Disney World updated its allergy rules to follow FDA guidance. As of Oct. 6, tree nut allergy-friendly dishes at Disney restaurants may contain coconut, chestnut, shea and more.
If you or someone in your family has a tree nut allergy, there’s a change at Disney World you need to know about.
Disney updated its special dietary requests page to match newer U.S. Food and Drug Administration guidance on tree nuts. Starting Oct. 6, 2026, some ingredients that used to count as tree nuts can show up in Disney’s allergy-friendly options.
The biggest one is coconut. Kenny the Pirate reported the change on Oct. 9, and Disney’s own website spells it out.
What changed with Disney World’s tree nut allergy menus?
“Updated FDA guidance has changed how certain ingredients are classified,” Disney’s website now says. “The FDA no longer classifies the following ingredients as major tree nut allergens.”
After listing them, the page adds: “As a result, effective October 6, 2026, menu items at Disney-owned and -operated restaurants containing any of the above ingredients may be included in our allergy-friendly options.”
In plain terms, a dish marked as tree nut allergy-friendly could still contain one of those ingredients.
Which ingredients are no longer considered tree nuts at Disney World?
Disney lists 11:
Coconut
Kola (cola nut)
Beechnut
Butternut
Chestnut
Chinquapin
Ginkgo nut
Hickory nut
Palm nut
Pili nut
Shea nut (shea)
If you’re allergic to any of them, don’t rely on the tree nut allergy-friendly label alone anymore.
Why did the FDA change its tree nut list?
The FDA updated its food allergen guidance in January 2025. The new guidance narrowed its list of major tree nut allergens to almonds, Brazil nuts, cashews, hazelnuts, macadamias, pecans, pine nuts, pistachios and walnuts, Allergic Living reported.
The FDA said the other nuts don’t have a strong enough body of evidence to count as major allergens. They still have to be named in a product’s ingredient list, though.
Disney World is now lining up its restaurant menus with that guidance.
What should you do if you have a coconut allergy at Disney World?
Talk to a cast member every time. Disney asks guests with allergies to speak with a Special Diets-Trained Cast Member when they arrive at a restaurant and before ordering.
Be specific. Instead of only saying “tree nut allergy,” name the exact ingredient you need to avoid, like coconut or chestnut.
Disney’s page also says it can’t guarantee any dish is completely free of allergens. Its allergy-friendly recipes may use highly refined oils, like soybean oil, and ingredients made in facilities that also process allergens.
How does Disney World handle food allergies?
Disney is known for being pretty good with allergies, and the basics haven’t changed.
Table-service and some quick-service restaurants have allergy-friendly menus, and buffets have a guide. Those menus cover the major allergens the FDA lists: eggs, fish, milk, peanuts, sesame, shellfish, soy, tree nuts and wheat, plus gluten.
Orders made through Disney’s allergy process come with a visual marker, like a pick or a sticker. Disney recommends checking your order with the cast member when it arrives, even if you see the marker.
When should you contact Disney about a food allergy?
Before your trip if your needs are more complicated. Disney asks guests to email its special diets team ahead of time if someone in the party has four or more allergy requests, needs pureed meals or follows a medically restrictive diet.
For everyone else, the in-person conversation with a trained cast member is the main step. Even favorite dishes can change ingredients, so it’s smart to ask every visit, Kenny the Pirate noted.
Article compiled with the help of the Pirates & Princesses newsroom.
Pirates and Princesses is your destination for Disney news, theme park updates, and the pop culture you love. From Disney cruises and travel tips to Disney fashion, food, collectibles, and movie news, PNP covers it all. Visit us at piratesandprincesses.net for daily coverage. Follow PNP on Facebook and Instagram, and listen to the Pirates & Princesses podcast on Apple Podcasts and YouTube.
Hat Tips:
Walt Disney World Special Dietary Requests page, Oct. 10, 2026: updated tree nut wording and allergy process
Kenny the Pirate, Oct. 9, 2026: report on the change
Allergic Living, Jan. 17, 2025: FDA’s updated food allergen guidance
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