What You Need to Know About Disney Allergy Menus

Everyone deserves to have a magical time at Walt Disney World. If your kids have food allergies, rest assured there are plenty of allergy-friendly options available on the Disney Allergy Menus. Read on to find out how the Disney Allergy Menus work and where to find them in Disney Parks.

Navigating Walt Disney World with small kids can be challenging. Throw in food allergies and you may be wondering how to balance all the fun with safe eating. Having spent time in Walt Disney World, I can tell you from experience that Disney cares about food allergies. My daughter has food allergies that include dairy and soy. We rely heavily on the Disney Allergy Menus to ensure she also has a magical vacation. Here’s how the Disney Allergy Menus work and tips and tricks to navigating the parks with food allergies.

What are Disney Allergy Menus?

The first question Disney staff asks at restaurants is whether there are any food allergies at the table. You can also call ahead or reserve online to make the restaurant aware of your food allergies. Once you share that you have food allergies, your server will provide you with a Disney Allergy Menu. Disney Allergy Menus are available at more than 120 quick service and table service locations.

Disney provides Disney Allergy Menus for the regular menu, kids’ menu and dessert menu at most of their restaurants. Staff delivers items from Disney Allergy Menus to the table with a wooden skewer indicating that no allergen is present. This helps to eliminate any concerns over food allergies being missed.

Which Disney Restaurants Do Not Have A Disney Allergy Menu?

I was surprised to find that some restaurants, particularly those in Epcot’s World Showcase, do not have a Disney Allergy Menu. At those restaurants, a chef always came to the table to discuss my daughter’s food allergies first hand. Due to her soy allergy, we actually had greater success finding a variety of food for her at Epcot. Restaurants in Epcot are better able to accommodate as each menu item is prepared fresh to order. Thus, instead of reading what you cannot have, you are presented with several modification options from the chefs.

Accommodations for Food Allergies at Disney Buffets

While the Disney Allergy Menus work well, some Disney restaurants serve buffet lunches and dinners. Any parent knows that food allergies and buffets don’t mix. Often, the risk of cross-contamination is far too great. So what do you do if you would like to attend a Disney character meal? Rest assured that even with buffet dining, Disney still takes extreme precautions with food allergies.

We decided to try The Crystal Palace, where families can dine with Winnie the Pooh and friends. When I reserved through the My Disney Experience App, I was able to indicate that we had food allergies. As soon as we sat down, the hostess brought a Disney chef to our table to discuss food options. The chef first took us on a tour of the buffet. During the tour, the chef also offered to make a variety of options fresh. We took him up on his offer and within 15 minutes, Charlie received a fresh plate of some of her favorite foods.

EpiPens at Disney World

One noticeable feature on the Walt Disney World guide maps is the presence of EpiPen stations. At each First Aid station in the park, Disney now provides access to both Epipen and EpiPen Jr. auto-injectors. The nurses and EMS that staff the first aid station are able to administer the EpiPen auto-injectors.

Tips for Managing Food Allergies at Disney

• An affordable off-site property for families on a budget who are balancing food allergies is the Wyndham Lake Buena Vista. With advance warning, the Wyndham Lake Buena Vista will prep your room before arrival to avoid allergic reactions. The chef at the Wyndham Lake Buena Vista is also renowned for dealing with food allergies. Ask to meet with the head chef who will help create fresh and safe meals to eat at the hotel.

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  Disney allows guests to enter the park with outside food. This has helped our family immensely. I pack my daughter’s favorite safe snacks in case we can’t find something suitable for her to eat. This has eliminated added stress and reduced time wasted in looking for food in certain areas of the parks.

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Disney Allergy Menus at Walt Disney World

It is surprisingly easy to manage food allergies at Walt Disney World. Disney has created a magical place where even children with the most severe allergies can enjoy a meal. From nut-free to gluten-free and everything in between, the Disney Allergy Menus will put your mind at ease.  This is one place where even food allergies are easily handled with a little Disney magic.