Written by special guest blogger Bethany Hildebrandt

Follow her on Instagram: @Bethany.hildebrandt
Website/blog: bethany-hildebrandt.com

It doesn’t take much research online to find that a huge part of a Disney World trip is food! When you’re traveling with someone with a disability, special-needs, or medical complexities nutrition isn’t always “easy as pie.” Here’s some insight to know for your Disney World dining adventures.

First let me explain the different types of dining locations around Disney:

1. Food Carts

These are sporadic throughout the parks and Disney Springs but not always accurately labeled on a map. No reservations are used and only occasionally will you find seating nearby. Grab and go options allow for long lines to clear out quickly. You’ll find the famous treats at many of these locations.

2. Bakeries & Cafés

These smaller locations are labeled on MDE app but do not have reservations. They will have limited seating, if any. Some locations will offer mobile order.

3. Quick Service (aka Counter Service)

Found easily on MDE app, these dining options do not offer reservations typically. Some offer mobile order and pick up.
This environment is set up for you to order at a window or go through a line for meal choices if not using mobile order. You would then find your own seating. These locations usually have a dining room for seating or outdoor seating
available first come first serve.

4. Table Service

Reservations for these meal options is highly recommended. The experience will take 1 to 2+ hours and feature a server. Some options include entertainment, shows, or character visits. You may choose from different restaurants serving variations of food offerings—buffets, family style meals, prefix menus, or the good old fashion entrée menu. Depending on popularity, you may be able to join a waitlist without a reservation but this is not recommended from
my experience and rarely available.

On The Go Foodie

For areas that do not have designated seating, this can present a problem for wheelchair users who need a flat surface for dining or snacking. There’s a well known joke that the trash cans are just another variation of table at Disney, especially at Epcotduring festivals. While it’s not ideal, we’ve definitely utilized this trend. Otherwise, I would use the My Disney Experience (MDE) app to locate on the map a nearby outdoor dining space.

My favorite quiet area with tables in Magic Kingdom are found behind the gazebo to the left of Cinderella‘s castle or over near Pete’s Silly Sideshow. In Epcot there are tables near the water of World Showcase and at the Connections breezeway in future world. In Hollywood Studios you can find prevalent seating on Hollywood Boulevard and at Animal Kingdom we prefer tables tucked away in the Harambe Market.

Best Kept Secret

I’ve found the lines at Quick Service locations are no fun at all so I highly recommend using Mobile Order on your MDE app as often as available. There’s nothing better than skipping the line which also makes it easier for people utilizing a wheelchair or ECV. No need to navigate the narrow lines when you can pick up your order right at the counter. You pay directly on your phone by charging to your account or using a saved payment method. Mobile Order is not available at all snack or quick service locations so be sure to check the app and then look for the specific pick up area for each location.

Reservation Requests

When setting up dining reservations for table service restaurants there’s a special circumstances selection that will alert the staff of allergies, dietary restrictions, and accessibility needs. When making your reservation on the MDE app, follow these steps—once you’ve chosen your restaurant, time, and number of guests there’s an optional icon for accommodations. Click “Add a food allergy request” Here you can notate any dietary restrictions and if you need wheelchair accessibility. If you missed this when making your reservation, you can go back and add it in.

Dietary Concerns

Whether you notated an allergy on the reservation when it was booked or not, you can ask to speak with the chef at a table service restaurant. You wouldn’t believe how detailed and service oriented Disney is when it comes to dietary restrictions. You may even get a visit to your table from the chef himself or herself. The goal is to offer a suitable option for every guest with exceptional care to eliminate any cross contamination of ingredients. **Insider tip: One of the most accommodating chefs in all of Disney is Chef TJ who wows guests at Cape May Cafe at Disney’s Beach Club Resort! For allergy concerns at a quick service location you can request specific menu options or find those selections on the app while using mobile order. While at a Quick Service restaurant, look for a greeter at the entrance who will direct you to the register to speak with a chef. They will complete a form with your allergy needs and together you’ll create a meal based on the menu. Pay at the register where a cast member will give you a pager. The chef will deliver your meal when it’s complete and review the ingredients. With both service types, you can review menus online prior to arrival where most
locations offer an allergy friendly menu.

Checking In – Table Service Seating

Having the accessibility alert on your reservation prior to arrival is great but I have found you often have to remind them when you check in for your meal again. Don’t be afraid to request a specific area or type of table when being seated. The arrangement of some tables are less suited for wheelchairs, for example, or perhaps you like to be in a well lit area or near a restroom— cast members are eager to assist your needs. All table service restaurants are wheelchair accessible and fairly easy to navigate even with large crowds. Strollers are not allowed in most table service restaurants; however if your stroller is used as a medical necessity, be sure to have it tagged at guest relations “stroller as wheelchair” so it can not only be taken through attraction cues but also into all restaurants. You can find Guest Relations labeled on the map of the MDE app.

Alternative Nutrition

Currently the only negative thing I can say about dining at Disney World falls among the character meals with regards to guests who are unable to eat by mouth yet still are required to pay the full price for entry. Even if someone in your party won’t be eating or is exclusively tube fed for nutrition, they will still be charged the same price as a guest who enjoys unlimited dishes because all guests are able to participate in the character interactions. I truly wish Disney would reevaluate this policy but it’s definitely something to be aware of as it stands now. Speaking of enteral feedings, if you prefer to provide nutrition by tube in a quiet or separate location within the parks, baby care centers or first aid stations are the perfect retreat. These are easily located on the map of your My Disney Experience app or on the park maps found at the entrance. You’ll find a cool, serene environment to complete a feed and a cast member that can help if needed. If you use water to flush or hydrate by tube and don’t want to rack up a huge bill of water bottles—ask for free cups of water at quick service locations while roaming the parks. It’s definitely faster than filling up at the water fountain.

I hope you find these tips and suggestions helpful when it comes to planning your dining at Disney World. The Mickey bars and churros are just the beginning of the incredible offerings you don’t want to miss. When it comes to those table service restaurants and the highly demanded reservation spots, MouseDining is a necessity. You don’t have to be a special needs family to know that meal times are an important part of vacationing so don’t settle! Line up the meals you are eager to try! Over nearly 10 years of consistent Disney trips with my family, I continue to use MouseDining for snagging those difficult reservations every single time.