Hi there, Brad, and welcome to planDisney! Your vacation is coming up so quickly, and I'd bet you and your family are so excited! Have you started packing your suitcase yet? Springtime is a super fun time to visit Walt Disney World Resort - beautiful, colorful blooms are all around and the weather should still be fairly mild!
When I'm planning a visit to the Most Magical Place on Earth, I make a "bucket list" of all of the food and beverage items I'd like to try or revisit. That way, I can check off the items as I go, and make sure I don't miss anything. It's always a mix of old favorites and new offerings. Since food and beverage offerings can change, and often do change seasonally, I like to do my research ahead of time - just like you are doing! Do keep an eye on the operating hours of any of your bucket list dining locations, so you don't unintentionally miss out on a favorite snack at a place like
Golden Oak Outpost, which tends to only be open for a few hours each afternoon.
Since you have a family member with a food allergy, you'll be happy to know that Walt Disney World Resort is especially good at accommodating dietary restrictions. Cast Members, servers, and chefs at individual dining locations are happy to answer any questions you have about ingredients and allergens in the food and beverage items. I recommend visiting the
Special Dietary Requests website for lots of information on how to plan a safe and enjoyable vacation. Since you're hoping to avoid coconut, some of the more popular food items that you might want to stay away from are:
- Popcorn at the snack carts
- DOLE Whip frozen pineapple treat
- Mickey Premium Ice Cream Bar
Brad, did you know that you're welcome to
bring snacks with you into the Disney Theme Parks? I always carry a couple of my kids' favorite items into the parks with us, like granola bars and fruit snacks. If you place a
Mobile Food & Beverage Order within the
My Disney Experience Mobile App, many locations will have a special section for Allergy-Friendly offerings. Just look for the icon at the top of the menu! And when you're ready to have a meal at a Walt Disney World Resort Table Service Restaurant, you can ask for the allergy-friendly menus that are readily available for your reference.
My fellow planDisney panelist,
Brent H., also has a little one with a dietary restriction. He recommends empowering your kiddo with the correct language and confidence to ask a Cast Member whenever they're unsure about whether an item is safe to eat, especially if there's a time that you might not be together when ordering meals or snacks. Like I said before, Cast Members will be delighted to assist and keep everyone safe!
I hope that you and your family have a wonderful time during your upcoming vacation! Be sure to stop by the
EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival to see hand-crafted topiaries of your favorite Disney characters, like Groot and Buzz Lightyear, and try unique offerings from the outdoor kitchens. It's a feast for all of the senses!
See you real soon!
Jennifer