Vacationers should be aware that allergy-friendly options at Walt Disney World restaurants may now include some ingredients previously classified as tree nuts. Disney is updating its definition of tree nuts on menu items to align with the FDA’s recent guidance about major food allergens.
The Florida theme park announced on October 6, 2026, that it would use the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s revised list of tree nuts.
Coconut, long classified among tree nuts that require federal allergen labeling despite it not being a nut, is now off the list.
The revised FDA list also excludes: beech nut, butternut (or white walnut), cola/kola nut, chestnut, chinquapin, ginkgo nut, hickory nut, palm nut, pili nut and shea nut.
The FDA’s Guidance for Industry: Questions and Answers Regarding Food Allergens (Edition 5) was released in January 2025. It states that tree nuts were excluded from the list because they, “do not have a robust body of evidence to support inclusion as a major food allergen.”
“This means guests with allergies to any of the above items should pay careful attention when ordering,” Disney advises. “Items labeled safe for tree nut allergies will no longer exclude these ingredients.”
Confusion for Some Disney Visitors
Disney’s announcement has elicited some unease and confusion. Comments on Facebook groups, such as the Disney Food Allergy Group and Pixie Lizzie: Magical Food Allergy Travel Agent, reflect concerns. For example, a few travelers managing allergies to hickory are worried that the blanket “tree nut free” statement on menu items no long protects them.
However, Disney vacation planner Lizzie Reynolds says the theme park’s move to use the FDA’s tree nut list brings clarity. The travel agent specializes in helping customers with food allergies plan trips through her business Pixie Lizzie. She notes that she is not a spokesperson for Disney, but knows the parks and cruise line well when it comes to food allergies.
“It’s best if restaurants follow the same guidelines, so that everyone is on the same page as the FDA and communication is clear,” Reynolds tells Allergic Living.
She notes that the FDA’s revised list can clear up frustration over unnecessarily avoiding items that used to be labeled “contains tree nuts” when coconut was an ingredient. Disney guests with tree nut allergies, but not a coconut allergy, often avoided items available at quick service and snack kiosks for this reason, she says.
Reynolds encourages her clients to read the ingredient label in the food allergy binders to determine which tree nut is actually in the product. “This enables them to explore many more meals and snacks that would have otherwise been crossed off their list and limited their choices,” she says.
As well, Disney chefs are known to accommodate allergies beyond the Top 9.
Navigating Disney Dining
Reynolds offers some tips on how to safely navigate dining with food allergies at Disney.
- Read ingredients. At quick service and snack kiosk locations, read the allergy binder and look for your allergens in the ingredient list. Ask for a special diets-trained cast member to take your order at quick service locations.
- Speak to the chef. At table and buffet restaurants, ask for the chef every time instead of ordering from the server. The chef will make fresh food for you.
- Make allergy cards. Reynolds tells her clients with multiple food allergies to print multiple copies so the chef doesn’t have to worry about returning the card. Hand one directly to the chef, while also verbally stating your allergies. If you have an allergy outside of the top 9 allergens, including derivative products of that allergen, include it on your card. For example, if you are allergic to palm nut, but can safely eat food made with palm oil, note that beside the allergen on your card.
These steps, which can help mitigate the risks of experiencing an allergic reaction, are important for Disney guests with any food allergies or dietary needs.
In addition to its tree nut list revision, Disney also made some changes in February 2026. They included updated wording in the allergy disclaimer on its websites and online menus.
It includes: “While we take steps to prevent cross-contact, we cannot guarantee that any item is completely free of allergens …. It is ultimately at Guests’ discretion to make an informed choice based upon their individual dietary needs.”
The Disney World website explains its dining accommodations and steps guests can take to navigate food allergies and dietary requests. There is no word on whether Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California will follow these changes.
FDA’s Tree Nut List
Disney’s revised list of tree nuts follows FDA guidance that makes recommendations based on federal regulations the agency enforces.
The Federal Food Drug & Cosmetic Act requires packaged foods to clearly label the top 9 allergens. The regulation spells out that ingredients that are major food allergens must be listed in the ingredients or in an adjacent ‘contains’ statement.
The list of tree nuts now classified as major food allergens on the revised list in the FDA guidance are:
- Almond
- Brazil nut
- Cashew
- Filbert/hazelnut
- Macadamia/bush nut
- Pecan
- Pine nut
- Pistachio
- Walnut (black, California, Heartnut/Japanese, English, Persian)
When determining which tree nut or any other allergen might be in a Disney menu item, it is essential to read ingredient lists and communicate your allergy needs.
“You need to get the ingredient information firsthand to make an educated decision,” Reynolds stresses.
Related Reading:
Reality Check: What Disney’s Allergy Booking Changes Will Mean
NY Law Brings Allergen Labeling to Deli, Bakery Packaged Foods
Airline Meals and Allergens: 2 Troubling Reactions to Hidden Nut
