Planning a Walt Disney World vacation is daunting. Throw in a gluten-free diet, and you may wonder if all of the magic will simply disappear from your dream Disney trip.
Good news! Disney World is truly the happiest place on earth for countless gluten-free guests. Some of those gluten-free WDW fans have voted on their favorite restaurants and snacks to make your trip easily gluten-free.
This data was collected by a member of the Facebook group, "Gluten Free Disney!" She has generously pixie dusted all of us with the following infographics and permitted for them to shared freely with others. So enjoy!
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Disclosure: Disney uses the term "gluten/wheat allergy friendly," not "gluten-free," as items are produced in a shared environment and the company relies on its suppliers' labels. Disney World does, however, have excellent allergy protocols if you inform cast members of your dietary needs. Consultations with chefs or Special Diets Cast Members are recommended. Ingredients can change at any time, so please confirm at the time of ordering. For more details, check out WDW's official Special Diets page and disclosure and Go Gluten Freely's Tips for a Gluten-Free Disney Vacation.
Drum roll, please. And the winners are....
Magic Kingdom
The Quick Service winner, Columbia Harbour House, is popular for salmon and chicken strips. One Facebook member cautions that Disney does not recommend Columbia Harbour House if you have a seafood allergy due to a high risk of cross-contact with lobster and shrimp. I have not personally verified that warning.
Pinocchio Village House, a close second place, is nearby and also has chicken tenders. Most people go for the pizza. It's a busy Quick Service, but a fun place to wave at Small World boats as they go by.
While Liberty Tavern offers a delicious Thanksgiving-style meal, I vote for the second choice Table Service here, Skipper's Canteen. If you love groaning at the corny jokes on the Jungle Cruise, you will love the cast members at Skipper's Canteen. The best gluten-free items on the menu, in my opinion, are It Tastes Like Chicken and Brazilian cheese bread.
Tip! The regular grey stuff at Be Our Guest is NOT gluten-free. Disney chefs can make a gluten-free version. Unwilling to leave it to chance, I have emailed Disney World Special Diets on a couple of occasions with a special request for gluten-free grey stuff. Disney delivered! (See the above photo.)
Maybe it's the steamy Florida weather, but ice cream (or non-dairy frozen treats) in one form or another took 5 of the top 6 Snack spots: Dole Whip at Aloha Isle scored a full 51% of the votes, Dole Whip orange flavor is in the Citrus Swirl and I Lava You Float, and there's ice cream and the classic Mickey Ice Cream Bar. Popcorn is the one top snack that isn't a frozen dessert.
Epcot
Epcot is the trickiest of all four Disney World parks for gluten-free guests. Most of the World Showcase Restaurants, some of which made the top five, are not Disney-owned. Allergy protocols may differ from Disney's.
These are the restaurants in the above list that are independently owned and operated:
- La Cantina de San Angel (Quick Service #3)
- Katsura Grill (Quick Service #5)
- La Hacienda de San Angel (Table Service #3)
- Teppan Edo (Table Service #4)
- L’artisan des Glaces (Snack #1: Macaron Ice Cream Sandwich)
- Les Halles Boulangerie & Patisserie (Snack #3: Macaron)
- Gelateria Toscano (Snack #5: Gelato)
There are so many Disney-owned options that I personally tend to stick to those choices. As a celiac on vacation, I feel safer relying on the Disney allergy protocols I know and trust. That said, many gluten-free guests clearly have great experiences at these spots. Please ask questions and use your judgment.
Le Cellier is Disney Signature Dining, a fine dining experience, that deserves its #1 position among Epcot's Table Service Restaurants.
Sunshine Seasons is a food court with a large variety of quick options, perfect if your family has different tastes and preferences. The gluten-free options at Sunshine Seasons are delicious...salmon, mashed potatoes, green beans, ratatouille, birria tacos, stir-fried chicken, rotisserie chicken, and my favorite, the power salad. Stop by earlier in the day, as sadly, it is not open for dinner.
Animal Kingdom
Animal Kingdom is by far my favorite Disney World park for gluten-free food, and my top picks match the group's choices.
For Quick Service, Satu'li Canteen is a refreshing break from typical theme park food with bowls full of healthy ingredients. Plus, it's just an indescribable experience to be in Pandora.
Nomad Lounge, home to gluten-free churros, scores the number one spot for both the Table Service and Snack categories... thanks to those popular churros. While Nomad Lounge is considered table service, it is a lounge that serves alcohol and offers a snack-type menu, rather than a typical restaurant meal.
If you're looking for a more traditional Table Service dining experience, visit one of the other restaurants on the above list for lunch or dinner. But don't miss the churros!
Note, similar to many World Showcase restaurants in Epcot, Yak & Yeti is another independently owned and operated restaurant.
Hollywood Studios
Woody's Lunchbox scored #1 for Quick Service, because of the must-have brisket-melt and the popular Totchos (tater tot nachos). I also recommend Docking Bay 7 Food & Cargo for adventurous (not typical theme park) food and an immersive dining experience in Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge. The gluten-free chicken tenders at the Backlot Express get rave reviews from my daughter and the gluten-free Disney community.
50's Prime Time Cafe is my top pick for Hollywood Studios' Table Service. Experience a 1950s-style home-cooked meal in a throwback kitchen, along with some old-fashioned attitude from the servers... on purpose. Best of all, gluten-free fried chicken!
Tip! The gluten-free fried chicken at 50's Prime Time Cafe takes a little extra time to prepare, so stop by earlier on the day of your reservation to let them know you plan to order it. I generally let them know just a couple of hours in advance. When I show up to eat, the gluten-free fried chicken is ready at the same time as the rest of my family's food.
For snacks, the charcuterie at BaseLine Taphouse was described by one member as a "hidden gem" and is on my list for my next Disney World visit.
