Anyone with a dietary restriction can tell you what kind of an added stress it causes when traveling. Whether an allergy or simply a preference, you are forced to place a level of trust in the culinary team that they will take care in preparing your meal within your restrictions.
The Walt Disney World® Resort (along with all of the other Disney Destinations) realizes the importance of this and has always been great at assisting guests with dietary restrictions. But now – Hakuna Matata – as Disney’s Animal Kingdom® Theme Park has taken this level of attention to a whole new level.
Yesterday, the park debuted their new special dietary kiosk called The Garden. The kiosk, located on Discovery Island® near Adventurers Outpost, provides you with an opportunity to stop and talk to trained Cast Members about any special dietary allergies or intolerance you may have – whether it be gluten, nuts, dairy, or others. The Cast Members at The Garden have ingredient listings for most products served at the park and can provide guidance as to which locations, counter or table service, may be best for your visit. They can also suggest some dishes that can be custom made at select quick service locations to fit your needs. However because ingredients change often, you are still encouraged to request to speak with the manager on duty at your chosen dining location to ensure the selection fits within your dietary restrictions.
The Garden also has a selection of snacks available that are friendly to most special diets. Some of the available items include chips, popcorn, granola bars, hummus with vegetables, and a gluten-free beer. Also available for purchase are select treats fresh from BabyCakes NYC™, who only bakes all-natural, organic products free from wheat, gluten, dairy, casein, and eggs. BabyCakes NYC™ has operated a bakery and retail inside Downtown Disney® Marketplace for several years, but this is the first time their products have been available inside the parks!
While The Garden kiosk is exclusive to Disney’s Animal Kingdom® Theme Park at this time, we are hopeful that a similar location will soon be available at all parks. However, when dining at any Walt Disney World® restaurant or food court you can always ask to speak to the manager regarding your dining restrictions and can rest assured that the same level of care will be given. If you or your a member of your traveling party has a dietary restriction, please notify your Magic Maker® so that they can notate any Advance Dining Reservations (ADRs) and provide you with additional tips and tricks for your stay.
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