nativetxn
<font color=teal>Moderator<br><font color=red>Hono
- Joined
- Feb 15, 2000
I found a great article about eating as a vegetarian at WDW by Michelle Richer-Mengerink and thought I would share it here.
As every vegetarian/vegan knows, vacationing can be a somewhat scary experience. When dining within your own "stomping grounds," you know which places to go to and which places to stay far, far away from. You know which establishments put animal stocks in their soups and which places may attempt to fry your "veggie" burger on a lard-encrusted grill.
So, upon my first trip to Walt Disney World as a vegetarian, I was very leary. Where would I eat? Could I really find a decent meal within an amusement park? Well, the answers to these questions astonished me. There are so many choices of places to eat; the real question would be WHICH place would I choose? As for finding a decent meal, again, so many choices
I will try to give you some suggestions regarding exceptional dining establishments and some general dining tips for vegetarians/vegans in WDW. Some of these things are probably most obvious, but others I discovered throughout my years of touring WDW. Many of these things, I do in my everyday world of dining out. But <b>most of all, what I hope to accomplish is to give you a better understanding of your options </b>
First, I must tell you that I am a tremendously picky eater. I have never been one to be into "fancy" foods or "exotic" foods. Being a vegetarian can pose a certain amount of problems due to those two factors alone. Then throw in the fact that I do not like mushrooms, onions, and a myriad of other vegetables. Well, I think you will soon see that I am a pretty fussy eater. So, if I can find something to eat at WDW, I KNOW you can!
I have had some of my most successful dining experiences when eating at a buffet restaurant. The choices are much more varied, the food is available to "visually inspect," and the buffet attendants are readily available to answer any questions I have about ingredients, food preparation, etc.
At the buffets, I can SEE my choices and then I can pick and choose to make a meal for myself. Since many vegetarians use many side dishes to create a meal (as opposed to one main dish), the buffet system is perfect.
<b>Some of the best buffets I have found are Bomas, Chef Mickeys, 1900 Park Fare, and the Crystal Palace.</b> But I do not think I have had a "bad buffet experience" within the World. One tip: do not be afraid to eat off the kids buffet - no one will mind. Trust me! I have also found I prefer the breakfast buffets. Now, I do eat dairy - so if you do not, then these may not be your favorites. But with the breakfast buffets, I never leave without feeling absolutely stuffed to the gills! One word of caution here: many of the breakfast potatoes contain meat/lard in them. BUT: you can usually obtain some meat-free hash browns just by asking.
Another successful dining venue for me has been the sit-down restaurants. When making the priority seatings for these, (more on priority seatings later) I usually alert the Reservation Specialist that a vegetarian will be in the party. By doing this, your priority seating has now been "flagged." What exactly does this mean? Well, in my past experience - this means a chef will visit personally with you to discuss your meal preferences/options. I call this pampering at its best. The chef will talk about your personal likes/dislikes; discuss preparation methods, ingredients available, and options. Together, you will create a meal that you will love. This is a wonderful treat, and I have had some meals that made my non-vegetarian dining companions envious!
Now, even if you do not alert your veggie status on your priority seating, be sure to mention this to your host/hostess or server. Do not be afraid to speak up. I will always remember what a chef at the Garden Grill said to me while discussing my meal options, "Remember: We are in YOUR world now. What can I make for YOU to make you happy?" And he was most sincere, and that meal was most divine.
<b>Sometimes while looking at a menu, you feel as though you will have to go hungry or dine on appetizers alone. But this is not necessarily the case. Often by talking with the chef or staff - you may discover other options.</b> For example, a veggie burger is not listed on the menu at the Prime Time Café. However, when I asked my server if the kitchen had any in stock lo and behold, moments later I was dining on one. Subtractions and additions can often be made to meals, as well. For example, you can often order salads minus the chicken, pastas minus the meatballs, etc.
Even the counter service restaurants offer various vegetarian fare. For example, Cosmic Rays offers a veggie burger. You can typically find at least one or two veggie offerings at most every dining establishment. Again, sometimes you will have to do the asking. An example of this can be found at the Columbia Harbour House. At first glance, the menu seemed a bit "limited." But after inquiring, I was able to have the wonderful Garden Galley Salad sans chicken. What a delicious meal this was with its pecans and pineapple, and it was very refreshing on a hot summer day.
<b>Book priority seatings for buffets and sit-down meals BEFORE you leave home and remember to alert the Reservation Specialist that a vegetarian will be in the party.</b>
What is a priority seating? It is somewhat like a reservation. You call Disney Dining, and tell them when you want to dine, where you want to dine, the number of diners in your party, any special requests (here is where you can note your vegetarian status), etc. You are then given a date, time, and confirmation number for that meal. You will then arrive about 15 minutes ahead of your scheduled priority seating time and be seated momentarily. During peak times, and at "hot dining spots," this is an absolute necessity. It will save you so much time and effort - and you will be assured a seat at the restaurant of your choice. Remember: These priority seatings are for sit-down and buffet meals only. If you will be dining at counter-service/fast food venues, then you need not make these.
I also often ask to see an ingredients list. This has saved me from much heartache. (Literally and figuratively speaking!) Did you know that many pizza sauces contain animal stock? Did you know that many desserts contain animal lard? Ask about an items contents. Do not just assume that a meatless pizza will be meat-free.
Remember to ask about food preparation/handling, no matter where you choose to dine. For example, is that veggie burger or grilled cheese going to be prepared on a "meat grill?" I am quick to ask about the handling and preparation of my meal. Are there separate grills for veggie items and meat items? If not, can my veggie item be pan-fried instead? For me, there is little worse than having a grilled cheese tainted by meat fat. Yuck!
<b>Still having a hard time finding a meal? Dont rule out the childrens menu.</b> I often order from the childrens menu, and believe me - no one will mind if you have what the 5 year old at the next table is having. I have scored a mean grilled cheese sandwich and some tasty mac and cheese by doing just this. Do not be embarrassed, as other adult diners will likely be envious of your yummy food choice.
With the internet/chat rooms/guidebooks/etc. available, it is very easy to preview restaurants menus ahead of time. This may make a much easier starting point when deciding on where to dine and when making initial priority seatings. I have found such tools invaluable. Yes, I know, other options may be available that are not listed on the menu - but it gives you a good place to start. With so many places to choose from, it can be a somewhat daunting task to narrow the field down a bit. By referencing the web, guides, etc., I can pick and choose new places to investigate further.
On every WDW trip, I eat at least one new place. I have found so many wonderful places by forcing myself to be open to new situations. Had I not done so, I would have never known that so many wonderful places existed! Also, on the negative note - I would not know which places to avoid in the future. But I wont harp on that, as we all have our likes and dislikes, right?! But be OPEN to the whole experience. You will be glad you did.
<b>So, when dining remember these keys:</b>
Speak up. If it is not on the menu, it does not necessarily mean it is not available.
Ask questions. How is this prepared? Does the soup contain animal stock? May I have this item sans the meat?
Alert the Reservation Specialist/host/hostess/chef/etc. as to your vegetarian status.
Book those priority seatings. If you think you want to do more buffets and sit down meals, then I would HIGHLY recommend making a few phone calls to Disney Dining before you leave for your trip. This is especially important if you will be traveling during peak times.
Look around, and be open to new options. Try that buffet or go to that sit-down spot. Be ready to the whole experience.
When in doubt, ask to see the ingredients list.
Dont be afraid to order off the kids menu.
Utilize the web, the guidebooks, etc. BEFORE your trip. By doing so, you can scout out places that may perk your interest.
<b>Some of my favorite Disney Dining venues: </b>
Tonys Town Square (Note: This was before 5/02 and the recent conversion to a character dining venue, so I cannot comment on its menu change.)
Chef Mickeys (breakfast) - I love the kids buffet!
Donalds Breakfastosaurus - but be sure to ask for veggie-friendly potatoes here!
The 50s Prime Time Café - love that veggie burger, even if it's not on the menu! But ask for it to be "pan-fried."
The Plaza Pavilion in the Magic Kingdom - the grilled cheese on the kids menu is great! But ask for it to be "toasted" not "grilled" - as to avoid the food preparation issue.
Bomas (breakfast) - many veggie options here.
I hope I have reassured you that you can happily vacation and DINE in Walt Disney World. <b>All it takes is a little planning, a little asking, and a little openness to the whole experience. Happy dining!</b>
© 2002 Michelle Richer-Mengerink
As every vegetarian/vegan knows, vacationing can be a somewhat scary experience. When dining within your own "stomping grounds," you know which places to go to and which places to stay far, far away from. You know which establishments put animal stocks in their soups and which places may attempt to fry your "veggie" burger on a lard-encrusted grill.
So, upon my first trip to Walt Disney World as a vegetarian, I was very leary. Where would I eat? Could I really find a decent meal within an amusement park? Well, the answers to these questions astonished me. There are so many choices of places to eat; the real question would be WHICH place would I choose? As for finding a decent meal, again, so many choices
I will try to give you some suggestions regarding exceptional dining establishments and some general dining tips for vegetarians/vegans in WDW. Some of these things are probably most obvious, but others I discovered throughout my years of touring WDW. Many of these things, I do in my everyday world of dining out. But <b>most of all, what I hope to accomplish is to give you a better understanding of your options </b>
First, I must tell you that I am a tremendously picky eater. I have never been one to be into "fancy" foods or "exotic" foods. Being a vegetarian can pose a certain amount of problems due to those two factors alone. Then throw in the fact that I do not like mushrooms, onions, and a myriad of other vegetables. Well, I think you will soon see that I am a pretty fussy eater. So, if I can find something to eat at WDW, I KNOW you can!
I have had some of my most successful dining experiences when eating at a buffet restaurant. The choices are much more varied, the food is available to "visually inspect," and the buffet attendants are readily available to answer any questions I have about ingredients, food preparation, etc.
At the buffets, I can SEE my choices and then I can pick and choose to make a meal for myself. Since many vegetarians use many side dishes to create a meal (as opposed to one main dish), the buffet system is perfect.
<b>Some of the best buffets I have found are Bomas, Chef Mickeys, 1900 Park Fare, and the Crystal Palace.</b> But I do not think I have had a "bad buffet experience" within the World. One tip: do not be afraid to eat off the kids buffet - no one will mind. Trust me! I have also found I prefer the breakfast buffets. Now, I do eat dairy - so if you do not, then these may not be your favorites. But with the breakfast buffets, I never leave without feeling absolutely stuffed to the gills! One word of caution here: many of the breakfast potatoes contain meat/lard in them. BUT: you can usually obtain some meat-free hash browns just by asking.
Another successful dining venue for me has been the sit-down restaurants. When making the priority seatings for these, (more on priority seatings later) I usually alert the Reservation Specialist that a vegetarian will be in the party. By doing this, your priority seating has now been "flagged." What exactly does this mean? Well, in my past experience - this means a chef will visit personally with you to discuss your meal preferences/options. I call this pampering at its best. The chef will talk about your personal likes/dislikes; discuss preparation methods, ingredients available, and options. Together, you will create a meal that you will love. This is a wonderful treat, and I have had some meals that made my non-vegetarian dining companions envious!
Now, even if you do not alert your veggie status on your priority seating, be sure to mention this to your host/hostess or server. Do not be afraid to speak up. I will always remember what a chef at the Garden Grill said to me while discussing my meal options, "Remember: We are in YOUR world now. What can I make for YOU to make you happy?" And he was most sincere, and that meal was most divine.
<b>Sometimes while looking at a menu, you feel as though you will have to go hungry or dine on appetizers alone. But this is not necessarily the case. Often by talking with the chef or staff - you may discover other options.</b> For example, a veggie burger is not listed on the menu at the Prime Time Café. However, when I asked my server if the kitchen had any in stock lo and behold, moments later I was dining on one. Subtractions and additions can often be made to meals, as well. For example, you can often order salads minus the chicken, pastas minus the meatballs, etc.
Even the counter service restaurants offer various vegetarian fare. For example, Cosmic Rays offers a veggie burger. You can typically find at least one or two veggie offerings at most every dining establishment. Again, sometimes you will have to do the asking. An example of this can be found at the Columbia Harbour House. At first glance, the menu seemed a bit "limited." But after inquiring, I was able to have the wonderful Garden Galley Salad sans chicken. What a delicious meal this was with its pecans and pineapple, and it was very refreshing on a hot summer day.
<b>Book priority seatings for buffets and sit-down meals BEFORE you leave home and remember to alert the Reservation Specialist that a vegetarian will be in the party.</b>
What is a priority seating? It is somewhat like a reservation. You call Disney Dining, and tell them when you want to dine, where you want to dine, the number of diners in your party, any special requests (here is where you can note your vegetarian status), etc. You are then given a date, time, and confirmation number for that meal. You will then arrive about 15 minutes ahead of your scheduled priority seating time and be seated momentarily. During peak times, and at "hot dining spots," this is an absolute necessity. It will save you so much time and effort - and you will be assured a seat at the restaurant of your choice. Remember: These priority seatings are for sit-down and buffet meals only. If you will be dining at counter-service/fast food venues, then you need not make these.
I also often ask to see an ingredients list. This has saved me from much heartache. (Literally and figuratively speaking!) Did you know that many pizza sauces contain animal stock? Did you know that many desserts contain animal lard? Ask about an items contents. Do not just assume that a meatless pizza will be meat-free.
Remember to ask about food preparation/handling, no matter where you choose to dine. For example, is that veggie burger or grilled cheese going to be prepared on a "meat grill?" I am quick to ask about the handling and preparation of my meal. Are there separate grills for veggie items and meat items? If not, can my veggie item be pan-fried instead? For me, there is little worse than having a grilled cheese tainted by meat fat. Yuck!
<b>Still having a hard time finding a meal? Dont rule out the childrens menu.</b> I often order from the childrens menu, and believe me - no one will mind if you have what the 5 year old at the next table is having. I have scored a mean grilled cheese sandwich and some tasty mac and cheese by doing just this. Do not be embarrassed, as other adult diners will likely be envious of your yummy food choice.
With the internet/chat rooms/guidebooks/etc. available, it is very easy to preview restaurants menus ahead of time. This may make a much easier starting point when deciding on where to dine and when making initial priority seatings. I have found such tools invaluable. Yes, I know, other options may be available that are not listed on the menu - but it gives you a good place to start. With so many places to choose from, it can be a somewhat daunting task to narrow the field down a bit. By referencing the web, guides, etc., I can pick and choose new places to investigate further.
On every WDW trip, I eat at least one new place. I have found so many wonderful places by forcing myself to be open to new situations. Had I not done so, I would have never known that so many wonderful places existed! Also, on the negative note - I would not know which places to avoid in the future. But I wont harp on that, as we all have our likes and dislikes, right?! But be OPEN to the whole experience. You will be glad you did.
<b>So, when dining remember these keys:</b>
Speak up. If it is not on the menu, it does not necessarily mean it is not available.
Ask questions. How is this prepared? Does the soup contain animal stock? May I have this item sans the meat?
Alert the Reservation Specialist/host/hostess/chef/etc. as to your vegetarian status.
Book those priority seatings. If you think you want to do more buffets and sit down meals, then I would HIGHLY recommend making a few phone calls to Disney Dining before you leave for your trip. This is especially important if you will be traveling during peak times.
Look around, and be open to new options. Try that buffet or go to that sit-down spot. Be ready to the whole experience.
When in doubt, ask to see the ingredients list.
Dont be afraid to order off the kids menu.
Utilize the web, the guidebooks, etc. BEFORE your trip. By doing so, you can scout out places that may perk your interest.
<b>Some of my favorite Disney Dining venues: </b>
Tonys Town Square (Note: This was before 5/02 and the recent conversion to a character dining venue, so I cannot comment on its menu change.)
Chef Mickeys (breakfast) - I love the kids buffet!
Donalds Breakfastosaurus - but be sure to ask for veggie-friendly potatoes here!
The 50s Prime Time Café - love that veggie burger, even if it's not on the menu! But ask for it to be "pan-fried."
The Plaza Pavilion in the Magic Kingdom - the grilled cheese on the kids menu is great! But ask for it to be "toasted" not "grilled" - as to avoid the food preparation issue.
Bomas (breakfast) - many veggie options here.
I hope I have reassured you that you can happily vacation and DINE in Walt Disney World. <b>All it takes is a little planning, a little asking, and a little openness to the whole experience. Happy dining!</b>
© 2002 Michelle Richer-Mengerink
eating everything I used to detest. So.............
and Columbia Harbor House (vegie bread bowl chili 
