AllergyEats.com Lists Best WDW Eateries for Guests with Food Allergies

This is a subject near and dear to my heart, as a mom of a child with food allergies. My daughter is careful to a fault--she absolutely will not eat a food of questionable origin. Because of this, we've never had to use the epi-pen we always carry. But my daughter has passed up more than a few treats in her days because she wasn't sure how they were prepared, so I'm always looking for resources to reassure her (and me) and allow her to expand her food horizons.

Enter AllergyEats.com. This website is a great resource for allergen information on restaurants around the country, which is a big help for parents like me. Even better, they have a section devoted entirely to Walt Disney World! It's so easy to use! Simply check the box of the allergen(s) you want to avoid, and the Park or area where you'd like to dine, and you will be provided with a list of restaurants and their "allergy-friendly" rating from guests, with specific menu notes and information. You can even add your own comments to assist future guests in their dining choices.

Unfortunately, many of the restaurants aren't yet rated. But hopefully when word gets out, more guests will add their experiences and ratings (I plan to!). Also, it's important to note that these are guest ratings, and are not meant to replace the due diligence of alerting your server at a particular restaurant of your allergy. Specific items at WDW restaurants are always changing, so it's always a good idea to ask about any menu item before ordering. And if you ever have specific questions about a food item, you can contact Disney directly at SpecialDiets@DisneyWorld.com or

 

Friday Photo

Wish I were there...

Thursday's Tip

This is a tip I'm sure I've shared before--but it's such a good one! Here it is (oh-so-basic!): buy it before you go. What is "it"? Anything and everything you think you might need: sunscreen, water bottles, snacks, even souvenirs. By waiting until you're in the airport or even on Disney property, you will pay a premium for basic items that you can find in your local discount store or online. Buying before you go leaves you with more cash for items that are uniquely-Disney and can only be purchased at the Parks.

That said, there are a number of Disney souvenir items that can be purchased outside of the Parks. Ironically, DisneyStore.com has a whole section of "Disney Parks Exclusive" merchandise (which always bothers me, since it's obviously NOT exclusive to the Parks if you can purchase it online...but whatever). In addition, cheaper licensed items can be found anywhere from your local Target to Dollar Tree stores. And, of course, there are hundreds of unique items to be found online. Here are a few of my favorite online finds from Amazon:

California Grill to Close for Refurbishment

Perennial favorite and hotspot for viewing Wishes, the California Grill (Contemporary Resort) will be closing on January 6, 2013 for a lengthy refurbishment. It is expected to re-open in late summer 2013. Changes will include updated interior decor of the restaurant, as well as a new menu.

New Cast Member Costumes Coming to Epcot

Cast Members around the World Showcase in Epcot will be getting new wardrobe very soon. Feedback from guests indicates that many see the WS as outdated--and Disney has decided that one easy way to update the scene is by changing the costuming, starting with the United States and Mexico, with other countries to follow in time. But not everyone is happy about it.

At least one cast member at the American Adventure has penned a strongly-worded editorial in opposition of the new costumes (which are something akin to flight attendant uniforms, apparently), and if comments to the post are any indication, a majority of the public agrees that the traditional colonial costume should remain.

While I believe that new, fresh costumes would be an excellent idea, I have to agree that the traditional colonial feel is what makes the American costumes stand out from the crowd. Much like the kimono-inspired costumes of Japan, or the fez hats worn by Moroccan CMs, or the Lederhosen seen on CMs in Germany, the American Adventure costumes are representative of an influential time in our country's history. They are meant to portray an image that is uniquely American. If all the costuming in the WS were to represent the current/modern clothing styles of each country, most of the costumes would be similar to others.  Nothing would stand out or be unique.

No specific dates have been given as to when new costumes will begin appearing, but expect Disney to ignore the public outcry and move ahead with their plans...as they typically do. But here's hoping they're not too far into the design process to consider maintaining some historical uniqueness in the World Showcase.

'Characters in Flight' Grounded...Permanently?

The Characters in Flight balloon has been grounded--or, rather, it has disappeared. The Downtown Disney attraction that took guests up in a tethered hot air balloon is closed until further notice, and the balloon itself has been removed. In fact, Disney has all but erased any sign of it from their website as well.

The likely prompt to this sudden closure is an accident that injured three people at a similar venue in Hong Kong at Ocean Park last week. The balloon involved in that incident was the same model from the same manufacturer, and the same company operated the attraction.

I never experienced Characters in Flight, but I did see it in action. While it looked fun and interesting, it didn't seem to be an especially popular attraction, and I never saw a crowd near it. The attraction will very likely be closed permanently and eventually replaced with the "next big thing."

Hidden Mickey Monday

Another Hidden Mickey spotted while shopping: