Can You Enjoy EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival With Food Allergies?

Do you or someone in your travel party have food allergies? Are you wondering if you can still enjoy the EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival? We have the details on how you too can navigate the festival.

Navigating Food Allergies at Disney World

Navigating any food allergy can be challenging and stressful. I (Heather) have a child with food allergies. I know how much anxiety can be brought on by trying to find “safe” foods when dining out or even just grocery shopping.

One place we have become more comfortable with dining out is Disney World. Disney World is very accommodating to food allergies.

However, it is important to remain vigilant to have the safest experience possible. Recently, a third-party restaurant had an incident and a lawsuit has since been filed. You can read the story HERE.

My family prefers to stick with Disney-owned restaurants when placing orders that my child with food allergies will eat. There are many third-party restaurants in EPCOT and Disney Springs.

You can read about some of my experiences of dining with food allergies at Tusker House, Crystal Palace, and ‘Ohana. Guests with food allergies can even still trick-or-treat at Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party!

EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival

The EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival runs from February 28, 2024, to May 27, 2024. This year’s festival features almost 20 Outdoor Kitchens and over 60 new items to enjoy! 

EPCOT’s International Flower & Garden Festival runs from Februatry 28 to May 27, 2024.

Check out all the menus for the festival HERE.

Disney Disclaimer

In the Festival Passport, you will find all the menu items along with activities for kids, topiaries, garden destinations, merchandise, tours, Garden Rocks Concert Series, and the Festival Cuisine Key. Here at the Festival Cuisine Key, you will find the Garden Graze indicator and the Plant-Based indicator (made without animal meat, dairy, eggs, and honey).

Guests must speak to a cast Member about their Allergy-Friendly request. While we take steps to help mitigate cross-contact, we cannot guarantee that any item is completely free of allergens. Our Allergy-Friendly recipes may use highly refined oils, such as soybean oil, and/or ingredients that are processed in facilities that also process allergens. It is ultimately our Guests’ discretion to make an informed choice based on their individual dietary needs. For more information about Allergy-Friendly requests, ask to speak with a Special Diets Trained Cast Member upon arrival at the location.

-Disney Festival Cuisine Key

Disney Allergy-Friendly Menu

Disney has begun to list Allergy-Friendly menus for most of their locations. You can see these Allergy-Friendly menus further down on the restaurant’s menu on the My Disney Experience App. This can be very helpful when deciding where to it. Guests will have a better idea of what they can order.

It is important to note that speaking with Cast Members and the chef before ordering is still recommended. However, I do like that you can see the Allergy-Friendly offerings each Disney restaurant has.

This also may not be a complete list and the menus sometimes list items safe for each allergen individually versus the food item and which allergen it is free from. This is why it is extremely important to talk to a chef before ordering if you have multiple allergies.

Disney has listed out all the food items that can be made excluding some or all of the top allergens. Click HERE to see the EPCOT International Flower and Garden Festival – Allergy-Friendly Options at Outdoor Kitchens.

My Experience

I recently visited the Flower and Garden Festival and wanted to see how ordering Allergy-Friendly items would work. I used the Festival Passport to find the EPCOT International Flower and Garden Festival – Allergy-Friendly Options at Outdoor Kitchens menu, you can scan the QR code to bring this menu up on your mobile device.

When it was my turn, I asked the Cast Member for verification that my item would be free from my requested allergens. She stated that they did not have the ingredient book right there, but she would find out. She placed a quick phone call and was able to verify that my item did not have my allergens. This was very reassuring. I had ordered the Seasonal Fruit Parfait. You can read my review HERE.

Some booths say that you will need to see the “Allergen Guide upon arrival to the location.” These locations may have an ingredient book, or you may have to speak with a chef. If you speak with a chef, do know that this could take some time as they may have to come from another location, so plan accordingly.

It is always important to verify that your item is free from allergens and that the Cast Members know so that the risk of cross-contamination is lessened.

What This Means for you

It is important to feel safe and still be able to enjoy all the fun food items that Disney offers with these festivals. I love that Disney is now offering up items that more people can enjoy.

Use the EPCOT International Flower and Garden Festival – Allergy-Friendly Options at Outdoor Kitchens to find Allergy-Friendly items and confirm with a Cast Member that your item is still free from your allergens.

When you visit the festival and want to enjoy the food offerings, be sure to not only verify in the EPCOT International Flower and Garden Festival – Allergy-Friendly Options at Outdoor Kitchens but also with the Cast Members. Ultimately, it is your comfort level if the food is safe and a good choice for you.

What do you think of Disney trying to make it easier for everyone to be able to enjoy the Flower and Garden Festival? Have you enjoyed any of the Allergy-Friendly items? What was your experience with the Flower and Garden Festival with food allergies? Let us know in the comments below and be sure to share this post with a friend!