Special Diets at Disney

Seems every other person these days has some dietary restriction, either by choice or for health reasons. Never fear! Disney is really fantastic about not only offering lots of delicious food options, including really healthful stuff, they also offer lots of alternatives and tweaks. So even the most difficult-to-feed park-goer can find a few items to sate their hunger.  Here are some resources which help you navigate the food landscape at Disney.

Gardens Kiosk at Animal Kingdom
Photo from DisneyFoodBlog.com

First up, in 2013 Disney added a kiosk at Animal Kingdom which addresses food allergies and special dietary needs. If you're gluten-free, vegan, or have food allergies, you want to stop by the Gardens Kiosk on Discovery Island (near the entrance to 'It's Tough To be A Bug'). Open from 9am-3pm every day, there is a cast member there to help advise you on possible food choices for your needs throughout the park, and how to communicate your food needs to chefs throughout the World. In addition, they serve up treats free from some of the most common food allergens, including peanuts, dairy, soy, shellfish, corn, eggs and more. Enjoy some Tofutti Ice Cream, or gluten-free cupcakes baked by Babycakes of New York. And get this: as of 2014, they added a few gluten-free beers and cider to the lineup!

Disney also offers this web site, which gives some brief information about Special Dietary Requests, including how to make requests at restaurants, and even a section on kosher meals..





There are several excellent websites and blog entries to check out as well.

Allergy Eats, Disney World Edition - SO cool. Just toggle the foods you need to avoid, choose the park or resort hotel you are going to, receive a list of restaurants with "Allergy Friendliness Ratings". Click through to review the ratings and user reviews.
http://www.allergyeats.com/disney/

Allergy-Free Mouse is a comprehensive, fantastic resource.
http://www.allergyfreemouse.com/

Gluten-Free and Dairy-Free in Disney World - lots of food pics and reviews
http://www.glutenfreedairyfreewdw.com/

Gluten and Dairy Free - at Disney and on Disney Cruise Line, complete with photos and suggestions.
http://www.glutenanddairyfree.com/restaurants.html

Orlando Gluten Free has a post for those with celiac disease, and includes links for further reading.
http://orlandoglutenfree.com/gluten-free-walt-disney-world/

Disney World as a Vegan
http://phillyvegans.com/2013/11/27/disney-world-as-a-vegan/

Vegan Dining in Disney World
http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2010/09/30/vegan-dining-in-disney-world/

A lengthy list of awesome resources found here:
http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/special-diets-resources/

Another awesome list of blogs, sites, and even apps
http://www.godairyfree.org/news/disney-dining-dairy-free-food-allergies