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For Landon Flowers, a 35-year-old school psychologist and personal trainer, attempting to eat away from home can be a daunting experience. After his 2018 diagnosis of ulcerative colitis, an inflammatory bowel disease, Flowers found that avoiding highly processed foods, gluten, and food dyes helps ward off his painful and schedule-interrupting flares. At restaurants, where the recipes are much more opaque than at home, eating this way can prove to be a challenge.
Generally, before dining out—or even booking trips—Flowers has to meticulously study menus to ensure there might be an option or two that works for his diet. But last summer, as Flowers walked into Disney World alongside his wife, their two young boys (ages five and one), and his sister in-law, he was worry-free. “I feel much more comfortable traveling to Disney World than I do going to any other theme parks, concerts, or sporting events,” Flowers recalls. “The park has a plethora of options for guests with unique dietary restrictions.”
Here, with the help of Flowers, registered dietitians, and other Disney World superfans with dietary restrictions, we dig into all the park’s options, so you can find food and drink that aligns with your own dining needs. The “Happiest Place on Earth,” indeed.
How to Navigate Disney World With Dietary Restrictions
With more than 50 million visitors annually coming from all over the world to their theme parks, water parks, shopping destinations, and resorts, Disney World’s mission is for all to feel welcome. Since they know dietary restrictions can range from uncomfortable to life-threatening, they offer ample variety, clear labeling, and a tremendous amount of TLC for food intolerances, allergies, and dietary preferences.
“When it comes to accommodating dietary needs, Disney World stands out as a shining example of inclusivity,” says Lauren Manaker, MS, RDN, LD, a registered dietitian nutritionist and the owner of Nutrition Now Counseling in Charleston, South Carolina. “Most restaurants, whether quick-service or table-service, have dedicated allergy-friendly menus.”
Plus, on the My Disney Experience app and on each restaurant’s menu, items are clearly marked if they are free of:
- Gluten
- Wheat
- Eggs
- Fish
- Shellfish
- Milk
- Peanuts
- Tree nuts
- Sesame
- Soy
“After some clients asked me about this, I did some digging online and discovered that Walt Disney World restaurants will also do their best to accommodate requests for meals prepared without lactose, corn, citrus, nightshades, and MSG,” adds Lauren Harris-Pincus, MS, RDN, a New Jersey–based registered dietitian nutritionist, the founder of Nutrition Starring YOU, and the author of The Everything Easy Pre-Diabetes Cookbook.
When making reservations (which open up to 60 days in advance), it’s easy to flag any allergies or restrictions in the booking. By doing this, you generally initiate a cast member or chef coming by your table after you’re seated to discuss your needs and help guide your order, explains Miranda Lee, a Des Moines, Iowa–based Disney content creator who follows a vegetarian diet. “It’s clear they’re working to make the magic more accessible to everyone. You can find suitable options just about everywhere, and with each new restaurant, festival, or menu refresh, they introduce even more allergy- and dietary-friendly choices.”
Where to Eat at Disney World If You Have a Restrictive Diet
As you pack your bags and mouse ears, be sure to keep in mind that Disney World admits they strive to avoid cross-contamination but can’t completely guarantee that foods are allergen-free. That said, you should feel quite safe—and definitely have ample options—at the restaurants below.
Topolino’s Terrace
Courtesy of Disney
