Navigating Disney with Allergies

How my family enjoys the parks with food allergies.

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Have you been considering a trip to Disney but not sure how to do it with food allergies? Maybe you have food allergies or maybe one of your kids do. Maybe you’re wondering if you would even be able to truly have fun or enjoy yourself on property.

These were some of my thoughts when I started visiting the parks again as a grown adult. Not only do I have food allergies as well as a digestive disease but my youngest child has sever food allergies. At first I was a little worried about the logistics of making sure I have back up food packed and where would be the best places for us to eat in the parks.

What we have discovered is that Disney can still be lots of fun and there are many things we do as a family to advocate for ourselves and ensure a safe trip.

The first thing I do when planning to go to the parks is refresh myself on exactly which restaurants are in that park and I overlook their menus in advance. If we reserve dining somewhere, I am sure to add our allergies while pre-booking in the app.

I also am sure to ask certain restaurants and food booths what ingredients are in certain food items and in some cases, they’re ablet to make small tweaks or customize certain foods and drinks. An example of this would be a Jeoffrey’s coffee. I asked them to omit cow’s milk from my beverage and they were able to sub oat milk. While substitutions may not always be able to be made, it’s always worth asking!

If I know that I’m going to be limited at that specific park (as far as food choices) I will prep food ahead of time and bring it into the park. We try to stay at locations that offer small dinettes or kitchens. Disney allows coolers/food in the parks which is super helpful! My allergy kiddo usually does not eat any of the park food offerings simply because his allergies are very severe and this cuts back on the chances of mistakes or cross contamination.

If you’re interested in my top restaurant pick for those with allergies, read my post all about our experience at Rodeo Roundup bbq.

If you’re looking for a good cooler to bring, there are lots of options but these are my favorites.

(Please note that I am not a medical expert and that you should always consult with your physician for true medical advise. These are merely tips and tricks that suited our family and our unique medical needs.)

This lightweight option has lots of great reviews and comes in different colors. It would particularly be great for families who aren’t bringing a stroller and opt to carry their cooler with them throughout the parks.

If you’re planning on bringing a stroller but still need a larger cooler to suit your family, this is a great option to place in the stroller basket. It’s the cooler that we use while on property. We can easily fit meals for our youngest as well as snacks and waters. It fits awesome in the stroller basket and still allows room for the stroller seat to recline. And, bonus, it’s collapsible. It can fold down very flat and is easily packed in suitcases.

If you’re going to the parks solo or just need something small to carry, this small igloo utility bag is not only a stylish option with it’s retro looks but come in different colors and is the ultimate easy bag to carry. This would also make a great option for carrying epi pens or other small meds that need some temperature stability while in the Florida sun. This is what we use for my son’s epi pens and it’s really nice to have on us at all times.

or if you dig the small utility bag but aren’t crazy about the look of that one, this belt bag is still insulated but features more subdued colors.

One of the things I didn’t realize is that our epi pens needed to be temperature regulated which can be hard to do out in the Florida heat. While the belt bag can be a great option for epi pens and Benadryl, I prefer something even smaller for my epi pens. This comes with a small freezer/ice pack but I don’t use that park. I figure the insulation is enough for my needs. I simply slip this into whatever bag I’m wearing for the day and I’m all set!

Or maybe you’re traveling with a little one who needs special bottles or maybe you just need a comfy bag that’s big enough to hold their essentials plus yours and any special meds or foods. This super cute quilted diaper bag wears as a back pack and features insulated bottle pockets as well as packing squares and lots of storage to suite a baby’s needs or any other special needs.

Here’s another family friendly option that has tons of great reviews and again offers an insulated space. This bag offers lots of compartments to separate any items you may need and comes in many different color options.

I like to keep kid friendly medication despensers on hand at all times. That way if my child needs Benadryl I can easily give him the correct dose. These are small and have great ratings.

Or if everyone in your crew is able to swallow pills, this is a great option for discrete storage.

I hope these tips are helpful in your planning and that you’ll see how if you’re prepared ahead of time, Disney truly can be fun, even with dietary/health restrictions! You can also contact Disney DAS program for any additional assistance you may need for navigating your trip with health issues or concerns.