Ahoy, Aaron, thanks for floating by planDisney.
I love that you're considering an Alaskan cruise on the
Wonder! One of my dear friends sailed on the Wonder this summer and raved about sledding with real Iditarod athletes; she said
the puppies gave the adult dogs a run for their money with cuteness, though!
We also have a couple of dietary allergies in my family, so I understand your concern for your wife's needs. The great thing about Disney is that they are adept at handling
special dietary requests, but it's always nice to make it easier for your host! The first thing I would do is fill out a
Special Diets form ahead of time to prep the crew. You can also
call Disney Cruise Line before the cruise (give them at least a few weeks' heads up) to discuss gluten-free substitution possibilities.
Once onboard, you will have
rotational dining, which is excellent because you experience the
different restaurants on the ship but keep the same servers. As a result, your servers will know your wife's dietary needs, and they will keep track of her preferences. One of my twins is lactose-intolerant; the other twin and my husband are allergic to shellfish, so we are quite the "tricky" customers! On the first night, our servers verify who's who (and the kids with allergies are identical, so it's not easy, but by night 2, they don't ever mix them up!), and by our second meal, everything allergy-free is waiting for them. At the end of our meals, we usually discuss the following night’s menu to review allergy-friendly options and plan. On one of our cruises, we traveled with a friend with a gluten sensitivity, and they had such a great selection of gluten-free breads and crackers that I ended up sampling her bread basket during dinner!
If your wife has
favorite treats from home, she is welcome to bring those with her on the cruise as long as they are in their original factory-sealed packaging. Make sure to finish them all before the end of the cruise, though, because she can't bring opened food back through customs. When you visit
Cabanas (the buffet-style restaurant), there will be multiple food stations with a diverse array of food and allergy-friendly options, but feel free to chat with the Cast Members operating the stations for ingredients.
Remember, Disney relies on supplier labels for their allergen-friendly supplies, so they cannot guarantee accuracy. But they have an excellent crew with incredible chefs who deal with
dietary needs every day on every cruise. Just make sure you communicate with them, and I am sure your wife will have many delicious options.
I hope this helps; I wish you smooth sailing!
Rayna