Disneyland with Multiple Food Allergies: Your Ultimate Guide to Safe and Delicious Dining

Taking my children with multiple food allergies to Disneyland felt daunting. What could they eat safely? Would we spend our magical vacation stressing over meals? This guide shares every single allergy-friendly meal my son enjoyed, detailing where we found it (both inside and outside the park) to help you plan a comfortable, safe, and truly enjoyable trip. I’ll highlight the challenges and how to overcome them, along with the wonderful aspects of Disney’s allergy protocols. Almost everything we ate was free of the top 8 allergens! If you’re looking for gluten-free, dairy-free, egg-free, peanut-free, and tree nut-free food ideas for your Disney adventure, you’ve come to the right place!

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Disneyland shines in many areas when it comes to accommodating food allergies, but some aspects can be tricky, especially for families managing multiple dietary restrictions. My goal is to help you leverage their strengths and smoothly navigate any potential pain points. PLUS, I’m providing our exact six-meal in-park action plan, including what we ordered for my son and from which restaurant, so you can embark on your Disney adventure fully prepared! Keep reading, friends…

Why Disneyland for Food Allergies?

The primary reason we chose Disneyland for our family’s first big vacation was its renowned commitment to food allergy care and safety protocols. I wouldn’t have considered it otherwise, confident that once inside the park, our needs would be met. The initial planning and “getting there” phase, however, presented a few frustrating moments.

A few years ago, I attended a FARE conference where one of Disneyland’s head chefs spoke. I was incredibly impressed by their meticulous approach and deep knowledge concerning food allergies. It was then that I knew Disneyland would be a viable and safe destination for my children.

Please understand, my affection for Disney runs deep. This was my fourth visit to Disneyland, though my first with food-allergic children. I truly admire what they do. When I shared some frustrations on Instagram, I encountered strong reactions from dedicated Disney fans. I wouldn’t return if I didn’t genuinely love the experience. That said, I hope my observations can assist other allergy families and, perhaps, inspire further improvements to Disney’s already impressive allergy services.

In fact, our next travel dreams include a Disney cruise and Disney Aulani, which speaks volumes about the trust they’ve earned from our family.

Disneyland’s Allergy Strengths #1: Comprehensive Allergen Menus

Every restaurant we visited, whether quick-service or sit-down, offered an allergy menu. These menus are meticulously organized by individual allergen. For instance, one column might list all items that can be made wheat-free, another for dairy-free, and so on. This system is truly a godsend for individuals with a single food allergy! If we only had one allergy to manage, navigating dining would have been an absolute breeze. They have mastered offering peanut and tree nut-free options. The complexity only arises when managing multiple, less common allergies. For a single allergy, understanding your dining options is straightforward; simply ask the first Cast Member you encounter, usually a cashier, for the allergy menu.

Navigating Multiple Food Allergies: A Key Challenge #1: Limited Multi-Allergen Information

Our family faces multiple food allergies, specifically requiring us to avoid wheat, dairy, egg, shellfish, peanut, tree nut, beef, and oats. This meant cross-referencing each individual allergen column on the menu to find truly safe options was incredibly time-consuming and difficult. Furthermore, since two of our allergens (beef and oats) are not among the top common allergens, they weren’t explicitly listed. I sincerely wish Disney offered a dedicated “top-8-free” menu, or at least a combined allergen menu. A clear, easy-to-read chart format, similar to Costa Vida’s, indicating which dishes contain which allergens, would significantly simplify the process for families like ours.

Disneyland’s Allergy Strengths #2: Abundant Restaurant Choices

During our three-day park hopper visit, we dined out for every lunch and dinner, choosing a different restaurant each time. While it would have been easy and tempting to stick to one known safe spot (like pizza, once we discovered it), I was determined to explore as many options as possible for my readers and my family. This variety was absolute heaven! The ability to simply say, “Mexican sounds good right now,” and actually enjoy an impromptu meal was almost worth the park admission alone! Seriously, how long has it been since we could spontaneously choose a cuisine without extensive pre-planning? To then decide, “Let’s have Chinese for dinner!” on the same day, experiencing a diverse culinary journey instead of resorting to the same “safe” chain restaurant for the millionth time, was truly liberating.

Navigating Multiple Food Allergies: A Key Challenge #2: Safe Options, But Not Always Kid-Friendly

My son, like many kids, prefers classics such as chicken nuggets, fries, or mac ‘n cheese. Unfortunately, at two different restaurants, the only safe option available for him was a salad. While I appreciate having *any* safe option, a salad is typically at the bottom of a child’s wish list. Discovering this only after waiting in a long line with three hungry children was a significant frustration, as you can’t consult a chef until you reach the front. Given the time invested and the uncertainty of finding a better kid-friendly option nearby (everything involves a walk), we chose to stay. So, my son ate salads twice. (To their credit, they were good salads that an adult would enjoy, and he was a remarkably good sport about it.)

He did prefer the Galactic Grill’s salad, which featured romaine, over the Hungry Bear’s spinach-based offering. Our saving grace was promising him fries and a special treat if he ate most of his salad. I was grateful he was willing and had something safe, but I truly wished for more kid-centric, allergy-friendly choices, like non-breaded chicken nuggets or a vegan and gluten-free mac ‘n cheese. Being in California, where gluten-free and vegan lifestyles are prevalent, I was surprised by the lack of such options. I’ve heard from many parents that their children wouldn’t have accepted a salad, so be warned: if your top-8-free child is particular about salads, you might want to avoid the Galactic Grill and Hungry Bear Restaurant for main meals.

Disneyland’s Allergy Strengths #3: Direct Chef Consultation

A phenomenal aspect of Disney dining is the ability to speak directly with a chef at EVERY single restaurant we visited, encompassing both quick-service and sit-down establishments. After informing the cashier about our food allergies, they would initially provide the standard allergy menu, which, as mentioned, is less helpful for multiple allergies. Upon explaining our extensive dietary needs, they would, without hesitation or appearing inconvenienced, summon a chef for us. The chef would then pull me aside, listen attentively to our specific allergens, and always demonstrated impressive knowledge and efficiency in identifying or crafting safe options. I consistently felt taken seriously, never like a burden, and observed them taking notes (all but once), which instilled a great sense of security. While I’m sure this process can sometimes slow down the kitchen, this extra step was incredibly reassuring, knowing the chef themselves were aware of our needs, eliminating any potential miscommunication from a middleman, and often preparing the meal personally. (For added safety, they still mark the receipt and order with allergy alerts!)

Navigating Multiple Food Allergies: A Key Challenge #3: Scarce Online Allergy Information

This lack of accessible advance information online or via their app was by far my biggest frustration. I downloaded the official Disneyland app, emailed their special dining service twice (as recommended on their website for more than three allergies), only to receive a generic email detailing ordering procedures – information any experienced allergy parent already knows. I even called their special dining line and never received a callback to my voicemail. I scoured Google, other blogs, and their official website.

Despite all these efforts, I could not find menus with detailed ingredient listings anywhere online.

I felt like I was going into the parks completely blind, which was extremely unsettling for someone who meticulously plans. I longed to know, “Okay, this restaurant not only accommodates our allergies but also has something my son will genuinely enjoy, so we should plan to be in that specific park area around lunchtime.” Instead, our approach became, “Well, let’s pick a restaurant, stand in line for a while, and hope that when we finally reach the front and can speak to a chef, they’ll be able to work with us.” This was a huge letdown and caused unnecessary stress. This is precisely why I took such diligent notes, to prevent you from experiencing the same uncertainty!

I found it baffling that their otherwise excellent app, which provides real-time wait times for every ride, only listed allergy information for a few seemingly random restaurants, and even then, it was always for single allergens. This rendered the app largely unhelpful for our multi-allergy needs.

As I mentioned earlier, if I had known in advance that a particular restaurant’s only safe option for my son was a salad, I would never have waited in its super-long line.

Moreover, there’s an inherent feeling of holding up the line when you have hungry guests behind you and cannot place your order until you’ve thoroughly discussed options with the chef. It’s not the most efficient system, though it is undeniably safe – a trade-off I would always choose. I truly believe I did my due diligence to find information beforehand, only to be met with unanswered questions. For example, I waited in line for a considerable time at Jolly Holiday, hoping to find a baked good for my son, only to discover they had nothing gluten-free or vegan. I also made a point of ducking into a pizza place to inquire about options while my family was eating elsewhere, not wanting to raise my son’s hopes unnecessarily. SPOILER ALERT: he *could* have pizza there!

I even stopped anyone who appeared to be a manager in the park (well-dressed, badge visible, supervising staff), asking, “I’ve been asking every restaurant and employee I can find, can you please tell me where I can find some top-8-free or gluten-free vegan baked goods for my son?” They would consult their maps, scratch their heads, and apologetically admit, “I’m really sorry, I truly don’t know.” I genuinely hope Disney continues to improve in this specific area.

This is precisely why I am sharing every single thing we ate and its location in the park below, to save you from this very frustration!

Disneyland’s Allergy Strengths #4: Permitting Outside Food

For those who find dining out too expensive or simply too stressful (though hopefully, not after reading this post!), Disneyland allows guests to bring their own food into the park.

Surprisingly, I didn’t find Disney’s meal prices exorbitant. Main meals were generally average, costing around $10-12 per person. It’s often the treats where the prices climb higher. To manage our budget, I’d tell my kids that if they wanted a treat, we wouldn’t buy drinks. My 1 and 4-year-olds eat lightly, so I would share my meal with them, ensuring we were all full. This meant for our family of five, we typically paid for three meals, amounting to roughly $50-65 per meal. I anticipate needing to pack more food on future trips once our little boys become hungry teenagers!

Their cooler policy was a bit confusing online, stating no hard-sided coolers. We brought a soft-sided cooler with a handle and wheels. After navigating the incredibly long security checkpoint where bags are searched, we were initially told it wasn’t allowed (triggering a moment of panic, as it was our only cooler for the trip!). However, when I explained we had food allergies, they permitted us entry. (My advice: always confirm the latest rules with your travel agent or call ahead, as rules can be inconsistent.)

We opted not to pack full meals for our park days, as I wanted this to feel like a *real* vacation – meaning no dishes and no meal planning for me! So, we enjoyed every lunch and dinner out. We did, however, eat breakfast at our hotel (see details below).

We primarily brought in snacks: carrot sticks, our homemade kettle corn (popped at the hotel), Snyder’s pretzels, craisins, clementines, and of course, our own water bottles. But rest assured, if you need to pack that SunButter sandwich, you absolutely can!

Alright, are you ready for it? The highly anticipated plan – including two days for driving and arrival!

Our journey began with a drive from Utah to California. With three small children, we decided to break up the drive by stopping overnight in Las Vegas.

We also wanted an extra day before hitting the park to visit the beach after checking into our hotel.

Similarly, we broke up the drive home with another stop in Las Vegas.

I highly recommend driving your own car or getting a rental, as it provided the flexibility to visit a grocery store once we arrived in California.

WEEKLY MEAL PLAN (SUNDAY-SATURDAY) FOR DISNEYLAND AND TRAVELLING WITH FOOD ALLERGIES:

(For a visual guide of all our meals, please check out the video in my Instagram highlights titled Disney Eats, as I unfortunately lost the photos and videos intended for this post. My apologies!)

A reminder of the allergens we meticulously avoided: wheat, dairy, egg, shellfish, peanut, tree nuts, beef, and oats.

SUNDAY LUNCH:

• Enjoyed a substantial lunch at home, simplifying our drive to just packing and eating snacks! (See our detailed road trip snack list below.)

SUNDAY DINNER IN VEGAS:

• Arrived at our hotel just before bedtime. Given the late hour and our desire to avoid searching for a restaurant, we had a fun “picnic on the bed” – which the kids absolutely loved!
• Our packed meal included tuna sandwiches (Little Northern Bakehouse bread + JUST Mayo + tuna – we can safely consume fish), alongside carrot sticks, bell peppers, cucumbers, water, and apple slices. Essentially, we consumed the sandwiches I had in our cooler and finished off packed snacks.
• Knowing we’d only have a picnic dinner and a light breakfast, we booked a standard hotel room, ensuring it had a refrigerator.

MONDAY BREAKFAST IN VEGAS:

• My baby girl and I, free from food allergies, enjoyed the continental breakfast to save money and maximize cooler space for my sons’ allergy-safe foods.
• My husband, who manages gluten intolerance (not an official allergy), would take turns with me going down for eggs and other proteins (we always kept the boys in the room to avoid temptation).
• The boys had a simple, safe breakfast in the room: allergy-friendly bread with grape jelly, bananas, Cinnamon Chex cereal, mandarin oranges, apple sauce, and juice from the hotel. If they ate a good breakfast, they were allowed a special treat of juice from the continental breakfast, as I typically limit juice at home.
• We munched on packed snacks during our drive to California.

MONDAY LUNCH NEAR DISNEYLAND:

• Our Anaheim hotel provided only a continental breakfast but was conveniently located directly across from a Red Robin (a reliably safe restaurant for us) and Joe’s Crab Shack (which we hadn’t tried, but my son loves fish, and we’d heard good things about their allergy accommodations). A few blocks further, accessible by car, was a Chipotle. We chose Chipotle for its speed, affordability, and our familiarity with their allergy protocols.
• My son’s order: a kid’s meal featuring corn tortillas, carnitas meat (pork – he finds their chicken too spicy), fresh guacamole prepared from the back (to avoid cross-contamination from the cheese area), rice, and beans. *A small note: I do wish they offered soft shell corn tortillas, as my son isn’t as fond of the crunchy ones.

MONDAY DINNER NEAR HUNTINGTON BEACH:

• After a brief evening at the beach, we headed to Mod Pizza, which had been recommended. Unfortunately, upon attempting to order, they were unwilling to adjust their procedures to prevent cross-contact, forcing us to leave. This was incredibly disappointing. I’ve tried emailing them without a response; if anyone has a good contact, please let me know.
• Starving, we located a trusty Chick-Fil-A via GPS. My son ordered their adult meal: the 8-count grilled nuggets, fries, and a drink.
• *Regarding peanut oil: This often draws comments. Our allergist is comfortable with us consuming highly refined peanut oil, as per the AAAAI: “Highly refined peanut oil is not required to be labeled as an allergen. Studies show that most people with peanut allergy can safely eat this kind of peanut oil. If you are allergic to peanuts, ask your doctor whether you should avoid peanut oil. But avoid cold-pressed, expelled or extruded peanut oil—sometimes called gourmet oils. These ingredients are different and are not safe to eat if you have a peanut allergy.” Source: FARE. Always make decisions that feel safest and best for your unique circumstances!

TUESDAY BREAKFAST:

• After Chick-Fil-A, we found a Walmart (any grocery store would work, but my son only drinks their Organic Soy Milk). We stocked up on breakfast items for the rest of the week, as our Anaheim hotel featured a full kitchen – ask my travel agent (who also guarantees the lowest rates!) about this incredible hotel! Watch my Disney Eats highlights to the end for a room tour!
• Again, my baby girl, my husband, and I followed the same continental breakfast routine as in Vegas (see above).
• For the boys (not the healthiest, but hey, it’s vacation, and I prioritized protein and calories to help them maintain weight with all the walking):
  • Microwaveable bacon
  • Hashbrowns
  • Silk yogurt (or coconut yogurt, whatever I could find)
  • Cinnamon Rice Chex
  • Chocolate soy milk

TUESDAY LUNCH IN DISNEYLAND:

• Galactic Grill: Located in Disneyland, conveniently near the Star Tours ride.
• Ordered: Grilled chicken chopped salad with an Italian dressing packet (surprisingly top-8 free, which is rare for Italian dressing!) + a side of fries.

TUESDAY DINNER IN DISNEYLAND:

• Cocina Cucamonga Mexican Grill: Found near the wharf in California Adventure.
• Ordered: Kid’s taco plate with citrus-marinated chicken, rice, beans, and corn tortillas.

TUESDAY DESSERT IN DISNEYLAND:

• Stand across from Little Mermaid ride in California Adventure: (Cotton candy stands are ubiquitous throughout the park!)
• Ordered: Cotton candy.
• *Tip: These stands typically have ingredient binders available if you need to verify. They even radioed in for details when their binder was misplaced!

WEDNESDAY BREAKFAST AT HOTEL:

• Same delicious and safe routine as the previous morning.

WEDNESDAY LUNCH AT DISNEYLAND:

• Lucky Fortune Restaurant: Situated near the wharf in California Adventure.
• Ordered: Teriyaki chicken and rice. I originally intended for the teriyaki vegetable bowl, but learned the vegetables are prepared on a shared grill, so my son received just the chicken and rice. I was a bit disappointed not to be informed beforehand, as I had to ask where the vegetables were after receiving his bowl. They do offer gluten-free soy sauce (which we can tolerate). He also got a side of edamame. My son, to no one’s surprise, wasn’t upset about the lack of vegetables!

WEDNESDAY LUNCH DESSERT AT DISNEYLAND:

• Yes, we indulged! It’s vacation, after all!
• Adorable Snowman Shack: Located by the Incredi-Coaster in California Adventure.
• Ordered: Pixar Pier Frosty – a lemon soft-serve “ice cream” layered with a blue slushy at the bottom. This was hands-down my son’s favorite treat. He had never been able to enjoy soft-serve or store-bought ice cream before, so he was absolutely in heaven. It was a generous size, so the boys happily shared it.

WEDNESDAY DINNER AT DISNEYLAND:

• Alien Pizza Planet: Found by Star Tours in Disneyland.
• Ordered: Gluten-free, vegan “cheese pizza.” They impressively offered a gluten-free crust free of eggs (a rare find!) and used Daiya cheese. My son devoured almost the entire pizza (it’s a thin crust). It was such an incredible moment I almost teared up. It was our family’s very first time eating pizza together at a restaurant. This single experience almost made the entire trip worthwhile!

WEDNESDAY DINNER DESSERT AT DISNEYLAND:

• Tiki Juice Bar: Located right by the Enchanted Tiki Room in Disneyland.
• Ordered: A Dole Whip. While they enjoyed it, the boys agreed they preferred the Adorable Snowman treat more.

THURSDAY BREAKFAST AT THE HOTEL:

• Same comforting and safe breakfast as the previous day.

THURSDAY LUNCH AT DISNEYLAND:

• Hungry Bear Restaurant: Situated by Splash Mountain in Disneyland.
• Ordered: Chicken spinach salad with craisins, jicama, strawberries, and a strawberry vinaigrette, accompanied by a side of fries for bribery purposes.

THURSDAY LUNCH DESSERT AT DISNEYLAND:

• One son opted for a sucker (numerous candy stores throughout the park sell these; always read ingredients, as many candies carry cross-contamination warnings. The tall, swirled ones we chose did not).
• Our other son begged for another Adorable Snowman treat, and how could we refuse? *Please remember not everything served there is dairy-free – ensure you specifically ask for the Pixar Pier Frosty.

THURSDAY DINNER AT DISNEYLAND:

• The Plaza Inn: Located near the central roundabout.
• Ordered: Salmon, rice, and green beans. (They also offer delicious roasted chicken if you can’t have fish.)
• This was the priciest restaurant we visited, but the food was wonderfully comforting and delicious. Given my son’s love for salmon, we felt it was a perfect final meal in the park.

THURSDAY DINNER DESSERT:

• Another sucker from the candy store on Main Street (the same twisted variety we enjoyed before).

FRIDAY BREAKFAST:

• Identical to the previous days’ breakfast routine.

SPECIAL ROAD TRIP SNACK BEFORE HITTING THE ROAD:

• We made a special detour to Sensitive Sweets Top-8-Free Bakery in Fullerton, about 10 minutes from our hotel. While my husband and one son weren’t fond of the cupcakes, my other son absolutely adored their truffles!

FRIDAY LUNCH ON THE ROAD:

• Due to a late breakfast and sleeping in, we had plenty of snacks and weren’t hungry enough to stop for lunch. Instead, we planned for an early dinner.

FRIDAY DINNER IN VEGAS:

• We dined at Coronado Cafe inside the South Point Casino. Chef Keith Norman, an advocate for allergy awareness, works there and assured us his staff would be alerted to our arrival. We felt they took our allergies very seriously. My son simply had grilled chicken and french fries.

SATURDAY BREAKFAST IN VEGAS:

• Since we stayed at a hotel with a fridge, we kept some of our unused yogurts from the California grocery store in our cooler (proof that traveling with a cooler is immensely valuable!). I also grabbed bananas for the kids from the continental breakfast, and they snacked on Cinnamon Rice Chex. (They still had jam and safe bread left, but weren’t in the mood.)

SATURDAY LUNCH ON THE ROAD:

• We located a Chick-Fil-A in Cedar City, Utah, and decided to stop. Disappointingly, this location did not offer grilled nuggets (which were the only safe item on their menu for my son). I had never encountered this before and was quite frustrated. My son requested only a drink and some fries, which I accommodated. I had to accept that sometimes, on a road trip, being fed is more important than being perfectly healthy.
• Had I known, I would have opted for Costa Vida, which was just a few exits away. So, beware: if you need grilled nuggets, confirm availability before stopping at Chick-Fil-A in Cedar City! I offered to make a SunButter and Jelly sandwich (having packed a container of SunButter), but they declined.

SATURDAY DINNER:

• Home sweet home! I used my Instant Pot for a quick and easy lemon chicken, quinoa, and peas – all ingredients from my freezer or pantry, as we were low on groceries and eager for a fast, home-cooked meal. It was wonderful to have a meal from our own kitchen again! (Though I was less thrilled about starting dishes again!)

And there you have it: almost an entire week of exclusively dining out, navigating allergies to wheat, dairy, egg, shellfish, peanut, tree nut, beef, and oats!

With careful planning and strategic packing, it can absolutely be done!

ESSENTIAL ROAD TRIP SNACKS:

• I packed such a generous amount of snacks that we still had leftovers upon returning home. This abundance significantly eased my mind. I aimed for a mix of fun treats and wholesome options:
  • Hummus and tortilla chips
  • Sugar snap peas
  • Baby carrots
  • Fritos
  • Lay’s Potato Chips
  • Cucumbers
  • Baby bell peppers
  • Craisins
  • Swedish Fish
  • Apple Slices
  • Mike and Ikes
  • Starburst
  • Apple sauce packets
  • Ruby Rockets (frozen fruit pops)
  • Olives
  • Snyder’s gluten-free pretzels
  • SunButter cups
  • Clementines
  • Kettle corn

Throughout the trip, I consciously tried to mask any stress, not wanting to model that for my children. If I felt frustrated, I would reach out to friends or other adults for support, avoiding discussing it in front of the kids. My goal was for them to only perceive that everything came together perfectly and that the experience was purely magical!

I genuinely hope this comprehensive post empowers you to step outside your comfort zone and create unforgettable memories with your family. I continually reminded myself that all the effort and planning would be worth it, and it absolutely was. We had an incredible time, and these will forever be cherished memories for our family.

HOW WE MADE IT AFFORDABLE:

****Finally, another frequent question I receive is how we managed to afford this trip. Yes, it was a stretch for our family’s tight budget, but we diligently saved for an entire year.

A significant help came from booking tickets and our hotel during Black Friday sales, which secured us fantastic deals (adult tickets at kid prices and a fourth hotel night free!).

THEN – we utilized a layaway plan, paying approximately $200 per month for a year. This prevented a huge lump sum payment and made it much more manageable! I highly recommend this approach!

Our travel agent, Get Away Today, was absolutely fabulous. We had used them previously for a cruise and knew they were true Disney pros. I called them numerous times with all sorts of random questions, like “Where can we find Black Panther?” or “Give me all your tips for visiting the park with small children.” They were an invaluable resource and incredibly helpful!

They offer the guaranteed LOWEST rates, and as an affiliate, I can even provide some special offers for my readers! Be sure to use this link, or if you call 855-GET-AWAY (438-2929), tell them “Allergy Awesomeness” to secure the best pricing!

My wish is for all of you to go and have an amazing, safe time! If you do, please tag me so I can share in your joy!

PLEASE SHARE THIS POST WIDELY, SO THAT EVERY ALLERGY PARENT WHO NEEDS THIS VITAL INFORMATION CAN FIND IT! BE SURE TO PIN IT AS WELL, TO SAVE IT FOR EASY FUTURE REFERENCE. ALSO, EXPLORE MY OTHER ALLERGY-FRIENDLY PINTEREST BOARDS FOR MORE INSPIRATION.

***Did you know I also have a detailed guide for Legoland with food allergies? Click the photo below to check out that post!**