Special Dietary Needs
For those
with dietary challenges such food allergies, intolerances, diabetes, etc., the BEST thing
you can do to help yourself enjoy your dining experience in Walt Disney
World is to make dining reservations before you travel to the happiest place
on earth. Make sure you tell the cast member assisting you that you have
special dietary needs and have them note that in your file (even if it is a
buffet that you are making a reservation for).
It is also recommended
that you call the restaurant directly prior to the day that you will be
dining. Explain your dietary restrictions fully to the person over the
phone. The day of your meal, arrive prior to your ADR time, and again let the
person at the podium know of your restrictions. Also make sure you inform
your waiter or waitress of your situation.
This all may seem like a bit
much, but Walt Disney World Cast Members will go out of their way to make
sure that you are well taken care of. In many cases, the chef will even come
to your table to discuss your needs and make a special plate just for you.
If you feel the need to bring in your own food to play it safe, all Walt
Disney World resort rooms come equipped with a mini refrigerator.
For medical dietary restrictions, such as Phenylketonuria, request to speak with the
chef at least 24 hours in advance. IMPORTANT: Get a note from your physician
and make plenty of copies. A faxed or personal request, with medical back up
goes a long way to help you get what you need.
The Walt Disney World resort has increased its awareness of food allergies,
intolerances, and special dietary needs dramatically in the past several
years. Gluten Free and Dairy Free options are available at most food
locations. "Allergy" friendly items like french fries and chicken nuggets
are easy to find (they are fried in separate oil, not the peanut oil in use
by most locations). Most dining locations (Quick Service and Table Service)
will offer a special "allergy" menu, with items designated as peanut free,
dairy free, egg free, wheat free, soy free, etc. For these types of
restrictions, it is not always necessary to call in advance or speak to a
chef, since a special menu has been prepared.
BEFORE YOU GO (medical
conditions): For very specific
medical needs, call the food management department for any of the theme
parks or your resort, which can be reached via the main number
(1-407-824-2222). Each theme park has a specialist assigned to requesting
special dietary concerns. They will be able to answer all of your questions,
or put you in touch with the head chef.
Chefs and Dietary Specialists will
be able to tell you specific ingredients and what alternative meals they can
provide to accommodate specific food allergies, PKU, veganism, or Diabetes.
If you are Diabetic or have Phenylketonuria, contact the local chapter of
the ADA, APA, or an educator affiliated with your physician, at least sixty
days before your trip. They will give you information to help locate local
pharmacies and grocery stores that will be able to handle all of your
specific dietary needs. More importantly, they will provide you with a list
of important questions that you should ask before making any dining
arrangements. The more specific your request, and the more persistent you
are, the better the service you will receive.
UPON ARRIVAL AT THE WORLD: Confirm,
confirm, confirm. Disney is a very large place with millions of visitors a
year. Make sure your request is not lost in the shuffle. Do not hesitate to
use Guest Services at your resort to help you contact the specific
restaurants.
For the
availability of kosher meals, contact the food management department at
(1-407-824-2222). Please note that menus change frequently, so it never
hurts to check again prior to your visit.
FOR VEGETARIANS: Walt Disney World
offers many different selections. Veggie burgers are served at many of the
counter service restaurants. In addition, most restaurants offer salads and
fruit/yogurt plates, meat free pasta dishes, and soups.
DIABETIC TIP: Does the "diet" soft drink
you ordered taste like it may not be sugar free? Before you leave home, pick
up a package of color-coded glucose test strips. Take a sample of the soft
drink and see what the results are. If they are above 100 gl/ml, your server
may have made a mistake.
KOSHER MEALS: You can order a kosher
breakfast, lunch, or dinner at ANY Walt Disney World restaurant (either in
the theme parks or at a resort) as long as you call more than 24 hours in
advance.
Warren,
an INTERCOT visitor writes:
"I made
priority seating reservations at the Crystal Palace so we could have
dinner with Winnie the Pooh. I had an order for 4 kosher meals (no money
required...just a standard Priority Seating). Same deal with breakfast at
Cinderella's Castle. This is really convenient for those of us who want to
share these experiences but need to comply with kosher dietary laws. The
convenience is a tremendous value...better than eating a tuna sandwich
every night!
The
caterer is Danziger caterers from Lincolnwood, Illinois and they are under
the Kof-K supervision and are Glatt Kosher.
The food
is not airline food....rather, they prepare the meals in Chicago and then
freeze them and ship it off to Disney. Alright...maybe it is airline food."
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