Best places for vegetarians in WDW?

[robinsa88]

Hi All!

Hoping someone can help me with dining suggestions. Travelling with a friend to WDW and although we have been there once before (I know, only once! but Australia is a long way to travel from!) this time we hope to have more time to enjoy the food.

We have weighed the pros and cons and will use the Deluxe dining plan during our 7 night stay (as long as I can get most the reservations we want).

We are interested in character meals and I am looking to book several for our breakfasts. However I am having trouble deciding on other choices.

My friend is vegetarian and I am apprehensive about booking table service (over buffets) as I fear she may not have much variety or choice.

Can anyone provide me with some suggestions of the most vegetarian friendly options in the world? We will have a car so travelling to other resorts is fine.

 

[runner_princess]

So many good places! Am a very strict vegetarian (no geletan, honey, marshmallows, etc, in addition to no meat), and have never had issues with a table service not either having something already on the menu I can eat, or being able to modify things for me. That said, my favorites are Boma, for the variety of choices, Sanaa for curries, The Wave, Teppan Edo, Kona, and Kouzinna,

 

[ttintagel]

This thread has LOTS of information, reviews, and pictures.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2473465&highlight=vegetarian

Since it's been going on so long, I recommend starting at the most recent posts and working back.

 

[robinsa88]

So many good places! Am a very strict vegetarian (no geletan, honey, marshmallows, etc, in addition to no meat), and have never had issues with a table service not either having something already on the menu I can eat, or being able to modify things for me. That said, my favorites are Boma, for the variety of choices, Sanaa for curries, The Wave, Teppan Edo, Kona, and Kouzinna,

This is very helpful, thanks for the input! I had Kouzinna and Sanaa on my 'maybe' list, so I think I'll promote them to the 'to be booked list' have to do more reserach on the others as I hadn't considered them.

 

[robinsa88]

This thread has LOTS of information, reviews, and pictures.

Since it's been going on so long, I recommend starting at the most recent posts and working back.

This is a great help! Lots of input there, thanks for directing me to it.

 

[BusyMom2Three]

We have strict vegetarians and vegans in our party. If your friend is lacto-ovo veg (eats eggs and dairy) she will have tons of options. We have had the widest selection at Boma and Tusker House. I have heard amazing things about Sanaa, as well. Maybe surprisingly, we have eaten very well at Crystal Palace, Hollywood and Vine, and 1900 Park Fare (especially when Chef TJ is there to work his magic) and pretty well at Chef Mickey's. We did not enjoy the small selection at Garden Grill (couscous with vegetables) or Akershus. We felt Via Napoli, Mama Melrose, and Tony's Town Square had an okay selection. If you eat at buffets, the chef will walk your friend through the buffet to point out everything she can eat, which is ample at the ones I listed. At non-buffet restaurants, they are able to make something vegetarian pretty easily. HTH!

 

[MJMcBride]

According to the Disney Hipsters, both vegetarians, the Garden Grill's vegetarian option is amazin

Sanaa and Jiko are an excellent selections too

 

[disney debi]

Subscribing to this thread. Taking a vegetarian with us on our next trip.

 

[BusyMom2Three]

According to the Disney Hipsters, both vegetarians, the Garden Grill's vegetarian option is amazin

Do you know what they ate by chance? We haven't been there since 2007 because they didn't know what to do with us and the only thing they could offer us was plain cous cous mixed with some vegetables and a popsicle for dessert. It would be nice if there were more or better options now. We usually eat the QS downstairs instead (Sunshine Seasons) because they have at least 4 veggie options that I can think of but I prefer TS.

 

[mountdew1]

I'm a lacto-ovo vegetarian. If your friend is a different type, they may have a different experience.
The experience at WDW will vary. Simply finding a vegetarian friendly meal isn't hard to do. I'd wager that 50-60% of the CS locations have a veggie friendly meal. And about 80-90% of the TS locations will have a veggie friendly option. However, in some locations that options will simply be a cheese pizza, salad, or a grilled veggie sandwich. All of which are technically vegetarian, but aren't necessarily the most balanced meal choices.
That said, I recommend the following buffets - Boma, 1900 Park Fare. Both have a plethora of veggie friendly options (1900 has veggie sushi!), and have several choices with protein options like edamame, beans, cheeses, etc. Biegarten, Crystal Palace, Chef Mickey's aren't bad, but tend to lean more towards the veggie ok options, and less the veggie balanced options. Avoid Hollywood and Vine like the plague. Just meh food at best, and nothing outstanding.
TS - Sanaa, The Wave, V&A all had delicious options. Sanaa has a great veggie sampler, V&A has the most upscale veggie courses I have even had the pleasure to enjoy. The Wave was just a delicious meal. Most of the DHS TS locations have a tofu dish (not common at the world for some reason), but aren't anything special. Skip Bistro de Paris/Monsieur Paul. Unless they changed it recently, they have no real veggie option, and instead will simply bring out a plate with 3 of the sides on it. Not bad, but not worth what they will charge you.
CS - Tangierine Cafe. Hands down. Great veggie platter with tons of food that's delicious. Sunshine Seasons usually has 3-4 options. BoG (lunch) has a nice couscous salad instead of the normal veggie burger. ABC Commissary added a couscous/quinoa salad that was pretty yummy, especially since the other options in DHS are normally grilled veggie sandwiches.

Check the online menus to see what they have to offer upfront. Either on the official WDW site, or places like the Dis and AllEars. You can get an idea as to what they will offer without having to go off menu.

 

[robinsa88]

Thanks everyone, sounds like Boma and 1900 park fare will join the list, as will BoG (yay! I was hoping that would make it!). My friend is indeed a lacto-ovo so it sounds like she will have plenty to make the meals worthwhile.

I'm trying to plan way in advance so that I can secure bookings at places we will both be able to enjoy. Some mixed reviews about garden grill - can anyone else who has been there recently chime in with their opinion?

Can anyone offer ideas for the best dessert choices (ts or qs) - one of the biggest challenges we usually have is finding dessert without gelatin in it - it's often lurking in all the yummy dishes and occasionally ice cream too! Extra points for dairy free also! I myself am lactose intolerant dessert always seems to be the hardest for us both!

 

[robinsa88]

However, in some locations that options will simply be a cheese pizza, salad, or a grilled veggie sandwich. All of which are technically vegetarian, but aren't necessarily the most balanced meal choices.

I know what you mean! We travel a lot together and I always feel so bad for her when the only option are items like these. OK for lunch or a one off meal but certainly not ideal as on going options and maintaining a (semi!) healthy vacation diet!

 

[robinsa88]

Thanks to everyone for their help!

Still two questions I have:

- Does anyone know about desserts not containing any gelatin, and also if ice cream at the world has gelatin in it?

- Is there anywhere to get vegetarian sushi? We are both big sushi eaters, but I have found it hard to find vegetarian sushi on trips to the USA before

 

[pixie08]

Every restaurant will offer to prepare her something if there isn't already something on the menu. I have even seen Ohana do a big vegetarian meal. You should have no problem.Take a look at the menus of wdwinfo.com to get some ideas of what is served.

 

[robinsa88]

Every restaurant will offer to prepare her something if there isn't already something on the menu. I have even seen Ohana do a big vegetarian meal. You should have no problem.Take a look at the menus of wdwinfo.com to get some ideas of what is served.

I have read menus of almost every restaurant in wdw at this stage, or it sure feels like it! Unfortunately I am still looking for advice about desserts because international phone calls to restaurants are too costly and inconvenient with the time difference. There are several items eg. Mousses, cheesecakes, ice cream etc. that may or may not be vegetarian friendly... Does any one have experience at TS or QS locations and can point me in the right direction? I'd like to get our ADRs right or know where to go close by to get something.

 

[JZCubed]

There are several items eg. Mousses, cheesecakes, ice cream etc. that may or may not be vegetarian friendly... Does any one have experience at TS or QS locations and can point me in the right direction? I'd like to get our ADRs right or know where to go close by to get something.

Baby Cakes in Downtown Disney is Vegan.

http://www.babycakesnyc.com/locations.html

Maybe it'd be a bit easier if you decide which places you'd like to make reservations (based on what you can see), and then you can call Disney with one phone call to ask for 'special request' of Vegan desserts. Disney is most accommodating when you call in advance and try working things out. People with dietary needs are often greeted by a Chef at each restaurant.

By the way, I had an outstanding Roasted Carrot Ravioli at CA Grill...but was it vegan - egg in the pasta?????

 

[BusyMom2Three]

I have read menus of almost every restaurant in wdw at this stage, or it sure feels like it! Unfortunately I am still looking for advice about desserts because international phone calls to restaurants are too costly and inconvenient with the time difference. There are several items eg. Mousses, cheesecakes, ice cream etc. that may or may not be vegetarian friendly... Does any one have experience at TS or QS locations and can point me in the right direction? I'd like to get our ADRs right or know where to go close by to get something.

As a lacto-ovo veg your friend will have no prob with dessert. At TS restaurants the chef will point out anything with gelatin, and it's not many things (zebra domes, most cobblers, and some gummy candies are the only ones I can think of, and we've been through the process several times). She will be able to eat most of the TS desserts, and each restaurant offers several. At QS locations she can ask for the ingredient book to verify which dessert to select.