Traveling when you or a family member suffer from food allergies or other diet restrictions can be overwhelming. Dining out, especially for those newly diagnosed, can be an extremely stressful experience. However, there are steps that you can take to be prepared and know what to do. Walt Disney World goes above and beyond to accommodate guests with food allergies and special diets. You will be amazed at all the food and dining options available to you. All of Disney’s chefs and restaurant managers go through Allergy Awareness Training at Disney’s own culinary school. You are encouraged to speak to the chefs about what foods you can and cannot eat. And most of the quick service and table service restaurants have an allergy and gluten free menu or they have binders with all the ingredients listed.Â
Disclaimer: This webpage is only meant to give you an overview of dining with allergies at Walt Disney World. We do not have any medical experience or special knowledge about food allergies or special diets. Before you eat anything at Walt Disney World, please verify the ingredients and take the time to speak to the chef or restaurant manager.Â
How to Deal with Special Diets at Disney
For guests with Food Allergies, Gluten Free Diets/Celiac
Conduct research before you make dining reservations
Most quick service and table service restaurants at Disney are prepared to accommodate the following common food allergies and intolerances:
- Eggs
- Fish
- Gluten
- Milk
- Peanuts
- Shellfish
- Soy
- Tree nuts
- Wheat
Use Walt Disney World’s Dining webpage to research restaurants and their menus ahead of time. The menus for most dining locations have a section for Allergy Free options. You may make advanced dining reservations as early as 180 days prior to check in, so if you are planning to eat at table service restaurants, research their menus ahead of time so you can make reservations as early as possible. Also, below we will provide you with other resources of Allergy information at Walt Disney World. Many of these resources can tell you what restaurants are safe to visit and which you should avoid.
**Other Special Dietary Needs:
Many dining locations at Disney are able to handle lifestyle requests with no advanced arrangements. This includes: Diabetes, Lap-band, Low-carbohydrate, Low-fat, Low-sodium, No sugar added, Plant-based.
Check out these websites for more information:
Walt Disney World’s Special Dietary Requests page
Disneyland’s Special Dietary Requests page
Disney Cruise Lines Special Diets page
AllergyEats – Allergy Eats is a website and app that has a special section dedicated to Disney World and will help you find places to eat. Also, the website has a lot of very helpful information regarding allergies. You will also find menus and restaurant reviews.
Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW – This site has menus for the restaurants at Walt Disney World plus a ton of other helpful resources.
Make note of your dietary needs when you make Advanced Dining Reservations
You may book advanced dining reservations online, via the My Disney Experience mobile app or by calling (407)WDW-DINE (939-3463).
If making your reservations by telephone simply tell the cast member about your special dietary needs. If you’re making the reservations online, there will be a place for you to note your special dietary needs. Try to make any special arrangements at least 72 hours in advance.
Follow up with an email to the Special Diets department especially if you have the following conditions:
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- You have allergies not on the above list
- Multiple members of your party suffer from allergies
- You or members of your party have four or more allergies or intolerances
- Other medically restrictive diets or metabolic disorders
- Phenylketonuria (PKU) or dysphagia
Inform Cast Members about your Food Allergies or Special Diet Needs
Most Disney dining locations and vendor carts offer allergy-friendly menus or allergy guides to address common allergies and intolerances. You may ask to see this information when at a quick service or vendor food cart.Â
At Table Service locations, advise the host or hostess of your food allergies. Ask to speak to the Chef or Restaurant Manager. Advise your waiter or waitress immediately and make sure you have their full attention when doing so. Ask the chef or manager to double check food labels if there are any doubts about ingredients.
Many people with allergies are overwhelmed by the thought of finding something they can eat at buffets. However, Disney has addressed this issue and buffets can still be enjoyed even by those with the most severe allergies. Upon arrival you will want to advise the host or hostess of your allergies and ask to speak to the Chef. Many buffets will provide a list of food items on the buffet that are safe for guests with allergies. You can also request the chef give you a tour of the buffet and go over what you can and cannot eat. They will also bring food directly from the kitchen so as to not risk cross-contamination on the buffet. Additionally, items can be made allergen free that aren’t shown on the Allergy-friendly list given by the table server.
Double Check Everything
When you receive your food from any Disney dining location, double check everything. Double check that you received the correct dish. It’s a very rare occurrence, but you always hear about that one person who received the wrong food.
Ingredients change all the time. Anything you read here or on any website should be double checked at the time of your meal.
Be respectful, patient and don’t get emotional.
Wise advise from AllergyEats:
“Don’t get emotional. It can be stressful when a restaurant’s staff doesn’t seem to understand your food allergy needs, especially if you (or your child) have severe, life-threatening allergies. Be polite but firm, making sure you communicate your needs clearly. We avoid dramatic statements like “My son can die from this!” Although it may be true, it sounds overly dramatic and can (unfairly) tag you as a “crazy parent,” and reduce your credibility. Plus, this approach could frighten your child. Instead, calmly (but firmly) say that this is a very severe allergy and you (or your child) can’t eat this specific food. Stay calm and composed and your message is more likely to be heard and respected. As an added bonus, you’ll be teaching your food-allergic child how to (appropriately) approach this issue, as well.”
Special Diet Tips
- Buffets can still be enjoyed even by those with the most severe allergies. Upon arrival you will want to advise the host or hostess of your allergies and ask to speak to the Chef. Many buffets will provide a list of food items on the buffet that are safe for guests with allergies. You can also request the chef give you a tour of the buffet and go over what you can and cannot have. Sometimes items can be made allergen free that aren’t shown on the list given by the table server.
- The Chefs at Walt Disney World are amazing and have an amazing amount of knowledge regarding food allergies. You should never hesitate to ask to speak with the chef. They will be a very helpful resource for you if you don’t know what to order and they will often make food for you that isn’t on the menu.
- “Snacks with Character” are allergy-friendly treats that can be found at various merchandise locations throughout the Resort. They include:
- Chocolate Chip Cookies (gluten free)
- Lemon Burst Cookies – (gluten free)
- Chocolate Chip Crunchy Cookies (gluten, nut, dairy, soy, and egg free) – These definitely live up to their “crunchy” name. They are thin, crispy cookies. They are good…just don’t expect traditional, softer cookies.
- Sugar Crisp Crunchy Cookies (gluten, nut, dairy, soy, and egg free)
- Dark Chocolate Bar (vegan, as well as gluten, nut, dairy, and soy free)
- Chocolate Sunseed Bar (gluten, nut, dairy, soy, and egg free)
- Rice Milk Choco Bar (vegan, as well as gluten, nut, dairy, and soy free)
- Mountain Mambo Seed & Fruit Mix (vegan, as well as labeled gluten and nut free; the ingredients also look dairy, egg, and soy free)
- One of the most iconic treats at Disney is the Dole Whip. The great news is that the Pineapple Dole Whip is gluten free and vegan (dairy-free). Please note that the Vanilla Dole Whip is not dairy free so you will want to speak to a cast member regarding any potential cross contamination.
- In Disney Springs be sure to check out Erin McKenna’s Bakery NYC where they specialize in mostly allergen free products. Their baked goods are gluten free, dairy-free, egg-free, vegan, and soy-free. Read their Allergy Info page on their website.
- You can find Erin McKenna’s products at the following WDW locations:
- The Beach Club Marketplace at Disney’s Beach Club Resort.
*Chocolate Chip Cookies, Cinnamon Sugar Donuts, Chocolate Dipped Donuts, Mini Brownie Cupcakes. - The Boardwalk Bakery at Disney’s Boardwalk.
*Mini Brownie Cupcakes. - The Gardens Kiosk at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
*Chocolate Chip Cookies, Mini Brownie Cupcakes. - The Mara at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge.
*Mini Brownie Cupcakes. - Landscape of Flavors at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort.
*Mini Brownie Cupcakes. - Everything Pop at Disney’s Pop Century Resort.
*Mini Brownie Cupcakes.
- The Beach Club Marketplace at Disney’s Beach Club Resort.
- Stop by Port Orleans French Quarter for another Disney classic treat, allergy-friendly beignets. The dipping sauces that go with the beignets are also allergy-friendly.
- Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party has allergy friendly trick or treating. Any child or adult with allergies will receive a teal bag. As you visit each treat station, you will receive a token instead of a treat. You may then take your tokens to the Allergy Treat Centers in various locations around the Magic Kingdom and trade your tokens for Allergy-Friendly treats.
Gluten Free Snacks:
- Dole Whip
- LeFou’s Brew
- Popcorn
- Soft-Serve Ice Cream
- Mickey Ice Cream Bar
- Sundaes
- Slushees
- Cakes and Cupcakes
- Margaritas
Sugar free snacks for Diabetics:
- Minnie’s Bake Shop Sugar Free Cookies
- Main Street Ice Cream Parlor in the Magic Kingdom – Edy’s No Sugar Added Butter Pecan, Sugar-Free/Fat-Free Chocolate and Vanilla Swirl
- For sugar free cookies try Writer’s Stop in Hollywood Studios or Goofy’s Candy Company
- Kringla Bakeri Og Kafe in Epcot serves sugar-free chocolate mousse
- Try some no sugar-added brownies at Restaurantosaurus at Animal Kingdom
- Boardwalk Bakery has no sugar-added cheesecake
Dole Whip (Photo: Disney Parks)
Personal Food Items
Guests with food allergies or intolerances are allowed to bring food into Walt Disney World theme parks and dining locations. When entering a park, simply inform the Security Cast Member at bag check that someone in the party has a food allergy or intolerance.
These are older documents from Disney with information about Special Diets. Some of this information is outdated but still helpful.
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