As someone with a special diet, traveling can be challenging. Planning and researching are key in making sure you have a safe and enjoyable visit to your vacation destination. And even though Disney is well known for providing excellent food allergy and special diets accommodation, it’s no different than any other travel destination. In fact, planning ADRs and touring plans are crucial, especially with new Disney guest features like Magic Bands and MyMagic+. And making contact with the Walt Disney World Special Diets Department helps gives guests with special dietary needs more information and resources before the vacation.
But what if you want more? That’s where websites like Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW come in. Since 2009, this website helps provide reviews, tips, tricks, special diets menus and more to help guests plan their Disney vacations with a special diet. Diagnosed with Crohn’s disease, gluten intolerance and dairy intolerance, my goal is to provide guests with up-to-date and helpful information to make their visit to Disney just a little easier.
With a focus on gluten free and dairy free dining reviews, the site also includes reviews and tips that cover other special diets. For instance, you’ll often see reviews that include guests I’ve dined with who have other dietary restrictions like vegan, vegetarian, soy free, and even food coloring free. The site also includes guest reviews from Disney travelers with special dietary needs. From kosher traveling to nut free vacations, the site tries to cover topics that you, the guest, are interested in.
Looking for reference sheets that include products served at Walt Disney World from special diets vendors? You can find many of them on Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW. The site provides information sheets that cover corn free products to tree nut free products and everything in between.
Are you more interested in special diets menus? Some locations on Disney property have created their own special diets menus. The site is building up a listing of these menus for guests to reference. These are really helpful when looking for special diets options before your trip.
Love podcasts? If you have a special diet and you love hearing about Disney, then you’ll want to check out Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW’s new podcast. The podcast covers all things Special Diets and Disney. Vegetarian diners will love the episodes with the Disney Hipsters. Vegan and gluten free diners will appreciate the information in those episodes that feature food allergy cookbook author Laurie Sadowski.
Special events with a special diet? Who doesn’t love a special event at Disney? But, let’s face it, many times guests with special diets are faced with limited to non-existent offerings. That’s where Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW comes in. The site regularly creates special events, like the annual dessert party at Epcot (sponsored by Chip & Co.!) to bi-monthly meet-ups at places like Babycakes NYC in Downtown Disney. Gift bags, great food allergy friendly foods and good company are always included.
Need special diets planning assistance? Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW is more than just a website. It offers personal and one-on-one services for guests who like that extra magical touch in their vacation planning experience. From helping guests with ADRs to stopping by Disney to confirm specific items on hand, there are a variety of ways in which this site can work with guests to help make their vacation planning worry free. You can contact Sarah via email for more information.
Looking for some general information as a special diets guest? Here are some basic tips to help make your special diets Disney vacation magical:
- Email or call Disney’s Special Diets Department. They can assist you with questions or concerns, and they can also help you get in contact with a specific restaurant or chef. They are also available to help you with your dining planning in any way. You can email them at: Special.Diets@DisneyWorld.com or visit the Special Diets page: http://disneyworld.disney.go.
com/guest-services/special- dietary-requests/ - Make ADRs. This is a great tip, even if you don’t have a special diet; however, it’s even more important when you have dietary needs, as you can note your special diet on your reservations. You can do this online through Disney’s website or through the My Disney Experience app and also via phone.
- Make sure to ask for a manager or chef when dinning at Disney. Disney’s policy is to have either a manager or chef speak with all guests who have special dietary needs. They will go over options on the menu based on your dietary need.
- Bring snacks with you. Disney policy allows guests with special dietary needs to bring snacks into the theme parks. Craving your favorite sugar free snacks? No problem. Just let a cast member know that you have a special diet when you go through park security.
These are just a few tips to help you as you plan your next special diets Disney vacation. You can read my article Planning a Trip to Walt Disney World with Special Diet, here on Chip and Co. for more tips and tricks. Of course, you can always check Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW for the latest special diets Disney dining news! And stay tuned to Chip & Co. for my series in Disney special diets eats & treats!
When Sarah isn’t sharing planning tips about the Walt Disney World Resort, you can find her at Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW where she writes dining reviews and shares tips and tricks about dining at Disney with a special diet.
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