As a family with unique dietary requirements, dining out often comes with its challenges. Yet, when visiting Walt Disney World it proved to be a delightful journey filled with culinary wonders and magical experiences. Navigating gluten free options due to my celiac disease and ensuring my son’s safety with his cashew and pistachio allergies added an extra layer of consideration.
However, thanks to the impeccable service and menus at (almost) all Disney’s dining locations, our dining experiences were nothing short of enchanting. Here are some restaurants that go above and beyond to deliver delicious food and safe dietary options.
Liberty Tree Tavern: Ensuring Safety and Enjoyment
Our visit to Liberty Tree Tavern in Magic Kingdom was great!! It is always important to let your server know what allergies or dietary needs you have when they first come to your table. From the moment we sat down, the cast members took every precaution to ensure that my son’s and my restrictions were addressed with care. They provided detailed information about the menu, made special accommodations to prevent cross-contamination, and ensured that my son’s meal was completely free from nuts. Their attentiveness put our minds at ease but also enhanced the overall dining experience for the entire family. There were also many gluten free options that tasted amazing. The only thing they didn’t have that was comparable was dessert, but I didn’t have any room anyway!
A Hidden Gluten Free Gem: Satu’li Canteen
In the heart of Animal Kingdom’s Pandora, Satu’li Canteen had me intrigued for months with a special dessert that is gluten free. The flavorful bowls were a great first course! While every dish on the menu was amazing, it was a hidden gem nestled within the dessert menu that truly stole the show—the Metkayina Mousse.
This exquisite creation, a flourless chocolate cake mousse adorned with raspberry gelee, mango coulis, boba pearls and milk and white chocolate garnish! In a word, it was AMAZING! From its decadent texture to its harmonious blend of flavors, this dessert exemplified the artistry and innovation that Disney infuses into every culinary creation.
Oga’s Cantina: Out of the world
My kids absolutely love being in Galaxy’s Edge and wanted to give Oga’s a try. I knew it would be light appetizers and interesting drinks. As soon as we sat down, we were seated with another family, which in any other restaurant would have felt weird, but here it was part of the atmosphere. Our waiter, who made great jokes that the boys loved, understood our allergies and brought specific cookies for my son’s Blue Milk. He also informed me about the gluten-free options on the charcuterie board, which was a bizarre collection of food but all tasted good. The funniest part of this trip was that my very picky eater, who has no allergies, absolutely loved all the food and now asks to go back every time we go to Hollywood Studios.
When in France: Get the Crepes
At Epcot we went to La Crêperie de Paris, right by Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure. My husband loves crepes, and we wanted to give this a try. Again, when we were seated, we told our waiter about the allergies. He made sure all of our crepes were gluten, cashew, and pistachio-free. Let me tell you, these were the most amazing crepes! We had both sweet and savory crepes. There are five of us in our family, and we all loved the Bananae (banana and caramel). We also loved the Nutella one, which I know you’re probably wondering if my son is allergic to that too—he’s not, thank goodness; otherwise, we all probably would have missed out on it!
There is a quick service option, Crêpes À Emporter by La Crêperie de Paris. It has a somewhat different menu with fewer options, but it makes for a great snack!
There are many more amazing restaurants at every park! But if you’re looking for something specific, let me know! I love to talk about it!
If you’re already working with a Smart Moms Travel agent, make sure you let her know about your dietary needs. She will take great care of you and can make a note on your advanced dining reservations about your allergies or food requirements.
If you’re not working with an agent and you want to talk about food and plan your next vacation, fill out this form here to get started!
