Eating Vegan at Disney World

We were travelling with a large group (13 to be exact), and I didn't want to make a big scene about our dietary restrictions. I was nervous about not being able to find anything for myself or Nya to eat that was vegan/plant based, and I was sure I would get many stares and eye rolls. However, it was not an issue and everyone (omnivores and vegans alike) enjoyed all of our meals.

The Disney World parks are filled with a lot of sugary, GMO ridden food, but if you're prepared, you can easily avoid these without feeling like you're "missing out".

I had a great experience and found all of the restaurants to be very accommodating to my family's plant based lifestyle. I did give in to oil, which I typically limit or avoid at home. The main things I learned about eating this way while at Disney, were:

• Don't assume.

At a few of the restaurants, I scanned the menu and thought, "I can order some veggies, rice, and a side of beans for Nya". Wrong! The rice was cooked in milk, the vegetables were cooked in butter, and the beans were cooked with bacon.

• Always Ask... The right people.

At the first restaurant we ate, I asked the hostess about meal options, who pointed out there were many "vegan items to choose from", only to find out she was a little mistaken upon further investigation. Mention to your server that you are vegan, have food allergies, or have dietary restrictions, and a chef will promptly come to your table to help you.

• Be Clear.

Make sure you tell them exactly what you will and will not eat. One server thought "no animal products" meant fish was "ok".

I had done quite a bit of investigating before we left for Disney about what our dining options would be. Most people said to call ahead and speak with the chefs. I didn't find this helpful because 1) We didn't know when or where we'd be eating with such a large group, and 2) When we made reservations for later in the day and I tried to let them know the morning of, I was told to mention it to our server. 

I was also told that many of the restaurants had a "secret" vegan/vegetarian menu available if you ask. I didn't find this to be true, but then again, there are hundreds of restaurants in the parks we did not get to.

Additional Tips:

The walk up shops and food carts have ingredient  lists if you ask.

There is a fresh market at each park where you can get fruits and veggies (although not guaranteed organic).

Many restaurants and "ice cream" shops offer vegan options as well as sugar free vegan options (sorbet, tofutti, rice dream). Just make sure to ask and don't assume a sorbet is without added sugar.

There is a Whole Foods near the park if you have a car to stock up. For directions, click here.

Most of the rooms offer a mini fridge and if you bring a cooler, you can keep your food cold with fresh ice every evening. 

How we travel...

Since we were driving, we packed a lot of food, only planning on eating one big meal out each day, and snacking on the park's vegan soft pretzels (the soft pretzels are said to be vegan, just remember to ask before purchasing).

Items to pack:

• Carrot sticks and hummus (you can also purchase carrot sticks within the parks at many of the food carts)

• Bread, peanut butter, and jam (for making your own sandwiches)

• Fruit (apples, tangerines, and bananas are especially easy)

• Granola

• Camel back & water (store water in room with ice to keep cold and fill camel backs each day for easy carry and use)

• Cutting board

• Knife

• Tupperware/Bags for storage

I found my daughter was not as interested in the foods she normally loves. I packed a lot of variety for Nya (beans, fruit, muffins, pancakes, bagels, brownies, etc), and while she did eat what I had for her, she preferred to fill up on the meal we ate out, because it was something new.

Below are a few restaurants we tried that everyone thoroughly enjoyed!

Skyebird - About 30 minutes from Disney, located in Orlando. It was a great stop on the way in to load up on fresh juices and salads. It's located in a large market that has a few other vendors offering fresh, raw food (next door is a bakery that offers fresh vegan breads and desserts).

Ethos Vegan Kitchen - About 30 minutes from Disney, in Winter Park. Amazing restaurant serving all vegan food. We ordered a few things to split between us, and everything was delicious! Not everything was the healthiest (note, garlic knots), but they are the best knots I have ever eaten. Definitely a trip worth  making!

Garlic knots. Vegan butter not needed for dipping.

Fresh salad after splitting. Huge servings!

Black Bean burger made fresh in house with steamed broccoli.

My hubby's choice... BBQ Chickun, mashed potatoes with gravy, coleslaw, and collard greens.

Paradiso 37 - Located in Downtown Disney. If you plan for a late dinner, you can dine on the deck or ask for inside window seating, and view an amazing fireworks show across the lake without the crowds. The chef came to the table and walked me through everything I could and could not eat. They even brought me fresh, warmed tortillas to eat with the guacamole since the chips are not vegan.

Cilantro rice with roasted veggies.

Restaurant Marrakesh - Located in Epcot (Morocco). The food was really good, but everything is cooked with some animal product, so they prepared one of the dishes vegan. They usually have a belly dancing show in the evenings and invite children to participate.

Via Napoli - Located in Epcot (Italy). There wasn't a lot to choose from, but there pizza (minus the cheese) is amazing! The crust and sauce are vegan, and you can load them up with whatever veggies you wish. My daughter didn't mind one bit and felt like a "big kid" eating pizza with everyone else.

The Floridian - Located in St. Augustine, about 1.5 hours from Disney. We stopped here on our last day since we had to be out of the hotel but didn't want to make the long drive home so early. There is a lot to see and do in this town, and this quaint little restaurant had a great atmosphere and even better food.

I didn't get a picture of our meal, but this is the kids meal I got for Nya. Grilled tofu with steamed veggies.

Enjoy your Disney trip and please share your experience in the comments!

To connect with others in this crazy journey of life, discover new parenting ideas & fun DIY projects, learn about holistic remedies, & find whole food plant based recipes, please visit our Facebook page Loving Green at Loving Green FB.