The REAL reason Disney Chefs come to your table

Our golden rule of dining at Disney with food allergies is to always ask to speak with a chef. This is absolutely the safest way to order.

Let’s take a look at what is really happening when a Disney chef comes to your table 👇

When you tell a cast member that you have food allergies, a very specific process is put into motion to keep you safe, and a big part of that is speaking directly with a chef.

Something to look out for here - often they won’t automatically send a chef out. You may have to ask for it, but the option will always be there for you.

With that said, a chef coming to your table after being notified of a food allergy is not just good customer service we said. It is much more than that.

It is the start of a intentional and rigid process designed by Disney to keep you and your family safe.

No one knows that kitchen better than the chef, and there is no one better to speak with to ensure a safe meal.

When speaking with your family, the chef will gather specific details about your allergies, analyze cross-contamination risks and come up with alternative options.

The chef will also be able to tell you candidly what can and cannot be done in order to create a meal that is both safe and delicious.

Disney chefs LOVE to get creative…

A Disney chef is going to be the most knowledgeable person on all of the allergy friendly alternatives available and they often go above and beyond expectations!

Speaking directly with a chef is how you are going to get those really “magical” experiences with off menu items that people without allergies would be jealous of.

The chefs make sure everyone is on the same page

We all know one of the most stressful parts of ordering at a restaurant with food allergies is the telephone game that is played between the server and the kitchen. Especially when dealing with multiple food allergies, details can get lost.

When you are speaking with a chef, you are speaking directly to the kitchen, directly to the person that is making your food. This cuts out the risk of small details being forgotten or remembered incorrectly.

The chef is building trust… YOUR TRUST

Meeting the chef face to face, having an extensive conversation with them where nothing feels rushed, and going over the ins and outs of everything will take a big weight off your shoulders.

What this is NOT…

Speaking with a chef is NOT a guarantee of zero risk. You will most likely feel very confident after speaking with the chef about your meal, but it is important to stay vigilant.

Mistakes can happen anywhere, anytime and to anyone. Even the highly trained Disney chefs are still human. It is easy to feel like you can go on autopilot since you are on Disney property, but it imperative you remain an advocate for yourself and double check everything.

The takeaway…

Your conversation with a Disney chef is the most important step when dining at Disney with food allergies and we recommend you do it every time. I hope this article gives you a little better idea of the process that takes place and why it is so important.

With the recent Muppets take over of Rock and Roller Coaster, the food in that area is also getting an update, and there is something important to note for our food allergy fam.

Opening TODAY May 26th is FØØD by Swedish Chef. This is a food stand right outside the Rock and Roller Coaster, it was there before, but it now has a whole new look.

Some of the new menu items include Wocka Wocking Nachos, Churro Drumstick, the Mayhem Soft-Serve Float, along with a few other new drinks as well.

While these new menu items may seems tempting, those of us with food allergies should definitely proceed with a little bit of caution since this is a “food stand” style location and not full quick service.

As many of you know, these food stands have small, shared food prep areas that increase the risk of cross contamination. At the end of the day it is up to you to make the decision, but we do generally recommend staying away from these types of places.

There will be safer, and better options!

For this week’s Restaurant Spotlight, we are going to talk about Rose and Crown, a traditional British style pub location at the UK Pavilion at the EPCOT World Showcase.

Since our family first started going to Disney, Rose and Crown was always a favorite of ours. As a kid I remember eating Fish and Chips for the first time there and falling in love. This restaurant holds a special in my heart.

Rose and Crown is a Disney owned restaurant, so you will be able to speak directly with a Disney chef when ordering and they will follow the same gold standard process we have all come to know and love.

Over the years, unfortunately their menu has been trimmed down quite a bit, but the main attraction is still the fish and chips. With my allergies to dairy, peanuts, tree nuts, and sesame, this is a meal I make sure to get every time :)

Until next time,

The Disney Food Allergy Group