For parents of children with food allergies, planning a vacation can be stressful- especially to a place as exciting and often unpredictable as Walt Disney World. The concern isn’t just about finding safe food options, but also the fear of an unexpected reaction. As a parent who discovered my daughter’s food allergy during a Disney World stay, I understand the fear firsthand.

We were staying at Port Orleans-Riverside and had a dinner reservation at Boatwright’s Dining Hall and my husband ordered the jambalaya with a side of green beans. A is a picky eater but loves green beans so he stuck a few on his fork and handed it to her. Within minutes she broke out in a rash around her mouth and by the time we got back to the room her eyes were watery and itchy and she had hives all over her torso. She’d never had an allergic reaction before so other than running to the gift shop and buying Benedryl, we didn’t really know what to do. I sat up and watched her sleep for a lot of the night- it was terrifying. She was totally fine the next day but I scheduled an appointment with an allergist as soon as we got home. It turns out that she has severe allergies to multiple varieties of nuts but what triggered her reaction that night was the shrimp in the jambalaya. We now carry and epi-pen everywhere and are very, very careful about what we order.

A was feeling just fine the next day at Animal Kingdom!

Understanding Disney World’s Commitment to Food Safety

Disney World is known for its exceptional customer service and that extends to guests with dietary restrictions. Both the parks and the resorts have allergy-friendly dining programs that cater to various allergies, including gluten, dairy, peanuts, tree nuts, soy, and more. Cast Members are trained to handle special dietary needs, and most dining locations off allergy-friendly menus. If you notify the restaurant in advance, a chef can even come to your table to discuss your child’s specific dietary requirements.

Inform Disney About Dietary Restrictions Ahead of Time

• When making dining reservations, be sure to note any food allergies. You can also call Disney’s special dietary requests line to ensure they are aware of your needs. They will often request that you email them to make sure they pass along as much information as possible to the chefs but you do not need to provide any medical documentation.
• At table-service restaurants, notify the host when you check-in for your reservation that you have someone in your party has food allergies or dietary restrictions. Your server will follow up with you about this information and will usually bring you a special menu made to accommodate your allergen needs.

Research Allergy-Friendly Dining Locations Before Your Trip

When you hire me to plan your Disney vacation, I take care of all of the research for you! But here’s a bit of helpful advice, even if we don’t have the chance to work together:

• Knowing where you can find allergy-friendly options will help reduce anxiety and make planning easier. Disney’s website and the My Disney Experience app list allergy-friendly dining locations and menu items.
• Some restaurants, Like Jungle Navigation Co. LTD Skipper Canteen at Magic Kingdom and Satu’li Canteen at Animal Kingdom are known for their allergy-friendly options.

Here’s a quick list of some of our favorite allergy-friendly dining locations:

Try the grey stuff at “Be Our Guest. It’s delicious!

Bring Snacks and Allergy-Friendly Foods into the Parks

• Unlike a lot of other theme parks, Disney allows guests to bring food and drinks in the parks, making it easier to have save options on hand.
• Packing non-perishable, allergy-friendly snacks like granola bars or fruit is a great way to not only make sure that everyone has a safe option available but will also help drive hanger away when your dinner reservation is just a little bit later than you’d like! We like to place a grocery order on our arrival day so we can keep our preferred snacks on hand in our resort room. It makes packing our park bag easier and ensures that we don’t have to bring a ton of food in our suitecases.

Use the My Disney Experience App to Locate Allergy-Friendly Options

• The MDE app will allow you to filter your search by dietary preferences so you can plan meals to suite your families needs.
• You can also take a look at menus in advance. Our family has a few picky eaters in addition to the food allergy issue so this is a HUGE plus because we have to also make sure that there are things they will enjoy eating in addition to it being safe.

Know Where First-Aid Stations are Located in Each Park

First-Aid station in Animal Kingdom

Always Carry an EpiPen and Other Necessary Medications

• Even with the best precautions, it is essential to be prepared for an emergency. Carry your child’s EpiPen, antihistamines, or other allergy medications at all times. If you forget to pack any of these essential items, don’t stress! Simply contact your doctor and ask them to send a prescription to Turner Drugs. This local pharmacy provides delivery to the Disney World resorts!
• Consider using a medical alert bracelet for your child, indicating their allergies in case they need help from a Cast Member.

If an allergic reaction occurs, it’s essential to act quickly. The First-Aid stations are equipped to handle minor emergencies and Disney’s emergency medical services are always nearby. Make sure to inform a Cast Member immediately if an issue arises and don’t hesitate to call 911 if it’s a severe reaction.

Don’t let food allergies keep your family from experiencing the magic of a Disney World vacation. With the right research and prep, you can enjoy a stress-free, memorable vacation. If you’re ready to start planning then you’ll want to schedule your complimentary consultation by clicking “Let’s head to the castle” today!