As someone with food allergies, I know firsthand just how stressful it can make traveling. Especially when you are out of your normal food routine and being exposed to a lot of new restaurants and food items. This is why having a great understanding of how food allergies are handled whenever you are traveling can lead to more peace of mind leading up to your trip and less worry and stress when you are actually there.

Caramel Cinnamon Cupcake

So, today we will be diving into nine tips, tricks, and pieces of advice that will help everyone with food allergies plan their next trip to Disney World and give you all the information you need to know to eat some amazing food with less stress. Because let’s be honest, eating is such an important part of any Disney World vacation, and having food allergies does not mean you need to miss out!

I have been traveling to Disney World my entire life, and navigating my food allergies has always been a part of any trip I have ever taken. Now, before we start diving into all the specifics, it is important to know that, as someone with many allergies, the place where I’ve always had the best experience and felt most comfortable was Disney World. And if you want even more information on how Disney handles food allergies, you can check out our DFB Food Allergies and Intolerances Page!

#1 Mobile Order When You Can

Mobile Ordering on the My Disney Experience App is one of the best tips I can give to anyone traveling with food allergies. One of the most stressful parts of ordering food when you have allergies is looking at a menu and not even knowing where to start in terms of finding something safe for you to eat. Then, the other big stressor is figuring out if the food you are able to eat can be prepared with no cross-contamination from other unsafe foods.

Mobile Order pickup window

Given how complicated food allergies are, you might be confused that one of my top tips is to order your food ahead on the app. However, Mobile Ordering at Disney is different. It is an option available at most Quick Service restaurants around the parks and hotels where you can order your food in advance instead of at the counter.

Mobile Order window at Columbia Harbour House

Well, when you are ordering food, you can actually filter the entire menu under each of your allergens and then order your food under that specific allergy. So, when Disney receives the order, they will automatically prepare the food in a separate area to make sure it avoids any cross-contamination. Now let’s dive into the actual steps of making this order:

• In the My Disney Experience App, click the small + at the bottom of your screen, and in the options that come up, select “Order Food”

©Disney

• Next, you will be able to navigate between all of the parks, hotels, etc., and once you find the restaurant you would like to order from, select “Begin Order”

©Disney

• Then you will see a screen featuring all your options for food, and you’ll select “Allergy Friendly”

Look for the Allergy-friendly icon in Mobile Order ©Disney

• Once you select this section, you will be taken to a screen where you can select your specific allergy

©Disney

• Once your allergy is selected, you can view which options on the menu will be safe for you to order

©Disney

• Once you select the item, you’ll see Disney’s Allergy notice before you can then add it to your cart

©Disney

Now that you’ve gone through the steps of placing your order, you’ll wait for it to be ready. As a note, allergy orders will likely take a few extra minutes, since they are being prepared separately. Once your order is done, it will be brought out to you with a special allergy marker, and the Cast Member will confirm your allergies before handing over your order. If your food does not have a purple allergen marker and no Cast Member mentions your allergies, you’ll want to ask to speak with someone to confirm your order was made with the allergy protocols.

Liberty Tree Tavern Allergy-Friendly Platter

Now, if you ever have any questions or do not feel comfortable ordering on the app, you can always speak directly with a Cast Member. The biggest issue with Mobile Ordering is that you can only order your food under one allergen. So, I am allergic to Eggs and also Peanuts and all Tree Nuts, and in the Allergy guide on the app, Eggs are one category and Peanut/Tree Nut is another. So, what I typically do is check under both sections to see if I can have the item, then choose one allergen to place the order under. This works for me specifically; however, if you have multiple allergens and do not feel comfortable with only one allergen being noted on your order, then you should speak with a Cast Member and place your order in person.

Purple allergen marker

Sometimes your food will also be placed in a to-go box with an allergen sticker on top noting which allergen you placed the order under. Recently, one member of our team actually got this same sticker on a baguette they received while eating at Be Our Guest Restaurant.

Food Allergy Sticker

Remember to always speak to a Cast Member if either the Allergen marker or sticker does not come out with your food, if you have any questions, or if you do not feel comfortable with any aspect of the Mobile Ordering process.

#2 Always Ask To Speak With A Chef

Now, as we began outlining in tip number one, the best thing to do if you have food allergies and are visiting Disney World is to speak with a chef. You might not realize this, but at any restaurant across Disney World, you can ALWAYS ask to speak with a chef if you have any questions or concerns. This is particularly helpful at any table-service restaurants or lounges.

Steakhouse 71

Whenever you are dining at any of these restaurants, let your server know early if you have any food allergies. They might not ask if anyone in the group has allergies, so make sure to mention this yourself before you order food if the server does not ask. Now, if your allergy is less of a concern or you personally do not feel the need to speak with a chef directly, you can let your server know about your allergies and what food you would like to order, and they can speak with the chef and the kitchen staff on your behalf to make sure it is safe for you to eat and prepared separately.

Kona Cafe

However, what I recommend, especially for anyone with more severe allergies, is to speak with a Chef directly. Sometimes the servers will ask if you want to speak with a chef but even if they don’t offer it is always something you are allowed to ask. The process is very simple: the chef will come directly out to your table and discuss your allergies and go over the options on the menu you are able to have.

50s Prime Time

If you do not love any of the options available to you, the chefs will also work with you to see if any accommodations can be made to other menu items to make them safe for you to eat; this is not a guarantee, but something the chefs will try their best to accommodate for you. And again, your food will be made in a separate area to avoid any cross-contamination.

#3 How To Order At Any EPCOT Festival Booths

Now, just because you have food allergies does not mean you have to miss out on the amazing food and drinks around EPCOT during any of the festivals. While some of the food booths do have a digital allergen guide in the My Disney Experience App, I actually do not recommend using that. It is only available for a few food booths, and it does not take into consideration cross-contamination with other food at the booth.

2026 Australia Booth

So, instead, what you should do is, when you’re ordering at the booth, let the Cast Member know that you have food allergies. Then there are actually phones at every food booth that call a chef directly. So, as soon as you mention your name, allergies, and the food or drink you would like to try, the Cast Member will give the chef a call, and they will let you know if the food is safe for you to eat or if it can be accommodated.

2026 Brazil booth

2026 Greece Booth

As a whole, since the kitchens are much smaller, eating at a Festival booth can pose more of an issue if you are worried about cross-contamination, so if you have any questions or concerns, always ask the Cast Members.

#4 There Are Several Non-Disney Restaurants on Disney Property

Throughout the parks, resorts, and Disney Springs, there are a handful of restaurants that are not actually owned and operated by Disney. Meaning that they sometimes do not have the same allergy protocols and procedures in place at Disney restaurants.

Blaze Pizza in Disney Springs

This does not mean that you should avoid these restaurants, but if you go into a restaurant and the procedure seems different than what you are used to, it could mean that it is a non-Disney-owned restaurant. This is just something I think is good to know before your trip, and if you really want to stick to Disney-owned and operated only, you can always look up a specific restaurant you want to try and see if it is owned by Disney or a third party.

#5 Getting Food Will Take Longer

This is something I’ve mentioned earlier in this list, but it’s important to remember that ordering food when you have food allergies will take a little bit longer. Whether it’s at a quick service, table service, Festival booth, etc., if you have food allergies, it’s a good idea to budget a few extra minutes for eating.

Be Our Guest Restaurant

It is also possible that anyone in your group who did not order with a food allergy may get their food a few minutes before you. In my experience, it has never taken more than an extra five or ten minutes to get my food, but it’s just something to keep in mind when planning!

#6 Special Diets Email

Yak & Yeti

So, this might not be something that every person traveling to Disney World with allergies needs to use, but if you are especially concerned or have a long list of allergies, this email is a great option to have! Here is the email: Special.Diets@DisneyWorld.com

#7 Erin McKenna’s Bakery in Disney Springs

One of my favorite spots in all of Disney World to recommend to people with food allergies or restrictions is Erin McKenna’s Bakery in Disney Springs. This is a spot that is Vegan, Gluten-free, and Kosher, and also free from dairy, eggs, nuts, and soy. I visit this spot almost every time I visit Disney Springs, and as someone who is allergic to eggs, it is one of the only places at Disney World where I can pick out a baked good.

Cupcakes at Erin McKenna

This is an especially amazing spot to bring any kids with food allergies; there are so many delicious-looking treats around Disney World that kids with allergies have to miss out on, and this is a special place where they can pick out a fun sweet treat. I have visited the spot so many times and seen little kids just light up when they realize they can pick out whatever they want on the menu.

Erin McKenna’s Bakery

This really is an amazing spot, but as with any restaurant, if you have any questions or concerns, you can speak with the staff there!

REVIEW: Erin McKenna’s Bakery In Disney Springs

#8 How To Eat At Buffets or Family Style Restaurants

Any restaurant where you are serving yourself or where all the food comes out family style for the whole table can pose a concern for anyone with food allergies worried about cross-contamination. So, when you visit one of these restaurants at Disney World, speak to a chef, and they will help accommodate the experience for you. In the past, I have had a chef walk through everything I could have on the buffet and then offer to prepare my food back in the kitchen if I was worried about cross-contamination on the buffet line.

Buffet at Chef Mickey’s

Then, at family-style restaurants, if some of the items the table is ordering come with food I am allergic to, I will typically be given my own platter of food that I can eat on my own to not have to worry about the cross-contamination of the rest of the table. And for all you care to enjoy family-style experiences, there has been no issue with me simply getting refills that are separate from the refills given to the rest of the table.

Time to eat at Garden Grill!

Neither of these outcomes is a guarantee, but I personally have never had an issue with Disney being able to accommodate my allergies at this style of restaurant and make sure my food is separate and free from cross-contamination. Which is really great since so many of the character dining experiences are either buffets or family-style, meaning you do not need to avoid these just because you have allergies.

#9 You Can Bring Your Own Food Into The Parks

Now, if you would feel more comfortable with your own food, you are allowed to bring your own snacks, drinks, and food into all of the parks.

You can bring your own food into Disney World

This is a great way to ensure you feel comfortable with your food options or to have as a backup option if the food in the parks doesn’t work for you.

Conclusion

Traveling with food allergies can be stressful and intimidating, but Disney World really does an incredible job of making the experience as easy as possible. So, with these nine tips and tricks, you’ll be more prepared than ever to tackle Disney World with food allergies. Because at Disney, just because you have restrictions does not mean that you need to miss out on all the amazing food and drink options around the parks and resorts!

Giant Cinnamon Roll

We will continue to bring you all the best tips and tricks for visiting Disney World, so stay tuned to Disney Food Blog so you never miss anything!

Eating With Food Allergies and Intolerances In Disney World

If you are planning a trip to Disney World, and want to see even more trips and tricks check out our ultimate 5-day Disney World itinerary in the video below!

What is your favorite tip for visiting Disney World with food allergies? Let us know in the comments below!