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[arftle]

Hello!! New here and was recently diagnosed with Celiac disease. Does anyone have any advice/suggestions for eating at SDC? I saw on the site some of the gluten free options they have listed, but was wondering about other concessions like kettle corn and pork rinds. Thanks!!!

[okiebluegrass]

While I don't know of any specific gluten free things as SDC I did find this link.

http://www.glutenfreeroots.com/2013/08/gluten-free-foods-at-amusement-parks/

hope this helps

[Ozarks Gal]

The "gluten-free" items are probably more for the folks who just don't want it in their diet.  With Celiacs you have to be so careful about how the food is prepared, and what else is has inadvertently come in contact with.
Here's their list of gluten/wheat free foods: (link)
To be safe I would ask the food workers, but that's no guarantee that the teenaged seasonal worker knows what's gone in the food or how it was prepared. The Kettle corn and pork rinds sound gluten-free to me, but always be sure to ask!

[shavethewhales]

SDC doesn't really do a good job with food allergen info, especially gluten. They've actually gotten worse about it over the past few years. My father has celiacs as well, but he has had a lot of trouble eating in the park. The employees try to be helpful, but dealing with it is obviously not something that's emphasized by the park. They're apparently not serious enough about it to have it be included in their training, so I would necessarily trust them to not cross-contaminate.

The mine restaurant has a few options (you can ask for an allergen menu when you sit down), but that's about it that I'm currently aware of. My father ends up leaving the park to eat most of the time.

We always bring this up with whoever will listen at the park because there's no reason such a major establishment can't handle a common food issue better than this. If my family is on vacation and one of us can't eat at any of the restaurants, that means we all end up leaving, and frankly it's a discouragement from even going there in the first place. A lot of places don't understand that putting allergen options on the menu isn't just about serving the people with the issues, it's about serving their entire parties.

[Gilligan]

Hello!! New here and was recently diagnosed with Celiac disease. Does anyone have any advice/suggestions for eating at SDC? I saw on the site some of the gluten free options they have listed, but was wondering about other concessions like kettle corn and pork rinds. Thanks!!!

I can help you!  I have celiac, also.  My best advice to you is to take food in with you.  There are a few things you can eat:

- kettle corn and pork rinds do not come into contact with gluten
- Tater Twists are okay, but AVOID all the seasonings
- taffy from the taffy shop is gf
- frozen lemonade
- SDC's bbq sauce is gf, but I wouldn't trust bbq in the park bc of contamination
- let them know ahead of time, and you can order a shepherd's pie (personally haven't done this)
- skillet sausage medley at Lumbercamp is gf (again, I wouldn't eat it)
- If you are there during a holiday with fam/friends that plan to eat at a buffet, you can take in your own plate of food and order a drink only
 
If you are in Branson looking for a wonderful place to eat, go to DANNA'S BBQ!  They understand celiac and take it seriously!!  By seriously, I mean they have a kitchen procedure in place to make sure you are getting a safe meal.  You can have any type of bbq including the sauces, coleslaw, baked beans, potato chips.  You CAN'T have the fries as they are coated with gluten before they hit the fryer.  You can ask for a plain baked potato in lieu of fries. Sandwiches come with a gf bun that is actually soft and very tasty.  BBQ nachos are wonderful - I was told that I could bring my own gf tortilla chips, and they would make the nachos with my chips.  

Black Oak Grill also has procedures in place for a safe meal.  When you tell the hostess you have celiac, the manager will come to your table to discuss options with you.  Also, Cantina Lareda has many gf options, but they have made enough mistakes with my orders that I don't consider it safe enough.

I have heard that Keeter Center does a great job with providing a gf meal.  When I was dairy intolerant, the manager came to the table to take my order.  She brought me sorbet when she noticed I didn't take anything from the dessert buffet.  I haven't been there since diagnosed with celiac, but they have high ratings on gf sites.

Hope this helps!  I'm new to the world of celiac, also.  Please post anything you have good results with.  You'd be surprised how many people have actually asked about gluten free in Branson on celiac websites.  I don't always trust those sites, so I've gotten most of my info by emailing SDC and local restaurants.

[Gilligan]

SDC doesn't really do a good job with food allergen info, especially gluten. They've actually gotten worse about it over the past few years. My father has celiacs as well, but he has had a lot of trouble eating in the park. The employees try to be helpful, but dealing with it is obviously not something that's emphasized by the park. They're apparently not serious enough about it to have it be included in their training, so I would necessarily trust them to not cross-contaminate.

The mine restaurant has a few options (you can ask for an allergen menu when you sit down), but that's about it that I'm currently aware of. My father ends up leaving the park to eat most of the time.

We always bring this up with whoever will listen at the park because there's no reason such a major establishment can't handle a common food issue better than this. If my family is on vacation and one of us can't eat at any of the restaurants, that means we all end up leaving, and frankly it's a discouragement from even going there in the first place. A lot of places don't understand that putting allergen options on the menu isn't just about serving the people with the issues, it's about serving their entire parties.

Sadly, you are correct about this, Shave.  Disney does an outstanding job, and there's no reason why SDC can't do the same.

[shavethewhales]

Update on this: my father with celiac's said he had a much easier time navigating the food options at the Mine restaurant on this trip. He says they've gotten better with it. I don't think he ate anywhere else though so I'm not sure about the rest of the park, but it sounds like they're improving.

[Gilligan]

FYI - I recently got an email from SDC in reply to several questions re: gluten free.
- wassail is gluten free
- all candy from the shop that's made on park is safe to eat
- if you notify them ahead of time, they will prepare a turkey leg for you that is contamination free
- with prior notice, the park is very willing to work within your food options restrictions.  Please call them.

See my other post for further food options.

Walking tacos are NOT gluten free.  I was hoping they were.  Be very careful at the buffets.  All it takes is one person to mix up a spoon or drop an invisible crumb in something that is gluten free to ruin your vacation! 

To show how far they will go to help:  I was at Coaster Christmas.  I mentioned to ACE that I would not be eating meals bc of celiac.  They contacted SDC and had a fruit bowl waiting for me for breakfast, and gluten free sandwich that was really good.  Unfortunately, I couldn't eat the fresh potato chips (they had a seasoning on them) or the s'mores in a bag (teddy grahams in the bag). I took my own muffins, oranges, and gf pretzels and enjoyed a great meal.