Last updated on February 20, 2025

When it comes to cruising, Disney Cruise Line (DCL) sets the gold standard for special dietary dining at sea – something we have experienced first hand ourselves as cruisers with celiac disease and food allergies. From enjoying gluten free churro Mickey waffles at breakfast to gluten free chicken tenders on the pool deck, the dedication of Disney Cruise Line to special dietary needs dining goes far beyond just the usual, “Can you eat this?” conversation. Since we started sailing on DCL, we’ve seen their gluten free and allergy protocols evolve, and as Platinum Castaway Cay Club members, who’ve dined our way across the fleet, we’re excited to share our insider knowledge of navigating Disney Cruise Line with dietary restrictions while still enjoying every magical moment at sea.

This comprehensive guide will cover the basics of how Disney Cruise Line handles celiac disease, food allergies, and other special dietary needs. We’ll walk you through every step from pre-cruise planning and notification to stepping onboard and enjoying everything DCL has to offer. We’ll include general tips and information so you’ll know what to expect on your Disney Cruise.

Disney Cruise Line’s Commitment to Special Dieatary Needs

Disney Dream cruise ship docked in Castaway Cay Bahamas on a sunny day — Photo ©️ Gluten Free Disney Cruise

Like the Disney Parks and Resorts, Disney Cruise Line has earned a stellar reputation in the travel industry for their exceptional handling of dietary restrictions. From their rotational main dining restaurants to the quick service locations on the pool deck, Disney’s commitment to ensuring safe meals is something that truly sets DCL apart from other cruise lines. Disney Cruise Line has developed comprehensive protocols to ensure that guests with dietary restrictions can dine safely.

Of course, with multiple dining venues, including a buffet, and thousands of meals being prepared daily, cross-contamination is a real concern if you’re gluten free. Add in the inability to simply “grab something elsewhere” while you’re at sea makes careful planning essential.

Plate of gluten free food options, including Mickey Waffles, a custom omelet, and corned beef hash from Marceline Market on the Disney Wish — Photo ©️ Gluten Free Disney Cruise

As we’ll explore in this guide, there are many ways that Disney Cruise Line works to provide guests a safe and less stressful dining experience. You can find out more about DCL’s commitment to special dietary needs on their website.

Before Your Cruise

Screenshot of the Special Services form on the Disney Cruise Line website

Before you even step aboard one of Disney’s ships, there’s several things you can do to help ensure that you have a successful cruise gluten free. Disney Cruise Line has several steps you can take before your cruise to ensure that your dietary needs are met from the moment you set sail.

Notifying Disney Cruise Line

As soon as you book your Disney Cruise, it’s important to let DCL know about your gluten free dietary requirements (or any other dietary needs you might have). While you can technically notify them up to 3 days prior to your sailing, we always recommend letting the cruise line know as soon as you book, so you don’t forget. Notifying Disney Cruise Line in advance helps ensure that the culinary team has ample time to prepare and stock gluten free products, like buns, bread, and muffins, before your sailing. Procurement on DCL ships can be impacted by low inventory, product changes, and even where the ship is obtaining supplies, so even with advance notice, products can vary sailing to sailing.

The notification is straightforward but essential. If you booked your cruise with a travel agent, they can contact Disney Cruise Line on your behalf to ensure your dietary needs are indicated on your reservation. This is how we typically book our cruises. If you booked your cruise with DCL directly, you can call them and have your reservation updated with this information. By doing this step, you’re helping ensure that your dietary needs are not only communicated to the culinary team but also your service team for your sailing.

Completing the Special Dietary Requests Form

In addition to contacting Disney Cruise Line directly through your agent or by calling yourself, you can also fill out Disney’s Special Dietary Requests Form. This online form is similar to what a guest might see when they make a dining reservation at the Disney Parks and Resorts. It includes the top 8 common allergens (gluten/wheat, egg, fish/shellfish, milk, peanut/tree nut, and soy) along with no sugar/low sugar and no protein/low protein. If you have special dietary needs beyond this list, be sure to notify Disney Cruise Line directly.

Disney Cruise Line also has a section found under your cruise reservation called “Special Requests.” This form can be used if you have additional special dietary needs beyond gluten free, such as vegetarian or vegan.

Screenshot of the Special Requests form on the Disney Cruise Line website

Working with Special Services

If you have specific needs that go beyond Disney Cruise Line’s standard protocol, you can contact DCL directly or work through your travel agent to discuss any additional concerns with their team. For instance, if you have a child who will only eat a specific brand of a food or have a special event that you need to plan for, Disney Cruise Line may be able to work with you to provide additional options. In the case of a specific food brand, you will need to contact DCL several months in advance as procurement or other protocols may take time. If you aren’t sure if you need to contact Special Services, you can always ask your travel agent or call Disney Cruise Line directly for additional information too.

Review Disney Cruise Line FAQs and Policies

Disney Cruise Line provides a lot of helpful information to help you get started and answer some of your general questions about sailing gluten free even before you step foot on a DCL ship. If you’re still looking for pre-cruise info, like their policy about bringing food onboard, storing medication, and other important information.

Final Thoughts and Next Steps

Planning a Disney Cruise when you’re gluten free doesn’t have to be overwhelming. With a bit of planning and preparation, you’ll be able to sail away on a worry-free trip filled with delicious (and safe!) food and magical memories. This guide covers the essential pre-cruise planning steps, but there’s other tips and info to help you every step of the way on your gluten free cruising adventure.

Be sure to check out our detailed guides on navigating specific venues once you’re onboard a Disney Cruise ship, including embarkation day, the main dining rooms, quick service locations, the ship’s buffet, adults only dining, room service options, and more.

The Complete Gluten Free Planning Guide: Everything You Need to Know Before You Sail on Disney Cruise Line in 2025