One of the most stressful parts of a vacation at Walt Disney World is wondering where you will eat. There are so many choices with snack stands, quick-service restaurants and full-service restaurants. With so much to do and so little time to do it in, you usually feel in a rush to grab food and go. This can be made even more stressful when someone in your party has an allergy or other dietary restriction. Fortunately, there are processes in place at Walt Disney World to help with those who have allergies or dietary needs get food that they can eat.

Allergies in Quick-Service Restaurants

Quick-service restaurants are the most-eaten restaurants in Walt Disney World. They are the ones like Cosmic Rays Starlight Cafe, Backlot Express, Electric Umbrella, and Restaurantasaurus. These restaurants require no advanced dining and seem like quick and easy choices. This choice isn't so quick and easy when you or someone in your party has an allergy.

At quick-service restaurants, you can ask your cashier or greeter for an allergy menu. These menus list items on the menu that can be modified to accommodate common allergies. Allergies such as gluten/wheat, peanuts, dairy, and egg are commonly listed on these menus. If you find an item that you like on this menu, the cashier can put it in as an allergy with your specific allergy listed on the ticket. When the kitchen gets the ticket, they will give it to a coordinator who will specially make your food so that there is no cross- contamination.

What if my allergy isn't listed on the menu or I have multiple allergies? That's fairly easy as well. If an item falls under both allergies on the menu it can be put through the same way. If it is not listed, the cashier can call out the coordinator who will be making your food and they will go over the menu and items in each dish with you to see what they can do to prepare you a special item that fits your allergies.

Allergies at Full-Service Restaurants

Full-service restaurants are those restaurants that typically require advance reservations. This includes Tusker House, Cinderella's Royal Castle, 50's Prime Time Cafe, and Le Cellier. These restaurants have wait staff that seat you and professional chefs cooking the food to order in the back. Eating at these places with allergies can seem like a nightmare. But it doesn't have to be. Like the quick-service restaurants, they have processes in place to accommodate your allergies.

There are a few choices you can choose to let the wait staff know about your allergies. One of those choices is to let them know when you check in for your reservation. Like the quick-service restaurants, they will give you an allergy menu or you can talk to a chef. If you are at a buffet, the chef will talk you through every option and let you know what you can and cannot eat. The chef can also create something specifically for you that accommodates your allergy.

If you'd like for the chefs to know that you will need special accommodations before you arrive, you're in luck! If you make your reservation on the phone, you can let the cast member helping you know about the allergy and they will note it for the wait staff. You can also email the Allergy Team at Special.Diets@DisneyWorld.com. They can help you figure out which restaurants will best help you with your allergy.

Allergy-Friendly Snacks at Walt Disney World

Snacks are a delicious part of a Walt Disney World vacation. You even get one snack credit a day per person if you are taking advantage of the Disney Dining Plan. With allergies these snacks seem like they are hit or miss. Disney has recently put out a new line of snacks called 'Snacks with Character.' These snacks are all allergy-friendly! They include cookies, seed & fruit mix, and even chocolate bars! These snacks can be found in merchandise shops like Port of Entry in Epcot, restaurants such as Sunshine Seasons, and your resort gift shop or food court.

For more information on Allergies at Walt Disney World you can visit their dietary needs site.