DAY FIVE - ALLERGIES IN DISNEYLAND

Everyone who visits Disneyland should experience a character breakfast whether your child wants to dine with the princesses or like us prefer Goofy and Friends at Goofy's Kitchen.
Goofy's Kitchen is located in Downtown Disney (outside the park) near the Disneyland Hotel.
Still in walking distance of the hotel.

The all you can eat buffet will satisy the wheat lovers in your family. They had everything - even things I had never seen like breakfast pizza?
The chef came and showed us what was good for us on the buffet. We enjoyed bacon and eggs and specially made gluten free pancakes and waffles. They had an omlette station and each omlette was made while you wait - but allergy sufferers be mindful the utensils are not changed between ingredients. I suppose if you asked the chefs would oblige to make it separately.

Make sure the camera is charged as the characters wander around all the tables and let you snap away those funny photos.
Highly recommend.

Here is the link: http://disneyland.disney.go.com/disneyland-hotel/goofys-kitchen/

Outside Goofys Kitchen is the Monorail directly into the park. A great way to avoid the crowds at the gates.

Time for Dinner and JACKPOT again - we found PF Changs down the road at the Gardenwalk - two blocks from the hotel.
PF Changs have a gluten free menu - we shout HOORAY. We rang ahead and ordered takeaway as the place was packed.
By far the best meal so far gluten free fried rice and gluten free mongolian lamb and dessert as a big finish. GF chocolate dome with raspberry sauce.

Here is the link: https://www.pfchangs.com/mobilemenu/Item.aspx?sid=6200&mid=6&catid=84

Sadly this is the last day of our park hopper pass and after 3 x eleven hour days of shows, rides, parades, fireworks we still haven't seen and done everything - but we have enjoyed every minute.

So our best tip is:

Visit Disneyland during the week and out of american school holidays.

The weekends are very busy and the wait times on the rides go from 5 to 10 minutes during the week to over one hour for each ride on weekends.

The greatest disservice that Disney has - is not identifying gluten free on their menus in their restaurants - if you don't have the allergy listing of restuarants from the Chamber of Commerce or City Hall you will have great trouble.
Seems all the staff I asked do get requests from allergy sufferers often but no one does anything about satisying demand. After watching the television you will soon realise - every second advertisement is a lawyers company ready to sue for anything - it seems a very litigious environment. Probably easier for companies to avoid the issue than try to solve it.
But something is wrong when you walk into the biggest candy, lolly shop you have ever seen in Disneyland and nothing is gluten free - confirmed by asking the staff.

LEAVING LOS ANGELES FOR THE SUNKISSED BEACHES OF MAUI

Follow our allergy adventures

DAY FOUR - JACKPOT - ALLERGIES IN DISNEYLAND

JACKPOT

It was under our noses all along and we only discovered it on the last day.

The restaurant directly opposite the hotel - Howard Johnston is called MIMI'S.

As soons as the allergy word was mentioned out came the allergy checklist menu complete with a smile from our server.
It outlined all ingredients in the meals with columns to represent if affected by the top ten allergies nuts, soy, dairy, wheat etc including colours!! It did not cover fructose intolerance - however sufferers can easily work it out from the menu and lists of ingredients.
It even goes into detail about the sauces used in the dishes served and identifies any allergy issues.
Spoke to the waitress and they implemented it 2 years ago in order to help their customers and the demand for allergy friendly food.
The staff were friendly and the restuarant very welcoming - open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
I give the place 10 out of ten for service and attention to allergies.

Here is the link: http://www.mimiscafe.com/Restaurant.aspx?Id=56


After a great breakfast we went on a half day tour with the OC Wildlife and Beaches tour.
We were greeted by the lovely Cherie and driven in style in her luxurious vehicle to places of interest in Orange County.
It is true - people should take the time to venture away from Disneyland and visit the coast.
It is only a short drive and it was worth it.
Beaches are beatiful and even had time to do some seaside shopping at arty, creative Laguna Beach.
We saw some sea lions just off the coast and enjoyed a trip to Mission San Juan Capistrano to satisfy the history buff in the family.
Cherie was the perfect guide. As she suggested, due to traffic - the best time for a tour is in the morning.
The timing of the trip, half day is fantastic for those with children.

As the distance between places is short and there is plenty to see.
And the best thing about travelling with a local is that they know the best vantage points, or the good places to eat and shop.
I give this tour 10 out of ten - highly recommend.

Here is the link: http://www.ocwildlifebeachtour.com/

DAY THREE - ALLERGIES AT DISNEYLAND

After consulting our list of options for lunch in Disneyland, we opted for Jolly Holliday Bakery and their gluten free options. We had a turkey, lettuce and tomato roll. I purchased some GF muffins and brownies for our afternoon tea.

After reading the ingredients - I nearly fell over. Who puts alcohol in a muffin???? They import their GF delights all the way from Frankfurt.

Hmmmm what is not right with this equation - Frankfurt is a long way from Disneyland???

Over all quite tasty, but not the greatest.

Then off to the House of Blues in Downtown Disney for dinner.
Husband had a great gluten free jumbaliya and said it was delicious. Whilst I had the salmon and child had chicken. Chips are done in same fryer as wheat so no go.

After dinner we enjoyed the fireworks, absolutely breathtaking.
To think this happens every single night all year round.
Any spot in Main Street is great - they can be seen from anywhere - spectacular.