By Magic Maker® Melissa Ludwig

Vacations are a way of escaping from everyday life, leaving stress behind, and spending quality time with those you care about. However, there are many points during the planning process that can cause stress, and your Magic Maker® is here to take that off your shoulders. One of the common causes of stress for traveling families is in accommodating special dietary needs. Disney Destinations, as usual, have pulled out all the stops to make sure that you do not have to worry about what you will be eating during your magical getaway.

Whether it is a dairy intolerance, sensitivity to gluten, or a specific food such as almonds that you must avoid in order to maintain a healthy lifestyle, Disney Destinations will to their best to cater to any special requests. When you and your Magic Maker® are ready to make advance dining reservations, notify your Magic Maker® of your special dietary needs and they will make sure to include this in your reservations. Often, chefs can substitute different ingredients in meals, so that you don’t even have to choose an alternate meal, but actually have the one you want! The following is a list of common allergies that most Disney Parks restaurants can accommodate/substitute:

  • Gluten or wheat
  • Lactose or dairy
  • Peanuts and tree nuts
  • Shellfish
  • Soy
  • Fish
  • Eggs
  • Corn

When you arrive at a Disney Park restaurant, it is always a good idea to remind your server of your dietary needs as well (though the server will often check with you first, since it will be in your reservation notes). If you have a metabolic disorder or multiple allergies, you will want to be sure to notify your Magic Maker® so that it can be factored in to all dining arrangements.

For many people, food allergies are not necessarily a worry, but some may still have strong preferences about what to include or not include in a daily diet. Many Disney Park restaurants will offer no-sugar-added, low-fat, low-sodium, Kosher and vegetarian options for meals to take care of these dietary needs as well.

Vacation time means time to relax and unwind. A large part of that is being able to enjoy your dining experiences while away… especially at Disney Destinations, where food is extra-fun! What you are going to eat on your trip should never be a worry, and your Magic Maker® will help to ensure that you will have all of the dining information that you need before you even pack your bags.