Dining at Disney World with Food Allergies is one of those things that requires some planning, especially for character meals! You want to be able to enjoy the experience, so the less you have to worry about finding allergen-friendly options, the better!
But thankfully, you also know you have more options at Disney World than most other vacations where they don’t do much to accommodate you at all. (A bowl of lettuce is NOT a meal 😒 but Disney World won’t do you like that!! 🥳)
Disney World Character Meals are some of the most special meals you’ll have on your vacation- seriously- they are a blast! And they can also be an area where you worry, because you want it to be special!
Note: The Characters listed may vary. It is not a guarantee, though you should see them there.
In a rush? Head over to this post of the Best Food Allergy Restaurant Recommendations at Disney World (by location!)
PSSTTTTT! 👀 Save time and money at Disney World with Food Restrictions! Find great snacks and insider tips with the Food Allergies at Disney World Made Easy Touring Plan AND Snacks & Sweets Guide- (Covers all top 9 Allergens + Gluten Free, with notes about Dyes, Corn, and other common allergens) See for yourself, it’s guaranteed to save you time or your money back! |
Can every Disney World Character meal accommodate for all top allergies?
Disney World is designed to accommodate the top 8 allergens, and you can watch some more about the Top 9 in this breakdown, but I will readily and publically say that some places are better and some places suck.
The Top 9 allergens as recognized by Disney are: Wheat/Gluten (listed together, ask in person for specifics!), Dairy/Milk, Soy (typically soy protein, sometimes leaves out lecithin and oil from menus), Egg, Peanut/Treenut (listed together, ask in person for specifics!), Fish/Shellfish (listed together, ask in person for specifics!). As of 2023, they are adding Sesame to new menus and menu updates.
So Yes- Disney World has great options and I will not deny that- but the lack of communication- the difficulty with planning- and the “talk to a chef when you get there” makes my anxiety skyrocket.
Im sure you can relate.
Let’s translate that to Character meals.
Not every location is going to have the same options.
The ones I love the most, truly and would go to 100x over, are Topolino’s Terrace Breakfast and Garden Grill.
Updated for 2023 Character Meal Reviews- Quick Reference Guide
There are still some character meals that are closed, so these reviews only covers those that are currently open and filled with characters. Early Next Year all locations should be open and most will have Characters!
Here’s the quick guide of places I’d recommend for each occasion:
➡️ best allergy friendly breakfast Chef Mickeys (Tusker House is good too!)
➡️ best gluten free breakfast. Topolinos
🥳 best for a birthday celebration: Topolinos or Chef Mickeys (but go where your favorite character is!)
❄️ best for Halloween and Christmas: Hollywood and Vine seasonal lunch/dinner halloween review and Hollywood and Vine Seasonal Christmas Time Review
😎 best for all you care to enjoy food: Garden Grill or Akershus
📚Best for theming: Storybook Dining at Artist Point (though Be Our Guest is also cute!)
Best for Toddlers: Disney Jr Breakfast at Hollywood and Vine
Best Budget Friendly Options at Magic Kingdom: Crystal Palace
❤️Best for character interactions: Topolinos or Garden Grill (the others have a dance number that consistently cuts into meeting time, while Topolinos has dances, I’ve never been rushed with characters in the 7+ times I’ve been!)
Great Last Minute Option: Cape May Cafe Breakfast
Not mentioned was Tusker House Lunch and Dinner, and Tusker House Breakfast… which has some pretty good eats and fun characters. It’s towards the bottom of the list as the food is fantastic for those looking for Authentic Flavor inspired by African Cuisine, but the dingy lighting, hard to access Chefs, and limited ability to modify make a less desirable option.
Is there a Risk For Cross Contact at Character Meals?
YES.
In multiple places. Let’s chat about this so you can make an informed decision.
For one, like with any eatery, you have to be aware of the table, the high chair, the menu etc etc. I’m not talking about those.
I’m talking about characters and buffets.
Buffets give me the heebie geebies in general, and Disney World is not any different. You will find that many of the character meals are buffets (not all) and there IS A WORKAROUND.
You can simply wait to speak with a chef, tell them you are far too uncomfortable with the buffet, and ask for them to get your meal from the back. When we do this, it translate to a family style meal because we all manage allergies. But when I go by myself I tend to get very good portion, but not too much food. Read more about Buffets at Disney World with Food Restrictions.
For two, there is a very small, but totally possible, chance of Cross Contamination on the characters themselves.
Wild, I know, but consider the small kid with a sticky face giving mickey a hug, passing crumbs and food, and the character not catching it.
This has only ever happened ONE time to me. We just playfully joked that Daisy spilled her breakfast and would come back around because the kids have allergies. They were great about it.
Are Character Meals worth it when you have food allergies and dietary needs? 🙅♀️
There are a few thoughts here- and I want you to make an informed decision about your individual needs (and some expectations!)
The best meals, by far, are at regular table service restaurants, then character meals, then quick serve. Character Meals are somewhat rushed BUT the difference between these and quick serve are that you get a dedicated server and most of the times, a wider selection of food.
But if we’re being totally honest, you are paying a lot to see the characters too. Character meals allow you to have a more relaxed visit (and see characters sometimes 2-4 times!) and get some much needed rest and A/C.
For my family, with 20+ allergies and the whole top 8, we enjoy character meals.
