So this is me, Niko Vento, sometimes I call my self Allergy boy. I am definitely the poster child for food allergies and travel. You can travel with food allergies trust me. I will be honest here I get sick of telling people I have severe food allergies, but eating and travel are one in the same, you gotta eat when you travel. Therefore I speak up and speak out to help all us with these crappy food allergies!
Today’s post I am about to write to you is about dining in Disney Theme Parks with food allergies. Tell your parents to make your Disney World Theme Park reservations, it’s a GO!
The picture is of me and the Disney Chef Ken at The Plaza on Main Street In Magic Kingdom. He is my friend, and we hung out before and after dinner. The magic of Disney is not just in the park and on the rides, but in the special people that make a difference in traveling and eating with severe food allergies.
Yeah, everyone was watching my table and me and the Chef and my family but that’s just fine with me because I can now tell you from first-hand experience, kids and teens with food allergies don’t have to live in a bubble like our parents want us to!
Dining In Disney World Theme Parks With Food Allergies
No I don’t work with Disney and I was not compensated for this post. I mean, one day I hope Disney wants to work with me, I am a teen with allergies and have so many stories to share. For now, this is my way to help others struggling with the want to GO to Disney World (that’s like all of us right) but worried you can not eat! Stop that, you can, and I am about to show you how!
Hanging With Chef Ken
First, we had a reservation, Chef Ken was alerted that a food allergy patron was gonna be ‘in the house’!
Make sure to go online to Disney’s Special Dietary Requests and have your parents email at the address listed and submit BEFORE you get to Disney.
food-allergy-alert-card (1)Also, my mom made a printable allergy card you can hand to the Chef’s it is free to download, I carry it everywhere, it just reminds them again!
He and I sat there and chatted and what was cool, he actually listened and did not do that grown-up interrupt thing before I finished.
Chef Ken marked my meal down on the slip and even brought out the bun packaging for me to read – Yep Cool.
While everyone else ordered he sat with me, to get to know me and asked me questions about dining out and about wherever else Niko Travels! He was curious about where I have traveled to and how I have survived to date with all of my allergies.
My Meal
Fries were not an option but salad was and I do love me a good salad!
Dinner Time Disney Style
My food was no different from everyone else’s except it was not cross-contaminated. Before I forget, you need to know that Disney World has a great allergen-friendly menu and the ability to feed us kids. Just ask every food booth or restaurant. You have to ‘present’ your case (your allergies) and you can get accommodated. My list of severe food allergies is about a foot long and I ate and drank like a Prince!
Where Else In Disney and What Else
I ate in in the Animal Kingdom. The issue here is the fact that peanuts are served to some animals. You can never be guaranteed things won’t be peanut contaminated (by the attractions). However, this has nothing to do with the food, just something I thought I should tell you. My mom was like convinced I was gonna get contaminated or have a reaction. Clearly, this is not what happened! My mom has to stop being Momma Bear (that’s my code name for my mom when she overprotects) so much!
The Animal Kingdom & Hollywood Studios & Magic Kingdom & Epcot
The one thing we did visit was a booth that offered a book discussing allergen friendly dining. Now it is so commonplace you practically eat anywhere. What does happen is your food takes longer than everyone else’s but that is ok, because of safety first! Hollywood Studios offers the same thing, it just takes a lot longer, but again, I am ok waiting!
Dining In Disney World Theme Parks With Food Allergies is possible and I want to thank Chef Ken for being incredible. His time spent with me allows me to really show you food allergies and travel in the most Magical place in the world, really is possible. ~ Niko
Read more of my Where Niko Travels adventures. Shete Boka, Grim Breacher on Holland America, How to get a pool on the cruise ship to yourself.
Niko Vento is a teen travel writer, who has severe food allergies. Travel and adventure run deep in his veins. He writes to share his triumphs in dining out with allergies and to share adventures that teens need to experience too! Want me to visit you and really tell your story? email me through my mom of course, I’m just a kid dana@danavento.com – Hope to see you soon.
I am a #TMSJuniors travel writer
Amazing experience you have there!! The chef really did a great job there. Hope to visit Disney world soon with my family too.
The Chef was great to me. Enjoy your time in Disney ~Niko
I love seeing companies go the extra mile to give options to people who have food allergies. As someone who has a few it is nice to have REAL options
This was a great meal for me. My mom was so relieved that she could actually eat and not sit there watching me the whole time. ~Niko
That’s awesome how the chef came and hung out with you guys! One of the many reasons why I love Disney. Glad you guys had a good time there.
I did love the Chef sitting with me. It was fun and he took great care of me. Disney is magical always ~niko
So glad they have the ‘Allergy’ Menu… I have so many friends with kids that have allergies, super hard to find good places that are safe!
I am that kid that needs those menus. For me it is so WRONG when a place can’t feed me, it is nice that Disney gets me ~ Niko
It’s really great that Disney offers this kind of personal service and so many options for people with allergies. Just another reason why it is the happiest place on earth!
As the teen in the story I agree, Disney is perfect for kids with allergies and that really love vacations. ~Niko
Disney gets top marks for catering for those with food allergies. I do like that they list down all the items which causes allergy to make it simpler for those who are wondering what ingredients are in the food.
Disney is my spot as a go-to. We are due back there this year, so I am waiting for my mom to tell me when. ~NIKO
That is really impressive how the chef came out to meet you and made sure your order was cooked correctly. I love the allergy card too that you carry.
We can relate 100%! But first I want to say Niko you are did an awesome job on this post! Disney is fantastic with making sure all its guest are well taken care of and that includes those with food allergies. My oldest son Eric also has severe food allergies and at each Disney Dining restaurant we at ate all his meals were specially prepared and the Chef came out to talk with us. Made me feel so much more at ease. I love how you included the pictures of your chef, made him feel part of the family, I am sure he loved that. So glad you had a wonderful time and like my son were able to enjoy the delicious food. Did you get the chocolate brownie? My son was given cookies and brownies at Under the Sea…he loved them! Look forward to your next adventure.
Thank you, Ms. Heather. When I think about my time at Disney I always smile. Chef Ken was so cool.
Also, sorry to hear that Eric has food allergies (does he have to carry a medicine bag everywhere too with an epi and medical supplies?), but I do know that so many of us kids are out there scaring our parents with our food allergies, because like my mom says, “you just never know” it is tough. No I did not get a brownie, but I had DisneyEars with my sister earlier in the day, so that was good. Also, we had the big Krispy treat ears! ~ Niko
My son doesn’t carry an Epi-pen anymore, thankfully he outgrew most of his food allergies. He is still not able to eat seafood & peanuts but the wheat, pears, and pork he outgrew. Food allergies can be tough and your mom is right “you just never know” Those Mickey Ears are really good!
Disney really goes all out to help everyone have a enjoyable time. Great to know if you have food allergies you can still get great food.