Hello Lisa!
Thanks so much for stopping by the Disney Parks Moms Panel. I hope you are having a magical week.
My youngest is also gluten free and autistic. We very seldom make reservations ahead of time for the very reason you stated. I just never know if we should grab something quick or if he’ll want a long relaxing break.
You can make any
special dietary request when making dining reservations ahead of time or when you walk up. Just let the cast member know your needs and they can help you choose various food options.
During our last Disneyland Park visit, I made a reservation at the Plaza Inn for a fun character breakfast. My son loved meeting a few of his favorite characters and was excited when his gluten free Mickey waffle looked the same as his brother’s waffles! I didn’t even know that was an option until I spoke with the chef. Making the reservation for first thing in the morning worked perfectly as it really helped kick start our day.
Over at Disney California Adventure Park, Cars Land is our favorite so we decided to eat at Flo's V8 Café. After speaking to a cast member, they gave us a few different options for our meal and once again my son was happy as could be eating his lunch while sitting outside watching the Radiator Springs Racers zoom by. No reservation needed.
Just about any dining location within both parks should be able to accommodate you and a lot of places we didn’t need to make advance reservations. Just check in with a cast member when you arrive to make sure they can assist you.
I hope this helps! See you real soon!
-Emily