Hi, Joshua, and thanks for pulling up a seat at planDisney's table! One of my favorite topics is food; just ask my husband. My whole family eats a plant-based diet, so I'll share some tips and advice that have worked for us when looking for special menus at Walt Disney World Resort. Tie your napkin 'round your neck, chérie!
Since menu items and availability often change, it's difficult for me to provide exact options and restaurants. That said, I think your family will be pleasantly surprised by the gluten-free options you'll find during your visit.
Your first tool is looking at online menus. For example, a quick glance at
Tony's Town Square Restaurant at Magic Kingdom Park shows several gluten-free options. Typically, the allergy-friendly menus are listed after the general menus and drinks, so to paraphrase Dory, "Just keep scrolling!"
I see Rice Pasta with Turkey Meatballs at Tony's, for example, with sides like fruit and salad. I even found a gluten-free Gelato Sundae on the kids' allergy-friendly menu. Many table-service restaurants will have at least one gluten-free option, so have fun exploring.
When you arrive at the restaurant, let your server know of your dietary needs. My niece has a couple of allergies, and the chef often comes to our table to discuss her options. I've found most servers to be very knowledgeable and helpful when it comes to navigating dietary restrictions, and they often offer off-menu accommodations.
Quick service restaurants typically have a hard copy of an allergy-friendly menu or ingredient list. My son always asks for those to make sure a dish is vegan.
My final tip is to reach out to the
Special Dietary Requests team a couple of weeks before you arrive by emailing your concerns and your son's needs. They should respond with suggestions and tips for a seamless visit. I'd make a few
dining reservations now based on what you find on the menus; you can always make changes after you hear from the dietary team.
As locals, my husband and I recently invested in a sturdy backpack cooler. We packed our own lunch and snacks for our day at
Magic Kingdom. We found some shaded picnic tables behind Ye Olde Christmas Shoppe where we had a relaxing homemade lunch. The best part is that we knew exactly what the ingredients were. Highly recommended! Just remember, no glass containers or loose ice are allowed. You can read about prohibited items on the
Property Rules page.
Joshua, I hope your visit next month is beyond compare! Stop by
planDisney anytime, because like Lumiere, we only live to serve!
Magic awaits,
Elaine