Category Archives: Uncategorized

Posted on the Disney Parks Blog on November 4th, 2013 by Pam Brandon, Disney Parks Food Writer

If there wasn’t a little “GF” symbol, you’d never guess that much of the new menu for Splitsville Luxury Lanes at Downtown Disney is gluten-free.  “We considered a separate menu, but decided to integrate the gluten-free dishes into the regular menu,” says Splitsville co-founder Mark Gibson.“So many of our guests are eating gluten-free these days, we wanted our featured “GF” items to have great flavor and appeal – we didn’t want to simply reconstruct existing dishes.”

So Chef Patrick Steele set to work, creating menu additions that, while gluten-free, are also quite tasty. The biggest hits are the generous rice bowls: fiesta chicken, steak fajita, Asian shrimp and spicy veggie, all full of flavor and served with sticky rice. But it may be the gluten-free pizza crust that is the best surprise, a crunchy, thin crust topped with mozzarella and fresh tomato sauce, and you can pile on your choice of “GF” toppings. You’ll never miss the wheat flour.

And while sushi is generally a safe zone, some sauces and ingredients aren’t gluten-free, like Kani Kama krab, a favorite white fish mix that contains wheat. Splitsville has added gluten-free sushi rolls – our favorite was The Alberto with no rice, just lean spicy tuna and avocado rolled in thinly sliced cucumber and served with lemon ponzu sauce.

Gluten-free appetizers include Blazing Chicken (tenderloins in spicy Buffalo sauce), steamed edamame and seared ahi tuna, which also is served as a salad with spring mix and Asian pear dressing. A gluten-free turkey BLT salad is another winner, a bowl full of roasted turkey, lettuce, avocado, tomatoes, bacon, red onion and blue cheese. Entrees include blackened mahi mahi with spicy voodoo shrimp and grilled salmon with mango chutney, fresh broccoli and sushi rice.

“We’re amazed how many guests are eating gluten free,” says Gibson, “it’s now regarded as a better-for-you choice rather than just an option for those with gluten intolerance, and we wanted our menu to reflect this dietary trend with diversity and flavor.”

Dishes include: Spicy Veggie Rice Bowl, Steak Fajita Rice Bowl, The Alberto Roll, Ahi Tuna Salad, Fiesta Chicken Rice Bowl (pictured), Fantasy Roll, Gluten-Free Pizza, Asian Shrimp Rice Bowl, Spicy Tuna Roll and more..

Splitsville is located at 1494 E Buena Vista Dr  Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830

Their complete menu can be found online at: http://www.splitsvillelanes.com/location/orlando/#menu

I wanted to take a moment to share the following email that several bloggers with Disney fan websites received on 9/30/13 from Meg Crofton, President, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Operations, U.S. and France regarding the GAC system in the US parks.

Currently Disney has yet to make an official announcement about the GAC to DAS changes.

Dear Friends,
Disney Parks holds a cherished place in the hearts of the millions of Guests who visit us each year. We know that is especially true for those of you who have a loved one with a disability. For many families, what would be impossible elsewhere is not only possible, but magical, at our parks and resorts. We are proud to play such an important role in so many of your lives.
Unfortunately, our current program for providing access to attractions for Guests with disabilities has been abused and exploited to such an extent that we are no longer able to effectively sustain it in its present form. After careful consideration, and with the needs of our Guests with disabilities as our foremost concern, we are modifying the current program so that we will be able to continue to serve those Guests for whom the program is intended.
Over the past few days, you have likely heard about these upcoming changes and how they might affect our Guests with disabilities. Our relationship with you is important to us, and we want to take the opportunity to clear up any confusion or misinterpretation.
Our commitment to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all our Guests has not changed. We have long recognized that people may have different needs, and we will continue to work individually with our Guests with disabilities to provide assistance that is responsive to their unique circumstances.
As with any change, there will be a period of adjustment, particularly for those families who have developed and refined their preferred ways of enjoying our parks with their loved ones over the years. I thank you in advance for your patience as we fine-tune our new program to mitigate the current abuse, while still providing the special experience our Guests have come to expect from Disney.
Most of all, thank you for entrusting your treasured time with those you love to Disney Parks.
Sincerely,
Meg Crofton 

First, I want to thank all of you for your patience in waiting for us to verify the news that went out this weekend. As a newer site we aren’t on the Disney Media email list quite yet.  Second, I would like to thank Leanne Jakubowski for reaching out to reply to my questions on this weekends news.
Here is a quick recap: This weekend an email went out from Leanne Jakubowski  the Director of Social Media at Walt Disney World Resort and it made many of us raise our heads and pay attention, but unfortunately DSNAD did not originally receive a copy of the message that was sent out.
I took the time to message Leanne last night to confirm that this email had gone out and that the info in it was correct because as a newer Disney based blog we didn’t want to start off on the wrong foot when it came to such important information.  Also, as a Journalism major I am a huge fact checker.
Well, Leanne was wonderful enough to reply in a quick and magical manner. Here is a quote from that message “I completely understand the desire to double check on this. I can validate that the information in the email is accurate. We will be publishing a blog post on the Disney Parks Blog later this week when we have more information on the program to share.”
So it seems the rumored changes are coming. We will be keeping an eye out for the official Disney Parks Blog post when it comes out to ensure you have all the information you need on this topic. Below you will find the informative email that went out this weekend.  And as always we encourage you to communicate your concerns or thoughts directly with Disney Corporate.
Walt Disney World Guest Relations
P.O. Box 10000
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830
[email protected]
Disneyland Guest Relations
P.O. Box 3232 Anaheim, CA 92803-6161
Email can be sent through https://disneyland.disney.go.com/help/email/

The Original Email that went out the weekend of 9/21/13 to select bloggers from Leanne in regards to GAC changes:
In our continued efforts to keep you in the loop of Disney experiences that touch families, we would like to share an upcoming change in the Guest Assistance Card.  Disney has an unwavering commitment to making our experiences accessible to all Guests.  After careful consideration, we will be replacing the Guest Assistance Card with the new Disability Access Service Card on Oct. 9 to create a more consistent experience for all our Guests while providing accommodations for Guests with disabilities. Until Oct. 9, we will continue to use Guest Assistance Cards. We look forward to sharing more information about the Disability Access Service Card as we get closer to implementation.
We know that you often share news from Disney with other moms so we have prepared the following questions and answers.
We appreciate your support and look forward to sending you more details as we get closer to October 9^th. 
Sincerely,
Leanne Jakubowski
Frequently Asked Questions:
How will the new Disney program work?
The Disability Access Service Card will offer Guests a return time for an attraction based on the current wait time. Guest Assistance Cards will continue to be in effect until Oct. 9. We look forward to sharing more information as we get closer to implementation.
Did Disney receive assistance in developing the Disability Access Service Card?
Yes, Disney is engaging disability groups, and Autism Speaks was instrumental in providing feedback as we developed this new process.
Why is Disney making these changes?
Given the increasing volume of requests Disney receives for special access to our attractions, we are changing our process beginning Oct. 9 so that it creates a more consistent experience for all our Guests while providing accommodations for Guests with disabilities.
Who will be eligible for a Disability Access Service Card?
Our goal is to accommodate Guests who aren’t able to wait in a conventional queue environment due to a disability (including non-apparent disabilities).
Will Guests on wish trips also use Disability Access Service Cards?
No. Guests who are visiting through wish-granting organizations will have access through a separate program.
What should Guests do if they have concerns?
Guests should contact Guest Relations to discuss their assistance needs.

~Autumn

Since 9/17 there have been articles/blog posts circulating about changes coming to the GAC system at Walt Disney World and Disneyland. It seems this weekend several members of Disney’s Social Media group sent out communications to several bloggers. We have sent a message into Disney to confirm this message, and once we have confirmation we will post on the changes. We want you to know are actively researching this, but until we have official confirmed word from Disney, we won’t be posting info on the alleged changes to avoid adding panic and misinformation.

It’s official!!! We had seen rumors of a Dietary Restrictions booth/cart coming to Disney’s Animal Kingdom  Park, and even posted that info on our Facebook, but like we said on Facebook, until Disney announced it as official our stance was it was rumor. Well Disney’s Park Blog was wonderful enough to confirm this rumor as fact. Below is the full article posted by Disney’s Park Blog about this amazing booth and how it will help those with dietary restrictions. We are also happy to announce we may even have a first hand user report up soon as one of our followers will be at WDW shortly after Kiosk opens.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park Debuts Special Kiosk on August 4 for Guests with Dietary Restrictions

Beginning August 4, guests with food allergies and intolerances visiting Disney’s Animal Kingdom will have an easy way to learn about meal options in the park that can accommodate dietary restrictions – and pick up some healthful, prepackaged snacks.
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park Debuts Special Kiosk on August 4 for Guests with Dietary Restrictions
The kiosk, located on Discovery Island next to Adventurers Outpost, is called the Gardens kiosk. Here guests can stop and chat about food allergies or intolerances such as gluten or wheat, lactose or dairy, peanuts and tree nuts, shellfish, soy, fish, eggs and corn. And while you’ll be directed to the best restaurants to accommodate your needs, it’s important to still speak with a manager or chef at the restaurant – but you’ll already know exactly what the restaurant can accommodate before you begin your meal.
You can also pick up snacks at the Gardens, including popcorn, desserts, chips, hummus with vegetables, granola bars and a gluten-free beer. Vegan sweets from Baby Cakes also will be offered – all-natural, organic goodies that are made without wheat, gluten, dairy, casein and eggs.
The Gardens is open daily from 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
While this is the only park with a kiosk, guests with food allergy concerns can always speak with a manager or chef at many Walt Disney World Resort restaurants, who will do their best to accommodate.

Welcome to our Webpage! DSNAD= Disney Dreaming with Special Needs and Disabilities

We created this page with the intention of helping Disney Park & Cruise Line guests traveling with Special Needs & Disabilities find more information on the GAC system, Disney Policies, & other information to help make your trip more magical.

We realized that finding factual information in regards to this very important topic is in fact hard to do, and wanted to try & find a way to help others enjoy Disney, regardless of their physical capabilities. Because at the end of the day we know, it’s what’s on the inside that counts.

Please feel free to ask questions & we will reply back with the best factual based answer we have. Our only request is, please show respect to each other! each other!

** Please note we are NOT a Non-Profit nor are we connected to one**