, just as Disney’s fries usually are. They were perfectly seasoned and so yummy!
Be Our Guest’s Gluten Free Lemon Raspberry Puff
As far as dessert, Be Our Guest offers a gluten free cream puff which I typically order when we dine here. The puff side of this dessert is delicious, perfectly light and doughy texture mimicking that of a regular cream puff. As far as the filling, the lemon cream was a bit too sweet and lemony for me, I’d probably prefer more of the traditional cream that you see in a cream puff. However, I do usually take a few bites mixed with the raspberry and whipped cream on top and it certainly is a wonderful, sweet finish to a meal. I have to say that I’m extremely grateful to Be Our Guest for creating and offering a gluten free pastry other than a packaged cookie or brownie. It definitely was a nice change from your typical gluten free dessert and a perfect finish to yet another great experience at Be Our Guest Restaurant!
Ah yes, Day 3 of our Disney trip stands out but not for the best reasons. We were up early, all fed and ready to head out to Hollywood Studios to catch a few stand out rides and shows that each of us would love. Some of our favorites that I knew my little girl would be ecstatic about is their Disney Junior Show starring her favorite Disney faces, the Little Mermaid show, and the Toy Story Ride. We scoped out everything ahead time and picked out our top fastpass+ rides and attractions so we could catch all of the best ones for little one and Dan and myself. Unfortunately, our day didn’t go quite as planned and little one never got to see the Disney Junior show.
Little girl seemed a bit sleepy and cranky but seeing as she had what I thought was a cold or allergies for the past few days I wasn’t too taken aback, she had still eaten a majority of her breakfast which was a great sign that she was in good shape at least tummy wise. After a lengthy bus ride to get to Hollywood Studios, we arrived for the opening and headed straight back to hop on the Toy Story Ride. She loved looking at all of the massive, oversized toys throughout the line, but her favorite by far was the talking Mr. Potato Head. As we approached the front of the line we donned ourselves in 3D glasses, little one included, and geared up for a fantastic ride. Tossing her 3D glasses aside within about 10 seconds of the ride, I’m not sure if little girl was quite a fan of the concept of this ride yet but she did seem to enjoy the twists and turns of the carnival cars. Afterwards, Dan headed over to catch his two favorite rides, Tower of Terror and the Aerosmith Roller Coaster, while I took little one to meet Daisy and Sofia. While I held her and kissed her forehead I noticed that she definitely felt warm but in Disney World everyone feels warm so we stuck to the shade and guzzled quite a bit of water to cool down.
Exchanging kisses and hugs with Daisy and Sofia were definitely the highlights of the morning for my little girl. After meeting both of her friends, I felt her little forehead again and definitely was worried about a fever. We stopped in the First Aid Center at the front of the park and the nurse there took her temperature. To say I was shocked at the number that came out would be a serious understatement as the nurse revealed that she had a 103.7 degree fever. For my little girl, this was the highest temperature she’d ever had so naturally I was extremely worried. The nurse advised us to head over to their Urgent Care Center to get her looked at by a doctor. While all of this talk was going on, my little one, who was just waving and hugging her friends only a half hour ago, had just fallen asleep and limp in my arms, which is a rarity these days since she’s always wanting to be on the go, so I knew instantly at that point that something wasn’t right.
A quick phone call later and a walk around the outside of the park and we were soon enough in a van being rushed to Urgent Care outside of Disney. I was so overwhelmed with worry and fear mainly because I know my little girl in and out and for her she has never had that high of a fever or behaved like that before. It was especially scary having this happen while on vacation, without her pediatrician who we know and trust 5 minutes away or any of the other comforts of home nearby. While in route over to the Urgent Care Center, I phoned her doctor to get some advice and guidance on the situation and they calmed me down a bit by saying that it more than likely was an ear infection that was probably brewing before we left, hence the cold like symptoms, but had chosen to emerge while we were in Florida. By the time I had hung up, we were basically at Urgent Care and after waiting only 15 minutes or so we were in visiting the pediatrician. He checked her head to toe and told us she had a mild ear infection and not to worry. We were given the antibiotic right then and there and prescribed to enjoy the rest of our vacation, from rides in the parks to swimming in the pool, nothing was off limits!
Our van had arrived to take us back to our resort and we couldn’t have been more relieved. I must say I preferred the trip back to the hotel where my mine and my husband’s fears were eased and my little girl, with her first dose of antibiotic in her, was up and eating a go go squeeze. I have to say the entire system at Disney was truly a blessing. I’m so grateful that they have a system like that where you can easily take yourself or your child to a facility where they can be seen by a wonderful doctor like we had met. The Urgent Care Center staff were incredibly nice and helpful (and it was very clean too!). Also, the ability to receive her medicine right there was an amazing convenience too, seeing as we have used their pharmacy services before which are equally as convenient however aren’t quite as quick as receiving the medicine two seconds after diagnosis. One more thing I’d like to mention is about their transportation service to and from the center. They staff amazing drivers, one of which seeing my panic and fear quickly got us there and even phoned the return driver to see how our little girl was doing; their genuine concern and want to help was so touching and certainly made the experience a little less terrifying. All in all, I’d prefer for none of us to ever have to use this service again, however, I’m so glad to know that it exists and that it’s as convenient and painless as it is. Thanks to all that participate in this service that Disney offers, I’m so grateful for all of your help in helping my little girl!
After we had returned home to Wilderness Lode we took it easy, got some food in little one, and just relaxed in the air conditioned hotel. Dinner rolled around and we had made a last minute reservation at Kona Cafe in the Polynesian. Little one seemed to be feeling much better so we decided to head over to get something to eat, I for one was starving and in desperate need of a good meal after our ordeal that day. The easiest route to get there was boating over to the Contemporary or Magic Kingdom and then hopping on the monorail from there. Thankfully that’s the best medicine for my little girl to fall asleep which sure enough after her long day she certainly did. She slept well through the entire trip over and through a good portion of the meal too! While she slept, mommy and daddy were able to take a deep breath and just relax!
Kona Cafe was one of our favorite pre-gluten free days so it was nice to be back, not to mention we both love the scenery at the Polynesian so we always try to make it a point to pop in there for a meal or two each trip. After checking in and waiting only a few minutes we were quickly seated, pulling up our little girl in her stroller beside us. The chef quickly followed after our waitress’ greeting and went over the menu with me. One thing that caught my eye that I had heard could be done gluten free were the Pan-Asian Noodles. Sure enough the chef confirmed that these could absolutely be done gluten free with rice noodles and their gluten free teriyaki sauce! I couldn’t have been more happy to hear that, especially after our previous let down at 50s and the day that we had had. Needless to say, I, without hesitation, placed my order for the Pan-Asian Noodles with grilled chicken and some green veggies.
While waiting, we enjoyed a cocktail along with the fantastic bread service that Kona Cafe offers! I just loved the warmed gluten free rolls that I received and the Macadamia Nut Butter that I could add to them! We didn’t have to wait long as our main courses quickly followed and so did the awakening of our little girl! Thankfully when she began to stir I ordered a children’s dish for her so it would be coming out shortly, but in the meantime, she certainly didn’t mind nibbling on their wonderful Hawaiian bread service. It was so great to see her up and enjoying her meal, laughing, coloring, and playing with her napkin, just being the happy little girl that we know and love!
Large bowl full of Kona Cafe’s gluten free Pan-Asian Noodles!
While little one enjoyed her bread, I couldn’t help but marvel at how wonderful and huge my dish was. The Gluten Free Pan-Asian Noodle dish was exquisite! The Asian style rice noodles were coated gently with the gluten free teriyaki sauce, without overdoing it. The grilled chicken was perfectly seasoned and was complemented amazingly by the noodles and sauce. And the green veggies inside were perfect, fresh and still a bit crunchy, which I love, and just all together delicious!
Grilled chicken and green veggies with Asian rice noodles and gluten free teriyaki sauce!
I felt incredibly wasteful having eaten only probably half of the dish but between the warmed rolls with sweet butter and the noodle dish, my gluten free tummy couldn’t have been happier! While my daughter finished up nibbling on her meal, I couldn’t help but to look around our table and feel so fortunate that the day could end that way, seeing as how it started. My little one was back in action and I couldn’t wait to share more Disney magic with her. But first, we had to share a little dessert before the magic continued. While my husband enjoyed his dessert, my gluten free Kilauea Torte of warm chocolate cake filled with chocolate liquid sat in front of me and my daughter.
Kona Cafe’s gluten free chocolate torte.
Isn’t this beautiful! After slicing the cake in half, the warm chocolate inside oozed out just like a volcano. The addition of the whipped cream and raspberries was perfection, my only request would be for more of both!
Warm, chocolate liquid inside oozed out from the torte cake.
My little girl, who definitely has a sweet tooth, drew a huge smile and big eyes while watching me cut up the cake. After just one taste, I heard her familiar “mmm” in appreciation and I knew that the rest of the vacation would certainly be enjoyed! Kona Cafe was the perfect dinner to wrap up our rough day. It was effortless and incredibly delicious to eat gluten free here, just how I had remembered it to be years ago. Add this one to your list of potential gluten free must-do Disney restaurants, it’s definitely a keeper!
Thankfully, after such a rough day we could end it on such a sweet note! In fact, our little girl was in such good spirits we decided to stop into Magic Kingdom to take her on a few of her favorite rides, like Dumbo, Small World, and Pirates of the Caribbean! The events of the day were certainly rough but Disney worked its’ magic and took care of my little girl!
Our second day in Disney was fantastic, from an early start in Epcot riding some rides and meeting and greeting some of my daughter’s favorite Disney faces to tasting new and exotic treats around the World Showcase leading up to a gluten free lunch at Tutto Gusto. With little one wide awake after a lunch in Italy, we took our time and wandered through the remaining countries, visiting characters and taking in all of the beautiful topiaries. Soon enough, my little girl’s full belly made her incredibly sleepy allowing mommy and daddy some time to get a drink and enjoy the beautiful sights and sounds that Epcot has to offer.
After some meandering through air conditioned stores throughout the rest of the world, it was time for us to head over to Hollywood Studios for dinner at 50s Prime Time Cafe. Having fallen in love with this restaurant the past few times that we visited Disney in the gluten free phase of my life, it was a no brainer to make an advanced dining reservation here. For the past few months I’ve been craving their delicious, gluten free crispy fried chicken, something I’ve only ever been able to enjoy thanks to Disney! To say I was extremely excited heading over to 50s would be an understatement!
By the time we reached Hollywood Studios little one was still sleeping so we scooted into 50s Prime Time Cafe, checked in, and were quickly seated with a sleeping toddler by our side. A quick once over of the menu to just make sure the fried chicken still made an appearance and I was ready to place my order with the chef. Much to my dismay, as I was discussing my menu options with him and tried to place my fried chicken order I was told that they no longer could make the gluten free fried chicken. My mouth literally fell open as I turned to my husband sitting across from me. After some prodding, the chef went on to explain that they no longer keep any of the ingredients in the restaurant so you would need to order your meal with them far in advance. He went on to say that additionally they don’t make this dish anymore because of hazards with the fryer along with the lengthy amount of time that it takes to prepare the dish. Needless to say I was very confused after a number of different excuses were thrown at me, I mean could I order the fried chicken in the future if I call three months ahead and place my order or even after that when I am finally there to enjoy my ordered ahead meal will I be told it’s not safe to make this dish?
After the shock wore off, I asked the chef what else I could order off of the menu and learned of the meatloaf and pot pie without the crust, neither of which I’ve ever really enjoyed prior to my gluten issues so they weren’t really options for me. One item that did catch my eye was the pot roast which sounded quite tasty, however I was told that wasn’t a possibility either due to the flour dusting. Instead, I ordered a Chicken Caesar Salad with blue cheese dressing, not nearly a satisfying and substantial substitute for my beloved gluten free fried chicken. Nonetheless, we were there and enjoying the atmosphere so I was determined to eat something gluten free and end with their amazing brownie dessert.
Chicken Caesar Salad
I’d like to say that their Chicken Caesar Salad was the best I’d ever eaten but it didn’t even come close. The portion was pretty small for the price and the main component of the dish, the lettuce, was odds and ends of romaine. As far as salads go it really wasn’t that bad, unfortunately though it didn’t hold a candle to what I had set my heart on. Thankfully though as dessert rolled around and little girl was still resting her eyes, my husband and I shared the gluten free Dad’s Brownie Sundae, which consisted of a gluten free brownie, vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, sprinkles, m&ms, caramel pop corn, and probably a number of other toppings that I missed. This was delicious! So delicious in fact I forgot to take a picture before we dove in. Trust me though, it’s a work of art, definitely worth saving a little bit of room for at the end of your meal. Just a note though, it is pretty big so you might want to consider sharing it if you’re not too hungry still.
All in all, 50s Prime Time Cafe was disappointing this time around. They’ve developed such an impressive reputation online among the food blogs for their ability to cater to gluten free diners in a unique way, providing options that you really can’t find anywhere else. Their fried chicken was so crispy and moist and really put other restaurants who were unable to make this gluten free at home to shame. Sadly it looks as if I can’t really say that anymore. The explanations that the chef provided were confusing and unclear so I suppose in our future Disney trips I’ll have to call and speak directly to a chef months ahead and see if I can possibly enjoy this dish again. The sad truth that I’ve learned traveling, mainly cruising, while gluten free is that many restaurants require advanced notice for a gluten free dish so they can acquire the ingredients. Although these restaurants advertise and develop notoriety because of their gluten free menus, they still do not carry gluten free items for their menu on a day to day basis. This, in my opinion, remains as one of the major pitfalls in dining out gluten free where you have to do so much homework before being able to enjoy a meal with your loved ones at a restaurant.
This situation reminds me a bit of my gluten free travels over the past few years. My husband and I enjoy cruising and have done so several times while eating gluten free. Although they for the most part, with some exceptions, have been phenomenal in catering to a gluten free diet, they required advance ordering at every restaurant prior to our reservation. For me, this just kind of takes away from your meal a bit when you have to hunt down a chef days ahead to place an order for your dinner a couple days away; not to mention, who knows if I’d still be in the mood for a dish that I ordered a couple days ago. Sadly it looks like 50s Prime Time Cafe at Hollywood Studios may be adopting a bit of this approach, at least when it comes to this unique gluten free dish. The funny thing though, I really didn’t mind and wouldn’t mind ordering in advance if I knew I could get an amazing dish that I would enjoy, which in the case of our cruises happened more often than not. Here’s to hoping that 50s Prime TIme Cafe can still put together a fantastic plate of Gluten Free Fried Chicken just like I remember with a little bit of advanced notice. We’ll be visiting Disney again in the next few months so I’ll report then if I have any success!
Keep watching for our next Disney food adventures from Dole Whips and Pop Corn to dinners at Kona Cafe in the Polynesian, Epcot’s Mexico and England, and one of our favorites Cinderella’s Castle!
Our morning in Epcot was filled with fun for all, from meeting some of little one’s favorite characters like Mickey and friends and Snow White to riding some of Epcot’s best rides. By lunch we were all famished and ready to give some place new a try. Dan and I love wine so we’ve been looking forward to giving Tutto Gusto Wine Cellar in Epcot’s Italy a try for quite awhile leading up to this trip, unfortunately I had a pretty bad sinus infection the week of our trip so the wine tasting didn’t quite happen except for one of my favorite glasses of wine. Food wise though I was very eager to test the waters and see how Tutto Gusto could lend itself to the gluten free diner.
Tutto Gusto’s menu is amazing, including a large variety of meats and cheeses, paninis, and tasting portions of some more diverse dishes. After being seated, I spoke with the chef and he recommended a pasta dish using their gluten free pasta, topping it with a roasted tomato sauce, burrata mozzarella cheese, and basil. I was a bit hesitant to order something so heavy for lunch but by then at Epcot we certainly had walked up a huge appetite. I simply couldn’t resist the deliciousness that he had described so I was on board for the Pomodoro pasta dish done gluten free. After I had placed my specialty order, my husband ordered the Tuscan Pork Ribs and we ordered the chicken fingers for my little girl to enjoy. While our order was being made, we couldn’t help but to look around and enjoy the authenticity of the wine cellar architecture.
Dan and myself have been incredibly fortunate to travel to Europe both on our honeymoon and another time after that visiting a number of places in Italy, Greece, and Spain. We fell in love with every Italian city we had spent time in, most notably Venice, Florence, Rome, and Naples (the Island of Capri). We hope to one day go back and bring our children there so they too can enjoy the beauty of one of our favorite countries but for now we relive our memories through pictures and visiting places like this. Tutto Gusto Wine Cellar reminded us of the small restaurants that we once had the pleasure of dining in in Venice and Florence. It was such a wonderful memory to relive but this time with our little girl by our side. We can’t wait to introduce her to our favorite country’s beauty in the years to come, but for now we love being able to walk her around the world thanks to Epcot’s World Showcase.
Soon enough our food was placed on our table and all of the sights and smells were incredibly overwhelming. It was love at first glance for me, I couldn’t wait to dive in and take my first bite of my Gluten Free Pasta Pomodoro.
Gluten free rice pasta topped with a tomato sauce, basil, and burrata mozzarella.
Presentation wise this dish was exquisite. The whole roasted tomatoes scattered throughout and the mound of burrata mozzarella cheese placed in the center made my mouth water. And I must say, the portion was huge. I’m not sure if this was typically a lunch size portion but it was incredibly large, more than enough for two to share.
Soft and creamy burrata mozzarella cheese.
Now onto the actual taste of this dish. The actual pasta component of the dish was very tasty and perfect in texture, not mushy in the slightest bit, just how gluten free pasta should be cooked. As far as the tomato sauce, I’m usually not a huge fan of tomato sauces but this one was very light and not overwhelming in the slightest bit. The burrata cheese was a smooth and creamy version of fresh mozzarella and was the perfect addition to the light tomato sauce and gluten free pasta. My first bite of pasta, tomato sauce, burrata cheese, and a smidgen of basil was pure heaven. The flavor combination was absolute perfection for my picky palate! I shared a bit with my husband when he had finished his Tuscan Pork Ribs and he too agreed that the gluten free dish was truly amazing! Thank you Tutto Gusto for such a filling and satisfying lunch, I can see many a gluten free lunch and dinner here in our future!
Gluten free Chocolate Panna Cotta topped with cherries.
While we were certainly all filled after our pasta, ribs, and chicken fingers, who could seriously resist the temptation of a Gluten Free Chocolate Panna Cotta topped with cherries? We just had to give it a try, so we ordered one and shared it between the three of us. My little one who had become especially picky with food on our vacation (more than likely because of her brewing ear infection, which I’ll tell you more about that scary experience in another post) absolutely loved this treat! It was light and fluffy, and not too sweet but with the addition of the cherries, it was a perfect ending to a wonderful lunch!
Just a few tips about Tutto Gusto Wine Cellar, you can’t use your dining plan here, however the experience and different food options were totally worth an out-of-pocket dining for us. Also, they do not take reservations which I kind of like so you can just spontaneously stop in and give it a try if you’re in the mood for that type of cuisine. Most of their dishes are either small plate or large enough to be shared which they indicate on their menu, if you’re unsure just ask your server. To take a look at their menu in its entirety just follow this link. I personally can’t wait to stop in here again and either order my beloved Pomodoro pasta dish or a gluten free non-pasta dish (fingers crossed)!
Stay tuned next week for more of my Disney dining likes and dislikes!
This Disney trip we were so fortunate to be able to attend the Flower And Garden Festival at Epcot, we’d never been but have heard fantastic things about how gorgeous Epcot is decorated by Disney’s finest topiaries and flower displays. On Day 2 of our trip, Epcot had extra magic hours so we decided to venture over in that neck of the woods for the day. The reviews that we had read on the festival prior to going did not do the hard work and creativity that goes into the elaborate displays placed everywhere throughout Epcot any justice. Just after scanning our magic bands to enter we were greeted by huge Donald, Daisy, and Goofy topiaries which my little girl couldn’t have been happier to see. The attention to detail was truly remarkable, not terribly surprising when you’re talking about Disney though. Here’s a quick look at Donald, Daisy, and Goofy who welcomed us into Epcot!
Welcome to Epcot’s Flower and Garden Festival 2014.
Our first stop was to do the parent swap for Soarin and then to revisit the revamped Test Track. Both were amazing as always, I have to say they did a great job with Test Track, it certainly is a bit more thrilling then what I can remember. By 9 am though we were in line to meet little one’s Disney favorites: Mickey, Minnie, and Goofy. At only 1 1/2 she truly knows and loves each of Disney’s characters, Mickey and his friends being her favorites. After a quick wait she was in sight of Mickey, waving and saying hello frantically. Finally, it was her time to shine, she ran over to give Mickey a huge hug and kiss giving us so much to awe about. Visits with Goofy and Minnie were just the same, filled with so much love and happiness from out little baby girl. After an amazing start to our morning we were off to enjoy Nemo and his aquarium and then it was time to head over to the World Showcase.
I was excited to hear that there would be some different food stands offering gluten free treats at the Flower and Garden Festival this year. One item in particular that caught my eye were the Beijing-Style Candied Strawberries in China. While little one napped after her exciting morning, Dan and I meandered around the countries, trying tiny bites here and there and finally we came upon China. I couldn’t help but give the gluten free candied strawberries a try.
Epcot Flower and Garden Festival 2014: China’s Beijing-Style Candied Strawberries
After ordering, three huge candied strawberries greeted me at the kitchen window. These were huge strawberries which was a fantastic sight to me as I happen to love strawberries. They were covered in melted sugar and dusted with sesame seeds which I thought was an interesting twist. I must say I really enjoyed the candying effect of the strawberries, which were perfectly sweet and delicious. However, the sesame seed addition wasn’t my favorite. While I wasn’t a fan of the sesame seeds, my husband, who has by far a much more adventurous palate, seemed to really enjoy them.
Beijing-Style Candied Strawberries dusted in sesame seeds.
All in all, they were a refreshing treat. I loved the combination of the candy idea with huge and sweetly plump strawberries but could have done without the sesame seeds atop, or at least on only half so my husband could enjoy them on the other half. It was so nice to be able to participate in this extra part of the Flower and Garden Festival so I’m so grateful for Epcot taking the extra step to indicate gluten content on any of these extra dishes at their food stands. These strawberries were definitely creative and worth giving a try!
Stay tuned for Day 2’s lunch at Tutto Gusto Wine Cellar in Epcot’s Italy!
Disney Day 1 at Magic Kingdom was filled with all of the classics from Pirates of the Caribbean and Haunted Mansion to Peter Pan and Cinderella’s Carousel and some of the newer rides too like Ariel’s Under the Sea and Winnie the Pooh, each was so much fun and made my little girl smile from ear to ear. After an afternoon of rides we were ready for our first extra special dinner reservation at Disney’s new Be Our Guest Restaurant. Having eaten at this one on our previous vacation in the fall I knew how fantastic they were at catering to the gluten free diner so I couldn’t resist paying them another visit.
Be Our Guest offers a number of amazing dinner options from Chicken and Grilled Strip Steak to Ratatouille and a Puff Pastry Seafood dish. For me, I narrowed my choices down to the Chicken Provencal or the Grilled Strip Steak. As with every one of my Disney dinners I always request to speak with the chef to review each of my options so I can choose the safest and tastiest dish for me to enjoy. As per usual, the chef greeted our table within moments of being seated and reviewed the gluten free options on the menu. Hearing that the Grilled Strip Steak could be made as seen on the menu with its garlic-herb butter sauce and pommes frites the decision was simple for me and I went with the steak. Only moments after ordering our food while I was entertaining my little girl I was shocked to see our appetizers and bread coming out and minutes after that our main courses quickly followed. Their speedy service at Be Our Guest is fantastic and greatly appreciated by this mommy of a toddler who although is quite patient and loves too color is still a 1 1/2 year old who has places to go and people to see.
My first bites at Be Our Guest were of their delicious gluten free dinner rolls, which I later inquired to find out that they were Ener-G brand. These were a perfect start to the meal, warmed and covered in butter, so good!
Be Our Guest Gluten Free Dinner Rolls
For me, it’s just refreshing to even be able to participate in the bread course of a meal, when usually I just sit and gaze at the gluten filled rolls that were placed in the center of the table. Disney is superior at making all of their diners happy from the start of a meal to the finish, as evident by their offering of gluten free rolls! Just moments after my first few bites into these rolls I caught a glimpse of my main course arriving and I couldn’t have been more excited to give the garlic-herb butter that I was promised a taste.
Be Our Guest Grilled Strip Steak
As you can see, this dish is gorgeous! You get a generous size piece of steak accompanied by a large helping of both green beans and pommes frites. First comes first though, I couldn’t wait to taste the steak along with the garlic-herb butter that was free of gluten. The steak was cooked to perfection, well done just how I like it, and the garlic-herb butter sauce that topped it was absolutely DELICIOUS! It added so much flavor and was incredible, I’m so glad that the chef informed me that this one was gluten free!
Be Our Guest’s gluten free grilled strip steak with garlic-herb butter sauce.
The green beans were equally as tasty, but I have to say the second star of the dish were the pommes frites or rather their french fries. They were a lovely cross between a thin and steak size french fry and were seasoned to perfection. They had a delicious mix of seasonings that made them irresistible to both myself and my daughter. Just talking about them is making me wish that I could just enjoy one more bite!
Perfectly seasoned gluten free pommes frites, the perfect accompaniment to Be Our Guest’s grilled strip steak.
I’m so grateful for Disney’s Be Our Guest Restaurant who creates an amazing dining experience. Although their food is divine, the world that you step into truly takes over and makes you feel as though you’re in Beauty and the Beast. If you haven’t dined here you absolutely must give it a try, you won’t be disappointed by the food nor the environment. And if you’re gluten free, ease any fears of safe dining, Disney is superior at catering to diner’s needs in all shapes and forms and Be Our Guest certainly lived up to this standard. The meal was amazing from start to finish, my only wish being that I could take this restaurant home with me so I could enjoy their gluten free service all of the time!
It was the perfect food ending to our first day in Disney! We couldn’t wait to enjoy a bit more of the sights and sounds of Magic Kingdom before turning in but thanks to Be Our Guest our bellies were all full and happy!
TIP: Not so much as a tip but more of a tidbit of information that I learned about Be Our Guest Restaurant. My husband and I just marveled at the attention to detail in the castle and throughout the restaurant so as we were dining we spoke with the waitress about the restaurant and learned quite a few interesting details about it. One of our favorite features was the ceiling of the ballroom that was covered with cherub angels and gold chandeliers. My husband commented that the angels looked extremely realistic like they were real pictures of babies. Our waitress actually informed us that the imagineers who worked on the project were given a gift to pick one of their family member’s baby pictures and incorporate it into the ceiling of the ballroom as the cherub angels. So next time you take a walk through pay special attention to the ceiling and you’ll be able to see the realness in this piece of art. For now, I posted a picture that I captured of the ceiling so you could take a quick look!
Our Disney adventure started out with an early morning flight, which is by far my least favorite activity of a vacation. Not only do I not love flying in general but the idea of being contained to a tiny little space with a highly active and mobile toddler is a bit intimidating too. With snacks, toys, and an ipad full of Disney Junior in hand though we were armed for the relatively short flight. All in all it wasn’t too bad; it was slightly hectic when little one left us a surprise in her diaper and required a change in the tiny tiny airplane bathroom but after some walking back and forth she passed out for a short nap until we landed in Orlando.
I don’t know about any of you but just stepping off of the plane in Orlando you get that magical feeling that Disney brings. After a short tram ride through the airport we were whisked away by Disney’s Magical Express to one of our favorite resorts, The Wilderness Lodge. The ride was filled with so much anticipation as our little one just sat in awe watching the bus tv as Mickey splashed across the screen. Only 30 minutes later and “we were home”. After checking in and leaving our carry-ons at the front desk, we were off to start Day 1 at the most magical place on Earth.
One of my favorite perks (and my daughter’s too) of staying at the Wilderness Lodge is the option to take a quick and scenic boat ride to get to the Magic Kingdom. Going with tradition, we headed over to Magic Kingdom first via the boat and a short 10 minute ride later we caught a glimpse of the castle for the first time. Just seeing the castle makes you feel like a kid again, filling you with so much excitement and anticipation. Soon enough we were docking right in front of the gates to Magic Kingdom and we couldn’t wait to unload and experience the magic.
Little one was a bit sleepy after a long commute earlier that morning but awake enough to point and scream with excitement at the all of the sights and sounds that filled Main Street. She just loved the hustle and bustle of it all, so much to see, hear, and smell for my little 1 1/2 year old. Her signature twinkle in her eyes grew ten sizes that day with her first gaze of the castle and the character show going on in front of it, a little expression I’ll never forget. We headed straight for Fantasyland to start our trip off with my little girl’s favorite ride, It’s A Small World. Even as an adult I love this ride too, but my little one just couldn’t take her eyes off of all of the dancing and singing dolls. She loved this one 9 months ago when we first took her to Disney, so much so I had an It’s A Small World inspired 1st birthday party for her! This time on this ride was filled with just as much amazement.
After riding through It’s A Small World, we headed over to Frontierland to get some lunch. Little one had a sandwich along with applesauce and fruit while Dan and I indulged in one of our all time favorite lunch options at Disney, and it’s gluten free! We love love love the Turkey Legs, you know those huge, smoked hunks of meat that look like they belong in a Flinstone’s episode. If you haven’t had one of these, I’m sure you’ve at least seen someone at some point walking around with one during one of your Disney trips. They are amazing and more amazing they are safe for those that are gluten free!
Smoked turkey legs courtesy of Frontierland in Magic Kingdom!
These smoked turkey legs are huge and make a perfectly filling lunch that is a little different then a burger or hot dog and fries. Each bite is filled with a juicy and smokey tasting piece of turkey that actually tastes a bit more like a ham with texture of turkey. My favorite part about these is that they are far from your traditional turkey that can be dry, these actually are incredibly juicy so make sure you arm yourself with plenty of napkins. I just love that these are safe for those that are gluten free and that both my husband and myself and one day little one can enjoy these together!
Smoked turkey legs at Magic Kingdom!
Just a heads up these turkey legs are messy and cannot be eaten in a pretty way so get ready to dive in and just enjoy the tastiness of this one! Also, they are a bit pricey, coming in at about $9 a piece, but are totally worth every penny. Like I said, these are huge and can certainly be shared if you don’t mind. Also, if you have a dining plan too this makes for a great quick service option! It counts as a quick service meal and you get one turkey leg, one drink, a bag of chips, and a pack of cookies which I believe equates to about a $20 meal, a great deal for a quick service option on the dining plan. We always use at least one or two quick service meals each at a turkey leg stand during our trips!
So next time you’re in Magic Kingdom, head over to Frontierland and check out their turkey legs! These are a delicious gluten free lunch option while in Disney and are actually available in several if not all of the parks! As always though, when you visit be sure to look at their allergy binder for any item that you want to try to check the ingredients as these can change.
