Greetings, Wendy.
I’m so glad you followed the second star to the right straight on to planDisney today! As someone with a food allergy, I completely understand your concern and would be happy to point you in the right direction. First, know that Walt Disney World Resort is an industry leader in
accommodating food allergies and special dietary needs, so you can breathe a sigh of relief for your friend. He will still be able to enjoy delicious food on your upcoming trip, but there are a few things he needs to do along the way to ensure dining is a safe experience for him.
Most table-service and select quick-service dining locations can accommodate your friend’s peanut allergy without any advance notice and have allergy-friendly menu items that are viewable online at
each restaurant’s respective webpage and in the My Disney Experience mobile app. Scroll down until you see the sections with “Allergy-Friendly” in the title. Each item will state what food allergens it's free of inside the parentheses at the end of its description. I encourage your friend to peruse the menus at the locations you will be dining at ahead of time.
When you book your advanced dining reservations, be sure to notate your friend’s food allergy by selecting the "Add a Food Allergy or Request" option on the booking screen. You will also want to notate his food allergy when you check in for your dining reservations in the
My Disney Experience mobile app. Make sure he also verbally alerts your server of his allergy when you are seated as well. If necessary, your friend can also request to speak to the chef in person at table-service restaurants and a special diets-trained Cast Member at quick-service locations. He can even inquire about food allergies at any of the Outdoor Kitchens at the
EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival. They will either have a binder of ingredients for each menu option on hand or can call a chef to confirm if an item is safe or not. At all-you-care-to-enjoy locations, such as
The Crystal Palace or
Chef Mickey’s, you will receive an allergy menu that tells exactly what allergens each item on the buffet is safe from when you are seated at a table. However, he can request to speak with the chef to see if they can plate an allergy-safe meal for him instead.
With all that being said, I understand his concerns with cross-contamination, so your friend needs to also contact the Special Diets team at least 14 days ahead of your trip to explain his needs in full detail and ask any specific questions as to how his allergy will be handled during your vacation. The Cast Members on this team are experts in this arena and can walk him through the best course of action to assure he can dine safely. Their email is Special.Diets@DisneyWorld.com.
Wendy, I hope this information proves useful, but please stop by again if we can be of further assistance. Have a magical day, and say hi to Tinker Bell for me!
Think happy thoughts,
Alyssa