Traveling with food allergies can be a nerve wracking experience, but at Walt Disney World it doesn’t have to be! My son was diagnosed with food allergies just before his second birthday, I was so nervous about taking him out to eat anywhere. After doing some research, I learned that Walt Disney World is extremely accommodating when it comes to food allergies. Since we live about an hour away, we decided to give it a try. It was the best experience we could have asked for, and we continue to visit the restaurants at Disney knowing we will be treated well, taken seriously, and my son will be safe. Each time we visit, the food allergy chefs go above and beyond to not only accommodate my son’s allergies, but to also make the experience fun and exciting to make him feel included. Here are some tips when eating at Walt Disney World with food allergies:
Quick Service Restaurants: At a quick service restaurant, you order at a counter, you are given your food, and you find a table to sit and eat.
- When placing your order, ask to see the food allergy menu. They have each of the items on the menu broken down to let you know exactly what ingredients are in them.
- If you are unsure, ask to speak with the chef or food allergy specialist. They can help to answer any questions you may have!
- If you have multiple food allergies or require substitutions for items on the menu, a table service restaurant may be better equipped to assist you.
Table Service Restaurants: At a table service restaurant, you are seated at a table and a waitress takes your order.
- When making a reservation at a table service restaurant, be sure to indicate you have food allergies. This can be done both on the phone with a Disney Dining cast member, or online through the My Disney Experience App. (If you are working with a travel agent, they can take care of this for you).
- If you are traveling in advance with a reservation, take a look at the menu online to see what dishes interest you. This way, you will be better prepared to speak with the chef!
- When you arrive at the restaurant for your reservation, confirm when you check in that they have the food allergy indicated on your reservation.
- Both when you are being seated and when you speak with the wait staff member, be sure to ask to speak to the food allergy chef. The chef will be able to discuss ingredients of menu items with you and make any necessary substitutions.
- Please be patient and prepared for a slightly longer wait to speak to a food allergy chef. They may be meeting with another family who is also nervous and has a lot of questions, or preparing someone else’s special meal. **I personally always insist on speaking to the chef. I understand that some wait staff may be knowledgeable, but my son’s allergies are serious and I do not take any chances.**
Have you traveled to Walt Disney World with a food allergy and had a great experience at a specific restaurant or with a certain chef? I would love to hear about it! We loved Chef Rosie at Ohana and can’t wait to go back to see her again soon!