Hi friends :)
By now, everyone knows that I am obsessed with eating vegan in Disney posts (and even Universal!) So you can imagine my excitement when I was called upon to share some of my thoughts and knowledge on the topic in a travel guide for visitors with dairy, gluten, and other food allergies. Uh, yes! I’d love to be featured and share as much knowledge as I can – I know how tough it can be when you are on vacation and struggling to find food that will nourish your body. No one wants to be sick on vacation, right? Not to mention, no one wants to eat bagged chips or granola bars the whole time, either. On vacation, you are entitled to real food – meals prepared to your liking and to your every need.
So, yes – I was thrilled to share some tidbits in this food allergy travel guide. It also inspired me to share some more quick tips on here.
Tips for Traveling with a Food Allergy
1 // call restaurants/reservations ahead
When you call ahead, you can let the staff know of all your allergies, so that they are prepared for your arrival. They may ask you what you would enjoy eating, or may let you know that the chef will come directly to your table and work through options with you. Hey, sometimes they may let you know that there aren’t many options. If that is the case, at least you know up front and can work on finding a new place to go. It is always better to go in prepared and aware.
2 // never be afraid to speak up
I used to be like this – never wanting to speak up (and sometimes I still get shy) but I can’t express how important it is. If something is not right (you think there may be cheese on your pasta), politely speak up. As long as you are polite, they are going to correct the mistake. Be very clear and direct with your allergies and concerns.
3 // do your research
Much like some of my posts and the travel guide, it is important that you do a bit of your own research beforehand. There are soooo many awesome websites and forums with people who have the same allergy as you. Jot down some of their tips and favorite spots in a notebook or on your phone. When the time comes, at least you will have an idea of where to start.
4 // bring an arsenal of snacks
And no, I don’t mean eat your own snacks for dinner, but just bring them in case! Maybe you visit a restaurant and they make you a giant plate of veggies and a side of rice. Some people will get full of that, and others won’t. I find that it is helpful for me to bring my own snacks as “back up” for those times when I didn’t have the best meal, and my stomach is not satisfied. I like bringing nuts, dried fruit, granola bars, Clif/Luna/Lara bars etc. No matter what, they are just great to have stashed away.
One of my favorite things to do while traveling is to stock up at the hotel – particularly in Disney. They have so many options in their resort cafeterias. Bananas, apples, granola bars, protein bars, soy milk (chocolate!), hummus and pretzels, veggie sticks, etc. More often than not, this is also much cheaper than buying snacks in the actual parks.
I promise – these locations bring people in from around the globe. It is their JOB to cater to the needs of everyone. As long as you go in prepared and ready to speak up, you are going to have a successful trip.
Anyways, I really wanted to share my excitement on being featured in this guide. I’m so happy that I get to help – and so lucky that I can offer my personal advice on something that means so much to me. I’ve never been more passionate about something. It’s very cool that I get to do this.
So, if you are vegan/vegetarian/dairy-free/gluten-free… whatever your food allergy or situation may be, I highly recommend making magical memories in Walt Disney World or Universal (The Wizarding World of Harry Potter in particular – weeee!) I had the time of my life in both places, and I ate like a queen.
And for all my readers in the UK, you can get to Walt Disney World and Universal Resort Orlando by purchasing your tickets at Attraction Tickets Direct.
If you want more tips (particularly when it comes to Disney), check out some other posts I’ve written below. Read up and get ready to have the time (and meals) of your life. xx
