When you have to eat gluten free, going to a theme park can be quite the challenge. Contrary to what people think, it’s not something you can turn off or just skip for a visit; if you are not strict, you can get pretty sick. Fortunately, there are some gluten-free options in Disneyland Paris; although still pretty limited, it’s getting better. Let’s look at how you can navigate the parks without eating gluten.
Gluten free food at Disneyland Paris
One of the things Disneyland Paris is very vocal about is making sure every guest can have a magical time, and they are willing to accommodate you if you have any special diet or needs.
Being on a gluten free diet is one of them, and all the staff members we have encountered were very helpful in making sure we got what we needed. However, the food options are pretty limited.
Disneyland Paris offers an allergy friendly menu, currently (May 2023), consisting of the following:
Starters:
- QUINOA AND VEGETABLE TABBOULEH
- TURKEY AND RICE SALAD
- SWEETCORN SALAD
Main courses:
- BEEF MEATBALLS AND CARROT AND POTATO MASH
- VEAL IN TOMATO SAUCE WITH RICE
- PAELLA-STYLE CHICKEN AND RICE
- QUINOA AND VEGETABLES
Desserts:
- APPLE & RASPBERRY DESSERT
- COCOA DESSERT
- VEGETAL MILK RICE
All these are prepackaged and not the most delicious food you can eat on Disney property, but they are allergyfriendly. It should be, however, a last resort.
Don’t be afraid to ask
When you enter a restaurant, make sure to tell the cast member about your special diet. They can show you dietary information on all items on the menu or walk with you to the buffet to show you the items that are gluten free. Most cast members speak English or will get a colleague if they can’t, so don’t be afraid to ask. All the cast members we have encountered were nothing but nice and accommodating.
Keep in mind that they can’t guarantee that there wasn’t any cross-contamination, so if you are really strict, then you might want to stick to the – not so delicious – prepackaged meals (which are like the ones you get in a hospital).
Gluten free breakfast in Disneyland Paris
At breakfast at Disney Hotels, you can mostly eat fresh fruit, eggs, and bacon. They do offer all-you-can-eat prepackaged bread and rolls that you will need to ask for. Do this when you are seated at your table, and if you need more, just find another cast member.
You can even bring these with you to the parks to eat later, which can be a great lunch or snack.
We are not sure about gluten free breakfast at the hotels outside of Disneyland Paris, as we stayed at a Disney Hotel. However, always ask and see what they can do for you. If they can’t make accommodations, then you can visit the supermarket at Val d’Europe, where they sell gluten free prepackaged items.
To get to Val d’Europe, you can take the RER-A or take a shuttle bus near the Disney Village parking garage (near Vapiano) to Hotel Adagio or Hotel l’Elysee Val d’Europe, which are both located next to the shopping centre.
Snacks
For snacks, it’s the same as with the other items; it’s best to ask. Items like popcorn, ice cream, and fudge are mostly gluten free but can have some cross contamination or gluten based on the flavour.
The candy store in Main Street U.S.A. has some gluten free sweets and prepackaged candy, which we enjoyed. But still, bring some snacks from home just in case. Even though there are some options, they can be pretty limited.
To conclude, as you might expect, it can be quite challenging to find a good gluten free meal at Disneyland Paris. Especially if you don’t want to eat prepackaged microwave meals. Most of the time, this means that at a restaurant, you will get some bland vegetables or a hamburger without a bun, but they will try their best to make your meal special, as far as possible, that is.
Any good gluten free suggestions? Leave them in the comments below!
