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Tag Archives: Columbia Harbour House
Disney Food Allergies and Special Dietary Requests
As science and medicine progress, it is being found that many more people than were previously thought have food allergies or sensitivities. There are also many food issues among folks with chronic diseases. This issue runs the gamut from the very young to the elderly. Disney takes these food issues very seriously and offers solutions at the large majority of their restaurants so their guests will not be subjected to the problems that can happen as a result of these allergies/sensitivities.
Let’s take a look at what some of the major food allergies are:
- gluten or wheat
- shellfish
- soy
- lactose or dairy
- peanuts and tree nuts
- fish
- eggs
- corn
The best way to avoid problems with these types of allergies/issues is to note them when you make your table service reservations or if you prefer, discuss them with the Chef or Restaurant Manager upon your arrival. These things can generally be handled quite easily.
Tastes So Good – Columbia Harbour House
When I think of food at Walt Disney World, my mind hardly ever goes to Magic Kingdom except to think about the coveted Dole Whip! I tend to dream and salivate about Ohana, and the Tusker House breakfast until I tried something at the Columbia Harbour House that changed the way I viewed dining at the MK!
I didn’t eat at the Colombia Harbour House until about 4 trips ago, and I am hooked! The Columbia Harbour House is located in Liberty Square close to the Hall of Presidents and across the street from the Haunted Mansion. Before I had actually entered the Columbia Harbour House, I always thought it was probably small and crowded but I was wrong. This place is good sized in the inside with plenty of seating with an upstairs too! I have never experienced this place to be super busy, although there has always been a line! I have not had a problem finding a place to sit. I love how cool the Columbia Harbour House feels on a hot Florida day, it is really refreshing! Something else I really like about eating here is that there are a lot of outlets by the tables against the wall, and while I don’t know if we are supposed to use them I always plug my iPhone in while dining here!
Making the Most of Counter Service Dining – Magic Kingdom
I know, eating at counter service restaurants on your Disney vacation, one might think that means burgers, pizza, and chicken tenders at EVERY meal. Especially when you have kids. It seems as if the kids’ choices are somewhat limited. However, the portions are so huge for adults, we don’t mind sharing some veggies, salad, or pastas with our kids. We follow the rules-we get two kids meals and two adult entrees most times we eat. But, for a family of four, that’s quite a spread! So, to make sure we have variety for everyone, we simply put it all on the table and start sharing.
Here are some of my recommendations for dining, with variety, at Magic Kingdom.
1. Pinocchio’s Village Haus @ Fantasyland. Easily my FAVORITE counter service restaurant at Magic Kingdom. Here, the pizza is very good, as is the chicken parmesan. This restaurant also has pasta, pizza, and sandwiches on their children’s menu. It’s located next to It’s a Small World. If you choose a table on the second floor, you can watch It’s a Small World load and unload guests. Give them a friendly wave!
2. Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe @ Tomorrowland. This counter service restaurant isn’t at all lacking in variety. It’s set up in bays-three of them to be exact. Here, you can get half a rotisserie chicken, barbecue pork sandwiches, burgers, chicken, turlkey sandwiches, and even chicken noodle soup! It also has a large eating area, and sometimes Cosmic Ray will perform while you are eating.
3. Columbia Harbour House @ Liberty Square. Looking for some fresh seafood? You will find tuna sandwiches, lobster rolls, fish an chips and grilled salmon here. Maybe a hummus sandwich or some clam chowder would be good for lunch or dinner. They also have some good salads on their menu. This is an excellent counter service restaurant for dinner, in my opinion.
4. Diamond Horseshoe Revue @ Frontierland. Keep in mind, this restaurant is only open at peak travel times. You’ll find a porotbello mushroom sandwich, along with hand carved turkey or ham sandwiches. Even kids can choose from a hand carved turkey or ham sandwich at the Diamond Horseshoe.
5. Tortuga Tavern @ Adventureland. This counter service location also is open seasonally. If you want a little Mexican food while at the Magic Kingdom, then look no further. Burritos, taco salads, and quesadillas for the kids are some choices here. You can even have a vegetarian black bean burrito for lunch or dinner.
Where do you like to eat at Magic Kingdom? How do you make the most of the menu choices when on the Quick Service Dining plan?
Magically Yours,
Carrie
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I Won’t Be Able To Eat Anything – Special Dietary Requests at Disney World
Have you ever heard this? Do you think this is accurate? Would Walt Disney World allow this to happen? As science and medicine progress, it is being found that many more people than were previously thought have food allergies or sensitivities. There are also many food issues among folks with chronic diseases. This issue runs the gamut from the very young to Oldies like me. Thankfully for me, my only food issue is that I love it way too much.
Disney takes these food issues very seriously and offers solutions at the large majority of their restaurants so their guests will not be subjected to the problems that can happen as a result of these allergies/sensitivities. Let’s take a look at what some of the major food allergies are:
- gluten or wheat
- shellfish
- soy
- lactose or dairy
- peanuts and tree nuts
- fish
- eggs
- corn
The best way to avoid problems with these types of allergies/issues is to note them when you make your table service reservations or if you prefer, discuss them with the Chef or Restaurant Manager upon your arrival. These things can generally be handled quite easily
There are other types of dietary issues that can cause problems for those folks with either metabolic disorders or multiple allergies. Some of these are:
- Allergy or intolerance not listed above under Common Food Allergies
- PKU
- Metabolic disorders
- A single guest with multiple allergies/intolerances or multiple guests with allergies/intolerances within the same party
These types of dietary issues require a bit more planning and Disney would like you to contact them at least 14 days in advance of your arrival by e-mailing them your information (restaurant, specific issue, how many members in your party with the issue, and any other pertinent information). The specific e-mail address is: SpecialDiets@DisneyWorld.com. You should have all of your reservations made and the reservation information assembled before contacting them.
You are not restricted to table service restaurants if you have one of the simpler allergies mentioned above. The following counter service eateries can also deal with the simpler allergies:
- Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Café
- Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn & Café
- Main Street Bakery
- Columbia Harbor House
- The Pinocchio Village House
For further information you can visit the Walt Disney World Special Dietary Requirements web page. Walt Disney World is vastly experienced in handling dining needs of every type from those mentioned above to providing Kosher Meals upon request. Trust them but make sure you give them the correct information when they ask. After all, they have your and their best interests at heart. As always, enjoy your visit to Walt Disney World!!
Ken of Chip and Company and Disney For Seniors
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Keys to the Kingdom: Liberty Square
During my Keys to the Kingdom tour this past November, I learned so many awesome details about the Magic Kingdom. This is another installment of the memories from that wonderful tour. Spoiler alert!
Walt Disney was a genius in many areas. One such area was his attention to detail. He always wanted everything to be perfectly represented in the park as design integrity was very important to him. If Walt didn’t know exactly how something should be represented he would gather a research team to study the facts to determine the most authentic design possible.
After Walt’s death, when the imagineers set out to design Liberty Square at Walt Disney World, they wanted to keep with Walt’s standard. This is the reason you will never find a restroom while strolling through Liberty Square.
If you eat at Columbia Harbour House, and you need to find the restroom, the cast members could tell you honestly, “I’m sorry but you will have to go to Fantasyland for that.” You see, if you go to the restroom inside Columbia Harbour House it is indeed located in Fantasyland. You might ask why this is. It is simply because there were no indoor toilets back in colonial times. Truth-be-known, the only reason there is one inside Columbia Harbour House at all is due to health regulations.
When visiting Walt Disney World, you have to always be on the lookout. Remember to look all around, up and down and everywhere. The magic of Disney is in the attention to detail. Another example of this can be found while strolling through Liberty Square. One might notice that the ground is brown in the center. It is meant to resemble a river – a river of sewage, I’m afraid, as in colonial times. Without indoor toilets, everyone collected their waste and then threw it out of their upper windows into the middle of the road. The brown gravel looking part of the pavement is a representation of that.
It is fascinating how much time has been spent on every aspect of Walt’s vision. There are new and exciting things to discover each time you visit. Plan a trip soon — you’ll be glad you did!
