Special Diets
Vacations! Thank goodness we're wearing stretchy pants...
Eating a rich and varied diet is an important part of our travels, but it doesn’t mean neglecting ourselves and overindulging, especially if we have a medical condition where a specific diet is important to stay healthy.
Below are some suggestions you can follow before and during your next vacation or business trip.
General Recommendations
Prepare your vacation well in advance
Use social media and the web to find information on potential accommodations, nearby supermarkets and specialty stores, and restaurants with special menus. Even if there are places you’re interested in visiting but don’t have any information, you can contact them directly.
Good day-to-day planning will allow you to eat delicious and healthy meals without wasting time checking out where to eat on the run during the middle of your vacation.
The Plane Trip
Special diets are accommodated on most transportation options that offer onboard meals (please confirm with each company).
However, regional trips, short trips, or trips that only offer paid snacks generally do not include such options.
It is recommended that you call 48 hours before your trip to check that your request is confirmed. Reconfirm at the check-in counter.
Once we’re seated, we’ll let the staff know we have a special menu; this way, we’ll ensure that when they come by with the food carts, they already have our special menu. Generally, you’re always served first.
The Packed Lunch!
Always carry a meal option suitable for your diet (during your trip and all vacations). If your trip or meal is delayed, or if the planned menu has a problem, it’s good to have something to snack on, even if you don’t starve.
Where to Stay?
An excellent option (for more restrictive diets) is to stay in a room or suite with a full kitchen.
This will give you great freedom to prepare your own meals, eat in, or prepare snacks for eating out.
Also, find out if the hotel you choose has a restaurant with special menus. As a consumer, prioritize choosing those that offer the most amenities to make your trip easier and more enjoyable.
Eating in the parks
Despite the wide variety of restaurants in Orlando with full menus, it’s not always easy to find appropriate meals or those prepared with the care necessary to ensure a delicious, healthy meal that suits our needs.
Fortunately, there are many options both in the parks and around Orlando, and you’ll just need to take a little more time to organize your meal plan.
In all cases, and depending on the company (Disney, Universal, SeaWorld), the procedure is similar: contact the parks’ customer service to coordinate the menu.
Parks and hotels at Disney World
Disney World’s online reservation system allows us to directly report some of the most common allergens (including gluten).
Once at the restaurant, the staff will be aware of your special needs and will either tell you the available menu options or serve your chosen dish in advance.
In the case of fast-food restaurants, you must inform the cashier of your needs, and the manager will inform you of the available options and take your order.
Please provide advance notice of your needs, restaurant reservation details, and even a list of fast-food restaurants you plan to visit.
Disney Customer Service will contact you to coordinate the menu for each meal.
001 (407) 939-3463
Special.Diets@DisneyWorld.com
Parks and hotels at Universal Orlando
There are no online options at Universal Studios, CityWalk, and all hotels, and all requests must be made by phone or email.
As always, it’s best to make your requests and inquiries in advance.
For Kosher meals, there are special menus at a fixed price and must be requested 72 hours in advance.
The restaurants that offer these options include Lombard’s Seafood Grille, Finnegan’s Bar & Grill, Confisco Grille, Mythos, Kohola Reef, and Bambu Bay.
FoodServiceCUF@universalorlando.com
001 (407) 224-3463
SeaWorld and Busch Garden Parks
At SeaWorld/Busch Garden parks, guests must inform the restaurant upon entering.
All restaurants are prepared to handle “allergen-friendly” foods, but some restaurants are especially recommended for allergy-related issues (including gluten/celiac disease).
SeaWorld Orlando: Shark Underwater Grill.
Busch Garden Tampa: Zambia Smokehouse, Dragón Fire Grill & Pub, and Serengeti Overlook Restaurant.
AllergenFriendlySWF@seaworld.com
SeaWorld
AllergenFriendlyBGT@seaworld.com
Busch Garden
See the special sections for more information.
