When planning your trip to Walt Disney World, you may be worried regarding the availability of allergy-friendly food. You can rest assured that the magic of Disney extends to accommodating guests with various dietary needs! Walt Disney World resort takes great pride in providing a safe and enjoyable dining experience for visitors with food allergies or intolerances. So, you can focus on creating magical memories with your loved ones, knowing that your allergy-friendly dining needs will be well taken care of.
Many restaurants at Walt Disney World offer allergy-friendly menus or they can modify dishes to accommodate specific allergies or dietary restrictions. From gluten-free options to dairy-free alternatives, there’s a wide range of choices available. You’ll find allergy-friendly options at quick-service restaurants, table-service locations, and even at the popular character dining experiences!
When dining at WDW, many times the chef will come out to explain the ingredients in each dish and make adjustments if necessary. Additionally, there are binders that show what is in all components of the item. For example, if you get a cupcake, even the sprinkles on top will have all ingredients listed! It is all very thorough! Check out this sheet listing the ingredients in a Lefou’s Brew.
To show you just how much of a range of options there are, here is what I ate in Disney as someone with Peanut/Tree nut and Dairy allergies!
Animal Kingdom
I wasn’t at animal kingdom for a full day, but previously I have been able to find some good options at this park. In Harambe Market you can find fresh fruit, and in the gift shop you can pick up snacks like Animal Crackers.
For lunch I ate lunch at Satu’li Canteen. I enjoyed the Chopped Wood-Grilled Chicken Bowl-wood-grilled chicken thighs marinated with garlic and olive oil topped with crunchy vegetable slaw served with a sweet potato base! In the past I’ve grabbed a burger or chicken nuggets from Restaurantosaurus, but I really enjoyed this fresh and different option. It tasted great too!
Magic kingdom:
A family favorite in Magic Kingdom is the Crystal Palace. This restaurant offers character dining, and Pooh, Tigger, Eeyore, and Piglet all make their way around to each table to say hello. (There is even a parade for the youngsters in your group!)
This was only my first plate! I choose the allergy free packaged cookies for dessert!
My go to snacks in Magic Kingdom are always a Lefou’s Brew or a mickey pretzel! If you get the Lefou’s Brew check out the incredibly themed Gaston’s Tavern!
Disney Springs
Here are a few options of great places to eat in Disney Springs!
Morimoto Asia
Morimoto Asia may have become my new favorite restaurant in Disney Springs. I had the shumai, a purse shaped dumpling filled with pork, shrimp, mushroom, and tobiko caviar. Followed by the Morimoto Spare Ribs- Pork ribs with cilantro and a hoisin sweet chili glaze. These were recommended by our lovely waiter and I’m so glad he did! And lastly, the California roll filled with blue crab meat, avocado, and cucumber. All were delicious!!! I highly recommend dining at Morimoto Asia. It can be a bit pricey, but the service, atmosphere and food are incredible!!!
If reservations are full, you are short on time, or you are looking to save a bit, try the Morimoto street food stand right outside! They have outdoor seating and much of the selection that is found on the main menu inside. I tried the chicken dumplings and they were great!
B.B Wolf’s Sausage Co.
I was so happy when we discovered this food stand had an allergy binder! I ordered the Italian sausage that had sautéed peppers, onion and marinara on a roll with chips.
Paddlefish
My meal at paddlefish was delicious! I had the shrimp pasta. The shrimp pasta is normally served with linguine, Florida rock shrimp, asparagus, tomato, and crab broth. The crab sauce has cream, so they were able to substitute the crab sauce for oil and it tasted amazing!! There are other items on the menu I could have ordered as well, the staff were very willing to customize many of the options to accommodate my allergies.
Snacks and Dessert
Erin McKenna’s Bakery was a good spot to find some allergy friendly items. They are not nut free however, as they use coconut in many of their products. The availability of different treats varies day to day! We were able to try the Cinnamon Sugar Donut and the Lemon Loaf, both were scrumptious!
Here is my Pink Rosé & Watermelon Sorbet! The only available dairy and nut free item at Salt and Straw, it was so refreshing in the Florida heat!
Epcot
Epcot is known for its celebration of diverse cultures, technological innovation, and culinary delights. It offers a unique experience where visitors can wander through a world showcase featuring 11 different pavilions representing various countries.
Each pavilion in the World Showcase at Epcot takes guests on an immersive journey, bringing to life the traditions, architecture, cuisine, and entertainment of that particular nation. From sipping sake in Japan’s tranquil gardens, indulging in delectable pastries from France, to enjoying delicious tacos in Mexico’s vibrant marketplace, Epcot offers a tantalizing array of international flavors.
Epcot Food and Wine Festival
Our trip coincided with Epcot’s well known Food and Wine Festival. When I go to regular food festivals, it can be incredibly frustrating and disheartening to miss out on the excitement of exploring new cuisines due to my allergies. However, I have discovered a true culinary haven at WDW, where the passion for inclusive dining experiences knows no bounds. Here, everyone can revel in the joy of discovering mouthwatering flavors, regardless of any dietary restrictions or allergies!
After much deliberation, I chose to chow down on the Lump Crab Cake from the Coastal Eats Stand. The Aioli and Vinegar Slaw were terrific, making this one of the best crab cakes I have ever eaten!
Kringla Bakeri Og Kafe
The star snack/ dessert of this trip was the Norwegian Kringla. I had read about this yummy treat online and had been dying to try it.
I ventured into Kringla Bakeri Og Kafe with high hopes and was not disappointed. The Norwegian Kringla is a pretzel-shaped pastry with a chocolate topping. Although this item is plant based, it does not contain coconut! It can be so hard to find allergy friendly desserts and this Kringla made my night!
Hollywood Studios
Hollywood Studios is my favorite park. We have loved the addition of Galaxy’s Edge as well as the classic attractions like the Tower of Terror. While this park doesn’t have my favorite allergy friendly food, there are definitely plenty of options to choose from!
For lunch we went into the air conditioned Docking Bay 7 Food and Cargo! I got the Fried Endorian Chicken Tip Yip. It is sort of like a large fried chicken nugget! Usually the chicken comes with mac & cheese, but I was able to substitute for broccoli and white rice. We really like the atmosphere in this area of the park.
At Oga’s Cantina I ordered a non-alcoholic Carbon Freeze and split the Batuu Bits with my family! Not too many food options here, but plenty of allergy friendly libations!
Animal Kingdom Lodge
Even at our hotel I was able to have something tasty to chow down on. The options for sit down dining were a bit more limited however, as much of the African cuisine involved nuts. At the Maji Pool Bar I split the All Beef Foot Long Hot Dog (No chili and cheese).
After visiting the Jambo House Lobby, we headed to The Mara. I ordered the Tamarind BBQ Pork Sandwich, but it was a tough call between that and the South African Vegetable Bowl.
The Wrap Up
As you can see there are a lot of options to choose from! I barely touched on all of them! I will say that there are more meal options than snack options available for those of us with multiple allergies. Mickey pretzels are safe and some of the Italian ice type treats but churros (dairy) and popcorn (coconut) are not for me.
If you have a coconut allergy like I do, it can add a bit more complication to ordering. Some locations consider coconut a tree nut. Others we visited listed an item as tree nut safe, but components used coconut.
TIP: items labeled plant base usually contain tree nuts
So I would suggest always mentioning your whole allergy to your server. They are trained and will make sure you are taken care of. If they seem lax, which we have never experienced, please know this is not the norm and ask to speak to the chef if you feel uncomfortable!
Dining at Disney world I never felt like I was a burden because of my allergies. Coming off a trip to New Orleans where I was exposed twice to my allergens, I was feeling a bit defeated about eating while traveling and keeping myself safe.
I’ve vacationed at Disney World for over 20 years and will continue traveling to Disney as much as I can for not only the rides but for the confidence I can have while ordering, and the range of options available to me!
Tip: I bring my own breakfast to the park often and eat cereal waiting at the bus stop or a protein bar! It saves time in the park for rides, saves money, and means that it’s one less meal to worry about!
Have you had a good experience traveling to Disney with allergies? Or any questions? Let me know below!