I am lactose intolerant. And no, I can’t just take a Lactaid pill and not get sick. So traveling, and especially eating out, can be complicated and I always feel like a hassle to the staff at the restaurant.
Until I found my true love, Florida’s tourist locations. I spent my spring break in Orlando, Florida and it was Heaven. Every restaurant within Walt Disney World and Universal Studios, offers an allergy menu so I could easily see my many options.
Although, I am usually stuck with salads, grilled chicken with no breading or bun, and maybe a fruit cup for dessert (if I’m lucky), Orlando knew what I truly wanted and was able to deliver.
I received a delicious cookies and cream soy milkshake from Disney’s Sci-Fi Diner in Hollywood Studios.
Photo by Victoria Brown
During a breakfast at Animal Kingdom Lodge’s Boma, I devoured my own specialized Mickey waffles, bacon, and eggs.
And at Gaston’s Tavern in Magic Kingdom was able to gulp down LeFou’sBrew – a frozen apple juice with a hint of marshmallow, topped off with a citrus foam, making an incredible drink to quench my thirst.
Photo by Victoria Brown
Now you might be thinking what I was thinking, “Well this is only at Disney, the land where dreams come true!” Wrong.
We went to Universal Studios and found the same results. I enjoyed a dairy-free pizza from the Comic Strip Café and an amazing burger and fries (with a bun, finally) from the Hard Rock Café.
Photo by Victoria Brown
But my luck didn’t run out within the parks, I was able to go to a couple of restaurants within Orlando and was still pleasantly surprised. At Roy’s, I was able to enjoy pork dumplings and sushi, alongside a beautiful virgin mojito.
Photo by Victoria Brown
It’s not just for dairy allergies either – every allergy has options. Even if you are allergic to basically everything, they will make major accommodations so you feel accepted and can finally indulge in the food you’ve been waiting for. Their cooks and managers make it a goal to make sure everyone is having an amazing experience. The allergy menu is just one of the ways they do that.
My experience in Orlando was great, and if you have an allergy, no matter what it may be, they have exactly what you want and need. And Ames? It’s time to step up your allergy game.