There is no easier vacation location for dining with food allergies than Walt Disney World Resort. My daughter, now an adult, has suffered from severe allergies and food allergies for years. Walt Disney World has always been a great choice for vacations because of the care taken in preparing food for allergy sufferers in not only the table service restaurants but in the quick service locations as well. She has always been able to eat well with little effort. The chefs at all locations have always been extremely helpful and we trust Disney when it comes to making sure food for allergy sufferers is not cross-contaminated.
The help you can receive at Walt Disney World Resort was never highly publicized but those with family members suffering from life-threatening food allergies who visit regularly have been confident for years that the food prepared for their family member was safe. Now, starting this month, Allergy Friendly Menus will be easy to find at all dining locations throughout Walt Disney World Resort.
Disney will now be publicizing the options available for food allergy guests. Chefs can often substitute different ingredients and offer other food options so that dining for those with dietary requirements can still be a delectable affair. Many Walt Disney World restaurants can accommodate the following common food allergies:
- Gluten or wheat
- Lactose or dairy
- Peanuts and tree nuts
- Shellfish
- Soy
- Fish
- Eggs
- Corn
Most restaurants offer no-sugar-added, low-fat, low-sodium and vegetarian options. Advance arrangements are not necessary for guests with lifestyle dietary requests. Guests can discuss any dietary requests with their server upon arrival.
My daughter suffers from multiple food allergies and has always been accommodated at all locations. Disney does, however, recommend that guests with requests associated with the list below should contact Walt Disney World Resort at Special.Diets@DisneyWorld.com at least 14 days prior to arrival and after booking all dining arrangements for their entire visit:
- Allergy or intolerance not listed above under common food allergies
- Phenylketonuria (PKU)
- Metabolic disorders
- A single guest with multiple allergies/intolerances or multiple guests with allergies/intolerances within the same party
On property restaurants will do their best to accommodate guest dietary requirements. You may consult with a chef before placing your order. Most table-service restaurants accepting reservations are able to provide allergy-friendly meal options. Guests should indicate any food allergies when making dining reservations and upon arrival at a dining location. Select quick-service restaurants offer menu items or products that may accommodate certain food allergies. Guests should ask to speak with a chef or a manager upon arrival to discuss food allergies or intolerances. Chefs are available to walk Guests through the buffet and indicate what can be eaten based on specific allergies or intolerances. Guests with dietary restrictions choosing to dine at Victoria & Albert’s at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa should call (407) WDW-DVNA or (407) 939-3862. As part of the impeccable personalized service of Victoria & Albert’s, the restaurant may be able to customize a unique menu of the finest—yet allergy-free—cuisine imaginable.
Always inform the server, chef, or manager on duty of any dietary restrictions when arriving at the restaurant. It is ultimately up to the Guest to use his or her individual discretion to make an informed choice regarding whether to order any particular item.
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 at bag check that someone in the party has a food allergy or intolerance.
Guests staying at a Disney Resort hotel who have items that need to be refrigerated should ask the Front Desk to have a refrigerator placed in the room, subject to availability. An additional charge may apply. Please note that Cast Members are prohibited from storing, preparing, cooking or reheating any food brought into our Resorts or theme parks by Guests.
