<<Disclaimer: Verify this information before applying it to your situation.>>

Hi Listmates,

Thanks to everyone who responded and to those who sent me recipes
regarding my trip to Disney World this June.  I responded to those
already who asked me to summarize for them, but then I got this very
informative response from Suzanne (thank you so much) and thought that
since I had so many requests, I would sent it on to the list.  It sounds
like Disney is the place to go if you're looking for a great vacation
and GF meals.

Suzanne wrote:

> We were in Disney World in November and had a WONDERFUL experience
> eating GF.
> Some general words of advice:
>         - Try to eat in restaurants that are run by Disney as the chefs
> are very knowledgeable about different dietary needs and how to cook for
> them.  They knew what Celiac was and what grains needed to be avoided.  In
> sharp contrast, chefs at the non-Disney restaurants, which are not always
> evident (for example, Rainforest Cafe is in the Animal Kingdom but NOT a
> Disney restaurant),  needed the usual full explanation of Celiac and would
> prepare the very basic, dry, safe Celiac meal.  You can find out which is a
> Disney restaurant and which is not by calling the DisneyDine number through
> the Disney switchboard (I can find this for you if you have trouble getting
> it).
>         - Try to make reservations and have Celiac, gluten intolerance
> marked on the reservation.  The chefs look at the reservations in the
> morning to see what they'll need.
>         - We spoke directly to the chefs of each of the restaurants
> when we were seated (and this was a "service" volunteered to us by our
> waiter/waitress.  AMAZING!)
>
> We ate in the following restaurants with great results:
> ***Most accommodating was Xavier Pereja, chef at the Liberty Tree Tavern in
> Magic Kingdom.  I spoke directly with him about a week before our trip.  He
> was the one who told me that all the chefs check their reservations and
> that I did not need to call the other chefs.  However, with the added "lead
> time" he ordered gluten free bread (which he served warmed), banana bread,
> corn pasta, and rice dream (because he said he knew that many Celiacs were
> also lactose intolerant!).  The meal there is a set menu and served family
> style.  He prepared gluten free equivalents of every menu item, and (as a
> non-Celiac myself) I can tell you that the gluten free items were even
> BETTER!  He prepared a strawberry shortcake using the banana bread and rice
> dream.
> ***At the Coral Reef Restaurant in Epcot, there was a seafood selection
> available on the menu that happened to be GF.  The chef came out to confirm
> that it was GF.  It was great.  He prepared a beautiful fruit plate for
> dessert.
> ***Another great experience at the Brown Derby in MGM.  Chef came out,
> etc...Even prepared french fries for my son from scratch in separate oil.
> ***Went for lunch in Epcot in England.  Were a bit nervous because this was
> without a reservation and any preparation.  Chef came out (his wife has
> severe food allergies), knew what Celiac was, prepared a grilled chicken
> with balsamic vinegar sauce and grilled veges.
>
> As a rule, we all ate breakfast in our condo and my husband and son made
> sandwiches in the morning and packed those for lunch.  We didn't try lunch
> in England until the last day...maybe we would've been "bolder" for lunch
> in the other parks if we knew it would be that easy.
>
> Sorry to have gone on so long!  We just had a great time at Disney and
> eating in Disney.  They made it so easy!  Have fun.
>
> Suzanne