Welcome, Crystal!
Thanks so much for stopping by with your important planning question. You are going to love being at
Disneyland during the holidays with seasonal touches at every turn, from sparkling lights to characters in their holiday best to festive sweets and treats. With three magical days ahead, your teenager will have plenty of dairy-free options to choose from across the resort. I know how important it is to make sure everyone feels comfortable and included around meals and snacks, especially during such a special trip. Let's take a look at how to navigate the culinary creations to plan a delicious holiday visit.
First and foremost, you have lots of information right at your fingertips, literally. In the Disneyland app, you have access to menus for most quick service and table service dining locations. The Disneyland Resort strives to include everyone in the magic and is thoughtful about ensuring there are allergy-free options throughout the parks. In addition to plant-based menu items, you will usually find a specific menu for dairy allergies as well. If you know where you'd like to eat, simply head to the search icon and type in those dining locations. For example, I just pulled up one of my favorite spots -
Hungry Bear Barbecue Jamboree. Tap "
View Menu" and scroll through past the beverages to see the allergy-friendly options, where you will find a "Milk Allergy-Friendly" menu. This will help you do a little pre-planning if you know where you'd like to eat or if you know which area of the parks you plan to be in for meal times. Typically, you can Mobile Order the plant-based menu items, but ordering from the "Milk Allergy-Friendly" menu will require you to order in person and speak directly with a Cast Member who may have additional questions.
Let's chat about how to navigate table-service restaurants. When
booking your reservation, you are able to specify dietary requests so that this is noted directly in your reservation. Once you select your date and time, you will see the option to edit dietary requests, where you can select "Milk". When you arrive at your reservation, communicate your needs directly with your host and server as well. Often, the Chef will come out to discuss your specific needs and requirements.
Something to keep in mind: if a Guest has 4 or more allergy requests, requires pureed meals, or adheres to a medically restrictive diet, it is recommended to reach out to the Special Diets Team by email within 14 days of arrival. It doesn't sound like your family falls into this category, so rest assured that many Disneyland restaurants can prepare meals for common diet requests, like a dairy allergy. I highly recommend checking out the
Special Diets Requests page on the website, which provides resources to help your visit be as smooth as it is delicious.
Crystal, I sure hope this has been helpful, and you are on your way to a magical visit next week! If you have any more questions, we are always here for you at
planDisney.
Happy holidays!
Tara