Staying at a Universal Orlando Resort Hotel with Food Allergies

How do you pick a resort that fits your wants, needs, and more importantly, your food allergies?  It may be surprising to some, but some of my favorite Universal Orlando Resorts are the Value and Prime Value resorts!  Besides having great prices, they have huge kitchens for cooking, and some even have an area where they cook only allergy-friendly food.  Cabana Bay Beach Resort has amazed me every time I have stayed there with my meals.  I do also enjoy the Wok Station at Aventura for a healthy meal.  Here you can choose your protein, base, and veggies and then get a fresh pan and even a chef to make sure you’re getting a safe meal!  

If you’re looking for a resort with a water taxi, a slower pace, and want to enjoy a sit-down meal, the Premier and Preferred resorts will be for you!  The Premier resorts are Hard Rock Hotel, Portofino Bay Hotel, and Royal Pacific Resort.  The Preferred hotel is Sapphire Falls Resort.  The chefs at the Preferred and Premier resorts are accommodating at the sit-down restaurants.   I’ve had some really great meals at The Kitchen in Hard Rock Hotel, Amatista Cookhouse in Sapphire Falls, and Jake’s in Royal Pacific.  If you’re looking for quick service, the Premier and Preferred resorts don’t have a huge variety of meals for allergy-friendly food because they generally don’t have a full kitchen in them. Sal’s Market Deli at Portofino Bay Hotel is one that I did have great luck at.  Premier resorts do have a club level available and they are very accommodating.  I was able to contact them prior to my trip and they had something I could eat every time!  

If you are planning to stay at a Universal Orlando Resort,  make sure to email chefs ahead of time at the resort you’re staying. I have successfully emailed the chefs at Endless Summer Surfside and Cabana Bay Beach Resort.  Both times I was super impressed with the response time of the chefs and how I was treated when I arrived at the resorts.  For Cabana Bay, I was even given names of other chefs that I should speak to if Chef Paul wasn’t there.  It really eased my worry about ordering at the quick-serve locations of these resorts knowing the chefs had a heads up and would leave some proteins out of the marinade for me so they would be garlic free!  

Visiting the Universal Orlando Theme Parks with Food Allergies

Whether you’re a Walt Disney World pro that is heading to Universal Orlando for the first time, or you are heading to Orlando for the first time, it can be hard to know what to expect when it comes to ordering safe food!  Universal Orlando does have a similar process for ordering meals when you have food allergies at their quick service and sit-down restaurants as Walt Disney World does. 

Your first step is asking to speak to a chef or a manager when you are ordering. At quick-service restaurants, you will ask the cashier to speak to a chef, and at sit-down restaurants, you will ask your server if you can speak to a chef.  The chef or manager will bring you a list of ingredients and talk to you about what will work best for you. Some places may have more options than others but they’ll let you know what is safe and how they’ll cook it to keep you as safe as possible.  The person taking your order can also help give suggestions about other things that may be an option but isn’t on their allergy menu.  Chefs will make sure the food is not cross-contaminated or cooked with one of your allergens or intolerances when they are preparing your food.  Depending on your food allergies and preferences, they may be able to make food on a fresh pan to avoid cross-contamination.

So now that you know how to order, where should you eat?  Quick-service restaurants are great places to eat quickly and get back to the parks.  One of my favorite quick-service restaurants to eat at is Captain America Diner in Islands of Adventure.  They have great chefs and have always made my food safe and delicious!  One chef there even tracked me down to double-check everything was safe for me.  If you’re hoping for a Harry Potter-themed quick service meal, Three Broomsticks is the best! They have a great selection of meals to choose from and it’s definitely worth any wait.  I have gone in and ordered at a slow time and requested a safe ½ chicken meal for a later return time and I’ve gone in and asked to be fed as soon as they can.  They have accommodated me each time and I’m always impressed by the food.

When it comes to sit-down meals, Mythos wins every time!  I have had so many great meals there, it doesn’t feel like a trip to Islands of Adventure without dining at the “World’s Best Theme Park Restaurant” as awarded by Theme Park Insider!  When you dine at Mythos Restaurant, you will feel like you’re in the setting of a Greek mythology story.  The setting and the food will make for a meal you won’t forget any time soon!  If you are looking for a sit-down meal at CityWalk, Hard Rock Cafe or NBC Sports Grill & Brew are both great options.  They both provide a fun atmosphere in their restaurant and some great food!  

Universal Orlando’s newest resort property, Aventura Hotel, is an excellent option for travelers seeking style, sophistication, and convenience on their Universal Orlando Vacation.

Situated next to Loews Sapphire Falls Resort and across the street from Cabana Bay Beach Resort, Aventura has an excellent location in the Prime resort category. Universal Orlando features a Garden Walk – a beautifully landscaped walkway that connects the property from Loews Portofino Bay resort all the way to Volcano Bay. Aventura is a very short (5 min) walk to Volcano Bay! Access to CityWalk, Universal Orlando, and Islands of Adventure is only a 15-20 min walk.  Buses also service Aventura and will drop guests at the parking garage entrance to CityWalk, leaving a short 5 min walk to the parks from the bus stop!

This resort is sleek and modern. The immense lobby feels open, airy, and bright.  Featuring windows along the side and back sections of the hotel, light floods the lobby and leads guests outdoors toward the pool and poolside bar, Sol.

Guestrooms are located on floors 2-16, and are well-appointed with 2 queen beds, floor to ceiling windows, and modern amenities. Aventura is the most high-tech of the Universal Resorts, featuring an iPad in every room to control everything from AC/heat, Television, chat with front desk team members, ordering room service and amenities from Relay. Orlando Resort.

Relay is perhaps the resort’s most surprising team member. Relay the robot can deliver small amenities such as coffee pods, washcloths, shampoo, and soap to guests on every floor simply by requesting the items via the room iPad.

Resort amenities include Bar 17, a rooftop bar with an incredible view of the Orlando area. This bar is a perfect place for unwinding after a long day in the parks, or just enjoying the evening after a day lounging poolside.

For Guests with flight times outside normal check-in/check-out windows, Luggage Services will hold bags until needed. Guests have full use of the resort from time of arrival prior to check-in availability and all day on the departure date.  Planning on spending a day at the park before heading to the airport? Aventura makes it so easy – check out in the morning via the iPad or your personal device, drop bags with Luggage Services, and enjoy the parks. When guests return to retrieve bags, there is a locker room with showers on the second floor making it very easy to clean up and change into travel clothes if desired.

Aventura Hotel is a modern, sophisticated resort that has a luxe feel without the high price tag. With easy access to all three parks, and a relaxing atmosphere onsite, Aventura Hotel will definitely elevate your vacation experience at Universal