Hiya Heather - welcome to
planDisney!
Thanks so much for stopping by with your question for our team of panelists. It will be my pleasure to help you plan a more magical
Walt Disney World Resort vacation!
One of my favorite parts of any vacation is eating, and with over
300 dining locations and experiences, Walt Disney World Resort certainly makes filling up tummies easy! While I myself do not have any dietary restrictions, I have a lot of experience traveling with those who do, including friends with gluten sensitivities and allergies.
The food and beverage offerings in the Resorts and Theme Parks have radically changed in recent years, and things just keep getting better! For instance, you'll now notice Allergy-friendly menu items listed at the end of almost any menu on Walt Disney World property, including items specifically crafted for those with gluten/wheat allergies. You'll find these options available from Quick Service dining locations all the way up to Fine/Signature Dining locations, and everything in between!
When I recently traveled with a friend diagnosed with Celiac, she would make a point to always speak to a Cast Member to make sure her needs were accommodated properly. At a Quick Service location, you'd want to speak to any available Cast Member at the registers or pick-up window and may want to skip Mobile Ordering. Even at a walk-up kiosk you can request ingredient information - almost all have a binder with detailed ingredient lists for every item offered so you can feel confident that you're making choices that meet your needs!
At Table Service restaurants, we would always mention her needs to both the host stand as well as our server - you can also indicate this using
Mobile Check-in for your reservation within the My Disney Experience Mobile App. In some cases, a member of the kitchen staff would also come and speak to our table about our needs. My advice is to make any requests you feel are necessary for you to be comfortable dining - the Cast Members will do their best to accommodate and they are quite used to these requests! We've had exceptional experiences at many of the Fine/Signature Dining establishments such as
Cítricos,
California Grill, and
Topolino's Terrace - Flavors of the Riviera. These chef-driven restaurants have been able to cook up some amazing dishes accommodating a wide variety of dietary needs.
I have not personally tried any of the gluten/wheat allergy-friendly dishes, at least not knowingly, but I
do know that more and more standard menu items are being created without common allergens to make dining a better experience for everyone. You can also search around online and find reviews of some allergy-friendly menu items to get a better sense of where you might want to dine! You might also consider reviewing the information online about
Special Dietary Requests, and can contact that team in advance of your visit if you need additional information.
I hope this information is helpful as you continue planning for your next visit to Walt Disney World Resort.
Please let me know if you have any other questions!
Ryan J.