By Scott Trauger, contributing writer
If you have no food allergies, you likely overlook many of the dietary restriction messages that are everywhere. Whether it's a neighborhood sign prohibiting peanuts in the area due to a child with a peanut allergy, or people in restaurants saying that they can't eat an item due to a dietary restriction—but for those who have to live with such dietary restrictions on a daily basis, the world is a drastically different place.
Imagine that you had an allergy. Every time you walk into a grocery store, you'd have to read the nutritional labels on every single item you pick up to make sure the manufacturers haven't changed a recipe and added an ingredient that you can't eat. More drastically, imagine going to a restaurant and trying to order food that doesn't contain your allergen in it, and and hoping that none of the other dishes containing that allergen in the kitchen come into contact with your order.
I am allergic to dairy products of all types. I have been ever since I was born. When I even have a small piece of any dairy item touch my food, I go into anaphylactic shock and stop breathing. As you can imagine, this makes eating out a very anxious experience for me.
Fortunately for those of us who have food allergies, there is the Walt Disney World Resort. Now, you might already be familiar with quality service that Disney offers, such as the cleanliness of the parks and world-class dining. But, did you know that Disney goes to the greatest of extremes just to make sure a small segment of the population is not limited in their food choices? Let me share some of my experiences with dining around the “World” to show you that you can enjoy great food even with your food allergy—and if you're fortunate enough not to be allergic to any food, you can appreciate the extent to which Disney goes to satisfy its guests.
My first experience with Disney dining started with a call to the Disney Dining hotline. The cast member on the phone assured me that everything would be OK with my meal, and informed me that the chefs were all knowledgeable about current allergens and that they were able to prepare special menu items in an allergy-free kitchen where nothing has the opportunity to even come into contact with your plate. With that assurance, I was off to begin my exploration of foods I never thought I would eat.
When you make your Advanced Dining Reservations, you can notify them of your allergies at that point. However, you will also want to mention this to the restaurant's host when you arrive (whether with a reservation, or as a walk-up). Once you are seated at your table, inform your server that you have a food allergy and that you would like to speak with a manager or chef. Typically, diners only bother to speak to a manager or chef when there's something wrong with the food—in this case, however, the establishment wants to know how they can accommodate you, so the chefs are very accommodating in letting you know what options you have.
If you are at a sit-down, table-service establishment, they will let you know what items to steer clear of and which items might work for you. They also will tell you what sides they can prepare if the sides that normally accompany your entrée won't work. They even have dessert options for those with allergies if you still have room after you main courses.
If you are at a buffet, such as Boma at the Animal Kingdom Lodge or the Crystal Palace at the Magic Kingdom, the chef personally walks you through the buffet line to tell you what is safe to eat and what to stay away from.
You can even eat at a counter-service spot in the parks this way. Just speak to any cast member near the cash registers, whether they are an actual cashier or someone cleaning off the condiment area. Let them know that you have an allergy and would like to speak with a manager. They will bring you out a binder with the ingredients listings for you to go over. You then order your food with the manager by your side, and they radio your order in to the kitchen and instruct the staff of the allergy.
Basically, no matter where you are at in Walt Disney World, you shouldn't feel as though you are limited. Through the magic of Disney, they make the impossible possible. Even though I am allergic to all things with dairy, through the efforts of the chefs at the Sci-Fi Dine-In Restaurant, I was able to have my first “milkshake” at age 25. If you have been nervous about asking for any assistance or adjustments to accommodate your food allergies, give this process a try. To those who have never had to deal with an allergy, just understand what someone who has one must go through just to get the same experience that others take for granted. Most of all, remember that through the magic of Disney, anything is possible (just ask the guy allergic to milk drinking a milkshake)!
*Although Disney will attempt to accommodate walkup dietary requests, such as gluten, wheat, shellfish, dairy, peanuts, and others, the best course of action is to give 72 hour notice by calling 407-WDW-DINE (939-3463) to guarantee alternatives. To receive kosher meals, they must have 24 hour notice and require a credit card guarantee and must be canceled within 24 hours to avoid a penalty.
Scott Trauger is a Florida native who has grown up visiting the entire realm of Walt Disney World. Due to his love for theme parks, he has worked in the theme park industry for the past five years. It is through his experiences, from both the tourist aspect, as well as the working aspect, that he wishes to share with you the magic he has found in the industry.
