Disney world is four months into it’s most magical celebration on earth… unless you have food allergies, religious needs, or dietary preferences.
I was informed today that cast has been ‘retrained’ to enforce the ‘no modification rule’ for 50th anniversary food items.
Meanwhile, Managers were still giving out conflicting info, with promises of food modifications as long as I didn’t post it on social media. Cast Members were apologetic and immediately grabbed their managers, and Guest Services?
Guest Services assured me that Disney would never discriminate against food allergies and religion! But after a 20 minute phone call with Food and Beverage, all they could do was apologize profusely as they had not been updated about the change and had misspoken originally.
That’s everyone’s problem, as the information on modifications is not being clearly communicated with this brand new policy.
There are no signs alerting guests to avoid a 20 minute wait to be told that ‘no they cannot leave off the whip cream to make it dairy free’.
Don’t like this informally announced yet formally enforced policy? Email Guest.Services@disneyworld.com and ask for two things. 1. For this to be clearly displayed and announced moving forward 2. Foods and Guides that are allergy friendly for the 50th (as there are laughably few, and several are mislabeled like this not gluten free, yet marketed gluten free celebration cake)
>Update for February 2022- No word back from the multiple emails I’ve sent, but this looks like it’s only at StoryBook treats, Aloha Isle and Sunshine Tree Terrace in Magic Kingdom. All other places are allowing modifications for 50th items.
After talking with a multiple on location managers and guest services I was informed of the following informally announced yet formally enforced policy: food offered for the 50th is not to be touched to ‘preserve the image’ and because ‘it was marketed a certain way’ Those two exact phrases were the only explanation I was given to ease the sting of a multibillion dollar conglomerate stomping on the ADA. (It’s fine because it’s only 18 months!)
It’s not a *huge* surprise though, as I reported on this back in November that I was told at Sunshine Terrace it was the ‘manager’s policy’ not to modify. That didn’t stop other’s from allowing a food allergy modification (though it did stop people at Disneyland’s Holiday Festival in 2021, where zero modifications were allowed).
Let’s look at a few brief examples of easy accommodations that are being blatantly denied by Executives (while Managers, Cast Members and Guest Services are left in the lurch to deal with the real world damage control)
No Modification Rule for 50th Food Items
The Monte Cristo sandwich at the plaza restaurant, you cant remove the bacon. Same with the mission to Mars burger at Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe. Sorry to those folks with sincerely held religious beliefs regarding pork.
Abstaining from alcohol for religious or ethical reasons? No removing the alcohol from any of the fun stuff, like the Squid Revenge Drink at Be Our Guest Restaurant.
Filet mignon with Roast Beef Hash at the Hollywood Derby could easily be served without a fried egg on top! It’s actually less work to serve it egg free. But for those with an egg allergy, you’re out of luck.
Need to avoid Dairy because of allergies, religious beliefs, or ethical concerns? You can’t take off the Dairy Based Medallion from the Dole Whip to make it dairy free.
Need the Snow White Cone Gluten free (so simply sans cone)? Not an option under these new rules to preserve the image.
The only exception is ‘non food items’ like the straws they have for various treats (like the Doom Berry at Sleepy Hollow in Magic Kingdom).
My guess is that they will move to more premade options that simply cannot be modified, or include so many allergens it’s not worth modifying (based on the conversations I had with managers).
Don’t like this informally announced yet formally enforced policy? Email Guest.Services@disneyworld.com and ask for two things. 1. For this to be clearly displayed and announced moving forward 2. Foods and Guides that are allergy friendly for the 50th (as there are laughably few, and several are mislabeled like this not gluten free, yet marketed gluten free celebration cake)
Have you had an item modified? Or trouble getting it modified? Comment below or reach out on social to share your experiences.