Pineapple Dole Whip -- Snacks -- Aloha Isle -- Magic Kingdom

*This post contains ingredient information from August 20, 2016. Always double-check with a cast member to ensure that an item is safe for your special dietary need before consuming. Pineapple Dole Whips available at the Aloha Isle in Adventureland at Disney's Magic Kingdom and at the Pineapple Lanai at Disney's Polynesian Resort are a classic Disney treat. A soft serve ice cream, you might expect that the Dole Whip is not dairy free, gluten free, or very allergy friendly. But, that is actually not the case! Pineapple Dole Whips are gluten free, dairy free, vegan, and free of the top common allergens.I'm a huge fan of the Pineapple Dole Whip float made with Pineapple Juice. It's so refreshing and perfect for a hot day of touring in the parks.Here is the ingredients list from the Aloha Isle for the Pineapple Dole Whip:Here is the ingredients list for the Pineapple Juice and Pineapple Spear:At the Aloha Isle, you can only get the Pineapple Dole Whip, Dole Whip Float (Pineapple Dole Whip & Pineapple Juice, and is shown in the picture in this post), or a pineapple spear. This location does not carry the vanilla soft serve, which contains dairy, so there are no worries of dairy cross-contamination at Aloha Isle.The Pineapple Lanai at Disney's Polynesian Resort carries both the Pineapple Dole Whip and vanilla soft serve, so you'll want to check with a cast member there to discuss any concerns of cross-contamination with dairy.Dole Whip Official Site has a list of ingredients. You can also check Kent Precision Foods site (which distributes Dole Whips) where it mentions that the Pineapple Dole Whip it is top 8 allergen free.Have you had the Pineapple Dole Whip? Is it a must do for you when you go to the Magic Kingdom? 

Sanaa -- Dinner -- Table Service -- Animal Kingdom Lodge

*This dining experience took place in August 2016.Sanaa, located at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge Kidani Village, has long been one of my favorite restaurants at Disney. I love the Indian and African inspired dishes, the amount of gluten free and dairy free offerings, and of course, the amazing views.On this particular occasion, I visited with my mom and stepdad who were in town briefly, having just arrived back from a trip to Europe. Their tradition every time they come back from vacation is to dine at Sanaa. And who am I to argue with their tradition?!I looked over the Sanaa allergy friendly menu but asked to speak to a chef, as I had a few questions about some of the new regular menu dishes that are not listed on the allergy friendly menu. As I learned from a recent visit to Sanaa, many of the dishes on the regular menu are gluten free and dairy free but oddly not listed on the allergy friendly menu.Chef Fallon who assisted me and my friends back in April is a rockstar and helped me out on this visit. She deserves some huge kudos.For an appetizer, we had to get the Sanaa bread service. It's a must. I love that I can get gluten free and allergy friendly (and vegan!) naan bread. Because we were splitting it, I ordered two pieces of the special diets naan while my mom and stepdad got regular naan.Before anyone else dug in, I immediately scooped up some dipping sauces for myself. I'm a huge fan of the Coriander Chutney, Mango Chutney (which I recently made on My Gluten Free Disney Kitchen!), and the Roasted Red Bell pepper Hummus. I also really enjoy the Tomato Date Chutney.The gluten free and allergy friendly naan was good, but probably the least well cooked compared to other visits where it has been divine. It wasn't bad, but it seemed a bit dry. Thankfully, I had lots of dipping sauces to help with that.The gluten free, allergy friendly, and vegan naan bread is made with Cup4Cup Wholesome Flour blend and is listed as gluten/wheat, egg, fish/shellfish, milk, peanut/tree nut, and soy allergy friendly. This is a photo of the traditional bread service. This naan is egg, fish/shellfish, peanut/tree nut, and soy allergy friendly.For my entree, I ordered the African-inspired Biryani which was listed as Fragrant Rice with Seasonal Vegetables influenced from the Cape of Good Hope. This is a vegetarian dish (I believe it was also vegan).Chef Fallon noted that many people ask for protein in the dish and that she could do so for me. I told her to surprise me for whatever was easiest for her, as I'm not fussy and like most proteins. This would later come back to be an issue with the check, but more on that later.The Biryani was served with crispy fried onion straws on top. Because I was unsure about the safety when it arrived (I've had the wrong thing given to me before at Sanaa), I asked server Jonathan to ask Chef Fallon and confirm its safety. I learned it was made with a gluten free flour, so that was great.Unfortunately, I had to wait a good 10 minutes before I could even talk to a server about this (Jonathan was not our server was a total rockstar; sadly, our server Eddie virtually ignored us throughout our meal and sent over other servers to assist us, while waiting on tables located directly next to us.). It did take another 5 minutes or so before I got confirmation, so I waited at about 15 minutes before I could eat my meal.Overall, once I finally got to eat it, I really enjoyed this dish. I loved the protein addition (Chef Fallon noted they will be updating the menu soon, and the protein add option will be listed), and I thought the rice was well cooked. The crispy fried onions were amazing!My only slight negative was the vegetables in the Biryani. I'm all about a nice vegetable melange but Brussels Sprouts, Green Beans, Carrots and some other root veggies seemed an odd combo to me. I love all of those, but they seemed a bit out of place with my dish.My mom got the Butter Chicken and Braised Beef with Basmati Rice, all of which is gluten free. The Butter Chicken contains dairy, but the Braised Beef is dairy free. I've had the Braised Beef on a previous visit and thought it was just OK.My stepdad had the Braii Lamb with Apricots, Squash, Bacon, Cashews, and Goat Cheese. It looked amazing. It wasn't listed as gluten free, but I am thinking it might have been easily gluten free, if not naturally gluten free, as all of the lamb dishes at Sanaa have been gluten free in the past.The Braii Lamb, I've had before was gluten free on the Braaivleis - South African Braai Sample Plate. Next time, I will ask because it looked incredible and was a great value compared to the other dishes at $22.Everyone enjoyed our meal, but I was a bit shocked when I got my bill and noticed a $15 upcharge for the protein I got. I definitely don't mind upcharges and am used to them at restaurants (thought to be honest, it's not all that rare at Disney), but I was shocked that it was so much and not communicated to me prior.I did speak to the manager Zach who basically said the restaurant charged that much because they needed to recoup their cost. He also noted that the new menu will be coming out and that this price was reflective of new price increases at Sanaa. I did explain to him that had I known there was an upcharge that high, I would have ordered my standard faves. I also let him know that I at no point specifically requested those proteins (he indicated the seafood made it a higher price, which I do understand, of course) and that the chef came up with those.He did reduce the price down to $26 total, which was the same price as the current pricing for the curries on the menu. Still, I was a bit stunned at the experience, and it's definitely not something I've experienced at Disney before without telling me prior to ordering.Overall, we enjoyed the food and atmosphere, but the experience with service was a bit lacking on this visit. I'm sad to hear that a new menu coming out will now price the curries from $26 to $34 and include 3 choices. My guess is the portion size will be lowered for each of the sauces, but that remains to be seen. Of course, menus and prices are always subject to change, so I will let you know if this new proposed change takes place.I love Sanaa, but I think I may skip it for dinner for a while and maybe only go at lunch where the prices are a bit more reasonable. It's a shame because it's my favorite restaurant, but this particular visit makes me want to take a bit of a Sanaa break for a while.As an update, I did speak with Disney's Guest Services, and they were also surprised by the upcharge I received and assured me that this is not a new common practice at Sanaa or other locations. Hopefully, others will not experience the same issue I did on this visit to Sanaa. This was a rare occurrence, and I'm glad it's not the norm.Have you been to Sanaa? What is your favorite dish there?

Blaze Pizza -- Lunch -- Quick Service -- Disney Springs

*This dining experience took place in August 2016.Blaze Pizza, a well-known pizza chain, opened its latest location at Disney Springs on August 5, 2016. As a quick service restaurant, Blaze Pizza offers "blazing" fast pizza that cooks in 180 seconds.Recently, I stopped by Blaze Pizza at their Disney Springs location to check out their gluten free and special dietary needs options. I've never been to any Blaze Pizza locations, though I had heard the chain restaurant carries gluten free pizza dough and vegan cheese.Blaze Pizza is located in the Town Center at Disney Springs. They open at 10 a.m. every day, which is pretty darn early for pizza. But, who am I to argue with pizza cravings, no matter what time of day it is!When I arrived in Blaze Pizza, I noticed that there were two "stations" where Blaze Kitchen employees helped customers build their custom pizzas. As a celiac, this seemed like a major cross contamination nightmare, so I wasn't sure if this would be a place I could dine at or not.After arriving, I notified a Blaze Pizza employee of my special dietary needs and asked to speak with a manager. I was greeted by Minnie (what a perfect name!) who assisted me from start to finish during my visit to Blaze Pizza and was a total rockstar.You can see Minnie in the photo above, where she is preparing gluten free pizza dough on the dedicated gluten free pizza dough press.Minnie explained to me that Blaze Pizza offers gluten free pizza dough, which is also vegan. She mentioned that it was tapioca flour based, but I did not get the full ingredients list. She let me know that they try to reduce cross contamination as much as possible by using a dedicated gluten free pizza dough press, plastic sheets* for each pizza (that stay with the pizza while it goes in the oven), and even dedicated pizza cutters. NOTE: I will be double-checking this when I dine here next time to confirm what they are using for the sheets (silicon, etc.) She also told me that for those with allergies or celiac disease that they will change gloves and use fresh ingredients that are not on the main line. This means that you can get fresh sauce that has not touched any gluten on your pizza (this is important, as I noticed that the sauce and spoons for the sauce were touching gluten filled pizza dough immediately upon entering Blaze Pizza).I watched Minnie prepare my pizza and all of my pizza toppings were pulled from separate areas.After my pizza was prepared, it went into the pizza oven. This is a shared oven, but they did try to keep my pizza away from the gluten filled ones. If you have any concerns about a shared oven, you may want to speak with an employee to discuss.I ordered what was essentially the BBQ Chicken Pizza. I removed the banana peppers and omitted the Gorgonzola cheese and added bacon. You can really create and customize your pizza however you want to, which is pretty great.Check out my full video dining review of this visit to Blaze Pizza on YouTube:Blaze Pizza does have a list of allergens/ingredients on their website so you can double-check which items are gluten free or cover your special dietary need. For gluten free, the meatballs were the only pizza topping that contained gluten (the meatballs also contain dairy).If you are vegan or have a milk allergy, you can request vegan cheese. Blaze Pizza uses Daiya Cheese. I'm not sure if they have an upcharge on the vegan cheese, but do note that they charge $2.00 extra for the gluten free dough. For those vegans or milk allergy guests, the gluten free pizza dough is also vegan too.If you have a nut allergy, Blaze Pizza currently only has one dish that contains tree nuts (almonds) which is the beet and goat cheese salad. Otherwise, the facility does not carry any other nut related products, which is pretty awesome. For more information about allergens at Blaze Pizza, check their website FAQ.I really loved the pizza that I got at Blaze Pizza. The dough has to be the best gluten free and dairy free pizza dough I've ever had. Though I enjoy Udi's Gluten Free pizza crust, I have to say that this version from Blaze Pizza was a huge step up. It was also a bit bigger than the Udi's pizza crust, making it a good value for the price (around $12).I loved the toppings and found everything to be of high quality and very fresh. I also love that I have a ton of choices of toppings and sauces.Add to it the fact that Blaze Pizza went above and beyond to ensure that I had a safe meal, this was definitely an impressive experience. I really appreciated the time that Minnie and the team took to answer all of my questions and to prepare my pizza safely. It's a rare treat to get gluten free pizza out that's not super expensive and also really tasty.Blaze Pizza is definitely going to be a new quick service favorite for me when I visit Disney Springs. When I visited there were three of us right in a row that have special dietary needs, so it's pretty amazing to see Blaze Pizza step up to the plate and offer safe options for everyone!Are you looking forward to visiting Blaze Pizza? What kind of pizza toppings would you like on your custom pizza? 

Frontera Cocina To Go Counter -- Quick Service -- Disney Springs

*This dining experience took place in August 2016. I recently stopped by Frontera Cocina's To Go Counter for another quick service meal. I'd visited previously and really enjoyed the Conchinita Pibil (aka pork) tacos that they serve there, and I was looking forward to trying their other to go option, the Beef Barbacoa tacos which are also gluten free.One of the things that I love most about Frontera Cocina is that their menu is almost entirely gluten free. It's pretty awesome, and even more awesome because I'm a huge Mexican food fan and could literally eat Mexican food every day.The Beef Barbacoa Tacos are braised beef tacos served with cojita cheese (similar to Parmesan), red onion, cilantro, a side of fresh lime and chipotle salsa all served on handmade corn tortillas.The tortillas at Frontera Cocina are amazing and are a bit thicker than you would expect and super delicious. They make the perfect vessel for these tacos. The braised beef itself was fairly good and well cooked. My only complaint is that I had a few pieces that seemed to have a bit of fat on them.The diced red onion, cilantro, and cojita cheese made the dish. The cheese is the only dairy item on these tacos, and you can order them dairy free by omitting the cheese.Make sure to squeeze a bit of fresh lime juice on the tacos and dip the tacos in the chipotle salsa. It's spicy but nothing like the atomic habanero salsa that comes with the Conchinita Pibil tacos (you've been warned! I like spice and the habanero salsa was way too intense for me).Overall, I really enjoyed the beef barbacoa tacos, though I have to say I would probably order the conchinita pibil tacos next time instead. I prefer pork and really enjoyed the pickled red onions served with those tacos.Frontera Cocina's To Go Counter is definitely a great quick service stop, especially if you're craving Mexican food. It doesn't have a ton of variety, but it's all gluten free (and easily made dairy free) and delicious!Have you been to Frontera Cocina? What did you order at the table service or quick service location?

Liberty Square Market -- Snacks -- Quick Service -- Magic Kingdom

*This post contains information from July 2016.Liberty Square Market, is a hidden gem of a spot for special dietary needs snacks in the Magic Kingdom. Located next to the Hall of Presidents and Columbia Harbour House, this snack kiosk offers a variety of grab and go options along with a few surprising gluten free and special diets friendly treats, including a baked potato.If you are looking for special dietary needs snacks, there is a dedicated special diets area, which currently includes Surf Sweets, Enjoy Life Crunchy Chocolate Chip Cookies, Rocky Mountain Caramel Corn, and Lundberg Rice Chips.Of course, I love that you can get grab and go single serve Enjoy Life cookies. These are also a snack credit on the Disney Dining Plan.In addition to special dietary needs pre-packaged snacks, you can also find fresh fruit and vegetables, which are gluten free, dairy free, vegetarian, vegan, and likely cover other allergens as well. During my visit, I grabbed some apple slices to enjoy with some SunButter On the Go Cups that I brought from home!One of the most popular items at Liberty Square Market is the baked potato. Coming in at $3.99, this is a bargain for a snack or a light meal. It's also a snack on the Disney Dining Plan.Here are the ingredients for the Baked Potato. It is served plain with the butter, sour cream, and cheese on the side. If you can't have dairy, just simply ask the cast member to not add these ingredients to your container.In addition, many people like to get a baked potato with soup or vegetarian chili from Columbia Harbour House next door for a nice hearty meal.Seasonally, Liberty Square Market often has corn on the cob (also served plain with butter on the side) and most recently, sweet potatoes. When I visited in summer 2016, they did not have either currently at Liberty Square Market, but this is always subject to change and availability.Check out the review from the Disney Food Blog for more info on the sweet potatoes and corn on the cob.Liberty Square Market also has lots of grab and go fruit. These are also snack credits on the Disney Dining Plan.Overall, Liberty Square Market is one of the best spots for snacks in the Magic Kingdom if you have a special dietary need. With plenty of options and most on the Disney Dining Plan, you'll be impressed by the variety of safe items to choose from.Have you been to Liberty Square Market? What are your go-to snacks there?

Ice Cream Carts -- Snacks -- Quick Service

*This post contains ingredient information from July 24, 2016. Always double-check with a cast member to ensure that an item is safe for your special dietary need before consuming. Orlando can be a very warm place, no matter the time of year, so if you're visiting Walt Disney World, chances are you've been looking for a cool treat. In a past podcast episode, I covered some of my favorites cool treats (including the No Way Jose sundae from Beaches & Cream), but in this post we'll be looking at the ice cream cart offerings which you can find at any Disney theme park.On a recent visit, I stopped by one of the carts while checking out information about the freshly popped popcorn at Disney and asked if I could see the information about ice cream. Here are some of the photos from the special dietary needs binder. I will be adding to this post, as I did not get photos for all of their special dietary needs offerings.One of the most popular Disney ice cream treats is the Mickey Bar. As you can see, the ingredients do not note that it contains gluten and there does not appear to be any "made in a facility" warnings either (you will see those on some other ingredients images).Mickey Bars have often had mixed information about whether they are gluten free or not. By the current ingredients, they do look to be gluten free.The Frozen Olaf Bar is gluten free and dairy free, but does contain a warning that the items are processed in a facility that also processes those ingredients.Sadly, the Mickey Ice Cream Bar sandwich is a no go for gluten free and dairy free.The frozen fruit bars are something I've been offered a lot, and I'm not really a fan of. I would probably avoid this due to the processing in the same facility warning.What are your favorite cool treats at Disney? 

Fresh Popcorn -- Snacks -- Quick Service

*This post contains ingredient information from July 24, 2016. Always double-check with a cast member to ensure that an item is safe for your special dietary need before consuming. You can hear more about Disney's popcorn in Episode 38 of the podcast!Disney World popcorn is a classic snack -- one that has long been a favorite of mine too. Whether you're enjoying a box of freshly popped popcorn as you stroll down Main Street U.S.A. at the Magic Kingdom or sharing a bucket of popcorn while waiting to watch a Disney parade. chances are popcorn is a favorite of yours too.Disney World's freshly popped popcorn, found at a variety of outdoor kiosks throughout the Disney World theme parks, has long been gluten free, dairy free, and even vegan. It used to be made with Orville Redenbacher's popcorn, and back in fall 2015, it was announced that Pop Secret would become the new popcorn brand for all freshly made popcorn at the Disney Parks.Thankfully, despite the popcorn brand change, the freshly made popcorn at Disney is still gluten free, dairy free, and vegan.(Note: This does not apply to pre-packaged and pre-prepared popcorn or the flavored popcorn at Epcot. Always double-check ingredients to confirm if these types of popcorn are safe for your special dietary need). I recently stopped by an outdoor kiosk at the Magic Kingdom to check out the current ingredients binder and to take photos of the ingredients for you the readers.As you can see, the popcorn oil does not contain any dairy, but is canola oil and coconut oil based. Despite this, you'd swear that the Disney popcorn was filled with butter. It tastes really buttery and rich without all the dairy containing ingredients.The popcorn salt and popcorn are simple ingredients and make the perfect base for Disney's classic freshly popped popcorn.So there you have it. The ingredients for Disney's freshly popped popcorn. I love that this classic continues to remain gluten free and dairy free.Have you tried Disney's popcorn? Do you love it as much as I do? 

Frontera Cocina -- Lunch -- Table Service -- Disney Springs

*This dining experience took place in July 2016.Frontera Cocina, located at Disney Springs, has quickly become one of my new favorite table locations. With authentic Mexican food, this restaurant is the brain child of celebrity chef Rick Bayless, who is well-known for creating classic Mexican cuisine.With a menu that's almost entirely gluten free naturally, it's not hard to see why I love Frontera Cocina so much.On this particular visit, I stopped by with my mom for a quick lunch. Frontera Cocina opens at 11 a.m., and on this visit, we were actually the first guests in the restaurant. Yes, rope dropping Mexican food; that's how we roll in my family!On my last visit, I got the bacon guacamole and loved it, but I've been dying to try the Sikil Pak -- a classic Yucatan dish made with pumpkin seeds. It's actually something I learned to make when I visited Mexico for my birthday in 2015, so I was excited to try Frontera Cocina's version.Served with tortilla chips (which are made in a dedicated fryer), cucumber, and jicama, this was a nice refreshing appetizer. The pumpkin seed dip does have a bit of a bite, as it contains habanero, but it's not overly spicy. I preferred the dip with the fresh cucumber with the tortilla chips coming in as a close second. My mom loved the jicama.My only complaint about this dish was that our tortilla chips seemed a bit stale. They weren't warm and freshly fried, which was a bit of a bummer.For my entree, I decided to order the zucchini and roasted poblano pepper tostadas topped with black beans, goat cheese, and a bit of frisee. I do really well with non-cow's milk cheese, so I was looking forward to trying this goat cheese based dish.Overall, I really enjoyed these -- though after seeing my mom's chicken tostadas, I sort of wish I had ordered those minus the crema and queso fresco. The zucchini and poblanos were really well cooked, and I liked the combination of the beans and tang from the goat cheese. I wasn't a fan of the frisee, but it was easily removed.I didn't ask, but I actually don't think this is a vegetarian dish, because the menu indicates that the black beans contain pork (probably pork fat). Next time I visit, I will try to ask about vegetarian dishes.My mom ordered the chicken tostadas, and she raved about them. They looked really delicious and flavorful. Topped with black beans, chicken, avocado, crema, queso fresco and cilantro - these are gluten free and can easily be made dairy free by removing the crema and queso fresco.Overall, we really enjoyed our lunch at Frontera Cocina. I hope to go back for dinner to try out some of the other gluten free options. I'm dying to get the shrimp mojo de ajo that my friend Ron ordered. You can see some of the other gluten free dishes over on Alexis's Gluten Free Adventures.What are you most looking forward to trying at Frontera Cocina?

Frontera Cocina To Go Counter -- Dinner -- Quick Service -- Disney Springs

*This dining experience took place in July 2016.Frontera Cocina is one of Disney Springs newest restaurant offerings, and while I love this table service restaurant, I absolutely love that they have a to go counter. I'm such a huge Mexican food lover that getting tacos to go is pretty much my favorite thing ever.I previously stopped by the to go counter and grabbed chips and guacamole along with margaritas with my friend Ron, and on this visit, I knew I wanted to grab dinner. Thankfully, everything at Frontera Cocina is marked with allergens, so I knew that I was in good shape for getting a great gluten free and dairy free meal.I decided to order the Cochinita Pibil Tacos, which is made up of achiote braised pork shoulder, pickled red onions, and served with habanero salsa. I confirmed with the culinary team that this was both gluten free & dairy free upon ordering.I have to say that I really enjoyed these tacos -- so much so that I basically scarfed them down in half the time it took Brandon to eat his poutine from the Daily Poutine.I love the warm corn tortillas and the braised pork was slow roasted and tender. The pickled red onion was a highlight adding a bit of a tangy and tart flavor to the dish, along with some texture. Fresh cilantro was perfect on top.As a salsa warning, I was asked if I wanted the habanero salsa and was told it was VERY spicy. I opted for the chipotle salsa, which I was told was milder but still quite spicy. I love spice, and the chipotle was well beyond my spice level. I dipped a small bit of my taco into and had to drink a ton of water after eating it. Brandon even said my face was bright red. So as far as spice, proceed with caution on the salsa! The taco itself wasn't very spicy, but very flavorful.Overall, I loved these tacos, and I can't wait to go back again. I love that I can grab these for a tasty and quick dinner and that everything is so gluten free friendly. Frontera Cocina is definitely high on my quick service list now at Disney Springs!Have you been to Frontera Cocina? What did you enjoy when you visited there?

Spice Mill -- Lunch -- Quick Service -- SeaWorld Orlando

*This dining experience took place in July 2016.As a SeaWorld Passholder, I have been visiting the park for the past year, but haven't had a chance to dine there yet. On this visit, I finally got a chance to check out the dining options and how SeaWorld Orlando handles special dietary needs.My first meal was at Spice Mill, a quick service restaurant that serves burgers, sandwiches, and salads.Before I arrived at SeaWorld Orlando, I emailed the Culinary Operations Team at SeaWorld. You can find out more information about special dietary needs at SeaWorld on their website, including allergen cards and how to contact them for more informaiton.After connecting with the Culinary Operations Team, they sent me a document listing all of the gluten free options at the quick service locations. This was really helpful, as I could cross-reference things and pick the choice that both Brandon and I would have options at.Spice Mill's options included:

• Potato Salad
• Pulled Pork Sandwich on a Gluten Free Bun
• Pickles
• Fresh Fruit
• Hamburger on a Gluten Free Bun
• Chop Chop Salad
• Cheeseburger on a Gluten Free Bun

For the Kids' Menu, gluten free options included:

• Hamburger on a Gluten Free Bun with Carrot Sticks and Fruit or Applesauce
• Hot Dog on a Gluten Free Bun with Carrot Sticks and Fruit or Applesauce

Throughout the SeaWorld Park, they have allergy friendly information cards that you can pick up. They include information about training, where to eat, and even include a food allergy information card that you can share with the culinary team at whatever restaurant you dine at.All team members seemed to be very used to this, as the team member at the cash register asked if I had one filled out when I inquired about a gluten free meal.A chef also came out to speak with me about options and prepared my food in the kitchen. Spice Mill is cafeteria style, so having my food make safely in the back was really great. The chef did tell me that I could get French fries, as they are made in a dedicated fryer. I opted for a gluten free cheeseburger (since I've been reintroducing a bit of dairy back into my diet), along with fries.The restaurant also had several food allergy friendly items to purchase behind the cash register including Beanitos and Divvies. Some locations also carried Rich's Gluten Free Brownies, which are also dairy free.I had a fairly short wait for my food. Once I got my burger and fries, I did check out the condiment station, which consists of all pre-packaged condiments. This is great because you can enjoy ketchup, mustard, and mayo without worry of cross contamination.Both Brandon and I got burgers, and we both really enjoyed them. We commented that they were actually better than some of the burgers you'd get even at a Disney quick service location in one of the parks. My burger was served on an Udi's Gluten Free bun, and the entire meal could have easily been made dairy free by removing the cheese.Overall, I was really impressed at how SeaWorld Orlando handled my special dietary needs. I think they're doing a great job at following cross-contamination procedures and having options available. I will say that I was even more impressed that a chef came out to speak with me. That doesn't happen at other Orlando theme parks (except Disney) like Universal Studios, where I'm usually just working with the cashier/team member at the front and an ingredients binder.Now that I've dined at SeaWorld safely, I can't wait to check out the other restaurants when I visit again. As a passholder, I feel really confident now that I'll be able to dine safely throughout my visit in the park. I'll be posting a fuller review of the overall special dietary needs accommodations in another post, including information about options at other SeaWorld Orlando restaurants for gluten free diners.Have you been to SeaWorld Orlando with special dietary needs? What did you think of your experience? 

D-Luxe Burger -- Lunch -- Quick Service -- Disney Springs

*This dining experience took place in June 2016D-Luxe Burger, located at Disney Springs, is a quick service restaurant owned & operated by the Disney Company and one of the newest additions to Disney Springs. Offering burgers and fries, D-Luxe Burger is a great option when dining at Disney Springs.I was lucky enough to stop by D-Luxe Burger on opening day, and I finally got a chance to go back (it's always really crowded when I stop by). I was really looking forward to their house-made hand-cut French fries and dipping sauces.On this particular occasion, I also got a chance to check out the details of the restaurant and even dined in the back area where there are so many neat touches.D-Luxe Burger has a charming back-story (which you can read about in my original review), and I loved seeing some of the details that touched on that back-story.On my previous visit, I had the BBQ Burger (modified), and on this visit, I wanted to get something different. I spoke with a chef who confirmed that the chicken burger is gluten free and can be made dairy free (by removing the sauce), so I decided to get that.I also got a side order of fries with some dipping sauces.I will say that I did not really enjoy the chicken burger. I thought it tasted very bland, even with mayonnaise and avocado on it. I'd get a burger if I were going to eat there next time. Of course, the French fries were as amazing as the first time and definitely a must get. I may just order fries the next time I go there and not get anything else.I've heard conflicting information about the dipping sauces at D-Luxe Burger. Chefs have told me that the ones pictured above are gluten free and dairy free (curry ketchup, honey mustard, and chipotle mayo), but I've heard readers tell me that they have been told only the curry ketchup is gluten free and dairy free.The most consistent information I've had is that the curry ketchup and honey mustard are dairy free but that the chipotle mayo is not. Next time I go, I will ask to see an ingredients list if possible, as it's very odd that there's so much confusion on these sauces by the chefs.Because I've been reintroudcing a bit of dairy back into my diet, I have ordered the chipotle mayo on both occasions. It's personally my favorite of the sauces.All of the sauces served at D-Luxe Burger are gluten free, so if you're gluten free only, you're in luck!I did also ask about the dessert macaron at D-Luxe Burger. A chef confirmed that this is not gluten free. If I were visiting there and wanting dessert, I'd probably go to Erin McKenna's Bakery NYC or Sprinkles Cupcakes next door.Overall, I like D-Luxe Burger, but find it to be very pricey. For less money I could go to the To-Go Counter at the newly opened Frontera Cocina or even Cookes of Dublin for more affordable and tastier gluten free & dairy free options.Have you been to D-Luxe Burger? What did you order when you visited there?

Emeril's -- Dinner -- Table Service -- Universal Orlando

*This dining experience took place in June 2016.Emeril's Orlando located at City Walk at Universal Orlando is a table service location that offers a taste of celebrity chef Emeril Lagasse's take on classic New Orleans dishes. I recently had the opportunity to dine at Emeril's Orlando during a work conference.None of my friends had dined here gluten free, but Alexis from Alexis's Gluten Free Adventures as been to Emeril's Tchoup Chop at the Loew's Royal Pacific Resort at Universal Orlando with mixed experiences. So, when I visited Emeril's Orlando, I figured I would have some options but that it wouldn't be as amazing as it is at Disney World.After arriving, I did enjoy both a glass of red wine and a cocktail. I absolutely loved the New G&T which is a take on classic gin and tonics, one of my favorite drinks. Emeril's Orlando uses a small batch gin and tonic water along with black currant and lime. It was so refreshing and a popular drink at our table, as nearly half of the table ended up ordering these.Emeril's Orlando does not have a gluten free menu, and I was walked through some options with our server, as a chef does not come out to the table. Sadly, many of the starters were not options for gluten free (let alone dairy free), and I opted to get a classic Caesar salad, since I've been reintroducing a bit of dairy back into my diet.I wasn't very impressed by this salad. It was rather plain and certainly nothing special.For my entree, I asked if the BBQ Salmon was safe for me, and I was told they could make it gluten free by removing the crispy onions. I later learned that they also removed the BBQ sauce. Talk about a bummer.The salmon itself was very spicy (as it had blackening seasoning on it). There wasn't a lot of texture in the dish, as the andouille sausage and potatoes underneath were pretty mushy. If I had known I wouldn't get the BBQ sauce, I probably would have ordered something else.Sadly, most of the entrees contained a lot of sauces that contained gluten, so I was steered away from most dishes.For dessert, there are two gluten free options - the Flourless chocolate cake and a fruit plate with sorbet (which is also dairy free). I ended up taking a bite of the flourless chocolate cake, which was very rich and decadent. It's also very dairy heavy.If I were going to order a flourless chocolate cake, I would get one from another restaurant rather than the version here, which seemed pretty basic in every way. It couldn't compare to the amazing version I had at Fulton's Crab House (soon to be reopened as the Paddlefish).Overall, I wasn't wowed by Emeril's Orlando. It was just OK and definitely not something I'd paid out of my own pocket (I was hosted by a vendor at work). The prices didn't justify the quality of food served.As a celiac and gluten free diner, I'm surprised and disappointed that Emeril's Orlando doesn't have a gluten free menu given that two of Emeril's daughters are gluten free (including one celiac) and huge GF advocates.I don't think I'll be making a visit to Emeril's Orlando or Tchoup Chop anytime soon again. I'm glad I got to try it, but it's definitely not worth a repeat visit for me. I'd rather go to Antojito's next door at Universal Orlando City Walk for some amazing Mexican food.Have you been to Emeril's Orlando? What did you think of the options? 

Cookes of Dublin -- Lunch -- Quick Service -- Disney Springs

*This dining experience took place in June 2016.Cookes of Dublin is one of my go-to quick service spots at Disney Springs, offering gluten free and dairy free fish and chips, shrimp and chips, and more. Because it's a great safe quick service and delicious (how can anything gluten free deep fried not be?!), it's one I frequent a lot.On this particular occasion, I grabbed lunch with my friend Ron, who was visiting from out of town. We are both big fans of Cookes of Dublin, so we were ready to stuff our faces silly with deep fried goodness.We decided to each get a basket of shrimp and chips and an order of fish and chips to share. Previously, the shrimp and chips portion was served on skewers and were a bit skimpy, so we thought two orders seemed right given how small they were in the past (we learned on this visit that was not the case).Our shrimp and chips were outstanding and really well cooked. As recently as May, I was served shrimp on skewers, but these were not. I preferred them served like they were on this visit as the skewers can make it hard to eat. Plus, I've found that the shrimp seem to get a bit overcooked on the skewers.Our shrimp was served with cocktail sauce, which is delicious and perfect for dipping your shrimp and chips (aka French fries) into.The fish and chips are a flaky white fish, and this batch was cooked perfectly and served along with their amazing house-made tartar sauce. We both loved the condiments so much that there were several containers floating around our table.Dip those fries in tartar sauce, cocktail sauce, or really just about any sauce that Cookes of Dublin serves (The Dalkey mustard the last time I checked was gluten free and dairy free too).Overall, Cookes of Dublin remains one of my favorite solid quick service choices at Disney Springs. With new locations like Frontera Cocina's To-Go Counter, I may have to switch between the two of them because they both serve some of my favorite things!You can also read other reviews of Cookes of Dublin over at Alexis's Gluten Free Adventures.Have you been to Cookes of Dublin? What do you order when you dine there?

Boma -- Breakfast -- Table Service -- Animal Kingdom Lodge Jambo House

*This dining experience took place in June 2016.Boma: Flavors of Africa is a table service restaurant located at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge Jambo House Resort that offers breakfast and dinner options -- all buffet style.Despite the fact that it's a buffet (which are always cross contamination nightmares for those of us with many special dietary needs), Boma is the perfect spot for a wonderful meal, because the chefs there are so amazing and providing safe options and even bringing you food from the back of the kitchen to ensure safety.Boma continues to my favorite brunch spot on Disney property because the food is amazing with lots of gluten free and dairy free options and even has some unique dishes to round out the meal. I enjoy dinner at Boma, but if I had to pick breakfast or dinner at Boma, I'd pick breakfast every time.On this particular occasion, I went to brunch with Alexis from Alexis's Gluten Free Adventures. We both love Boma, so it was a great choice. You can read her full review on her blog.After arriving and being seated, our server brought us Jungle Juice, which is a combination of passion fruit, guava, and orange juices and is really delicious. It's a lot of sugar, so I usually only drink one glass of this.Once we got our drinks, the chef came out to go through the buffet with us. We asked if she could bring most of our food from the kitchen, with the only exceptions being the fresh fruit and the carving station meats.Every time I go to Boma, I have to get the fresh pineapple. I don't know what it is, but Boma always has the freshest best tasting pineapple. This visit was no exception!I did also go to the carving station which has smoked ham and smoked turkey on it. The chef carves it fresh for you at the carving station, and it's always amazing. Check with a chef about any of the accompaniments at the carving station. Typically, the only sauce that is gluten free and dairy free is the sambal. Sadly, the Boma mustard contains gluten.The chef brought out several items for me, including grilled asparagus (a Boma favorite), bacon, breakfast potatoes, and allergy friendly Mickey waffles. The Mickey waffles were made from Namaste mix, and I topped them with banana chips and warm pure maple syrup. They were extra crispy, which was great.I also ordered a ham, onion, and goat cheese omelet. Though they do have an omelet station, I asked if the chef could make this in the kitchen. Usually I really love the omelets at Boma, but I found that the amount of goat cheese in this dish made the flavors too overpowering. It was OK, but next time I would order without it.I also ordered a side of pap, which is basically grits.You can also request a variety of breakfast pastries, but since I was going to a work conference that day, I opted to skip them. Typically, Boma has Udi's Gluten Free pastries (like muffins and bagels) and Kinnikinnick donuts.Once Alexis and I stuffed ourselves silly with delicious breakfast offerings, we decided to take a stroll through the Jambo House grounds. I love that you can see the Savannah and check out all the amazing animals at the lodge, while you are there!Overall, I can't recommend Boma enough. It's been a consistently great option for brunch and always has amazing options that are safe and delicious. I can't wait to go back and brunch here again soon.Have you been to Boma? What do you love about this table service restaurant?

Frontera Cocina To Go Counter -- Lunch -- Quick Service -- Disney Springs

*This dining experience took place in June 2016.Frontera Cocina is the newest table service restaurant to open in summer 2016 at Disney Springs. Helmed by celebrity chef Rick Bayless, it serves up modern authentic Mexican food. I recently stopped by the table service location and absolutely loved it. I'll definitely be dining at their table service a good amount, but I was even more excited that they have a to-go counter that serves up chips & guacamole and tacos.Like the restaurant itself, the menu notes any allergens that a dish contains. Thankfully, everything on the to-go menu is gluten free.On opening day, my friend Ron and I stopped by just to check on the gluten free offerings, and we ended up getting some chips, guacamole, and margaritas.The chips were amazing. Super crispy and piping hot (they made a fresh batch for us), these are thick-cut tortilla chips that hold up really well to a substantial salsa or guacamole. The guacamole itself was very fresh and delicious. It's probably the best guacamole I've had on Disney property.When it comes to margaritas, these were outstanding. We tried one of each of their to-go counter margaritas -- the Frontera Margarita and the Blood Orange Jalapeno Margarita.The blood orange margarita had great flavor and was a bit spicy with the fresh jalapeno in it (yes, there was an actual piece of jalapeno in the margarita!), but it wasn't as spicy as you might think. The Frontera Margarita was the perfect take on a classic margarita and was hands down my favorite of the two. And, they were both perfect for a hot summer day.On my next visit, I hope to try the tacos which are gluten free and served in a soft corn tortilla. The conchinita pibil tacos are on my must try list!I'm glad that Frontera Cocina has a to-go counter, as it will become another staple in my Disney Springs quick service rotation.What do you think of the menu for the to-go counter at Frontera Cocina? 

Frontera Cocina -- Lunch -- Table Service -- Disney Springs

*This dining experience took place in June 2016.Frontera Cocina is the newest restaurant to open in Disney Springs. A table service location from renowned chef Rick Bayless, Frontera Cocina offers guests at Disney Springs a taste of Mexico with authentic gourmet dishes.As a former Midwesterner, I grew up about 2 hours from Rick Bayless's restaurants (including Xoco, Frontera Grill, and Toplobampo) in Chicago and have enjoyed them in the past, so I was very excited about this restaurant opening. Although I love some of the Mexican restaurants in Epcot, like La Hacienda de San Angel and San Angel Inn, I love how authentic all of Rick Bayless's restaurants are for Mexican food, so I knew we'd be in for a real treat.I was lucky enough to go to Frontera Cocina on the second day of their opening with Alexis from Alexis's Gluten Free Adventures (you can read her full review of Frontera Cocina on her blog) and our friend Ron. We were all really excited about the options and couldn't wait to check it out.I knew that Frontera Cocina would be pretty gluten free friendly, but I was surprised to see that almost the entire menu was gluten free and most of it could be easily made dairy free too. Even better, the entire menu notes allergens next to each dish, which was really helpful.The restaurant itself is really clean and modern. We loved the vibrant colors and cheery atmosphere.While deciding what to order, Ron and I got drinks. We couldn't pass up the cucumber gin & tonics which sounded delicious and refreshing. And, suffice it to say, they didn't disappoint. This was an amazingly refreshing drink for the summertime and one I'd definitely get again. Of course, I may have to try a margarita or two on my next visit. We grabbed margaritas from the Frontera Cocina To-Go counter the day before, and they were fantastic.For an appetizer, Ron and I split the bacon guacamole. We had tried the regular guacamole the day before but knew bacon was definitely the one to try next. Because everything is better with bacon. Our server said it was a bit spicy, but no one at the table thought it was spicy at all.The bacon flavor in this guacamole was mild but delicious. The pumpkin seeds (aka pepitas) added a nice crunch. The quality of this guacamole was outstanding and so fresh, with big chunks of avocado throughout. To add to this, the chips were thick, crispy, and delicious. We were all very excited that the chips were gluten free and celiac safe.Along with the guacamole, our server brought two kinds of salsa to our table. I wasn't a big fan of the chipotle salsa, which was a bit spicier and smoky, but really loved the salsa verde which the perfect combo of sweet and spicy for me.Alexis and her daughters ordered the queso fundido which was served with fresh soft corn tortillas. It looked amazing and completely decadent. Though I've been reintroducing a bit of dairy back into my diet, this seemed like way too much dairy for me, so I didn't try this. Alexis and her daughters absolutely loved it though, making it a great gluten free choice.For my entree, I ordered the pork carnitas served with refried beans, guacamole, salsa verde, pickled onions, and fresh soft corn tortillas. I really enjoyed this dish a lot. The pork was super crispy and tender. There was very little fat to this dish, unlike the version of carnitas I got at La Hacienda de San Angel.The refried beans were delicious, though those who are vegetarian or vegan should note that the beans do contain pork in them. My dish was marked as containing dairy, but was easily made dairy free by removing the cheese.Ron ordered plantains and shared them with our table. These were gluten free and made dairy free by removing the cheese and sauces. We all loved them, and Alexis even enjoyed them as an accompaniment to her steak tacos. These were delicious, and I would order as a side without any hesitation.Ron ordered the Shrimp Mojo de Ajo, and after our table each took bites of this, we agreed it was the hands down best dish at the table. Though it had a creamy texture, this dish was made gluten free and dairy free upon request. The plantain rice was outstanding, but the shrimp and the sauce made this an incredible dish. I think this may be the dish I order on my next visit!Alexis ordered the carne asada steak tacos. These looked good and would make for a great lunch, though I think with all of the other amazing options on the menu, I would choose other options first. Alexis and her daughters seemed to enjoy both the chicken and steak tacos, both of which were gluten free and easily made dairy free by removing the cheese.Overall, I really enjoyed my first visit to Frontera Cocina. The amount of gluten free and easily made dairy free items on the menu give me tons of options on any visit that I make. On top of the fact that I adore good Mexican food, this will easily be my new go-to spot at Disney Springs. Even better, I can get my on the go Mexican fix by visiting their To-Go counter which also has gluten free options.I'm looking forward to visiting again and trying other dishes on the menu.What dishes do you want to try at Frontera Cocina? 

Rose & Crown Dining Room -- Lunch -- Table Service -- Epcot

*This dining experience took place in June 2016.Rose & Crown Dining Room, a table service restaurant at Epcot's UK Pavilion in the World Showcase, offers a taste of classic British pub fare, including fish and chips, bangers and mash, and more.It's been 3 years since I've dined here, and after reading a recent dining review from Alexis's Gluten Free Adventures, I was looking forward to checking out the options. Rose & Crown Dining Room is a Disney owned restaurant (not many in the World Showcase are, as they are operated by outside companies), and because of this, they do have an allergy friendly menu.While going through the menu, I opted to get a Strongbow hard cider. It's naturally gluten free and delicious. We were also seated outside, so it made for a refreshing drink on a hot summer day.Our server, Joe, was amazing and one of the best servers we've ever had at Disney World. On top of being an amazing server in general, he also happens to be gluten free too and was able to talk about his favorite dishes and easy modifications.Sadly, a lot of the dishes I was interested in were not easily modified but Joe did mention that those who are gluten free only can get a Shepherd's Pie made gluten free, though it does take about 20 minutes to prepare. Joe said his favorite dish was the baked gluten free fish & chips, so I decided to order that. I had been going back and forth between this and the curry, but since I didn't enjoy the version of the curry I had back in 2013, I decided to skip it.I really enjoyed the baked fish and chips from Rose & Crown. I wouldn't say it was anything special but that it was all cooked well. The baked cod was delicious and well-seasoned. The steak fries (aka chips) were crispy and delicious. I made sure to sprinkle fresh lemon juice over both the fish and chips to add some extra flavor.My dish was served with a side of ketchup, though I would have loved to have had some safe cocktail sauce or tartar sauce like that prepared at Raglan Road Irish Pub.If I'm craving proper fried fish & chips, I will definitely head to Raglan Road or Cookes of Dublin, but it's nice to have a safe (although baked) option in Epcot.Overall, I really enjoyed my meal at Rose & Crown. It was simple but delicious and a nice solid meal option in the World Showcase.Have you been to Rose & Crown? What did you order when you dined there?

Leaky Cauldron -- Dinner -- Quick Service -- Universal Studios

*This dining review took place in June 2016.The Leaky Cauldron, located at Diagon Alley in Universal Studios Orlando, is a quick service location that serves up British inspired dishes that muggles and wizards alike will love. As a special diets diner, this is one of my go-to spots when visiting Universal Studios Orlando. The menu here for special diets is limited but I absolutely love their chicken sandwich.On this particular visit, I also ordered a Tongue Tying Lemon Squash that's tart but sweet (if you like a lot of lemon flavor you will enjoy this version of lemonade). Diagon Alley has a lot of unique non-alcoholic drinks, and I love that so many are safe for me to drink. I keep meaning to try them all, but the Tongue Tying Lemon Squash is so good (and perfect on a hot summer day).You can check out all the of the drinks and their allergens on The Gluten & Dairy Free Review Blog.Sadly, Leaky Cauldron is limited on its menu options, but I do really enjoy their chicken sandwich on a gluten free and dairy free bun (at the time of this review, it was Udi's Gluten Free). The sandwich can be made dairy free by removing the cheese and apple butter mayo. I did opt to have cheese on my sandwich, as I have been re-introducing a bit of dairy back into my diet, mostly in the form of cheese. The wedge fries at the Leaky Cauldron are not gluten free, so this sandwich is served with a side salad and a choice of Ken's dressings. I went with the Italian dressing, which is just OK.You can read a gluten free and dairy free review from The Gluten & Dairy Free Review Blog along with more information about menu options for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.Overall, I really enjoy the atmosphere and the chicken sandwich at the Leaky Cauldron. There may not be a ton of options, but I have enjoyed dining here safely when I visit Universal Studios Orlando.Have you been to the Leaky Cauldron? What did you think of their options? 

Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn & Cafe -- Lunch/Dinner -- Quick Service -- Magic Kingdom

*This dining experience took place in Fall 2015. Note: Pecos Bill's menu has changed yet again, and burrito bowls are only available upon request at the time this post was published. Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn & Cafe, a quick service location in Disney's Magic Kingdom, has seen some changes to its menu in 2015 and 2016. Originally a burger and fries kind of restaurant, in 2015, Pecos Bill's switched up its menu and began offering rice bowls. You can check out the allergy friendly menu from February 2016, but note that the menu has changed since then.When I visited, I was able to get a rice bowl with chicken, beans, and plain white rice. The chicken does contain dairy, so do check with the restaurant when dining here for ingredients. I have been re-introducing a bit of dairy back into my diet, so I decided to try the chicken burrito bowl.While waiting, I had to laugh because not only did I get "the boot" on my receipt to show that I had a special dietary need but I also had the cast member Jessy. Loved the Toy Story reference (although I'm sure it was completely incidental).Pecos Bill's also has a fixins' bar, which looked amazing with a variety of salsas, gaucamole, and other toppings for my rice bowl, but because there is a huge risk of cross contamination there, I asked the manager if I could get some fixins' from the back of the kitchen. The manager brought me: mild salsa, pico de gallo, salsa verde, corn salsa, banana peppers, cheese, and guacamole. That's a lot!The great thing is that I could mix and match what I wanted, and I had so many toppings that there was no way I was running out. The toppings definitely helped make this rice bowl more filling and tasty, as it was served with plain white rice, semi-bland black beans, and plain chicken.Pecos Bill's menu now has fajita platters which would be very similar to the rice bowl above, as well as a taco burger and some other options. Be sure to check with a manager when you go to ensure you get safe rice (the cilantro rice contains both dairy and gluten) and fixins' from the back of the kitchen.Have you been to Pecos Bill's since the menu has changed? What did you get when you dined there?

Trattoria al Forno -- Breakfast -- Table Service -- Boardwalk

*This dining experience took place in November 2015.Trattoria al Forno, located at Disney's Boardwalk Resort, is definitely a great breakfast spot on Disney property. With classic Italian inspired dishes, even their breakfast options have an Italian flare.On this particular occasion, I dined with friends who were visiting from out-of-town and who were looking forward to trying Trattoria al Forno. When we arrived, we were given the allergy friendly breakfast menu.I opted to get the Two Eggs entree, which was formerly called the "American." I also asked for fennel sausage (which I love) and a side of allergy friendly Mickey waffles.The allergy friendly Mickey waffles here are always well cooked. Typically made using Bob's Red Mill pancake & waffle mix, they were extra crispy and piping hot. I enjoyed these with pure maple syrup.Though the eggs are usually the least exciting part of my meal, they are always well prepared at Trattoria al Forno, but the real stars for me are the breakfast potatoes and the fennel sausage. The fennel sausage is really delicious, and one I just have to get when I'm this restaurant. I love Trattoria al Forno's bacon too, but this sausage is just amazing.I also adore the seasoned breakfast potatoes here which are flavorful and different than the plain breakfast potatoes you find at so many locations on property.Overall, I really enjoy Trattoria al Forno and need to make a visit again soon!You can read about more gluten free options at Trattoria al Forno at Alexis's Gluten Free Adventures.Have you been to Trattoria al Forno for breakfast? What did you order when you dined there?