Disneyland Food Allergy Dining at Disney’s Café Orléans

To say we love all things Disney is an understatement. The happiest place on earth is our home away from home. As a young family of 7, with 5 kids age 10 and under, Disneyland is the perfect go-to-getaway. We are a homeschool family with multiple food allergies and a gluten intolerance. Traveling on vacation can be daunting with food allergies, but not so much at Disneyland!

Using the Disney App & Making a Reservation

Over the years Disneyland has increasingly raised the bar repeatedly when it comes to being a food allergy friendly establishment.

Labels and Information Readily Available

Not only are labels and information readily available at food carts and fast food options like Bengel BBQ, but their sit down restaurants have amazing dedicated food allergy menus to make ordering a breeze.

Disney Dining App

Like their amazing app! Create an account, where you can get fast passes for yourself and those in your group, see wait times, book a reservation and even order food to go!

Plan Ahead and Make a Reservation

To land a reservation, be sure to do it at least a week prior, you can get lucky and do it in a shorter window, but I usually have success securing the exact place and time a week out. Then before you submit the final reservation, you have an option to notify them of your guests allergies! How stinkin’ cool is that?! Check out these screenshots from our reservation process:

We made our reservations to Café Orleans in New Orleans Square, the week prior to our visit, using the Disneyland app. When you make your reservation be sure to mark all the allergies in your party. Upon checking-in, the hostess confirms any allergies, and additionally gives you dedicated food allergy menus with food allergy friendly options. Once seated at your table the server reconfirmed our allergies, asked if we had any questions about the food allergy menu, any concerns, or if we’d like the chef to come speak to us prior to ordering.

The Scene

There is indoor and outdoor dining, and if the weather is right the shaded patio is my preference because you get to soak in the fun New Orleans vibe as you are surrounded by the New Orleans Square adjacent to the Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island, all while you watch the Sailing Ship Columbia.

Often times there is the Jambalaya Jazz Band adding to the ambiance as if the food wasn’t already a draw enough! Pirates of the Caribbean was closed during our last visit, but since this is near Pirates, Indiana Jones and The Haunted Mansion, we try to get some fast passes for some of the nearby more popular rides to make good use of our time before or after our meal reservation.

The Menu

They have their standard menu’s for all their guests, but as you check-in and confirm your guests allergies with their hostess, you will additionally receive their special allergen menu! They have different items listed with what allergens they are safe for, with the Top 8 in mind. If you have any concerns or detailed questions they will gladly send a chef over to your table upon request. While we were only worried about 4 of the 8 top allergens, they do have a menu with options for Top 8. Check it out:

My son has an anaphylactic peanut and shellfish allergy, and my husband is gluten intolerant due to severe fibromyalgia. My son ordered Mickey Mouse shaped beignets covered in powdered sugar and they were delicious! My husband ordered the Steak and Potatoes, and everything not only looked beautiful but tasted fantastic.

Our Experience

What We Ordered

My other children and I don’t have any food allergies and ordered their famous Pommes Frites, kids Mac and Cheese, and a Monté Cristo sandwich.

What They Are Known For

If you are able to reserve a spot at Café Orleans and it’s safe for you, the Pommes Frites and the Monté Cristo sandwich are a MUST!!!!

Everything there is to love about savory-sweet. I’m drooling here just thinking about it!

Great Customer Service and Leftovers for the Road

The wait staff was also super sweet and gave us some to go boxes for leftovers from our generous serving sizes, and we were able to take the food allergy friendly Mickey Mouse shaped beignets and side portions of grapes and strawberries for our kids to continue to snack on as we moved through the park.