Dairy Free Ice Cream??

[Mjkre]

I have a daughter who is allergic to dairy (and wheat and chocolate). One of the things that brings us back to Disney is that they offer Dairy Free Ice Cream almost everywhere--Rice Dream, Tofuti, or Soy Delcious. I have searched all the blogs and menus for Universal but cannot locate any. Does anyone know of any location anywhere at Universal Parks or Hotels that offer Dairy Free Ice cream?

 

[damo]

Butterbeer (not the ice cream variety) is dairy free except there is casein in the base. If she is good with Dole Whip, she can have Butterbeer. Apparently it has been rated dairy free by the FDA but if the allergy is severe, it probably is not recommended.

Other than that, I don't think there is any dairy free ice cream. I'll search through old posts and try to find anything that may be helpful. Unfortunately, Universal isn't nearly as good with food allergies and sensitivities as WDW.

 

[damo]

Butterbeer (not the ice cream variety) is dairy free except there is casein in the base. If she is good with Dole Whip, she can have Butterbeer. Apparently it has been rated dairy free by the FDA but if the allergy is severe, it probably is not recommended.

Other than that, I don't think there is any dairy free ice cream. I'll search through old posts and try to find anything that may be helpful. Unfortunately, Universal isn't nearly as good with food allergies and sensitivities as WDW.

My findings.....Rainbow Ice at the Dippin' Dots trucks

 

[johde]

Since it's self serve there would be a possibility of cross contamination but several of Menchie's flavors are listed as Dairy and Gluten free. Menchie's is in city walk. Looking at their website, https://www.menchies.com/frozen-yogurt-shops/frozen-yogurt-genie-place-tn/flavors it looks like it would be all of their sorbets. The flavors rotate so there would be no guarantee what sorbets would be available when you are there.

 

[Mjkre]

Since it's self serve there would be a possibility of cross contamination but several of Menchie's flavors are listed as Dairy and Gluten free. Menchie's is in city walk. Looking at their website, https://www.menchies.com/frozen-yogurt-shops/frozen-yogurt-genie-place-tn/flavors it looks like it would be all of their sorbets. The flavors rotate so there would be no guarantee what sorbets would be available when you are there.

Thank you both for trying! I had found the rainbow ice Dippen dots and also a variety of ices and slushies. She is prepared for and sadly used to not being able to have dessert at a restaurant --only in Disney has she been able to actually be a kid and eat kid food and have dessert that she loves! But the pull of Harry Potter is too powerful to ignore!

Thanks again!

 

[johde]

Definitely don't give up. I know just like Disney, many of the table service restaurants will make off menu meals to accommodate just about any special dietary needs. I know when I was in Emeril's the table beside me had the chef come out and make a "special" 3 course meal designed for them. Appetizers, Entree, and Dessert. They had a separate kitchen to avoid cross contamination. You should also contact USF directly foodservicecuf@universalorlando.com and see if they have any suggestions. They may have "off menu" items that we don't know about. For example, I read that Bay Liner Diner has a Gluten Free Pizza that isn't on the menu but is available for the asking (and also cooked in a separate area).

 

[Mjkre]

The first time we went to Disney- we knew nothing of how great they were. We just winged it with a lot of plain food and ice pops! We were very new to the food allergies at that time. I think we were on the last night of our trip when the chef came to our table and told us we should have been vocal all along! The multiple allergies does make it difficult to find "fun" food for her...who wants to eat just broiled plain food on vacation and no dessert?! We now know it pays to get the most information ahead of time-- but I will keep asking! And the sorbets at Menchies look great (I had never heard of that place before so I probably wouldn't have given it much thought). And I will be sure to report back anything else we find. We will be there next week! So thanks again!

 

[macraven]

The first time we went to Disney- we knew nothing of how great they were. We just winged it with a lot of plain food and ice pops! We were very new to the food allergies at that time. I think we were on the last night of our trip when the chef came to our table and told us we should have been vocal all along! The multiple allergies does make it difficult to find "fun" food for her...who wants to eat just broiled plain food on vacation and no dessert?! We now know it pays to get the most information ahead of time-- but I will keep asking! And the sorbets at Menchies look great (I had never heard of that place before so I probably wouldn't have given it much thought). And I will be sure to report back anything else we find. We will be there next week! So thanks again!

below are a few things i found out googling the website.
it might help you in advance.
include a phone number if you email food service at universal.


If you have venue-specific questions or questions that have not been answered here, you can e-mail FoodServiceCUF@universalorlando.com for dining locations within Universal’s Islands of Adventure®, Universal Studios Florida® or Universal CityWalk®. Please allow 48 hours for a response. To make dining reservations at one of our on-site hotels, please visit the concierge desks located in the lobby of each hotel or call 407-503-DINE for more information.


Research Dining Options Before You Arrive
As you’re making plans to visit Universal Orlando® Resort, browse through the online menusfor our theme park restaurants. Acquainting yourself with the available options ahead of time can give you a head start later. If you have any further questions after viewing the menus, you can call 407-224-3463 and speak to a Guests Services Team Member.

 

[Mjkre]

Thanks! I have been reading all the blogs and menus for months and have a list of where I think we can find the best otpions for her and the rest of the family. I emailed Foodservicecuf yesterday and asked some specific questions. What I would love from them is a list of specific allergy friendly foods found at specific restaurants if they have one. Disney gave me one years ago and it made it so easy to decide which counter service to go to in the parks (Columbia Harbor House became our go to place after that bc of the allergy free chicken tenders... for a normally "deprived" 5 year old that was her dream meal!). And, of couse, we found out about all the great dairy free ice cream offerings!

I am hoping to come across something similar but we have a list of backups for meals if we don't. In my mind, we are all on vacation and vacation rules apply.....so is there really anything that wrong with a peice of fruit and rainbow dippin dots for breakfast? lol! My kids love vacation rules!

 

[schumigirl]

Yep....gotta love vacation rules.........

Hope it works out for you......one of my friends has kids with numerous allergies and they found the folks at Universal very helpful when they contacted them for help. They did speak to someone directly before their trip and contacted them when they arrived too.

They had no issues there.