Hi there, Jasmine!
I have a dear friend who shared with me about her family's experiences with
special dietary needs at the Disneyland Resort. Because multiple members of her family have celiac disease, it was critical that they avoid recipes that contain gluten. They were glad to find that Disneyland Resort is super great for enjoying gluten-free dining. My friend told me they felt safer eating inside the parks than not.
When making reservations at
table service restaurants, be sure to note food allergies and other special dietary needs. You will be provided with the appropriate menus. When you arrive at a restaurant, ask to speak with the chef or restaurant manager about gluten-free options. This is especially useful at
Character Dining experiences and other buffets so that appropriate items can be pointed out or even prepared specially in the kitchen.
Because menus, ingredients, and preparation methods may change from time to time, it is important to inquire about appropriate gluten-free and allergy-friendly options each time you visit a Disneyland Resort dining location. But here are a few examples from my recent visits that may be of interest to you. In Disneyland Park, my daughter enjoyed the Shrimp and Grits, which is available as a gluten-free option from
Cafe Orleans. Cafe Orleans also offers a gluten-free Chef’s Beef Specialty available on the Kids' Disney Check Meals menu. In Disney California Adventure Park, I highly recommend the Lobster Nachos from
Lamplight Lounge. It is a delicious favorite! For the younger Mouseketeers, Lamplight Lounge offers a gluten-free Burger Slider.
For
quick service restaurants, I love the Caesar Salad from
Boardwalk Pizza & Pasta. (Request it without croutons.) And the gluten-free Power Pack is a great option at many locations, such as
Galactic Grill. For snack options, there are several delicious gluten-free items, such as the classic DOLE WHIP from the
Tiki Juice Bar located in Adventureland or The IncrediCookie from
Jack-Jack Cookie Num Nums located in Pixar Pier.
Bon appétit, Jasmine!
~Tony